Chapter 83 The Opponent.
When Chu Heng arrived at Renshou Palace, he smelled a medicinal odor before even entering the hall. Whether the Empress Dowager was faking illness or was truly ill from angering the Emperor, he did not want to face her.
The young palace maid at the door curtsied and said, "Your Highness has arrived! The Empress Dowager has been eagerly awaiting your arrival!"
The female official inside the hall came out to greet him, curtsied and said with a smile, "Your Highness, please come into the hall. It's cold today, a sudden chill in the air. Come in and warm up."
Chu Heng smiled and said, "Okay. Why are you brewing medicine? Is Mother sick?"
The lady-in-waiting stopped smiling and whispered, "There's nothing I can't say to Your Highness. Just now, the Empress Dowager heard that the previous dukes were reprimanded by the Emperor, who said they were useless. She was so angry that she had a headache. Aunt Shuangyun called the imperial physician to take her pulse before he prescribed medicine. Fortunately, Your Highness came. Please try to persuade the Empress Dowager. She's old and can't take such a hard time."
Chu Heng nodded: "I'll go see my mother."
The young palace maid lifted the curtain, and only after Chu Heng and the female official had crossed the threshold did she lower her hand and carefully tidy up the cotton curtain.
The Empress Dowager was reclining on the couch when Chu Heng stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Mother."
"...Hmm, sit down." The Empress Dowager placed her hand on her forehead and said weakly, "I wanted to invite you brothers to dine, but my body can't take it. I'll take my medicine and rest. You two can dine when the Emperor arrives."
"Mother, please take good care of yourself," Chu Heng advised. "There are others to take care of things at the front. Don't worry too much. Just enjoy your old age."
The Empress Dowager glanced at him and said, "I am so disappointed in you. I always complain about how other families bully others, but who would have thought that my own family members are all good-for-nothings? It really makes my heart ache."
Chu Heng said, "My uncles, cousins and other relatives are all very good. Those who are not good enough have nothing to do with my mother and uncles. It's just that they can't even write two characters with the same hand. In front of all the civil and military officials, it would be inappropriate for my brother to show favoritism."
The Empress Dowager said angrily, "I naturally understand the Emperor's difficulties, but it is hateful that your uncles have been cautious and upright all their lives, yet their reputations have been ruined by these petty people!"
"Mother, please don't worry," Chu Heng said calmly. "If you do the right thing, you will naturally sit up straight. All the officials in the court have seen the good character of my uncles, and my brother knows it very well. Everyone knows the reason for this incident. My brother's punishment is just for show and he won't take it seriously."
His words sounded nice, but to the Empress Dowager they were nothing but empty talk. Chu Heng didn't mention a single thing she wanted.
Having pleaded with the emperor, he would never act on his own initiative to secure the position with the Fang family, which he had just obtained.
They've really grown up and become independent.
Neither of her two sons cares about their own mother anymore!
The Empress Dowager's heart pounded with anger, and she glared at Chu Heng, about to speak, when the Emperor arrived.
Chu Heng rose to greet him, and the emperor hurriedly entered, his tone urgent: "Mother, did you call the imperial physician? Were you angered? Mother, rest assured, I have already instructed my uncles to discipline their families properly, and such a thing will never happen again, so as not to embarrass you."
"Alas, if they hadn't dared to claim they were from the Empress Dowager's family and act so arrogantly because of your power, I wouldn't be so angry." Without giving the Empress Dowager a chance to speak, the Emperor rattled off a string of words, "How can Mother's reputation and dignity be ruined by the mouths of these petty people!"
Chu Heng almost burst out laughing. They really were mother and son; even their words were almost identical. Now he was waiting to see how the Empress Dowager would respond.
The Empress Dowager's face turned pale with anger, and she gritted her teeth and said, "It's all thanks to the Emperor."
The Emperor said, "Mother is saying these things... Oh, my fifth brother is here too?"
What an eager and filial son he is! After all, he only just noticed Chu Heng, a living, breathing person.
Chu Heng bowed his head respectfully and said, "My mother asked me to come and have a meal."
The Emperor smiled and said, "Fifth Brother, you'll be very busy from now on. I suppose Mother is worried about you taking on such important tasks so suddenly and wanted to give you some pointers. It's just the two of us here, mother and son, and there are no outsiders. Why are you standing? Sit down."
Chu Heng thanked him, and when he sat down and raised his head, he first tried to smooth the corners of his mouth.
The Empress Dowager covered her lips with a handkerchief and coughed lightly a few times. Shuangyun quickly brought over a teacup: "Your Majesty, please calm down first. The medicine will be ready soon."
The emperor asked, "Aunt, what did the imperial physician say?"
Shuangyun put down her teacup, bowed, and replied, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that the Empress Dowager's condition is caused by anger and distress. She needs to calm down and rest for a while."
The emperor nodded and instructed, "You must serve her well and not upset the Empress Dowager again."
"Yes," the palace servants on either side replied respectfully.
The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes: "How can I remain calm? Look at the trouble they've caused..."
The emperor advised, "I will take care of things outside; Mother need not worry."
The Empress Dowager shook her head: "Logically, I shouldn't speak so presumptuously about politics, but ultimately, the root of this matter lies with me, so I have no choice but to say a few words."
"What nonsense! It is only natural for a mother to teach her son." The emperor's lips were straight as he spoke, and he casually took the teacup that Shuangyun presented to him.
