1打草惊蛇: act rashly and alert the enemy
2跳梁小丑: a buffoon who performs antics
Chapter 65: A Plan Within a Plan Part 1
The next morning, Li Chang Le went to pay her respects to Da Furen. Seeing her unwell expression, she indistinctly exposed joy and then couldn’t help but say: “Mother, what great news is there?”
Da Furen smiled, she gazed at Li Chang Le’s beautiful and charming eyes: “Of course, I’ve already arranged everything, just rest assured.”
Li Chang Le’s face revealed a trace of delight, she had already guessed, Mother wanted to get rid of the bitch Li Wei Yang. She smilingly said: “Mother, I’ve already arranged a few people to keep a close eye on Li Wei Yang …….”
“No, we can’t beat the grass and frighten away the snake1 now, this damn yatou is always on the alert, you have to know, less people the better.
“But ---“ Li Chang Le really wanted to punish Li Wei Yang with her own hands.
Da Furen calmly said: “Just watch what I do.” She didn’t plan on telling Li Chang Le her entire plan; in the past it was because she didn’t want to dirty her hands with the blood-infested things, now she doesn’t want her to divert her attention. “Your priority is how to let the Crowned Prince or the Seventh Prince like you.”
Li Chang Le frowned: “You all always talk about the Crowned Prince, Da ge had called him an idiot, and this Seventh Prince, his age is similar to mine, he only relies on Emperor’s favoritism to establish his position. Da ge also said the Third Prince is not the same as the other princes, his actions are those of a man with a noble character.”
Da Furen listened as she shook her head: “How can you believe what your Da ge said, he is only an erudite, he completely doesn’t understand the situation. No matter how powerful the Third Prince is, he can never be compared with the Crowned Prince and the Seventh Prince.”
Even though Li Chang Le didn’t open her mouth to speak, Tuoba Zhen’s handsome face was lingering in her head. In her heart, she honestly couldn’t think favorably of the distant Crowned Prince and the cold Seventh Prince.
Da Furen’s expression sank, she said: “I know what you are thinking about, the Third Prince seems refined and courteous. I heard he’s eagerly attentive towards you, he asked about your favorite things and bought it back from afar. But I have always feel that he has ulterior motives. Perhaps, he wants to control you through this, and from there control your father.”
It was worth mentioning that even though Da Furen was a woman, but staying by Prime Minister Li’s side for a long time, she was able to tell. Her daughter, if she was to marry a prince with an impressive background, it would be great if she became the empress, why would she choose a riskier path?
Li Chang Le lived a comfortable life, she had already become tired of the family chef’s dishes. After knowing this, Tuoba Zhen sent a chef through Li Min Feng; this chef’s specialty dish was Jiangshan’s layered osmanthus cake. Each layer was thin and tender, soft yet wasn’t waxy, sweet yet wasn’t greasy, which made Li Chang Le unable to part with it. Originally she held a bit of admiration towards him, now it has increased. Li Chang Le deeply breathed in, she slowly said: “Mother is thinking too much, Third Prince might not be what you described him to be.”
Da Furen coldly groaned and said: “I’m only afraid that you don’t use your brains --- based on background, Tuoba Zhen’s birth mother is of low birth, which is poor compared to the Crowned Prince and Seventh Prince. But he is very prudent and he moves carefully at every step so the Emperor trusts him a lot, the Empress also treats him well. It seems like he wholeheartedly considered for the Crowned Prince …… he probably has ulterior motives.”
Li Chang Le heart jittered: “If he seriously has other motives and if he becomes the Emperor one day ……”
Da Furen coldly smiled, she said: “But he is merely a rascal2, how would he dare to hope for greater things. So what if his scheming is profound, it can’t cover up his low background and a mother without any family backing. If he had a matriarch clan like Seventh Prince’s, your father might have supported him but he is only ---“ Da Furen suddenly thought of something, she stared at Li Chang Le, “Don’t tell me you like him?”
In the end, Li Xiao Ran faintly guessed Tuoba Zhen’s ambition yet he was reluctant to support and indulged his ambitions; even more, he wouldn’t place his bet on him.
Li Chang Le lightly uttered a sound, her face turned red and she said: “Who said so, Da ge has been continuously praising him, this is actually ……”
Da Furen sneeringly said: “Your Da ge and him traveled together, their relationship is naturally on good terms, but he views everything too simple. Your father originally wanted to let your Da ge interact more with the Crowned Prince and the Seventh Prince, he didn’t want to, to let him interact more with the Fifth Prince, he also didn’t want to. He believed these people already has a powerful matriarch clan and thus, once they ascend the throne, he will not gain any credit, so he wanted to choose another path. But he didn’t think about how could a Tuoba Zhen without any power or allies can overcome all the obstacles. You shouldn’t fall for his frivolous behavior.”
Li Chang Le’s heart vaguely had a shadow appearing distinctly yet she softly spoke: “Yes, I understand, Mother.”
Da Furen’s eyes glimmered, changing unpredictably, she spoke in a low voice: “Don’t worry, the husband Mother finds for you will indubitably be a matchless ruler and noble.”