Chapter 281 Reaching the Shore
The Empress's tears stopped falling. Looking at the handsome young man before her, who had grown into a cold and aloof youth, so different from the little prince she remembered, she felt a pang of regret for the first time.
If she hadn't always prioritized the Bai family, would Jun'er have been so indifferent and cold towards her, her mother?
But she was a daughter of the Bai family, and her fate was intertwined with the Bai family's. Everyone has to look out for themselves. She did what anyone would do, but she was just unlucky and that's why she failed. What did she do wrong?
The Empress quickly convinced herself, and her expression towards the Crown Prince became even more tender: "Jun'er, you've grown up now. Tell your mother, among the girls who came today, is there any you truly like?"
"Even if they come from a less prestigious family, it doesn't matter, as long as they don't become the Crown Princess, your preference is the most important thing."
"The Crown Princess must be chosen from the best family background and have the most dignified and elegant demeanor; those who are petty and narrow-minded should absolutely be avoided..."
Noticing that the Crown Prince was staring intently at her sleeve, showing no reaction and completely ignoring her words, the Empress suddenly considered another possibility, which she found unbelievable:
"Jun'er! You're not still thinking about that Qi Yuxuan, are you?!"
The Crown Prince slowly raised his eyes, glanced at his mother indifferently, and did not deny it.
The Empress was terrified. She was furious. She slammed her hand on the armrest and stood up, which made the palace servants around her tremble.
"All of you, get out!"
When the Empress spoke, the palace servants, as if granted a pardon, filed out in single file.
Qi Jun stared into his mother's eyes and saw only disapproval in them.
Qi Jun's voice was soft and emotionless: "Didn't Mother agree back then? Why are you acting like this now? You're making a fool of yourself."
The Empress was furious at his nonchalant attitude. "I thought you were just throwing a tantrum, and I was just trying to appease you. I never expected you to be so stubborn!"
The young crown prince slowly stood up, his tall and imposing figure exuding authority without anger.
His indifferent gaze startled the Empress. She was about to say something to salvage the situation, but the next moment, the Crown Prince said:
"Mother, the Bai family has fallen. Your current support is Father and your son. It seems you still don't understand this."
The Empress understood his meaning with a start.
The Bai family has fallen, and her only support now is... no, it is the Crown Prince.
At home, she obeyed her father; after marriage, she obeyed her husband; and after her husband's death, she obeyed her son. Her life was a reflection of this saying. Even after becoming empress, she was still dependent on others.
The Empress lost her strength and nearly fell, but her tall son stood firmly before her, without even a subconscious hesitation, coldly watching her slump into the chair, making no move to help her up.
She said with difficulty, "Your mother knows. Your mother will not interfere with your choice of consort. You, you can choose whoever you like. No matter who the future crown princess is, your mother will have no objection..."
Qi Jun smiled gently and bowed, saying, "That would be wonderful, Mother. I shall take my leave."
Only after leaving the Empress's palace did the gentle expression on Qi Jun's face completely disappear.
He didn't want the opportunistic palace servants below to make wild guesses, but he also found it hard to control the growing sense of disappointment in his heart.
He initially thought his mother was different from other vain, sycophantic women, but as he grew older, he realized he was wrong.
He moved to the East Palace as soon as he began his education. At that time, his mother was the empress who was busy competing for favor with his father's other concubines. He could only see his mother once every three to five days. Each time, before they could be alone for more than half a quarter of an hour, his mother would invite his father to test his studies.
As he grew older, his mother became pregnant with his younger brother and sister. She was busy with pregnancy care and palace intrigues, so he was no longer as dependent on his mother as he was when he was a child. It was common for him to not see his mother for ten days or half a month at a time.
Later, twins, a dragon and a phoenix, were born, but they were both weaker than each other. The Empress Dowager was confined to the palace every day to take care of and raise her younger sister and brother... But the younger sister went missing, and the younger brother became mentally impaired.
Qi Jun had once enjoyed his mother's almost desperate care, but it was abnormal, suffocating, and made him feel that he was being monitored and interfered with at all times, and all his former habits were broken one by one.
He was like a precious porcelain piece that had been painstakingly crafted, but the Empress Dowager tried to smash him and then reassemble him into the shape she liked.
But how could that be?
Qi Jun knew he had feelings for his mother, but those feelings gradually turned into avoidance when he realized that his mother was just an ordinary person who liked fancy gold and silver, prestigious status, and an illusory good reputation.
And now, he has accepted it.
Since his mother was that kind of person, he would respond to her in the same way he dealt with people like that.
When Qi Jun decided to say, "The Bai family has fallen, and now she can only rely on her father and herself," the weight in her heart finally lifted.
He would not be swayed by others. Since this was the path his mother had chosen, and she was to uphold the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, believing that this was the best way for a woman to behave, he fully respected her.
But he didn't want the girl he loved to become such a walking corpse. Qi Jun secretly resolved that he had to remain still until he had the ability to fight against the world.
While pondering, Qi Jun boarded the boat to the island in the middle of the lake.
The old man rowing the boat was very steady and slow. Some people on the island saw the boat and almost shouted out loud.
Jin Yuan had never felt so lucky before!
She actually saw the Crown Prince the moment he landed on the island!
Thinking of the two girls beside her, one from a higher family and the other more slender, her excitement turned into trepidation. What if the Crown Prince took a liking to them? That wouldn't do!
Jin Yuan, with one arm around each of the girls, said, "Let's go that way. There's not much shade here, and we'll get tanned if we stay out in the sun any longer."
She took the two bewildered people's arms and walked in the opposite direction. After walking some distance, she made an excuse that she wanted to go to the bathroom and turned back.
Just then, the Crown Prince's ship docked. The young Crown Prince, as handsome as a gentle breeze and a bright moon, was so beautiful that he seemed otherworldly. He possessed a noble and elegant demeanor, and even his frowning expression was beautiful. He was simply perfect in every way!
Seeing that this unfamiliar young woman was blocking his way without realizing it, staring at the Crown Prince in a daze, Sun Miao wiped the sweat from his face and shouted:
"girl!"
Jin Yuan was brought back to her senses by this.
She realized that she and the Crown Prince were only a short distance apart, and her face flushed with excitement, causing her to stammer as she spoke:
"I...no, this humble woman greets the Crown Prince—"
She deliberately raised her voice to give a curtsy, then lowered her head, raised her hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, looking shy and hesitant, her meaning clear to anyone.
Qi Jun's gaze never fell on her face. Seeing that people had made way for him, he continued walking forward.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com