Chapter 20 The Empress Dowager returned to the palace, as if afraid Gu Xi hadn't understood, and Zhao Fuquan again...
Xiao Heng left, leaving behind a half-eaten bowl of porridge on the table.
Before leaving, he promised her that he would not pursue the matter with the two palace maids, and that he would find an imperial physician to treat the injuries on Consort Wan's face.
Consort Wan has already been banished to the Cold Palace and received her due punishment. She just doesn't want anyone else to be punished because of her.
She didn't understand where things went wrong or how she got caught up in this mess.
After that day, Xiao Heng never came again, and Gu Xi's facial injuries had mostly healed.
She stayed in Weiyang Palace every day and did not go out. Only Huayue brought her various news from the palace when she returned from the imperial kitchen every day.
"Your Majesty, I heard that His Majesty has been visiting Consort Li every day lately. Everyone in the palace says that she is His Majesty's favorite now."
"Your Majesty, I heard that Consort Wan's facial injuries have healed quite a bit, and she's been clamoring to see the Emperor every day."
"Your Majesty, I heard that the Empress Dowager is about to return, and the palace is busy preparing a welcoming banquet."
That day, Hua Yue was telling Gu Xi about the news she had heard in the palace. There were many different opinions in the palace about why Consort Wan was banished to the Cold Palace. The most convincing one was that Consort Wan was jealous of Consort Li and made a scene in front of the Emperor, which made the Emperor dislike her and led to her banishment to the Cold Palace.
The fact that Consort Li is now highly favored confirms this rumor.
This statement also completely removed Gu Xi from the matter, and no one would associate her with Consort Wan.
Hua Yue had just finished speaking when Cai Lian came to relay the message.
"Your Majesty, Chief Steward Zhao has arrived."
Zhao Fuquan? Why would he come?
Gu Xi looked behind him but did not see Xiao Heng.
He came alone.
"This servant greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be blessed with longevity."
"Steward Zhao, please rise," Gu Xi said, puzzled. "What brings you here today, Steward Zhao?"
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager will be returning to the palace in two days. The concubines and officials are to greet her at the Shenwu Gate. I have come today to inform you of this."
"Yes, I understand. Thank you for your help, Steward Zhao," Gu Xi said politely.
After Zhao Fuquan finished giving his instructions, he did not leave immediately. He stood there for a long time without asking Gu Xi any questions. Finally, he could not help but ask, "Does Your Highness have any questions for this servant?"
Gu Xi shook her head.
As if afraid that Gu Xi hadn't understood, Zhao Fuquan asked again, "Does Your Highness have any questions for the Emperor?"
Gu Xi was taken aback upon hearing this.
Did she have something to ask Xiao Heng? It seemed so, yet it also seemed not.
At this moment, her heart felt like it was stuffed with cotton. Something seemed to be welling up inside her, but it floated up and down, and she couldn't grasp it no matter how hard she tried.
Gu Xi opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
Zhao Fuquan couldn't help but sigh, then bowed and withdrew.
Seeing this, Cailian could only feel anxious.
Why don't these ladies know how to yield to the Emperor and show him some concern?
The Empress Dowager's return to the palace is indeed a major event, but why should such a matter require the Grand Eunuch of the Emperor's court to come and inform him? Everyone can see the Emperor's deeper meaning behind this action, and Zhao Fuquan must have guessed the Emperor's intention as well, which is why he asked the extra question.
But their mistress didn't say a word.
*
Two days later, Consort Xue accompanied the Empress Dowager back to the palace from Wanfo Temple.
The concubines and officials of the inner palace arrived at Shenwu Gate early in the morning to greet them.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Welcome, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
"Welcome, Your Highness the Imperial Concubine!"
Gu Xili watched from afar and saw Consort Xue holding the Empress Dowager's arm, their movements intimate. Xiao Heng, perhaps because he was a man, seemed less close to the Empress Dowager.
The sight of the two standing together reminded her of that terrible rumor: that the current emperor was a young genius, yet ruthless and cruel, having murdered his father and brother. And this brother… was none other than the Empress Dowager's other son, the Ninth Prince.
The late emperor had four sons: the third prince Xiao Heng, the sixth prince Xiao Che, the ninth prince Xiao Hao, and the eleventh prince Xiao Chen. Among them, the third prince, who is now the emperor, and the ninth prince Xiao Hao were both born to the empress dowager.
Logically speaking, brothers born of the same mother should support each other, but the relationship between the two is like fire and water. Some even say that Xiao Heng killed Xiao Hao to secure his position as crown prince and eventually ascend the throne.
If the rumors are true, what role did the Empress Dowager play in the power struggle between her brothers?
After Xiao Hao's death, the relationship between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor deteriorated rapidly. Some say that the Empress Dowager frequently left the palace to worship Buddha because she did not want to see the Emperor and also to atone for his karmic debts. Others say that in order to gain the Empress Dowager's forgiveness, the Emperor visited her every day to show filial piety, and even when the Empress Dowager was not in the palace, he would send people to Wanfo Temple to serve her every day.
While Gu Xi was still lost in her own thoughts, the Emperor and Consort Xue had already welcomed the Empress Dowager into the Hall of Preserving Harmony.
Today's "family banquet" is being held in the Hall of Preserving Harmony.
