Chapter 1737 - 630: The Reverse-Faced Female Lead (Part 19)

Chapter 1737: Chapter 630: The Reverse-Faced Female Lead (Part 19)

The Emperor was not the late Emperor’s son.

In those years, the late Emperor’s two Princes were at each other’s throats over the inheritance.

This finally ended with a mutually destructive outcome.

The Princes were dead, and the late Emperor was left with barely half a life.

The late Emperor was nearing the end, and the Empire needed an heir, so he had no choice but to adopt a successor.

Among many Vassal Kings, the late Emperor chose his cousin, the Heir of Prince An.

The Heir of Prince An received the imperial edict and was naturally ecstatic.

However, he knew that this journey to the Capital City would not go smoothly.

His Wife of Heir of Prince An proactively suggested, "Heir, let’s split into two groups, one open and one covert as we head to the Capital City!"

The Heir of Prince An felt reluctant upon hearing his wife’s suggestion.

After careful consideration and his wife’s insistence, he finally agreed.

Thus, his wife, with their one-year-old young son, led the main troop, marching grandly along the main road towards Capital City.

While the Heir took their four-year-old eldest son and trusted aides, secretly taking a shortcut to the Capital City.

Midway, the main troop of the Heir’s wife indeed encountered an assassination attempt.

The guards protected her with their lives, yet the Heir’s wife was severely injured, and their second son was carried away by a guard risking his life.

Not finding the Heir of Prince An among the crowd, the assassins realized they were deceived and swiftly withdrew.

The local government learned of the situation and urgently dispatched officials for rescue.

The Heir’s wife survived, disregarding her injuries, repeatedly urging the officials to search for that guard.

Following the trail left by the guard’s escape, officials found the person, only to find a pile of gnawed bones left by wild beasts.

As for the Second Young Master, although no remains were seen, no one held any hope.

What a joke, such a burly guard was gnawed to only half bones, a tender and small baby was likely long—

These people dared not reveal the truth to the Heir’s wife, but she was a wise woman.

Just by seeing their evasive expressions and faltering speech, she knew her second son had met with misfortune.

"I caused Erlang’s harm!"

The Heir’s wife was grief-stricken, filled with guilt.

From the beginning, she knew of the danger ahead, yet for the Heir, for the bigger picture, she still sacrificed herself and her second son!

The Heir who successfully reached Capital City also felt deep sorrow.

His heart ached more for his wife’s sacrifice.

If not for the Heir’s wife’s mother and son serving as bait, detaining those assassins, he would never have reached the Capital City so smoothly.

Thus, after being named Crown Prince by the late Emperor and ascending as Emperor, regardless of the beauties and Favored Consorts around him, the Heir consistently maintained respect for his wife.

And the "prematurely deceased" second son remained an eternal pain in the heart of the Emperor and Empress.

The Heir, now the reigning Emperor, was a man without the Empress’s delicate thoughts.

Over time, the memory of the legitimate second son slowly faded.

The beloved Favored Consort Shu bore a Prince, who directly became his Erlang.

Of course, in ancient times, prematurely deceased children were not included in the genealogy.

The Emperor’s actions were understandable.

However, this Prince was only two years younger than the prematurely deceased second son, thus there was inherent resistance in the Empress’s heart.

This was the reason for her dislike of Consort Shu and Second Prince, aside from the Emperor’s favoritism, it was due to this matter.

It was only with the birth of the Second Prince that the Empress clearly recognized: the man on the Dragon Throne was no longer the husband she shared mutual support with, but the supreme ruler.

The Empress’s perspective changed, she became increasingly clear-headed and calm.

Never using past affections as a bargaining chip, she only brought it up at the most critical moments.

For example, after the Crown Prince was injured, the Imperial Physicians were all pessimistic.

Courtiers submitted memorials in succession, demanding the abolition of the Crown Prince—a notion the Emperor appeared to disagree with but was inwardly wavering.

The Empress then "dreamed" and awakened from the dream crying out for "Erlang."

The Emperor knew his Empress’s "Erlang" was not the Second Prince Liang Wang but their innocent second son who tragically died on the journey to the Capital City.

The Emperor didn’t cry, but his heart was stirred—

Alas, the Empress married him for over twenty years and bore only two sons.

One even died because of him!

Only one Crown Prince remained, who though injured, might not necessarily become disabled.

Even if abolishment was necessary, it should take place after two or three years, rather than hastily right now!

The Empress successfully leveraged the prematurely deceased second son once more.

Despite elements of her acting, she never truly forgot her youngest son in her heart.