The Empress Dowager said, "They are all from the same clan. Your uncles were indeed not strict enough and should be punished. However, their punishment is a small matter, but the delay in court affairs is a big matter. It would be better to let them atone for their crimes by performing meritorious service. This would save you trouble and show that they have not let me down. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Upon hearing this, the emperor put down his teacup and said in surprise, "I was wrong. Mother doesn't know yet. I have already handed over the tasks of my uncles to my fifth brother. Mother, please rest assured, it will not delay any important matters."
The Empress Dowager frowned: "Your fifth brother... although he has handled two jobs, he is still young and inexperienced. He is also lazy and unreliable, and he is not yet capable of shouldering great responsibilities."
Chu Heng, who was being criticized to his face, smiled slightly and completely ignored the Empress Dowager's words.
The Emperor laughed heartily: "Mother has always doted on my fifth brother, so it seems she's been indulging his laziness. Don't worry, I know he's truly capable; otherwise, I wouldn't dare entrust these matters to him. Wouldn't that be playing with the affairs of the court?"
Seeing that the Emperor was really not going to budge, the Empress Dowager had no choice but to compromise: "Since the Emperor thinks Heng'er is capable, then let him handle it. But he is new to this business, and if there is anything he doesn't understand, he can just ask your uncle. You are uncle and nephew, and they will surely tell you what they have to say."
As the Empress Dowager spoke, she glanced at Chu Heng, clearly intending for him to join the conversation.
Chu Heng thought for a moment and asked doubtfully, "Mother is right, but my uncles are currently under house arrest. May I ask, Your Majesty, do I need to ask for permission to visit them?"
"Although my uncles have returned home, they still have a lot of things to do. Don't bother them." Upon hearing this, the emperor immediately reprimanded him, "Are there no capable people in the court? Don't you recognize the people who worked with your uncles before? If you don't understand something, just call them over and give them instructions."
Chu Heng smiled and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I have remembered."
The Empress Dowager was furious.
The emperor came prepared, and the empress dowager knew that there was no way to turn the tide.
To get the three dukes of the Fang family back into the court, it is necessary to contact the Fang family's old friends and petition them in the court. Only then will the emperor, under pressure from his ministers, be able to give in.
The Empress Dowager was making plans in her mind, preparing to send someone to deliver a message to the Fang family in a little while.
Shuangyun brought over the brewed medicine. As soon as the bitter smell approached, the Empress Dowager frowned and looked at Shuangyun with displeasure.
Chu Heng couldn't help but chuckle, but he quickly composed himself and earnestly advised, "Mother, good medicine tastes bitter. You used to tell me that without medicine, how can the illness get better?"
Mentioning Chu Heng's long illness in the past made the Empress Dowager even more unhappy. She held her breath, took the medicine, rinsed her mouth, and went back to her reclining position: "I'll rest for a while. Emperor, you go and do your work."
The emperor beckoned Chu Heng out, and once they were outside Renshou Palace, he said, "You just said you came here for a meal?"
Chu Heng gave a wry smile: "That's what my mother instructed the person who used to summon me to say."
Enraged by the two brothers' actions, the Empress Dowager no longer wanted to see either of them.
The emperor coughed lightly: "Hmm... Go home and rest. We can deal with the rest tomorrow."
It would be good to invite Chu Heng to dine with him at this time, but the Empress Dowager was not pleased with what he had just said, and the Emperor was also unwilling to hear Chu Heng talk about his illness from a few years ago, so the Emperor made an excuse to avoid it.
"We agreed yesterday that I would have lunch at the Imperial Concubine's place today." The Emperor turned his hands behind his back. "I can't keep you here any longer."
Chu Heng smiled and said, "I dare not delay Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."
...
Daiyu had just finished eating and was digesting her food in the courtyard when Chu Heng entered the gate with a worried look on his face: "I'm starving, is there any food left?"
Upon hearing this, Daiyu almost burst out laughing: "How could you be so hungry? Bring some snacks for the Prince to have something to eat first. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were a beggar!"
Zijuan hurriedly instructed the maids to bring out hot snacks, which were readily available and prepared by the kitchen for the masters to enjoy at any time.
Daiyu then said, "Xueyan, bring the fragrant dew and pour the prince a cup of water."
Chu Heng walked over and leaned against Daiyu: "Not to mention how busy and chaotic the morning was, the Empress Dowager even summoned me again. After all this commotion, the Emperor didn't even give me a bite to eat and told me to go home hungry. The imperial family is truly heartless."
"What happened?" Daiyu asked hurriedly.
"It's not something that can be explained in a few words. I need to change my clothes first," Chu Heng said, then took Daiyu's hand. "Let's talk about it slowly."
Daiyu followed him into the room and asked, "Are you going out again this afternoon?"
The maids helped Chu Heng take off his official robes and change into casual clothes. He firmly said, "I'm not going. His Majesty has given me leave, and no one can ask me to go out again."
Hearing his considerable resentment, Daiyu asked again, "What exactly happened that made the Empress Dowager and the Emperor torment you like this?"
Chu Heng went over to wash his hands and said indignantly, "Isn't it all because His Majesty picked a fight with the Fang family today? The Empress Dowager was furious, but she couldn't argue with His Majesty, so she bullied me because I'm easy to bully."
Daiyu asked curiously, "How did His Majesty make his move?"
As they were talking, the maids brought in some snacks. Daiyu took a plate of milk cake and placed it in front of Chu Heng: "No rush, eat some first."
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