Chapter 80 Empress Dowager Shu (Roaring): You dare make me take the blame?! ...

Kunning Palace

Seeing that the principal consorts of all the palaces had gathered at Kunning Palace for questioning, Empress Wang put on quite a show of being a judge in court. However, she didn't have the "eagle eyes" to see who had done it at a glance.

Even if it's true that some of these concubines did commit this dirty deed... who would readily admit it just because of a few questions?

Therefore, Empress Wang never expected that she would directly investigate and find out the truth about Azhu being murdered and having a premature birth.

It was more like she was simply going through the motions to fulfill her duties as the Empress.

The ladies in the palace are of noble status and are safe for the time being, but for the palace servants who have already been arrested, it is not so simple to deal with the questioners.

Now that Emperor Xuanpei is recuperating for the time being, he instructed Eunuch Chen and the people from the "Minglitai" to conduct a thorough investigation.

That's why everyone says eunuchs are ruthless.

Eunuch Chen, who was eager to find out the truth as soon as possible so that Emperor Xuanpei could rest and recuperate in peace, changed his usual respectful and humble demeanor when serving the emperor.

Before even meeting the palace servant, he had already had the "fish scale knife" prepared in advance.

Humans, after all, have a limit to their endurance.

The only difference is how stubborn they are.

The number of people imprisoned in the Department of Cautious Punishment was countless. They had only endured less than half of their punishments, and they were so eager to remember what they ate when they were three years old that they wished they could recall it all.

Those who couldn't withstand the torture would spout nonsensical nonsense or make baseless accusations—and be slashed several times for every few words they uttered.

I'm only afraid you won't open your mouth; I'm not afraid you won't tell the truth.

If you check them one by one, you'll find that some of them actually did vomit.

One was a sedan chair bearer carrying Consort Jiang's palanquin, and the other was a eunuch who "accidentally" spilled sesame oil on the long street.

Upon hearing this news, Eunuch Chen's expression remained unchanged, his brows furrowed with a dark and fierce look.

He simply had people record these messages carefully to facilitate subsequent verification and investigation.

After verifying the information repeatedly, leaving no stone unturned, he would only present it to Emperor Xuanpei, who desperately needed to recuperate, once everything was confirmed to be correct.

*

Guanju Palace

It was almost lunchtime, but Emperor Xuanpei was fast asleep with his eyes closed, and there was a slight sweat on his forehead.

After hesitating for a long time, he summoned the imperial physician and asked him carefully. Then he didn't let anyone disturb him.

When it comes to maintaining good health, it all comes down to the word "nourishment".

If you can fall asleep peacefully, that's more effective than taking any amount of medicine.

Ah Zhu fell asleep alongside Emperor Xuanpei.

After sleeping for an hour or two, she quietly summoned someone to ask about the two children. Then she stared blankly at the auspicious pattern on the brocade curtain for a while before falling back asleep.

This repeated itself several times, and she was just drifting off to sleep when suddenly a sound rang out beside her—

"A-Zhu!"

Ah Zhu suddenly opened his eyes.

She held Emperor Xuanpei's hand, and then reached out with her other hand to stroke his chest repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, I am here."

"Your Majesty, I am perfectly fine and by your side."

"......"

Emperor Xuanpei, jolted awake from his nightmare, turned his head and stared intently at Azhu, gripping her hand tightly.

Despite the pain from being pinched, A-Zhu didn't try to shake off Emperor Xuanpei's hand. Instead, she gave the sweaty Emperor Xuanpei a reassuring smile.

Ah Zhu, who was always beautiful and elegant, now has a round face and is even swollen.

But when she smiled, Emperor Xuanpei saw a particularly innocent and gentle charm in her.

"I've been trying every trick in the book to pester you, which must be quite annoying."

"Now, we even try to fill every hour when His Majesty is asleep."

"This concubine is so greedy..."

"Oh dear, Your Majesty, you've spoiled your concubines rotten."

Ah Zhu let out a long, dramatic sigh and said sorrowfully, "What should we do?"

Emperor Xuanpei's heart, which had been pounding wildly from the nightmare, finally settled back down with Ah Zhu's shameless sigh.

Emperor Xuanpei woke up from his dream in a cold sweat, but surprisingly, he was no longer feeling so dazed and confused.

"A-Zhu..."

Emperor Xuanpei slightly raised his hand and saw that Azhu's hand had turned white from being squeezed so hard.

He quickly let go and then gently massaged Azhu with both hands.

"I'm so dizzy and disoriented right now, I don't even know what I'm doing..."

Emperor Xuanpei pursed his lips with a hint of annoyance: "Next time, just push me away."

Ah Zhu's swollen, round, and chubby fingers were still quite nimble. She smiled and stroked Emperor Xuanpei's hand gently.

"Your concubine is all plump and soft all over now, and it doesn't hurt when you pinch her."

"Moreover, I only wish I could turn into some kind of bracelet or jade pendant to hang on Your Majesty's body."

"Wherever His Majesty goes, we'll follow..."

As she spoke, A-Zhu shifted her body slightly, getting closer to Emperor Xuanpei, "How could I bear to push him away?"

Who would find Ah Zhu annoying?

In any case, Emperor Xuanpei wouldn't.

He even felt exceptionally happy because Ah Zhu needed him every moment.

However, lying beside Ah Zhu like this, holding her hand and talking to her, is already the limit of going too far.

Emperor Xuanpei did not dare to hug and kiss the clingy and adorable Azhu as usual.

Even after his dazed mind cleared up a bit, Emperor Xuanpei told himself that Azhu needed to rest properly and he couldn't continue lying beside her like this.

"A-Zhu, you still need to rest and recuperate properly."

Emperor Xuanpei forced himself to get up.

"I'll return to Hanyuan Palace first. Wait for me... no, wait for you..."

"Your Majesty!"

Azhu immediately grabbed Emperor Xuanpei's sleeve tightly.

In the past, when Ah Zhu looked up at Emperor Xuanpei with a slightly raised head, her expression was pitiful and soft.

Now it's even more "genuine" and doubled.

"Your Majesty, even though I was pregnant before and my body was very heavy, I could still walk around or have something to pass the time... But now I can only stay on the bed."

"You know that I was born somewhat stupid and clumsy, and because of your favor, I have become somewhat arrogant and willful."

"I've always been prone to overthinking and getting stuck on trivial details."

Perhaps because of her pregnancy, A-Zhu was particularly emotional, and tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Emperor Xuanpei.

"You've had a fever for so long, and now you're going to Hanyuan Palace... I'll just stay here and rest peacefully."

"Please don't worry about your health, my concubine..."

"Your Majesty, do you really think my heart is made of stone?"

"I want to see you with my own eyes."

"Your Majesty... I beg you, please, just for the sake of our two children, let me watch over you, okay?"

A-Zhu gripped Emperor Xuanpei's sleeve tightly with one hand, while raising the other as if to swear an oath.

"Once you have fully recovered, I will certainly not be so willful."

"Your Majesty..."

Ah Zhu refused to let the sickly Emperor Xuanpei pass away like that.

The emperor wasn't made of iron.

If his fever persists and continues... even if disaster strikes and something unexpected happens, she will struggle and fight back or die knowing the truth, rather than becoming a prisoner in her sleep in a daze.

Emperor Xuanpei slowly sat back down on the bed, his eyes filled with Ah Zhu.

His daughter, Azhu, was completely rooted in him, nurtured and cared for by him, and grew up in abundance. She entrusted her entire being to him... There will never be another Azhu.

Emperor Xuanpei lovingly touched Azhu's face, and sighed softly in her expectant yet bewildered gaze.

"You're watching me with such tearful eyes, it breaks my heart. How can I leave in peace?"

He slowly took Ah Zhu's hand, which was gripping his sleeve, and gently kissed it.

"The previous dynasty had a crown prince overseeing the country, assisted by cabinet ministers..."

"Alright, to be honest, I really don't have the mind to think about anything else. Let's just stay here in Guanju Palace and rest together."

"His Majesty's words are law, and cannot be taken back!"

Emperor Xuanpei looked at Azhu, whose eyes instantly lit up with joy and who burst into laughter through her tears, and nodded with a smile.

"It's a promise, and I will never go back on it."

