Chapter 176: |
Upon seeing Gao Yang again, Changle couldn’t help but feel her heart race. The playful smile that Gao Yang used to have now appeared incredibly sinister. “Sister!” Gao Yang greeted her with a fake smile. “Is this my little nephew? Let me hold him!” Gao Yang extended her hand with a smug grin.
The next moment, Changle abruptly turned her head away, holding the child as if fearing that Gao Yang might harm the child. She didn’t even glance at Gao Yang. Gao Yang paused for a moment. Then, everything became clear to her. In the end, Gao Yang was impulsive and loved causing trouble. When faced with real problems, she couldn’t control her emotions. A trace of fear involuntarily appeared on her face.
Su Li’s expression immediately darkened. “My lady is not feeling well and will not be receiving guests today,” he coldly informed the court lady. Then, the couple directly returned to their room. Throughout the entire encounter, neither of them gave Gao Yang a direct look, nor did they exchange any words with her.
In the past, if anyone dared to treat her this way, Gao Yang would have thrown a tantrum. But now, she stood there, her whole body cold, stunned. She knew that Changle knew everything. What should she do…?
Su Li cradled Changle in his arms inside the room, softly patting her back.
“Lady, I had suspicions about your sudden coma before. Can you now confirm if Gao Yang was responsible for it?” Su Li’s tone remained gentle, but his gaze turned icy.
During Changle’s previous fainting episode, Gao Yang had visited, and Su Li had noticed something amiss. At that time, he lacked concrete evidence and was busy caring for Changle, so he didn’t investigate further.
Changle’s reaction upon seeing Gao Yang this time had nearly confirmed Su Li’s suspicions. Her previous vegetative state was no accident.
Su Li recalled the palace maid mentioning that Changle fell ill during an outing with Gao Yang. Changle shook her head and whispered, “Husband, let’s leave the past behind.”
A deep rage rose within him, and Su Li’s gaze grew colder. His impression of Gao Yang was already extremely negative.
Even before meeting Changle, Su Li was aware of the renowned princess in history, the only one who could make a royal consort wear the eternal green hat. Many Tang Dynasty princesses were free-spirited, but Gao Yang was an exception, known for her wild behavior.
Originally, Gao Yang had no connection to Su Li. However, their first encounter left a terrible impression. Her audacious and domineering attitude was tolerable, but her lack of intelligence bothered him the most.
Su Li sensed something odd about Gao Yang during their first meeting. After Changle regained consciousness, he asked her about it. Changle mentioned her illness had flared up during the outing, leading to her current condition. Su Li found her explanation reasonable, so he didn’t press further.
Observing the interaction between Changle and Gao Yang’s sisters, it was clear that Su Li had figured things out by now. Changle hadn’t lied. Her asthma attack was real. Gao Yang’s intellect made plotting unlikely.
However, Gao Yang might have taken advantage of Changle’s illness. Su Li remembered the palace maid’s words about Gao Yang insisting on Changle’s personal maid carrying backup medication when she went out. It all fell into place.
Su Li was filled with intense anger. “Husband, Gao Yang is still young…” Changle looked up, her gaze pleading.
She knew that Su Li wouldn’t let this rest if he found out, and the consequences could tarnish the royal family’s reputation.
Li Er’s standing was already criticized. If his daughter committed such an act against her own sister, it would be disastrous.
Su Li suppressed his anger and smiled at Changle, “Mistakes must be acknowledged, and unless one learns from their mistakes, they’ll never improve. I understand your concerns. Rest assured, I will handle this matter.”
Afterr Changle and Su Che had fallen asleep in the afternoon, Su Li went directly to the imperial palace.
Upon seeing Su Li, Li Er smiled and asked, “What brings you to the palace today? You’ve taken the initiative to visit?”
“Your Majesty, do you remember how Changle fell ill back then?” Su Li asked directly.
Li Er furrowed his brows, not understanding why Su Li brought this matter up suddenly. After pondering, he replied, “She had an asthma attack and didn’t take her medication in time. The imperial physician confirmed it.”
“Oh? Your Majesty, do you believe Changle’s illness was a natural disaster rather than foul play?” Su Li continued.
“The maid who usually carries Changle’s medication was left at the princess’s residence that day, and Changle’s own medicine fell into the lake. I had her executed for the mistake,” Li Er said, recalling Changle’s condition with a sour expression.
“Your Majesty, do you truly believe such coincidences can happen?” Su Li questioned with a hint of scorn.
“The medication was originally in two sets. That day, Changle’s maid was not by her side, and the medicine Changle carried herself accidentally fell into the lake?” Li Er asked, his expression troubled.
“Gao Yang?”
Li Er’s face showed shock as he mentioned the name. They had interrogated the maid before her execution, and she had claimed that Gao Yang ordered her to neglect her duty that day. Li Er was aware of this but believed it was just Gao Yang’s usual behavior.
In his eyes, his children had amicable relationships, and although Gao Yang wasn’t favored, she was still his child. Could she have had sinister intentions?
Seeing Su Li’s furious appearance, Li Er felt uneasy. Su Li was known for his composure, but his actions were unpredictable when it came to matters concerning Changle.
At this moment, Su Li’s voice resounded, “Your Majesty, Changle is your daughter. She was needlessly harmed to that extent. I believe you should provide her with an explanation.”