Chapter 498: Chapter 11: Cannon Fodder Vase in a Power Struggle Novel (Part 11)

Lady Taishi struggled to hide her anger and held Jiang Lai’s hand, trembling.

“Lai Lai, since you came back this time, why didn’t the Eighth Prince return with you?”

“His Highness had matters to attend to. I heard he seemed to be meeting with the Imperial Censor…or someone else—oh yes, Imperial Censor Zhou. He has important business to handle, and I’m just a woman, so naturally, I can’t ask much.”

“Imperial Censor Zhou…”

During dinner, Jiang Lai ate very little, which caused the lady much heartache.

“What’s wrong? Are the homecooked dishes not to your taste?”

“Less oil, less salt, flavorless. I had tasty meals over there, and now coming back home to these, it’s a bit hard to swallow.”

The lady clenched her chopsticks tightly.

Those who have their private physicians know that a diet low in oil and salt, mild, and light can ensure robust health.

If one eats rich meats and heavy flavors every day, their body will become depleted.

Yet Jiang Lai ate exactly these harmful foods daily at the Prince Mansion!

The lady found it completely unpalatable and spent the night sighing in her room, unable to fall asleep.

Beside her, Taishi was also finding it hard to rest.

“Are you sure what Lai Lai said about the Eighth Prince meeting Imperial Censor Zhou?”

“Can the words that child spoke be false? Everyone in the court knows of your discord with Imperial Censor Zhou. That old man always slanders you before Your Majesty during court meetings, deducts your salary, and almost caused you to be demoted last time. He really thinks he’s the most capable minister beside Your Majesty, thanks to the official hat on his head!

Our son-in-law actually took the initiative to get close to Imperial Censor Zhou, what does that mean? Does he think he’s grown wings and can kick our Jiang Family aside?”

Taishi continuously furrowed his brows, leaning against the bedside, lost in thought.

“This matter requires careful observation, as Chu Yunxuan is deep-minded. If he truly intends to befriend Imperial Censor Zhou, he certainly wouldn’t let Lai Lai know.”

“Better to believe it exists than not! You record all matters around Your Majesty, and you’ve repeatedly spoken favorably of Chu Yunxuan before him, allowing him to regain Your Majesty’s trust in a short time.

Now, he surely thinks his status in Your Majesty’s heart is unshakeable, considers himself indispensable, so he’s planning to kick our Jiang Family out!”

Jiang Taishi understood clearly.

If it wasn’t for considering Chu Yunxuan as his son-in-law back then, he wouldn’t have risked his life to present himself before the throne, going through great lengths to help him eliminate adversaries.

“I actually saw it coming.”

“You saw it coming, yet you held it in! Do you want our daughter tortured to death by Chu Yunxuan?”

Taishi furrowed his brow, his tone also a bit harsh.

“What do you know? The current turmoil within the court and the escalation of the succession struggle are far beyond what we anticipated. Everyone knows I am the father-in-law of the Eighth Prince, making it difficult to withdraw!”

“Then what should we do? Is there really no one in the court who can rival Chu Yunxuan?”

“Not quite. The Second Prince holds strong and has allied with the Eldest Prince; Chu Yunxuan will find it difficult to topple them both.”

The Second Prince, Chu Yunci.

This person is sinister and vicious, renowned for even worse than Chu Yunxuan.

After a brief silence, Lady Taishi spoke.

“That brat Chu Yunxuan just wants to shake off our Lai Lai without carrying any blame, right? Then let her willingly divorce him and return to her family.”

“Nonsense, when do women ever initiate divorce willingly? Besides, if divorced, who can you entrust our daughter’s future to?”

The lady looked resolute.

“So what if she becomes an old maid? It’s better than staying in that soul-devouring place, being bullied to death! Who let her have a cowardly father, thinking about dignified reputation and official career even at this point!”

A deadly silence enveloped the darkness.

Just beyond two walls, Little Buding recounted the entire conversation to Jiang Lai without omission.

“The original protagonist had good parents, but unfortunately encountered a scumbag, getting covertly manipulated to the point of destruction.”

“Mm, what do you think is the most fitting end for the scumbag?”

“Hmm…hit him where it hurts the most. Whatever he cares about, make him lose it. Hehehe…isn’t that quite evil?”

“That’s called humanitarianism, acting in accordance with justice. But I’m too lazy, better leave such matters to the professionals.”

Little Buding asked.

“Professionals?”

“Yeah, there’s one conveniently there.”

Little Buding’s brain worked swiftly.

“Are you referring to Chu Yunci? Are you sure? That main villain somewhat carries antisocial personality traits, everyone opposing him ends up dead, and those working with him have never had any good outcomes. Simply put, he’s a reckless killer.”

He’s the type who’s ruthless enough to stab himself a couple of times.

“Who cares, as long as Chu Yunxuan isn’t happy, then I’m happy. Ultimately, whoever inherits the throne isn’t my concern.”

Why do villains lose? For lacking popularity, naturally.

Don’t assume that scoundrel Chu Yunxuan was humane just because he can put on a semblance of a human in public, meanwhile, Chu Yunci is freer, both inside and out, not resembling a person at all—the embodiment of ’stay away, ordinary folks.’

“What do you plan to do now?”

“Plan to sleep now.”

Jiang Lai, with a carefree nature, wasn’t troubled by trivial matters. Although hungry, she lay down and slept anyway.

Early the next morning, she took a leisurely stroll around the courtyard, not running, not jumping, just strolling.

Round after round, she admired the mountains and waters, freshening up for breakfast afterwards and changing clothes.

Life at her parental home was peaceful, uninterrupted from morning till night, except for the lady occasionally coming to chat, while Jiang Lai spent the rest of the time reading.

When Lady Taishi came, Jiang Lai was flipping through a book titled “National Discussion.”

“Why start reading these books? If you’re really bored, accompany me to shop for some items.”

“Sure.”

The Taishi Mansion was located on the streets of the outskirts of the Capital City, with the renowned Flower Street across the moat at the back, lined with willows growing near the lake. If it were spring, they’d be bursting with life, but unfortunately, it was winter, leaving naked trees by the lakeside looking desolate.

There were several boats drifting on the lake, among them a very exquisite painted boat, its curtains drawn tight front and back, immovable by the wind, seemingly warm.

“Yes, Chu Yunci is inside.”

“He’s trailing Chu Yunxuan.”

“You’re right, Chu Yunxuan is in the teahouse nearby, secretly meeting that Imperial Censor Zhou.”

In the original plot, at this point, the protagonist had already willingly requested a divorce, and the unscrupulous Chu Yunxuan set his sights on the Imperial Censor’s daughter.

This Imperial Censor Zhou has a daughter, deeply beloved by him.

The same strategy, the same outcome.

“Clearly, scoundrel Chu Yunxuan assumes he’s a drake, specifically enticing these wealthy but dim-witted young ladies.”

Little Buding’s words may be crude, but the logic is not flawed.

This also signifies simplifying complexities, enduring disgrace and heavy burdens, selling oneself for the ultimate goal, never giving up.

Yet, indeed, after enduring those brutal days in the Cold Palace, he was now certainly singularly focused on seizing power.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep