He paused for a mont, looking at the delighted Empress Dowager, and reluctantly ate until he was half full.
"Mother, you should eat too." He picked up her favorite dish and placed it in her bowl.
"Ah, my son has grown up," the Empress Dowager said with relief, "When your father the Emperor passed away, you were but a tiny child. He was always worried about you, the youngest, losing out to your older siblings. Before he breathed his last, he repeatedly reminded to keep you by my side at all tis, so you wouldn’t suffer any grievances. Now that you’ve grown up and are taking responsibility, I’m sure you can withstand any injustice."
Prince Fifteen nodded with a smile, occasionally glancing at the sky.
"Eat a bit more. Ah, why are you putting down your chopsticks?" Seeing Prince Fifteen eat so little today, the Empress Dowager urged him to eat more.
Prince Fifteen raised his head and said, "Mother, I have eaten my fill. It’s getting late; how about I co back tomorrow morning to chat with you?"
"What? You’re leaving just as you arrived?" The Empress Dowager looked very disappointed and said, "Ah, everyone leaves. Is it because you find this old woman annoying and don’t want to talk with more?"
"No, Mother. It’s just that it’s late now. I left early in the morning and haven’t returned. Liuying is surely waiting for at ho."
The Empress Dowager’s face fell, and she scoffed coldly, "Your wife is rely a Princess of Zhuzhao Country. Do you really regard her so highly? Even if you don’t return today, what of it? Could she possibly go complain to her father the Emperor?"
Prince Fifteen’s expression changed in surprise, "Why would Mother think this way? The two countries are on good terms now. Liuying marrying into our Nanzhao is a gesture of goodwill from the Emperor of Zhuzhao Country."
"Goodwill?" The Empress Dowager threw her chopsticks onto the table with a cold snort, "That’s just a sche by the Emperor of Zhuzhao Country. They’ve co to our Nanzhao and are trying their hardest to win over the people’s hearts. What do you think their intentions are?"
Prince Fifteen felt sothing was amiss and asked in shock, "What does Mother an? Didn’t you also acknowledge the talents of doctors from Zhuzhao Country? Mother, has sothing happened?"
The Empress Dowager was taken aback, her gaze evasive, "Nothing has happened; don’t overthink it. Stay here with Mother tonight. If you get tired, go to sleep in the place you used to sleep as a child. I’ve already prepared it for you."
"No, sothing must have happened." Prince Fifteen’s face went pale, "Is it about Liuying... What have you done to her? Even if there are issues between us and Zhuzhao Country, she is innocent."
"Fifteen..." The Empress Dowager looked at him with disappointnt and said, "She is a Princess of Zhuzhao Country. If we go to war with Zhuzhao Country, she will be the first to be sacrificed."
"Why should we go to war with Zhuzhao Country?" Prince Fifteen pushed away the Empress Dowager and said, "No, you can’t do this. She is my Princess Consort."
With a cold turn, Prince Fifteen strode out of the palace.
The Empress Dowager was montarily stunned, then shouted loudly, "Guards, seize him, don’t let him leave the palace."
The Empress Dowager had prepared in advance. People were already lying in wait inside and outside her chamber. Upon hearing her order, they imdiately sprang from hiding and surrounded Prince Fifteen.
Prince Fifteen was now certain that sothing had happened to Jin Liuying. They had brought him to the Imperial Palace early in the morning just to make it easier to act against Jin Liuying.
She, a delicate and sheltered Princess, had never suffered such treatnt. He couldn’t imagine what they might have done to her.
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