Too high to reach

Chapter 323 Only Survival
Feng Liniang, who was locked in the courtyard, had no idea what was happening outside.

Even Shao-ge'er hasn't been allowed to see her these days.

Driven to the brink of madness, he kept telling the gatekeeper to go and tell the prince, "Tell the prince, I admit all my mistakes and accept all punishments. But I want to see Shao-ge'er, I want to see Shao-ge'er!"

The guards were annoyed by her crying, but none of them dared to say a word.

Although she outwardly cried and complained about missing her son, she was actually more worried about what the prince and his men might have discovered.

If it were just a matter of money, it wouldn't be a big deal. Because, not only did she not lose money, she actually made a profit; she simply broke the rules.

At most, we'll stop letting her manage the household...

However, if my cousin and her husband are dragged into this and Wan Daoping's affair is discovered, then we're truly finished.

She paced back and forth in the room, cursing Wan Daoping over and over again.

He carefully recalled all the details of the whole incident, including the words he had instructed the maid to persuade the woman... and then, he tried to find various reasonable explanations for these actions.

In the end, however, there was a sense of helplessness...

It was completely unexpected; there were no warning signs whatsoever, and she wasn't prepared at all.

otherwise……

My heart felt like it was being fried in oil; even a god wouldn't have imagined such a day would come!

Moe!

It's all this bitch's fault!
Ever since the prince met her, nothing good has ever happened to me.

"Don't rush, don't rush... Think about it again... If it's just about sending women to Wan Daoping, then everything will be fine, right? How was I supposed to know that Wan Daoping would harm Yongle? He's such a smart and capable man, I hardly ever see him, how could he possibly listen to me? It's all his own fault!"

"And... what about pushing this onto my cousin and the others?"

Just then, the door opened, and she turned to look.

At the entrance, Li Jing, dressed in a black robe, stood in the light and shadow.

Tall, robust, and of immeasurable nobility.

As he walked in step by step, Feng Liniang's heart pounded uncontrollably.

At the time, she was not only attracted to his power and wealth, nor was she solely driven by her desire for an imperial title.

I also valued him because of who he is...

"Your Highness..." She knelt down with a thud, the pain in her knees bringing her to her senses.

Li Jing didn't say anything, sat down in the chair, and looked down at her.

"Your Highness, Liniang was wrong. You can punish me however you wish. But... please don't ignore Liniang. And Shaoge'er, Liniang misses him. I wonder how he's been these past few days. We've never been apart for so long..." She knelt there, her voice filled with sorrow.

Li Jing remained silent, while Feng Liniang cried for a long time.

Li Jingcai slowly said, "When I rescued you, you were not even twelve years old. You were sallow and thin, and your hair was like dry straw. You didn't even dare to look people in the eye. I handed you over to Granny Zhao."

She treated you like a teacher and a mother, taking care of your every need and imparting all her knowledge in your studies. Yongle has been in poor health since childhood, spending her days in bed taking medicine. Even if she wanted to provoke you, she probably wouldn't have the strength. How could you be so heartless…?

It really was that...

Feng Liniang's legs went weak and she sat down on the ground. "Your Highness, it was because Yongle found out about my brother-in-law sending Feng Daoping a concubine... that's why she..."

Li Jing remained silent.

"Your Highness...please allow me to explain a few words. At that time, after I took over the household management, I did have selfish motives and entrusted the purchasing to my brother-in-law. Later, he also wanted the business in the front yard and promised me benefits...but at that time, there was someone supplying the goods in the front yard."

To maintain order in Wandaoping's household... I offered a suggestion. My brother-in-law then went to do it... Your Highness, this was truly just a casual remark. As you know, such things are quite common...

Your Highness, these people are nothing but playthings. Granny Zhao has told Li Niang several times that the Zhao family doesn't prevent Wan Daoping from taking concubines. I didn't know Yongle would be so agitated after finding out…”

As Feng Liniang spoke, she secretly observed Li Jing's expression.

Li Jing remained expressionless, his eyes unfathomable, like a bottomless black well. "Your Highness, really, it's just this little thing."

