Chapter 396 - 396: This Is The Child’s Choice

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“Must I search your soul?”

The crown prince pursed his lips, not making a sound. Qiao Mai pressed against his forehead and released her hand after a while.

A slap landed on the crown prince’s face, sending him flying.

“In such a short time, you betrayed Ling’er?”

She raised her hand, ready to kill the crown prince. The empress rushed forward and held onto Qiao Mai’s arm. “In-law, don’t be hasty. Calm down first, and let’s talk about what happened.”

Seeing Qiao Mai so angry, the crown prince immediately knelt on the ground. “Mother-in-law, I really don’t know what happened.”

The emperor also stepped forward to stop Qiao Mai’s anger. “In-law, please tell us what happened?”

At this moment, Ling’er was assisted out of the room. “Mother, let’s talk calmly. Don’t be angry. This daughter believes the crown prince is innocent.”

Qiao Mai glared at her. “Quickly rest in your room. Don’t leave any hidden illness.”

“Mother, please?”

She looked at the crown prince. “Your man has been affected by a venomous worm. Once infected with this kind of poison, he will be controlled, and in severe cases, it can lead to death.”

The group turned pale. “What poison has the crown prince been infected with?”

“I haven’t studied this kind of insect. If it’s something from the immortal realms, he wouldn’t be able to escape. Fortunately, it’s a local insect, and I have sufficient means to deal with it.’

“So the crown prince is being controlled?”

“It’s possible. But when I searched his soul, it didn’t seem like that. Otherwise, why would I ask him?”

The emperor and empress looked at the crown prince. “Speak up!”

The crown prince gritted his teeth. “I have nothing to say. What I said and did before seemed like a blur, and it was only after spitting that blood just now that I felt clear-headed.

Qiao Mai squinted at him. “Not giving up, huh?”

She closed her eyes, reached in a direction, and grabbed a black-clothed woman by the neck.

The crown prince’s face turned pale at the sight.

The veil on the black-clothed woman’s face was lifted by Qiao Mai’s other hand. “Long time no see.”

The others looked closely. The emperor immediately pointed at her. “Isn’t this the woman who fainted on the road?”

“Yes. Failing to seduce you, she turned to seducing the crown prince. Beautiful women never go out of style, do they? Crown prince?”

Li Yuxuan felt guilty and lowered his head. Qiao Mai looked at the black-clothed woman who was struggling to breathe.

Her fingernail scratched the woman’s face, and a layer of skin peeled off. She then pulled off her mask, revealing an ordinary face.

The crown prince turned even paler. “No, it’s impossible.”

“Whether her face is real or not, I hope you can explain to me about your actions.”

“If you didn’t like Ling’er, there were better men in this world waiting for her. We didn’t have to choose you. Marriage is a big matter, and it involves mutual consent. If agreed upon, you should treat her well. How much time has passed now? You easily changed your mind and betrayed Ling’er for a superficial appearance. This is something I cannot allow.”

The emperor tried to defend the crown prince. “In-law, it might be that thing called a venomous worm. It made him lose his mind, causing him to do such things. I hope you can be lenient.”

Before he could finish his words, the Golden Dragon Guards outside reported.

“Your Majesty, the two midwives surrendered. They were following the crown prince’s orders, intending to harm the crown princess during childbirth and save only the newborn.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Mai slammed her hand on the table, turning it into powder.

“Bastard. Trying to kill the mother and save the child? Are you making space for her?”

She seized the black-clothed woman by the neck, instantly exerting force. With a crisp sound, her neck snapped.

She threw the woman out. “Crown prince, I want to hear a complete explanation. Otherwise…”

Seeing Qiao Mai furious and about to take the crown prince’s life, Ling’er rushed forward and stood in front of Qiao Mai despite just giving birth.

“Mother, even if he is wrong, spare him this once for the child, considering he was manipulated. If it happens again, you can kill him.”

Qiao Mai felt disappointed. “Girl, how many lives do you have to let him mess around? This time, Blackie happened to notice something different about him.Otherwise, you, the child, and the Great Ming Empire- Would you hand them over?”

Otherwise, you, the child, and the Great Ming Empire- Would you hand them over?”

“Mother, he is still young, inexperienced, and has encountered few things. I beg you to spare him this time.”

“You really infuriate me.”

Qiao Mai glared fiercely at Ling’er, then pulled Yuan Jiaqi’s arm, disappearing on the spot.

Ling’er finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Father, Mother, let’s put an end to this matter. I will go rest.”

“Go ahead.”

The two watched the crown prince kneeling on the ground. “If Father guessed right, were you enchanted by her beauty?”

“Son was wrong.” Li Yuxuan glanced at the black-clothed woman lying dead on the ground, sadness in his eyes.

“As a man who stands tall and firm, making a promise means keeping it. You have let Ling’er down.”

“I will repent.”

“During this time, reflect in the Crown Prince’s residence. I am in the palace.

You can entrust Ling’er’s postpartum recovery to your mother.”

“Yes, Father.”

The Golden Dragon Guards escorted the crown prince out of the palace. The emperor sighed. “A lifetime with one person sounds simple when spoken, but it’s challenging in practice.”

“Yes, from ancient times, emperors rarely had one woman by their side, whether it was due to scheming outsiders or the emperors themselves. Sigh.” “Take good care of your daughter-in-law. I’ll go handle state affairs.”

Ling’er lay on the bed, tears streaming down her face. She could still sense the changes in the crown prince despite his pretense.

Considering he was under the control of a worm, she gave him a chance. If there was a second time, not only would Mother not spare him, but she wouldn’t either.

In the courtyard, Flame stood by the window. Ling’er called out to it.

It leaped over the window, and the room immediately felt warm. Its attribute brought warmth to the room.

“Flame, thank you for accompanying me. If he betrays me again, take his life.”

Flame let out a low growl. The crown prince, who hadn’t left the palace yet, trembled upon hearing the growl.

Fortunately, Ling’er’s temperament didn’t follow the Tian family. She was molded by Qiao Mai.

She was willing to give him a chance for the sake of the child.

In Lucky Garden at Tianshui Town.

Qiao Mai was so angry that she smashed everything in the courtyard. She had never been so mad before.

Yuan Jiaqi watched on the side, letting her vent. It was better to let out the anger than to keep it in, as it could harm oneself.

“Wife, this is the child’s choice; let it be.’

“Once a man betrays, he will betray countless times. It’s the same for women. One act of unfaithfulness means a lifetime of distrust. It’s such a simple truth. How many times have I taught her?”

“She still has feelings for the crown prince. Let’s take it step by step.”

“Do you know that an open attack is easy to defend against, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against? His tricks are useless against me, but it’s not the same for Ling’er.”

“He should restrain himself for the sake of that position.”

Qiao Mai sat down and sighed heavily. Yuan Jiaqi brewed tea for her. “Wife, don’t be angry. I believe with you guarding her, nothing will happen to Ling’er.”

“I never expected that someone with a decent appearance and royal blood would be as fickle and heartless as anyone else.”

“Wife, when you held that woman, she kept clutching her stomach. Is she…?”

“If not, why would I be so angry? If he was attracted to her, I could forgive it.

But they had physical intimacy..”