Pregnant Before the Royal Marriage

Chapter 711: Chapter 710: When Dad Starts Playing Favorites

Li You nodded slightly, a gentle smile on his face as he said, “The Crown Prince is absolutely right. However, to me, the heights of social ranks and the nobility or humility of one’s status don’t really matter. As long as there is mutual affection and harmony between the parties, it is enough.”

The Emperor was highly pleased with Li You’s performance, praising, “The Prince of Zhao, he’s a child of great affection and righteousness.”

Quite obviously with regards to these two sons, the Emperor’s heart was beginning to tilt in favor of his illegitimate son.

The Crown Prince’s excessive competence, his overt ambition, had already started to engender dissatisfaction and a sense of crisis in the Emperor.

He is a father, but he is an Emperor first.

As an Emperor, he would not tolerate anyone coveting the throne he sits on.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Even if the Crown Prince is the successor he himself had appointed.

It still wouldn’t do.

The Crown Prince has been raised under his own watchful eyes, enjoying wealth and luxury within the Imperial City. Meanwhile, the Prince of Zhao was unable to claim his heritage, suffering hardships and torment in Silla.

The Crown Prince has a cold temperament, whereas the Prince of Zhao’s approachability is exceptional.

Which child a father would sympathize with – the answer is quite clear.

Initially, the Emperor worked hard to manipulate Jiang Ruobai, making him marry his precious legitimate daughter to Li Hongyuan, to promote Li Hongyuan. Now he was scheming about the last unmarried daughter of the Jiang family. Was this to make up for Li You, or did he have other intentions?

A concubine-born daughter marrying the Prince of Zhao was an unimaginable stroke of luck.

The Emperor and Empress wholeheartedly assumed that Jiang Ning would immediately agree with joy, but unexpectedly, they were rebuffed by her.

The Empress interceded with a smile, “There’s no hurry for this matter. Princess Consort, when you go back and see your sister, discuss it with her. The Prince of Zhao is gentle by nature, marrying him won’t bring hardship. Prince of Zhao, the Princess Consort’s words also make sense. You should let the Princess Consort of Kang County personally visit the Prime Minister’s Mansion to show your sincerity.”

Li You quickly responded, “Your servant obeys Your Highness’s imperial decree.”

“If there’s nothing else, you may go about your business,” said the Empress with a gentle smile. Her gaze on Li You was full of motherly affection.

Those unaware could mistake her for Li You’s biological mother.

Quite obviously, after her attempts to control Concubine Yu and the Sixth Imperial Prince proved fruitless, the Empress has resolutely turned her attention towards Li You, the Prince of Zhao who has returned with high profile.

Even though Li Hongyuan was already the Crown Prince and was gradually gaining power, given the Emperor’s affection and guilt towards the Prince of Zhao, who would ultimately ascend to the throne was still uncertain.

Jiang Ning looked at the Empress’s carefully maintained, dignified face, and couldn’t help but admire Li Hongyuan once again.

If she were Li Hongyuan, she would have never tolerated the Empress upon learning that she was the mastermind behind her own mother’s death.

But Li Hongyuan did tolerate her.

This made Jiang Ning question how much of Li Hongyuan’s affection for Concubine Jin was genuine.

Or perhaps, Li Hongyuan is truly cold-hearted by nature. In his heart, only the imperial throne was the ultimate goal, the most important thing.

It superseded everything else.

If someone could be cold-blooded even towards his own mother, what about other women?

Jiang Ning once again felt lucky that she had realized early on the inherent cold-bloodedness of Li Hongyuan and she would absolutely not be infatuated with his physical attractiveness.

After Li You departed, the Empress also excused herself on the pretext of ill health.

The Emperor then turned his gaze towards Lin Shimo and Wenren Zong.

“Dean Lin, we are very pleased to have you come to the palace to instruct the princes and grand-princes. Crown Prince, you must study well under Dean Lin,” the Emperor said while laughing. “On another note, Wenren Zong, we have already learned of your family’s grievances. From now on, you will stay in Chang’an and continue to serve the imperial court. We believe the position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel is still vacant, you can take that post.”