She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Prince Yu did not believe that Consort Ling would keep him in the capital for the sake of the Ling family. He thought that Consort Ling was just saying those things to appease Madam Ling, fearing that she might do something desperate.

After all, Consort Ling once said, "Jing'er, you are a piece of flesh that grew from your mother's belly. We are one, and no one can surpass your position in your mother's heart."

Therefore, even though Consort Ling usually protects the Ling family and often makes him clean up their messes, she will inevitably abandon the Ling family when his safety is at stake.

But that fool, Madam Ling, took it upon herself to poison Consort Ling, and the matter even reached Emperor Jing'an's ears. Given Emperor Jing'an's suspicion of them, he would surely believe that it was a scheme orchestrated by the mother and son in collusion with the Ling family.

I'm afraid Emperor Jing'an will grow increasingly disgusted with them, mother and son.

"Timely?" Prince Yu bent down to pick up the porcelain bottle, his tone chillingly cold. "If it weren't timely, what would happen to my mother?"

"There...there will be enough time." Madam Ling looked at Prince Yu's outstretched palm, in which rested a delicate little porcelain bottle. She was terrified, fearing that Prince Yu's hand would grab her neck again. She stammered as she moved her body backward, "There are...there are still two and a half hours. If you...if you enter the palace now, you will definitely make it in time."

Prince Yu understood the underlying meaning in Madam Ling's words: if the antidote was not delivered in time, Consort Ling's life would be in danger.

"Du Yin." Prince Yu summoned his bodyguard, his tone indifferent: "Dispose of her."

These words terrified Madam Ling. She crawled to Prince Yu's side on her knees, trying to grab his robe and beg for mercy.

The next moment, she fell to the ground with her eyes wide open, a pure white garment fluttering past her fingertips.

As Prince Yu stepped out of his study, he saw the Grand Tutor approaching in a hurry.

The Chamberlain handed him a letter: "Your Highness, a letter from the palace."

Prince Yu opened the letter and quickly read its contents.

In his letter, Consort Ling told him about the Ling family's affairs and said that she was doing well. She also told him not to listen to Madam Ling's words and enter the palace, but to prioritize the overall situation.

Prince Yu clenched his fingers, crumpling the plain paper into a ball with one hand, while his other hand ached from the porcelain bottle digging into his palm.

Madam Ling was afraid of death and didn't have the guts to lie to him.

If rescued, the mother and son would most likely meet a terrible end, but there is still a glimmer of hope.

He couldn't bear to watch his mother die.

Prince Yu handed the porcelain bottle in his hand to the Grand Tutor: "This is something that my mother used to save her life. You must personally deliver it to her." Then, he handed the token representing his identity to the Grand Tutor as well: "If you cannot enter the palace with your status, give this token to the people in the Directorate of Ceremonial and have them inform my father."

Emperor Jing'an had no eldest son, so he appointed three chief stewards to each of the three princes. These stewards were responsible for the princes' internal affairs, studies, and daily life, and would regularly come to the palace to report to him.

Therefore, the Grand Tutor had the opportunity to enter the palace and meet the Emperor, so Prince Yu entrusted this matter to the Grand Tutor.

The Grand Tutor accepted the two items and said solemnly, "This humble official will certainly live up to your expectations."

After leaving those words, the Grand Master departed hastily.

An hour later, the Grand Tutor returned to the Prince's residence in a great hurry, only to find Prince Yu dressed in his princely robes, sitting in the front hall waiting for him to return and report.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies knelt on the ground and handed the small porcelain bottle in his hand to Prince Yu: "Your Highness, I asked someone from the Directorate of Ceremonial to report to the Emperor that Your Majesty said that since your wedding is tomorrow, I should focus on handling the internal affairs of the Prince's residence first. As for other matters of the Prince's residence, there is no need to report to him for the time being."

"I will hand your token to the eunuch in the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs and trouble you to convey to the Emperor that there is an important matter from the Prince's residence to report."

At this point, the Grand Master of Ceremonies glanced cautiously at Prince Yu and continued, "The people from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs saw the token and told me not to waste my time. Not to mention that I won't be able to see the Emperor today, even if Your Highness went in person, you might not be able to see the Emperor."

"This is something Your Highness uses to save your life. I dare not entrust it to a palace maid to pass on to Your Highness. I have no choice but to come back to you to think of another way."

Every word and phrase spoken by the Grand Tutor revealed Emperor Jing'an's wariness and dislike of Consort Ling and Prince Yu, which is why Emperor Jing'an was unwilling to see anyone in the Prince's residence.

Before receiving the letter from the palace, Prince Yu was able to deduce his mother's concerns from the information he gleaned from Lady Ling: he and his mother could no longer afford to be disliked by Emperor Jing'an.

When he received the letter from the palace, his mother's concerns deepened. In order to dispel Emperor Jing'an's suspicions about them, his mother even risked her own life.

Although he had long known that the situation of his mother and son was dire and that they were walking on thin ice, he never imagined that his path to a high position would be stained with his mother's blood.

No matter how benevolent and tolerant Emperor Jing'an was, he was still an emperor after all.

What do wives and children matter to an emperor in order to consolidate his imperial power?

Even if his mother died, Emperor Jing'an would only believe that she committed suicide by poison in order to keep him in the capital.

As expected, Zhan Shi's words completely confirmed his guess.

Prince Yu clenched his fists tightly on the armchair, the veins on the back of his hands bulging. He stood up abruptly, took the small porcelain bottle from the Grand Tutor, strode out of the mansion, and rode his horse toward the palace.

The reason they, mother and son, fought for the throne was simply to survive. If they disregarded their mother's life and death for the sake of the throne, what would be the point even if they eventually seized it?

His mother was willing to give up her life for him.

How could he remain indifferent to his mother's death?

The Grand Master wanted to chase after them, but then he caught sight of several letters on the table and a piece of Xuan paper folded in half, and immediately stopped in his tracks.

He picked up several letters, and just looking at the names on the envelopes of each one sent turmoil through his heart. When he finished reading the folded sheet of Xuan paper, his heart trembled even more violently.

Before he could calm himself down, the Grand Tutor hurriedly left the residence.