Zhao Lan left Zhao Rong's palace with tears in her eyes. After running for a short distance, she stopped crying and looked back with complicated and bitter emotions. No matter if it was her father or Cheng Zheng, as long as she stood with Zhao Rao, the first person they would look at would be Zhao Rao.
Even when she deliberately cried in front of Cheng Zheng, he didn't look at her.
"Third Princess, Her Highness is waiting for you." The palace maid beside her reminded her softly.
Zhao Lan looked away and walked towards Concubine De's palace.
Concubine De knew that her daughter was going to the palace today, so she personally prepared a lot of Zhao Lan's favorite snacks early in the morning. She waited in the bedroom for a long time, but she didn't see Zhao Lan. She was very anxious. She heard that Zhao Lan had arrived, but why didn't she see her for a long time?
"Mother." Zhao Lan's delicate figure appeared by the door, and a gentle smile appeared on her gentle face.
"Lan 'er, why are you so late? Did something happen on the way?" Concubine De hurriedly asked. She loved her children with all her heart. Although Zhao Lan was married, she still couldn't let go of her.
Zhao Lan bowed and sat beside Concubine De. She snuggled on Concubine De's shoulder coquettishly, "I met Zhao Rao on the way and talked to her."
Concubine De was shocked when she heard this. She held her daughter's shoulder and looked at her, "What did she do to you? Didn't I tell you to stay away from her? She has the same temperament as the late Emperor and Empress. Both of them are not easy to get along with. We would rather avoid her than provoke her. "
"Mother, you tolerated her for so many years because of the late Empress. According to seniority, you are still her mother. When did she take you seriously …" Zhao Lan complained in a low voice, "I was sick for so many years. Didn't it have anything to do with her?"
"I used to be the late Empress' servant. It's normal for her to look down on me." Concubine De said in a low voice, "After all, you are already married out of the palace. Prince Consort dotes on you. You live comfortably in the Princess Mansion. What can she do? The Emperor won't protect her forever."
Zhao Lan's eyes looked sad, "Even if father can't protect her, there is still Marquis Anning."
Concubine De shook her head gently. "Cheng Zheng … He and the late Empress were not biological siblings. The late Empress did not treat him well. How could he treat Zhao Rao as his own niece?"
"When I came, I saw Marquis Anning looking for Zhao Rao," Zhao Lan said.
"How could it be …" Concubine De was stunned. Since when did Zhao Rao and Cheng Zheng become so close?
Zhao Lan looked at Concubine De and said, "Mother, Prince Consort said that Marquis Anning has been investigating the past. I'm afraid that he has been bribed by Zhao Rao."
"Don't let your imagination run wild. Marquis Anning won't believe Zhao Rao so easily." Concubine De gripped her handkerchief tightly.
"Mother, have you seen father emperor?" Zhao Lan asked in a low voice.
Concubine De's eyes flashed. "Your father has been busy ever since he came back. I haven't seen him. What's wrong?"
"Prince Consort said that Imperial Father's complexion looks much better than before." Zhao Lan lowered her voice and said in a volume that only the mother and daughter could hear, "Imperial Father's health has improved. Prince Consort was right. Yuan Country's Heavenly Consort's medical skills are indeed amazing. Duanmu Xiu couldn't cure Imperial Father's illness, but she did."
"Really?" Concubine De raised her head in surprise. She did not wish for Zhao Yong to die young. It was just that after so many years, she had long gotten used to not being pampered by the Emperor. The infatuation she had when she was young had been worn away with time. All her hopes were placed on her two children. When she found out that Zhao Yong's illness could not be cured, she was heartbroken. But besides worrying, she also hoped that her son would one day become the ruler of the country.
For the sake of her son, she had done many things by hook or by crook.
If Zhao Yong's illness were to be cured … Concubine De's face turned pale. She knew Zhao Yong too well. What he hated the most was for the women in the harem to meddle in the affairs of the court.
"If Imperial Father's illness is cured, whether it is the First Prince or Second Brother, I'm afraid it will not be easy for them to become the next ruler." Zhao Lan said.
"It's just a guess now. Don't think too much." Concubine De comforted her daughter. In fact, she was also comforting herself. They all knew that only when the Second Prince became the new ruler of the Qi Kingdom, they would have a good life in the future. Otherwise, whether it was Zhao Rao or the First Prince, they would not let them go.
Zhao Lan knew that what she said today had scared Concubine De. She sighed in her heart. If it was not for the fact that she was afraid that Concubine De did not know what was going on outside, she would not have come to the palace today to remind her. Now, she had scared her. "Mother, I heard that Imperial Concubine Lu went missing in Yuan Kingdom. Is there any news?"
Concubine De shook her head. Her gentle expression did not show any hint of schadenfreude. "I heard that she was taken away by kidnappers. The Emperor sent people to look for her, but there is still no news."
Then Lu Wushuang better not come back. She knew too much. Whether she was taken away by kidnappers or for other reasons, Concubine De was happy to see it happen. If Lu Wushuang stayed in the palace, she would always be above her head.
"I really don't know what happened in Yuan Kingdom." Zhao Lan said, "Mother, I should go back. When Second Brother comes to pay his respects to you, please persuade him not to make Father angry at this time. I always feel … a little uneasy."
As if something would happen, she was very worried that Second Brother would be involved.
Concubine De nodded gently. "I know."
After watching her daughter leave, Concubine De walked to the small Buddha Hall at the back of the palace. She twirled the Buddha beads in her hand and murmured, "Goddess of Mercy, my son is wise and intelligent. He is a rare ruler. Please let Goddess of Mercy bear all the karma alone. Don't implicate the two children …"
On the other side, Cheng Zheng finally left under Zhao Rao's anger. However, he did not leave the palace immediately. Instead, he waited at a place not far from Yeting until a palace servant quietly came to his side and whispered to him, "Marquis, the identity of that child has been confirmed …"
"Where is he?" Cheng Zheng's eyes were cold. The murderous aura that had dominated the battlefield for many years suddenly appeared in his eyes.
The servant's voice was a little shaky. "Marquis, he has … has been protected."
Cheng Zheng nodded lightly. Since it had been confirmed, then he should present the truth in front of Zhao Yong.
He only felt more and more sorry for Zhao Rao.
If he had known that he would be so moved by her today, he would have protected her by his side earlier.
Thinking of the death of the late Empress, Cheng Zheng clenched his fists.
He had mistaken an ingrate for a good person.
"Marquis, the Emperor has just taken his medicine and is resting. If you have anything to say, why don't you wait?" Song Aoran stopped Cheng Zheng outside the imperial study.
"Alright." Cheng Zheng looked at the sky. It was still early. He could wait, but the Emperor should also rest and know what to do later.
...
(Nine-headed Bird Academy)
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