Chapter 695 - Courting Death

"Interesting…" the look of shock came from his noble face, he tilted his head slightly as he tries to digest the new information he just received, he never felt scared and amused at the same time. 

"This is not the time to be amazed, imperial brother" Princess Youya annoyed with his light reaction "There would be a great battle in our city, and the imperial family will be dragged into this chaos if we don't do something, we have to tell the emperor immediately if we don't want a war to fall on our kingdom!" 

"Calm down Imperial sister" The crown prince poured a cup of tea to eased her nerves then he calmly said: "Don't worry, isn't madam Zhao has told us not to do anything….so we don't have to do anything" The crown Prince opens his hands and smiled.

But, I'm afraid Father Emperor would choose to side with Sanguan Jin Sheng because of the Queen Dowager persuasion, if that happened…." Princess Youya clenched her fist anxiously, she didn't want any war to happen in her kingdom.

"You don't have to worry about that, Father Emperor would not sacrifice the Kingdom's safety for the sake of filial piety in the end he was Emperor first before anything else…" The crown prince spun the teacup with a cold smile on his gentle face. The relationship in the royal family mostly superficial the bond that connected them was neither blood nor loved, but simply a mutual benefit to each other like Princess Youya and the crown prince.

Princess Youya needs the crown Prince's support so that she could survive in the imperial harem while the crown prince needs Princess Youya's insight to know the situation inside the harem to gain valuable information. Together they watch each other back and thrived from the hurdled of imperial family life.

"I heard the Imperial Grand Mother urged the Emperor to reprimand Long Ming, she even asked the emperor to forced evict Long Ming and his people from Tien Shan Manor using fake land certificates…" Princess Youya shook her head helplessly, she thought the Queen dowager was getting older and she becomes muddle head. 

Who would be crazy enough to kick out Long Ming from his owned house, did they think Long Ming would lower his head and leave his house obediently like a coward, please, For a man who has the guts to provoked Royal families all over the world, do you think he would treat the Yunmo royal family differently?" Princess Youya didn't understand how the Queen dowager brains works, doesn't she heard the rumors about Long Ming at all?

The crown Prince didn't know whether he should cry or laugh, it was obvious the old lady was way too comfortable in her position that she forgot there still a few people out there that couldn't be underestimated, but The queen Dowager forgot about it after years sitting in a high chair.

She thought her status enough to intimidated everyone in the world, and her thick brocade could save her from harm, she doesn't realize there were some crazy people out there who don't give it dammed about her position or status…someone like Long Ming.

"I wonder what Father Emperor would say" The Crown Prince chuckled lightly, he believes the emperor also warry about Long Ming visit his kingdom

"The rumor said that Father Emperor didn't seem happy with the queen dowager suggestion" Princess Youya didn't know how the old lady from the Sanguan family persuaded the Queen Dowager, she knew the relationship between sister was closed but she didn't know she able to influenced Queen Dowager this much.

"Is not strange that the sanguan family become desperate because Sanguan Li Ye reputation is very bad it will be hard for them to find a good match for her, not to mention this bad reputation would drag down all marriageable daughter in sanguan family to find good marriage, you can say this is the worst situation for Sanguan family, they have to put the blamed on Long Ming and his wife to dispelled some of the bad rumors," said the Crown Prince.

In a world where woman's chastity and virtue value more than life itself, for women, women expected to be kind, gentle, and magnanimous. No family would want a crude, foul-mouthed, and disobedient woman as their daughter-in-law, they can only imagine how messy their Son inner courtyard would be. Doesn't matter if the woman came from an influential family, soon or later she would become her husband's liability, or perhaps she would become the source of bad luck that would ruin their family, so who wanted to take that kind of risk.

"We should talk with father emperor right away before imperial grandmother suggests anymore st….'questionable' idea" Princess Youya twist the world 'stupid' because even she has a close relationship with the crown Prince she still not dare to talk carelessly, incased someone took advantage from her carelessness.

"I agree, I will talk with the emperor tonight, I'm sure Father emperor will listen to me, after all, is not like he has never felt threatened by sanguan Jin Sheng growing strength these past few years" the crown Prince knew he shared the same sentiment with his Imperial father.

The only difference between them is that the emperor was still uncertain about Sanguan Jin Sheng capability, perhaps because he is emperor he feel conceited and overestimated his ability whereas The crown Prince is sure that the Sanguan family would become his number one threat for his authority.

"We Quite lucky we got the information first from Madam Zhao, it's hard to believe the fish eye that people looked down turned out to be a rare precious pearl, Long Ming does have good eyes…. too bad she already married" The Crown prince let out a harsh breath, he genuinely envies Zhao Li Xin's luck, finding a beautiful woman is not hard but finding a wise and brilliant wife is harder than find any treasure. 

"Please don't joke like that Imperial Brother, I'm not sure what Long Ming would do if he heard about this.." Princess Youya reprimands the crown Prince softly, no matter how tight the security around them but the palace has ears everywhere, she doesn't anyone to make this as an excuse to spread ridiculous rumors.

