Chapter 372 The Empress Dowager (First Update)

"Your Majesty..." Eunuch Wei wanted to say that Consort Jing hadn't pushed him, but before he could speak, the Emperor coldly said, "Shut up!"

Eunuch Wei shut up.

The emperor looked at the injured Consort Jing, and for some reason, he no longer felt the tenderness he once had. Instead, he felt a faint sense of resistance and suspicion.

I don't.

Consort Jing did not say this.

Because she knew the effects of this medicine better than anyone else.

“No, Your Highness the Consort did not,” the young nun argued. “It was Eunuch Wei who lost his footing.”

The emperor said coldly, "Why did he suddenly lose his footing?"

Eunuch Wei: Uh... I really did lose my balance!

Consort Jing glanced at the Emperor one last time, clenched her handkerchief, and turned to leave!

"Your Highness! Your Highness!" The little nun followed helplessly, turning back again and again until she stepped out the door, hoping the emperor would keep Consort Jing with him, but the emperor did not.

The emperor watched Consort Jing's departing figure, his expression momentarily dazed, but only for a moment, before he went to his study with a serious face.

Eunuch Wei was completely bewildered. He dismissed the servants and said to Gu Jiao, "Miss Gu, you saw it, didn't you? Is something wrong with His Majesty? He wasn't like this before. Did he quarrel with the Empress Dowager? Or did he suffer some kind of shock?"

Gu Jiao didn't answer his question, but instead asked, "Did Consort Jing really not push you just now?"

Eunuch Wei said, "No! Your Majesty is mistaken! I really fell by myself, it has nothing to do with the Empress Dowager! It's really strange..."

"When did Your Majesty become like this?"

"Miss Gu refers to..."

"He suddenly became very cold towards the Empress Dowager."

Ah, Eunuch Wei suddenly realized. He had been searching for a word to describe His Majesty, but after thinking for a long time, he couldn't come up with one. It turned out to be indifference.

He said, "Not long ago, yesterday His Majesty was so angry that he arrested Granny Cai and interrogated her. At night, Huian, who was by the side of the Dowager Consort, came to report that the Dowager Consort had not eaten or drunk anything all day. His Majesty took pity on her and went to visit her. His Majesty was too overworked and fell asleep halfway through his meal. When he woke up, he was like this!"

Oh, it seems someone has tampered with the medicine in the black bottle.

The Godfather was right; some people do indeed like to be too clever for their own good.

Looking at Gu Jiao's upturned lips, Eunuch Wei felt a chill run down his spine for some reason: "Miss Gu, what are you laughing at?"

Gu Jiao blinked: "It's nothing, everything's fine. His Majesty is alright, you don't need to worry."

Eunuch Wei asked with a hint of doubt, "Are you really not worried?"

Gu Jiao waved her hand: "No need, no need, His Majesty is perfectly fine. If there's nothing else, I'll go to my aunt's place first!"

"Ah, I'll see Miss Gu off." Eunuch Wei escorted her out of Huaqing Palace.

Gu Jiao went to Renshou Palace, where Empress Dowager Zhuang had just finished court and was reading memorials in her study.

Her memorials differed from the emperor's. She reviewed the first-hand memorials from the Six Ministries. Only those she approved were sent to the emperor by the ministers. Therefore, the emperor was actually reviewing second-hand memorials every day...

A tragic emperor.

Gu Jiao didn't disturb her aunt and went to the side hall to find Eunuch Qin.

Qin Gonggong was sunbathing on the grass with his little turtle when he saw Gu Jiao coming over. His first reaction was to protect his little turtle!

Gu Jiao: "..."

"Ahem!" Perhaps realizing he had overreacted, Eunuch Qin coughed twice awkwardly, subtly placing the little turtle into the pond, and said to Gu Jiao, "Miss Gu, you've arrived? It's sunny, why don't you sit in the pavilion for a while?"

He absolutely refused to admit that he was worried that Miss Gu had smashed his little turtle again.

Although Miss Gu didn't do it on purpose, the little turtle was terrified, and he felt it deeply.

"Okay," Gu Jiao said without refusing.

The two went to the pavilion, where Eunuch Qin brought over tea and snacks.

Gu Jiao said, "Eunuch Qin, the Empress Dowager and His Majesty had already shown signs of discord before the late Emperor passed away. It wasn't until the late Emperor passed away, His Majesty ascended the throne, and the Empress Dowager refused to relinquish power that the two completely broke off relations."

Eunuch Qin nodded: "That's right, that's how it is."

It seems that the medicine was administered before His Majesty ascended the throne. However, the effects of this medicine were not immediate; it had a fermentation process. It wasn't until His Majesty's aunt's regency touched His Majesty's final bottom line that the two of them were completely unable to turn back.

If that's the case, His Majesty's dislike for Consort Jing will gradually deepen through repeated "misunderstandings."

"Hmm, I thought His Majesty would be able to get the Dragon Shadow Guards back soon," Gu Jiao murmured.

"What did Miss Gu say?" Eunuch Qin didn't hear clearly.

