Chapter 291 – My Son Has Facial Paralysis (final part)

Li Su smiled and said, “When I went south, I passed by a place. There was a river and there was a bridge over the river. The villagers from Hedong and Hexi pass over this bridge. Suddenly one day, the bridge collapsed, and the villagers in Hedong and Hexi had no choice but to take a detour, which was very inconvenient. The local magistrate wanted to build a new bridge, but the county government didn’t have that much money. So, the local magistrate wanted the local wealthy businessmen to donate money, but few were willing to donate. Later, his master gave him an idea, saying that if someone was willing to donate money to build the bridge, they would be given the naming rights to the bridge. If Zhang San donated money to build the bridge, then the bridge would be called Zhang San Bridge. If Li Si donated money, then it would be called Li Si Bridge. This is a story that has passed through the ages. As soon as the county magistrate’s words were released, countless wealthy households came to donate money. The magistrate chose one of the merchants with the highest bid and asked him to come get the bridge built. Because of the thought that the bridge would last forever, the merchant was very dedicated when building the bridge. The materials used were all high-quality and the merchant did not cut corners. It didn’t take long for the bridge to be built, and the merchant’s name became famous. The people on both sides benefitted, and the magistrates had both fame and fortune. It is killing three birds with one stone. It was good that I remembered it at the time. After returning to the capital, I have been thinking about this matter and only came up with this idea a few days ago.”

The empress said with emotion, “It’s very good. Everyone gets what they need and everyone gets what they want. It’s very good.”

The empress dowager also nodded. “It seemed that letting you go out for a walk was very rewarding!”

Li Su also smiled and said, “I think so too. Empress Dowager…”

“What, you want to go out again?” The empress dowager pretended to be serious.

Li Su nodded. “Mm, there are still many places I want to go. Last time I brought Chen’er, so I couldn’t go to many places. He is now a reading companion to the third prince. He can’t leave, but I still want to go again and have a good time. But don’t worry, Empress Dowager, I will wait until the end of the first charity auction before leaving.”

The empress dowager thought for a while. “Alright. It’s better to go out for a walk more than to be bored at home.”

“Thank you, Empress Dowager!” Li Su said with a smile.

There were indeed many capable people around the empress dowager and the empress. After a few days, the details of the process of the charity auction were almost perfected. The empress dowager found Li Su and showed Li Su the preliminary plan. After Li Su read it, she had to admire the wisdom of these people. As expected of these masters. This plan was written with all aspects considered. It was very detailed and said to be perfect.

There was just one thing… Most of the people involved in the management were the imperial family. It seemed that the empress dowager intended to turn this charity auction into an imperial one.

Li Su said with a smile, “That’s great. I could not have come up with something so thorough.”

“If you think it’s good, then we will do it like this!” The empress dowager said with a smile, “The first charity auction is scheduled for the eighth day of next month. If you want to participate, you have to send the items to be auctioned by these days. What else is there?” The empress dowager couldn’t remember clearly, so she turned to ask the empress.

The empress smiled and said, “Security deposit. Everyone who participates in the auction must pay a security deposit.”

Li Su nodded. “That’s reasonable. I’ll have people deliver the security deposit and things when I go back.”

The charity auction went very smoothly. Because the empress dowager took the lead, many princesses and princess consorts actively participated. The empress dowager took out a string of Buddha beads that she had worn. The empress took out a hair pin. The others also took things out to participate in the auction.

In the end, the empress dowager’s Buddha beads were sold to the empress’ mother, Madam Chengen, and the empress’ hair pin was sold to Princess Consort Qin. The manuscript that Li Su took out was bought by Princess Consort Zhou. Because Prince Zhou was a loyal supporter of Li Su’s father, he told Princess Consort Zhou in the morning when he got the news that he wanted General Li’s manuscript.

Part of the money raised from the auction was donated to the people suffering from the drought in the northwest, and part of the money was used to buy military uniforms and rations, which were sent to the soldiers guarding the border gates.

The empress dowager and the empress were greatly encouraged. They decided to hold more auctions like this to raise more money and do more charity.

The emperor was also very supportive of this. After all, this was a matter of fame and fortune, so why not do it?

After hearing about the Imperial Charity Auction, many wealthy merchants’ families in the capital were encouraged to follow suit. All of a sudden, there was a charitable wind.

