Chapter 265.1: Yao Rao

Despite Li Hong Ming being this out of luck, Li Hong Yi wasn't any better off either. He really did think that his old mother wants to abandon him, entirely just a violent beast that was about to lose his rationality, his two eyes turning red. He was already rude and reckless, easily acting on impulse, to begin with, and now, he was further just biting onto whoever he caught. And ninth wangye, who adhered to him, directly just got his two legs broken by someone on his order. Originally, when Empress was still able to restrain him, he wouldn't go as far as to do this kind of shameful thing, but now, Kang Qinwang had his mother viewed as an enemy. Whenever the Empress leaned away from him, Kang Qinwang was just able to explode in anger.

After the incident, the Empress was also very sullen, yet didn't dare to lecture her only son anymore, just fearing that in a moment of discontent, he'll just directly kill someone. Then, all her plans will come to an end.

The Empress just closed her eyes, masking all her emotions, don't know whether she was secretly sighing inside at her miscalculations, or reciting buddhist scriptures to calm her anger.

Li Hong Yi sorting out the person wasn't covered up in the slightest, and undoubtedly, this matter was just pushed before Le Cheng Emperor. Le Cheng Emperor was so angry, he nearly vomited blood. He knew his sons fought violently in private, but he has always deceived himself, pretending to not know, or rather, he thought he was able to keep these sons under control. No matter how they bounced around, they still won't anger him. But now, he just got ruthlessly slapped in the face.

At first, Li Hong Yi got locked in confinement, nearly even losing his nobility title, yet the final outcome was just nothing happened.

Just based on this bit, he was much more fortunate than Li Hong Ming.

The reason why he got dealt with leniently was just because Kang Qinwang was suddenly clever for once, lamenting with snot and tears towards Le Cheng Emperor, the deep mother and son feelings between the Empress and him. When suddenly hearing that he was about to be abandoned by his own mother, his head was muddled by anger. Just, by the time he returned to his senses, the blunder had already been committed. Everything was all his fault, he was wrong, it was him that was gullible, he was willing to apologize and make amends with ninth younger brother, it was him that was narrow-minded, imperial mother has always been very good towards the brothers, so how could she abandon him? That's why, all the fault was his fault.

At first, Le Cheng Emperor had a cold look, completely unmoved. But who knew, Li Hong Yi unhesitantly ordered someone to break his own legs.

As such, no matter how cold Le Cheng Emperor was, he was still unable to maintain. Thus, this matter just ended unsettled.

However, this matter may appear to be nothing, yet the Empress inwardly crushed a mouthful of silver teeth[1]. That good son indeed had all the fault all monopolized on himself, yet also indirectly had the blame all counted on the Empress's head. If not for her 'causing trouble for nothing' to polish her son, then everything all wouldn't have happened.

When Le Cheng Emperor gave her a cold face, the Empress had unspeakable bitter grievances. This time, she'd gotten ruthlessly screwed over by the son that was freely controlled in her hands. This wasn't something that idiot was capable of. Nine times out of ten, it was having received someone's directions. The strategists by Kang Qinwang's side weren't in the minority, but still needed for him to be able to discern and willing to adopt. He was rather good at hearing what he wanted to hear. Because of this, these people, rather than saying they were Kang Qinwang's, it was better to say that they obeyed the Empress. That's why, the matter this time definitely wasn't them.

"Let someone carefully investigate the people by wangye's side." The Empress ordered.

She needed to have the person 'sowing discord' between their mother and son relationship dragged out. To dare scheme against her, one must have the resolve to die.

In the depths of the Empress's eyes brewed a violent storm, just everything was all forcibly pressed back down, as she began to consider 'restoring' her relationship with Kang Qinwang. After all, her thoughts of separately grooming another child, regardless whether it was real or not, through this matter, also thoroughly ran into a dead end, and cannot be used again. In that case, her son just became the only candidate that was able to become her most important chess piece, and from beginning to end, all must exist. Thus, she played the seldomly used affections card.

Unfortunately, at this time, it was already useless.

In the past, the Empress once exuded high pressure towards him, practically just like a pair of chains, making him fear and unable to move, only obediently becoming a marionette, letting her freely manipulate. But now, the stocks and chains seemingly disappeared without a trace.

Because he broke his legs, he could only be lifted in. However, he had his head high, chest out, in high spirits.

Just in regards to outer appearance, Li Hong Yi similarly was a dragon among men, extraordinarily martial in appearance. After all, the good genes were displayed there. As for this IQ not being inherited, probably can only sum up as a variant.

On normal days, in front of the Empress, he was always lacking in confidence, appearing somewhat timid. As the saying goes, only possessing the matching temperament can the outstanding exterior stand out even more, yet Kang Qinwang's temperament just had to destroy his good appearance. And when others see him, they all won't pay all that much attention to his outer appearance, including the Empress.

However, right now, it wasn't the same, just like having changed into a completely different person. The Empress also genuinely and properly sized him up directly. It was still that familiar appearance, yet the feeling was completely different. What was it that was able to make a person have this great of a change in a short period of time? If not for that face, as well as that figure same as before, she would've all thought that Li Hong Yi had gotten swapped by someone.

The Empress's expression didn't change, yet inside, it wasn't that tranquil. She kept feeling that this only son of hers might break free of her control, and this wasn't something good.

"How's my son's injury?" The Empress calmly asked just like usual.

Regardless of how anxious she was inside, the Empress wouldn't just collapse all of a sudden either. For all things, too far is as bad as not enough.

"Many thanks for imperial mother's concern, this son is quite well." Kang Qinwang indifferently replied.

"Then that's good. Just, this is still being angry with imperial mother?" The Empress said, seemingly somewhat displeased.

"How can that be? Imperial mother has always been diligent and thoughtful, considering for this son all this time, this son can feel it in one's heart."

"It's good that you can understand. You are imperial mother's only son. Everything imperial mother does is naturally all for you."

"Is that so?" Li Hong Yi smiled, "Why don't you all go out first, this prince wants to have a private talk with imperial mother."

The head maid looked towards the Empress, and after seeing the Empress nod, bowed to take her leave, taking the other palace attendants together with her.

[1] I feel like there might be a similar expression to this in english, but I can't remember it off the top of my head. The expression 'crushing the silver tooth', particularly crushing by biting with the teeth, is just an expression to illustrate that a woman's extreme anger. The silver tooth refers in particular to females.

T/N: As much as I like the Empress in certain regards, she's a terrifying mother to have. Although it's kinda funny how easily acceptable people are with her treating her son like a pawn, just because he's Kang Qinwang. To some degree the Empress herself is also responsible for having raised him this way, since the stupider he is, the easier it is for her to control him like a puppet.