Yue Jiang and Jing Yan followed Empress Ye to the Longevity Palace. Upon entering, they saw Jing Huaixu sitting in front of Empress Dowager Zheng's bed, offering words of advice, while Consort Zheng stood at the corner of the bedside.
"Mother, you know you are getting old and should enjoy your retirement. What good does it do you to worry so much every day?"
The commotion caused by Yue Jiang and Jing Yan alerted Jing Huaixu, who, with a gentle expression, comforted Empress Dowager Zheng.
"Look, when the Crown Prince and Crown Princess heard that you were not feeling well, they came to see you without saying a word. Especially the Crown Princess, who is heavily pregnant, will be able to let you hold your great-grandchild this year. What could make you unhappy?"
Empress Dowager Zheng spoke in a flat tone, with a hint of sarcasm: "I understand that the Crown Princess has worked hard. It's an old ailment, and I haven't bothered to send people to see me."
"The Empress is also like this. She knows that the Crown Princess is pregnant and should take good care of herself, but she insists on bringing trouble to me. She has already caused trouble here once, how can we let her suffer bad luck again this time?"
Empress Dowager Zheng's words were clearly meant to make things difficult for Empress Ye, but Empress Ye was used to it and was willing to admit her mistake.
Yue Jiang came out, looking extremely respectful and humble: "Grandmother, you are blessed with long life. You are the most honorable woman in Jing Kingdom."
"When I am with you, my granddaughter-in-law feels completely comfortable. Every time she comes, she does so with a heart full of respect for her grandmother."
"You said it was bad luck for no reason. I am very frightened. I don't know if it is I who have brought you bad luck or if you do not like me."
At the end of her sentence, Yue Jiang's tone revealed a hint of grievance, and her eyes stared pitifully at Empress Dowager Zheng, trembling slightly.
What's heartbreaking is that Yuejiang is quite far along in her pregnancy, and standing there, she seems to have a pitiful air about her being deliberately ignored.
The moment Empress Dowager Zheng met Yue Jiang's gaze, her sarcastic tone abruptly ceased, clearly indicating that Yue Jiang was deliberately waiting for her to speak.
They either praise her or, in a show of authority, bully a junior in front of everyone.
Empress Dowager Zheng moved her lips, but she still had some sense. She knew that if she really blamed Yue Jiang in a fit of anger, she would be the one in the wrong.
Empress Dowager Zheng suppressed her anger and forced a smile, saying, "How could I not like the Crown Princess? I can't wait to hold my great-grandchild, and I'm not worried that the Crown Princess might stumble and have an accident."
"Your granddaughter-in-law knows that you, the Empress Dowager, are the most fair in your heart," Empress Dowager Zheng said sarcastically, and Yue Jiang would also say sarcastically with "sincere feelings."
A minor incident ended amidst the seemingly affectionate conversation between the two, grandmother and granddaughter, with Empress Dowager Zheng letting out a long sigh.
Jing Huaixu continued, "Mother, Lu'er will be getting married in a few days. Are you ruining your health because you don't want to see Lu'er get married and have children?"
"Ha," as soon as Jing Huaixu finished speaking, Empress Dowager Zheng let out a mocking chuckle, as if she had seized a handle against him, her voice full of contempt.
"That girl Cheng Suyun, what makes her worthy of Lu'er? She dared to drug Lu'er before she was even married. She's of questionable character. What will happen if she really marries Lu'er? Aren't you afraid that one day Cheng Suyun will even dare to poison Lu'er?"
Jing Huaixu glanced at Consort Zheng, then turned back and said, "Mother, you are worrying unnecessarily. Cheng Suyun is, after all, a member of your mother's family. She wouldn't dare to harm Lu'er's life."
Jing Huaixu's careless attitude angered Empress Dowager Zheng, who directly confronted him.
"Your Majesty is truly magnanimous. Putting aside whether Cheng Suyun would dare to harm Lu'er, she has already drugged Lu'er with that kind of drug once. How can you still allow Cheng Suyun to become Lu'er's principal wife without any resentment?"
"Yes, no one else knows why you later arranged for Lu'er to marry Cheng Suyun. Do you know the truth, Your Majesty, Consort De? We're not disgusted."
"My bottom line is that Cheng Suyun can marry Lu'er, but she must never become Lu'er's principal wife."
"Should Lu'er take Cheng Suyun as a concubine?" Jing Huaixu pondered deeply.
While Jing Huaixu was deep in thought, Empress Dowager Zheng pressed her advantage, saying, "Don't tell me you're worried that Yongshou Palace wouldn't dare. Ask yourself if Cheng Suyun has gone too far. How can she have the face to plead for the Empress on her behalf?"
"Mother, don't worry. According to your thinking, Cheng Suyun is indeed unworthy. Let her be a concubine."
Although Cheng Suyun grew up in the palace, Jing Lu is Jing Huaixu's biological son after all. Cheng Suyun was indeed at fault first, and it is truly hateful that she can still hold the position of principal wife.
Jing Huaixu finally relented, and Empress Dowager Zheng felt much better. Her spirits visibly improved instantly, and she said with concern.
"Now that Cheng Suyun has been designated as a concubine, let's quickly discuss Lu'er's status as the principal wife. You think that since they've already gone through that, it would be troublesome if she suddenly gets pregnant. After all, what family's principal wife enters the household later than the concubine?"
Jing Huaixu wasn't stupid. Seeing his mother's energetic appearance, he knew that she had already chosen Jing Lu's primary wife.
"It must still be the Zhao family's," Jing Huaixu hesitated slightly.
Empress Dowager Zheng waited and waited until she noticed that Jing Huaixu had fallen silent. She immediately stopped smiling, raised her hand to pound her chest, and said with a heavy heart.
"I was just discussing with you about finding a good marriage for Lu'er. Why do you always treat me like a thief? Back then, I was an orphan and a widow with a child with you. I always hoped that you would be well."
"I have bowed my head and done everything I could for your benefit, even going so far as to be inferior to Yongshou Palace for so many years. Have you not taken my good intentions to heart at all?"
"It's not worth it, it's really not worth it. Now, all I've got is my own son turning against me."
Empress Dowager Zheng was overcome with grief, and then, with a self-deprecating tone, she brought up something that made Jing Huaixu feel extremely guilty.
"Forget it, forget it. Lu'er has always had a hard life. You say you love him, but back then you were the one who cared the least about him. When Anguo asked for a hostage, you chose him without hesitation."
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