sbdcsierra Chapter 423 Concubine Liu Gives Up Seizing the Child
Chapter 423 Concubine Liu Gives Up Seizing the Child
A big part of the reason why her child has not encountered any malicious plots until now is that the people in Duke Dingguo's Mansion have never done anything to her.
Even...I have secretly solved some problems for her.
Although Shen Zhinian understood, he would not be grateful to Concubine Liu and Empress Dowager Liu.
Because they didn't really care about her, they were just targeting her belly.
Of course, Shen Zhinian looked grateful in front of him, bowed slightly and said: "I understand the good intentions of the noble concubine, and I am always grateful in my heart."
Concubine Liu's eyebrows relaxed a little: "Parents who love their children will make long-term plans for them. You should know that if the child in your belly is a prince, it will have a much better future if he follows me than if he follows you."
"Duke Dingguo's Mansion...will definitely do its best to help him ascend to that position!"
If it were anyone else, they would definitely believe Concubine Liu's words. However, Shen Zhinian had lived two lives and knew that the final fate of the Duke Dingguo Mansion was similar to that of the Duke Zhenguo Mansion.
If the prince follows her, it will be the end of him!
Shen Zhinian covered her stomach, looking puzzled: "…What does the Imperial Concubine mean?"
"No one below the rank of concubine is qualified to raise an heir to the throne. I am already a concubine. Even if I give birth to a little prince, how can Your Majesty allow me to hand him over to you to raise?"
"Could it be... Could it be that you want to..."
Concubine Liu said, "Put away your little thoughts."
"I have always been clear about gratitude and resentment. Since you have helped me regain my favor, I will not harm your life."
"If the baby you gave birth to is really a prince, you only need to tell His Majesty that you really don't have enough energy to raise him. I will take care of the rest."
After all, the person standing behind her is her aunt!
Shen Zhinian lowered his head, a cold light flashed in his eyes!
Concubine Liu and Empress Dowager Liu are really good at scheming!
Why should she give them the child she had worked so hard to give birth to? !
However, Shen Zhinian knew clearly that with her current abilities, she might be able to defeat Concubine Liu, but she was definitely no match for Empress Dowager Liu.
Especially since she was about to give birth, no mistakes could be made at this time.
A head-on confrontation is the worst option.
Thinking of this, Shen Zhinian said slowly: "Even if I am willing, it will be difficult to implement."
"First, no one can be sure that the baby in my belly is definitely a prince. If it is a princess, wouldn't the Imperial Concubine's expectations be dashed again?"
"Let's take a step back... Even if I gave birth to a prince, I am still a biological mother, and the Imperial Concubine is so anxious to snatch him away. Wouldn't that make Your Majesty think... that the Duke Dingguo's Mansion is ambitious?"
"With the previous experience of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion as a lesson, after this incident, I'm afraid that His Majesty will be more wary of your mother's family..."
Seeing that Concubine Liu's eyes were gradually getting colder, Shen Zhinian touched her belly and continued, "To put it in an unlucky way, if I happen to give birth to a little prince, and there is an 'accident' during the birth..."
"As the person with the highest rank in the harem, the Imperial Concubine can indeed legitimately raise the little prince."
"But this matter is too logical. With your majesty's intelligence, wouldn't you suspect that my 'accident' was caused by someone else?"
“Everything that is done by a person leaves a trace.”
"Even if Your Majesty doesn't say anything openly, won't you feel uncomfortable in your heart?"
"Then it comes back to what we said just now. Your Majesty will definitely think that the Duke Dingguo's Mansion has evil ambitions..."
Concubine Liu was not stupid and understood that what Shen Zhinian said made sense.
Because of this, her face became even gloomier!
When she tried to win over Shen Zhinian, she only used him as a knife to deal with the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion!
Unexpectedly, this knife was much more useful than she had imagined, and it even won the favor of His Majesty!
If it was just an unfavored concubine, it would not be difficult to kill the mother and take the child away.
But the more His Majesty dotes on Shen Zhinian, the more His Majesty will make a big fuss to investigate if Shen Zhinian dies during childbirth!
Because of this, she and her aunt were reluctant to act rashly.
Unexpectedly, this became Shen Zhinian's confidence!
Concubine Liu asked coldly, "So, Concubine Rou is unwilling to share my worries?!"
"No."
Shen Zhinian smiled brightly: "I came to the appointment today just to share the worries of the Imperial Concubine."
"The Great Zhou Dynasty has always established the eldest son as the heir, but there is no legitimate son in the harem, so the eldest son of Concubine De is the most honorable!"
"Even if I am lucky enough to give birth to a little prince, his status cannot be compared with that of the eldest son."
"If the Imperial Concubine... raises the Third Prince and ascends to the throne in the future, the Third Prince will be the eldest son. Who else can be the Crown Prince except the eldest son?"
"Instead of taking a huge risk and gambling on my heir, why don't you consider a better option, Your Majesty?"
"Your Highness and I will not have any grudges because of the baby in your belly. I am still willing to serve you at your service."
"This way, everyone will be happy. Why wouldn't Your Majesty do it?"
Concubine Liu's eyes flashed with contemplation...
After a long while, she said, "...Even if what you said makes sense, Concubine De is one of the four concubines. How can I raise the third prince?"
Shen Zhinian smiled again and said, "Didn't the imperial physician say that if Madam Defei overworks herself, she will only have two or three years to live."
"By then, the Third Prince will still be a child. Naturally, he will recognize whoever raises him as his biological mother."
Although Concubine Liu was somewhat tempted, she did not express her feelings directly.
After leaving Quhe Garden, she went straight to Cining Palace and told Empress Dowager Liu about her conversation with Shen Zhinian.
"...Aunt, although Concubine Rou is cunning, her words may not be without reason."
"His Majesty dotes on her so much. If we really kill her and take her away, His Majesty will be furious and will definitely investigate thoroughly. If any clues are found, Qingqing is worried that the Dingguo Mansion will follow the same fate as the Zhenguo Mansion..."
Empress Dowager Liu snorted coldly: "Are you frightened by Concubine Rou's few words?"
"If I take action, will people find any traces? Do you think I have lived in the harem for nothing for the past few decades?"
Concubine Liu sighed: "Aunt, Qingqing is not doubting your ability. It's just... don't you know His Majesty yet?"
Empress Dowager Liu was silent.
In fact, she understood this truth in her heart.
After the fall of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, His Majesty became more and more wary of the Duke of Dingguo Mansion. Concubine Ruo Rou gave birth to a little prince, but died of dystocia, and the little prince was passed to the Imperial Concubine.
Even if Your Majesty cannot find any evidence, he will still suspect that they did it.
And the suspicion of an emperor is sometimes the most terrifying...
Concubine Liu continued, "I think the Third Prince is a better candidate, and there is one main reason."
"Even if Concubine Rou can give birth to the Fourth Prince, he will still be raised by me. When I ascend to the throne in the future, the Fourth Prince will be the legitimate son, but the Third Prince will be the eldest son of a concubine."