Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Deng Hui after leaving the Northern Palace looked tense. Nianzu was not supposed to eat those sweets. She twiddled with her fingers. What if his health deteriorated?

She reached her chamber and canceled going to Chuntao's chamber. When she settled on the chair around a small table, a servant came to her.

"Empress Dowager, Lord Wushi is here."

"Send him in," Deng Hui said. "And don't let anyone enter," she commanded her. The maidservant bowed and walked out. Deng Hui tilted her head to look at the Court Lady, who came forward and put the curtain down.

Lord Wushi halted at the center and bowed. His head touched the floor and when Deng Hui told him to stand, he got up and brought his hands down.

"Empress Dowager, there is a good piece of news," Master Wushi said.

Deng Hui's eyes gleamed to know the good news. "Please take a seat first, Lord Wushi," she gestured to the chair on his left.

After settling, Lord Lishi said, "The Emperor is shot as per your order."

Deng Hui smiled brightly and asked him if Sheng Li died or not.

"The Emperor is not dead yet," Lord Wushi stated.

"Why? He was supposed to die," Deng Hui said while suppressing her frustration.

"Empress Dowager, the second arrow was going to hit the Emperor but his one commander reacted at the right time," Lord Wushi said and lowered his head.

"How is this good news then?" Deng Hui balled her fists and rested them over the bolsters.

"Empress Dowager, it is the right time to make the Empress weak. The arrow has hit the center of the Emperor's chest and he will not gain consciousness for a few days. I assure the Empress Dowager about this," Lord Wushi said in a confident tone.

Deng Hui loosened her fingers and knitted her brows. "Is there any way to poison the Emperor? Can Lord Wushi do it?" she queried him.

"That will be tough, Empress Dowager. The security is tightened around the Emperor. From my resources, I found out that they had not let the news get revealed. Moreover, the First Prince is checking everything," Lord Wushi answered, disagreeing with the idea forwarded by Deng Hui.

"Sheng Li must not reach Luoyang," Deng Hui said with utter hatred in her voice. She recalled how he threatened her, how he pushed her son away from her and let him marry a commoner. She could never accept the fact that her son had to work as a servant for Sheng Li.

"Empress Dowager, what should I do then?" Lord Wushi queried.

"Spread the news in Changying and later in Luoyang. Spread the rumors among people that the entire power should come to me in the Emperor's absence," Deng Hui stated and looked at the court lady.

"Did you get the pass that I had asked you to bring?" Deng Hui questioned her.

"Yes, Empress Dowager." The Court Lady stepped forward and took out the identity pass from inside her sleeve pocket. She handed it to Deng Hui and stepped back.

"This is an identity pass which only the soldiers from the Han army can carry. You are sure about this, right? Sheng Li will not wake up for a few days," Deng Hui asked him once again to confirm before handing the pass to him.

"Empress Dowager knows the assassin is a great shooter from the upper Manchurian highlands. The Emperor is made of steel. His Majesty did not die from the first shot. Any other person in his place would have been dead by now. The Emperor will not wake up for a few days," Lord Wushi said with a dejected expression.

"Then, poison him. Send a sharp, and trustable man to the resthouse. I don't want any mistakes this time. Make sure that he dies," Deng Hui said with a stern expression and forwarded the identity pass. Lord Wushi stood up and took it from her.

"Empress Dowager, prepare to hold the power. Your son will surely rule over the Han," Lord Lishi said with an evil grin on his face.

"Let's not celebrate our victory until we achieve the goal. You may leave," Deng Hui stated. Lord Lishi stepped back and soon left the chamber. The Court Lady pulled the curtain up.

'This is what I am capable of doing, Sheng Li. You snatched my happiness and I will do the same. Weng Wei could not kill you, but I will make sure to do it,' Deng Hui thought in her mind and smirked.

When Lord Wushi left Empress Dowager's chamber, Lei Wanxi and Zhu Lin ended up seeing him.

"Who is he?" Zhu Lin looked at Lei Wanxi.

"I do not know. I never saw him before," Lei Wanxi answered.

~~~~~

Ying Lili perceived why Nianzu reacted this way around Empress Dowager. Her previous self could not be ignored and as her son, he must have seen something that she was unable to see.

"Brother Nianzu, your mother will not do anything wrong this time. I understand your concerns," Ying Lili stated. "Did Brother Nianzu receive any message from Sheng Li?" she curiously asked.

"No, Sister Lili. Usually, the message arrives by this time. I will look into it," Nianzu said and rose to his feet. "I shall take my leave," he said and bowed before leaving the chamber.

"Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince doesn't trust the Empress Dowager. Then, how can Her Majesty make the mistake of trusting her?" Court Lady Xu complained.

"Court Lady Xu, the Empress Dowager brought the sweets with love. I could not help but eat them. Moreover, those sweets were good for a pregnant woman. She was going to feed them to Sister Chun as well," Ying Lili said and looked towards the door, waiting for Eunuch Xing-Fu.

Oppositely, Nianzu descended the stairs and felt a dull pain in his lower abdominal region. He ignored it and left to meet Wang Hao in the military barracks.

~~~~~

What do you think will happen? Should we underestimate Deng Hui or not? Do comment your opinions.