This charitable wind had also blown from the capital to other places. The entire country rallied to follow suit.

Although some people took the opportunity to make money, this was only a small part. The charity auction raised a lot of money and did a lot of good deeds.

And Li Su, as the initiator of the charity auction, left early. Li Su was afraid that there would be problems in the future and that she would be held accountable. But in the eyes of the empress dowager and the emperor, it looked like Li Su was not taking credit and was not being arrogant. They were more satisfied towards her, and relieved.

Because Li Su went out to play again, the empress dowager and the emperor put this satisfaction on Li Chen. They summoned him, praised him, and rewarded him every now and then.

Li Chen was quite calm about this. No matter what the situation was, he would always look like he was calm and self-sufficient.

It was just that there were those who liked him, and naturally there were those who didn’t like him. The other companions of the third prince were fine. Although it was a little unfair for him to be so favoured, they were all the third prince’s people, and it was clear who was more important than the other. But, other princes and their companions may not be able to differentiate this.

On this day, Li Chen was knocked unconscious and thrown into a dry well and injured his leg. When he woke up and looked out from the well, it was already dark. He tried to call someone, but no one answered. He was a little desperate, and he simply stopped wasting his efforts and leaned on the wall of the well. He closed his eyes and rested.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Chen seemed to hear someone calling his name in a trance. He opened his eyes and listened carefully. Someone was really calling his name, and that voice seemed to be the third prince!

Why was he here?

Li Chen heard the anxiety in the voice, and felt a little touched. He quickly opened his mouth. But when he opened his mouth, he was startled by his hoarse voice. “I’m here!”

Li Chen swallowed hard and shouted loudly. “I’m here!” At the same time, he picked up a stone and knocked hard on the wall of the well.

When the third prince saw Li Chen’s appearance when he came up from the well, he was angry and distressed at the same time. “They are too much! Don’t worry, when I find out who did it, I will definitely avenge you!”

Li Chen glanced at him and shook his head. “I’m fine. Don’t let my mother know.”

The third prince held his hand tightly. His palm was cold and when he touched Li Chen’s forehead, it was hot. The third prince said anxiously, “Quick, call the imperial doctor!”

Li Chen’s leg was injured, and he also suffered from the cold wind. He fell ill and was in a coma for three days and three nights before he woke up. When he woke up and found himself still in the palace, he frowned slightly and saw a familiar figure sitting at the table facing him while practicing calligraphy.

Suddenly the man raised his head and saw that he was awake. There seemed to be stars twinkling in his eyes. “Li Chen, you are finally awake! That’s great!”

At that moment, Li Chen suddenly felt that something had entered his heart. At this time, Li Chen still didn’t know what it was. It wasn’t until the long years of getting along with him that he figured it out little by little. However, by the time he found out, he was already deeply immersed and unable to extricate himself.

After this incident, the third prince and Li Chen were inseparable. He was afraid that Li Chen would leave his sight and be in danger again.

Although Li Chen said he wanted to hide these things from Li Su, how could he hide them? Li Su still knew about it and rushed back immediately.

When the empress dowager and the empress saw Li Su again, they were a little embarrassed. The person who hurt Li Chen was the eldest prince’s companion, and he was also the eldest prince’s cousin. The emperor punished him at the time, had him beaten with a wooden board 20 times, and then threw him out.

However, Li Su didn’t mention it at all. She just talked to the empress dowager about what happened on the road.

When Li Su saw Li Chen, he didn’t talk about anything else. He just said that Mr. Xue had finished his history books and wanted to go on a study tour. He asked Li Chen if he wanted to go with him.

Li Chen refused without thinking. He knew that his mother was worried about him and wanted to find a reason for him to leave, but he didn’t want to leave.

Li Su looked at Li Chen and was silent for a long time.

Li Chen was a little nervous. He didn’t know what he would do if his mother insisted on him leaving the palace.

Li Su just touched his head. “Well, if you like it, you can do as you like. However, promise mother to take care of yourself. I don’t want it to happen again. Later, I will send someone in. He will protect you, so take him with you wherever you go, okay?”

“Mother!” Li Chen suddenly lowered his head. He didn’t want Li Su to see his vulnerability. How fortunate he was to meet his mother and become her child.

Li Su was also full of emotion in her heart. When the child was older, he would have his own ideas. As a mother, she could only support him with all her strength.

