Chapter 283 – My Son Has Facial Paralysis (part 14)

The empress dowager was afraid that County Princess Wanyi would do something stupid again, so she ordered County Princess Wanyi to be sent to the empress.

After County Princess Wanyi left, the empress dowager explained things to Li Su. “Wanyi’s mother is a cousin of my mother’s family. She was a gentle and generous person, but she unfortunately passed away early. If she was still alive, Wanyi would not have ended up like this.”

Li Su thought it was a little strange. “Does the current County Princess Consort Kang care?”

“You don’t know about the situation of Prince Kang’s mansion. County Prince Kang and my niece had a very good relationship. After she passed away, Prince Kang was afraid that the consort who he married would be too high-ranking and would abuse his two children. So, he only married a girl from a humble member of the imperial academy. He was also afraid that if the consort had her own child, it would affect the legitimate children, so the consort is not allowed to be pregnant. The consort is treated like this, not to mention the other concubines in the house. Therefore, the children ended up developing such a temperament. Fortunately, although the eldest prince has some shortcomings, he is capable, and the emperor also needs him. As for Wanyi, although she is a little rambunctious, she is a girl and can’t cause any trouble, so they let her do as she likes!” The empress dowager said with a sigh, “We once took Wanyi to the palace to discipline her. Unexpectedly, County Prince Kang entered the palace a few days later, crying that he missed his daughter. After all, she is his daughter. People don’t want to do anything about it and We are utterly helpless in this situation.”

Li Su sighed in her heart. It turned out that the upper beam was not right and the lower beam became crooked. This County Princess Wanyi was born lucky. It was unfortunate that innocent people died by the hands of County Princess Wanyi. Even their families did not mention a word because they received a large amount of compensation.

In front of those in power, the lives of ordinary people were so worthless. This was trash!

“If Wanyi was half as sensible as you, We could rest assured.” The empress dowager patted Li Su’s hand.

Li Su smiled. County Prince Kang and the eldest prince protected her shortcomings. The empress dowager was also one of the people guarding her shortcomings! It was because of their protection that County Princess Wanyi had no fear and could behave in such a manner.

Fortunately, Li Su’s attitude towards the empress dowager had always been reserved. She had never regarded the empress dowager as an ordinary old person next door. What simple character could stand out in the struggle for succession during the period of the late emperor?

Who would have thought that, not long after that, the empress arrived.

The empress dowager saw that only the empress was here, and she did not see County Princess Wanyi, so she asked, “Where’s Wanyi?”

“Wanyi said she had something to do and has already left the palace.” The empress was upright, and she was not used to County Princess Wanyi’s behaviour. She was not agreeable when talking to her. County Princess Wanyi left after staying in the empress’ palace for a while.

“I heard that younger sister Su was here, so I came to have a look. Speaking of which, isn’t this the first time that younger sister Su and I have met? Younger sister Su entered the palace before, but I had something to do, so I couldn’t come and greet her. I had time today, so I came to visit younger sister.” The empress was very interested in Li Su and was talking enthusiastically.

Li Su looked at the empress dowager and smiled. “Thank you, empress.”

The three sat down and talked. The empress dowager mentioned County Princess Wanyi again. “Wanyi’s wedding date should be fixed quickly. If she marries someone, someone else’s family will have to deal with her. It should save her from messing around!”

The empress smiled and said, “County Princess Wanyi’s leg has healed and the two families have agreed on a wedding date. It is the eighth day of next month.”

The empress dowager nodded, then looked at Li Su. “Su Su, Wanyi will be remarried. How about you? Have you changed your mind yet?”

Li Su pursed her lips and smiled. “I just wanted to tell Empress Dowager that Chen’er is following Mr. Xue now. I’m also relieved. I plan to go out in a while. I don’t have that intention for the time being.”

The empress dowager looked at her. “Why? Do you feel suffocated in the capital? Are you running away?”

The empress looked envious. “Younger sister is at ease. Speaking of which, I only went to my hometown in Yunzhou with my grandmother once when I was young.”

The empress dowager smiled and said, “Don’t say you are envious. We are also envious. How many women in the world can you find who are as comfortable as Su Su?”

Li Su said with a smile, “I’m at ease because of the protection of Mother and His Majesty. Otherwise, I would be an orphan. It is impossible for me to protect myself by myself, so how else could I be at ease today? Others aren’t as lucky as I am.”

In this case, most of the people with more power than her liked to hear this. The empress dowager and the empress were no exception.

The empress dowager asked again, “Where are you going this time?”

“I will go south along the Grand Canal and stop by my mother’s hometown to take a look. I heard that I have an uncle there, but I haven’t been in contact with him for so many years. I don’t know if he is still there.” Li Su smiled.

“Mm, it’s time to go and have a look.” The empress dowager nodded and said, “Pay attention and be safe on the road. Would you like a few guards to go with you?”

“Why bother the guards in the palace? All the people in my family have gone to war with my father. Although they are disabled now and can’t go on the battlefield anymore, it should be more than enough to deal with thieves and robbers. Empress dowager can rest assured!” Li Su laughed.

“Okay, when you are about to set off, come to the palace to see Us. We have something to tell you.” When the empress dowager was young, her parents were officials in the capital. She lived in her hometown in Hangzhou with her grandparents. She was brought to the capital when she was seven years old, and had not returned since then.