"Oh, it's nothing." No rush. After bullying her aunt for so long, she should at least collect some interest from her first. Gu Jiao said without changing her expression, "I mean... Aunt, haven't you ever suspected that someone drugged His Majesty?" Gu Jiao asked.

Eunuch Qin sighed, "Alas, when the late emperor was seriously ill, the Liu family and the court were in chaos. Who could have imagined this? Everyone thought the two of them had a dispute because of the late emperor's illness."

Gu Jiao paused for a moment: "What's there to argue about regarding the illness?"

Eunuch Qin said, "The late emperor suffered from a headache. The imperial physicians and doctors of Zhao were helpless. The court invited a doctor from Yan. That doctor said that to cure the disease, craniotomy was necessary."

Gu Jiao stroked her chin: "My aunt advocated for craniotomy, but His Majesty disagreed?"

Given my aunt's personality, she would probably be bold enough to try things out, while His Majesty is more conservative.

Unexpectedly, Eunuch Qin shook his head: "No, Miss Gu is mistaken. It was His Majesty who advocated for craniotomy, but the Empress Dowager disagreed."

"Is that so?" Gu Jiao exclaimed in surprise.

Eunuch Qin nodded again: "That's right. But actually, the two had several disagreements before that, but no one outsiders knew about them. I don't remember what the first disagreement was about, and neither does the Empress Dowager. It's been too many years. In any case, in the eyes of outsiders, the break between the two was because of whether or not to perform craniotomy on the late Emperor."

"Did it open in the end?" Gu Jiao was quite curious about this.

Eunuch Qin shook his head: "No, before the two could reach a conclusion, the late emperor passed away."

Gu Jiao then asked, "Then... when did the Empress Dowager and Consort Jing break off their relationship?"

Eunuch Qin said, "It was in the last few days before the late Emperor passed away that the Empress Dowager and Consort Jing had a fight, and the Empress Dowager even slapped Consort Jing. This old servant was waiting outside at the time and did not hear clearly what the two of them were arguing about. I only know that from then on, the Empress Dowager stopped having any contact with Consort Jing."

Given her personality, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, she is willing to take any risk. She is a woman who is more decisive and courageous than men. If two people disagree, so be it. Even the emperor agrees. How can her be more conservative than the emperor?

Could it be that the official from the Yan state is the problem?

Or, to be more daring, that doctor was hired by Consort Jing to murder the late Emperor.

It was only because Consort Jing's conspiracy was discovered by her aunt that the aunt opposed the craniotomy. The emperor, however, was under the influence of the drug and became obedient to Consort Jing and rebellious towards his aunt, which led to his later advocacy for the craniotomy.

So, did the late emperor really die of illness?

What exactly was written on the imperial edict he left behind before his death?

After reading the memorial, Empress Dowager Zhuang came over. Seeing that she was dressed neatly and looked like she was about to go out, Gu Jiao couldn't help but ask, "Oh? Is Aunt going out?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang rolled her eyes: "Weren't we supposed to be putting on an act with that foolish emperor?"

"No need." Gu Jiao smiled and said, "You've worked hard these past few days, Aunt. You don't need to force yourself to act with His Majesty anymore."

An ordinary person would have asked why, but Empress Dowager Zhuang didn't ask that. She said, "Should we return the candied fruit?"

Gu Jiao shrugged: "If I'm not going to act anymore, of course I won't give it to you."

Empress Dowager Zhuang's face darkened instantly.

play!

She wants to act!

Just act out five candied fruits!

Then Empress Dowager Zhuang lifted her phoenix robe and hurried off to Huaqing Palace!

Does this girl think her acting wasn't good enough?

Hmph, at worst she'll just have to work a little harder!

There are quite a few memorials to be submitted today.

Last night, Empress Dowager Zhuang summoned him for a meeting because there was indeed something important. The news that the Crown Princess had broken the Kun formation had been sent to the other five kingdoms. Among them, Liang, Zhao, and Chen had all replied, expressing their appreciation for the Crown Princess and their congratulations to Zhao. Furthermore, all three kingdoms had extended invitations to the Crown Princess of Zhao.

Empress Dowager Zhuang's original intention was for the two to communicate beforehand to avoid another quarrel in the court.

He didn't go.

As expected, the Golden Palace was indeed in an uproar during the morning court session this day.

Some advocated going to the Liang Kingdom, as Liang was a superior kingdom, and befriending it would be entirely beneficial to the Zhao Kingdom.

Some advocated going to the State of Zhao, since Master Meng's hometown, Pucheng, was in the State of Zhao, and Pucheng was known as the "Chess Capital".

Some suggested going to the State of Chen, since the King of Chen was about to appoint a new empress, and the Crown Princess and the envoys could attend the ceremony, killing two birds with one stone.

The emperor was having a headache when a palace attendant announced that Empress Dowager Zhuang had arrived.

The emperor didn't think much of it, assuming they were there to discuss this matter. He picked up his teacup and took a sip, when he heard a powerful shout from the doorway: "Hong'er—"

The emperor's body trembled, and the teacup in his hand flew out!

(End of this chapter)