The Crown Prince didn't make another comment he only laugh it out.

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"Who told you to come?!"  Zi Yi Ru screamed when she saw Zhao Li Xin joined the family meeting.

Zhao Li Xin only glances at her  then answers briefly "I was called…"

"Who told you to come, this meeting only for Sanguan family, this is not a place for a wretched son like you, you think just because you allowed living here you suddenly become part of Sanguan family? Dream On!" Her c.h.e.s.t moves up and down erratically as anger thrummed to her veins, she despised Zhao Li Xin, but she can't make him leave the manor, she was forced to swallow her indignant just because her husband might have important plans for that wretched boy, but how about her feeling, why no one cares about her feeling, why she has to to be the one who had to be patient, why she has to be the one who endures the pain?

"Father told me to come, if you don't like it, you can complain to him," Zhao Li Xin said with lazy toned if he could be rather cultivated in his room than attend a useless meeting like this.

"INSOLENT CHILD!" the old madam Sanguan pounded the table "Who taught you to speak like that to an elder!" the old Lady quivering with anger, she also didn't like Zhao Li Xin because of what Qin Mu Yi had done. 

Qin Mu Yi has become a black stain on the Sanguan family's reputation, she hated that wretched woman who betrayed her son, she thought that woman was shameless and disgusting. Clearly, Yuan Xi Mei clueless about his husband and Son's dirty schemed.

Sanguan Wu Hao gloated over Zhao Li Xin's misfortune, who told him to return to the Sanguan family, he should have stayed outside and never returned!.

Zhao Li Xin stare at the old lady who supposed to be his biological grandmother, he tries to searched sentimental feel in his heart, they say blood thicker than water, if it's not worked out with Sanguan Jin Sheng and Sanguan Liu Wen perhaps he thought he would feel something to Yuan Xi Mei, however, he felt nothing…..absolutely nothing.

"Kneel!" Yuan Xi Mei shouted.

Mong Liu leered at his Lord, the old Lord will not take this nonsense and killed them all on the spot, but this is his biological family would his Lord do the same, he subconsciously searches the fire-resistant amulet inside his collar. Who knows when his Lord loses his temper.

Zhao Li Xin squinted his eyes, he contemplated what would he do, Kill? That's to easy, he wanted to see the despair in their eyes when they know everything was too late, perhaps it will comfort his mother's soul in the afterworld, just take this as the last filial acted for his mother.

They thought Zhao Li Xin paused because he struggles with his pride, many of them hated Zhao Li Xin's temperament since he came he never paid respect to the Yuan Xi Mei and Sanguan Liu Wen, he also didn't try to reconcile with Zi Yi Ru or his brothers and sisters. Everyone thought Zhao Li Xin is an arrogant and overbearing young man who didn't know what's good for him.

Zhao Li Xin didn't care what everyone thought of him, he always been apathetic to the world, so it was difficult for him to pretend to care about other people, he even didn't care too much about the King's palace who had accompanied him for years, how could he pretend to care for the Sanguan family that he would kill eventually, it made no sense for him.

He decide to play along, at least until he found out who poisoned him. Zhao Li Xin obediently kneeled on the floor, Mong Liu surprised by how patient his Lord today as a servant he also follows Zhao Li Xin suit. Sanguan Wu Hao smirked, he feel delighted watching Zhao Li Xin miserable stated, he thought Zhao Li Xin deserved it.

"Lu Xin, how can you talk like that to your mother, How could the first Son of Sanguan family have such a bad manner" Sanguan Jin Sheng second concubines chided Zhao Li Xin behavior, she deliberately embarrassed him to gain Zi Yi Ru's favor, no matter what, Zi Yi Ru is still the one who controls the inner courtyard.

"Sister please don't be agitated, Lu Xin is still young and ignorant he might not understand what he had done wrong, as the elder we must tolerate his behavior after all he had been lived outside for too long" the third concubines smile gently but her words demeaning Zhao Li Xin as an uneducated and bruted young man.

Zi Yi Ru feel better after other people humiliated Zhao Li Xin, he wanted to see Zhao Li Xin's self-esteem crushed and she wanted him ashamed of his past, she can't wait to wipe out the smugness on his arrogant face and see him wrecked.

Zhao Li Xin remains indifferent, in fact, he was contemplating whether he should pretend to be afraid or acted deviant. He already obtained the old map so all that was left was the information about the people who poisoned him and then avenged his mother, but he had another way to investigate those two matters just incased the first plan was ruined so Zhao Li Xin didn't worry, one way or another the Sanguan family will end in his hands.

"Lu Xin, I will overlook your mistakes today, hump, after all is not your fault that woman couldn't teach you good manner" the old lady scoffed in disdained. 

Even though Zhao Li Xin's appearance very similar to Sanguan Jin Sheng but his eyes and temperament remind her so much with Qin Mu Yi suddenly her anger rise "Kowtow and apologize to your elder!" she pounds the armchair again.

Zhao Li Xin narrowed his eyes, it seems someone just can't stop courting her death.