Time slipped by quietly, because this year the extended time for the National Games coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The people of the capital did not hold a large-scale celebration.
Even the imperial palace was eliminated.
There was nothing we could do; the imperial court was short of manpower.
After the execution of the Prefect of the Capital and his entourage, the new batch of successful candidates in the imperial examinations filled the vacancies directly according to their rankings and officially took office.
During busy times, no one thinks about the Mid-Autumn Festival.
They may not care, but others do.
The Empress Dowager, residing at Fahua Temple, thousands of miles away, waited in vain for Emperor Jing to send someone to invite her back for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner, how can anyone sit still?
They packed their things and led their men towards the capital.
After traveling a long distance, I finally arrived in the capital. Mid-Autumn Festival had long passed, and now it was almost September.
But she didn't come back for the Mid-Autumn Festival; she came for other purposes.
The Imperial Palace.
After Emperor Jing finished his court session, he was carrying Jing Le and preparing to return to Yongshou Palace when someone came to report.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has returned and has entered the inner city."
The Empress Dowager? That old woman? She's back?
As soon as Jing Le heard that the Empress Dowager had returned, he knew that someone was trying to cause trouble again.
Emperor Jing frowned. The Empress Dowager had been out of the palace for a long time, and with so many things going on lately, he had almost forgotten that such a person even existed.
Judging from Jing Le's tone, it was clear that the Empress Dowager was up to no good.
Emperor Jing was not the Empress Dowager's biological child to begin with, so where did this affection come from?
However, the emperor's younger brother was too young at the time, and his other brothers died one after another, leaving the retired emperor with no other choice but to ascend the throne himself.
As for the Empress Dowager's role in all of this, no one knows.
Anyway, he's not a nice guy.
Every year after spring, he would leave the palace early to go to Fahua Temple under the pretext of escaping the summer heat, and would only be invited back before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
This year, I forgot to invite the Empress Dowager back to the palace because of the imperial examinations, but I didn't expect to come back myself.
As for his beloved younger brother, he is now 20 years old.
After reaching adulthood, he disappeared under the guise of traveling the world, and no one knows where he went.
"Okay, you can go now."
Emperor Jing waved his hand, then said to Eunuch Xu, "Notify the inner palace to welcome the Empress Dowager."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Two quarters of an hour later, Emperor Jing, accompanied by the princes, princesses, and concubines of the harem, waited at the Taihe Gate, which was considered giving the Empress Dowager enough face.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived."
"The carefree prince has arrived."
As the announcement was made, the group stepped inside.
Leading the group was the Empress Dowager, accompanied by a young man in fine clothes, presumably the Prince of Xiaoyao.
Emperor Jing frowned slightly.
Wasn't it supposed to be just the Empress Dowager? How come the tenth prince, whom we haven't seen for many years, has suddenly returned?
The tenth prince was the Prince of Xiaoyao, the son of the Empress Dowager, and the younger brother of Emperor Jing.
He was the only one left of Emperor Jing's brothers.
[The Carefree Prince, that's the young imperial uncle; they're back at the palace to cause trouble.]
Jing Le, who was by the Imperial Concubine's side, had already clearly observed the newcomer with her divine sense.
Emperor Jing: It's been so many years since we last met. Are my brother and the Empress Dowager up to something? Are they also eyeing my throne?
If Jing Le knew Emperor Jing's true feelings, he would definitely say:
Father, you've seen the truth. Besides the dragon throne, what else do they covet about you?
The Imperial Concubine frowned. The Empress Dowager had always looked down on her and always liked to set rules for herself when she returned to the palace.
I used to lecture the Empress, saying that the palace had finally lost an Empress, but now there was an Empress Dowager. I wonder if she didn't want the Empress to be too comfortable.
And that carefree prince, he better not actually want to cause trouble as Lele said, otherwise the prime minister and the empress will end up like them.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager!"
"Rise."
After both sides paid their respects to the most honored Emperor Jing and Empress Dowager, they rose only after receiving permission.
"Your Majesty, it's been a while since we last met. You seem even more composed now. It's a blessing for the people of Da Yong to have you by their side."
The Empress Dowager immediately started chatting with Emperor Jing, making it seem like they were very close.
In reality, the people involved know best what the relationship is like; it's just an act for others to see.
"Is the Empress Dowager in good health? She must be tired from the journey. It would be best if she went back to rest first."
Emperor Jing spoke words of concern with a blank expression, causing the Empress Dowager to freeze for a moment.
When asked how she was feeling, she said she was tired from the long journey and needed to rest. Wasn't that just implying that she was getting old?
[Hahaha, look at the Empress Dowager's stiff face, she must think the Emperor is mocking her for being old.]
[Actually, Father Emperor just didn't want to put on a fake show of maternal love and filial piety here.]
After all, there were no feelings involved.
Jing Le didn't show it on her face, but she was already internally ranting and raving.
Emperor Jing: Indeed, Lele is right. The Empress Dowager's acting was too fake. I just want this to end quickly. You can all go back to where you were.
The Imperial Concubine glanced at the Empress Dowager and then at Emperor Jing, her smile almost betraying her urge to smile.
Imperial Concubine: Sigh, sometimes, being able to hear Lele's innermost thoughts is a sweet burden.
She was afraid that she might burst out laughing, which would ruin the image she had built up over the years.
No, she needs to take more deep breaths.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. It has been many years since I last saw you, and I have been very concerned about you."
Just then, Prince Xiaoyao, who was by the Empress Dowager's side, stepped forward to greet her.
He displayed a deep affection for his child.
Jing Le's lips twitched at the sight.
[Is this our Imperial Uncle? Why is he looking at Father with such filial piety? Anyone who didn't know better would think he wants to acknowledge Father as his father!]
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