PFC Chapter 30 Childhood Sweethearts Are Nothing More Than This
Chapter 30 Childhood Sweethearts Are Nothing More Than This
"This Zhao Jing is completely unreasonable. The person I sent to plead for him was actually driven away by him. This is outrageous!" Li Heng paced back and forth in the inner hall in a fit of anger.
Zhou Qianqian, wearing a light pink veil, was standing in front of her desk looking at the list that had been brought in from outside. The more she looked, the more serious her gaze became.
"So many officials from the Six Ministries are involved; these are half of His Highness's confidants." Zhou Qianqian gasped as she spoke.
Previously, we only knew that Liu Ling had confessed, but we didn't expect that he would implicate so many important figures.
It is important to understand that the Six Ministries are the real power holders. Without their assistance, the Crown Prince's influence on the court would be greatly reduced. Once his prestige is overshadowed by others, it would be a matter of great importance.
Li Heng frowned even more deeply upon hearing this.
“I didn’t expect things to be still like this. If we let Zhao Jing continue to arrest people, it will have a huge impact on Your Highness.” Zhou Qianqian also looked worried.
The matter of the assassins completely restrained them, even the censors shut up, so who could they expect to help them?
"Your Highness, the Grand Secretary's wife has brought some clothes for the concubine." A young eunuch entered, presenting a small bundle with both hands.
Li Heng and Zhou Qianqian exchanged a glance. Zhou Qianqian immediately stepped forward, took the bundle, and opened it. Li Heng waved for the eunuch to leave.
"Found it." Zhou Qianqian found a sachet in her bundle, inside which was a note.
The note contained only the name 'Shen Li'.
"What does Father mean by this?" Zhou Qianqian was puzzled for a moment. "I only know that she moved into Consort Zheng's palace today. Is Father reminding us to be wary of her turning against us?"
After pondering for a moment, Li Heng's eyes suddenly lit up: "How could I forget that she has entered the palace? She has influence with the Emperor. Is there any news from Anhua Palace?"
“Consort Zheng beat Ying’er half to death early this morning, but she treated Shen Li with some courtesy,” Zhou Qianqian said.
"I doubt she'd dare openly attack the Shen family, but this show of force clearly indicates she won't let Shen Li get away with it." Li Heng snorted, "Such womanly tactics."
"Is Your Highness worried about Sister Shen's safety?" Zhou Qianqian asked tentatively.
“Consort Zheng dares not take her life easily, but since she has been brought into the palace, she will inevitably suffer some torment.” Li Heng narrowed his eyes slightly and said, “She is certain that neither I nor the Empress Dowager will dare to help her in this critical moment, and she wants to use this to alienate Shen Li from me.”
Zhou Qianqian nodded: "Your Highness is wise. In your opinion, is such a possibility possible?"
"No, not to mention that these scholars would give their lives for their beliefs, she would never betray my feelings for her." Li Heng said this with a hint of pride.
Zhou Qianqian felt a little jealous of this trust. The two had a childhood friendship, but even so, His Highness had no intention of saving Shen Li from her predicament.
To put it bluntly, Shen Li is just a more useful pawn. Although we still need to be wary of her, that's something to be done after we've succeeded.
"Then I shall find a way to meet with her?" she said immediately.
“No, if you meet now, Father will surely suspect us of forming a clique for personal gain. Not only will we fail to achieve our goal, but we will also implicate me.” After rejecting the idea, Li Heng ordered, “Just send a suitable person to deliver the message.”
“Your Highness has considered everything very well. I will go and do it right away.” Zhou Qianqian replied, “It’s time for you to have your meal. I will have the servants bring it to you.”
"Hmm." Li Heng nodded, his previous worry vanishing completely.
Although he didn't know what method Shen Li would use, he just felt that Shen Li had the ability to do it.
He finally had a moment of peace when he saw Zhou Qianqian, who had just left, return. Her face was covered by a veil, so he couldn't see her expression, but her eyes showed some panic.
"What happened?"
"Your Highness, Sister Shen requests an audience. She is already outside the East Palace." Zhou Qianqian's words were tinged with a sense of helplessness.
We were just saying it would be best if the two sides didn't meet, but now that they've arrived, the plan has been completely disrupted.
"Why would she come to the East Palace at this time?" Anger flashed in Li Heng's eyes.
He had just thought that Shen Li was sensible and that even if she had suffered hardships and grievances, she shouldn't have come to him. If someone with ulterior motives took advantage of this, his situation would only get worse.
"Your Highness, is it not a good time to see him?" Zhou Qianqian asked.
Li Heng knew he couldn't turn her away, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Go see her and tell her that I am under house arrest and cannot see her."
"I understand."
“Tell her more about my difficult situation, but to avoid arousing Father’s suspicion, we must not let her plead for mercy again. Let her think of other ways.” Li Heng thought for a moment and then said, “If she asks for help, keep her calm, but do not agree to it.”
At this point, he absolutely cannot be dragged into this again; no one can.
"Yes." Zhou Qianqian lowered her head to hide the secret joy in her eyes. Childhood sweethearts are nothing more than this, what is there to worry about?