*

If the emperor wanted to, adding another bed to the side hall of Guanju Palace, could it be such a difficult thing?

Emperor Xuanpei was unwell and needed to rest, so he stayed at Guanju Palace rather than Hanyuan Palace, which was quite absurd.

But can the crown prince, who is currently overseeing the country, lead his court officials to kneel down and offer advice?

On the contrary, this time Emperor Xuanpei granted power too readily, even absurdly, by truly ignoring everything else and only accompanying his "favored concubine" in her quiet recuperation...

It's hard to say whether the Crown Prince was actually very, very, very happy about this, and wished that his father, the Emperor, could continue to indulge in his love affair.

Did a court official from the previous dynasty want to offer so-called advice?

Which bastard dares to disturb his father's peaceful rest?

Is it possible that such people, who disregard the emperor's health and seek fame and fortune, are harboring ulterior motives?

Meanwhile, in the inner palace, Empress Dowager Shu, who could rebuke Emperor Xuanpei for his actions, was "resting quietly in bed."

As for the "unyielding" Empress Wang... her own son was the regent.

The Crown Prince, acting as regent, could rightfully suppress Prince Qi and the other princes.

He could naturally befriend court officials and begin to handle state affairs... As for the Emperor, his health was naturally of utmost importance.

Look how pitiful Jiang was, suffering so much and struggling to give birth to two premature babies.

It is only natural for the Emperor to show more mercy and care.

Who would dare disturb the Emperor and the poor Consort Jiang, who is "a meritorious official in adding a son," from resting?

Empress Wang will not let such a wicked person get away with it!

They recuperated quietly in a harmonious atmosphere that was both bizarre and absurd, yet "satisfying to everyone."

Emperor Xuanpei was accompanied by Azhu at all times. Occasionally, when he woke up from a nightmare, Azhu would gently comfort him. His persistent high fever was also improving.

By the afternoon of the fourth day, Emperor Xuanpei only had a slight fever on and off.

However, he was not fully recovered and had suffered a serious illness that had weakened his vitality. For the sake of the future, Emperor Xuanpei decided to stay quietly in Guanju Palace.

During this period, Emperor Xuanpei only dealt with one or two political disputes that were deadlocked in the court because of the Crown Prince and Prince Qi.

Emperor Xuanpei, who was standing nearby, didn't ask any further questions.

Later that evening, just before dinner, Eunuch Chen presented a memorial concerning the recent mishap of Azhu's premature birth.

"Your Majesty, a total of thirty-one palace servants were involved in this incident."

"There were twelve people who directly handled the offering of sesame oil, and the one who specially sprinkled the sesame oil was Chang Yong, a miscellaneous eunuch in the Imperial Household Department."

He said he was acting on the orders of Xiao Huizi.

"Xiao Huizi is the godparent of Kang Gong, the deputy chief steward of the Imperial Household Department."

"This servant ordered a thorough interrogation of all those involved, and the young Hui man confessed that he was indeed being coerced..."

Eunuch Chen paused for a moment, then said softly, "When the palace was being selected last year, Xiao Huizi and Guifu, who served Prince Rui, recommended Consort Jiang, who was still working as a tea-serving maid in Kunning Palace."

"When Her Majesty went to Furong Garden that day, the Crown Prince and Prince Rui also went."

"Later, the Empress served before the Emperor..."

"The Crown Prince punished the palace servants who served in the Hibiscus Garden that day."

"Prince Rui also dealt with Guifu."

"Upon hearing this, Xiao Huizi felt guilty and, in his suspicion, was blackmailed by someone who used this matter against him. Also, the palace servants who carried the sedan chair a few days ago... all said that Shou Kang Palace and Shu Mansion were behind it."

What is the current state of Shou Kang Palace? Others may not know, but surely Eunuch Chen does.

Are you saying that someone was able to bypass the layers of palace servants in Shou Kang Palace and, following Empress Dowager Shu's orders, harm Consort Jiang without anyone noticing?

Were all the servants in Shou Kang Palace "clay sculptures" or were they all dead?

Seeing that Emperor Xuanpei had finished reading the memorial, Eunuch Chen did not deny or refute it.

He simply knelt on the ground to beg for forgiveness.

