Chapter 1296: Chapter 1291: The Leaf Presented to the Imperial Consort by Your Highness

Chu Heng was playing pretend with Chu Xi, holding a leaf and pretending there was food on it, which he presented to Chu Xi, “Sister, this is what I ran around to find for you! Eat quick!”

Chu Xi looked at him calmly, took the leaf, and tore half of it to stuff in his mouth, “Little brother, such a nice thing; you should eat it first.”

Chu Heng bit down and exclaimed, “Pfft! Sister Xi, you’re bullying me! Stuffing it into my mouth, hmph!”

Chu Xiaoheng got angry, and comforting him was no longer an option.

He tucked his hands into his sleeves and turned away to the side, ignoring Chu Xi.

Chu Xi was aloof, she quietly walked towards their carriage.

Seeing that Chu Xi really didn’t come to coax him, Chu Heng’s little face was a picture of aggrieved sadness, and he thought to himself that he wouldn’t play pretend with Chu Xi ever again.

Suddenly, a pleasant female voice sounded out behind him, “Crown Prince, Your Little Highness.”

Chu Heng turned around and saw a woman dressed up, standing on the muddy ground, and he suddenly remembered her identity, “Leng… Leng…”

What was her title again?

“Imperial Consort Leng Shuqing greets the Crown Prince,” Leng Shuqing said with dignity and grace, as if not in the mountains but rather in the grand and sprawling imperial city.

Chu Heng nodded, recalling what his mother had taught him; at this moment, he should say very graciously, “Dispense with formalities, rise.”

Leng Shuqing saw the pure innocence in Chu Heng’s rounded eyes and spoke to him in a gentle, soft voice, “Just now, Your Majesty saw the Crown Prince playing so joyfully with Chu Xi. I wonder if I am fortunate enough to receive some ‘food’ found by the Crown Prince?”

Chu Heng replied honestly, “That wasn’t food, it was just a leaf I picked up in front of me.”

“I just wanted to play with Your Highness,” Leng Shuqing said with a smile, a kind expression that could disarm, and she also took out a piece of white jade soft cake, “The Consort has also prepared some food for Your Highness, knowing of the Crown Prince’s careful manners, I’d like to trade with the Crown Prince.”

Chu Heng glanced at the cake in her hand; he wasn’t really interested, but since Leng Shuqing rarely wanted to play with a child like him, he said with a smile, “Please wait, Your Majesty, I will find some ‘food’ right away!”

He hopped and skipped back in the direction he had come from. Since that path was far from the resting spot and Chu Heng ran fast, he quickly went out of Mo Qi’s line of sight, Leng Shuqing immediately cast a glance at Yu Lu beside her and said coldly, “Go now!”

Fear filled Yu Lu’s eyes, “Your Majesty, this is… the Crown Prince!”

Laying a hand on him… if the emperor found out, his fury would be thunderous, and they’d end up floating down the river dead!

Leng Shuqing’s eyes were cold and calculating, “Without the Crown Prince, there can be another, opportunities like this are rare.”

“But Your Majesty! We’ve already been sent back to the imperial palace, if something happens to the Crown Prince on the road…” How could they possibly escape implication?

Leng Shuqing spoke coldly, “Mo Qi isn’t here, Chu Heng is but a three-year-old child, no one will come here in this quarter of an hour, do you expect me to go myself? Once the emperor returns to the palace, there will naturally be a chance for me to provide him with another prince, why worry about not ascending to the position of Crown Prince?”

Was the Prime Minister’s Estate she hailed from inferior to Su Yingxue’s Marquis of Martial South’s Manor?

Why should all the dreams of the women in the world be monopolized by her alone!

Even if the emperor sought retribution come autumn, he would first execute the negligent Mo Qi and Lin Sisi!

Yu Lu was merely searching for a lost handkerchief, she would not be discovered.

With that said, Leng Shuqing turned and went back to the carriage. Yu Lu, trembling, proceeded. She watched as Chu Heng, focusing intently on the ground, searched for leaves while murmuring in a childish voice, “This leaf is too old! This one’s shape isn’t pretty! Ah… I should find a nice one for the Consort!”

He was searching seriously, unaware of the person behind him, nor did he notice that the path had a slope leading down to a swift river below; if a child fell in, there would be no return.

Yu Lu crouched behind Chu Heng, hesitating for ages, not daring to make a move.

Not until Chu Heng suddenly stood up, cheerfully shouting at the sunlight, “Wow! This leaf is so beautiful!”

Its color was a vivid green, the veins clearly defined, with no damage!

Presenting it to the Imperial Consort, she would definitely love it!

Seeing him about to turn around, Yu Lu shut her eyes, steeled her heart, and thrust her hands forward violently, pushing him toward the slope.

Chu Heng was abruptly shoved by a great force, letting out a loud cry, “Ah!”

Chu Xi was the first to rush toward the direction of the voice, “Brother!”

Mo Qi and Lin Sisi had just linked up, their task not yet clearly communicated, when they heard the shouts and quickly leapt forward, surpassing Chu Xi, landing on the path where Chu Heng had been picking leaves, their eyes widening at the scene before them.

Leng Shuqing sat anxiously in the carriage.

This was her first time doing something harmful. Clenching her grandfather’s Buddha beads in her hand, she flicked through them rapidly, the beads clashing with crisp sounds. Although they were meant to ward off evil and bring peace of mind, at that moment they only made her feel increasingly anxious.

Thinking of Chu Heng’s youthful face, her heart wavered between reluctance and the thought that with his death, Su Yingxue would be heartbroken. And with Chu Yihan without a son, given the battle for imperial power, he would have to sire another heir. Su Yingxue was unable to bear another child, so at the very least, she had created an opportunity for herself.

Thinking that she still had a chance to be favored by Chu Yihan, to bear a prince, and to secure glory for her entire family, any hesitation or guilt in her heart was swiftly drowned out.

Outside the carriage, sharp cries and utter chaos broke out suddenly.

Leng Shuqing gripped the Buddha beads tightly, her heart pounding as she closed her eyes and murmured, “Chu Heng, don’t blame Her Majesty…”

Blame yourself for being too good at being born, or perhaps not good enough!

In the arms of Mo Qi and Lin Sisi, each held a child, Mo Qi’s face as cold and impassive as ice, staring at the scene before him, Shan Bao holding Yu Lu in his jaws, nearly severing her neck. He had no intention of rescuing her.

But Lin Sisi was calmer, “Quick, make Shan Bao let go, if she’s dead, nothing can be investigated!”

By the time the emperor and empress return and find out about this, and they’ve failed to uncover the reasons, they will certainly be punished!

Mo Qi snorted coldly, “Shan Bao doesn’t listen to me.”

He wouldn’t bother trying to stop it, this person had actually dared to plot against Chu Heng!

This was their precious little Crown Prince!

Chu Xi’s eyes flashed with a sharp menace, “Shan Bao, devour her face, eat her heart!”

Shan Bao howled and with one swipe of its paw, tore off half of Yu Lu’s face.

“Spurt—”

Flesh ripped open, falling heavily to the ground, a bloody cheek rolling in the mud.

Chu Heng yelled, “Shan Bao, stop, don’t kill her!”

Shan Bao paused its tearing of Yu Lu, seemingly displeased, waiting for Chu Heng. Was the little kid being silly again?

If it hadn’t been vigilant by his side every moment, he would’ve rolled right into the river.

Chu Heng pointed at Yu Lu with his childish voice, “She’s crushing my leaf, the one I found for the Imperial Consort.”

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