Ulanara Shuzhen knelt at the Empress's knees, weeping bitterly, and recounting Hongshi's various misdeeds.
“Your Majesty, the Prince has been despondent ever since his wife passed away. He either drinks at home or doesn’t come home at night. Your Majesty, you must do me justice…” Seeing Ulanara Shuzhen’s distress, the Empress waved for the maids and eunuchs in the room to leave.
After a long while, she slowly spoke, questioning, "Shuzhen, tell me honestly, is the death of the Fujin related to you?"
Ulanara Shuzhen was taken aback, a chill ran down her spine, and she stammered, "Empress Mother, don't you believe Shuzhen at all?"
The Empress chuckled, lifting Ulanara Shuzhen's chin with one hand and wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye: "You are my own niece. I know perfectly well what you are thinking and what you are doing..."
Ulanara Shuzhen was so frightened that she dared not meet the Empress's eyes, and shrank back, whispering, "Empress Mother, I just don't want the Prince's mind to be entirely on that slut..."
"Since I can guess that you are involved in the death of the Fujin, what about Hongshi? Although he hasn't said anything or investigated, he's doing it out of respect for you and for Ulanara. You should restrain yourself and not cause trouble at this time, lest you displease him..." the Empress said.
Ulanara was unconvinced and said angrily, "But, but the Prince is now living in the Drunken Flower Pavilion. Doesn't the Empress Dowager care?"
Seeing Ulanara Shuzhen's impatience, the Empress was somewhat disappointed: "How can you not teach her properly?"
Ulanara couldn't help but start crying again: "Empress Mother, Shuzhen is feeling wronged. I am your own niece, you can't abandon me..."
Hearing Ulanara Shuzhen say this, the Empress's heart softened. She sighed and helped Shuzhen sit down beside her, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief. Only after Ulanara Shuzhen calmed down did she speak slowly.
"Silly child, how could I abandon you? Now is the perfect time. What you need to do is raise the young prince left behind by the Irgen clan well. Men are always soft-hearted, especially since you are raising his own flesh and blood, not someone else's. One day he will see your goodness and change his mind..."
Ulanara Shuzhen pouted, feeling unwilling: "Empress Mother, am I supposed to do nothing?"
The Empress felt that Ulanara Shuzhen was hopeless and could not be reformed. She tapped Ulanara Shuzhen's forehead with her finger and said, "You, I will teach Hongshi myself. Just listen to me, take good care of the young prince in the mansion, and don't cause any more trouble..."
Ulanara Shuzhen had no choice but to nod in agreement and reluctantly left...
Not long after Ulanara Shuzhen left, a maid brought the Empress her evening meal. Seeing that the Empress hadn't touched her food for a long time, the maid couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, are you worried about Prince?"
The Empress pushed aside the bowl and chopsticks in front of her and said disappointedly, "There isn't a single person I can rely on who makes me feel at ease. Hongshi is the same; he hasn't recovered from being so preoccupied with a woman for so long. And Shuzhen, that child, is so impatient; who knows when she'll cause a huge mess. It seems Hongshi's matter needs to be resolved as soon as possible..."
The maidservant silently ladled another bowl of soup for the Empress, carefully blowing on it to cool it down before handing it to her: "Your Majesty, please eat something. The Prince is still counting on you..." The Empress looked meaningfully at the bowl of soup in front of her.
Suddenly remembering something, she looked up at the maid and said, "Tomorrow, go and fetch Wu Ge for me. Oh, and... make sure to sneak in through the back door, avoiding being seen or heard..."
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