LoT Phoenix 1

Chapter 184: Straight Forward

In the evening, the Forbidden City was shrouded in dark clouds, roaring thunder and heavy rain. The rain bent the branches in the courtyard. The wind brought up the water on the ground. In such a heavy rain, you were going to read some books, but you didn't expect a visitor. When Queen Rong walked into the Phoenix Hall, she seemed to be in a trance. You called her a few times before she reluctantly smiled gracefully at you, then raised her hand and ordered the people in the hall to retreat.

Xiu Ying: Your Highness, you're wet by the rain. Why don't you change first?

Queen Rong: I'm fine.

Hearing this, you stopped persuading her. You turned around and handed her a handkerchief. She took it and cleaned herself up a bit, as if she was thinking about what to say next.

Queen Rong: I promised you that I would talk to the 6th Prince.

Xiu Ying: Did you talk with him, Your Highness?

Queen Rong had a stiff look on her face. She closed her eyes and tried to forget what had happened not long ago.

Queen Rong: I didn't expect that I wouldn't be able to persuade my son. He was so stubborn... Princess, the last time you saw him, did you notice that he had changed?

Hearing this, you recalled that the last time you saw the 6th Prince. After a while, you shook your head.

Xiu Ying: He doesn't seem to have changed, but maybe I don't know him that well, so I can't be sure.

Queen Rong: He seemed to have lost his mind, and I couldn't persuade him to do something stupid to go after the throne now.

Compared to the stubbornness of the 6th Prince, you were more surprised by the honesty of Queen Rong. You didn't expect that Queen Rong would say these. Did she really trust you, or does she really not care?

Xiu Ying: He has a plan in mind, Your Highness.

Queen Rong: I found that he has been hiding a lot of things. He doesn't tell me anything now.

Xiu Ying: [Coughing] He may not want you to worry, so he keeps them from you.

Queen Rong: [Shaking her head] I think he has changed his temper like His Majesty!

The thunder roared and the rain was loud outside. You thought you had mistaken. But the lost look on Queen Rong's face was telling you that you have heard it right.

Xiu Ying: Your Highness, what do you mean by that? Isn't the 6th Prince really the 6th Prince?

Queen Rong: How could I not recognize my own son? It's just that he has become so grumpy that it makes me worried.

Xiu Ying: Your Highness, don't worry. There must be a trace if 6th Prince has changed his temper. Now we should find out if anything has happened.

Being comforted by you, Queen Rong slowly relaxed and nodded to you.

Queen Rong: I was a little impatient. I came to see you today to tell you this. I just want you to keep an eye on it. I'm afraid that he will come to you again.

Queen Rong was right. Not long after, the 6th Prince came to you on a cloudy Day. Reminded by Queen Rong, you intentionally avoided the 6th Prince and try to stay in the Phoenix Hall. You didn't expect that the 6th Prince would get the people around you to allure you out to see him.

Matron: Your Highness, the 6th Prince invite you to the Pavilion in the lake center.

Xiu Ying: I'm not well. I'm afraid I can't go.

Matron: Your Highness, Shi Lian has been waiting there for long.

When you heard she said Shi Lian, you looked back, surprised and angry. The matron stood behind you respectfully and repeated it calmy.

Xiu Ying: You took Shi Lian?

Matron: His Highness wanted to invite you, Your Highness, he happened to see Shi Lian, so he invited her along. Please come with me as soon as you can, Your Highness.

Looking up at the sky, you saw dark clouds sinking. Was the rain ever going to stop? In the Pavilion in the lake center, the 6th Prince was drinking tea leisurely. Shi Lian stood in front of him, holding back her anger with a cold face. He heard your voice and turned around. His eyes lit up.

6th Prince: Your Highness? It didn't take you longer than I thought.

Xiu Ying: Your Highness, what do you want?

6th Prince: Now that you're here, Shi Lian can go. Have a seat, Your Highness.

You and the 6th Prince were soon left alone in the pavilion. He had a paper fan in his hand and looked at you with a smile. You sat slowly at the stone table.

6th Prince: I want to be honest with you today. It's true that I still want the throne

The 6th Prince in your memory seemed to be gentle and elegant, but he was actually cunning. Would he be so honest?

Xiu Ying: (Among other things, the sudden honesty of both the mother and the son was really disturbing.)

Xiu Ying: You're ambitious. I wish you success.

6th Prince: [Shaking his head] It's too big a challenge for me to do it alone. So, I'd like you... to work with me.

Xiu Ying: (Queen Rong didn't have to worry, this must be the real 6th Prince. The apple doesn't fall far away from the tree.)

The 6th Prince looked at you with a smile when you were thinking, waiting for you answer.

Xiu Ying: I'm merely a civilian princess. Don't mock me, Your Highness.

6th Prince: You are belittling yourself. Remember me saying that between you and the throne, which one would my brother choose? I bet he would choose you.

6th Prince: Don't you like my brother? Don't you want to be with him for a lifetime? But as long as he is the Crown Prince, father will never approve, am I right?

You didn't know where the 6th Prince got his confidence from. He sounded certain. It seemed that he knew everything.

Xiu Ying: I don't like him and I don't want to do this. You misunderstand me, Your Highness.

The 6th Prince stared at you, trying to find any trace on you calm face. He just smiled holding his fan gently when he got nothing.

6th Prince: If my brother hears this, I am afraid he will be heartbroken.