"Father! Won't you speak up for your son? Changle is your favorite daughter - in - law! You've always doted on her so much!"
Sun Chong wailed pitifully, clinging to Sun Wuji's leg.
But Sun Wuji didn't side with him. Instead, he pointed at his son and scolded, "In front of me, you pretended to take good care of Lizhi, being so considerate. Who would have thought you were two - faced! And now you've pulled such a stunt! It's simply absurd!"
Actually, just from the way they addressed Princess Changle, one could tell the difference in their closeness.
If it weren't for the presence of the Emperor, the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the little princess, Sun Wuji would really have liked to hang this good - for - nothing up and beat him.
If he had married a daughter from another family, taking in a few concubines wouldn't have been a big deal. But Lizhi was the apple of the Emperor and the Empress's eye. She was as precious as their eyeball. Apart from the little princess, wasn't she the most beloved before?
After marrying Lizhi, how dare he pull such tricks? Did he think the Emperor and the Empress were good - tempered and wouldn't dare to do anything to him?
"Father, I know I was wrong. I really do!" Sun Chong said in a hurry.
Empress Zhangsun was annoyed by his words. She waved her hand and said, "Take him away. Don't disturb Lizhi's rest."
"Yes."
Several strong eunuchs rushed out and dragged Sun Chong away.
"You go back and reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors. Without my permission, you're not allowed to go anywhere or see anyone!"
As for that Yue Niang, of course, she didn't end up well.
Sun Chong himself was in deep trouble and couldn't even save himself, let alone protect Yue Niang.
When they were confiding in each other in bed, there might have been some true feelings, but now they had faded away.
When things were at their most chaotic, Li Jingyun, nestled in her mother's lap, fell asleep while listening to her parents scolding her elder cousin. Her elder brother carried her to the next room and covered her with a quilt.
Li Lizhi woke up the next morning, at a quarter past nine.
Her consciousness was still hazy. Her only thought was to see her newly - born child. But no matter how hard she looked, all she could see were the elaborate and gorgeous bed curtains and the blurry figures moving back and forth outside. She couldn't tell who was who.
Where was her child?
She clearly remembered giving birth to him!
Where was Hong Xuan? Logically, she should be by her side.
But she looked all around the room and didn't see that small figure.
Could it be that Sun Chong had done something again?
"Hong Xuan? Hong Xuan?" Li Lizhi's voice was still hoarse as she called out twice.
The closest maid to her heard her and quickly leaned over. "Princess Changle? What do you need?"
"My sister, Hong Xuan? Where is she? And my child? How are they? Didn't Sun Chong make things difficult for them?"
Li Lizhi ignored her sore throat and forced herself to speak.
Seeing this, another maid shouted, "Princess Changle is awake! Hurry and report to the Emperor and the Empress!"
"Princess, the little princess was exhausted from her overnight journey and is still sleeping. Your child is in the next room. He was just having his milk. Thanks to the little princess, everything is fine." The maid said with a beaming smile.
Before she finished speaking, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun rushed over in a hurry, followed by Li Jingyun.
In another room, the wet - nurse carried the baby over.
"Father, Mother. You're both here?"
"I sent someone to call them. If they didn't come, what weight would my words carry? Not only them, but also big brother's. But big brother was in a hurry to go back and handle state affairs today, so he didn't wait for you to wake up." Li Jingyun ran over and held Li Lizhi's somewhat cold hand, her face full of distress.
Last night, she had been in a panic and hadn't had a good look at her sister.
Even now, Sister Lizhi's face was still so pale, without a trace of color. It was obvious how much the childbirth last night had affected her body.
"Lizhi, from now on, you'll get a divorce from Sun Chong. Don't give him a good look when you see him in the future. I know you're soft - hearted, but this isn't the time for it."
Empress Zhangsun gently advised her stubborn - tempered daughter. She had raised this child herself and knew her character best.
"Thank you, Father and Mother, for making this decision for me."
Li Lizhi nodded.
Since she had entered a dead end, she should turn back as soon as possible.
"This child doesn't have a name yet. Let's give him one." Li Shimin changed the subject. They couldn't keep talking about that good - for - nothing and make their daughter sad all the time.
"Since we're getting a divorce, he'll take the Li surname. Li He'an. I hope he'll have a peaceful and happy life, without any hardships." Li Lizhi was helped up and looked at her eldest son as she said.
She knew that when her son was born with great difficulty, he was weak at birth. It was only after taking the pill given by Hong Xuan that he got better.
The same was true for herself. This child was difficult to deliver. The doctors were already preparing for the worst, but Hong Xuan had managed to pull her back from the gates of hell.
"Good, it's a good name. I'll confer on him the title of the Prince of Jingcheng County."
"Father? He's still so young. How can he be a prince as soon as he's born?"
Logically, he should have been a duke. The difference between a prince and a duke was not just a single character. The gap was huge.
Li Shimin's grand gesture of bestowing this title on his grandson surprised Li Lizhi.
"I want the whole world to know that even if this child doesn't have a father, he has his mother and us to back him up." Li Shimin said.
"Daughter, on behalf of He'an, thanks Father."
Li Jingyun was completely confused. How would she know that the title of prince shouldn't be given to this child?
She only thought that this child was really weak and needed to be well - taken care of. He was so light. Little kids should be chubby and cute.
Otherwise, if they were too thin, it would be uncomfortable to hold them.
Li Lizhi had just given birth and wasn't suitable to move. Naturally, this mansion became the place for her to recuperate after childbirth and was given to her.
While they were chatting, a major event also happened in the Eastern Palace in the imperial city.
Crown Princess Su Rui had just woken up. She had been looking forward to having a good chat with her younger brother Su Gui, who had finally returned to Chang'an to take up his post. But to her surprise, the maids and eunuchs were all hesitant. It was obvious that they were hiding something from her.
Under her persistent questioning, a teenage eunuch finally told her, "Your Highness, last night Princess Changle discovered that the驸马 had taken in a mistress. She was so shocked and angry that she gave birth prematurely. The little princess rushed over overnight to save them. She said she had pills bestowed by an immortal. Your Highness, don't worry. The princess and her child are safe."
"Hey? Now Sun Chong is no longer the驸马. He's been demoted to a commoner by the Emperor. Even my younger brother has a higher official position than him." Another eunuch added.
"What? Such a big thing, and you've been hiding it from me? No, I have to go and see!"
As soon as Su Rui stood up, she felt a sharp pain in her stomach and couldn't help crying out.
The imperial doctors and midwives who had already been prepared in the palace quickly rushed over.
Li Chengqian, who was buried in state affairs in the political affairs hall, received the news immediately and rushed over. He paced back and forth outside.
Why did this happen one after another?
Could it be that the two kids had planned it?
May God bless that this child will be born smoothly and the Crown Princess will be safe and sound!