Imperial Husband Chapter 6

"So it was you who did it." Zhou Xiaoru glared at Liang Wenliu, her eyes burning with fury. "Your Highness, did you see the expression on Concubine Liang's face just now? Clearly, she has a guilty conscience. Concubine Liang must be involved in the harm that came to the Princess Consort, it's very possible she did it herself."

Liang Wenliu quickly regained her composure. "Concubine Zhou, this concubine knows you don't like me, but you cannot wrongfully accuse me."

"Then why did you inexplicably say the Third Young Master was falsely accusing you just now? The Third Young Master hadn't said anything suspicious about you, had he? Isn't this a confession? What else could it be? Do you think everyone here is a fool?"

Zhou Xiaoru fired a series of questions at Liang Wenliu. If she weren't mindful of Li Shiyun's presence, she would have already rushed forward to tear Liang Wenliu apart.

"Father, your son believes we can have the carpenter verify whether the tung wood used in the zither Concubine Liang sent to mother is the same as that used for these tung wood dolls."

"Mm, we will proceed according to Jin'er's suggestion."

Li Shiyun nodded and immediately ordered someone to fetch the zither Li Jin mentioned for comparison by the carpenter.

The carpenter identified it quickly. "Reporting to Your Highness, the zither and these dolls are made of the same tung wood."

Thud.

Liang Wenliu fell to her knees abruptly and pointed at the carpenter. "Your Highness, you must decide for this humble concubine. He is slandering me. This humble concubine truly did not make such a harmful thing as a tung wood doll…"

However, before Liang Wenliu could devise a way to escape blame, the guards Li Shiyun had secretly sent to search Liang Wenliu's quarters returned.

"Reporting to Your Highness, this subordinate found a strange piece of paper concealed within Concubine Liang's pillow, and also found this tung wood doll in a hidden compartment in her cabinet. On it… on it is carved Your Highness's… your…"

"Give it to me."

Li Shiyun snatched the tung wood doll from the guard's hand and sure enough, found his own name and birth date carved on its back.

Liang Wenliu panicked and denied it. "No, this is not this concubine's belonging, this humble concubine simply did not…"…"

Slap.

Li Shiyun struck Liang Wenliu heavily across the face, directly causing her to see stars, with blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

"Take this vicious woman away for me."

Upon hearing this, Liang Wenliu's face turned deathly pale. She knew that if she were truly taken away, her life would be over. She immediately, taking advantage of the guard's inattention, viciously bit the guard's hand to break free, rushed over, and desperately clung to Li Shiyun's leg, begging for mercy. "Your Highness, no! This humble concubine admits she was momentarily possessed by demons regarding the two tung wood dolls, but this concubine never intended to harm the Princess Consort to death, much less harm you, Your Highness."

"Take her away."

Li Shiyun mercilessly kicked Liang Wenliu away.

"Yes, yes…"

The guards hurried forward to subdue Liang Wenliu and escort her away.

"Your Highness, I've been wronged… wronged…"

"Jin'er, you handled today's matter well." Li Shiyun rarely praised Li Jin. "However, your health is still weak, return quickly and rest properly. The others may also leave if there is nothing else, this Prince is weary."

The others, still fearful, bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."

...

The Prince of Dingbei's Mansion, Rear Courtyard, Side Compound.

As soon as Li Yanchen arrived at the side compound where Zhou Xiaoru resided, he immediately applied medicine to the wounds on her face inflicted by Li Shiyun. "Mother, let me apply the medicine for you, please bear with it a little."

Due to her merit of bearing the eldest son, Zhou Xiaoru's living quarters were quite decent.

Zhou Xiaoru clenched her fists. "Chen'er, call me Concubine Zhou. Be careful of eavesdroppers."

"Mother, it's only you and me here. Your son does not wish to address you that way. Clearly, you are your son's birth mother. Why is it that only Li Jin can call his mother that way?"

Thinking of Li Jin, a flash of resentment quickly passed through Li Yanchen's eyes.

"Chen'er, mother knows you are suffering, but for now, we can only endure temporarily." Zhou Xiaoru looked at Li Yanchen. "I accidentally heard Imperial Physician Wang tell His Highness that Li Jin's body's foundation is ruined and will be like this for life. But you are different. Although you are a son of a concubine, you hold the status of the eldest son. Wanting to inherit the position of heir is not impossible."

"Father prefers Second Brother more."

The Second Brother Li Yanchen referred to was born of Wei Shiwan.

Zhou Xiaoru smiled. "Mother knows. But with Li Yanshen's unruly temperament, no matter how much the prince dotes on him, he would definitely not thoughtlessly establish him as the heir. Besides, now that something has happened to Li Jin, Wei Shiwan will certainly not let go of this excellent opportunity to push her own son into the position of heir. We can just use this to be the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

Regarding this incident, although Wei Shiwan was also poisoned, Zhou Xiaoru was even more certain it was connected to her. It was even highly likely that she was the mastermind behind Liang Wenliu. Otherwise, how could Liang Wenliu alone—a person from a small family who was always jealous and loved to fight for favor—have planned everything so seamlessly without a flaw.

Bang bang bang.

Suddenly, knocking outside the door interrupted the conversation between Zhou Xiaoru and her son.

"Coming, who is knocking?"

Zhou Xiaoru hurriedly walked over to open the door.

But upon opening it, a group of guards instantly rushed in, led by the mansion's steward, Lin Zhong.

Zhou Xiaoru's face darkened. "Steward Lin, this is this concubine's residence. Aren't you afraid of being punished by His Highness for barging in so suddenly?"

"Concubine Zhou, this servant is acting on His Highness's orders to take the Eldest Young Master to be raised by Secondary Consort Wei."

"Chen'er is my son!"

"Concubine Zhou, this is His Highness's wish. Please do not make things difficult for us servants."

"No, none of you shall take Chen'er away."

"Since Concubine Zhou is unwilling to cooperate, please do not blame this servant for resorting to force."

Lin Zhong signaled the guards to act.

"No…"

Zhou Xiaoru, being of low status and insignificant, could not stop Lin Zhong at all. In a short while, Li Yanchen was taken away by Lin Zhong, leaving only Zhou Xiaoru behind. "Wei Shiwan, the enmity of seizing my son is irreconcilable. I will not let this matter rest."