The Emperor was easily persuaded and immediately ordered the construction of the White Deer Pagoda. Since Taoist Chongxu was the only one who knew what the mystical deer looked like and how to attract it back, he had an absolute say in deciding how the pagoda should be built.

Li Chengjing could understand why the Emperor was partial to the Second Prince and pitied Empress Yang who had accompanied him for many years. But being able to understand didn’t mean he could accept it.

The Zhong family could let go of the hatred in order to have a peaceful life, but Li Chengjing couldn’t.

He could never let go.

For a moment, Cheng Yujin was utterly speechless and suddenly admired the wisdom of the folks. Sure enough, people were correct when they said that parents should not put too much pressure on children when they are young, or they would grow up abnormal.

Li Chengjing never said a word of complaint, but Cheng Yujin was particularly distressed for him. After Li Chengjing returned home yet again in the middle of the night, she brought him hot tea and sat next to him to massage his forehead.

The Emperor was even more annoyed by this question. He frowned, “Presumptuous. How can the Yang family and the Empress be the same? The Yang family controls the government and causes disturbance in the country. Of course they must be cut off. But the Empress married the imperial family and has been Zhen’s wife for so many years. How can you disregard her years of hard work and want to cast her off from her position as Zhen’s wife because of the Yang family?”

After Li Chengjing arrived at Qianqing Palace, he did not mention the encounter with Li Chengjun outside, nor did the Emperor say a single word of it.

Both father and son knew very well that the Second Prince had just left, but neither mentioned a word, as if they were tacitly avoiding the topic.

GNU last sponsored chapter by Emma at ko-fi.  Sorry it took so long and thank you for your support!

The death of an empress dowager was not a trivial matter. Cheng Yujin quickly changed into mourning clothes and departed to the Cining Palace.

The palace was already full of cries when Cheng Yujin came. Seeing her arrival, the maids and eunuchs panicked and knelt in greetings, “Greetings to the Crown Princess.”

“What did you say?” Cheng Yujin glared. “Which part of Mingqian is fat? They are just growing up.”

“I was wrong.” Li Chengjing put the two ‘growing’ children on the couch and let them play alone. When he turned around, he saw the item Cheng Yujin had just retrieved from a box and asked, “What is that?”

Empress Zhong’s case had yet to enter trial, but during the investigation period, Empress Yang was confined in her palace, and the old cronies and disciples of Yang Fucheng were getting demoted one after another. It was clear to all that the possibility of Yang Fucheng’s return to power was getting further and further away.

Madam Yang, who not long ago was the wife of the Senior Grand Secretary honored by all, had fallen so far in an instant and was now the prime suspect of poisoning the former empress.

The smile faded from Cheng Yujin’s face. Her eyes became icy, turning her appearance into that of cold beauty. “Your Majesty always like that, relying on your seniority as a grandmother to arbitrarily judge the fates of others. When His Highness was born, you said he was ominous. Before my children were born, you also claimed them ominous. The way I see it, the ominous one should be you, Empress Dowager Yang. You have done too many evil deeds in your life and now brought the consequences upon yourself. Now, the Yang family’s bloodline has been cut off, and so has yours.”