Chapter 241: Chapter 241: "You Must Listen to Me on This Matter.

The Changping Marquis’s expression was fraught with worry. He glanced at Zhao Shijie beside him. ’He is one of the Crown Prince’s confidants,’ he mused, ’and Chen Minrou is my daughter’s dearest friend. They are hardly outsiders.’ With that in mind, he spoke freely, "The Jade Liquid Wine gifted by His Majesty contains seductive powder."

Seductive powder...

The two ladies were unfamiliar with this sort of aphrodisiac.

But the name itself—combining ideas of seduction and something bone-deep—was suggestive enough for them to grasp the general idea.

Recalling the two beauties the old Emperor had also sent, it was clear he was displeased that the Crown Prince had only one woman in his household and, as of yet, no heir.

Lady Zheng’s heart tightened with worry for her daughter’s situation.

Chen Minrou’s face, however, changed dramatically. She grabbed her husband’s sleeve. "This seductive powder... is it what I think it is?"

Zhao Shijie nodded. "Rest assured, His Highness did not touch the beauties gifted by His Majesty. He..."

"Rest assured? My foot!" Chen Minrou cried anxiously. "Yaoyao is pregnant! How can she let Xie Jinbai have his way with her now!"

...

The entire hall fell silent.

Lady Zheng turned in astonishment. "What pregnancy?"

If their daughter was pregnant, how could she not have told her family—not have told her, her own mother?

Chen Minrou said, "It was just diagnosed this morning. She’d accidentally ingested musk before, so the pregnancy was already unstable. She absolutely..."

As she spoke, her anxiety flared. "Quick, we have to go get Yaoyao out of there! This baby was so hard-won. If something happens, it will be too late for regrets."

The Changping Marquis had witnessed with his own eyes the moment Xie Jinbai lost all reason and dragged his daughter away. He had even heard her cries of alarm and sounds of struggle.

Things inside had clearly gotten out of hand.

Now, hearing that his daughter was pregnant, his face went pale.

The group rushed toward the study, frantic with worry.

Chen Minrou hurried to follow, but her wrist was suddenly gripped tight.

Zhao Shijie shook his head gently. "This is His Highness’s private affair. It is not appropriate for you and I to be present."

These are the private matters of a husband and wife. No matter how close your friendship, you must show some discretion.

Besides, there is a clear distinction between ruler and subject.

If the child is saved, then all will be well.

But if not...

The wine gifted by the Emperor will have caused the Crown Prince to lose the child he only managed to conceive after six years of marriage.

The bond between the father and son of the Imperial Family would surely be damaged.

The imperial court and the entire nation would be shaken.

Given how much Xie Jinbai values Cui Lingyao, it might even trigger a massive political upheaval.

As subjects, how could they witness the private affairs of the Imperial Family?

"We can’t change anything by going over there. It’s better to go home first and wait until tomorrow..."

"No!"

Chen Minrou could understand her husband’s political calculations, but she could not bring herself to leave knowing that Cui Lingyao might be in trouble.

"I absolutely must go see Yaoyao. If you’re so worried, you can go back by yourself."

Zhao Shijie held her wrist firmly, refusing to let go.

Xie Jinbai was under the influence of the seductive powder and had dragged a pregnant Cui Lingyao inside. Who knew what sort of horrific scene was unfolding in there right now?

Although she was acting out of concern, to others, it would look like she was recklessly insisting on watching the ’spectacle’.

And a spectacle involving Xie Jinbai was not one to be enjoyed.

The Changping Marquis was his father-in-law, so it was justifiable for him to go in, no matter what he saw. But they...

Even if nothing was said to their faces, he might find some pretext to settle the score with them later.

Zhao Shijie’s brow was tightly furrowed. "You must listen to me on this."

He had considered every angle and was determined not to leave even the slightest hint of displeasure with Xie Jinbai.

He pulled his wife and started walking out.

Outside the courtyard, the carriage was already prepared.

