(Author's note: The previous chapter has been modified. If you can't continue, please read it again.)
Li Rong slept in the princess's residence for the night. The next morning, she received a summons from the palace.
She was already prepared. Once the people from the palace arrived, she followed the attendants into the palace. She knew that she had forcefully disrupted Consort Rou and the Empress's plan yesterday. This matter would not be resolved so easily.
On the way, she thought about how to deal with the Empress's questions. Soon, she arrived at the palace. As soon as she entered Weiyang Palace, she saw Li Chuan kneeling on the ground. The Empress was sitting on the high seat, holding her forehead as if she had another headache. The people in the hall had already left, leaving only the mother and son sitting and kneeling in the middle of the hall. Li Rong smiled when he entered. He looked at the two of them and said, "What are you doing? The last time I came, you were like this. This time, it's the same. Are you two quarreling again?"
"You still dare to say that?!" Shanghai Yue heard Li Rong's voice and shouted, "Kneel!"
If Li Rong was young, he would have panicked when he heard Shanghai Yue's anger. Fortunately, he was already in his fifties. He calmly kneeled down and said with a smile, "What's wrong with Imperial Mother today? Why are you so angry?"
Shanghai Yue heard Li Rong pretending not to understand. She looked up coldly and stared at Li Rong, "You and I, mother and son, do you still need to be so hypocritical?"
When Li Rong saw Shangguan Yue's cold expression, the smile on her face disappeared.
"What did you mean last night?"
"Let me ask Imperial Mother," Li Rong said calmly, "What did Imperial Mother mean?"
"My meaning is very clear!" Shanghai Yue shouted, "I want Shangguan Ya to be the Crown Princess! I already told the Chuan 'er to choose Ya' er. Why did you come in and mess things up? He is the Crown Prince! " Shangguan Yue pointed at Li Chuan and glared at Li Rong. "He's messing around. Are you going to do the same?"
"It's Erchen's fault." When Li Chuan heard Shangguan Yue scolding him, he immediately kowtowed on the ground and hurriedly said, "This has nothing to do with Jiejie. Erchen has already said that Erchen asked Jiejie for help. Imperial Mother, please calm down."
Li Rong understood that Li Chuan had taken all the responsibility and said that he had asked her to do what she did last night.
Shangguan Yue was infuriated. She stood up and paced back and forth on the stage. As she paced, she scolded, "You wasted such a good opportunity last night! Are you crazy? Or are you stupid? Your Imperial Father has been suppressing your marriage with Ah Ya. Last night, we were all prepared. As long as you chose Ah Ya's sandalwood, your uncle would bring people out to force an imperial edict. Why did you choose your sister's sandalwood? Do you know how much effort it takes to get another chance like this?! "
"It's Erchen's fault. Imperial Mother, please calm down." Li Chuan numbly repeated. He remained kneeling on the ground and didn't get up.
Li Rong felt an indescribable sense of humiliation when she saw Shangguan Yue scolding her. Even if this person was her mother, she didn't know why, but when she saw Li Chuan quietly kneeling and listening to her scolding, she felt pity and sorrow.
"What are you thinking? It's fine if you don't want to cooperate with the Yang Family, but now you're even going to abandon the Shangguan Family?! How important is a marriage alliance between families? If you don't marry Ya 'er, how can your uncle trust you? "
"If I don't marry a woman, he won't trust me anymore?"
Li Rong suddenly spoke. Shangguan Yue and Li Chuan were both stunned. Li Chuan looked up and stared blankly at Li Rong. He asked in surprise, "Jiejie?"
"What's wrong with Chuan 'er?" Li Rong spoke calmly and looked at Shangguan Yue. "The Shangguan Family has been the Empress for three generations. Don't you know where the conflict between Imperial Father and us came from?!"
