Chapter 715: Accept Reality

Only Princess Consort Zhen and Li Qiong were in the room.

With tears in his eyes, Li Qiong recounted the humiliation he had suffered recently, making Princess Consort Zhen’s heart ache for him even more.

He grabbed Princess Consort Zhen’s hand, begging her to help him escape.

“As long as I can escape, I can still make a comeback.”

But Princess Consort Zhen shook her head. “That’s impossible.”

Li Qiong thought she meant it was impossible to help him escape. His face instantly darkened, his still-childish features clouded with gloom.

“You’re my mother. Are you telling me that even you won’t help me?”

Princess Consort Zhen was taken aback.

She hadn’t expected Li Qiong’s mood to change so quickly, and she couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

But as his mother, she still explained patiently.

“Even if you could escape, you could never make a comeback. Not to mention you’re still young—no one would willingly follow you. With the military power the Regent King holds, no one in the world can stand against him.”

How could Li Qiong not know this?

He just couldn’t accept it.

He said hatefully, “If I had known it would come to this, I should have killed Li Ji and Li Xun back then!”

Princess Consort Zhen frowned. “Xun’er is your own cousin.”

Li Qiong was clearly tired of hearing this.

He said impatiently, “Yes, yes, Li Xun is my cousin. But did he ever treat me like one? If he truly saw me as family, why would he and his father rise up in rebellion?”

At this, Li Qiong let out a cold laugh.

“Family? In the end, it’s no match for power and self-interest!”

Princess Consort Zhen reminded him, “Weren’t you the one who first listened to the slander of those around you and suspected him of harboring ill intentions?”

Li Qiong unconsciously raised his voice. “He *was* harboring ill intentions!”

Princess Consort Zhen replied, “Without any proof, you shouldn’t have baselessly suspected your own family.”

But Li Qiong insisted righteously.

“Who says I have no proof? Mr. Zhu told me that Li Xun and his father are my nemeses. As long as they exist, I can never ascend to the throne. Facts have proven Mr. Zhu right—that father and son have made me lose everything!”

Princess Consort Zhen closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

‘He’d rather believe the slander of an outsider than trust his own family.’

‘How utterly foolish!’

‘If he weren’t her son, she would have stopped bothering with him long ago.’

After a long moment, Princess Consort Zhen finally opened her eyes and slowly exhaled.

“Have you ever considered that you might have been biased from the start? You were convinced that Li Ji and Li Xun would harm you, and that’s why a rift grew between you. That, in turn, fostered their hostility, ultimately leading to today’s outcome.”

Li Qiong was stunned for a moment, then immediately denied it.

“No! Mother, you don’t understand. Mr. Zhu is an immortal! He not only knows everything from astronomy to geography, but he can also predict the future. He made several predictions for me, and every time, the result was exactly as he said. He’s truly incredible! Mr. Zhu once told me that this world we live in is actually a book. You and I, Mother, are the protagonists of this world. If Li Ji and Hua Manman hadn’t interfered, you would have become the Empress Dowager, the most honored woman in the world. And I would have inherited the throne and become the wisest emperor in the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty. It was Li Ji and Hua Manman who ruined everything for us! I hate them!”

Princess Consort Zhen was stunned silent by his words.

It took her a long moment to recover. She reached out and touched Li Qiong’s forehead.

“You don’t have a fever. Why are you spouting such nonsense?”

Li Qiong grabbed her hand and said urgently, “Everything I said is true! I can swear to the heavens. If I’ve told a single lie, may lightning strike me down—”

Princess Consort Zhen quickly cut him off.

“Enough. Don’t ever say such things again.”

Li Qiong looked at her pleadingly, as if she were his last lifeline. “Mother, you have to believe me. I would never lie to you.”

Hearing this, Princess Consort Zhen’s expression grew complicated.

“Have you really never deceived me?”

Li Qiong seemed to recall something, and the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.

He avoided his mother’s gaze and lowered his head, looking guilty.

Princess Consort Zhen spoke. “You once promised me that after I left the Imperial Palace, you would let Manman go home. But what did you do in the end? Not only did you not let her go, but you put her under house arrest and nearly got her killed.”

With every word she spoke, the disappointment in her eyes deepened.

Li Qiong was too ashamed to lift his head.

Princess Consort Zhen slowly pulled her hand back. “Qiong’er, how did you become like this?”

‘She had poured everything into raising him and caring for him. Why had he turned out like this in the end?’

Li Qiong covered his face with his hands, his voice choked with sobs.

“I’m sorry, Mother. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have lied to you. I’ll never lie to you again. Please, can you forgive me one last time?”

Princess Consort Zhen gently stroked his head and said softly,

“You are my son. No matter what mistakes you’ve made, I will always forgive you.”

Li Qiong’s heart leaped with joy, and he immediately looked up. “Mother.”

But then he heard Princess Consort Zhen add another sentence.

“But Manman is not your mother. She has no obligation to tolerate your selfishness. You must take responsibility for your actions.”

Li Qiong felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head, chilling him to the bone.

Princess Consort Zhen continued, “I will find a way to plead for you, to try and give you a chance to live. As for anything else, don’t even think about it.”

With that, she slowly stood up.

Li Qiong reached out in a panic, trying to grab her sleeve.

“Mother, don’t go! You’re the only one who can help me get everything back now! I’m begging you…!”

Princess Consort Zhen avoided his hand.

She looked at her son kneeling on the floor, begging her desperately, and her heart ached with sorrow.

But in the end, reason overcame emotion.

She didn’t want her son to continue living in an unrealistic fantasy.

She said, word by word,

“Qiong’er, accept reality.”

Her words were like a knife, mercilessly severing Li Qiong’s last hope.

His hand fell, and his entire body slumped in defeat.

“Get some rest. I’ll come see you again another day.”

After saying this, Princess Consort Zhen steeled her heart, averted her gaze, and turned to walk out.

As she neared the door, she suddenly heard Li Qiong’s voice from behind her.

“You were the ones who told me I was the Crown Prince, the heir to the Great Zhou Dynasty, that everything in this world would be mine. I was the Crown Prince for more than eight years. I lived every single day according to the rules you set. I did my utmost to study, to make myself more mature than others my age. I worked myself to death trying to earn your approval. I wanted to be an outstanding Crown Prince. But now, Mother, you’re telling me to accept reality… HAHAHAHA! Don’t you think that’s ridiculous?”

Princess Consort Zhen stopped in her tracks.

She slowly turned to look at Li Qiong, who was prostrate on the floor, laughing loudly.

Li Qiong was laughing through his tears.

Tears streamed relentlessly down his cheeks.

“You told me to be the Crown Prince, so I was the Crown Prince. You tell me to accept failure, so I have to accept failure. Why?! Why should I have to do whatever you say?!”