After hearing this, Cui froze and could not believe her ears.
This shouldn't be the case, the nanny told her. Li was of humble origin and the child she was carrying was of low status. Even if His Highness knew that she had done something, he would only give her a minor punishment and would not turn against his wife for an unborn illegitimate child.
But, but His Highness wants her to leave. This is divorce. He wants to divorce her for the child of a concubine!
"Aunt Yu, you must have lied to me and told me the wrong thing. His Highness and I have been married for nearly ten years, and we have always been in harmony. How could he not want me? Please go back and ask him, don't tell me you heard it wrongly."
Cui stood up with a smile, her lips trembling, her pupils dilated, trying her best to deceive herself.
Liangyu looked at her and sighed slightly.
"The princess has been with His Highness for nearly ten years, but she doesn't know His Highness' temper. The mistakes you made are the most intolerable to His Highness. You should clean up your mess. His Highness is showing mercy by not pursuing the Cui family's guilt now."
Cui stammered and opened her mouth, but in the end no word came out.
As soon as Liangyu left, he collapsed to the ground.
In the palace.
At that time, Ning Chen had just returned from traveling less than a month ago. He was in a good mood, but he frowned after hearing the eldest prince's words.
Although he knew that Cui deserved severe punishment for her actions, the Cui family was still a prominent family after all, and it would be embarrassing to divorce his wife just like that.
Perhaps knowing what his father was thinking, the eldest prince directly stated his thoughts.
"I shouldn't bring up the past, but I was hurt by the women in the backyard when I was young, so I can't stand seeing such secrets now. If you feel embarrassed, I am willing to divorce Cui and not divorce her. This will also save the Cui family's reputation."
Seeing the eldest prince kneeling on the ground with such determination, Ning Chen felt in a dilemma.
The Cui family has made great achievements in the past two years. Even Cui Xiuyi, who had been out of favor in the harem for a hundred years, was promoted to Xiuyuan because of her family. Divorcing or renouncing the wife from the Cui family at this time would be a slap in the face of the Cui family.
Although thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace from the emperor, it is inevitable that the Cui family will feel resentful.
"You get up first, and let me think of a compromise."
The eldest prince stood up with his head down, sat down on an embroidered stool beside him, and coughed.
"Why are you coughing so badly again? I just brought some ginger tea. Quickly pour it for the eldest prince."
Suddenly, the palace door was pushed open, Ye Jun walked in calmly, and asked Kong Qing to pour tea for the eldest prince.
"Your son pays his respects to your mother." The eldest prince stood up and saluted.
Ye Jun waved her hand, "Forget it, you are not feeling well, please sit down. I know everything, and I know that both you and your son are in trouble. I will say a few words, and see if you are willing to do so."
Ning Chen nodded, motioning for her to continue, and the eldest prince also listened obediently.
Ye Jun then spoke.
"I am also a person who cannot stand seeing children being harmed. Cui's actions are indeed enough for the royal family to divorce her, but her father is currently promoting commercial tax reforms in the Jiangnan area, which is quite effective. At this time when the court is in need of people, it is indeed not easy to do so."
"Divorce and divorce are not feasible, so why not just keep her as an empty shell and keep her alive without giving her any real power? There are many imperial estates in the suburbs of Beijing, so just send her there to recuperate. If you really can't tolerate her, you can use some tricks, or even let her die of illness."
The eldest prince clenched his fists, but finally nodded.
"Mother, your words make sense. I know what to do now, but I will not take Cui's life."
"Now that you have thought it through, go back quickly. I have some good medicine for women to recuperate. I'll have someone send it to your house to give to Li later. By the way, ask Doctor Shen to go and see her." Ye Jun said gently.
The eldest prince cupped his hands, "Your son would like to thank the Queen Mother for her concern on behalf of Mrs. Li!"
After the eldest prince left, Ning Chen took Ye Jun's hand and pulled her over.
"You are the one who thinks too much. I am less willing to worry about things now. Jing'er has also gained enough experience. I will abdicate on a certain day and take you to live in Lingxi Garden."
Ye Jun let him lead her, "Even if you've been hanging out outside for a few years and now you don't want to move, forget it, the children are grown up, it's time for us to enjoy our leisure time."
After a pause, he gave another instruction.
"Just don't forget to give the Cui family a warning. Let them know that it was the Cui family that did the shameful thing. We are doing them a favor by not breaking the window paper."
Ning Chen nodded, "Don't worry, I know this."
In the end, the marriage could not be divorced. The eldest prince was unhappy, but he had to take it into consideration because the royal family was affected by one move.
After returning home, he went to see Cui in person, but the door was closed and no one knew what the two talked about.
Anyway, three or four days later, Cui claimed that she was going to leave the house to recuperate, and went to the imperial farm outside the capital, and never came back until her death.
The Cui family knew they were in the wrong, and did not make any noise or pursue the matter, simply pretending that they had never had this daughter.
After Cui left, Li became the highest-ranking woman in the eldest prince's backyard, but Li was not really a powerful woman.
She was not good at housekeeping and socializing, and even though there were not many people in the eldest prince's backyard, she was never able to gain a foothold. However, she was always gentle, kind, and sensible.
So when Ning Chen originally wanted to pick another lady from a noble family to work in the palace for the eldest prince, the eldest prince refused.
In his opinion, having a kind heart is enough.
If he couldn't manage the household, he would leave it to the servants. If he couldn't socialize, he would do it because he was in poor health and didn't have many occasions to attend social events.
Li was moved, and from then on she took better care of the eldest prince.
Her efforts were not in vain. The eldest prince's health was much better than before. When he was 33 years old, Li finally became pregnant again.
In this era, it is considered an advanced maternal age.
The eldest prince invited a nanny from the palace to take care of him, and also asked an imperial physician to live in the mansion.
In the end, Li gave birth to a healthy boy for the eldest prince.
After this, another young concubine gave birth to a girl.
After all, the eldest prince was not destined to have many children. He only had a pair of children in his life, which was incomparable to his other brothers.
But there is also an advantage, which is that the backyard is clean.
Ever since he sent Cui away, the women in the backyard knew his weak spot, and no one dared to have such evil intentions anymore.
However, the eldest prince was in poor health and fell seriously ill just after his fortieth birthday.
This illness made him unable to get up again.
Li always cried behind his back, but she still took good care of him. However, those who God wants to take away can never stay for long.
After being bedridden for half a year, the eldest prince knew that he was on his last legs, so he called Li and his son to his bedside.
"I know you have a soft temper, but now that I am gone and the child is still young, you have to hold up this door for me and the child. It is also my fault. If there is an afterlife, I will be in good health and will take good care of you and your child so that you will have no worries for the rest of your life."
Lee held his hand with tears in her eyes.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will take good care of this family for Your Highness and raise the child well."
The eldest prince felt very distressed when he saw Li crying.
He really wanted to touch Li's face again and hold the child's hand, but he really didn't have the strength.
Before closing his eyes, his ears were very quiet and in the haze he seemed to see a gentle and beautiful woman waving at him.
The eldest prince did not recognize her appearance, but he vaguely felt that this was his mother.
In the end, the eldest prince left with a smile on his face.
If there is an afterlife, he hopes to have a healthy body, be filial to his parents, be with his wife, and raise his children.