Chapter 286 - 286 Lu Ze Doesn’t Think Things Are So Simple

286 Lu Ze Doesn’t Think Things Are So Simple

“You don’t really think that Zhou Hengchang likes Princess Ning Fu that much, do you?”

When Pei Qian heard Lu Ze’s reminder, he couldn’t help but look at Lu Ze as if he was looking at a fool. “Zhou Hengchang is not as infatuated as you think. He wants to marry Princess Ning Fu because he wants to borrow the power of Duke Huai Yang’s ministry!

“Now that he has already submitted to you, why would he care about the small benefits Duke Huai Yang’s ministry would bring him?”

Unlike Pei Qian, Lu Ze didn’t think things were so simple.

!!

He put down the pen in his hand and raised his head slightly to look at Pei Qian as he warned, “You have to use your full strength at all times. Otherwise, you’ll be the loser in the end!”

Pei Qian didn’t refute him and nodded in agreement.

“However, now that this matter has involved Duke Huai Yang’s ministry, things will become more complicated!” As Pei Qian looked at the snow that had already stopped outside the window, he sneered before continuing, “Forget it, I’ll make a trip myself!”

Lu Ze didn’t respond. With the fourth prince’s whereabouts known, no matter how unwilling Pei Qian was, he still had to go.

It wasn’t just Pei Qian…

“Let’s go. I’ll go with you.”

No matter what, he was General Wei Bei. Moreover, he had public ties to Pei Qian and was on the fourth prince’s side on the surface. Therefore, it would be unreasonable for him not to appear with Pei Qian.

Just as Pei Qian and Lu Ze were rushing to Duke Huai Yang’s ministry in the north mountain, Princess Ning Fu and Duke Huai Yang’s mother were looking at the fourth prince, who was unconscious with a high fever. They felt conflicted and uneasy.

They were like two extremely hungry rats that had accidentally entered the granary. Looking at the delicious food in front of them, they didn’t dare to eat it for fear that it would be poisonous, but the temptation made them feel uncomfortable.

“Why hasn’t Butler Zhong replied yet?”

Princess Ning Fu tugged at the old consort. This was the twentieth time she had asked in the past hour. The old d consort held her hand tightly. Although she wasn’t much calmer than her granddaughter, she could still maintain her composure.

“He’ll reply soon. Even if riding a horse, they won’t be able to make a round trip so quickly.”

“Then, Grandmother, do you think this person is really the fourth prince?” Princess Ning Fu couldn’t suppress the excitement on her face. However, although she was excited, under the old consort’s gaze, she still suppressed the urge to scream. However, her rapid speech still revealed her joy.

It was the fourth prince!

All along, she had been thinking about how to return to the capital safely and smoothly. Now, God had actually sent such a good opportunity to her!

If she remembered correctly, the crown prince was currently imprisoned in the capital. Although the emperor had not issued an edict to depose him, from the looks of it, the crown prince probably wouldn’t be able to turn things around!

If that was the case, the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince would be the ones with the highest chance of inheriting the throne.

Everyone said that the Third Prince was ruthless and not a good person. Most importantly, the Third Prince was already married. If she tried to hook up with him, it would be pointless.

However, the fourth prince was different.

The fourth prince had a good reputation. He was also gentle and handsome. If she could win his favor…

Then she would be the consort!

Wasn’t marriage the best way to repay her for saving his life?

She had saved the fourth prince’s life now. Did that mean that she was one step closer to her goal?

Princess Ning Fu was so excited that she didn’t hear the old consort call out to her two to three times. By the time she reacted, she had already been pulled out of the warm pavilion and stood under the corridor.

“Grandmother?” Princess Ning Fu was caught off guard by the cold wind and shivered. Then, she snapped back to reality.

She turned to look at the old consort in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“I was going to ask you what’s wrong!” The annoyed old consort raised her hand to clutch her forehead. She could tell what her granddaughter was thinking.

“Even if he’s the fourth prince, don’t dream about it!

It’s impossible between you and him.”

Compared to her delusional granddaughter, the old consort was much more pragmatic and clear-headed.

She pulled Princess Ning Fu out of the courtyard as she explained to her in a low voice, “We can use this opportunity to save him and ask him to help us return to the capital, but it’s impossible for you to marry him!”

“Why?” Princess Ning Fu frowned at her grandmother in confusion. “Grandmother, didn’t you repeatedly instruct me not to give my heart to others so easily?

You said that my marriage is the only chance we can seize to leave the north and return to the capital! Now that such a good marriage opportunity is in front of us, why can’t I marry him?”

“Have you forgotten your identity? Speaking of which, we were one of the four kings with different surnames that the previous emperor issued a decree to confer. But look at how many years have passed. How many kings with different surnames that were conferred back then are left now?

Only the Duke Huai Yang’s ministry is left!

If it were in the past, when the Crown Prince’s position was stable, I wouldn’t have stopped you! But now, the Crown Prince is imprisoned, but the officials only say that the Crown Prince is recuperating in another palace and haven’t issued an edict to depose him!

Do you know what that means?

“As you can see, the only people who can fight for that position in the royal court are the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince. The Fourth Prince has a gentle personality, but he’s a prince. Who doesn’t want that position?

What can a family like ours do to help the fourth prince?

Besides, I’ve also received news that His Majesty has already arranged a marriage for the fourth prince. The future fourth princess consort is the eldest daughter of the Left Ministry and the eldest sister of the current Crown Princess!

The Left Ministry had always been influential in the royal court.

The fourth prince has the support of the Pei family in the army and the help of the Left Ministry in the royal court. Only then can his future position be more stable! Why would he choose you, who only has an empty title and can’t bring him any other benefits?”

The old consort sighed softly. She knew what her granddaughter was planning, but what was the use?

“If your grandfather was still alive, you might have a chance to fight for it, but with our ministry’s current situation, do you want to be the fourth prince’s concubine?

“You’re a princess, so do you have to live such a debasing life?!”