Chapter 233: Incapable Heir

When the Empress and the Crown Prince learned the news, both were startled.

Only by one person's effort, to empty all their storerooms?

How could that be possible?

But the Grand Tutor's Residence also saw such absurdities; the corpses thrown into its secret chamber were the men sent to assassinate Southern First Young Master.

To claim this matter has nothing to do with her is also unlikely.

"Your Majesty, the Divine Doctor who treated Prince Li is precisely this Southern First Young Master. Could she perhaps possess some extraordinary ability to silently move those treasures?" Grandma thought for a moment and whispered, "Otherwise how would we explain this? In the vast palace nothing was stolen, yet only your and the Crown Prince's belongings vanished. Now the Grand Tutor's Residence has this incident as well; it must have been done by someone connected to Prince Li. Southern First Young Master is indeed a strong suspect."

"Southern First Young Master, hum, what a Southern First Young Master, daring to steal into my palace," the Empress slammed the table heavily and shouted, "I actually want to see what extraordinary skill this Southern First Young Master has, bringing a person before my palace."

"Yes."

At that moment, a bright yellow figure entered the Empress's palace.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived."

Before the Empress could nod, Mo Junheng stepped in, his steps urgent: "Mother Empress."

"How did Heng'er come?"

"Mother Empress, have you also received news from the maternal grandfather?"

The Empress heard this and nodded, "Heng'er, do you have any knowledge about Southern First Young Master?"

"He is extremely mysterious. It is only known that he opened a shop in the capital, has some grudges with the Meng Family, yet his medical skill is superb. There is also a piece of information concerning her, but it is not yet concrete."

"What information?"

Mo Junheng lowered his voice and said, "According to reports from the army, he appears to be Mo Junyan's male favorite."

"What."

When Mo Junheng finished speaking, the Empress suddenly widened her eyes and, shocked, said, "Male… male favorite? You mean Mo Junyan is… a cut‑sleeve?"

"Last night, Southern First Young Master went to the camp to find Mo Junyan. The two behaved very intimately; because of this, the soldiers in the army had many complaints. It is said they even shared the same tent."

The Empress, hearing this, showed a complex expression, thought for a moment, and nodded, "Indeed, Mo Junyan has been alone for so many years, and the entire Prince Li's residence is filled with men; this must be the reason." Her eyes were filled with joy, and she laughed loudly, "Bai Wanrou, no matter how much favor you gain again, what does it matter? The son you bear is a cut‑sleeve; with that reputation, he will be unrelated to the throne for his whole life. A prince who cannot continue the lineage is utterly useless."

The Empress, immersed in joy, did not notice Mo Junheng's sallow complexion beside her.

"Cannot continue the lineage, most useless." Those words circled Mo Junheng like a spell. During this period, he had secretly summoned many skilled physicians to cure his illness, but the effect was negligible.

Now he has lost all interest in matters of men and women.

The Empress saw his complexion was off, called him several times, but Mo Junheng, lost in his thoughts, did not hear; only after Grandma's reminder did he barely regain his senses.

"I, your son, am distracted; please punish me, Mother Empress."

"No problem." The Empress, elated by the Mo Junyan matter, only reminded him not to lose focus in front of the Emperor.

"I understand, Mother."

"Heng'er, the Mother Empress's hope rests solely on you. You are now the Crown Prince; you must never disappoint the Mother Empress, nor make your father the Emperor disheartened. Your residence already has a concubine and many maid‑consorts; the matter of a prince must be put on the agenda. If you can father a son in one go, your father the Emperor will surely be pleased, and then the throne will be even more secure."

Bringing up the prince and heir again was undoubtedly a knife to Mo Junheng's heart.

One after another, it hurt and choked him.

Is it that he doesn't want it?

Is it that he cannot?

"Heng'er…"

"Mother Empress." Mo Junheng clenched his teeth, trying to appear calm, "I have not yet taken a principal wife; if a secondary consort becomes pregnant now, that would be problematic."

The Empress, hearing this, thought his words very reasonable, "Look, Mother Empress, you have actually forgotten such an important matter. You still have no principal wife, and you are already of considerable age; it is time to select a principal wife."

Hearing the Empress's words, Mo Junheng felt a heavy weight in his heart.

"Mother Empress, I am not in a hurry…"

"This palace originally intended to let you choose a daughter of the Left Minister or the Right Minister to become Crown Prince's consort, but the Left Minister's legitimate daughter caused that scandal, so she cannot become Crown Prince's consort. As for the Right Minister's granddaughter, I do not know why your father the Emperor abruptly annulled your marriage with her."

The Empress ignored the Crown Prince's words and said on her own, "To become your Crown Prince's consort, she must aid your future. Rest assured, the Mother Empress will select the most suitable daughter among the many ministerial families." She looked at him, her eyes bearing an unquestionable tone.

Mo Junheng saw clearly, his eyes lowered, hiding the icy chill within, and respectfully said, "If it is solely the Mother Empress's decision, that is fine."

"Very well, it's not early yet; go pay your respects to your father the Emperor and then return!"

"Yes."

After Mo Junheng left, Grandma brought a bowl of blood bird's nest.

The Empress looked at the faintly red bird's nest in the bowl, her brows knit.

"Remove it and replace it with ordinary white bird's nest."

Grandma, hearing this, hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, blood bird's nest is beneficial to you and the princes in your residence!"

The Empress's hand lightly rested on her abdomen, her eyes showing a hint of daze and enjoyment: "Precisely because I am carrying him, this palace does not wish to see such inauspicious things. From today onward, this palace's bird's nests will all be switched to white bird's nest, and likewise all other palace bird's nests will also be changed to white."

"Yes, I will order it at once." She glanced at the Empress's still flat abdomen, lowered her voice and said, "Your Majesty, you have been carrying for over a month now, yet the Emperor has not yet come to your palace! If the months grow larger, it may become problematic."

"This palace knows." She looked at the bowl of blood bird's nest, smiled and said, "Take this with me; I will see the Emperor."

In the Imperial Study, Elder Li whispered, "Your Majesty, the Empress is coming to the Imperial Study."

"Hmm."

The Emperor's expression did not change; he continued to stare at the memorial in his hand, his gaze lingering on it for a long time.

Precisely, he was looking at the characters "Chi Family."

Elder Li saw that he had no intention to stop him, so he could only step back out.

Soon after, the Empress arrived at the outside of the Imperial Study with a large retinue, grandly.

"May I have an audience with the Empress." Elder Li said with a smile, "In such cold weather, how did you come personally?"

"Is the Emperor busy?"

"Your Majesty, later, allow this old servant to send a message."

"Never mind." The Empress shook her head, "The Emperor's official duties are busy; it is best not to be distracted by such a trivial matter. This is something this palace specifically ordered the servants to do today; you may take it in to the Emperor. I will return now."