bayedsolid Chapter 480 [The Legend of Zhen Huan 15]
Chapter 480 [The Legend of Zhen Huan 15]
For seven consecutive days, the emperor rested in Chengqian Palace and did not go to the palaces of other new concubines.
The queen could no longer sit still, so she went to Shoukang Palace to find the empress dowager.
In Shoukang Palace, Empress Yixiu said, "My Queen Mother, since Concubine Shu entered the palace, the Emperor has been staying in Chengqian Palace for seven days."
Empress Dowager Wu Ya frowned and said, "Really? I know about this matter. You go back first. I will go and tell the emperor."
"Yes, Empress Dowager." Yixiu was very happy and left. As long as the Empress Dowager intervened, the Emperor would definitely not favor Concubine Shu anymore.
"Zhuxi, go and invite the emperor to come for dinner, and tell him that we mother and son haven't eaten together for a long time." said the Queen Mother.
"Yes, I'll go right away." Sun Zhuxi said.
In the Yangxin Palace, Su Peisheng came to report, "Your Majesty, Madam Sun from the Queen Mother's side is here."
"Please come in." said the emperor.
"Yes." Su Peisheng said and went out.
After a while, Sun Zhuxi walked into the palace and bowed respectfully to the emperor: "Your servant greets the emperor."
The emperor raised his head, looked at her with a smile, and said jokingly: "What kind of wind is blowing today? It actually blew Aunt Sun here!"
Sun Zhuxi lowered her head and replied quickly, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother missed you, so she asked me to come and invite you to have dinner with her."
After hearing this, the emperor replied without hesitation: "Okay, Aunt Sun, please tell the Empress Dowager that I will go over to have lunch with her at noon."
Sun Zhuxi nodded in agreement and bowed to the emperor. After she left, the emperor suddenly shouted, "Su Peisheng, get in right now!"
Su Peisheng heard the voice and did not dare to be negligent. He hurried into the hall and asked carefully, "Your Majesty, what do you want?"
The emperor frowned and said to him in a serious tone: "It is impossible that the Empress Dowager asked me to come over for no reason. She must be hiding something from me. Su Peisheng, go and find out who has been to Shoukang Palace today?"
Su Peisheng nodded his head and agreed, indicating that he understood. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "I heard that the Queen went to Shoukang Palace this morning."
The emperor's face became a little gloomy, but soon he regained his composure and waved his hand to signal Su Peisheng to leave. Su Peisheng hurriedly thanked him and quickly left the palace.
"Xiayi." the emperor shouted.
At this moment, a dark figure descended from the sky like a ghost, knelt on one knee, and said respectfully: "Master, is there anything I can do for you?"
"Immediately send a few nimble men to Concubine Shu and make sure she is safe. In addition, send a few more people to secretly monitor other concubines. I want to know the situation in this harem clearly!" The emperor's face was solemn, and there was a sharp flash in his eyes.
"Yes, sir." After receiving the order, Xia Yi disappeared in a flash.
Then, the emperor summoned Su Peisheng and ordered, "Go to Chengqian Palace and tell your mistress that I cannot have lunch with her today."
Su Peisheng responded and left in a hurry.
Time passed quickly and it was time for lunch. The emperor then took Su Peisheng to Shoukang Palace.
As soon as he entered the palace, the emperor bowed and said respectfully, "Your son pays his respects to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be blessed with good health."
"Your Majesty is so thoughtful. I guess he hasn't had his meal yet. Zhuxi, go and ask someone to serve the meal." The empress dowager smiled and looked at the emperor kindly.
"Yes." Zhu Xi responded and turned to go out to make arrangements.
After a while, a group of palace maids came in one after another and brought exquisite dishes to the table.
When the Queen Mother saw the old duck soup, she smiled and told the maid beside her, "Bring a bowl of this soup to the Emperor."
The palace maids quickly poured the old duck soup into bowls and carefully placed them in front of the emperor.
The Queen Mother looked at the Emperor tenderly and said softly, "Your Majesty, please try this old duck soup. It has been simmering in the small kitchen for the whole morning, and the flavor has entered our body."
The emperor looked at the empress dowager gratefully and said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager." After that, he picked up the bowl, blew gently on the hot steam, and then slowly tasted it.
The Queen Mother smiled and asked, "How is it? Is it to your liking?"
The emperor nodded and praised: "Mm, it is indeed delicious. The old duck soup made by the Empress Dowager is still the best."
The Queen Mother nodded with satisfaction and said, "That's good, as long as you like it."
The emperor took another sip of the old duck soup and said with emotion: "Over the years, I have been busy with state affairs and have not tasted the food made by the Empress Dowager for a long time. It is a rare opportunity to have this opportunity today!"