"So..." Li Jing said calmly, "the maidservant beside that woman, wasn't arranged by you? And she wasn't following your orders?"

Feng Liniang opened her mouth, but had nothing to say.

The matter of Princess Zhou became a hurdle in Li Jing's heart, and he was unwilling to mention it again.

"Back then, my closest blood relatives left me so tragically. Although I didn't specifically tell you those stories, knowing your nature, I'm sure you've tried to find out more. So, you should know how important family is to me."

I can't bring myself to be cruel to you. Nor do I want to one day tell Shao-ge'er about this. No matter how valid the reasons, it would be a lifelong torment for Shao-ge'er.

"No, no, no... Your Highness, it can't be that bad... Liniang, go kneel down and kowtow to Granny Zhao, beg for her forgiveness. Please?" Feng Liniang pleaded.

"So, I'm giving you two choices now: one... die of illness on your own." Li Jing only said what he wanted to say.

"What did you say?" Feng Liniang was stunned, her eyes widening.

"In this way, you can retain your status as a concubine. Everything you have gained over the years, including the money you have earned, can be left to Shao-ge'er. And you will be buried in the mausoleum according to regulations."

"Your Highness!" Feng Liniang cried out in anguish, tears and snot streaming down her face, "I am your wife! I have been with you through so many years. I have served you faithfully and even bore you your eldest son! How can you be so heartless?!"

Li Jing remained unmoved. "Secondly, you have been stripped of your imperial title for committing a grave error. All your property will be confiscated, and you will be imprisoned in the manor... You may only see Shao Ge after he has grown up, settled down, and established his own family. If he wishes to take you out at that time, you will be separated from the family."

Is he serious?

“Your Highness…” Feng Liniang narrowed her eyes, concealing the hatred within them, “No matter what, Zhao Hui is just a servant. She’s only slightly higher than the maids in the manor. I am a concubine! Even if I did something to her, would I be punished so severely? Aren’t you afraid your only son will hate you?”

"When he knows everything you've done, yet still hates me... such a son is better off not having."

“Your Highness…” Feng Liniang was truly frightened. She crawled forward and grabbed Li Jing’s hem.

"How old is Shao-ge'er? He's so young. How can he survive without his mother? How many more years will it take for him to grow up? Aren't you afraid? Your Highness... I don't ask for your forgiveness, so please let me stay in the manor."

Li Niang relinquished her management rights and refused all possessions. She asked for a small courtyard in a corner of the Prince's mansion to settle down and reflect on her actions. "To remain by Shao Ge's side, to catch a glimpse of you from afar, is all I desire. Even if I become a servant, I am willing… Your Highness, I beg you… Shao Ge is so young… He is so pitiful!"

Li Jing said softly, "When Princess Zhou passed away, Xiangxiang wasn't even as old as Li Shaofeng. Now, hasn't she grown up just fine?"

Feng Liniang, who was holding Li Jing's clothes, stopped abruptly... cold sweat poured out.

It's been so long that she's forgotten about that incident.

She cautiously raised her eyes to look, and Li Jing was also staring straight at her.

Feng Liniang quickly lowered her head... her whole body trembled... her spirit seemed to have been drained away.

No, we can't dwell on this anymore. That matter... can't be revealed again.

Died of illness? No, no, no!
It's impossible to die...

Back then, her cousin who became the Crown Princess committed suicide. Two other cousins ​​from well-off families couldn't bear the hardship and also took their own lives.

Only I refused to die, and finally Li Jing came to save me.

That's why we've had so many wonderful years.

I am, after all, Shao Ge'er's mother. He is the Prince's only son.

Let's rewind the clock—five years, ten years, twenty years. Only in the end will we know who will emerge victorious…

The one who laughs last laughs best.

Mo Yi, that bitch, no matter what she's like now, whether she can have a son or whether her son will even grow up is still unknown.

Or… she gritted her teeth, thinking that if the person in front of her were tall and short… then there would be room for maneuver.

If you die, everything is completely over.

As long as you're alive, there's still hope...