PDLP Chapter 385 Testing
Chapter 385 Testing
Noticing the tense atmosphere, Zhen Huan immediately smiled and said in a clear voice, "Sister Duan Fei has been in this palace for decades and has experienced countless ups and downs. Naturally, your knowledge and experience are far beyond the reach of your sisters. You are well versed in palace rules, calm and composed, and generous to others. You are truly a role model for your sisters. In the future, when you encounter problems, you will have to rely on your guidance!"
As she spoke, she bowed slightly, her posture humble yet elegant, with a gentle smile on her face, appearing sincere and modest.
Concubine Duan's expression changed slightly, and she looked up at Zhen Huan: "Sister, you are too kind. Sisters in the palace should support each other. If you need anything, I will do my best."
Seeing her relax, An Lingrong slowly turned around. Although she had a smile on her face, the shrewdness in her eyes had not faded, and her tone was no longer as cold and hard as before: "Empress Duan, do you still remember the agreement we made?"
Qi Yuebin's expression was calm, a hint of certainty flashed in his eyes, and his tone was calm: "Of course."
The word "brief" is powerful.
"That's the best!" An Lingrong nodded with satisfaction, clasping her hands in front of her and gently rubbing the armor on her fingers. "Sister Duanfei is a smart person. We might as well speak frankly. The Queen is under house arrest now, but she's just a centipede, even though she's dead. If she ever makes a comeback, it would be a real problem. Do you have any suggestions?"
Qi Yuebin heard this, a meaningful smile playing on her lips, but she didn't rush to answer. She slowly lifted the teacup, her fingertips gently brushing the rim. Steam rose, blurring her features but adding a touch of mystery. She took a sip, the fragrance lingering between her lips and teeth, as if savoring something, or perhaps pondering something.
After a moment, she slowly spoke, her tone calm, yet with a hint of tentativeness: "Sister, what do you want to do?"
She did not answer directly, but threw the question back, firstly to test An Lingrong's thoughts, and secondly, to wait for the other party to show her cards first.
An Lingrong was startled for a moment, her eyes flickering for a second before she regained her composure. She sighed inwardly, truly an old fox, unwilling to express her feelings easily.
She pursed her lips, her tone becoming more earnest. "Sister, you're joking. I'm a fool. We three worked so hard to achieve the current situation. You've seen all the hardships, and you've left no room for error. The rest will naturally be decided by you. We'll follow your instructions."
Her tone was humble, her attitude subdued, as if she were handing all the initiative to Qi Yuebin. Yet, she knew deep down that this game of chess was far from over. While the Queen had temporarily lost power, the situation in the palace was volatile, and no one could guarantee what would happen next. While the three of them had temporarily joined forces, they didn't necessarily trust each other completely. For now, she could only retreat, first exploring Qi Yuebin's intentions before making any plans.
Qi Yuebin's eyes flickered with a barely perceptible smile as she listened to her words. She set down her teacup, tapping the table lightly with her fingertips, her tone remaining calm. "Since you've said so, I might as well speak frankly. You've been managing this palace for years, and the Queen has long since run out of people to rely on, but she still has a prince!"
An Lingrong frowned, a hint of caution in her tone: "Are you talking about the Third Prince?"
Qi Yuebin nodded slightly, his eyes deep.
An Lingrong's expression instantly darkened, and she said firmly, "No, I've already said it before. There's no need to involve children in harem struggles! They are innocent and shouldn't become victims of our struggle for power."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yuebin curled up the corners of his mouth into a sarcastic smile, his tone filled with disdain: "Women's kindness. Sister, do you know that the Third Prince is the Queen's hope? As long as he is around, the Emperor will not do anything to the Queen for his sake. If we don't get rid of him, won't our efforts be in vain?"
An Lingrong slammed the table and stood up, a trace of anger flashing in her eyes: "Empress Duan, there must be a bottom line! We are all mothers, and we have to consider our children. The Third Prince is just a child, what has he done wrong?"
"A man is innocent, but he is guilty of possessing a treasure. His fault is that he was born into an imperial family and has the Empress as his adoptive mother!"
"This is not for him to decide!"
Qi Yuebin was stunned by her sudden and intense reaction. He obviously did not expect An Lingrong to be so determined.
After a long while, she narrowed her eyes and said, "You must think carefully. Matters in the palace are always a matter of life and death. If we are soft-hearted, we might regret it later."
An Lingrong took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger. After a moment, she gradually calmed down. "Empress Duan, the Third Prince has a simple and honest character and a kind heart. He has never done anything bad. He poses no threat to us. Why must we kill him?"
Although she had gone through many hardships in the palace and had become deep-minded, the kindness in her heart that had not been completely erased made it impossible for her to harm a child.
Zhen Huan frowned slightly after hearing this, and after a moment of serious thought, she said, "The Third Prince is not very talented. The Emperor's expectations of him have long been dashed, and he has given up on training him. He even said that it would be enough for him to become a wealthy prince in the future. Therefore, the possibility of him ascending the throne in the future is very small.
He's sixteen now, old enough to start his own household. Once he leaves the palace, his contact with the Empress will be even less frequent. I can find an opportunity to tell him about the doubts surrounding Concubine Qi's death. Once he learns the truth, he'll become estranged from the Empress and pose no threat to us. There's really no need to attack him."
She understood that she had to have some means to survive in this palace, but she also didn't want to commit evil for no reason. The Third Prince really didn't have the ability or the mind to be their enemy, and he really shouldn't be the target of their elimination.
Shen Meizhuang, who had been silent the entire time, also nodded. "Our enemy is only the Queen, and has nothing to do with anyone else! The Third Prince is already pitiful. His mother has passed away, and he is not valued by his father. Why should we bother making things difficult for him? Every wrong has its perpetrator, and we only need to focus on overthrowing the Queen."
She has always been clear about gratitude and resentment. In her opinion, their struggle should not affect innocent people, especially a prince like the Third Prince who has a rough life.
Qi Yuebin's expression changed slightly as she listened to their words. She was silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in her mind. She understood that what they said was reasonable. The Third Prince could hardly pose a substantial threat to them. Moreover, if she attacked him, it would inevitably give people a reason to criticize her and cause the Emperor's dissatisfaction.
But years of palace fighting have made her cautious and suspicious, and she is always worried about potential risks.
After a long pause, she slowly spoke, "Since you all say so, then let him go for now. But this matter cannot be taken lightly. We still need to send people to monitor his every move. If he makes any move and secretly colludes with the Queen, you will have to think carefully!"
The three of them nodded together.