Chapter 498 Joys and Sorrows
Outside the Cining Palace, Prince An, dressed in black, stood solemnly at the gate. Five steps apart, Imperial Guards stood watch, sword hilts in hand, each with a wary expression. The entire Cining Palace was completely under their tight security.
Upon seeing the Emperor's procession approaching, Prince An quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Father."
The Emperor's gaze lingered on the prince's face for a moment, the prince's words still echoing in his ears. Supported by Prince Rui, the prince alighted from the sedan chair and asked, "How is your grandmother?"
He stepped inside, and Prince An followed one step behind him with his back slightly bent, respectfully replying, "The imperial physician said it was a final flicker of life before death."
The emperor quickened his pace and entered the Cining Palace. The concubines waiting outside immediately bowed to him, but the emperor did not stop, merely waving his hand dismissively before striding into the Empress Dowager's bedchamber.
Jiang Yu followed behind them, stopping at the entrance to the imperial bedchamber. She watched as Prince Rui helped the Emperor strode inside. Turning back, she saw Prince An standing opposite her. She paused, then cupped her hands in a respectful greeting, "Your Highness, Prince An."
Prince An did not look at her, but only nodded slightly. The two stood facing each other in silence.
A short while later, the Empress, the Eldest Princess, and Prince Rui emerged from inside. Only the Emperor and his mother, the Empress Dowager, remained in the bedchamber.
"Seventy years old is a long life, you don't need to be too sad." The Empress Dowager leaned against the headboard and looked at her son, whom she hadn't seen for several days and who had grown many more white hairs. She sighed deeply. "From a weak girl who was mistreated by her stepmother to the current Empress Dowager, I have suffered a lot, but I have also gained the greatest honor in this world."
"Mother." The Emperor held the Empress Dowager's hand, choking with emotion. The Empress Dowager stroked his head as she had when he was a child, and said with a smile, "All the honor I have is given to me by my son. I am very proud to have you."
"Mother." The Emperor could no longer hold back and choked up, tears streaming down his face.
The Empress Dowager smiled and handed him a silk handkerchief. Watching him wipe away his tears, she seemed to see him as a child, crying in front of her, and the reluctance in her eyes could not be concealed.
"You are the emperor, and now that Lingnan has been eliminated, I am relieved." The Empress Dowager looked into the emperor's eyes, her tone earnest. "What I am worried about is Yan'er. Don't think I'm being biased."
The emperor smiled wryly, "How could my son eat this kind of food?"
The Empress Dowager smiled as well. "Yan'er is pure of heart, but also stubborn. If you forcefully interfere with his relationship with Jiang Yu, I'm afraid he will never marry. He was raised by you, can you bear to see him live a lonely life?"
The emperor lowered his eyes and remained silent. Seeing this, the empress dowager's eyes dimmed. "I know your concerns, but even if Jiang Yu doesn't marry Yan Ge'er, are you completely at ease with her?"
The Emperor pursed his lips, and then the Empress Dowager continued, "Emperors are often suspicious. Because of this suspicion, you and the Empress have been estranged for many years. But what has it all turned out like? After more than a decade of testing, you know the Marquis of Cheng'en's loyalty, but the pain and estrangement are hard to erase. Do you want to follow the same old path with Jiang Yu and Yan Ge'er?"
The emperor's hands trembled uncontrollably; he clenched them into fists to conceal his inner turmoil. "Your son understands."
The Empress Dowager sighed, "Jiang Yu is very talented, you must make good use of her. You will be in charge of arranging her marriage to Yan Ge'er, is that alright?"
The emperor smiled wryly and said to the empress dowager with a jealous tone, "Sometimes I wonder who is more important to you, Mother, between me and Yan'er."
The Empress Dowager chuckled, "And aren't you the one who loves him the most too? Alright, call Yan-ge in, I want to talk to him."
The Emperor rose and left. A moment later, Prince Rui entered, sat down, and nestled his head into the Empress Dowager's arms. The Empress Dowager gently patted his back, "Everyone has to live to see this day. I am already of advanced age, don't be too sad."
Prince Rui remained silent, but a large patch of the Empress Dowager's robe was soaked. The Empress Dowager smiled and called him a silly child, gesturing for him to sit up straight. She then took a handkerchief and wiped his tears, saying:
"I asked your brother to issue an imperial decree to grant you and Jiang Yu a marriage. He neither refused nor agreed. If he doesn't grant you the marriage, just take out the imperial decree I gave you. Your brother loves you, so he'll be angry for a few days, but it will pass."
Prince Rui nodded, his voice choked with emotion. The Empress Dowager looked at him lovingly and said, "If nothing unexpected happens, your elder brother will succeed to the throne as Jingwei. You and he grew up together and have a deep bond. But once someone sits on that throne, they have many more things to consider."
The Empress Dowager patted his head and lowered her voice to a whisper, "Be careful in everything you do."
Prince Rui nodded earnestly, "Your son understands."
The Empress Dowager smiled at his obedient appearance. "That girl Jiang Yu is here too? Let her in, I want to have a word with her."
Prince Rui stood up, adjusted the cushions for the Empress Dowager to make her more comfortable, and then turned to leave. The Empress Dowager smiled as she watched his retreating figure; what child wouldn't love such a filial and obedient one?
At this moment, Jiang Yu entered, and the Empress Dowager beckoned to her. Jiang Yu went over and bowed, and the Empress Dowager took her hand and sat her on the edge of the bed. Looking at her with loving eyes, she said, “Your eyes are most like your grandmother's, clear and pure, but her temperament wasn't as resilient as yours. Your grandmother grew up surrounded by books; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she could speak eloquently. But the more you read, the more complicated your mind becomes, and her health wasn't good to begin with…”
The Empress Dowager sighed deeply, "If she knew she had such an outstanding granddaughter as you, she would surely be very happy."
Jiang Yu smiled, "The affection between you and your grandmother is something we all envy."
The Empress Dowager's eyes were filled with longing. After a moment, she said, "My son Yan was pampered by the Emperor and me from a young age and never experienced hardship or coldness. But he was pure of heart and loyal to his friends. You are also a good child. From now on, you will support each other, be tolerant of each other, and live a fulfilling life."
Jiang Yu looked into the Empress Dowager's loving eyes and solemnly said, "I have experienced many hardships in the past twenty years and have now entered the court. I have no interest in matters of love between men and women. If I did not truly love Your Highness, I would not have developed feelings for you. Since I truly love you, I will think what you think and do what you do. If there are any differences, there is no need for each of us to stick to our own opinions. Let's just talk it out to avoid estrangement between us."
"Good, good." The Empress Dowager patted her hand, her face full of affection. "Don't worry, my Yan'er is a caring person. I only hope that you two can live in harmony and accompany each other for the rest of your lives."
Jiang Yu showed no shyness, but instead smiled and said, "That's what I think too."
"Hahaha..." The Empress Dowager laughed happily, holding Jiang Yu's hand tightly and saying, "Good child, I am at ease with you by Yan Ge'er's side."
The Empress Dowager smiled and told Jiang Yu to leave. The Emperor, Empress, Prince Rui, and Prince An went inside, and soon mournful cries could be heard from within.
Jiang Yu's eyes welled up with tears as she looked up at the high-hanging sun. Human joys and sorrows, partings and reunions, could be so sudden and unexpected.
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