He was well-versed in the Six Arts of a gentleman, and though he was a civil servant, his martial arts skills were decent. Once he made up his mind, there was no way Chen Minrou could overpower him.

After struggling several times without success, she was forcibly carried onto the carriage. She gritted her teeth in anger. "Zhao Shijie! Don’t you think you’re being too tyrannical?!"

"I don’t," Zhao Shijie said, pulling her into his arms and speaking patiently. "Listen to me on this. Unless the Crown Princess Consort brings it up with you herself, we are not to get involved."

"What Crown Princess Consort? That’s Yaoyao! The Yaoyao who grew up with us! Something’s happened to her, and now that I know, how can I pretend I don’t just to keep up appearances? What do you take our friendship for?!"

Chen Minrou glared, her eyes wide with fury. "I never knew you were this kind of person! So obsessed with your career that all you care about is the distinction between ruler and subject, maintaining propriety so perfectly without any regard for our past bonds!"

"What bonds?"

The woman in his arms struggled again and again, like a writhing maggot. Zhao Shijie gripped her by the waist to hold her still, a headache building. "Minmin, we’re not children anymore. Our statuses have changed. They are our rulers, and we are their subjects. The relationship of ruler and subject comes first, only then can we speak of other bonds. Understand?"

Ruler and subject first, other bonds second...

The carriage wheels began to turn slowly, pulling away from the Crown Prince Mansion.

Chen Minrou’s body stiffened, and she stopped struggling and cursing.

Zhao Shijie gently stroked her back. "His Highness is under the influence of the seductive powder. Calm down and think. If we go over there, what kind of scene will we walk in on? Is that something we should see?"

"..." Chen Minrou pressed her lips together. "Yaoyao wouldn’t mind."

"Fine, she wouldn’t mind. But what about His Highness?"

Zhao Shijie said, "For his subjects to walk in on something like this, something that also concerns his heir—would His Highness not mind?"

"Even if he doesn’t mind today, what about tomorrow?"

An incident like this is too private. In the future, every time he sees us, he will be reminded of today.

If we were to remain his most trusted and favored subjects forever, it might not matter.

But who can guarantee what the future holds?

For the Royal Family, settling old scores later on is a common occurrence.

Zhao Shijie held his wife, gently instructing her, "She is the Crown Princess Consort, and one day she will be the Empress. There is a distinction between ruler and subject. You should get used to this sooner rather than later. You must not overstep your bounds."

You must have a sense of propriety about what can and cannot be said.

"...So," Chen Minrou’s expression slowly froze, "you’re saying I should be like all those other ladies? That with Yaoyao, I must always remember the line between ruler and subject and no longer confide in her without reservation."

The carriage fell silent for a moment.

Zhao Shijie said, "It’s lonely at the top. That’s just how it is."

Who would dare to bare their heart to a Monarch?

"I refuse!" Chen Minrou scoffed. "All I know is that Yaoyao saved my life. If I start acting like everyone else, I’ll be breaking her heart."

The distinction between ruler and subject certainly exists.

But that doesn’t change the fact that she and Cui Lingyao are kindred spirits and the dearest of friends.

...

「Crown Prince Mansion.」

Night had fallen. The Changping Marquis and Lady Zheng hurried to the study, only to be blocked by Liu Rong.

Upon hearing that the Crown Princess Consort was pregnant, Liu Rong’s expression also changed dramatically.

But when the Changping Marquis tried to enter, Liu Rong hesitated for a moment before extending an arm to block him. "His Highness has given an order. No one is to be let in today, not even if the Heavenly King himself were to arrive."

"You blockhead!" the normally good-tempered Changping Marquis raged. "If something happens in there, can you bear the responsibility?!"

Lady Zheng’s face was also pale with anxiety. She pleaded, "Quick! Let us in! If we call for the Imperial Physician now, there might still be time."

Li Yong and a few other deputy commanders arrived, having heard the commotion.

When they heard the situation, their foreheads broke out in anxious sweat.

After a moment’s hesitation, Li Yong said, "How about... we let her ladyship go in and take a look?"

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