Chapter 570 The Emperor's Heart Was Bitter, Yet He Could Not Speak Out
The emperor lay on his sickbed, unable to speak or move, his eyes bulging, his face sometimes pale and sometimes bluish, a far cry from his former high and mighty appearance.
Over the years, Aunt Zhou had been hiding, imagining countless scenes of their reunion.
Especially in her dreams, she dreamt that the emperor was carrying a sword and said he would kill her entire family.
Who would have thought that when they met again, she was now the rightful Third Princess, while the Emperor was bedridden and nearing his death.
What goes around comes around.
Seeing the emperor's furious expression, the Third Prince feared he might die of anger, so he didn't linger by his bedside and took Zhou Da Niang's hand, leading her away from the place.
The two of them were like a loving couple who had been married for many years. As they turned to leave, the Third Prince held Zhou Da Niang's arm tightly, partly to comfort her and partly to assert his dominance in front of the Emperor.
The palace maids and eunuchs inside and outside the palace changed batch after batch. Most of them had never seen the Empress. Seeing the Third Prince and Granny Zhou coming and going in the palace, they assumed that the Prince and Princess were a loving couple.
It is said that the Third Prince and the Emperor had a deep brotherly bond. When the Emperor fell seriously ill, the Third Prince stopped traveling and instead served the Emperor with his wife. It was truly a touching story.
Only the emperor himself felt bitter inside, but he couldn't express it.
The emperor's illness lasted for more than ten days. Just as Du Wanchun had said, it did allow him to live a little longer, but he was living like a walking corpse, lying on his sickbed.
During the period when the emperor suddenly fell seriously ill, Zhou Ruiyuan, as the crown prince, was in charge of the country. His first task was to investigate the matter of the Lu family being wrongly accused years ago.
Some in the court were filled with anxiety, while others were full of fighting spirit.
Those who were filled with anxiety were the emperor's former confidants and those who had joined in kicking the Lu family when they were down.
Those full of fighting spirit are all talented individuals who have been lying low for a long time, just waiting to show their skills.
Zhou Ruiyuan appeared outwardly calm and collected, but he manipulated these two groups, making them fight each other, while he waited to reap the rewards.
With no more constraints in the Eastern Palace, Du Wanchun often took the children to visit the Third Prince's residence.
The Third Prince's mansion is only a few streets away from the palace. It has been largely abandoned over the years, but fortunately, some loyal servants remain at home, so it can be moved in with just a little repair.
Aunt Zhou tidied up a small garden in the backyard, specifically for Xiao Zhouzhou to live in.
To the outside world, Xiao Zhouzhou is the Emperor's little princess. Zhou Ruiyuan, on the grounds that the Third Prince has no son, adopted Xiao Zhouzhou into the Third Prince's household, and she will be a little princess in the future.
Du Wanchun held Feifei in her arms, looked at Zhouzhou who was crawling in the yard, her face gentle, and asked thoughtfully, "Mother, will you and Father live in the capital from now on?"
It's been almost a year since they parted ways in Cheng'an County.
Now that they've just reunited, Du Wanchun wants to stay with Aunt Zhou for a while longer.
Aunt Zhou replied with a smile, "Your father said that Ruiyuan's position is not yet secure, and he needs to help him more in the capital. I guess we will stay at the Prince's Mansion for a while longer."
Du Wanchun was overjoyed, "That's wonderful!"
Feifei, who was in her arms, laughed along with her.
Feifei is a bit older than Zhouzhou. Like her older brothers and sisters, she started walking and talking early, but she is the best-looking of the four children.
Her delicate white porcelain face was as exquisite as a ceramic doll sculpted by a craftsman.
She gets better looking as she gets older.
He wasn't as composed as his eldest brother, nor as carefree as his second brother, nor as lively as Mianmian.
Her dark, bright eyes were as clear as spring water, and her brows were as gentle as willow branches in spring. When she smiled, she didn't show her teeth, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
Even when not smiling, the corners of her mouth will subtly curve upwards.
At first glance, he is as gentle as a spring rain and breeze; just looking at him can calm even the most chaotic and uneasy heart.
Aunt Zhou couldn't help but hug him.
Little Feifei can walk now. He doesn't usually like to be carried, but when Aunt Zhou carries him, he doesn't struggle and obediently calls out to his grandmother in a childish voice.
Aunt Zhou was delighted to hear this and took a piece of pastry from the table and put it in his hand.
Unlike Xiao Minmin, Feifei doesn't like sweets, but since they were given to him by his grandmother, he didn't know how to refuse and forced himself to eat them.
He still had a frown on his face when he finished eating.
Du Wanchun was amused by his appearance.
Suddenly, Aunt Zhou remembered something and asked Du Wanchun, "How is Consort Li now?"
She also learned at this time that Consort Li was the woman she had adopted for a period of time.
Du Wanchun stopped smiling and replied, "His Majesty is still ill, and Consort Li has been taking good care of him."
Aunt Zhou sighed, "Consort Li is still young. It would be such a pity if she were to be trapped in the palace for the rest of her life."
Du Wanchun also agreed, "After the Emperor passes away, I will have Ruiyuan come up with an excuse to release Consort Li from the palace."
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