Prince Kang was utterly embarrassed by Anning’s words.
His face turned red and he dared not to look at Anning.
He knew how dearly Anning loved Lanzhi.
Yet he almost got Lanzhi killed.
Although he did make use of Lanzhi, he had also wanted good things for her. He never harbored the thought of wanting his daughter dead.
But Anning was relentless.
"Prince really knows how to act, willing to throw his own daughter into the fire pit for his old flame’s son, yet they don’t appreciate you at all. I bet they’re cursing why you still aren’t dead yet."
Prince Kang became angry out of humiliation.
Anning curled his lips and stopped mocking him.
The whole journey was very quiet.
Prince Kang wanted to say some nice words to Anning, but when he opened his mouth, he was choked up and couldn’t utter a single word.
Anning too, disdained to speak with him, coldly looking outside the carriage window.
Upon their return to the mansion, the two went back to their rooms, and thereafter, both carried a cold face, no one paid any more mind to the other.
Prince Kang was too ashamed to look for Anning, and Anning didn’t care to interact with him.
Unable to vent his anger, Prince Kang was particularly abrasive when he saw the Empress Dowager.
The very next day after he learned of Emperor Jianwu’s intentions, he entered the palace.
Seeing Prince Kang, the Empress Dowager greeted him with a smile, "Tingzhang, come and taste the dessert I just made. It took me several attempts to perfect it, see how it tastes?"
Prince Kang pushed the dessert brought by the maid aside: "I am here for an important matter."
The Empress Dowager noticed Prince Kang’s ill expression and grew cautious: "What is the matter? Is it about Lanzhi’s entry into the palace? Don’t worry, I will treat Lanzhi as if she were my own daughter."
Her gentle and soft words eased a bit of Prince Kang’s rage.
But recalling Emperor Jianwu, Prince Kang’s words were harsh: "No need, my Lanzhi will not enter the palace. I asked the Princess yesterday, Lanzhi does not want to enter the palace. She just wants to lead a simple life outside and wishes to visit her mother often."
The smile faded from the Empress Dowager’s face.
"Why not enter the palace? Didn’t we agree on it?"
Prince Kang slammed his hand on the table: "You should ask your wonderful son about that."
Mentioning Emperor Jianwu, his face darkened: "This prince trusted you and never paid attention to His Majesty’s whereabouts and preferences, to find out... to find out that he was actually tangled with a common thug outside. He even shamelessly said that once my Lanzhi entered the palace, she would not live long, and that after Lanzhi died, he’d marry that thug to be the Empress. Heh, it seems my daughter is just a stepping stone for some female thug."
The Empress Dowager was shaken by Prince Kang’s attitude and the implications of his words.
She truly did not know about Emperor Jianwu having someone he liked outside. Not long ago when she discussed with Emperor Jianwu about marrying Lanzhi, Emperor Jianwu agreed readily. She thought Emperor Jianwu had a favorable impression of Lanzhi and was genuinely willing to take her as the empress, but it turned out Emperor Jianwu had such intentions.
"This, this can’t be true?"
Prince Kang scoffed: "I heard it with my own ears and saw it with my own eyes, how could this be fake? I came here just to let you know, my daughter will not be a stepping stone in the palace. Lanzhi is the apple of my eye, pampered and adored, raised with all affection, I will not send her off to be ground down by others."
Prince Kang felt a bit guilty when he said this.
He had hardly taken care of Lanzhi from her childhood to adulthood, never inquiring about her clothing, food, housing or travel. It could be said, he had been a quite irresponsible father.
"I, I will ask the Emperor about it later."
The Empress Dowager was somewhat panicked.
If Lanzhi cannot enter the palace, with Prince Kang’s power and the good reputation that He Zhenyu has built among the people, Emperor Jianwu would have to wait to rule personally.
Or perhaps, Emperor Jianwu should give up any hope of ruling personally. He could only be a puppet emperor, subject to Prince Kang’s manipulation. When Prince Kang grows old, it could even be that He Zhenyu will directly depose the Emperor and take the throne himself. By then, the Empress Dowager knew very well that she might become Anning’s prisoner. This was something she did not want to experience in the slightest.
"No matter what he thinks, my intention is clear. Lanzhi is not to enter the palace."
Prince Kang gritted his teeth and spat out these words before striding past the Empress Dowager without another glance.
The Empress Dowager watched Prince Kang’s retreating figure, lost in thought.
She realized she had lost control over everything.
Prince Kang increasingly ignored her, becoming more and more discontent, while Emperor Jianwu had long since dismissed her, his Queen Mother, from his heart.
After all, she had the perfect plan – use Prince Kang’s affection for her to keep him supporting Emperor Jianwu. Then, when Emperor Jianwu began to rule personally, he would marry Lanzhi. With Lanzhi in the palace, Prince Kang would guide Emperor Jianwu even more dedicatedly and entrust him with ruling personally.
Only when Emperor Jianwu took full power could she and her son truly do as they wished.
But why had everything not gone according to her plans?
The Empress Dowager bit her lip and said to Nanny Qin, "Go find out what the Emperor has been doing outside the palace."
Nanny Qin obeyed and left.
Two days later, Nanny Qin reported to the Empress Dowager everything she had learned about Yun Que.
The Empress Dowager was so furious when she learned that Emperor Jianwu had taken a liking to the illegitimate daughter of the Yun Family’s Mr. Yun that she could hardly speak.
It took her a long while to calm down.
"Nanny Qin, what did I do wrong for him to anger me so?" she lamented full of rage, yet feeling powerless and sad. "I do everything for his sake, why did he... why did he get involved with that Mrs. Yun? What’s so good about her? How Mr. Yun died, I remember it all too well; her mother was a demon, a demon!"
Nanny Qin hurriedly comforted the Empress Dowager, "Your Highness, we must deal with Mrs. Yun before she enters the palace."
The Empress Dowager regained her composure, "Yes, you’re right. We must deal with Mrs. Yun first. My son cannot be charmed by a demon."
Nanny Qin quickly reported Yun Que’s address and her recent acquaintances to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager thought for a moment, "Find the Shadow Guard, have them leave the palace and take care of Mrs. Yun..."
She made a throat-slitting gesture, which Nanny Qin understood.
Mr. Liu entered the room in a sweat.
Emperor Jianwu was holding a handkerchief embroidered by Yun Que, laughing as he inspected it.
Yun Que really was not cut out for needlework. The handkerchief was amusing, with crooked and twisted stitches and flowers embroidered in garish red, making it hard to discern what they were.
Even so, Yun Que had poked her ten fingers full of holes while embroidering this handkerchief.
Thinking of Yun Que’s dedication, Emperor Jianwu’s eyes brimmed with tenderness.
Without caring whether he disturbed the Emperor Jianwu, Mr. Liu hastily said, breathless, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, something terrible has happened."
Emperor Jianwu quickly put away the handkerchief, "What is it? What happened?"
Mr. Liu collapsed on the floor, thoroughly exhausted, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager has sent someone to assassinate Miss Yun."