When she became the empress, then the empress dowager, her grandparents passed away. The whole family moved to the capital. Their old house was empty and only a few rooms were left to guard.

She missed that carefree time a lot. She missed the loquat tree in the northeast corner of the old house, and the big turtle in the courtyard pool. Now, she didn’t know if they were still there.

“Yes.” Li Su nodded obediently.

After coming out of the palace, Li Su began to prepare to leave. She planned to leave, but not now. She intended to leave in the second half of the year or in the following year. The reason why she said that in the palace was because she was in a hurry. But now that she had said such a thing, she would do it.

Fortunately, Wen Yu, Wen Mo, and the others were able to prepare soon.

However, Li Zhong was a little unhappy because Li Su wanted to leave this time without him.

“Does the eldest princess dislike her subordinates for being trash?!” Li Zhong said angrily.

“How could that be? Uncle Zhong, I’m having you stay here for Chen’er. When I am gone, there will be no one around Chen’er. You know his temperament, Uncle Zhong. There are so many people in our family, he doesn’t have faith in many of them. Uncle Zhong, you are one of them. Without you protecting Chen’er, I can’t rest assured! Although there is Mr. Xue, you know Chen’er’s temperament. He keeps everything inside and doesn’t say anything if he is being mistreated,” Li Su said.

Li Zhong was no longer angry. “Have you discussed this with the young master? Will the young master agree?”

Li Su hadn’t yet discussed it with Li Chen and she didn’t know if Li Chen would agree.

In the evening, after Li Chen came back, Li Su asked him tentatively. When Li Chen heard that Li Su planned to go out alone, although he didn’t say a word, Li Su knew that he was not happy when she saw his tightly pursed mouth.

“It’s not that my mother doesn’t want to take you there. Mother has not decided a return date yet. Mr. Xue is your teacher…” Li Su said.

She didn’t think it was good either. Once she left, she didn’t know when she would come back. It was not good to leave Li Chen alone.

Li Zhong said excitedly, “If that’s the case, why don’t we go together! Boys just want to be more adventurous, see the world, and read books anytime! Mr. Xue won’t be able to leave for a while.”

Li Chen immediately looked at Li Su expectantly.

Li Su said bravely, “If Mr. Xue agrees, then let’s go together!”

Li Chen immediately turned around and walked out. Li Su said anxiously, “It’s so late. Mr. Xue also has to rest. Let’s ask him tomorrow!”

Why would Li Chen wait until tomorrow? He walked out in a hurry.

Li Su quickly asked Li Zhong to follow and not to let him run around alone.

Not long after, Li Chen came back excitedly. Li Su knew what the result was without him speaking. Li Zhong next to him smiled.

“As soon as Mr. Xue heard that he was going to travel, he readily agreed. He opened a book list for the young master and asked the young master to read all the books on the list while he was out. If there was anything he didn’t understand, the young master can write a letter to ask, or write it down on paper and Mr. Xue will clarify his doubts when he returns.”

Li Su smiled helplessly. “Don’t worry now. Wash your hands and eat quickly!”

The next day, Li Zhong received a message from a flying pigeon early in the morning and immediately sent it to Li Su.

Li Suz and Li Chen were having breakfast. When they saw Li Zhong coming, they quickly said, “Uncle Zhong, sit down and let’s eat together!”

“I’ve eaten already. Eldest Princess, look at this.” Li Zhong handed the note to Li Su.

Li Su peeled an egg for Li Chen and motioned him to eat it. She then wiped her hands and took the note.

“Where’s the person? Did you stop him?” Li Su asked with a frown after she read the note.

“He’s been stopped. Now I’m waiting for your instructions. How can I settle her?” Li Zhong asked.

“Do you think Jiang Hewen knew about this?” Li Su asked. The note said that Jiang Hewen had arranged for his confidant, Chen San, to send Su Ruolan to Jixian to live. As a result, not long after he left the capital, he was stopped by Eldest Prince Kang’s people. When Chen San heard that the other party was from Eldest Prince Kang, he immediately left Su Ruolan and ran away.

Eldest Prince Kang’s people originally planned to bring Su Ruolan to the coast and sell her to Java.

After the people sent by Li Zhong heard of it, they took Su Ruolan away secretly while they were resting at night.

But, they didn’t know what to do with her.

“I’m not sure what should be done. In my opinion, it’s better to hand Su Ruolan directly to the Jiang family and let them deal with it themselves. It’d be the best if the most troublesome marriage doesn’t happen,” Li Zhong said.

Although Li Su’s three views were not righteous, she had always had a clear sense of who had and had not offended her. It was Su Ruoxue, not Su Ruolan, who disgusted her. Su Ruolan was actually quite pitiful. Her original family ignored her. She finally met a man who treated her kindly and then he abandoned her so easily.

“Uncle Zhong, have someone send her to her hometown of Xunyang for an abortion. Let Aunt Xingwang take care of her. I will make plans after I see her.” Li Su said.

Although Li Zhong didn’t understand the intention of Li Su’s move, he did it anyway.

Li Chen suddenly asked, “Why?”

Li Su said, “It’s mother’s style to have revenge. But now, mother likes to kill people with dull knives, so mother is not in a hurry. However, it is Jiang Hewen and Su Ruoxue who have a grudge against mother. Su Ruoxue is already dead. Su Ruolan is innocent. Besides, she is still pregnant with a child. For the sake of the child, mother will help her this time!”

Li Chen nodded thoughtfully.