Chapter 295: Chapter 296: He Didn’t Want to, and Couldn’t, Miss It

At Madam He’s suggestion, Hua Manman decided to make a new set of clothes for Prince Zhao.

She grabbed a measuring tape, ready to take Prince Zhao’s measurements.

When Li Ji learned she was making clothes again, he couldn’t help but think of the ill-fated cloak that was ruined before it was even finished.

He smiled and declined.

"Thank you, but I have enough clothes. You don’t need to make any more for me."

The magical experience of a cloak turning into a small pouch was something he only needed to witness once.

Hua Manman looked at him reproachfully. "Does Your Highness look down on me? Do you think my skills are too poor?"

’With skills like yours,’ Li Ji thought, ’even saying the word "skills" is an insult to the craft.’

Fortunately, he retained a last shred of decency and didn’t say what he was thinking. Instead, he put it tactfully.

"Instead of clothes, I’d rather have a new pouch."

Hua Manman said, "Didn’t I already make a pouch for you?"

Li Ji replied calmly, "I can’t wear the same pouch every day, can I? I need a spare."

Hua Manman thought that made sense. She asked enthusiastically.

"Do you have any requests for the pouch?"

Li Ji answered without hesitation.

"No green."

Hua Manman blinked. "You don’t like the color green?"

Li Ji stared at her, his face devoid of expression.

Hua Manman said, "Alright, I get it. No green it is. Whatever you say."

With the experience from last time, Hua Manman didn’t need anyone’s guidance and smoothly finished a bright red pouch.

To show that her skills had improved, she even embroidered a pattern on its surface.

Madam He had two new sets of clothes delivered to the Prince Zhao Mansion.

One set was a silvery crimson, the other a light pink. Both colors complemented her skin tone well and were perfect for the New Year, looking very festive.

After confirming the clothes fit perfectly and needed no alterations, Hua Manman had someone put them away, planning to wear them during the New Year festivities.

「In an inconspicuous villa outside the city.」

Li Ying stood under a plum tree, his hands clasped behind his back.

Before him, a branch of plum blossoms bloomed quietly, its light pink petals dotted with white snow.

Liang Yong walked over quickly and bowed respectfully.

"Fourth Prince, Lin Qingzhi has confessed. She said she doesn’t actually have the ability to foresee the future. She knows what will happen because she died once and was reborn."

The idea of rebirth was so bizarre that Liang Yong was still skeptical.

But Li Ying showed no signs of doubt.

His reaction was exceptionally calm. "What else did she say?"

Liang Yong reported truthfully.

"She said there will be an accident during the repairs of the Imperial Ancestral Temple this year."

...

Through Li Ying’s arrangements, the Fifth Prince, Li Yan, "happened" to learn that the Father Emperor had entrusted the repairs of the Imperial Ancestral Temple to Prince Zhao.

Li Yan was indignant. He ran to his mother to complain.

"I’m obviously Father Emperor’s own son, so why is he always partial to Prince Zhao? He even gave him a task as important as renovating the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

Consort Liu was also seething with frustration.

First, a eunuch under her command had been beaten to death by the Emperor’s order. Then, for more than half a month, the Emperor hadn’t visited her in Lingxue Hall, clearly giving her the cold shoulder. On top of that, Ruyi Building, which was under her brother’s name, had been trashed by Prince Zhao.

These incidents, one after another, piled up in her heart, leaving her agitated and uneasy.

Hearing her precious son’s complaints now only agitated her further.

She couldn’t help but blurt out.

"Prince Zhao is the bastard he had with another woman. Of course he dotes on him."

Li Yan’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you saying Prince Zhao is also Father Emperor’s son?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Consort Liu regretted them.

She shouldn’t have let her son know about this. Knowing him, he wouldn’t be able to keep it a secret.

If he ran his mouth and angered the Emperor, he would be the one to suffer in the end.

Consort Liu gripped his shoulders and warned him sternly.

"Forget what I just said. Pretend you heard nothing."

Li Yan nodded numbly.

A moment later, he couldn’t resist asking.

"Is it true?"

Consort Liu rubbed her temples wearily. "This is not for you to know. Don’t ask."

But Li Yan wouldn’t give up. "I’m just asking. I promise I won’t tell anyone."

Consort Liu worried that her son would go asking others for the answer. Rather than let him do that, it was better for her to explain things clearly.

"It’s true. Prince Zhao is indeed the child of Princess Rouwan and the Saint. It’s not just me who knows; the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and Princess Ningyang all know as well."

Along with his shock, Li Yan felt a sense of ’I knew it’.

No wonder Father Emperor was so partial to Prince Zhao. It was because they were related by blood.

Li Yan asked, "Did Duke Zhen know about this?"

Consort Liu didn’t answer.

In truth, she didn’t know the answer to that either.

If Duke Zhen had known that Li Ji was not his biological son, would he have continued to serve the Emperor with such devotion?

Li Yan put himself in Duke Zhen’s shoes. If he had encountered something like that, he would have, in all likelihood, risen up in rebellion.

No man in this world could tolerate being cuckolded.

At this thought, Li Yan felt a strange sense of relief.

Thank goodness Duke Zhen was already dead.

If he were still alive, the entire Great Zhou Dynasty would have likely been thrown into chaos.

Li Yan asked, "What about Prince Zhao? Does he know his true parentage?"

Consort Liu still just shook her head.

"It’s not clear."

Logically, Prince Zhao shouldn’t know. But his actions are always unpredictable and cunning, making it difficult for outsiders to guess his thoughts. Perhaps he has known the truth for a long time.

Li Yan tugged at his sleeve, looking anxious and restless.

"Father Emperor is so partial to Prince Zhao. It’s clear he holds him in high regard. What if Father Emperor wants to make him the Crown Prince?"

Consort Liu analyzed calmly.

"He probably won’t... at least not in the short term. To make Prince Zhao the Crown Prince, his name would have to be written into the royal family’s genealogy. This means his parentage would be exposed. The Emperor having an affair with the wife of a high-ranking minister... If something like that got out, it would be a complete disgrace to the Heavenly Family. The Saint wouldn’t be so reckless."

Hearing this, Li Yan relaxed a little.

He let go of his wrinkled sleeve and paced a few steps around the room.

The renovation of the Imperial Ancestral Temple might seem trivial, but it was actually crucial because it represented the Emperor’s favor.

With the position of Crown Prince currently vacant, some court ministers had already chosen their sides, while others were still watching from the sidelines.

If Li Yan could win the Emperor’s favor, he could sway those wavering ministers to his side.

This would be a huge advantage for him.

He didn’t want to miss this chance, and he couldn’t afford to!

Consort Liu naturally knew this as well, but as a concubine of the rear palace, she couldn’t directly interfere in court affairs.

Besides, the Emperor had been giving her the cold shoulder recently, so she had no opportunity for any pillow talk.

She could only say, "You’ll have to ask your uncle to help you figure something out."