Headscratchers / The Legend of Zhen Huan

• Are there any reasons as to why the Empress wants Hongli dead before Zhen Huan returns to the harem and adopts him? Hongli's mother is dead so Yixiu should still become the sole Empress Dowager even if he succeeds the throne.
  • The reason is simple, really. She saw Hongli studying by himself in the garden, and realized that he had much more potential than he let on. She wanted to exterminate all possible roadblocks that might hamper the path for her adopted son, Prince Hongshi, to become the heir to the throne, which in turn would have also made her the sole Empress Dowager. And considering Hongshi was not the brightest, she definitely needed to be extra cautious.