Chapter 290 – My Son Has Facial Paralysis (part 21)

After Li Su returned home, she told everyone the empress dowager’s will, and Li Zhong and others were very happy. There was also a smile in Li Chen’s eyes, but he couldn’t help but frown when he saw that Li Su’s eyes were a little heavy.

But Li Su didn’t tell him anything.

Li Chen didn’t understand, so he went to ask his master.

After listening to Li Chen’s words, Xue Nanshan stroked his beard and said, “It’s okay. She is worrying about the future, not the present.”

“The future?” Li Chen was very smart, and after reading a lot of history books these days, he immediately understood the meaning of Xue Nanshan’s words. He couldn’t help but bow his head to think.

But after all, he was still young, and although he understood some things, he didn’t know how to do them.

Xue Nanshan smiled slightly. “You don’t need to worry about the world. Just go with the flow and have a clear conscience. Your mother likely had similar thoughts.”

Li Chen’s expression was a little serious. “Yes, please teach me!”

Xue Nanshan looked at his closed disciple. His immature face was full of stubbornness. Xue Nanshan stroked his beard and said only two words, “Rest assured.”

Even with his teacher’s assurance, Li Chen was still worried. When he returned home, he saw that Li Su’s face was no longer heavy, and he was very relaxed.

Seeing that he was back, she beckoned him over. “Chen’er is back. Have you eaten? No? Is your teacher so stingy? You don’t even have meals? Wen Mo, hurry up and have the kitchen cook some food.”

Seeing that she was still thinking about joking, Li Chen snorted and sat down beside her. “Sister Wen Mo, anything is fine. There’s no need to bother.” Then, he looked at Li Su. “Teacher said that if you want me to eat, you need to add more to his salary.”

Li Su’s eyes widened. What? If there was progress, it would be a joke! “He should be paid more. Tomorrow, I will ask Uncle Zhong to send a thousand taels of silver notes. It should be enough, right?”

Li Chen sternly said, “Mother!”

“Okay, let’s stop joking. Come on, what’s the matter?” Li Su was afraid that he was really angry, so she stopped joking and asked him seriously.

“Mother, are you worried about me and the future?” Li Chen asked.

Li Su looked at him and said with a smile, “I was worried, but now I don’t worry anymore!” She was not the kind of person who was worried and fretted over unknown things. There were a lot of variables in this world. Who knew what would happen in the future?

Besides, she also wanted to understand. According to the empress dowager and the emperor’s attention to the third prince, the third prince himself was smart and capable, and the position of crown prince should be something the third prince would get.

In the end, only the new emperor ascended the throne, and Jiang Hewen was still the same. It didn’t make it clear whether it was the third prince who ascended the throne! In the original work, the transition between emperors was very smooth. From this, it could be seen that either the third prince ascended the throne smoothly, or there was an accident before the third prince ascended the throne, and someone else ascended the throne.

If that was the case, then there was nothing to worry about. In the former possibility, the third prince ascended the throne smoothly, then Li Chen and the Li family would naturally benefit from it. If it was the latter, then Li Chen and the Li family had made contributions to the late crown prince. Although the new emperor would take precautions, the new emperor might not be hostile, and it should not be a problem to protect themselves.

Instead of worrying about the world, it was better to protect the third prince and ensure his smooth ascension to the throne. There were still many years left. It was enough for her to plan a way out for Li Chen and the Li family.

Li Chen didn’t know that Li Su had already thought about what would happen many years later. He thought that Li Su said he shouldn’t worry because she was there, so he didn’t worry. Immediately, his heart was filled with pride. He must help the third prince well, bring honour to his ancestors, and never fail his mother’s expectations for him!

“Mother, I will work hard. Don’t worry!” Li Chen said seriously.

Li Su was a little confused. What was this child thinking about? Why did he look like he’d been beaten up? However, such a vivid Li Chen was quite cute!

Li Su couldn’t help but rub Li Chen’s head. “Okay, mother is counting on you! Good luck!”

Li Chen ducked his head to the side. “Mother!” Don’t touch his head! He was not a child!

Li Su snickered to herself.

The eldest prince and County Princess Wanyi returned to the capital from Shandong without success. When they found out that Li Chen had become the companion of the third prince, the eldest prince did not care, but County Princess Wanyi was a little angry. She knew that prince father and eldest brother had always wanted Heng’er to be the companion of the third prince, but now Li Chen took the lead.

Why?! Li Su was only an orphan, but she became the eldest princess! The man Li Su didn’t want was pushed to her and she couldn’t say no! Now, Li Su’s son had robbed her nephew of the position of reading companion.

The more County Princess Wanyi thought about it, the angrier she became. The eldest prince noticed her anger and immediately put his arms around her shoulder. “It’s just a companion. I still can’t bear to let Heng’er enter the palace to suffer! Besides, what is Heng’er’s identity and what is Li Chen’s identity? Comparing Heng’er to Li Chen would be insulting Heng’er.”

He had already spoken to His Majesty about the reading companion, but His Majesty chose Li Chen, so he must have some ideas. He couldn’t let Wanyi risk angering the empress dowager and His Majesty for Zhao Heng’s affairs. It was not worth it. No one was more important than Wanyi.

