Yuan Bao'er stood beside the imperial carriage, her eyes filled with guilt and unease as she looked at Jiang Jiaojiao. She had tried her best to restrain the Empress Dowager, but... just as she received the news, the Empress Dowager, who had already gone to bed, got up again.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager—"
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager—"
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager—"
Everyone knelt down in unison to pay their respects, including Prince Chen, Li Yan, and Consort Xi, Chen Jin'er.
Jiang Jiaojiao quietly raised her head and curiously looked at the Empress Dowager sitting in the high seat. The Empress Dowager was a devout Buddhist and rarely appeared in public. This was the first time Jiang Jiaojiao had seen the Empress Dowager in person.
Chen Jin'er couldn't help but steal a glance at the Empress Dowager. She had seen the Empress Dowager once before from afar, but she hadn't seen her face clearly. She only thought that she was an old lady who had no desires and was devoted to Buddhism.
However, Chen Jin'er was well aware of the complexities of the palace and understood that one could not judge a person's character and behavior solely by their appearance.
And so… upon hearing that the emperor intended to depose the empress, she still drove her imperial carriage over despite the chilly night.
Let alone Chen Jin'er and Jiang Jiaojiao.
Even the emperor was somewhat surprised, bowing and greeting, "Greetings, Empress Dowager. What brings you here, Empress Dowager?"
"You want to depose the empress?"
The Empress Dowager's voice was gentle and kind, as if she were simply having a casual chat with the Emperor.
But even this casual tone sent a cold sweat down the emperor's back. "Mother, the Empress is ruthless, plotting against concubines and imperial heirs. She is unworthy to be Empress..."
"The Cui family must not depose its empress."
These six short words, however, carried the weight of Mount Tai, directly cutting off the emperor's words.
The emperor's expression changed drastically, a flash of shock and anger crossing his eyes.
"Mother..."
The emperor's voice was low and suppressed, carrying a hint of disbelief and dissatisfaction.
However.
The Empress Dowager's expression remained unchanged, still maintaining that kind and gentle bodhisattva-like demeanor.
An old nanny beside the imperial carriage walked slowly over, her face calm and serene, holding an exquisitely carved wooden box.
She handed the wooden box to the emperor.
He said expressionlessly, "This is the late emperor's last edict. Please take a look, Your Majesty."
The emperor took the wooden box, a sense of unease rising within him. He opened the box, took out the bright yellow edict inside, and began to read it carefully.
As each word came into view.
The emperor's face grew increasingly grim, and his hands trembled slightly.
The emperor took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He looked up at the empress dowager, his eyes flashing with a complex light.
He bowed slowly, "Your subject obeys the decree."
The old nanny took back the imperial edict and put it back into the box.
"Hahaha--"
"Hahaha—Li Zongsheng! I told you, you can't depose me! I will always be the Empress!"
The empress covered her face and let out a sharp, maniacal laugh that echoed through the night sky, as if to awaken the entire palace.
The Empress Dowager's gaze swept over the Empress, carrying a hint of disappointment and pity.
Then it stopped on Consort Xi and her belly.
But she didn't stay long. Then, the Empress Dowager's gaze fell on Prince Chen, who was beside Jiang Jiaojiao.
When she saw Prince Chen, she was momentarily stunned.
However, this was only for a brief moment.
The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor again: "Rui'er has prayed for the country for twenty years and has deeply mastered the true teachings of the high monks. She will soon return to the capital. The Emperor is lacking a national advisor, and I believe Rui'er is fully capable of taking on this position."
The voice was kind, but not in a tone of negotiation.
The emperor's face turned extremely ugly again. "Is this an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager?"
"yes."
"Your subject obeys the decree."
The brief exchange between the two was as distant and indifferent as that between strangers.
They are clearly mother and child, but there is not a trace of warmth between them.
A satisfactory answer was received.
The Empress Dowager's kind expression seemed to deepen. "It's late, Your Majesty should also get some rest."
"Get up."
The Empress Dowager spoke softly.
The imperial carriage was immediately raised.
The Empress Dowager looked down at Yuan Bao'er, who was standing beside the imperial carriage and glancing repeatedly at Jiang Jiaojiao, and said, "You must be tired after spending the day with me. Go out of the palace with them."
"yes."
Yuan Bao'er quickly bowed and agreed.
Then, the imperial carriage departed.
The people carrying the imperial carriage moved with light steps, as if they were walking on snow without leaving a trace. They came and went quietly, as if they had never been there at all.
The emperor slowly rose to his feet.
He looked at the smug empress, his eyes filled with endless disgust and hatred.
"Imprisoned in the Phoenix Palace, never to leave again. I and you... will never see each other again, in life or in death."
"No--"
The Empress screamed in terror, "You can't do this to me! No—Li Zongsheng! Cousin! No! No! Ah—"
The emperor turned his back.
She never looked back until the empress was dragged away by the maids.
The moonlight poured down like water, and under the hazy night, the magnificent palaces that were so resplendent in the daytime were shrouded in darkness. The bronze beasts on the eaves looked like monsters with their mouths wide open.
It devoured all the madness and resentment.
...
The night was as dark as ink, and a chill seeped into one's very bones.
Inside the carriage, Jiang Jiaojiao held Prince Chen's cold hand tightly, trying to warm it with her own body heat, but no matter how hard she tried, his hands remained completely cold.
“Ayan…”
“Ayan…”
“Ayan…”
She murmured softly, each call filled with concern and worry.
Prince Chen finally reacted.
A hint of joy flashed in Jiang Jiaojiao's eyes, but it was also filled with deep regret. "I'm sorry... it's all my fault..."
"Jiaojiao..."
Prince Chen's voice was still gentle, but it carried an undeniable weariness and pain.
He suddenly leaned forward and rested his body on her knees, like a wounded little animal seeking comfort.
"Jiaojiao..."
"Jiaojiao..."
"Jiaojiao..."
He kept repeating the name, each time with more affection and tenderness than the last, as if drawing courage and love from it, a deep and undisguised love.
Jiang Jiaojiao's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand.
She reached out and gently stroked his hair, feeling his pain and weakness, hoping to give him some warmth and strength.
At this moment, they nestled together, forgetting everything around them; only the other's existence mattered.
One sound after another.
His voice gradually returned to normal, and then he opened his eyes, his dark eyes like a sky full of stars. "Thank you, Jiaojiao, for helping me get revenge."
"Your Highness..."
"Shh-"
Prince Chen placed his finger on her lips, "Call me A-Yan."
"I'm sorry, Ayan..."
Jiang Jiaojiao stroked his hair tenderly. She hadn't expected the truth to be so brutally exposed.
“Jiaojiao…the mistake isn’t the hand that reveals the truth, but…the person who created the truth.”
Because her surname was Cui, she was still the empress no matter how many evils she committed.
hehe……
And then there's the person who couldn't promise her anything, couldn't protect her, yet locked her up in a cage.
What talk of royal favor? True love?
It's just that the person is gone, and the desire for them is unfulfilled, leading to selfishness.
If he were still the same seventh prince, plagued by a serious illness and nearing the end of his life.
Would they have enjoyed their current favor and status?
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