Chapter 441 Sending Money

"Commoners trust His Highness Prince Ye, so we also trust Consort Li. We will return in three days."

Before long, all the suppliers, a dozen or so in total, had left, and Consort Li let out a sigh of relief.

Yet, she still felt uneasy.

She was the one who had said the words and smoothed things over, so why should Luo Junhe get all the credit?

That sickly Luo Junhe isn't even fit to shine Luo Jingshen's shoes.

After Consort Li handled those people, when she saw that the Eastern Palace hadn't sent anyone to invite her in, she grew antsy.

"Jian Lan, go knock on the door and tell them I wish to see the Crown Prince."

Jian Lan replied, "Yes, Consort Li."

The gate opened, and the Eastern Palace guard, recognizing Consort Li, said curtly, "Please wait here a moment, Consort Li. I'll go inform the Crown Prince."

Then the gate shut again.

Luo Jingshen didn't miss a thing that happened outside. When he learned Consort Li had driven those people away for him, he asked, frowning in confusion, "Why her again? What's she after this time?"

Last time Consort Li came to the Eastern Palace, she caused the death of his beloved Yuyan, which led to a miscarriage—two lives lost in one tragedy.

Because of that incident, Luo Jingshen couldn't have hated Consort Li more.

Sure enough, in less than three months, she came knocking again, even taking it upon herself to solve his problems.

Luo Jingshen figured Consort Li had to have some ulterior motive.

The guard said, "Your Highness, Consort Li says she has business with you and is still waiting at the gate."

Luo Jingshen thought for a moment and decided it wouldn't be right to just turn her away, so he told the guard, "Let her in, and have someone escort her. Don't let her wander off like last time."

Consort Li waited a long time, her patience wearing thin.

Just when she thought Luo Jingshen still wouldn't see her, the Eastern Palace gate swung open.

The guard greeted her respectfully, "Consort Li, the Crown Prince requests your presence inside."

Consort Li's heart leapt with joy. She exchanged a quick glance with Jian Lan and hurried inside.

She was led to the front hall, where she saw Luo Jingshen sitting by the window, sipping tea.

He had sharp brows, bright eyes, a chiseled jawline, and a tall, lean frame wrapped in black robes embroidered with gold. His dark hair was pulled back with a golden crown, making him look even more noble and striking.

For a moment, Consort Li was dumbstruck.

So alike—uncannily alike!

The Luo Jingshen before her bore an uncanny resemblance to the young Prince Nanxiao in both build and demeanor.

The difference was that Prince Nanxiao had lost his hair and no longer had that air of refined, cold youthfulness; he now gave off a mature, weathered vibe.

Besides, since Prince Nanxiao looked a lot like Emperor Jingyang and rarely left his residence, hardly anyone would link Luo Jingshen to Prince Nanxiao.

Feeling Consort Li's brazen stare, Luo Jingshen's eyes flickered with disgust.

For some reason, he felt like Consort Li was looking through him, seeing someone else's shadow.

That feeling made Luo Jingshen deeply uneasy. He asked irritably, "What business does Consort Li have with me today?"

Consort Li noticed the disgust on the Crown Prince's face, and her heart ached. She stepped forward, forcing a smile and explaining, "Your Highness, please do not misunderstand. I left the palace today to offer incense at a temple. On my way past the Eastern Palace, I saw a crowd gathered here. I asked around and found out they were all creditors demanding payment from you."

"As one of your father's consorts, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing once I saw it. So I took it upon myself to step in and send them packing."

"I know Your Highness has been a bit strapped for cash lately. As it happens, I've got a hundred thousand taels in banknotes right here. If Your Highness doesn't mind, take them to tide you over. If you need more later, I'll find other ways to help."

With that, she pulled out the banknotes and set them on the table in front of Luo Jingshen.

Luo Jingshen picked up the notes and examined them—sure enough, exactly a hundred thousand taels.

Though he was pleased, he also suspected a trap, so he asked, "Consort Li is my third brother's mother. Why would you help me?"

Consort Li stepped closer and sat down across from Luo Jingshen.

She said softly, "I may be Prince Ye's birth mother, but he's not your father's legitimate eldest son. Now that he's crippled, just surviving is a blessing. I don't expect anything more from him."

"On the other hand, Your Highness is a dragon among men, noble and distinguished, the Emperor and Empress's legitimate eldest son. The world will surely be yours one day."

"I help you because you deserve the best things in the world—whether it's Second Miss Ji or those debt collectors, I don't want to see Your Highness bothered by such trivial matters."

Luo Jingshen's gaze lingered on her for a moment, sizing her up.

"Does Consort Li really think I deserve the best things in the world?"

For some reason, hearing Consort Li say that, Luo Jingshen felt a strange sensation.

If a mother had said this to her son, it would have sounded natural.

But coming from someone he barely knew and who had a grudge against him, it seemed very strange.

Even if Luo Junhe is useless, his mother shouldn't be siding with him, should she?

Besides, everyone in the palace knew he and Luo Junhe were sworn enemies.

He refused to believe Consort Li didn't know that.

Seeing that Luo Jingshen seemed less hostile, Consort Li curled her lips, her gaze softening.

"Of course. You're the Crown Prince. The world will be yours, so naturally, all good things belong to you too."

Luo Jingshen looked up at her, one eyebrow raised.

"Consort Li is helping me like this—does my third brother know about it?"

Consort Li's lashes fluttered, and her expression went cold instantly.

"He doesn't need to know. Now that he's married a princess consort, he doesn't need me as his mother anymore. A fool like him, unfilial and disobedient, who only listens to Ji Yuntang—why should I waste my energy on him?"

Luo Jingshen gave her an amused look. "So, Consort Li really doesn't care about my third brother, as the rumors outside suggest?"

Consort Li's heart jumped, and she quickly explained, "How could that be? It's just that he's disobedient, and I'm deeply disappointed in him!"

"Ji Yuntang has repeatedly offended me and beaten Xue'er, yet Luo Junhe always takes her side. I just feel worn out—after raising a son with so much effort, he's easily swayed by a few words from another woman, not caring about my feelings or Xue'er's. So why should I keep bothering with him?"

She wondered if Luo Jingshen would buy that explanation.

Luo Jingshen swirled the tea in his cup, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

"Ji Yuntang is indeed arrogant, but she has every right to be. If the Marquis Yongning's household hadn't swapped her with Ji Qingqing, she would've been my Crown Princess by now. How could Luo Junhe have gotten the chance to marry her?"

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