Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 389 - 388: Card

Chapter 389: Chapter 388: Card

The Second Prince and Third Prince had previously guessed that Master Wu Zhi treated the Ninth Prince’s leg. Thinking that the master could help the Ninth Prince, they thought that he could help them with divinations, maybe predict who might inherit the throne in the future. They searched everywhere without success. Just when they finally heard that he had returned to the temple, by the time they went to visit him, Master Wu Zhi had gone on his wanderings again.

After hearing the Emperor’s words, the Third Prince was still somewhat disdainful. With such a severe injury and such a long time, it would be good if he could walk. How could he possibly not limp? The Second Prince was unsure whether the Ninth Prince was really limping a little or pretending. But, he knew the Emperor was "playing a game." The Emperor clearly wanted to pass the throne to the Ninth Prince, yet he said something about "sharing responsibilities for the state with siblings."

Could it be, other than the Ninth Prince, his other sons weren’t his own flesh and blood?

The Second Prince didn’t reveal his feelings, yet he angrily clenched his fists inside his sleeves.

Thinking that the great event was approaching, he hoped that by employing certain means he could secure the Emperor’s attention and favor. He didn’t want much, just to outweigh the Ninth Prince by a little bit in the Emperor’s mind. Then he would have a chance. Once the Chu family’s Third Son suffered a mishap, the Chu family would be finished. In his previous life, the Chu family supported the Ninth Prince to ascend the throne and then collapsed. Even if the Ninth Prince’s leg was cured, what then? The trajectory had changed, he wouldn’t get up there!

In his hand, he held his biggest card. It would be the last straw to suppress both the Ninth Prince and the Third Prince. Once this card was played, he hoped it would accomplish his wish...

On the tenth day, Prince Rui and the Ninth Prince set off for Lingyin Temple together.

The two of them burnt incense and observed vegetarianism in the temple for three days, then returned to the capital. Prince Rui would drop by the Senator’s Mansion on the way to see his son Li Xuan. The Ninth Prince and Marquis Chu accompanied him to the capital city.

After they entered the Senator’s Mansion, a servant reported that the old master and the lady were enjoying the moonlight in the main court and showcasing their talents with the children. Consequently, they all went over.

Because it was pitch black and far away, plus Prince Rui only paid attention to his own son, he did not notice anything unusual about Chen Dabao. He also didn’t notice anything strange in the Ninth Prince’s eyes.

The Ninth Prince was very excited. Before he came to Lingyin Temple, his mother had instructed him to go and check on Shiyi.

Although some distance away, he could tell that Shiyi resembled his mother and was smart, lively, and also happier. The joy and laughter were experiences the Ninth Prince had never had in his life.

His mother often cried secretly because she missed Shiyi. He had to tell her when he got back that it was a great blessing that her brother could live outside the palace... The Ninth Prince suppressed the excitement in his heart, but his eyes kept flickering, seemingly with a sense of teariness.

The Ninth Prince, Prince Rui, and Marquis Chu were invited into the main court. After they sat down, the old master and Chen Afu led the children in performing rites for the two Princes.

They promptly responded, "Old master, no need for such formalities. Mrs. Chu, please take a seat."

Chen Afu then led the children in saluting Marquis Chu

Both Princes gave gifts to the children simultaneously. The servants also brought in clothes and food that Prince Rui’s wife sent for Li Xuan, as well as gifts for Chen Afu.

Chen Afu let Li Xuan pay separate respects to Prince Rui and quietly instructed him to call him properly.

Li Xuan didn’t have much impression of Prince Rui. He didn’t find him likeable back in the royal mansion and even less so now after such a long absence.

Prince Rui was reckless and didn’t care much about his two sons. Although he cared more for this legitimate son, he didn’t show it.

Li Xuan obediently knelt and greeted Prince Rui, even saying the words, "Greetings, Father."

Prince Rui was very pleased and was about to encourage his son to continue his studies when he saw Li Xuan getting up and running to Chen Afu, hugging her tightly and saying, "I like aunty, big sister, big brother, and also Grandpa."

Prince Rui was utterly embarrassed.

The old master laughed, "Prince Rui, it’s already a big step for Xuan’er to act like this. Once he stays with Lady Lingxuan a little longer, things will get better. Then you father and son can...

He dared not say the second half of his sentence. Although he also liked Li Xuan, raising two members of the royal family at home was too much pressure.

Meanwhile, while those two were talking, Chu Lingxuan, who was sitting next to the Ninth Prince, naturally pulled Dabao to rest on his lap. The Ninth Prince exchanged a few words with Dabao, seemingly unintentionally.

Dabao responded very politely.

After they had chatted casually for a while, the two princes were accompanied by three generations of the Chu family to the outer courtyard.

In the inner courtyard, Chen Afu observed the jade pieces the Ninth Prince had given the children. The jade pieces were all similar in size, around the size of a child’s palm, but their value varied greatly.

The Chu family’s Chu Hanyan, Single Jieyu, and Alu received jade pieces of good quality, but their pieces paled in comparison to the jade piece given to Dabao. Chen Afu let Dabao play with the jade piece for a while, then asked Mrs. Luo to help put it away. He should not wear it casually.

Mrs Luo understood the significance of the jade piece and carefully put it away.

Prince Rui and the Ninth Prince returned to the capital and jointly reported to the Emperor in Qianyang Hall. After Prince Rui left, the Ninth Prince also reported on his healed ailments and his visit to Shiyi.

Having been weighed down by these two matters for a long time, the Emperor was greatly relieved to hear this. He said, "Excellent! Now that your body is well, you should have more children. In addition, you have to console your mother, Shiyi’s life outside is much better than living in the palace. Over all these years, both of you have been very cautious in the palace, like walking on thin ice. How can this compare to the happy and free life Shiyi is leading?"

The Emperor, who was fifty-five this year, looked quite thin and aged. He had clearly dedicated his heart and soul to serving his country.

The Ninth Prince bowed and said, "Yes, I will console my mother."

The Emperor continued, "After enduring for so many years, it’s time to make your move. Start next year by supporting the Sun family to suppress the Wang family. The Wang family and the Queen are becoming more and more unruly. I have discovered a lot of their secrets. However, the Second Prince has restrained himself a lot in recent years and has become diligent and benevolent. It seems that he was spoiled by Queen Wang and the Wang family. If the Wang family falls, and Queen Wang loses power, you must be kind to him in the future..."

The Ninth Prince immediately kneeled, knocking his head to the Emperor and said, "I will follow Father’s teachings."

Afterward, the Ninth Prince hurried to the Luoxia Hall where Shan Jieyu lived.

The moment he stepped in, the Sixth Princess ran to him with a smile. When she got closer, she performed a greeting and said, "Ninth Royal Brother, you haven’t visited Cheng’er and Mother in a long time, we’ve missed you."

The Sixth Princess just turned six. Her name is Li Cheng.

Of course, she was not Shan Jieyu’s biological daughter, nor was she the Ninth Prince’s sister. After Shan Jieyu’s son’s leg was broken, she finally got pregnant again, only to give birth to a "stillborn baby," which distressed her to the point of near madness.

Half a year later, a concubine died from severe bleeding during childbirth. The Emperor then handed her daughter to Shan Jieyu to raise.

This child served as some comfort for Shan Jieyu.