Chapter 241 Compensation

Chapter 241 Compensation

"But considering you are Father's woman and my elder, I'll forgo reporting this to the authorities, but the necessary compensation cannot be waived."

"Although Yuyan was from a brothel, she has been with me for half a year or so, always proper and attentive. I must seek justice for her and the child in her womb, to console their spirits above."

Yuyan's status was not one to be openly acknowledged, and Luo Jingshen knew this better than anyone.

Thus, he had kept her pregnancy completely hidden, even from the Empress.

He understood that if the matter were to blow up, someone would use it to impeach him. So he planned to extract some benefits from Consort Li, settle the matter privately, and maximize his gains.

He had already looked over the three large boxes of tonics Consort Li brought today; they were all rare treasures from the palace, each of considerable value.

He figured that although Consort Li was not favored, she was quite wealthy.

Not to mention that Emperor Jingyang, in his efforts to please her, was continuously sending gifts to Weiyang Palace.

He would not let such a lucrative opportunity slip by.

Luo Jingshen did have feelings for Yuyan, but that didn't stop him from liking other women as well.

His words were extremely polished; on the surface, he sought justice for Yuyan and his unborn child, but in reality, he concealed his selfish motives, making others believe that everything he did was for Yuyan's sake.

Consort Li was already distressed by Luo Jingshen's attitude. Now, hearing that he actually wanted compensation from her for a brothel prostitute, her anger nearly boiled over.

"You actually dare demand compensation from me?"

Luo Jingshen grew impatient. He felt he had already been very reasonable; demanding compensation from her was only right and natural.

He said coldly, "It's not me demanding compensation from you, but Yuyan and her child. You accidentally killed them—that's a fact. Surely they shouldn't die for nothing?"

Consort Li took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and clenched her teeth.

"And how much silver does the Crown Prince want?"

Luo Jingshen held up five fingers.

Consort Li said, "After I return, I will have someone deliver banknotes worth five thousand taels of silver."

Luo Jingshen laughed coldly. "Five thousand taels? Consort Li, you underestimate Yuyan's value too much!"

Consort Li frowned. She wanted to say, what value could a brothel prostitute have?

Not to mention five thousand taels, even five taels of silver as compensation to Yuyan seemed too much to her.

"Consort Li, don't you think the two lives—Yuyan's and my child's—are worth at least fifty thousand taels of silver?"

Consort Li's eyes went wide. Luo Jingshen was asking her for fifty thousand taels at the first word?

Wasn't that an outrageous demand?

If she had to compensate Luo Jingshen with this sum, she would have no complaints.

But to take out fifty thousand taels in the name of compensating Yuyan, Consort Li was very unwilling.

She had come today hoping to mend their relationship, but instead, it had worsened.

Consort Li knew clearly that if she didn't give Luo Jingshen the fifty thousand taels today, he would likely bear a grudge against her, making future reconciliation even harder.

She closed her eyes and said in a low voice, "Fine. I'll send someone to deliver fifty thousand silver taels to the Crown Prince later."

Consort Li didn't know how she walked out of the Eastern Palace. In just an hour, her heart felt as if it had been cut to ribbons.

More than the financial loss, Luo Jingshen's attitude caused her greater pain.

Sitting in the carriage, tears suddenly streamed down her face.

Consort Li clutched her chest, weeping heart-wrenchingly. But after crying, she suddenly burst into loud laughter.

Seeing her reaction, Jian Lan felt her heart ache. She grasped Consort Li's hand and comforted, "Your Highness, Consort Li, please don't be too upset. The Crown Prince simply doesn't know the truth. Once he learns about your relationship, one day he will be grateful."

"Grateful?" Consort Li's eyes were red, her voice filled with rage, speaking through clenched teeth. "Today he called me vicious for the sake of a brothel prostitute."

"Anyone else can scold me, but not Luo Jingshen. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been trapped in the palace for these twenty-three years, suffering day in and day out."

Jian Lan knew all this well. But the relationship between Consort Li and Luo Jingshen was special.

No matter how much she gave, Luo Jingshen simply didn't know.

With his vengeful nature, how could he possibly be nice to Consort Li?

Jian Lan sighed. "Your Highness, the Crown Prince was just angry and spoke rashly in the heat of the moment."

"Once his anger subsides in a few days, you can talk to him properly and surely mend the relationship."

Consort Li said nothing and slowly closed her eyes.

At this moment, she only felt one thing: "Tired!"

Tired in body, even more tired in heart.

Earlier, when Luo Qianxue had made a scene, Consort Li found it nothing, since the girl was spoiled by nature.

No matter how much Luo Qianxue caused trouble, she would still come to Consort Li when encountering problems.

But when Luo Jingshen made a scene, Consort Li finally experienced a gut-wrenching feeling.

Even so, she couldn't bring herself to blame Luo Jingshen too harshly.

In Yuyan's case, she was indeed in the wrong.

Not to mention the twenty-three years of neglect.

Consort Li even felt somewhat relieved that Luo Jingshen hadn't dragged her to the authorities.

Consort Li's carriage headed back to the palace.

Meanwhile, Ji Yuntang was also taking a carriage to the palace.

Today was the day she was to perform acupuncture on the Seventeenth Prince.

Ji Yuntang, with Tao Zhi in tow, went straight to Fengyi Palace.

After paying respects to the Empress, she learned the Seventeenth Prince was playing in the garden and went to find him.

At that time, the Seventeenth Prince was catching butterflies in the garden, while Luo Qingge helped him chase them, herding them toward Xiao Tuanzi.

The sister and brother kept laughing and chatting joyfully, having a great time playing.

Ji Yuntang, not wanting to disturb them, just watched from the side.

When Luo Qingge was tired from chasing butterflies, she plopped down on the ground and panted heavily, "No more, no more, I can't play anymore, I'm too tired."

The Seventeenth Prince put his hands on his hips and said with a smug look, "Imperial Sister, your stamina is too weak. You can't even last one hour."

"You should learn from me and train your body well, so that when you encounter assassins in the future, you won't be chased so badly that you're scared out of your wits and have no ability to fight back."

"You were lucky this time, running into Heir Xie, and he escorted you back, plus you had the poison that Fairy Sister-in-law gave you. Otherwise, have you considered the consequences?"

Luo Qingge didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

She never imagined that one day she would be taught a lesson by a three-year-old Xiao Tuanzi.

And this Xiao Tuanzi was her own younger brother.

Luo Qingge got up, tucked Xiao Tuanzi under her arm, and smacked him on the butt.

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