"You are an incompetent servant."

"I have truly failed His Majesty's trust."

Emperor Xuanpei was not angered by such a somewhat comical and absurd result.

He nodded slowly.

"I never imagined that there were such hidden talents in my harem."

After glancing at the outrageous survey results a few more times, Emperor Xuanpei did not directly reject them, but instead said, "The Empress Dowager has been resting quietly for many days."

"It is now time for me to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

After entering the inner palace, Emperor Xuanpei gave Azhu a few instructions on how to take good care of her injured arm and not to hold the child for too long before setting off for Shou Kang Palace.

......

"Your subject greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

May Your Majesty the Empress Dowager enjoy good fortune and happiness forever.

Looking at the slightly thin Emperor Xuanpei in front of her... do you think Empress Dowager Shu must have felt?

Or is it that she feels sorry for him?

Based on Emperor Xuanpei's blatant act of de facto "house arrest," the already meager bond between the two, who were "mother and son in name only" in the imperial family, has been completely eroded.

Empress Dowager Shu stared coldly at the hypocritical Emperor Xuanpei, without uttering a word.

Emperor Xuanpei, who was bowing respectfully, waited for a while but did not hear Empress Dowager Shu tell him to get up.

Since he was not yet fully recovered, Emperor Xuanpei did not make things difficult for himself. He got up and slowly walked to the chair below Empress Dowager Shu and sat down.

Seeing Emperor Xuanpei's arrogant attitude, Empress Dowager Shu, furious but laughing, spoke sarcastically.

"What, so you finally couldn't resist the temptation of that wicked devil's 'bewitchment' and are eager to deal with me, so as to fulfill your deserving reputation of being a heartless and treacherous wolf?"

Isn't it perfectly normal for people in the palace to be scolded in front of Empress Dowager Shu?

Emperor Xuanpei was long past the age where he would feel sad because of something Empress Dowager Shu said.

He simply turned to Eunuch Chen, who was bowing his head, and gave him an order.

"Go and present it to the Empress Dowager."

"yes."

Having received his orders, Eunuch Chen took out the memorial from his sleeve.

He bowed his head and walked to Empress Dowager Shu, raising both hands high before her.

"Please take a look, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Shu glanced at it with a displeased expression.

"What is that?"

"Your Majesty, it concerns the matter of Consort Jiang's miscarriage."

Empress Dowager Shu, who originally didn't want to look at it, couldn't help but take a look out of curiosity.

But looking at it now... it's better not to look at it at all.

Empress Dowager Shu was already feeling wronged enough by having Emperor Xuanpei, that "ungrateful wretch," confined to Shou Kang Palace, but now there was someone else trying to pin a grievance on her.

Is there any justice left in this world?

Is there no law anymore?

Empress Dowager Shu, trembling with anger, threw the memorial at Eunuch Chen's face with a gloomy expression.

Chen Gonggong didn't utter a sound after being hit.

He picked up the memorial, lowered his head, and retreated behind Emperor Xuanpei.

"That brat is going too far!"

Empress Dowager Shu wished she could point her finger at Emperor Xuanpei and curse him.

"I have already been plotted against by you all, and now I am in this predicament."

"You despicable bastards who deserve divine retribution! How dare you slander me like this!"

"This is outrageous!"

"This is absolutely outrageous!!!"

Emperor Xuanpei looked at the emotionally charged Empress Dowager Shu.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

"I myself was completely baffled."

"But I am also thinking about how you have repeatedly humiliated Lady Jiang before."

"Thinking about how much you hated her for clearing Jiang's name, which led to those mediocre people in the Shu family losing their official positions..."

"You still often curse Jiang Shi in this palace."

"The words were truly vicious."

"They not only cursed Lady Jiang, but also repeatedly cursed the imperial child in her womb..."

"He was angered by joy and praised by sorrow."

Emperor Xuanpei did not shout at Empress Dowager Shu in an emotional outburst, but rather stated his words in a rather straightforward manner.

As Empress Dowager Shu listened, her previously rapid breathing, filled with anger, subconsciously softened.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

"I have never been favored by you before."

"Perhaps it is because I am truly unlikable."

