Chapter 293 Princess Taiping Pleads for Mercy
The cold winter wind blew the fine snow, hitting the vermilion gate of the Cining Palace.
Yan Shishu wrapped herself tightly in her silver fox fur coat and stood in front of the closed door for the countless times.
For half a month, she asked to see him every day, but was turned away every day.
Could her grandmother, who loved her the most in the past, really be so cruel?
Now the only person who can save Zhen Rong is the Empress Dowager.
Once the charge of "attempted regicide" is confirmed, Xie Zhenrong will only face death, and even the second prince's future will be completely ruined.
Yan Shishu couldn't bear to watch her best friend, who she grew up with, spend the rest of his life in the cold palace, nor could she bear to see her most beloved nephew lose his mother.
The Cining Palace was filled with warmth and the scent of sandalwood lingered.
The Grand Empress Dowager half-leaned on a soft couch covered with thick brocade mattresses, listening to the palace servant's low voice: "Your Highness, Princess Taiping... has arrived again."
A tired sigh escaped from the lips of the Empress Dowager, and the Buddhist beads in her hand were twisted slowly and heavily.
Seeing this, the Queen Mother standing by stepped forward and advised gently:
"Aunt, please...just go see Shu'er. You know her temper best; she's very stubborn. If you don't see her, she'll come and disturb your peace every day."
The Empress Dowager paused while twisting the Buddhist beads, closed her eyes for a long time, and finally waved her hand helplessly.
"Never mind, let her in."
The heavy palace gate finally opened...
Yan Shishu almost rushed in, with a smell of wind and snow, and walked quickly to the Empress Dowager's bed, kneeling down and begging.
"Grandmother! Please save Zhen Rong..."
"Shu'er!" The Empress Dowager grabbed her, her voice old but with unquestionable majesty, and also revealed a hint of fatigue and helplessness.
"I know you care about the Empress and the Magistrate. But this matter... was ordered by the Emperor himself, and the evidence is irrefutable—the nurse was killed to take the blame, the scheme was exposed on the spot, and even the deadly poison was brought into the palace by her mother herself! Every clue points to Fengyi Palace! This is regicide! A heinous crime that shakes the foundation of the nation!"
The Empress Dowager opened her eyes and looked at Yan Shishu sharply.
"I am old, and I only wish to live out my remaining years in peace and quiet in the Cining Palace. I no longer wish, nor can I, to interfere with the Emperor's decisions. Do you think you can bear the consequences of making things difficult for him and causing the court officials to criticize the harem for interfering in government?"
"But the royal grandmother!"
Yan Shishu was so anxious that she fell to her knees on the cold floor with a plop, took two steps on her knees, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Zhen Rong is definitely not that kind of person! This is clearly a frame-up! Xing Zhi is still so young, he can't be without a mother!"
"No buts!"
The Empress Dowager's tone suddenly became heavier, carrying with it the sense of oppression that comes from being in a high position for a long time.
The Buddhist beads in his hand were twisted quickly, making a rapid friction sound.
"The Emperor is the Son of Heaven. He has his own considerations and the imperial dignity and laws that he must uphold! This matter ends here! You may withdraw!"
After saying that, he closed his eyes again.
Yan Shishu's heart sank completely.
She kowtowed deeply with tears in her eyes, and turned her last hope to her mother.
The Queen Mother shook her head slightly. Although there was regret in her eyes, her tone was extremely firm.
"Shu'er, there's no need to look at me. I... agree with what your grandmother said."
Seeing the blood draining away from her daughter's face in an instant and her eyes filled with disappointment, the Queen Mother immediately adopted a more stern expression.
"The Queen is my daughter-in-law, and Xing Zhi is my grandson. How can I not be heartbroken? But—"
She changed the subject, and the compassion on her face faded, leaving only the clarity and coldness of a queen mother.
"The Emperor is the Son of Heaven. His words are as good as gold! Poisoning the monarch is an unforgivable crime! If I go to plead for mercy, not only will I fail to save the Empress, but I will put the Emperor in a dilemma and create a rift between mother and son! I...can't help!"
"Mother!" Yan Shishu's voice choked with sobs as she lay on the ground crying.
