Chapter 159 Important Matters
After bidding farewell to Prime Minister Zheng, Li Yuanshu went straight to the Jinxiu Palace.
The palace gates were tightly closed, and two palace servants stood guard outside.
Seeing that she was about to enter, the two quickly stopped her: "Third Princess, please forgive us, but His Majesty has decreed that the Imperial Concubine must rest in the palace, and no one is allowed to enter at will."
Li Yuanshu stopped in her tracks, her eyes instantly turning cold, her tone carrying the majesty of a princess.
"Father only said that Mother was not allowed to step out of the palace gates, when did he ever say that I, his own daughter, was not allowed to come and attend to her when she was ill? You are distorting His will and acting against him in this way, do you think your heads are too secure?!"
The two looked at each other, seemingly realizing that the Emperor had indeed only forbidden the Consort from going out, but had not restricted others from visiting her. It would not be worth offending the Third Princess over this matter.
After hesitating for a moment, the two bowed and slowly stepped aside. "Princess, please forgive us. We were foolish. Please come in."
The Jinxiu Palace, which used to be exquisitely and elegantly decorated, now exudes a sense of desolation. Even the incense in the palace is not burning, leaving only a faint smell of medicine.
Inside the bedroom, Consort Cui lay on the bed, covered with a brocade quilt, and all the maids beside her had been dismissed.
She had just drunk the calming tonic prescribed by the imperial physician and was staring blankly at the top of the tent, lost in thought.
He just exuded a deathly despair.
Upon hearing the sound of the palace doors opening suddenly, she seemed to be awakened, and sat up abruptly, her voice filled with urgency.
"You'er? Is that you back? You'er!"
As soon as Li Yuanshu stepped inside, upon hearing this, he paused, his expression instantly darkening.
Even at this point, the mother still thinks about that fool who dragged her into this predicament!
She suppressed her displeasure and stepped forward, saying, "Mother, it's me."
When the imperial concubine saw it was her, her eyes instantly dimmed: "What are you doing here?"
Since their last argument, the mother and daughter have not seen each other again, and the Imperial Concubine has not yet calmed down.
Li Yuanshu's heart grew even colder.
She had long since realized that her mother had never truly loved her as a daughter, and that all her favoritism was reserved for her elder brother.
But remembering Zheng Xiang's instructions, she still swallowed her anger and sat down on the stool by the bed.
"Mother, I was worried about you, so I came to see you."
The imperial concubine looked at her without saying a word.
She couldn't understand why her daughter, whom she had raised single-handedly, had become so disobedient and immature.
Li Yuanshu softened her voice: "Is Mother still angry with me? Last time I spoke without thinking, I didn't mean it that way. I know I was wrong."
She took the Imperial Concubine's hand, her eyes glistening with tears. "These past few days I've been running around for my uncle and brother, and look how much weight I've lost. Please, for my sake, don't be angry with me anymore, okay?"
She spoke with a pitiful and aggrieved tone, her eyes slightly red.
Seeing this, the Imperial Concubine's heart softened, and she finally embraced her: "My Shu'er, how could I bear to be angry with you? But what should we do with your brother in this state?"
Li Yuanshu nestled against her shoulder and whispered, "Mother, don't worry. Prime Minister Zheng has promised to help persuade Father to summon my brother back to the capital."
"Really?" Consort Cui suddenly released her, her eyes filled with expectation, but it quickly dimmed again. "But your brother... didn't he swear before the world that he would never return to the capital?"
“There will always be a way,” Li Yuanshu comforted him. “After all, the Emperor is Father’s only son. As long as Prime Minister Zheng can persuade Father to agree, and Father issues an edict to let him return to the capital, he will not dare to disobey.”
As she spoke, she straightened up from the Consort's embrace and looked at her earnestly, "But Mother, please don't be angry with Father anymore. Why don't you go and apologize to Father, and then try to persuade him gently, okay?"
The imperial concubine's face darkened. "Admit your mistake? What mistake have I made?"
Li Yuanshu didn't understand what had happened, but this was clearly not the time to ask.
She could only continue to persuade her: "Mother, right and wrong are not important now. What's important is to protect the Cui family and my brother! Even if you are not wrong, what's wrong with bowing your head first? What if you refuse to admit your mistake and Father really abandons you and the Cui family? Then my uncle will not be able to get out, my brother will not be able to come back, and Father will pass the throne to Li Yuanzhao. We will be really finished!"
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Concubine's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Pass the throne to Li Yuanzhao? He can forget about it!"
She grabbed Li Yuanshu's hand, her eyes filled with urgency and panic.
"Shu'er, quick, call your uncle over! I have something important to tell him."
Li Yuanshu was startled by his mother's sudden outburst of excitement, and his wrist was gripped so tightly it hurt.
She looked troubled and said, "What is it? My uncle is currently imprisoned in the palace by the Emperor, and I have no way to get him to see you. Why don't you tell me, Mother, and I will pass the message on to my uncle?"
Without a second thought, the Imperial Concubine refused outright, gripping Li Yuanshu's hand tightly and refusing to let go. "No, this must be told to your uncle in person. No third person can know!"
Seeing the stubbornness in her mother's eyes, Li Yuanshu finally nodded, "Daughter...think of a way."
When Consort Cui saw that Li Yuanshu had relented, the anxiety on her face eased slightly.
"Shu'er, you must hurry! This matter cannot be delayed; the longer it is delayed, the more dangerous it will become!"
Li Yuanshu gave a soft "hmm," withdrew her hand which had been gripped so tightly that it ached, and quietly rubbed her wrist.
She looked at the renewed light in her mother's eyes, but felt a vague unease in her heart.
What exactly is the "important matter" that the mother mentioned?
What made her so nervous that she insisted on telling her uncle in person?
Even she couldn't know.
Is it even dangerous?
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