Chapter 240 Mother! No!
Seeing that Shui Xian had grabbed Cheng Ge'er's hand, Princess Duan slowly walked over.
She spoke softly and slowly, reaching out to take Cheng-ge'er's hand from Shui-xian's.
Before Princess Consort Duan could even touch Shui Xian, Shui Xian abruptly withdrew her hand.
Princess Duan's expression stiffened slightly, then she said in a sarcastic tone:
"...Why is Your Highness so nervous? Isn't this making a mountain out of a molehill?"
Narcissus's gaze was as cold as a frozen pool as she swept over the arrogant fat boy.
And that Princess Duan, who had a protective look on her face and a hint of provocation in her eyes, didn't want to talk to them anymore.
She bent down and picked up the somewhat frightened Yongning, patting her gently. Her tone was calm and even, but it still carried a hint of barb because it involved her daughter.
“Princess Consort, you are mistaken… Although Yongning is young, she is a princess personally bestowed by the Emperor, a golden branch and jade leaf, of noble status.”
Like the Princess Consort Duan from before, Shui Xian gave a deliberately dignified yet subtly sarcastic glance.
“As the heir apparent, Cheng’er’s failure to greet the princess is already a breach of etiquette. Now, he dares to snatch the item and even attempt to assault her. If this is merely ‘playing around,’ where is the dignity of the royal family and the proper order of rank?”
When dealing with someone like Princess Duan who is arrogant about her status, you have to use your status and decorum to suppress her!
Shui Xian paused for a moment, looking at the Princess Consort Duan's suddenly unpleasant expression, her eyes calm as if she were admiring her.
"As the Empress Dowager assisting in the management of the six palaces, I am naturally responsible for disciplining the princes and princesses and upholding palace rules."
"I will not pursue today's matter further, considering the young age of the Crown Prince. However, as a mother, the Princess Consort must remember the ancient saying that 'a doting mother spoils her son,' and discipline him strictly, lest he make a grave mistake later and be filled with regret."
These words not only highlighted the seriousness of Cheng Ge'er's behavior, but also shifted the responsibility for poor upbringing back onto Princess Duan.
His argument was logical and well-founded, and he even used his current authority to hold the Phoenix Seal to leave Princess Duan speechless, her face turning pale and unable to utter a rebuttal for a long time.
Shui Xian said no more, and with Yong Ning in her arms, she turned and left gracefully and calmly, leaving Princess Duan standing there, trembling with anger.
"Really..."
Princess Duan carried Cheng Ge'er and hurried towards Cining Palace.
As his wife, she was already aware of Xiao Yirui's filthy thoughts about Shuixian.
Xiao Yirui died, and Princess Duan blamed his death on Shui Xian.
If it weren't for Narcissus, and if it weren't for her equally alluring sister, Shui Xiu...
Princess Duan felt even more resentful upon thinking of this!
She cursed:
"A vixen born of a lowly servant dares to lecture me, the Princess Consort! She's only given birth to two sons, yet she's so arrogant and doesn't respect the royal family! How can the sons of those two lowly servants compare to the noble Cheng-ge'er!"
Cheng-ge'er imitated his mother, waving his little fists and muttering, "Bad woman! Punish her!"
The air inside the Cining Palace was filled with the fragrance of medicine.
The Empress Dowager had just taken the medicine prepared by Pei Jichuan according to his newly adjusted prescription. Her complexion was much better than during the days when she vomited blood and fainted. She was resting on the warm couch with her eyes closed.
Upon hearing that Princess Duan had brought her son to request an audience, her brow relaxed for a moment.
After experiencing a series of misfortunes, including being used by her own son and being plotted against by the Empress, she urgently needed her grandson, Cheng Ge'er, to come to the palace to pay his respects.
Enjoying the company of her grandchildren allows her to catch her breath from all the chaos and chores.
As soon as Princess Duan entered the hall, she pulled Cheng Ge'er down to kneel on the ground with a thud.
The Empress Dowager never expected that when Princess Duan entered, she would look like she had been bullied.
Before Princess Duan could speak, tears streamed down her face. Her voice was choked with sobs and filled with sorrow, moving all who heard it to tears.
"Mother! You must do justice for me and Cheng'er!"
She embellished the story, twisting the conflict in the Imperial Garden, and only said how Shui Xian "indulged" Princess Yongning in bullying and "bullying" Cheng Ge'er.
If you go up and argue with her, how can Shui Xian be "arrogant and rude" or even "imply that Cheng Ge'er lacks manners"?
"Mother, Cheng-ge'er is Yi-rui's only bloodline, your own grandson! That Imperial Noble Consort is just relying on the Emperor's favor to treat the imperial family so disrespectfully. Today she dared to be disrespectful to me and the Crown Prince, who knows what she will do in the future!"
Princess Duan wiped away imaginary tears with a handkerchief.
"She is clearly taking advantage of the emperor's favor and showing no respect for the royal family's hierarchy. If this continues, how can the harem ever have a peaceful day? Where is the dignity of the royal family!"
Princess Duan's accusations were aimed at provoking the Empress Dowager's dissatisfaction with Shui Xian and her pity for her grandson.
However, the Empress Dowager's reaction surprised Princess Duan.
The Empress Dowager listened quietly, her face expressionless, neither angry nor offering any words of comfort.
Her gaze passed over the heartbroken Princess Duan and landed on the chubby grandson beside her.
Cheng Ge'er knelt there, his little face showing no fear whatsoever.
Instead, because of her mother's crying, she became arrogant and conceited, her small eyes darting around, and she even secretly tugged at the skirt of the palace maid next to her.
The Empress Dowager's heart sank suddenly.
Before, she only thought Cheng Ge'er was cute, but now she thought of her own son Xiao Yirui, who was also spoiled and eventually went down the path of rebellion.