The Queen Mother could not bear to watch any longer, so she squatted down and gently patted the back of her daughter's cold hand, with an unquestionable command in her tone:
"Go back, Shu'er. Don't worry about this anymore, and don't... upset your royal brother again."
The last ray of light went out, and Yan Shishu felt sad and powerless.
Why does no one believe Zhen Rong?
She loves the emperor so much, how could she possibly kill him!
Yan Shishu walked out of the Cining Palace in a daze. The biting cold wind was like countless fine ice needles, blowing fiercely on her face and piercing into her heart.
Do I really have to watch her wither away and die in that cold palace without seeing the sun?
As Yan Shishu was walking, she suddenly had a bold idea.
Since the open road is blocked, why not take the hidden road?
…
Imperial study.
Yan Shixu sat upright on the large rosewood dragon throne, holding the imperial pen, and carefully reviewed the memorials.
Zhang Sicheng reported to the emperor that Princess Taiping had gone to the Cining Palace to plead with the Empress Dowager again.
Yan Shixu asked, "Has the Empress Dowager seen her?"
Zhang Sicheng nodded and said, "I did, but the Grand Empress Dowager didn't agree to it and told her not to worry about it anymore."
Yan Shixu said he understood and waved him away.
Soon, the eunuch's announcement came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Noble Consort requests an audience."
When Yan Shixu heard that Wen Li'er was coming, he immediately put down the pen in his hand and stood up to greet her.
The palace door opened slightly, and Wen Li'er came in with her skirt lifted.
Today she was wearing a lilac palace dress with a silver fox fur waistcoat on the outside. Her black hair was tied up lightly and pinned with a simple white jade hairpin. Compared with the extravagance of New Year's Eve, her appearance was more homely and gentle.
Qingmei and Qingzhu followed Wen Li'er, carrying food boxes.
Yan Shixu walked quickly forward and naturally held her slightly cold hand.
"How come you came here in such a cold weather? You didn't even bring a hand warmer."
His tone was full of concern, completely different from the coldness in his tone when he was handling government affairs just now.
Wen Li'er raised her eyes, a gentle smile in her eyes.
"I thought today was the Lantern Festival, and since Your Majesty has been so busy that you've forgotten to eat, I prepared some floating rice balls and a few light side dishes for Your Majesty."
"Li'er is so thoughtful." Yan Shixu took her hand and asked the palace servant to put down the food box.
"Everyone, go down. There's no need to serve here."
The palace maids quietly withdrew, and only the two of them were left in the huge imperial study.
Wen Li'er opened the food box, and immediately, a sweet and warm aroma filled the air.
She placed the small white jade bowls and several plates of exquisite side dishes on the table one by one.
"This is the filling I made with freshly harvested osmanthus honey and sesame seeds. The skin is kneaded to the perfect softness."
Wen Li'er scooped up a round and plump floating yuan with a silver spoon, blew on it gently, and then handed it to Yan Shixu's lips. Her movements were natural and intimate.
"Your Majesty, please try it and see if it tastes good."
Yan Shixu looked at her focused and gentle movements, opened his mouth and took the warm floating Yuan into his mouth.
The sweet and soft taste melts on the tip of your tongue, with the fragrance of osmanthus and the mellowness of sesame. The perfect sweetness warms your heart.
He savored it carefully, and the annoyance brought by the Queen in recent days and the fatigue of dealing with ministers seemed to be dispelled by this warmth.
He swallowed the glutinous rice balls and praised them sincerely: "It's sweet, soft and sticky, and the fragrance lingers in my mouth."
Wen Li'er pursed her lips and smiled, her eyes revealing joy: "As long as Your Majesty likes it. I have also prepared a few side dishes, all of which are light and appetizing. Your Majesty, please try them too."
She pushed a few side dishes in front of him: crisp bamboo shoots, refreshing pickled cucumbers, and a small plate of warm Ruyi rolls.
"You can use some with me too," he said.
Wen Li'er shook her head: "Your Majesty, I have already used it."
Upon hearing this, Yan Shixu picked up the silver chopsticks and tasted a little of each.
Wen Li'er watched him quietly from the side, adding some hot tea for him from time to time, or wiping the non-existent soup stains on his lips with a clean handkerchief.
The cold wind was still howling outside the window, but the hall was warm and cozy. There was only the subtle sound of bowls and spoons touching each other and the silent understanding between the two people.
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