Chapter 713: Chapter 713: Will It Kill You to Keep Quiet?

Rong Si finished speaking and slowly sat down beside Li Qingmu.

Li Qingmu quickly got up, gave his seat to Rong Si, and even massaged her shoulders.

Rong Si glanced at her obedient and well-behaved son, sighed softly, and thought that making him the Emperor was the best decision in her life. It allowed her to wield power without incurring the infamy of "a hen ruling the roost."

But the problem is, why can’t this child speak now?

The Imperial Physician couldn’t find anything, and neither could the State Preceptor. So, what exactly was wrong?

Of course, these thoughts quickly passed by, and she looked towards Long Yue and Nianxi.

Seeing her lost in thought, Nianxi didn’t speak. Now that she had come to, Nianxi immediately said, "Princess, Lady Ming Fei defied authority. I wanted to teach her a lesson to remind her, but she tried to kill me. Look, my neck is covered in scratches!"

While Princess Nianxi was there lamenting, Rong Si paid her no heed. She glanced at Long Yue, "Does Lady Ming Fei have anything to say?"

Long Yue glanced at the official documents, brush, ink, and inkstone scattered on the floor and said, "What I want to say is all within that scattered pile."

Rong Si had already noticed this, but still feigned surprise, "Oh, what happened here? All the official documents are on the floor? Tsk tsk, this inkstone is a fine Ancient Cloud Ice Inkstone, how did it get shattered?"

Long Yue unobtrusively glanced at the man behind Rong Si. These two truly were mother and son; they could really put on an act!

Previously, she hadn’t known where Li Qingmu got his skill in playing dumb; it was all inherited from his mother?

Ha!

"What happened here?"

Rong Si, seeing that they didn’t respond, asked once more.

Nianxi naturally found it difficult to answer, and Long Yue’s response seemed one-sided, so Rong Si summoned several palace maids.

The palace maids stuttered, but did not dare to speak openly.

"Speak, and you will not be punished! If you don’t confess truthfully, you’ll be judged guilty later!"

These words were a bit harsh; the palace maids who wished to hide the truth dared not, and could only confess honestly.

"The Empress came in and overturned the table; Lady Ming Fei argued with her, and then this happened..."

"Why was the table overturned?"

Rong Si looked at Nianxi, her tone slightly displeased.

The place where the Emperor works, you overturned it, this shows no regard for the Emperor.

"I... I..."

Nianxi stammered, unable to explain.

She really didn’t know how to explain? Should she say she was jousting for favor with Long Yue?

After thinking for a bit, she finally came up with an answer: "Princess, Lady Ming Fei has been accompanying His Majesty for some time, but there has been no improvement in His Majesty’s condition. I was just annoyed for a moment, so..."

"Empress, I understand your worries for His Majesty’s illness. Whatever displeasure you have, direct it at me. Why overturn the table? His Majesty just organized those official documents!"

You wicked woman!

Nianxi glared at Long Yue with murderous eyes.

Would it kill you to stay silent at this moment?

Seeing Nianxi’s face turn ashen with anger, Long Yue laughed heartily.

Rong Si slightly furrowed her brows. She was a smart woman, knowing that Nianxi was jousting for favor. But, even in such petty rivalry, shouldn’t she choose the right target? Why lash out at the Emperor?

The Emperor is not someone you can scold!

Rong Si was very disappointed in Nianxi; the one she personally trained was outshone by a girl from the countryside?

Rong Si absolutely did not see this as a failure on her part; she believed Nianxi to be too foolish, being manipulated by Long Yue.

She looked at Nianxi, her face full of disappointment, and said, "Empress, this is inappropriate. Even if you want to discipline the concubines, you should choose a different place. Scolding them before His Majesty makes things difficult for him, should he side with you, or with Lady Ming Fei?"

Rong Si’s words carried a sternness mixed with consolation, seeming to scold the Empress, but in truth telling her that the Emperor treats you and Lady Ming Fei equally.

Nianxi thought of the words Li Qingmu had previously written: She is more obedient than you, and suddenly she understood much more.

Upon further consideration, she realized both Zhi Jin and Lady Ming Fei were indeed gentler and more understanding than herself.

In front of this Emperor, they were meek as lambs.

How splendid a lamb is?

Soft and tender, no wonder the Emperor preferred them.

Nianxi thought of herself; she wondered when she became so harsh and mean? Continuously picking on palace maids, frequently ordering beatings or crippling them.

This truly appeared fierce and stringent.

But, she wasn’t always like this at all!

Li Qingmu, it’s you, it’s all because of you!

If I hadn’t met you, how would I have become like this?

I would still be that exalted Princess, married to a man who truly loves me, living a happy life.

Yet, since meeting you, everything has changed!

Why?

Do I owe you from a past life?

Nianxi roared angrily within her mind.

But gradually, she calmed down.

When a person becomes too emotional, they eventually calm down.

She lightly gave a nod of courtesy and said, "Yes, Princess’s corrections are right; I will maintain propriety in the future."

Maintain propriety? Ha, that’s still thinking of taking someone to task!

"Princess, I acknowledge my fault, so I wish to return and reflect behind closed doors."

This is an attempt at escaping!

Rong Si nodded, allowing Nianxi to withdraw.

Once Nianxi left, Rong Si re-evaluated Long Yue.

This was a remarkable person.

This was the evaluation Rong Si gave Long Yue, and it was already quite high.

She didn’t speak in vague platitudes, but directly asked, "Has the Emperor’s condition improved?"

Long Yue replied, "In response to the Princess, from my observation, everything about the Emperor seems normal. As for why he still cannot speak, upon further consideration, apart from the assassin, it could be that the Emperor himself has something on his mind? Or maybe there are other reasons?"

Long Yue’s answer was, in fact, what Rong Si had been thinking internally. She also believed there were other factors behind Li Qingmu’s inability to speak.

Initially, she thought that Long Yue’s life being at risk was his tactic to demand her to heal Long Yue.

But it now seemed unlikely to be that; what else could it be?

"Princess, allow me to speak frankly."

"Go on!"

"If it’s destined to be, it can’t be avoided; the Princess should find peace of mind."

Rong Si nodded slightly. This principle she certainly understood, but her role was not just the Princess; she was also Li Qingmu’s biological mother!

This son was so obedient, and the blood connection became increasingly strong. She found herself loving him more deeply, her heart wrenching to see him voiceless.

Emotions are such strange things, when you don’t have them, you feel nothing, you might even disdain those who possess them.

But once you have them, you find it harder and harder to let go of that feeling.

"Princess, Princess?"

Long Yue, seeing Rong Si somewhat lost in thought, gently called her from the side.

Rong Si came back to her senses, smiling as she looked at her: "You are a wise woman. I am entrusting Mu’er to you. Take good care of him, understand?"

Long Yue was momentarily stunned; was the Princess acknowledging her?

A sudden, unexplainable happiness arose at being acknowledged by her mother-in-law. She slightly bowed and said, "Yes, I will certainly take good care of His Majesty!"