County Princess Wanyi heard this and thought about it too. Heng’er will be a county prince in the future. How can Li Chen compare?!

“Okay, I’m tired from the journey. I’ll take you back to rest. Don’t think about it too much. Prince father and I will deal with these matters,” the eldest prince said gently. He then sent County Princess Wanyi back to her room.

In his heart, no children, grandchildren, or future could compare to Wanyi. Wanyi just needed to live happily every day. She didn’t need to worry about anything else.

County Prince Kang opened his mouth to speak. He actually wanted Wanyi to enter the palace and talk to the empress dowager. Maybe the empress dowager would change her mind? Being able to befriend the future crown prince was also a good thing for Heng’er. But, he didn’t say anything when he saw this.

The eldest prince came out and instructed the people serving County Princess Wanyi. “Get ready. In a few days, the county princess will go to another courtyard to recuperate. These days, take good care of the county princess and don’t allow idle people to disturb the county princess. Those outside things are not allowed to be told to the county princess, or the county princess will be troubled!”

“Yes!” Yu Ning bowed her head respectfully.

County Prince Kang didn’t even need to say a word. He understood what his son was thinking just by watching things unfold in front of him. His son was really infatuated! For a woman, even the future of his children and grandchildren was ignored. The emperor took him very seriously, to the point that he couldn’t even think of changing his heir!

The thought of Prince Kang’s mansion being handed over to such a crazy person in the future gave County Prince Kang a headache. He quickly turned and left, unable to think about it anymore. He would die if he thought about it anymore. He had to take good care of himself and live well, lest Prince Kang’s mansion be destroyed.

The eldest prince glanced at County Prince Kang lightly, and then looked away. In this world, he didn’t care about anyone except Wanyi! The emperor acquiesced and even took advantage of his feelings for Wanyi, but he was still grateful to the emperor. He willingly became a knife in the shadows for the emperor. Wherever the emperor pointed, he swung. He just asked the emperor to protect Wanyi as always and allow him to stay by her side.

He just hated that he didn’t protect Wanyi well and made Wanyi suffer so much! He heard that Kong Hanwen had a cousin from his maternal family who looked somewhat similar to Kong Hanwen. He had already arranged for him to be brought back. I wonder if Wanyi will be very happy to see this surprise?

After Li Chen became the third prince’s reading companion, the third prince was very close to him. Because he was the youngest among the companions, the other companions were also very affectionate to Li Chen. The empress dowager and empress also often summoned him, or asked people to send him some snacks to express their concern. When it was time for him to leave the palace, Li Su would enter the palace to pick him up and go home with him.

Li Chen’s companion reading career was smoother than expected.

At home, Li Su wondered if she should have a backup. She originally wanted to do business and be the richest person or something, but she remembered the fate of Shen Wansan1 in the Ming Dynasty.

Later, she thought that since she could not fight against the imperial power, she might as well try to increase her political strength and be more closely linked with the imperial power. Regardless of whether the third prince succeeded the throne in the future, the safety of the Li family could be ensured.

Li Su thought about it for a long time and finally came up with an idea.

She went to the palace to find the empress dowager and the empress. She then told them her thoughts. The empress dowager and empress hesitated. “What is a charity auction?”

“A charity auction where the empress dowager and empress take the lead and organise a group of people to take out their own things and to auction them off. The highest bidder gets the item and the money earned is used for charity. For example, it can be used to relieve disaster victims and comfort soldiers and their families. It is a good thing. It will benefit the country and the people!” Li Su explained.

The empress dowager and empress understood what was going on with this charity auction and they were immediately interested. If this matter was handled properly, then…

The empress dowager and empress were naturally rich. If they had a good reputation, it would only complement them.

“Empress mother, this official thinks this charity auction is quite a good idea and it should be tried,” said the empress.

The empress dowager nodded. “Yes. It’s just the relevant details that need to be considered.”

Then, the empress dowager and the empress looked at Li Su. Li Su quickly shook her head and waved her hand. “I can’t do it. Don’t look at me. I just came up with this idea at random and I don’t know how it will work. There are so many people around the empress dowager and the empress, so they will definitely be considerate. If the charity auction is really held, I will definitely participate. Mm, I will take out the original manuscript of my father’s handbook for auction!”

The empress dowager and the empress looked at each other and smiled. The empress dowager smiled happily. She liked that Li Su would come up with some fresh ideas from time to time, but she was not greedy for fame and power. “You, girl, are just lazy. We know you. You must already have the rules in your head, so let’s hear it.”

The empress also said the same. Li Su had no choice but to pick out some process details and precautions about future charity auctions from her mind. “The most important thing is that the whereabouts of the donations must be clearly understood by the public. It is best to set up a supervisory agency that is specially responsible for this. That’s all I can think of. “After that, she took a few sips of tea.

When the empress dowager and empress looked at each other, they both laughed. “This is enough. With the direction, the rest is easy to handle.”

The empress dowager touched Li Su’s head with joy. “How did you come up with these good ideas, you little head melon seed?” She was worried about being bored and her life being empty, but she found something to do. Very good!

1.Shen Wansan: made a fortune through trade, but his entire fortune was seized by the emperor to build a wall around Nanjing.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shen_Wansan