The Queen Mother sighed softly and said, "Alas, Your Majesty is the ruler of a country, and you are naturally very busy with all sorts of affairs. But no matter what, your health is the most important thing."
The emperor nodded and said, "Your Madam is right. I will take care of my health."
At this time, the Queen Mother reminded: "Even if it's delicious, Your Majesty can't drink too much. According to the rule of our ancestors, you can't eat more than three times."
After hearing this, the emperor put down his bowl and chopsticks and said, "I will keep in mind what your Majesty taught me. I wonder what your Majesty wants me to do this time?"
"Your Majesty is indeed smart. You should know what I want to say. The Queen is your wife. Even if you dote on Concubine Shu, you can't do this. The harem is related to the previous dynasty. Your Majesty should also go to other new concubines. If Concubine Shu is really a seducer, then Concubine Shu should not be kept. Your Majesty should know that the Niuhulu family is wealthy and powerful. Once they have a prince, it will be a crisis for the country. According to what I said, you can dote on Niuhulu, but you can't have any offspring. Your Majesty should just do the same as Concubine Hua and give her spices to end Niuhulu's offspring." After the Queen Mother finished speaking, she picked up the teacup and took a sip.
"Can't the Empress Dowager tolerate Concubine Shu?" The Emperor turned the beads in his hand and lowered his head so that no one could see the cruelty in his eyes.
"Yes, she has endangered the country, and I can't tolerate her. Your Majesty, if you can't do it, I will be the bad guy. I will not watch the Aisin-Gioro family's country fall into the hands of the Nianhulu family." The empress dowager said with a determined look.
"Is the Empress Dowager afraid of the Niumhuru clan, or does she want the Aisin-Gioro clan to pass its empire to the Uya clan or the Ulanara clan?" The Emperor had a gloomy expression and looked at the Empress Dowager with cold eyes.
"Is the Emperor questioning me?" A hint of displeasure flashed across the Empress Dowager's face.
"Your son dare not. I am just telling the truth. The Nianhulu clan, to which Concubine Shu belongs, is a loyal royalist party. Moreover, Concubine Shu's three brothers are first-class people who can be used. Does Your Majesty want to discourage your loyal subjects?" The Emperor questioned the Queen Mother in a serious tone.
"I only know that Concubine Shu is spreading rumors and misleading the people, misleading the monarch. Such a person cannot be kept." The Queen Mother's eyes were wide open and she said in a cold voice.
"Empress Dowager, if it was my fourteenth brother sitting on the throne, would you still do the same?" The emperor suddenly changed the subject and stared straight at the empress dowager, as if he wanted to see her true thoughts deep in her heart through her eyes.
The Queen Mother was silent for a long time, and finally said, "What does your Majesty mean?"
The emperor looked at the queen mother expressionlessly and said slowly, "Nothing, I just want to remind you, Madam. I know everything the queen has done over the years. I just don't want to expose her and save her face. If you dare to harm Concubine Shu, then your fourteenth brother in the imperial mausoleum and the position of queen... you have to think carefully. After all, the imperial mausoleum is dark and damp. If you catch a cold or something like that, you will die if you are not careful."
The Queen Mother widened her eyes and looked at the Emperor in disbelief, "You actually used your brother to threaten me!"
The emperor sneered, "My Queen Mother, haven't you always loved Fourteenth Brother the most? I am just trying to please you."
The Queen Mother was so angry that she was shaking all over. She pointed at the Emperor and cursed, "Rebellious son! Rebellious son! How dare you disobey me like this!"
The emperor remained unmoved and continued, "My Queen Mother, I am helpless. If you hadn't been so aggressive and forced me into a corner, I wouldn't have resorted to this."
The Queen Mother gnashed her teeth and looked at the Emperor, "What do you want?"
A trace of determination flashed across the emperor's eyes. "As long as the Empress Dowager promises not to embarrass Consort Shu anymore and guarantees not to interfere in the affairs of the harem in the future, I can let bygones be bygones and let everything return to normal. Otherwise..."
The Queen Mother hesitated for a moment, but finally compromised. "Forget it, forget it! In that case, I will not interfere in this matter anymore. But you must remember that you are the emperor, the ruler and father of the people of the world. Don't lose your mind because of a woman."
The emperor nodded and said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your help." After saying that, he turned and left, leaving the empress dowager alone in the palace with a gloomy and uncertain face.
After the emperor left the palace, he could not help but feel self-mockery. It turned out that the motherly love he had always longed for was just a dream. Even now, he still expected his mother's love and support, but she never changed. Now, he has understood this fact and no longer needs that hypocritical motherly love.