Chapter 82.2: Schemes

“Is this true?” Noble Consort asked in disbelief.

“Naturally it’s true. In actuality, regarding this matter, if one deliberately pays attentions, one would still somewhat know a bit. Why didn’t anyone notice before?” Li Hong Ming clearly felt annoyed that such an important matter, he’d only learned two days ago. “Do you know why that Miss Ruan was also that coincidentally at White Dragon Temple? Reportedly, it’s because she heard sixth brother got punished, and so she immediately followed over. If not for the people sent to White Dragon Temple this time inadvertently discovering, we would’ve still been kept in the dark. Luckily, finding out now isn’t considered too late, just don’t know whether those brothers of mine have also discovered this matter or not.”

“Ming’er, you want to…..”

“Probably because Cabinet Minister Ruan firmly suppressed it, it didn’t get out. If not, then perhaps Ruan Fang Fei and sixth brother would have already had a child by now. Since the concubine has the interest, why not push along the waves……If Cabinet Minister Ruan becomes sixth brother’s father-in-law, don’t tell me he’ll still be able to cast aside relations with us?”

“Cabinet Minister Ruan isn’t someone that’s easy to deal with, furthermore, letting the pearl of his palm become someone’s concubine, if not dealt with properly, not only will we not succeed in roping him to our side, we might even instead become enemies.”

“If everything all come from Miss Ruan’s own hands, and she wholeheartedly is willing…..Sun Yi Jia obviously won’t receive sixth brother’s favor, the name remains but her beauty is gone. Ruan Fang Fei will naturally enter Jin Qinwang Manor as a side consort, and aside from that bit of status, she will be the true mistress of the manor. As long as sixth brother won’t have a second side consort in the future, then no one will be able to stand on an equal footing with her, let alone ride above her. The possibility of Ruan Fang Fei not agreeing is too low. Have to say, being good-looking is just too convenient, with sixth brother being like that, yet still be able to be thought of highly by such an immortal fairy-like young lady like Ruan Fang Fei.”

“Yuan’er being like what? What’s wrong with Yuan’er, what’s not good about him?” Noble Consort Su immediately became discontent.

“Yes, yes, sixth brother is the meat of your heart. In your eyes, there’s nothing bad about him.” Li Hong Ming said rather helplessly.

“This matter, do as you see fit. Handle it carefully, if it messes up, it won’t be a laughing matter.”

“Don’t worry consort mother, I understand the severity.”

Noble Consort Su paused for a moment, “Also, remember to tell your sixth brother in advance.”

“Consort mother really is just constantly thinking about sixth brother’s feelings. Sending him a beauty and still need to ask whether or not he’s willing.”

Noble Consort Su casted a side glance at him.

“Fine, fine, this son knows.” As for whether or not he’ll actually do as told, that was a separate matter altogether. That sixth brother of his is a natural born rebel. If he tells him, perhaps he might even wreck his plans. Besides, the one ‘acting out’ will be Ruan Fang Fei. After the fact, even if he wants to lash out, he wouldn’t come looking for him.

Noble Consort Su glanced at him and didn’t say anything.

Just then, the palace maid hurriedly came to report, “Your highness, Wangye, Wangfei sent someone to come report, saying Concubine Qian’s water broke and is about to give birth.”

Li Hong Ming rather didn’t have any reactions, but Noble Consort Su was slightly startled, nearly dropping the teacup. However, very soon, she calmed down, except there was still a slight disturbance in her eyes, “Alright, don’t stay at this consort’s place any longer, quickly leave the palace. Once the child is born, you can just send someone to report to this consort.”

How could Li Hong Ming not know what his consort mother was thinking. He although also married relatively late, it has still been several years now, yet he only had two di daughters. The women in his rear court weren’t many, but the amount wasn’t considered small either. He had a good deal of business to attend to, so the times he went to the rear court weren’t many, but even so, it still shouldn’t be that in the rear court, aside from the wangfei, there weren’t the slightest movements. But in reality, that wangfei of his really didn’t do anything to those women. Qian-shi was someone personally picked by that virtuous wangfei of his. To give his wangfei face, he slept with her for a few nights, yet he never thought that she actually got pregnant.

