Peace had returned to the mansion.
Sun, the Concubine, had turned Liu Yushu's courtyard into a complete mess. The old lady had someone sent to repair it, and during this period, Liu Yushu stayed in the old lady's courtyard.
When renovating the courtyard this time, the old lady specifically told Liu Yushu that she could ask for anything she wanted to add without having to worry about other things.
She obediently smiled and coquettishly said to the old lady, "Granddaughter wants a swing. Is that okay?"
The old lady stroked her rosy - cheeked face lovingly and said, "Okay, okay. Now that you're in good health, even if you want the stars in the sky, your grandmother will find a way to pick them for you."
"I don't want the stars. I just want grandmother to always be with me," Liu Yushu said with a smile as she leaned her head on the old lady's shoulder, her small hands holding the old lady's. The old lady reached out to stroke her head and said, "You're just so sweet - tongued."
Nanny Xie led the maids in. The maids placed the snacks on the table.
"Grandmother, why did it take you so long to come back from the palace this time?" Liu Yushu used a silver fork to pick up a piece of crystal - clear lotus - root starch cake, dipped it in plum powder on the side plate, and put it into her mouth. It tasted sour and sweet.
When it came to the affairs in the palace, the old lady couldn't help but look worried. "Her Majesty the Queen's health has been getting worse over the years. It's also because of a heart - knot. Although the Crown Prince has taken the position in the Eastern Palace, he's not in the Emperor's favor. The Queen has been worrying day and night because of this."
Liu Yushu nodded. "The Queen has done her best for the Crown Prince."
"I'm a bit tired. Go and play by yourself," the old lady said with a smile.
Before leaving, she asked Nanny Xie to escort Liu Yushu out and had all the snacks packed for Zuitao to take back.
The weather was nice today. Liu Yushu asked Zuitao to bring a chair to the courtyard. She sat on it, gently closing her eyes, enjoying the quiet afternoon.
The old lady didn't usually talk much to Liu Yushu about the affairs in the palace, but if Liu Yushu asked, she would tell her a bit.
The complicated past flashed through her mind like a carousel. Liu Yushu remembered that in her previous life, Feng Ziyang, the proton of the Nanling Kingdom, had destroyed her motherland. Although she was imprisoned in the harem by Feng Ziyang at that time, she still knew a little about the outside world.
The new emperor of the Yong Kingdom at that time was not the current Crown Prince but the Third Prince. The Third Prince's birth mother was Concubine Yun. Concubine Yun came from an ordinary family. She was the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Rites. It was rumored that she was good at singing and dancing, with an excellent figure and a gentle charm. Her looks were extremely charming. It was said that the Emperor of Yong had taken a fancy to Concubine Yun at first sight during the imperial consort selection and had specially conferred the title of concubine on her after her first night in the palace. She was truly the most favored in the harem.
Whoever dared to compete with such a woman highly regarded by the emperor was courting death.
Concubine Yun was domineering and unforgiving. Unfortunately, her womb was not fertile. She only gave birth to one son for the Emperor of Yong, who was the current Third Prince. The Third Prince was naturally intelligent. Since his birth, he had been highly regarded by the Emperor of Yong. Among all the princes, he stood out. This mother - and - son pair were at the height of their popularity in the palace. Not only other concubines but even the Queen had to give in to them.
So the position of the Crown Prince was only temporary. Who knew when the Third Prince would show his sharpness and drive the Crown Prince out of the Eastern Palace.
As for the Crown Prince, he was the eldest son of the Emperor of Yong. He was of mediocre talent and had a rigid personality, not knowing how to be flexible. This kind of straightforward personality often led to arguments with the Emperor of Yong, making the emperor unhappy. The emperor had scolded him countless times for being stubborn, but he just couldn't change his stubborn and head - strong ways. The Queen was almost dying of anxiety seeing the Crown Prince like this.
Especially in recent years, whenever there was any major event in the country, the Emperor of Yong would take the Third Prince with him. Sometimes, he would even tentatively ask for the Third Prince's advice. The Third Prince answered fluently and handled things comprehensively, thus winning the emperor's heart even more. It was rumored that the Third Prince had suddenly become wiser because of a strategist, but no one had ever seen this strategist. There were only vague rumors that this strategist came from the common people and had been living in seclusion in the marketplace for a long time. Even if the other princes had ideas, they couldn't find this person. The marketplace was so vast that finding an unknown hermit was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Liu Yushu took a deep breath and thought that currently, everyone thought the Third Prince would inherit the throne in the future and were flattering him. The court must be divided into two factions: the Crown Prince's faction and the Third Prince's faction. Her father, Liu Daqiang, was related to the Queen and was also the tutor of the princes. He had already been classified as a member of the Crown Prince's party. But since the Third Prince had a greater chance of winning, he had the idea of being a fence - sitter, currying favor with both sides. He thought that no matter who became the emperor in the end, they would remember his kindness and wouldn't let him end up miserably.
Only Liu Yushu, who had been reborn, knew that the Third Prince, who would become the new emperor in the future, was not a wise king. The Yong Kingdom's territory would be ruined by the Third Prince, and finally, the country would be destroyed by Nanling.
No, she must not let the Third Prince become the emperor at all costs. Since she couldn't kill Feng Ziyang, she had to find a way to stop the Third Prince from ascending the throne. But she couldn't enter the palace, and she had no idea which prince had the qualifications to become a wise king.
Thinking of this, she sighed in annoyance. Opening her eyes and looking at the clear sky, she suddenly felt a sense of uncertainty about the future.
On such a beautiful day, she wondered if she would still be able to see it in the future.