Chapter 296 Some people just live in their own world

Empress Zheng swallowed her words.

Empress Zheng was unwilling to drink the loofah soup, but Consort Liang obediently drank it.

What a joke! Right now, she has the least say in the entire Imperial Study. She doesn't have the confidence to confront Xie Yunsheng in front of His Majesty like Empress Zheng did.

It's better to avoid trouble, so she'd better just drink it obediently.

With her eyes crinkling, Sheng Sheng praised, "That's right, Consort Liang! This loofah soup is wonderful; you can't go wrong with drinking more."

Consort Liang chuckled dryly, "The Second Princess is right. Then thank you for your kindness, Second Princess."

"No need to thank me, no need to thank me. Did Sheng Sheng and Fourth Prince's sudden arrival disturb our conversation?"

"How could that be? We've discussed almost everything that needed to be discussed," Xie Yuxiao said calmly, glancing lightly at Empress Zheng. "Empress, the Fourth Prince is right here. Don't you have anything to say?"

Empress Zheng, who had been sitting upright, felt her heart skip a beat again upon hearing Xie Yuxiao's words.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean by that?"

The atmosphere instantly became tense again. Empress Zheng had delicate features, and years of holding the Phoenix Seal had given her a dignified and noble demeanor.

But at this moment, Empress Zheng's repeated breaches of defense have completely destroyed her dignity.

She is honored as Empress; does this mean she is to personally apologize to a child?

"Empress, when we became husband and wife, what did you say? Have you forgotten?" Xie Yuxiao's eyes were filled with disappointment, and there was no longer any emotion in them when he looked at her. "The bond between husband and wife is still there. I don't want to be too absolute. It is better to admit your mistakes and correct them. I will give you one last chance!"

Xie Yunyang also pleaded, "Mother, I beg you, please don't make another mistake. I know you're doing this for my sake, but I really don't need this method!"

"She's not doing this for you!" Xie Yuxiao sneered. "Do you think I don't know you secretly built a small Buddhist shrine in Kunning Palace! You miss the deceased Third Prince, do you think it doesn't pain me? He was my son too. But you can't impose your obsession with him on the Crown Prince, do you understand?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was startled, and Xie Yuxiao almost swore.

Consort Liang dared not move, silently minimizing her presence to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

After looking around, Liang Guiren noticed Xie Yunwen, who remained silent. A thought struck her, and she quietly approached, chuckling dryly, "Yunwen..."

Xie Yunwen remained completely unmoved, treating her as just an ordinary passerby, and politely replied, "Mother."

The word "Mother" was devoid of any emotion, as if it were just an ordinary title.

Consort Liang felt a little bitter, but only a little; she was mostly happy.

Hmph, without the Rejuvenating Herb, Xie Yunwen will remain a cripple who can never stand up again.

He was so arrogant before, wanting to sever ties with me. Let's see how arrogant he can be now.

Consort Liang thought this to herself, but her tone remained unchanged, carrying an ingratiating quality that she herself was unaware of.

"Yunwen, look at the mess this has made. Actually, uh, you have to believe your mother—"

"Heaven is watching what people do." Xie Yunwen curled his lips mockingly. "Has Mother Consort noticed how contradictory she is? She says she wants to get closer to her son, but actually—she must be mocking her son in her heart, right?"

Consort Liang froze, unsure whether she felt guilty because of his first sentence or embarrassed because he had so easily seen through her desire to have both.

After Xie Yunwen finished speaking, he didn't want to waste any more words with her. He turned his wheelchair and moved to Sheng Sheng's side, as if afraid that Consort Liang would talk to him again.

"Hey you!"

Consort Liang was angry, but she didn't dare to raise her voice. In this tense atmosphere, how could she dare to raise her voice and draw attention to herself? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?

Sheng Sheng noticed Xie Yunwen's movements and listened to his conversation with Consort Liang for a while. When she came back to her senses after Xie Yunwen moved to her side, Empress Zheng's situation had already progressed to the stage of "looking at each other in silence, with only tears streaming down their faces."

Empress Zheng, her eyes brimming with tears, was deeply devastated: "Your Majesty, everything I have done is for the Crown Prince!"

Xie Yuxiao remained silent, seemingly speechless, deeply moved by Empress Zheng's indomitable spirit.

Although Sheng Sheng didn't hear the first half of the story, she could roughly guess that she was impressed by Empress Zheng's unwavering belief.

Okay, she used to not understand why people say that some people only live in their own world and can't hear the voices of the outside world.

Empress Zheng is a perfect example.

No matter what others say, you yourself are the ultimate truth.

"You, you...you are truly hopeless." Xie Yuxiao stammered out only this sentence after a long pause.

"But if it's truly for the sake of the Crown Prince, shouldn't Her Majesty the Empress prioritize the Crown Prince's thoughts and listen to his voice?"

"I'm puzzled," she said. "The Crown Prince himself said he doesn't want this kind of help. Besides, the Crown Prince and Fourth Prince are clearly on good terms. The Empress's actions are clearly pushing the Crown Prince and Fourth Prince to opposite sides. Why does the Empress always impose her own actions on the Crown Prince and deceive herself into thinking it's for his own good? Is it really for the Crown Prince, or is it just her own obsession, wanting only to hold onto her position as Crown Prince?"

Empress Zheng roared, "Shut up! You are the last person who has the right to speak here!"

Sheng Sheng was taken aback, but didn't feel wronged. After all, Empress Zheng had always disliked Consort Rong, though she didn't know why.

Instead of being frightened, Sheng Sheng straightened her face and looked at her seriously: "Why does Your Majesty the Empress want Sheng Sheng to shut up? Is it because Sheng Sheng hit the nail on the head?"

The group of people who were about to speak up in defense of Sheng Sheng were somewhat surprised, yet also felt it was expected.

His calm demeanor was truly remarkable, rivaling that of anyone else.

Sheng Sheng took two steps forward, her eyes resolute, even sharper than her age: "Her Majesty the Empress has done so many wrong things, have you forgotten what you have done? Was every wrong thing Her Majesty the Empress done for the sake of her brother, the Crown Prince?"

Empress Zheng involuntarily took two steps back. The emotions in the little dumpling's eyes were too intense, which suddenly reminded her of the fire five years ago. Her foot trembled and she almost tripped.

"ah……"

Empress Zheng realized that she had been frightened by a child who was only half her height, and she became even angrier.

"Shut up!" Empress Zheng laughed angrily. "You're so protective of her, do you think you two have a good relationship? Do you even know—"

Empress Zheng suddenly stopped speaking, her forehead covered in cold sweat.