Chapter 206 - 205: Joint Design
Chu Lingxuan said, "If I cannot protect my wife, what’s the point of marrying her! Do not worry, mother. I have ways to keep her out of the Princess Mansion. I won’t even let her stay in the Capital Marquis Mansion before the situation becomes clear." Then he burst out laughing, "As far as I can tell, this lady is not the kind of person who can be easily substituted by others."
Liao Chen said, "That would be best. She’ll bring great joy to Yan’er once she enters our household. However, she comes from a commoner background, and what’s worse, she has a son. How can we justify this to the public? Furthermore, she is the biological daughter of Chen Shiying, but she has not recognized him as her kin; her grandmother’s behavior... These things could all be used against you. Have you considered this?"
Chu Lingxuan said coldly, "After going through so many changes, I have already come to terms with these issues. As for her status, even if my mother’s status isn’t low, she was still forced to become a nun. At present, my father is holding sway, my mother has become a nun, and my sister has gone mad. I had to hide in Dingzhou. Just as long as that woman gives birth to a son, my position as the crown prince might not be secure. Our Mansion is filled with constant conflicts... Tell me, which decent family in this capital city would still want to marry their daughters to me? Otherwise, Mrs. Chen wouldn’t dare to recommend her illegitimate eldest daughter to me with such an unappealing look. As for Ms. Chen’s affairs, let others make a joke of it if they wish. They have already seen enough of our family’s miseries.
"Choosing a lady with no social status and hiding far away in the countryside, might be the best choice for me now. Also, she is the first lady whom I genuinely wish to marry. She is intelligent, kind-hearted, and genuinely cares for Yan’er. I feel more at ease entrusting my home to her, so I can focus on more important matters outside. I have already consulted this with my grandfather, and he agreed. As for Dabao, it’s also easy to handle. Before I marry her, I’ll first adopt Dabao as an adopted son. These are not problems. The only tricky thing now is her background. If she really were a commoner, it would be easier. But she is Chen Shiying’s daughter, and from my interaction, I reckon that Chen Shiying is a decent man, at least he won’t become my burden. But his mother is too annoying, always scheming, and I’m worried that she might get into trouble... The day before yesterday, I sent someone to inform Mr. Chen about Mrs. Chen’s acts, and Mr. Chen came to the Senator’s Mansion to apologize in person, saying that he will ’serve’ his mother well when he goes back..."
Tears welled up in Liao Chen’s eyes. "It’s all my fault that you are in this situation."
Chu Lingxuan said, "This has nothing to do with you, mother! All of this happened because my father has continuously been coveted by that woman and the Second Prince, who in order to erase his rivals, and prevent us from being of any help to the Ninth Prince, planned to strip my father of his powers and closely worked together with that woman to frame my father... We were hence left scattered and broken."
Liao Chen said, "Your grandfather and your father always used to say that although the Second Prince was of royal birth, he was impulsive and did not strategize. He did not enjoy the Emperor’s favor. But based on his recent actions..."
"Ah, it was indeed a misjudgment by my grandfather and father. The Second Prince is not only strategic but also ruthless... I don’t know why he hates the Ninth Prince and our Chu family so much. Although I was a tutor to the Ninth Prince when he was young, we from the Chu’s hadn’t chosen sides at that time, and we had no quarrels with the Second Prince. Given his tender age and a weak maternal family, the Ninth Prince did not participate in the power struggle among his adult brothers. But that prince, after being ambushed, fell off a cliff. Everyone suspected that it was the work of the Third or Fifth Prince. But instead of blaming those two princes, he suddenly conspired with the Concubine and her daughter against my father, and secretly crippled the Ninth Prince’s leg..." He paused and his voice got even quieter, "Now as the Emperor is getting older, he is becoming more suspicious, and yet the Second Prince manages to understand his mind in every situation..."