Chapter Eighty-Nine: Hard to Refute

The empress was laying the groundwork for your future accession to the throne! Let me tell you this: even if your father is promoting and favoring him now, it is only because he can lead troops into battle and hold off foreign enemies. If he had no real ability at all, merely a military officer from humble origins, with no entrenched family power behind him, your father could crush him with the barest ease! Otherwise, why do you think your father gives him the standing of a battlefield commander, yet still has no intention of entrusting him with military authority? Because although your father trusts him, he has not reached the point of absolute confidence. He does intend to cultivate a trusted aide in him, but he certainly does not wish for him to become a threat to the throne one day!

“Moreover, do you truly think a powerful family is of such great importance? I will tell you this as well, Chu’er: if I had not relied on my family’s influence to become empress, if I had not depended on my aunt and the dowager empress’s kinship, where would your status as the legitimate son have come from? Without that status, according to the ancient rule of enthroning the legitimate heir rather than the eldest, do you think you would still be sitting on this crown prince’s seat?!”

The crown prince was stunned by the empress’s incisive and exhaustive arguments, left standing there speechless and unable to refute a single word.

After all, he was not yet twenty. He was still young, impulsive, and inclined to overlook the consequences.

Seeing the dazed look on his face, the empress felt a pang of pity. She let out a soft sigh and said gently, “Chu’er, you are still young. You do not understand the struggles of the court, nor do you understand how many considerations and trade-offs are required to keep this realm secure. The Duke of Dingguo fought alongside your father to build what we have today; he is a minister of great merit, and equally loyal. Most importantly, his influence in the court cannot be underestimated.”

“If our families could become allied by marriage, your father would surely be able to rest easy. And with the Duke of Dingguo’s strength, they would certainly be able to protect Gu Li in the future as well. Besides, Zhou Siyuan is gifted in both letters and arms, with an extraordinary bearing; he is by no means ordinary. He and Gu Li grew up together, their bond is deep, and they are truly a perfect match.”

The crown prince had nothing left to say.

His lofty declarations and surging passion were all beaten back into their original shape.

The empress’s words were not only sound, but also clear and tightly reasoned, one point following another, leaving him unable to argue.

Looking at Lie Chang’an lying on the bed with his eyes closed, the crown prince felt a wave of helpless desolation rise within him.

Seeing him like this, the empress knew his pity had not yet been dispelled. She could only harden her tone and say, “Chu’er, your mother tells you this plainly: there is absolutely no possibility between Lie Chang’an and Gu Li. Gu Li deserves the very best, and Lie Chang’an is not worthy. Give up this notion of matchmaking them!”

With that, the empress swept her sleeves and left in a fit of anger.

The crown prince stood there in a daze for a long while, then managed with difficulty to take a step forward. Suddenly, he heard movement from the bed. Turning back, he saw Lie Chang’an slowly open his eyes.

“You’re awake?”

The crown prince was overjoyed and was about to summon the imperial physicians to come in and examine him, when something suddenly occurred to him and he froze. “You heard everything just now?”

Otherwise, how could it be that the moment the empress left, he woke so perfectly in time?

Lie Chang’an recalled every word of the conversation and gave a muted response. “Mm.”

The crown prince sighed inwardly and tried to comfort him. “Don’t take it to heart. What Mother said actually…”

“I understand.”

Lie Chang’an curved his lips stiffly. “The empress was thinking of the princess’s good. Everything she said was the truth.”

The crown prince was left speechless, a multitude of feelings churning bitterly in his heart.

Fortunately, Lie Chang’an seemed utterly unconcerned and did not dwell on the matter. He only asked, “How is the princess?”

“I have already handed the Blood Blossom to the imperial physicians. They’ve had it brewed together with other medicinal herbs for detoxification, and once the decoction is ready they will bring it over…”

The words “take your blood” would not come to the crown prince’s lips. The glaring cuts across those arms remained vivid before his eyes, and he truly found it too cruel to say.

Yet Lie Chang’an only smiled faintly when he heard this, with contentment and relief. “That is good.”

The crown prince watched, heart aching, a lump rising in his throat.