Chapter 168 - 168: Want Me to Sell Myself?
Li Hongyuan visited Concubine Jin in the palace.
As a prince, he could visit his concubine mother anytime.
However, there had never been any scenes of motherly love and filial piety between the two.
At this moment, Concubine Jin was seated on a couch, cracking melon seeds.
A small mountain of seed shells had already piled up in front of her, with tea placed nearby.
In Li Hongyuan’s memory, his beautiful concubine mother had always spent her days in such leisure, cracking melon seeds after each meal and listening to palace maids play the zither.
Seeing her like this, Li Hongyuan suddenly thought of Jiang Ning.
He began to realize why he had always been annoyed by Jiang Ning’s laziness.
It turned out that she was very much like his mother.
Concubine Jin glanced at him, “Since you have already given the evidence to the Emperor Father, what else do you have to worry about?”
“This time, the third brother almost killed the Princess Consort and the child in her womb. With such a good opportunity, I want him to die thoroughly.”
“What would you like me to do first?”
“Naturally, to whisper in the Emperor’s ear at night.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“I have not been summoned to attend to him for a long time.”
“Then attend him.”
Concubine Jin casually threw a handful of melon seeds at his face, “You little rascal, would you have me sell my body for your petty matters?”
“Human life is at stake here, how is this a petty matter?”
“If he tried to harm your wife, why don’t you try to harm him back?”
“The third brother is like a turtle, don’t you know, Concubine Mother? He even sleeps in armor. Who could harm him?”
“Really?” Concubine Jin became slightly interested, “Does he not take off the armor when he sleeps with a woman? Doesn’t it hurt?”
Li Hongyuan:”… Concubine Mother, please be serious.”
“If you don’t know, why do you bring it up to me?”
“How would I know what the third brother is like when he’s with women? Am I supposed to eavesdrop under his bed?”
“Who told you to eavesdrop? Can’t you get someone else to do it?” Concubine Jin said unhurriedly, “If you want to deal with him, that’s your business. I won’t be involved. But I will never take the initiative to serve the Emperor Father.”
“Aren’t you a favored concubine? Isn’t it your duty to attend to him?”
“There are plenty of young concubines in the Harem. As for me, I’m merely an old hand.”
Li Hongyuan squatted down to massage her legs, “In my heart, the Queen Mother is the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“How do I compare to your wife?”
“She cannot compare to you, of course.”
“Remember what you said and don’t let your wife hear it, or you’ll be in trouble.” Concubine Jin grabbed a handful of melon seeds, “Forget the pillow talk.”
Li Hongyuan said, “Concubine Mother, if the third brother takes the Imperial Throne in the future, you won’t have the good days you enjoy now.”
“Enjoy one more day of good life while it lasts. Nobody can predict the future.”
“Alright, if you don’t help me now, when I ascend to the throne, I will send you to the kitchen to do the hard work!”
“You little brat, how dare you threaten me.” Concubine Jin said indifferently, “I heard that when your wife was attacked, she was with the emperor’s eldest grandson?”
“Yes, if it weren’t for Xiaoqian and the Imperial Guards being there, Jiang Ning wouldn’t have survived the second assassination attempt.”
“It’s a pity that the emperor’s eldest grandson wasn’t injured.”
“Concubine Mother, what do you mean by that?”
“Your wife just suffered some superficial wounds, and the child in her womb is fine. The emperor’s eldest grandson was unharmed too. This incident is hardly significant in your Emperor Father’s eyes. He will, at most, punish the third brother slightly. He won’t do anything serious to him.”
“I understand.”
Li Hongyuan left the Splendid Palace and went to the imperial study..