Different from the previous overwhelming rumors, this "conjecture" was only circulated among the noble women. No one dared to mention it in public, it was just a chat or two in private.
Empress Dowager Li was the first wife of the late emperor, the biological mother of Emperor Jianwen, and the empress dowager of Daqi. Her status and honor were unparalleled. As the only favorite of empress Yu, she still had to give in and be patient.
Who dares to criticize Queen Mother Li in public? It’s not like she is impatient!
The matter involved Empress Dowager Li's secrets, and the female relatives were well aware of it and did not dare to discuss it in public. It was inevitable to say a few words in private.
The Crown Princess of Huainan felt quite embarrassed due to the incident involving Princess Yongning and refused to go out recently. Today, because the old lady of Fang Mansion passed her birthday, she had to sacrifice her face and pretend to be calm before going.
The strange looks and inquiries from everyone were all expected by the Princess of Huainan. When someone casually mentioned Empress Dowager Li, they were immediately stopped and looked over meaningfully.
The Crown Princess of Huainan was not a fool. She immediately sensed something was wrong and asked the female family members with whom she usually had good friends in detail. After that, she felt restless for a long time and could not sit still.
After finally staying up until the banquet was over, the Crown Princess of Huainan immediately returned to her residence and told the matter to the King of Huainan who was "recuperating".
The veins on King Huainan's forehead were pulsing, and the sparks in his eyes almost jumped out of his eyes.
Prince Huainan didn't dare to raise his head and take another look.
"Send someone to the princess's mansion," King Huainan squeezed out a few words: "Bring Yongning over. I have something to ask her."
…
Two hours later.
Princess Yongning, who has been "recuperating from illness" for more than half a month, is haggard and thin, has no intention of dressing up, her complexion is dull, and most of her usually stunning beauty has been reduced. She really looks like she has been seriously ill.
King Huainan looked gloomily and stared at Princess Yongning fiercely: "Do you know about the rumors about Empress Dowager Li?"
Princess Yongning's whole body trembled, and her eyes flashed with panic: "Father..."
It’s all true!
It's all true!
King Huainan's face turned livid, and he hit the table with his right fist, making a loud bang. His chest heaved with anger: "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
How could you hide such an important matter from his biological father?
If he had known that Queen Mother Li had unusual habits, he would never have allowed his daughter to grow up beside Queen Mother Li!
Princess Yongning's whole body trembled again, and her eyes flashed with regret and self-blame: "Father, please calm down, I didn't mean to hide it... It's just that I don't know how to open my mouth."
When she was young, she didn't understand anything.
By the time she understood, it was already too late!
She hates all men in the world and likes to be close to women.
She was particularly fond of the then-Crown Princess Yu Lianniang, and her personal maid Yanran won her favor because her eyebrows and eyes resembled Yu Lianniang's.
She was unwilling and unwilling to marry a young man from a high family. In order to cover up her unusual habits, she chose Xie Jun, who came from a poor family and was eager to make a difference...
How could she say these things?
All her pride was reduced to dust in more than half a month.
"Father!" Princess Yongning knelt down in front of King Huainan with a plop, her face full of tears: "It is my daughter who is unfilial and has brought shame on my father! The Queen Mother has always treated me very well... Everything is my daughter's fault!"
"Back then, Xie Mingxi peeked out my secret and used it as a threat. I had to give in and let her enter the Lotus Pond Academy. I never thought that she would actually dare to tell these secrets."
Princess Yongning didn't have any of her usual reserve and pride. At this moment, she was kneeling in front of King Huainan, crying and confiding, like a child who had been bullied and had no power to fight back and could only cry bitterly.
"Idiot!" King Huainan gritted his teeth: "You have so many clues in Xie Mingxi's hands! How dare you fall out with Xie Jun and go to the door to injure the Xie family?"
"Either I killed Xie Mingxi cruelly back then and eliminated the trouble forever. Since I have endured it for several years, why not continue to endure it?"
"Now that the commotion has reached this level, it will soon spread to the palace. When the time comes, Queen Mother Li will lose her face. How can she not express her anger at you? Even the emperor will express his anger at the Huainan Palace!"
The more the King of Huainan spoke, the angrier he became: "I have been cautious for many years to gain the trust of the emperor. Now, it is all destroyed in the hands of this evil obstacle like you!"
Princess Yongning was in tears and did not dare to argue at all.
…
No matter how angry you are, it won't help at this point.
King Huainan had nowhere to vent his anger, and he scolded Princess Yongning before calming down a little.
"Father," Princess Yongning's eyes were as swollen as peaches, and her face was full of panic: "What should I do now? Should I go to the palace to plead guilty?"
"Absolutely not!" King Huainan frowned and said sternly: "You should be ignorant of this matter and go back to the palace to continue to 'recuperate'. I will handle the rest!"
From childhood to adulthood, King Huainan would support her no matter what.
Princess Yongning wiped her tears with her sleeves, responded in a low voice, and then gritted her teeth and begged: "Father, you can never spare Xie Mingxi! She has not yet married into the Tian family, but she is already fighting against us! You can never allow her to be safe.
Live the day!”
You can't do it openly, but if you want to kill in secret, there are many ways.
This serious enemy must not be allowed to stay any longer. Even if we take some risks, we must take action!
King Huainan's eyes flashed with murderous intent and he sneered.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
King Huainan asked angrily in a deep voice: "Who?"
He was having a secret conversation with Princess Yongning. Which servant wouldn't have the foresight to come and disturb him?
The slightly panicked voice of the Prince of Huainan sounded outside the door: "Father, it's me. I have something important to report to your father!" Before King Huainan could answer, he opened the door and walked in.
The prince of Huainan is mediocre in talent, impulsive and irritable, and has a fickle temper. He can't keep his temper when something happens.
When the King of Huainan saw his son in such a panic, he became very angry and shouted angrily: "Why are you so flustered?"
Even if the sky falls, he will bear it! Why are you panicking?
The Prince of Huainan said with a bitter face: "There was news in the palace that the emperor went to Cining Palace today. For some reason, he had a dispute with Empress Dowager Li and they quarreled for several times. The emperor left Cining Palace in anger."
King Huainan's heart suddenly sank.
He placed an informant in the palace. Someone spread the news about the happenings in the palace.
The filial Emperor Jianwen suddenly had a rift with Empress Dowager Li.
What is it for?
You don't need to think too much, you can make a rough guess... Rumors are spreading outside the palace. As the emperor, with eyes and ears all over the capital, how could he not know?
This matter involves Empress Dowager Li's secrets and is closely related to Princess Yongning. The Huainan Palace cannot stay out of the matter and will be affected sooner or later.
Perhaps, Emperor Jianwen will soon issue an order to summon him to the palace for consultation!
The King of Huainan took a deep breath and said, "Don't panic. We will know what happened in two days." He then ordered the Prince of Huainan: "From now on, pay close attention to the movements in the palace. If there is any news, report it immediately."
