Empress Xiaoxian had shown great kindness to Consort Chen. Even after she became a consort to the Emperor, Empress Xiaoxian remained her mistress in her heart.
From the moment she learned that Ling Yun was the child she had carried out years ago, she had treated Ling Yun as her young master.
Her mistress was the Empress, so her young master, by all rights, should be made Crown Prince and become the future Emperor.
From then on, she began to scheme, little by little attracting the Emperor's attention, and bit by bit becoming a favored consort of significant influence.
Consort Wei, relying on her three sons, had never considered that the position of Crown Prince would fall to anyone else.
Yet, her sons were one more disappointing than the last.
Now, only the Fifth Prince was still usable.
Even though he had been made Crown Prince, who knew if he could hold onto the position?
Consort Wei's visit to Consort Chen this time was twofold: first, to explain that she had nothing to do with Consort Chen's fall, and second, to win Consort Chen over.
"Before the First Prince's return, the Seventh Prince already showed signs of rising. But with the First Prince's return, the Seventh Prince is no longer a major concern. The important one is the First Prince, the legitimate heir to the throne. Whether it's the Fifth Prince or the Seventh Prince, to ultimately ascend the dragon throne, they must first deal with the First Prince."
"Consort Wei wishes to cooperate with Your Ladyship to deal with the Prince?"
Consort Chen nodded, sneering, "She still can't see the situation clearly. Her many years as a consort have been in vain."
Consort Wei spoke cryptically, and Consort Chen pretended not to understand. After all, she was blamed for Consort Chen's fall and miscarriage, so it was natural for her not to trust Consort Wei.
Consort Chen squeezed Wang Qingyao's hand and said softly, "Does the Prince... have the inclination?"
The inclination to seize the throne.
Wang Qingyao hesitated for a moment and then said softly, "He doesn't necessarily have to... The Seventh Prince could also be an option, but the Crown Prince is absolutely out of the question."
Their conversation was ambiguous, but both understood each other's meaning.
Consort Chen was relieved to hear this, saying, "The Seventh Prince has always respected the Prince. Now that the Prince has been recognized by his ancestors, there is no reason for him to be surpassed."
Indeed. If Ling Yun had not been recognized by the Emperor, the Seventh Prince might have had a chance to contend with the Crown Prince. But now that Ling Yun had his identity restored, if the Crown Prince were deposed, he would be the rightful heir.
"Our Emperor," Consort Chen continued, "is naturally benevolent and gentle. If the Crown Prince does not commit a crime, he will not depose him casually."
Wang Qingyao agreed and nodded, "So now we must make the Crown Prince err."
"I suspect the Crown Prince and Consort Wei are aware of this and will not easily let us find an opportunity."
Wang Qingyao recalled the letter given to her by He Rufang and quietly told Consort Chen about it.
Ling Yun had already sent people to control the witnesses and evidence related to these matters, waiting for a suitable opportunity to strike.
She had not expected to be recognized by the Emperor so soon. If they were to deal with the Crown Prince now, the Emperor might become estranged from Ling Yun.
Consort Chen understood completely.
She said, "You two do not act. Leave this matter to me. You know about the Seventh Prince's assassination attempt, don't you?"
Wang Qingyao nodded.
The Emperor, fearing that Consort Chen would not have a good recovery from her miscarriage, had ordered everyone in Ruhuai Palace to keep their mouths shut, absolutely forbidding Consort Chen from knowing about the Seventh Prince's attack and disappearance.
He must not have realized that Consort Chen, who planned three steps ahead, had already anticipated that if the Crown Prince had the opportunity, he would try to eliminate the Seventh Prince. That was why she had fully supported the Seventh Prince when he wanted to accompany Princess Mu Jin back to Dongling Kingdom.
She was creating an opportunity for the Crown Prince.
The Seventh Prince had not disappeared, of course. He was now safely in Dongling Kingdom with Princess Mu Jin, and after conferring with Ling Yun, they had sent back false news.
The Emperor thought he had disappeared, and the Crown Prince thought his plan had largely succeeded.
However, the Seventh Prince was insignificant now. The Crown Prince must regret sending people to hunt down the Seventh Prince. If it had succeeded, it would have been one thing, but if it were exposed, it would be a disaster for his current situation.
Those who were unaware believed the Seventh Prince had disappeared, and the Crown Prince also believed so. The unknown was often the most terrifying.
The Crown Prince did not know if the Seventh Prince had noticed anything, or if the assassins had accidentally revealed something. If the Seventh Prince was not dead, would he return to Duanjing smoothly and expose his crimes to the Emperor?
The Crown Prince lived in fear and suspicion every day.
The more he feared, the more likely he was to make mistakes.
"If you were the Crown Prince, knowing that the Seventh Prince had disappeared, what would you do?" Consort Chen asked Wang Qingyao.
Wang Qingyao narrowed her eyes, "I would guard the city gates, preventing the Seventh Prince from returning."
"Exactly. So now we just need to wait. However," Consort Chen smiled, "the Seventh Prince is accompanying his fiancée to meet her parents. He won't be returning so soon. It's possible for Prince Xin and his wife to reunite with their daughter and stay for half a year or a year."
Wang Qingyao also smiled, "The longer it takes, the more panicked the Crown Prince will become, and the more flaws he will reveal."
Consort Chen nodded approvingly.
Upon her return, Wang Qingyao told Ling Yun everything Consort Chen had said.
Ling Yun had already suspected it, but hearing Consort Chen actually say it moved him deeply.
Consort Chen had gone to great lengths for him.