Gu Xi hadn't seen Xiao Heng since that day, and today, when she saw him again, he seemed no different than before. When their eyes met just now, he didn't linger for a moment, as if she didn't want to get to know him at all.
After everyone had taken their seats as usual, Gu Xicai quietly began to observe the Empress Dowager.
Although the Empress Dowager was advanced in years, she was well-preserved, with her hair dyed jet black at the temples. She sat upright in her chair, her hands lightly resting on the armrests, her hands adorned with exquisite nail guards, exuding the aura of someone who had long held a high position. When her eyes swept over the crowd, seemingly unintentionally, they seemed to see right through them, making people不敢直视 her.
As if noticing her scrutiny, the Empress Dowager turned her gaze in her direction, and Gu Xi was so frightened that she quickly lowered her head, afraid of being discovered.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you back to the palace. How was Your Majesty's life outside the palace?" Xiao Heng asked with concern.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Your Majesty is so kind. I am perfectly fine."
Xiao Heng said with a sigh of relief, "Then I can rest assured." After saying that, he picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.
"But there is something that worries me greatly..." The Empress Dowager changed the subject and said, "I heard that an assassin broke into the palace a few days ago. Is that true?" She then looked at the Emperor with a worried expression.
Xiao Heng put down his teacup and said seriously, "It is true, but the people have been caught. They are just some scoundrels who steal valuables, so Mother need not worry."
The Empress Dowager said with a surprised look, "Your Majesty is mistaken. The fact that the thieves were able to enter the palace so easily must be because the Imperial Guards are lax in their duties and disregard the safety of the royal family. How can they protect the Emperor's safety?" The Empress Dowager looked at Xiao Heng with a serious expression and continued, "In my opinion, the commander of the Imperial Guards should be replaced!"
Xiao Heng humbly accepted the instruction: "What Mother says is true. Minister Bai has already found a suitable candidate for me, and he will take office soon."
Bai Aiqing was probably referring to the Left Prime Minister, Bai Xingzhi. She hadn't seen him since that encounter at Bihe Garden, and hearing his name from Xiao Heng now made her feel somewhat dazed.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager frowned, her face full of disapproval: "What does Bai Xiang know about these things, he's just a civil official." She paused for a moment, then continued, "It's better to leave this matter to your uncle to handle properly."
Xiao Heng seemed to have expected this, and did not argue with the Empress Dowager. He calmly said, "Then I will trouble Mother and Uncle to take care of it."
The Empress Dowager had thought she would have to negotiate with the Emperor, but she didn't expect him to agree so readily this time.
Gu Xi listened to the conversation between the mother and son and found it strange.
When an assassination attempt occurs in the palace, shouldn't the Empress Dowager be worried about the Emperor's safety first? But she seems unconcerned, only concerned about the situation of the Imperial Guards, as if she wants to take this opportunity to place someone in the Imperial Guards.
The maternal uncle the Empress Dowager just mentioned should be her younger brother, General Qin Jianshan. Qin Jianshan was titled General Huaihua and had conquered a small territory in the west for the late emperor, thus making considerable contributions. She had heard her brother say that he was brave but lacked strategy, but he was good at recognizing and utilizing talent, and his advisors were outstanding, so his military campaigns were relatively stable.
Gu Xi was curious about the Empress Dowager's intention in placing people in the Imperial Guard. Was she truly concerned about the safety of the palace, or was she plotting something for someone else?
If it's a plan for others, then for whom is it being made?
The Ninth Prince is no longer alive, and now her only son, Xiao Heng, has ascended the throne, making her the Empress Dowager.
Could it be that he was only trying to bolster his own brother's power?
Gu Xi was still lost in her thoughts when the Empress Dowager's voice rang out at just the right moment.
“I see many new faces in the palace. They all raise their heads so I can see them.”
After the matter of the Imperial Guard Commander was settled, the Empress Dowager seemed to be in a much better mood, and then turned her attention to the concubines in the harem.
The concubines glanced at each other, then raised their heads one after another.
The Empress Dowager's eyes swept across the seats and she said, "Hmm, they are all indeed beautiful. From now on, you must all serve the Emperor well and produce offspring for the royal family as soon as possible..."
Upon hearing this, the concubines all lowered their heads in embarrassment.
It's strange, really. The Emperor has been on the throne for three years, yet he has no children. It's said that even those who came with him from when he was a prince have no offspring. Although the Emperor doesn't indulge in women, he does have concubines he likes, so he should have several children by now.
After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she looked at Consort Xue and continued, "And do not forget to properly assist Consort Xue in managing the inner palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager," the concubines replied respectfully.
Then, the Empress Dowager comforted Consort Xue, saying, "Little Xue, you've had a hard time while I was away from the palace." She then looked at Consort Xue with a loving expression.
"Your Majesty, this is what I should do."
Consort Xue's eyes flickered slightly, and she couldn't hide the smile on her lips. The Empress Dowager's words had given her a lot of face and also showed the Empress Dowager's attitude towards her. In the future, she would be more and more adept at managing the affairs of the harem.
The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction at Consort Xue, then, as if suddenly remembering something, turned to Xiao Heng and said solemnly, "Emperor, you have been on the throne for three years now, and the harem is full. It is time to consider the matter of establishing an empress."
A note from the author:
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The Empress Dowager makes her appearance~
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