Chapter 746 This is an ungrateful wretch
On New Year's Eve, Zhao Sidan did not go to the palace for the banquet.
He stayed in the mansion and spent a lively New Year's Eve with Lu Yingxue, Yu Zhan, and all the servants in the courtyard.
In Dahe Village, there is a custom of staying up all night on New Year's Eve. After arriving in the capital, he also led a group of servants to stay up all night, but in the middle of the night, he heard that something had happened in the palace.
He hurriedly drove to the outskirts to find his third brother and ask what was going on, but there were only a few people left at the garrison. Only then did he realize that something serious had really happened.
He had no choice but to meet up with his older cousin, and together they went to a safe alley near the capital to wait for news. In that alley, he heard countless screams, flames, and rivers of blood... If his older cousin hadn't stayed by his side the whole time, he didn't know if he could have made it to the next day.
"mother……"
Zhao Sidan was already fifteen years old that year, but he still couldn't help but cry out.
Zhao Sanniu also suppressed his tears.
He only learned of the palace coup after he arrived at the gates of the imperial city, and it was then that he realized his mother had attended the palace banquet.
He followed the General of the Cavalry into the imperial city, fighting his way to the palace banquet hall. He was in a bloodthirsty frenzy, beheading any rebel he encountered with a single stroke... He didn't know how many heads he had slain; all he knew was that he couldn't find his mother...
Later, the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager were all safe, but my mother was still nowhere to be found.
He truly believed he would never see his mother again. At that moment, his world collapsed, and he didn't even want to live anymore...
"Mother, you can't do this again," Zhao Sanniu said, his voice choked with emotion. "What will we do if something happens to you..."
Cheng Wanwan patted her two sons' heads: "You're both grown men now, crying like three-year-olds. I promise you, I will never act so rashly again. Are you relieved?"
Zhao Sanniu and Zhao Sidan shook their heads at the same time.
They couldn't remember how many times their mother had been in trouble.
Every time, he puts himself in danger in order to protect unrelated people.
They would admire outsiders who sacrifice themselves for others.
But the person who sacrificed herself to save others was their own mother, so they felt no respect, only worry and anxiety.
"Wipe your tears and go to Renshou Palace," Cheng Wanwan said with a smile. "The Empress Dowager said she wants to see you two. She probably wants to give you a reward. Just accept whatever the Empress Dowager gives you, thank her, and leave quickly. Don't linger."
There is a Princess Rongqing in Renshou Palace, and she has to be wary of her.
After Zhao Sanniu and Zhao Sidan went to Renshou Palace, the Empress Dowager indeed bestowed many trinkets upon them and invited them to stay for a meal.
The two boys remembered Cheng Wanwan's words and dared not stay too long. After thanking the Empress Dowager, they did not dare to eat and hurriedly followed the palace eunuchs out of the palace.
Cheng Wanwan's injury healed day by day.
She lived in Kunning Palace, where the Empress accompanied her every day, the Crown Princess took care of her personally, and the Emperor, Empress Dowager and Crown Prince visited her from time to time. Naturally, her status and position rose accordingly.
Every afternoon, the women of the harem would come to visit Cheng Wanwan under the pretext of paying their respects to the Empress, and they would all surround her and praise her in various ways.
Of course, there were also some upsetting things along the way. For example, whenever Princess Rongqing came to visit, she would say some suggestive things.
Just like now, Rong Qing said with a smile, "Lady Sui lives in Kunning Palace, but my sister-in-law has to move to the Emperor's side hall for the time being. People who don't know the situation might think that Lady Sui is the master of this harem... I'm sorry, I misspoke. Please forgive me, my sister-in-law and Lady Sui."
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "It's normal for Princess Rongqing to misspoke. After all, she wasn't taught by palace servants from a young age, so it's okay to be impolite occasionally."
Rong Qing's face immediately turned ashen.
After this lowly woman was promoted to a second-rank lady, she dared to mention her childhood in public, which completely disregarded her status as a princess.
But thinking about it, it makes sense. This lowly woman has the Emperor and Empress protecting her, the Empress Dowager backing her up, and so many concubines and princesses flattering her. Naturally, she wouldn't respect a princess who isn't of royal blood.
She used to be able to rely on the Empress Dowager, but now she can only rely on herself.
While this wretched woman is still living in the palace, she must devise a proper way to eliminate this threat forever.
Rongqing left Kunning Palace with a gloomy expression.
The Empress frowned slightly: "Although she was a bit petty before, she never embarrassed anyone in public. Why do I feel like she doesn't like you, Wanwan?"
“Your Majesty thinks the same way I do. I also think that Princess Rongqing hates me.” Cheng Wanwan raised her eyes. “On the night of the palace coup on New Year’s Eve, the former Crown Prince Xiao Jue said something to me before he died. I have kept it to myself and dared not say it. But now, I don’t want to hide it for Princess Rongqing anymore.”
The Empress said in surprise, "Wanwan, don't be afraid. No matter what Xiao Jue says, it has nothing to do with you. Just say what you have to say."
“At that time, Xiao Jue wanted to kill the Crown Prince. In this critical moment, I could only try to buy time, so I asked Xiao Jue why he wanted to kill the innocent Princess Duanmin.” Cheng Wanwan said slowly, “He said he had no reason to kill Princess Duanmin. I thought that at that moment, someone like him would not lie… I continued to press him, and he said that Princess Duanmin did indeed die by his sword, but she was pushed in front of him by a palace maid. He said he killed the princess by mistake.”
"So that's how it is..." The Empress was completely taken aback to hear such words. "Did Xiao Jue say what the palace maid looked like?"
Cheng Wanwan pursed her lips and said slowly and deliberately, "The current Princess Rongqing is the palace maid who pushed the princess out back then."
The Empress sat there, completely stunned.
After Duanmin returned to the palace, she became withdrawn and only Rongqing could get close to her. So the Empress Dowager asked Rongqing to stay in the palace to accompany Duanmin.
The palace coup more than ten years ago resulted in Duanmin's death and Rongqing's serious injury. After his wounds healed, he developed a birthmark exactly like Duanmin's, so he was granted the title of Princess and enjoyed this honor for more than ten years.
If Rongqing is the real murderer who killed Duanmin, then...
The Empress couldn't even imagine how the Empress Dowager would react if she found out about this.
“But these are just my side of the story.” Cheng Wanwan pursed her lips. “Even if Xiao Jue were still alive, the Empress Dowager probably wouldn’t believe him if he said these words, after all, Princess Rongqing is obedient and lovely, while Xiao Jue is a murderous maniac…”
The Empress hesitated before speaking, "Are we just going to let Rongqing continue to act like a princess?"
She suddenly remembered that when they were in the underground palace, everyone was willing to stay and stand with the royal family, but Rongqing was the first to suggest leaving.
A person who is not of royal blood gained countless honors through the royal family, but in times of crisis, he did not hesitate to abandon the royal family.
That's an ingrate!
"Your Majesty, could you please investigate the true cause of death of Princess Rongqing's biological parents and siblings?" Cheng Wanwan said softly. "Princess Rongqing said that her family died in that chaotic battle, and none of them survived. Because all her family members were gone, the Empress Dowager took her in and adopted her as her daughter... My intuition tells me that this matter is probably not that simple."
The Empress's gaze sharpened slightly: "I understand what you mean. I will definitely investigate this matter as soon as possible."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
