Chapter 446 - 145 Hai Tang
"Prince Cheng knew of Consort Li’s dissatisfaction. He beguiled her, and she fell for it."
Jiang Li could hardly conceal the shock on her face.
She knew that Consort Li was from the Ji family, favored by Emperor Hongxiao, but she had never imagined that Consort Li had long been colluding with Prince Cheng. Perhaps it wasn’t an entanglement of emotions, but simply a fallback for her own future. This was an imperial secret, and at least from her current position, Jiang Li was in no position to inquire into the affair. Had Jih Heng not revealed it, Jiang Li would never have even considered this possibility.
"But... is it just because the Ji family members wanted to send someone to the palace that Consort Li would collude with Prince Cheng?" Jiang Li asked, "That doesn’t make sense. After all, Consort Li is a concubine favored by the emperor, and she is not that important to Prince Cheng. Rather than attaching herself to Prince Cheng, it would be better to please the emperor. Even if the girls from the Ji family were to enter the palace, with Consort Li’s means, if she really wanted to control them or set traps, she would always find a way to deal with them. Why take the risk?"
"That’s what you think," Jih Heng said, looking at her meaningfully.
Jiang Li paused, then said, "Perhaps."
"A man without offspring can only end up one way in the palace: sooner or later, he will be replaced," Jih Heng said indifferently. "Consort Li is a smart woman, and she saw this earlier than others. Besides, in Consort Li’s eyes, the emperor’s throne may not be so secure."
Jiang Li was taken aback, "But the Ji family has never sided with Prince Cheng!"
"The Ji family is cowardly," Jih Heng chuckled, "Even if they choose sides, they would only follow the Jiang family. Though Consort Li is a concubine, to the Ji family, she is still just a daughter who has been married off and cannot influence the overall situation. Ji Yanlin’s career is characterized by cowardice and opportunism; he doesn’t have the courage to openly defect to Prince Cheng," Jih Heng said, her lips curling up slightly. She took a sip of tea before continuing calmly, "But his daughter is different, she has much more courage than he does."
"Consort Li detached herself from the Ji family and turned to Prince Cheng," Jiang Li said, "If Prince Cheng wins, the Ji family can avoid disaster, but if the affair is exposed, the Ji family will also be implicated."