Chapter 396 The Emperor's Wrath (Second Update)

Despite knowing the chances were slim, the Emperor still went to Biyue Hutong, not only to inquire about Empress Dowager Zhuang's whereabouts, but also to remind Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang to be careful.

If Empress Dowager Zhuang was Consort Jing's mortal enemy, then Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang, who repeatedly ruined Consort Jing's plans, were undoubtedly thorns in her side.

Xiao Liulang had just returned from the Hanlin Academy and never expected such a thing to happen.

Gu Jiao was drying medicinal herbs in the front yard, while her three children were playing in the backyard, creating a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere in the house.

He withdrew his gaze and said to the emperor, "My aunt hasn't come... We'll be careful."

The emperor nodded: "You must not let anything else happen."

Xiao Liulang gave him a deep look: "Your Majesty, what are your plans?"

The emperor clenched his fist and said, "I will find the Empress Dowager."

This is the second time Empress Dowager Zhuang has disappeared. The first time was because of him; he sent her to the leper colony and lost her.

This time, he will personally bring her back.

He finished speaking to himself, turned around, and his steps sank heavily into the night.

"What's wrong?" Gu Jiao walked over.

The matter was of great importance, so Xiao Liulang did not hide anything from her: "My aunt and Consort Jing have disappeared. His Majesty suspects that Consort Jing kidnapped my aunt."

"You just said...who was arrested?"

The old priest's voice suddenly rang out behind the two of them.

The two turned to look at him at the same time. The old priest was holding a bowl of freshly made brown sugar glutinous rice cakes, sprinkled with freshly roasted white sesame seeds.

His hands began to tremble slightly, and the scalding sugar water spilled out.

Gu Jiao walked over and held out her hand to him: "Grandpa, give it to me."

"Huh?" His voice trembled slightly. "You...you haven't said who was arrested yet?"

“It’s my great-aunt,” Gu Jiao said.

The old libationer swayed.

Gu Jiao supported him with one hand and took the bowl with the other.

The bowl was very hot, so Xiao Liulang quickly took it and placed it on the stone table next to him. He then said to the old chief priest, "The Dowager Consort Jing will not do anything to my aunt for the time being. If she wanted to kill my aunt, she would have done so in the palace. She must have some other purpose in bringing my aunt out."

Gu Jiao looked at Xiao Liulang and said, "I'm going to find my great-aunt. Husband, you and your great-uncle wait for news at home."

Xiao Liulang hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

The old priest said in a trembling voice, "I...I'll go look for it too."

Xiao Liulang did not object. Seeing his unsteady steps, his eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "I will go with the teacher."

The old chief priest nodded hesitantly: "Okay...okay."

The two then exited Bishui Hutong.

The imperial city was sealed off; entry was permitted only through the four main gates, but exit was not.

Two carriages traveled one after the other along the winding path, escorted by four mounted guards.

As darkness fell, the last rays of the setting sun faded, leaving the sky a gray-blue expanse.

The carriage moved at a leisurely pace, and the people inside seemed calm and composed.

“Hong’er would never guess that we’ve already left the city.”

If the emperor were here, he would surely recognize that the voice belonged to the Consort Jing, whom he had been searching for.

Consort Jing changed into the clothes of a common woman, tied her hair in a single bun, and wore an inconspicuous silver hairpin.

At her age, she would no longer pursue beauty, but it must be said that people from the palace are quite different from ordinary women.

The Empress Dowager Zhuang opposite her had also taken off her black and gold phoenix robe and was wearing shabby peasant clothes.

However, upon closer inspection, the elegance in her eyes and brows was incomparable to that of Consort Jing.

Empress Dowager Zhuang closed her eyes to rest and did not respond to her.

Consort Jing smiled and said, "Stop pretending to be asleep. I know you're not asleep. How could you possibly be asleep?"

"You're very noisy," Empress Dowager Zhuang said with her eyes closed.

Consort Jing stared at her intently, a mocking smile playing on her lips: "Zhuang Jinse, are you truly not afraid of death?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang remained with her eyes closed, clearly not intending to pay any attention to this noisy woman.

Consort Jing wasn't angry. She lowered her eyes, picked up a broken silver hair from the hem of her robe, and smiled, "We've all grown old in the blink of an eye. Time flies so fast. It seems like we haven't been in the palace for very long. Do you remember the first time I met you, sister? In the Imperial Garden, you were wearing the Empress's phoenix robe, chatting with the other ladies in the pavilion. Unlike you, I didn't become Empress as soon as I entered the palace. I was just a lowly sixth-rank noblewoman, not even qualified to pay my respects to you. I could only kowtow to you from afar, led by a palace servant. You didn't even look at me. You just had a palace servant reward me with a jade bracelet. It's this jade bracelet."

