Hongshi, Hongli, Hongzhou and the others were invited by the Fourth Prince to attend the flower viewing banquet. A few days before the banquet, the Empress specially summoned Hongshi to the palace. Although Hongshi was very unwilling, he still came to Jingren Palace.
Although Hongshi greeted the Empress respectfully according to the usual etiquette, he lacked the previous intimacy and enthusiasm, and stopped approaching her after keeping a distance of a few meters.
The Empress, completely oblivious to Hongshi's unease, went to his side and asked with concern, "Why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell...?"
Hongshi awkwardly allowed the Empress to pull him along, his body stiff and motionless, forcing a smile as he said, "Your Majesty, you're overthinking it. Your son is fine..."
The Empress had Hongshi sit beside her and looked him over, saying, "Look how thin you've become. Have you been too busy lately? I know you've been working hard, but this hardship isn't for nothing. I will definitely find a way to let your father see it."
In the past, Hongshi would be moved to tears upon hearing these words, thinking that the Empress was a kind mother. However, since hearing the news from the Eighth Prince, Hongshi couldn't help but suspect that the Empress's kindness towards him was merely a means to achieve her own goals.
Hongshi suppressed his inner disgust and said calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Mother Empress. I was just doing what Father Emperor asked me to do. It wasn't hard work; I was just fulfilling my duties."
The Empress smiled with satisfaction: "You are a good child, your mother knows that. Your father is going to hold a flower viewing banquet this time, you must perform well and not lose to the two brothers Hongli and Hongzhou... Your father has invited many imperial relatives to this banquet, and your words and actions, as well as those of the other princes, will be observed by them. When it comes time to establish the crown prince..."
Hongshi couldn't bear to listen any longer and interrupted the Empress, saying, "Your son understands, Your Majesty, please rest assured..."
The Empress assumed Hongshi was just tired and didn't realize that he already knew about her drowning and Shuzhen's plot to harm Irgen. Without thinking much of it, she patiently pulled Hongshi aside and said, "Hongshi, your mother is doing this for your own good. You must listen to your mother... Oh, and... take Shuzhen and Xueying with you when you go..."
Hongshi was taken aback and asked, "Shuzhen?"
The Empress stared at Hongshi, whose expression immediately softened. He said, "Father didn't say he was going to bring them... I'm worried..."
The Empress smiled and said, "Shuzhen is your consort, so it's only natural that she goes. Xueying is your cousin, so you can take her with you..."
Hongshi didn't say much, but could only nod in agreement, thinking that he should leave Jingren Palace as soon as possible.
The Empress suddenly remembered the recent rumors circulating outside the palace that Hongshi had taken a concubine as a concubine. Worried that Hongshi would be held back by romantic feelings, especially since the Irgen clan was a precedent, she couldn't help but advise him: "Hongshi, I heard that you have recently taken a concubine in your household? Was she recommended by a maid?"
Hongshi was startled, a chill suddenly running through his heart. He hadn't expected that the Empress, far away in the palace, knew everything about what was happening in his own household. This further proved that the Eighth Prince was right; the Empress had been monitoring and using him all along, and had never truly treated him as her own son...
Hongshi suppressed his inner turmoil and said respectfully, "Empress Mother, she was just someone I found interesting for a while..."
The Empress finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled slowly, "Oh...that's good...I'm worried about your health, so please don't focus your mind on your children's affairs...you should think more about how to please your father..."
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