“Okay, let’s go. It’s time for your mother to leave the palace. In the future, mother won’t go out. Mother will stay in the capital. Remember to tell mother if you need anything,” Li Su said with a smile.

Li Chen shook his head. “Mother, do what you want to do. I don’t want mother to stop because I am not a burden to mother! I will protect myself.”

“Stupid, remember that you are not your mother’s burden, but your mother’s concern.” Li Su smiled.

“Aunt Hengyang, I will take good care of Li Chen, I promise you! What happened last time will never happen again.” The third prince suddenly ran over and said those words to Li Su with a serious face. He didn’t intend to eavesdrop. He just happened to be passing by and heard that Aunt Hengyang wanted Li Chen to leave the palace for a study tour. He was worried that Li Chen would really leave, so he eavesdropped. Fortunately, Li Chen did not agree to Aunt Hengyang’s proposal.

Li Su was a little surprised. She looked at Li Chen, then at the third prince, and smiled. “Okay, then I’ll have to ask the third prince to look after him.”

The third prince quietly breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Li Chen.

Seeing this, Li Su also smiled.

“Princess Hengyang, it’s great that you haven’t left the palace yet. The empress dowager is so angry, the empress is asking Princess Hengyang to hurry over,” a palace maid hurried over and said to Li Su.

“I will go to Peaceful Age Palace first. You can all go back to work!” Li Su turned around and said to the third prince and Li Chen, and went with the palace maid.

“What’s going on? When I left, wasn’t the empress dowager okay?” Li Su asked.

“Just now, someone came to report that County Princess Wanyi of County Prince Kang’s mansion has passed away. It seems that she took too much immortal powder.” The palace maid did not dare to say more.

County Princess Wanyi and immortal powder? What happened? Li Su was a little surprised.

When they arrived at Peaceful Age Palace, the empress dowager was weeping, and the empress was comforting her. When the empress dowager saw Li Su coming, she wiped away her tears. “Why did they bring you here again? We are fine.”

“My condolences to the empress dowager.” Li Su didn’t know what to say, so she could only say this.

“This child Wanyi…” The empress dowager didn’t know what to say. In the past, she really spoiled Wanyi, so Wanyi was so daring. In the past, it was fine for others to take immortal powder, and it was okay for them to keep one eye closed. But now, they were starting to use immortal powder! It was such a good day, but what the hell was going on?!

Li Su looked at the empress. Although the empress was also wiping away her tears, a trace of disdain flashed in her eyes. Li Su thought for a while and said, “County Princess Wanyi is gone, County Prince Kang and the eldest prince must be devastated!”

“I feel pity for Eldest Prince Kang. After hearing the news of the death of County Princess Wanyi, he rode his horse from the palace to the other courtyard where County Princess Wanyi died. Because he was in a hurry, he stabbed the horse with a knife. He didn’t expect that the horse would be frightened and cause him to fall off and be dragged for a long time before he was rescued. The eldest prince’s legs are about…” The empress sighed softly.

Li Su was extremely surprised. There was probably retribution in this world! Wasn’t this the case for County Princess Wanyi and the eldest prince?

When the empress dowager mentioned this, her face was a little gloomy. Although Eldest Prince Kang and Wanyi were not brothers and sisters, they were cousins. Eldest Prince Kang had such thoughts about his younger sister, which was really disgusting.

Seeing the face of the empress dowager, the empress stopped talking.

When Eldest Prince Kang woke up, he knew that his legs were broken, but he didn’t care. He was only carried to the corpse of County Princess Wanyi, and guarded her corpse without saying a word.

It was only when County Prince Kang came over did he find that the eldest prince had committed suicide by taking poison.

County Prince Kang was extremely regretful at this time and wanted to cry. What the hell did he do! Did that bastard only have Wanyi in his heart? Wanyi was dead and he didn’t want to live anymore? Didn’t he think about anyone else? He had raised this son in vain.

Fortunately, he still had a grandson. Prince Kang’s mansion still had a future as the emperor and empress dowager felt pity towards them.

The outside world was told that the death of Eldest Prince Kang was because he was unable to accept the fact that his legs were disabled, coupled with the sadness at the death of County Princess Wanyi, so he committed suicide.