"That's why we have to be tied together!" Shangguan Yue leaned forward and stared at Li Rong. "Do you think Chuan 'er has a way out? He's a child of the Shangguan Family. He's destined to have no way out. "
"Since we're tied so tightly, we have to rely on the Shangguan Family. What's there for Uncle to worry about? What's the value of forcing them to marry each other? What's the point? "
Shangguan Yue was stunned by her words. Li Rong looked at her and said calmly, "Imperial Mother, we all know that Uncle doesn't want the position of Crown Princess. He wants the position of Empress. Every generation of the Li Family has half of the Shangguan Family's blood in them. You're already the Shangguan Family's present. What Uncle wants from Chuan 'er is the future. "
"But this is the Li Family's world." Li Rong looked at Shangguan Yue seriously. "It's time for the Shangguan Family to retire."
"What did you say?" Shangguan Yue looked at Li Rong in disbelief. "Say it again?"
"I said," Li Rong raised his voice. "If the Shangguan Family still wants to live well, it's time for it to retire!"
Everyone suddenly fell silent. Shangguan Yue looked at Li Rong in a daze. Li Rong stood up and said calmly, "When water overflows, it will be full. When it reaches its peak, it will decline."
She looked at Shangguan Yue calmly. "Imperial Mother, Imperial Father won't tolerate Shangguan Ya becoming the Crown Princess of the Chuan 'er. Once Shanghai Ya becomes the Crown Princess of the Chuan, Imperial Father won't allow the Chuan' er to ascend the throne. He won't tolerate the fact that the next Emperor is the Empress of the Shangguan Clan. "
"Imperial Mother, let the Shangguan Clan gradually retire from the Imperial City." Li Rong said in a low voice. "This is good for everyone."
Shangguan Yue stood on the stage in a daze. Li Rong turned to Li Chuan and said calmly, "Get up, let's go."
Li Chuan glanced at Shangguan Yue. Li Rong saw his hesitation and shouted, "Get up!"
Li Chuan hurriedly got up after being shouted at by Li Rong. Li Rong nodded at Shangguan Yue and said, "Imperial Mother, we'll take our leave first."
Li Rong then led Li Chuan out.
After leaving Weiyang Palace, Li Chuan was still in a daze. After walking for a while, Li Chuan suddenly reacted and said excitedly, "Sister, you were so awesome just now!"
Li Rong glared at him and hit him on the head with her fan. "Useless."
Li Chuan was still very happy after being hit on the head. He chased after Li Rong. Although he tried to control himself, she could still hear his excitement. "I really didn't expect you to say that. I always thought that sister would also think that I was wrong and help Imperial Mother persuade me."
Li Rong and Li Chuan strolled into the Imperial Garden. She was a little absent-minded when she heard Li Chuan's words.
In her previous life, Li Chuan did marry Shangguan Yue and four concubines because of her advice.
At that time, she felt that Li Chuan was willful. But now, she felt that she was naive.
No one would be willing to help just because of a simple marriage.
The Qin and Jin families were good because they each had their own ulterior motives. When there was a conflict of interests, what was a woman?
Whether Li Chuan married the Shangguan Clan or not, as long as their core interests were the same, the Shangguan Clan would definitely be tied to Li Chuan.
Marrying the Shangguan Clan was harmful to Li Chuan.
It was just that the Shangguan Clan bullied them because they were young and threatened to not support Li Chuan. At that time, she had not seen through the true intentions of all parties in the imperial court, so she was controlled by them.
Her thoughts were scattered all the way. Li Chuan was talking about the specific situation last night. After a while, he asked carefully, "Sister, why did you suddenly help me?"
"Haven't I been helping you?"
"It's not this kind of help." Li Chuan thought for a while and described, "It's that you suddenly seem to know what I'm thinking. You definitely wouldn't help me in this matter in the past. You would definitely make trouble for me with Imperial Mother. "
"I made trouble for you, and you just accepted it?"
When Li Chuan heard this, he did not say anything. When Li Rong saw that he was silent, he turned his head and saw Li Chuan lowering his head, as if he was a little guilty.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Actually, I'm being willful." Li Chuan smiled bitterly, "You didn't choose the person you married, so why should I have this privilege? Forget it, I'm already very happy that you can help me. Let's find a day and I'll treat you to a meal. "
When Li Rong heard this, he lowered his head and laughed. They stopped in front of the waterside pavilion. Li Rong thought for a while and said slowly, "Chuan 'er, you're not being willful. You're just not strong enough."