“And you are not close to any of the princes and princesses in this palace, including Jingyi.”

"When the Crown Prince was in poor health, he almost 'accidentally' ate a soup made with poisonous mushrooms."

“Last year, Lady Jiang suffered a miscarriage in public at Shou Kang Palace. You, you didn’t even utter a single word of reluctance or regret… but you didn’t.”

"You only blame and resent her, even going so far as to accuse a concubine who has just suffered a miscarriage..."

Emperor Xuanpei looked at Empress Dowager Shu.

"Your Majesty, how do you think I should view you?"

"How can I convince myself to trust you?"

"......"

In the deathly silence, Empress Dowager Shu slowly closed her eyes.

When she was unable to conceive for a long time, she had no choice but to seize a "bargaining chip".

After all, even having a prince in name only is better than having none at all.

However, in Empress Dowager Shu's opinion, Emperor Xuanpei's personality was indeed quite unlikable.

He's not good with words and has a quiet personality.

Not only does he not know how to say nice things or flatter, he's like a silent gourd all day long, and he even always seems a bit stubborn.

Back then, when Empress Dowager Shu scolded him, he wouldn't be like other clever children who would beg for forgiveness. He would just silently endure it, even with his head down, he would look stubborn, which made people even more angry.

Empress Dowager Shu repeatedly tried to restrain Emperor Xuanpei, who was still a prince, with rules and regulations.

She tried to mold Emperor Xuanpei into the image she desired.

But Emperor Xuanpei did not.

He did not follow Consort Shu's instructions step by step.

He even dared to abandon everything in the capital when he was just a teenager and run off to the border without looking back.

Empress Dowager Shu could not hold onto Emperor Xuanpei.

The more you try to hold on tighter, the less you can hold on.

A three-foot layer of ice doesn't form in a single day.

Now... that bond, already as thin as a cicada's wing, shattered into pieces with a "crack".

Her relationship with this not-so-close prince has clearly come to an end.

After a while, Empress Dowager Shu opened her eyes again.

She looked at Emperor Xuanpei.

"You are ungrateful, ruthless and heartless. You are born cold-hearted and ungrateful. It is fitting that someone like you should be sitting in this position."

"I can no longer defeat you."

"You've come today to tell me... that from now on, I'll have to spend the rest of my life recuperating in Shou Kang Palace?"

Emperor Xuanpei looked at Empress Dowager Shu, who had a calm expression.

His gaze slowly fell on the white hair at her temples.

Her days at Shou Kang Palace were clearly not pleasant; she had more gray hairs at her temples.

When he was first adopted by Consort Shu, Consort Shu also held Emperor Xuanpei.

That afternoon, she smelled faintly of osmanthus cake, and a pearl hairpin swayed gently in her dark hair...

Even now, the mother and son rarely have the chance to get along so peacefully and without any pretense.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Emperor Xuanpei suddenly spoke.

"I'm afraid you'll never want to see me again in this lifetime... If you wish to leave the palace to pray for blessings, then go to Mount Futai to recuperate in peace."

Empress Dowager Shu stared blankly at Emperor Xuanpei.

After a long pause, she tilted her head slightly and blinked: "When can I set off?"

What are you thinking about?

"Now."

Emperor Xuanpei slowly nodded.

"Then let's do it now."

Having said that, Emperor Xuanpei lifted his robe and knelt down properly before Empress Dowager Shu.

He kowtowed three times to Empress Dowager Shu.

"Your subject kowtows to express his gratitude to the Empress Dowager for her nurturing kindness in the past."

"Your son bows again, for I am unfilial and cannot serve you by your side."

"Years will pass, and the journey will be long and arduous. I hope Your Majesty will take good care of yourself."

Empress Dowager Shu tilted her head back, neither looking at Emperor Xuanpei nor responding.

Emperor Xuanpei did not look at Empress Dowager Shu again, but simply turned and walked out of the palace.

Empress Dowager Shu watched Emperor Xuanpei's figure recede into the distance.

She never liked the child.

Even now, I still don't like it.

Look at him, he's so stubborn and unlikable, and he never looks back.

Empress Dowager Shu blinked, and two lines of tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.

That's fine, at least we won't have to see each other again in this lifetime.

......