The Empress Dowager frowned.
She recalled the Empress and Yi Rui's manipulation and betrayal when she was critically ill, and compared it to Narcissus... a woman she once disliked, even somewhat loathed...
But at the critical moment, Pei Jichuan delivered a life-saving prescription.
Although it wasn't a direct gesture of goodwill, this indirect act of not kicking someone when they're down could even be described as repaying evil with kindness.
Having experienced life and death and seen through the coldness and warmth of human relationships, the waves stirred in her heart were far more profound than those insincere greetings.
Human hearts are made of flesh and blood, especially after a brush with death.
Looking at the mother and son below, one throwing a tantrum and complaining, the other being arrogant and ignorant, the Empress Dowager felt the already slightly tilted scales in her heart tip completely to the other side.
She sighed softly, waiting for Princess Duan to finish her tearful tale.
As Princess Duan's voice gradually subsided, she raised her tearful face and looked expectantly at the Empress Dowager. Only then did the Empress Dowager speak slowly, her tone flat and without a trace of emotion.
"The Imperial Noble Consort assists in managing the six palaces, disciplining the princes and princesses, and restraining the inner palace. This is a duty personally appointed by the Emperor and is her responsibility."
Princess Duan was taken aback.
The Empress Dowager continued, her gaze falling on Cheng-ge'er.
“Cheng’er bumped into the princess in the Imperial Garden, snatched the imperial gifts, and even attempted to attack her. This was indeed inappropriate.”
Princess Duan never expected that the Empress Dowager would not speak to her!
The Empress Dowager seemed not to notice the change in her expression and continued, "What wrong did the Imperial Noble Consort do when she spoke up to stop you and reminded you to discipline her more strictly? In my opinion, she has already saved your face."
"Empress Dowager?!"
After a long silence, Princess Duan could hardly believe her ears. Her eyes widened in astonishment, and her voice trembled.
This was completely different from what she had expected!
Wasn't the Empress Dowager the one who loved Cheng Ge the most, and should she have hated Shui Xian, who caused the death of Prince Duan, the most?
When Princess Duan was unable to accept it and remained silent.
Seeing that his beloved grandmother was not only not speaking up for him, but was actually criticizing him, Cheng Ge'er immediately became upset.
His little mouth twitched, and he immediately started rolling on the ground, wailing as he rolled.
"Grandmother is mean! Grandmother doesn't love Cheng-ge'er anymore! I want to go home! I don't want to be here! Waaah—!"
His unruly behavior, even throwing a tantrum on the spot, made the Empress Dowager frown deeply.
The last trace of pity she felt because of blood ties faded away.
"Quiet down!"
The Empress Dowager's rare stern rebuke sounded somewhat weak due to a lack of energy.
But the authority of his long-held superior position remained, which immediately silenced Cheng Ge'er's wailing for a moment.
The Empress Dowager looked at her grandson, who was terrified and silent but still full of resentment, and then at the Princess Consort of Duan, who looked incredulous. The thought that had been swirling in her mind for a long time finally became clear and firm.
Her voice lowered, carrying an undeniable resolve:
"Look at this child! You've spoiled him rotten! He has no respect for his elders and is so arrogant and unreasonable. If he's like this in front of me, what will he be like outside?!"
She took a deep breath and emphasized her words.
“Yi Rui… is a cautionary tale! If he hadn’t been spoiled excessively and neglected in his upbringing, how could he have… how could he have ended up in such a state! If you continue to raise him like this, I’m afraid he will ruin this child!”
Before Princess Duan could react, the Empress Dowager had already given the order.
"Cheng-ge'er, stay in my palace for now... I will personally discipline you."
"You may return to your residence. There is nothing else to do; you need not come to the palace so often."
"Mother! You mustn't!"
Princess Duan was struck dumb, and panicked instantly. Forgetting all decorum, she rushed to the Empress Dowager's bedside, grabbed the Empress Dowager's sleeve, and begged.
"Mother! No! Cheng'er is my lifeblood! He has never left my side since he was a child, he can't live without me! I know I was wrong, I will definitely discipline him strictly when I get back! I beg you, Mother, have mercy and don't take Cheng'er away from me!"
Cheng Ge'er finally realized what had happened, and burst into tears, clinging tightly to his mother's leg: "Mother! Mother! I don't want to leave you!"
The Empress Dowager looked at the mother and child crying at her feet, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, but more than anything, a resolute determination.
She forcefully pulled her sleeve back, her tone turning cold, carrying the imposing aura accumulated over decades of navigating the inner palace.
"It's precisely because you cherish him like your own life that you spoil him so much, letting him run rampant! Do you want him to follow in his father's footsteps and end up disgraced as well?!"
She no longer looked at the despairing face of Princess Duan, waved to the palace servants standing by, and wearily closed her eyes: "My mind is made up, say no more! Guards, escort Princess Duan out of the palace!"
"yes!"
Several maids immediately stepped forward and, half-helping and half-forcibly, lifted the crying and struggling Princess Duan from the ground.
Ignoring her pleas and the prince's cries, the maids dragged her out of the main hall of Cining Palace without any mercy.
Princess Duan was being dragged along, her hair disheveled and her hairpins falling off.
The once esteemed princess consort, now stripped of her child, is in a sorry state.
Only desperate cries echoed in the courtyard of Cining Palace, eventually disappearing outside the palace gates.
The Empress Dowager sighed deeply, looking at Cheng Ge'er, who was being held back by the palace maids and was still sobbing, but was clearly frightened by the scene. Her gaze was complicated and hard to decipher.
Keeping him alive was a way of protecting him, a constraint, and her final responsibility to her good-for-nothing son.
Only by taking good care of Cheng-ge... can she face her youngest son's spirit in heaven...
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