Li Chuan turned his head to look at Li Rong. Li Rong calmly said, "People only have the right to choose when they're strong enough. If you want to choose, I'll always support you. But the prerequisite is that you have the ability to do so."
"So," Li Chuan looked at Li Rong, "if I have the ability to do this and not hurt people who shouldn't be hurt, then sister won't think that I'm wrong, right?"
"As long as you think you're right," Li Rong looked away from the meeting and looked at Li Chuan. She smiled, "even if I think you're wrong, it's not important. Because I'm not always right. "
"Then what if my thinking is different from yours?" Li Chuan asked seriously, his eyes showing some fear.
Li Rong looked at the young man in front of her. She could vaguely see some of Li Chuan's shadow in him in the future.
She suddenly realized how lonely Li Chuan was back then. He struggled to walk on the road of no return.
His father hated him, his mother used him, and his sister stood on opposite sides of him. She never supported him, let alone understood him.
Li Rong looked at him quietly. After a long time, she said slowly, "Even if one day you think differently from me, you're still my brother."
"I'll never give up on you."
Li Chuan listened to Li Rong's words. He didn't know why, but his eyes reddened.
He realized that he had lost his composure. He lowered his head and smiled. He seemed a little embarrassed and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry, sister. I'm a little … I'm a little … I think you're too good. I couldn't protect you." Li Chuan paused. After a long time, he said, "I'm sorry."
As a young man, he was worried about Li Rong's political marriage and wanted to conquer the world in the future. But before he could grow up, his sister was forced to marry someone she didn't love.
Li Rong heard the guilt in Li Chuan's words. She was stunned. After a while, she said hesitantly, "Actually … Pei Wenxuan is also very good."
"You don't have to worry about me." Li Rong smiled, "I married well."
Li Chuan laughed out loud. "I can feel it."
Li Rong raised her eyebrows, "Hmm?"
"I feel that after you got married," Li Chuan looked up at her, "you've been smiling more and more."
Li Rong was a little stunned. At this time, an attendant rushed over from the small path and said respectfully, "Your Highness, the prince consort is waiting at the door. He said he's here to pick someone up."
"He's so annoying!" Li Chuan heard this and immediately said, "Can't I send my sister back? Tell him to get lost! "
"Your Highness," Pei Wenxuan's voice sounded from not far away, "Your Highness is busy, so there's no need to trouble Your Highness."
"I'm busy, but you're not? Do you have nothing better to do? If you're free, tell me. I have plenty of things for you to do! "
Li Rong heard Li Chuan scolding her and couldn't help but laugh. Pei Wenxuan smiled but didn't say anything. He turned to look at Li Rong and explained, "I just finished the morning court. I heard that you were in the palace, so I wanted to take you back with me."
"Okay." Li Rong nodded and turned to Li Chuan, "We'll leave first. You can send me back next time."
"Sister, when are you free? Let me know," Li Chuan quickly said, "I'll treat you to a restaurant."
Li Rong waved her hand with her back to him, "Anytime."
The two walked out of the palace together. Li Chuan looked at their backs. After a long time, he couldn't help but laugh.
At this time, in Weiyang Palace, Shanghai Yue was almost done crying.
She came back to her senses. Her mama, Cui Yu, who was serving her, said in a low voice, "Don't be too sad. The princess and the crown prince have grown up. They're young and vigorous. Don't argue with them. They'll understand your pains in the future."
"It's fine if Rong 'er is like this." Shanghai Yue cried, "After all, she's married and doesn't have much to do with the palace. But Chuan' er is like this. What do you want me to say to my brother?"
"Niangniang, don't think too much. His Highness the crown prince has always been filial. He must have his reasons for being so rebellious."
These words woke Shanghai Yue up. She suddenly reacted, "Why is he so opposed to marriage? Does he have someone in his heart? "
Cui Yu brought a cup of tea from the side and said respectfully, "His Highness isn't young anymore. It's normal for him to have people around him. It's not impossible that he's been bewitched."
Shanghai Yue muttered to herself. After a while, she immediately said, "Send someone to investigate if there are any suspicious women around the crown prince recently. Where he's been, what he's done, who he's met. Have the people around him report everything to me! "
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