No, he should have lost his life. The trace that aided the second prince was so significant that even the crown prince was killed. How could this person be allowed to live? Furthermore, the Empress and the Emperor saw through the facade, but it did not prevent them from retaliating against him. Especially this woman before him, who loved the crown prince to her very core. The crown prince was her hope, how could she let him die in vain?
“So, the third prince is unwilling?” The Empress stared at him fixedly. She hadn't expected that as soon as a glimmer of hope appeared, he would refute her. If he were to ascend the throne, what then? Wouldn't it be impossible for her to seek some benefits for her maternal family?
The third prince quickly lowered his head. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded. He knew that even if he truly wanted to hand Wu Caiwei over, with her abilities, she would not allow herself to be controlled. While he seemed to share the same objective as the Empress, their fundamental differences were stark. Wu Caiwei wanted to rescue Li Shengxu from prison, whereas the Empress desired not only the second prince's life but also Li Shengxu's. This was contrary to Wu Caiwei's intentions, and she would not agree.
Although he had gone against the Empress's wishes and the following days would likely be difficult, as long as the Emperor valued him, being targeted by the Empress's maternal family might actually be a good thing for him. After all, hadn't the Emperor already been displeased with them?
The Empress, who had spent a lifetime in the inner palace, understood the reasoning. She felt a surge of frustration. In the past, she would have found a way to punish him. But now, with her family under the Emperor's surveillance, she dared not make a move. Moreover, in the past, the Emperor had tolerated her family for the sake of the crown prince, not wanting his son to be without a maternal clan. Although he didn't want his clan to become overly powerful, he also didn't want them to lose everything. He understood that the new emperor, seeing their weakened state, and recalling how the crown prince had once suppressed them, would certainly seek revenge.
The crown prince, after all, shared his blood and had grown under his watch. Their bond was extraordinary. He did not want the crown prince to ascend the throne, nor did he want him to die.
After a moment, he couldn't help but sigh. "Things change when people leave," he murmured. Even while still holding the position of Empress, she felt a difference. Resigned, she said, "Speak. How will you bring the person before me? Do you want me to help you ascend the throne, or do you want me to hand over our family's hidden forces to you?"
He then felt that his sacrifice this time should be enough. The other party should agree. However, to his surprise, the second and third princes shook their heads, indicating that this was not a matter of exchange, but rather that the person in question was beyond their control.
"Stop making excuses. You are already the third prince, and everyone knows your future is bright. How can there be someone you cannot control? It simply means you don't want to fulfill my wishes." To the Empress, the other party was simply too greedy. If he wouldn't even accept this, what did he want? Did he want her to mobilize her entire family to help him?
The third prince remained silent, his head bowed. His unchanging demeanor was his response. The Empress, seeing his unyielding stance, felt exasperated. "What does he want? You can't possibly not understand. That person looks so much like you. Aren't you afraid that after escaping my grasp, he will do something that will be blamed on you? Furthermore, Wu Caiwei is so capable and somewhat strange. If he lets her take his place, what will you do?"
While the third prince appeared outwardly unfazed, his fists involuntarily clenched. This was also something he had feared for a long time. He knew the Empress was trying to sow discord and force them onto the same side. However, he told her it was impossible. Wu Caiwei, as the Empress said, was too unpredictable. Without thoroughly understanding her, he dared not rashly oppose her.
Watching the third prince's retreating back, the Empress's expression darkened. Did she really have to let that person named Li Shengxu go? She felt that even in the afterlife, he would not forgive. Letting the other person off was not impossible. There was another way: to make his life worse than death. For instance, chopping off his arms, dislocating his legs, cutting out his tongue, and gouging out his eyes, making him unable to live or die. That would be acceptable.
But that woman was so strange. What if, in the end, she sought revenge against her? That would not be worth the loss. Although news of the crown prince's recent death had arrived, the Empress had considered joining him in death. But now, she still wanted to live well. After all, women who had lived in the palace for so many years were stone-hearted. With the special crown prince gone, reason told her that she had to find someone to support her in her remaining years, to ensure a comfortable and prosperous life. Initially, she had wanted to support the third prince. But seeing as he refused her offer today, she would have to consider the fourth, fifth, or sixth princes and make him regret it.
Except for the idle third prince, someone was instructed to relay the conversation between himself and the Empress to Wu Caiwei. Wu Caiwei knew immediately that he was both trying to appease her and test her. After all, what the Empress said was true. If she let Li Shengxu impersonate him, she would have nowhere to cry. Given Li Shengxu's current physical condition, he posed no threat to the other party. Thus, she informed him of the true state of the other person's health. Hearing the news, the third prince breathed a sigh of relief. However, he was also unsure if what the other person said was true. Therefore, he quietly mobilized his connections, having a trusted imperial physician examine the person. Of course, this imperial physician had to be his own man, otherwise, if the information leaked, it would leave a bad impression on the Emperor, making the effort futile.
When the imperial physician confirmed that the situation was indeed as Wu Caiwei had described, the third prince finally relaxed, feeling a heavy weight lifted from his heart. Knowing that the other person's life was nearing its end, he did not haggle with him over impersonating him. Instead, he began to devise ways with Wu Caiwei to rescue the person.
Lying in bed late at night, the Empress grew increasingly frustrated. If she couldn't deal with the third prince, could she not deal with a mere guard? So, without sleeping, she put on her cloak and swaggered into the prison, ordering Li Shengxu to be brought out and tied to a stake.
The commotion immediately reached the Emperor's ears. The Emperor waved his hand, telling everyone not to intervene. As long as the Empress didn't target the second prince, she could do as she pleased. Moreover, he harbored resentment towards her. If he hadn't resembled his third prince so much, how could the second prince have used him to kill his own son? Ultimately, it was his fault. Even if the Empress didn't trouble him, he wouldn't let him off.
If Wu Caiwei and Li Shengxu were present and knew what the Empress and Emperor were thinking, they would undoubtedly be furious. To think that they couldn't control their own son and were pushing all the blame onto commoners, without considering if they were forced.