As she spoke, she extended her left wrist, pulled up her sleeve, and revealed a high-quality jade bracelet.

"My sister is the eldest daughter of the Zhuang family and the Empress of Zhao. Everything she uses is of the finest quality. Even a bracelet she casually takes off and gives away is priceless. Do you know what I was thinking then? I was thinking, how can there be such a lucky person in the world? Born into a prominent family, with a noble status, beautiful hair and face, unparalleled beauty, and the emperor's favor... Is there anything in this world that my sister cannot have? I don't even have the right to envy her."

"Who could have predicted that someone as humble as me, so lowly as to be reduced to dust, would catch my sister's eye?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang said indifferently, "Who hasn't been blind when they were young?"

Consort Jing chuckled: "Sister, you're really joking. Actually, I was grateful to you and even thought about being best friends with you for life, but who told you to be so scheming? You flatter me on the surface, but behind my back you're just using me as a stepping stone to climb the social ladder!"

Empress Dowager Zhuang finally opened her eyes slowly, her expression somewhat impatient: "Consort Jing, are you blind or am I blind?"

When did she ever use her as a stepping stone?

Does she even deserve it?

Consort Jing sneered, "Sister, you know perfectly well that the late Emperor desired you, yet you always push me to serve him in bed. Anyone who didn't know better would think I'm benefiting from your favor. But I understand that you're just playing hard to get. The late Emperor only went to me because he wanted to hear some news about you. You're so cunning, sister; your manipulation skills are beyond our reach."

Empress Dowager Zhuang was too lazy to argue with her anymore. Let her think whatever she wanted. Some people just like to take advantage of others and then act innocent.

Consort Jing, disregarding whether Empress Dowager Zhuang would respond, sneered, "There are countless concubines in the harem, but the late emperor went to everyone but never to you, sister. How could you possibly understand that the late emperor had no heart wherever he went? He had long since left his heart in your Kunning Palace."

"Heh." Empress Dowager Zhuang let out a cold laugh.

Consort Jing looked at Empress Dowager Zhuang with slight confusion: "What? Am I wrong?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang gave her a pitying look: "Consort Jing, you are so pitiful."

Consort Jing's expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her perfect smile: "Sister, your address of Consort Jing reminds me even more of those days."

Empress Dowager Zhuang said calmly, "Stop bringing up the old days. If you want to reminisce, go find Granny Cai in the carriage behind. I want some peace and quiet."

Consort Jing lowered her eyes and threw the broken hair in her hand to the ground: "Isn't Sister curious why I wanted to sow discord between Sister and Hong'er?"

To be honest, Empress Dowager Zhuang was genuinely curious: "Does a person who commits numerous evils need a reason? Do they have to experience all the bitterness of life before saying that they were forced into it and had no choice? Are you trying to move me or just yourself?"

Consort Jing's smile faded: "Sister, you're still so blunt with your words."

Empress Dowager Zhuang closed her eyes again, this time determined to ignore Consort Jing.

Consort Jing, perhaps finding the topic uninteresting, did not continue it. She lifted the curtain and looked outside, then suddenly said wistfully, "I want to go to the border to see Ning'an. Sister, come with me. Ning'an will surely be very happy to see Mother."

Empress Dowager Zhuang's brows twitched, but she did not open her eyes.

After all that, all he wanted was to take her to the border to see Ning'an. Who would believe that reason?

Consort Jing murmured, "Let's all go see Ning An one last time."

That sounds strange.

Empress Dowager Zhuang suspected that Consort Jing's mental state had deteriorated.

Consort Jing lowered the curtain, looked at Empress Dowager Zhuang and smiled: "After all, we are getting old and can't make a second trip."

It seems to be explaining the previous sentence.

However, the next second, she laughed and said, "Or, after seeing Ning An, I will kill my sister."

Night falls.

The search in the capital made no progress.

The emperor stood beneath the majestic city gate, watching the guards search each person entering the city, his expression extremely solemn.

Looking at the emperor's chapped lips, Eunuch Wei said with concern, "Your Majesty, you've been traveling all day. Go and rest for a while. Eunuch He will keep an eye on things."

A layer of icy coldness settled over the emperor's eyes: "The Empress Dowager is still in that woman's hands... I am not tired. I will not rest until I find the Empress Dowager."

This time, he will not lose his mother again.

(End of this chapter)