Noble Consort Su may appear indifferent on the surface, but what she was actually thinking, others may not be clear, Li Hong Ming however understood too well.

Of the eldest ten brothers, aside from the long deceased number two and number eight, and the still unmarried number six, as well as number nine and ten, who’d only gotten married not long ago, including the sickly number five, all had sons, and only he didn’t have one. Just from this bit, his confidence weakened quite a lot. Under the circumstance where several princes were all married, for the most part, it was impossible for a heirless prince become the heir apparent. Noble Consort Su could equally contend against the Empress, yet on the matter of grandsons, he couldn’t raise her head. As a result, Noble Consort Su truly cared about this pregnancy of Qian-shi very much.

However, in comparison, Li Hong Ming actually wasn’t all that much concerned. Because he was very clear, in this life and death battle, having a son or not actually wasn’t important at all. If it really went according to norm, then this throne couldn’t possibly become his, these were destined from the start. Then, why should he need to waste excess time on those women. In the future, when he ascends the throne, he can get any women he wanted, and have as many sons as he wanted.

“Then this son bids farewell.”

Just as Li Hong Ming exited the palace and got on his horse, his close bodyguard said to him, “Wangye, Jin Qinwang has been found, still in good health.”

“Oh? As expected, his life is sturdy.” Regardless whether Li Hong Yuan was alive or dead, Li Hong Ming didn’t have too big of a reaction. However, through his consort mother’s various words and actions, he learned that Li Hong Yuan was still alive. For him, the benefits far surpassed the detriments. That’s why, although he really wished for Li Hong Yuan to go die, he still hoped that he was still alive. He wanted him to live until Le Cheng Emperor dies, live until he successfully ascends the throne. Li Hong Ming knew that there was something he didn’t know inside. However, just from the surface of things, Li Hong Yuan made enemies on all sides, not holding back at all even when messing with him, but for the most part, the damage he’s caused for others was still far greater than the damage he’s caused for him. That bit of trouble he’s caused for him, at the time, perhaps made him angry until his teeth itched, but in actuality, it was rather insignificant. “Tell this prince the specifics.”

“Yes. Not long after Jin Qinwang sustained injuries and fell into the waters, he was shortly fished by up a large white ape…..”

“Wait, a large white ape? Are you certain?” Li Hong Ming somewhat unimaginably asked.

“The information that came through from White Dragon Temple indeed said this. That large white ape was even seen by quite a few people. It’s even taller than people, and its strength extraordinary. Reportedly, that large white ape is raised by a traveling doctor, and that doctor just happened to have entered into the White Dragon Mountain to pick medicinal herbs some time ago. Perhaps because that white ape has stayed together with that traveling doctor for a long time, not only is it very clever, it can even help out. Heard this wasn’t the first time it has saved someone. The large white ape followed the doctor into the mountains, and perhaps having recovered some natural tendencies, it scuttled about throughout the mountains. When it saw the unconscious Jin Qinwang in the waters, it just took him back with it. That traveling doctor’s personality is also eccentric, not afraid of the noble status. Despite clearly able to tell that Jin Qinwang’s identity is not ordinary, he still didn’t interrupt his journey, instead letting the large white ape carry Jin Qinwang deeper into the mountains. As a result, Jin Qinwang didn’t flow down along the river with the currents. And that’s why, the people his Majesty sent weren’t able to find Jin Qinwang the whole time. That traveling doctor returned after he finished picking medical herbs, and Jin Qinwang finally returned together with him. The injuries on his body were already mostly healed.”

“Then that means, this prince’s sixth brother’s luck really is extraordinarily good. Does that traveling doctor’s identity have any problems?”

“Replying to Wangye, no problems, quite a few people have all seen him before, especially those impoverish commoners. Quite a few people have all received his favor before.”