As for whether the outside world could accept this explanation, County Prince Kang didn’t care that much. After the burial of his two children, County Prince Kang requested an accounts book, and he requested one for his eldest grandson, Zhao Heng.

The emperor quickly agreed. At this point, County Prince Kang was also greatly relieved.

On the empress dowager’s side, there was sadness and anger about the death of County Princess Wanyi, but deep down, she was more relieved. She believed that the emperor also had the same mindset. When that person brought Wanyi to them back then, he had made them swear that they would treat Wanyi kindly for the rest of their lives in return for receiving all of Crown Prince Yin’s wealth.

The situation of the empress dowager and the emperor was not good at that time. They needed that wealth, so they agreed and persuaded County Prince Kang to adopt Wanyi. They thought that she would just be a county princess, so what kind of trouble could she cause?

But as Wanyi grew up, the empress dowager and the emperor found out that they were wrong. This child was arrogant and proud. The imperial daughter had a domineering personality. But she got worse and fell in love with Kong Hanwen. She couldn’t take him by force, so she drugged him and forced him to marry her. Eldest Prince Kang still indulged her. In the end, Kong Hanwen was forced to death.

God only knew how much effort they made and how much they paid in order to appease the Kong family.

Wanyi had become a burden. It was just that, because of their original oath, and Eldest Prince Kang, that they couldn’t do anything.

Now that she killed herself, this couldn’t be blamed on others.

With so many things happening every day in this world, the deaths of County Princess Wanyi and Eldest Prince Kang were quickly forgotten.

Li Su stayed in the general’s mansion in the capital. She was not completely idle. She opened an orphanage in the suburbs of the capital to adopt orphans and help those poor women.

Li Chen had always been alone. Li Su also asked him about his marriage, but he said nothing.

Li Su thought about his background and thought that he was very resistant to women’s closeness because of his childhood. She did not force him and also declined all kinds of people who proposed marriages to Li Chen.

Li Chen was very grateful for this, but at the same time, he was also very guilty. But, whenever he saw that person, he knew that he did not regret such a life. Even if he could not stand by his side in this life, he would be willing.

“A-Chen, come here!” The man smiled softly at him.

Li Chen walked towards him without hesitation.

When Li Chen was twenty years old, the emperor died and the crown prince succeeded him.

Li Su stared at the two kneeling in front of her in a stunned manner. She watched the person who was supposed to be in the Daming Palace appear in her home and kneel on the ground, begging for her forgiveness.

“Auntie, A-Chen said that you are the most enlightened mother in the world. Please help us! Don’t force A-Chen to get married, okay? I know that in this life, I can only apologise to A-chen. I have wronged A-Chen, but I guarantee you that I only have A-Chen in my heart. I will be good to him for the rest of my life, and I will honour you together with A-Chen! Please help us!”

Li Su didn’t know what to say. She was a little confused. She thought that Li Chen didn’t want to get married because of his childhood and resisted women who approached him. It turned out that he was indeed affected by his childhood and was resistant to women. He liked men too.

It wasn’t that Li Su looked down on homosexuality. She was not so narrow-minded. It was just that falling in love with the emperor and being gay would be a difficult path.

Li Su looked at Li Chen. “This road will be very hard. Can you bear it?”

Li Chen’s eyes were firm. Even if he didn’t look at the person beside him, he knew that the other person was thinking the same thing as himself. “Mother, I can!”

“Then so be it!” After a thousand words, there was only one sentence in the end.

When the young emperor heard Li Su say this, he was ecstatic and gave her a solid kowtow. Li Su also accepted it calmly. She just treated it as if it was her daughter-in-law paying respects to her! Anyway, she didn’t want to admit that her son was a bottom, even if it seemed that her son was indeed a bottom! But she couldn’t lose in such a social circumstance!

Alas, speaking of this, she really envied the deceased empress, who was now posthumously named the empress dowager. Fortunately, she went early. Otherwise, if she found out, she would have fainted from fright!

At the age of twenty-five, Li Chen brought a child from outside, saying he was his son. Li Su blinked. Fine, this was also a tradition of the Li family! She didn’t ask about the child’s origin. She happily accepted that she had a grandson and then lived a happy old age with grandchildren.

With the example of Li Chen, many years later, Li Su’s grandson hugged a child and knelt in front of her, saying that he didn’t want to get married and that he only wanted to explore the sea. Li Su could calmly accept this fact.