The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Xia Houzhe stepped out of the bedroom and was immediately stopped by two eunuchs.

”Step aside, I want to see my imperial brother,” Xia Houzhe shouted angrily.

The two eunuchs said expressionlessly, ”It’s late at night. We will inform the Emperor tomorrow. Please return to your chamber, Prince.”

Xia Houzhe said, ”I have important matters to report to my imperial brother concerning the safety of Great Qing. Can you bear the consequences if they are delayed?”

”Please return, Prince.” The two remained unmoved.

Xia Houzhe’s face darkened, ”Let’s see if you really dare to stop me.”

He took two steps forward, only to be stopped by someone, who apologized before pressing on two acupoints on his body.

Xia Houzhe fell softly, was caught by another, and was carried back to the bedroom.

Xia Houzhe’s face was filled with shock and anger, ”You, you dare!”

The two eunuchs placed him back on the bed, covered him with the quilt again, and left without a word.

Xia Houzhe: ”...”

He was so angry that he pounded the bed.

Forcing his way through didn’t work. When dawn broke, he said to the Imperial Physician who came to check his pulse, ”I had a dream last night and wish to see my Consort Mother. Please, Doctor Li, make an exception and help me relay this.”

Doctor Li chuckled awkwardly, ”Prince, I am not qualified to relay such requests. However, I can mention it on your behalf when I report to the Emperor?”

Xia Houzhe was extremely angry but forced a smile, ”Then I would be grateful.”

Want to see Princess Consort Ji?

”Do you think he’s trying to use Princess Consort Ji to escape?” Emperor Chu looked at Song Zhiyuan and asked, ”What do you think is going on in his mind? At his age, he’s still so naïve, despite my thinking of him as an opponent before.”

What a waste.

Song Zhiyuan replied, ”It’s probably because Princess Consort Ji trusts him completely, and that may be the biggest card he can think of now. As for before, with Cabinet Minister Ning backing him, naturally, he had no worries.”

It’s like a child who has been protected while growing up, with adults behind him offering advice and handling matters. Once the adults are gone, it’s as if he’s lost his support.

Cabinet Minister Ning and the others probably only needed an obedient pawn, but unfortunately, as this little pawn grew up, his mind became more cunning, and he played too far.

Emperor Chu sneered, ”Cabinet Minister Ning’s judgment is just so-so.”

Song Zhiyuan rubbed the bead necklace on his wrist and frowned, ”Emperor, you may be overjoyed too soon. We must force Ning Hongde to appear quickly and confront the impostor in the side hall. The game of boiling a frog in warm water cannot continue.”

”Why?”

”Do not forget, Emperor, that Cabinet Minister Ning was able to gather these people and endure twenty years without action, showing his stability. Even if everything fails, he must have arranged a retreat for his men. I’m afraid this old man’s already resolved to die and is hiding just to buy time for their retreat base. Thus, even if we capture Xia Houzhe and him, there will still be followers of the former Crown Prince hiding everywhere, however scattered, but they will exist.”

Emperor Chu’s face changed slightly, ”But they are without a leader...”

Song Zhiyuan shook his head, ”As long as the foundation remains, a new leader can always be found. Those followers have not been significantly reduced; how can we be sure they won’t make a comeback in the future?”

In fact, all they need is a trigger to rise. Now, the leader is gone, but their foundation is still there. As long as they hold onto someone from the Xia family, they can rise again. Haven’t they already taken a new little master?

If they bide their time for another twenty years, will the time then be ripe?

Emperor Chu realized this as well, and his dignified face turned dark. Indeed, he had been too pleased with himself.