Leng Yue had thought that Empress Dowager Feng would not see her, but unexpectedly she did.
In the Empress Dowager's palace, a faint fragrance of gardenias lingered around Leng Yue's nose. Empress Dowager Feng sat at the head of the table, sipping her tea quietly without saying a word.
Leng Yue quietly observed Empress Dowager Feng. This was the first time she had clearly seen Empress Dowager Feng's appearance since arriving here. Although she was called Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager Feng looked to be only twenty-three or twenty-four years old. Empress Dowager Feng was very beautiful, more like a bewitching concubine who brought ruin to the country than an empress.
Empress Dowager Feng's brows and eyes revealed a sharpness, yet her gaze held a hint of allure. The dark red dress she wore didn't make her appear old; instead, it possessed a contradictory and strange charm.
At this moment, Empress Dowager Feng glanced at me and asked, "Does the Emperor have something to discuss with me today?" There was not a trace of maternal affection for her child in her eyes, only indifference.
Leng Yue was taken aback. "I thought it had been a long time since I'd seen Mother, and since I had some free time today, I came to pay my respects." Leng Yue's meaning was clear: it was only natural for a child to look for his mother, and there was no need for a reason to come.
Empress Dowager Feng remained noncommittal, took a sip of tea, and then looked at Leng Yue, saying, "You are the ruler of a country, how can you act like a child from an ordinary family? A ruler should act like a ruler, not like a child, understand?"
Leng Yue's words were immediately rejected by Empress Dowager Feng, who retorted that as the ruler of a nation, she could not act with the mindset of an ordinary child.
Leng Yue could only scoff at this. Can't a king find his mother? Nonsense, unless the king didn't find the right mother?
Leng Yue was stunned as soon as she thought about it. Yes, what if this mother wasn't the mother of the king? Wouldn't that make sense?
"A switcheroo?" Leng Yue instantly conjured up a dramatic, earth-shattering scene. But then she thought, "That doesn't quite make sense. Who switches a prince with a cat and then creates a child? They'd create a monster!" Besides, if it were a switcheroo, Empress Dowager Feng wouldn't be Empress Dowager Feng anymore!
So, is this the baby-swapping mystery? But who would swap their child for a girl? And that doesn't make sense either; if anyone were to swap, it would be safer to swap for a boy!
That leaves only the option of substituting one thing for another! Leng Yue thought to herself, and involuntarily looked at Empress Dowager Feng's face.
"What does the Emperor mean by looking at me like that?" Empress Dowager Feng was somewhat displeased by Leng Yue's gaze.
Leng Yue smiled and said, "It's been a long time since I've seen Mother Empress. Today, I feel that Mother Empress is even more radiant than before." Leng Yue was half-serious and half-joking as he fooled her.
Empress Dowager Feng took it seriously, and couldn't help but touch her face, a smile playing on her lips. "Is that so? I'm already old, no longer able to keep up with you young people..."
"Mother, in my heart you have always been the most beautiful. If you get old, then there will be no young people in the world!" Leng Yue kept flattering her, saying nice things without restraint.
Empress Dowager Feng blushed slightly upon hearing this. These women, regardless of age, how many don't like being complimented on their beauty?
"Your Majesty, at such a young age, why are you learning all this nonsense?" Empress Dowager Feng knew that even if she liked hearing it, she still needed to give him a good talking-to. After saying that, Leng Yue went to scold He'er, "He'er, what's wrong with you two? How could you let the Emperor come into contact with such rubbish?"
He'er quickly stepped forward to apologize, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. I will definitely be more careful in the future."
Leng Yue couldn't do nothing, so she could only look at Empress Dowager Feng and say, "Mother, it's my fault. I wanted to make you happy, but I messed things up. Please punish me!"
As Leng Yue spoke, she knelt down as well. She knew that Empress Dowager Feng was just putting on an act. If she really wanted to teach her, shouldn't she have hired a tutor for her? Having a palace maid look after the emperor was ridiculous, wasn't it? Even if the emperor was a child, and a girl at that, her status was still considerable; surely a palace maid couldn't possibly manage her?
Leng Yue lowered her head, concealing her emotions. She didn't know what to say. Should she say that Empress Dowager Feng was too careless? Or should she say that the Emperor's presence was too insignificant?
As expected, when Empress Dowager Feng saw Leng Yue kneel down, she said, "Emperor, please get up. I am aware of your filial piety. You may all get up."
Leng Yue raised her head and looked at Empress Dowager Feng with joy. "It's good that Mother isn't angry. Your son will definitely change." As she spoke, she stood up and returned to her seat. As she left, she didn't forget to pull He'er up as well. "Alright, He'er, get up too. Mother has spoken."
Empress Dowager Feng waved her hand, "You may all leave now, I am tired."
Leng Yue knew this was a dismissal. So she put down the pastries in her hand, her face showing a reluctant expression, and said coquettishly, "Mother, the tea and pastries here are really delicious. Your son will come again next time."
After Leng Yue finished speaking, she stood up and left before Empress Dowager Feng could react. "Mother, I will take my leave now and come to pay my respects to you another day."
Empress Dowager Feng wanted to say no, but before she could say it, Leng Yue had already run away.
"Cuijin, does this child know something? Why did he suddenly come to our door?" Empress Dowager Feng dismissed her attendants, touching the jade ring on her left hand as she spoke to Cuijin beside her.
Cui Jin replied, "This old servant doesn't think so. A child wouldn't be so nonchalant if he really knew something!"
"Indeed, this child is raised in a way that doesn't seem like someone with a scheming mind." Empress Dowager Feng laughed after saying this. "It's probably because the eldest prince of the Turks came and took her wild for a while, so she's been influenced by him."
“Perhaps. It’s said that the Turks are very barbaric. Maybe the young emperor just followed their example and became like that.” Cui Jin chimed in, because in their minds, Leng Yue was just an ignorant child. What could he know without being taught?
"By the way, how is He'er doing? Has she discovered anything?" Empress Dowager Feng was still somewhat worried.
Cuijin added, "He'er only said that the little emperor either goes out for a stroll or dozes off every day, and she didn't notice anything different."
"And what about Little Li? Did he say the same thing?" Empress Dowager Feng asked again.
“Yes, what they said was no different,” Cui Jin replied one by one.
Empress Dowager Feng was finally relieved. "That girl, as long as she sits on the throne, my heart will never be at peace. I don't know what's wrong with me lately, I keep dreaming about her. Do you think it's possible that she's not actually dead?"
"Your Highness, you're too tired. You witnessed what happened with your own eyes, how could that be?" Cuijin couldn't help but advise, "You shouldn't think too much about it. Master is here for you, why worry so much?"
"I don't want to be like this, but I can't help it! I miss my Yuan'er even more. If he were here, why would I be thinking like this every day? I wonder if he still remembers his mother, and how he is doing?" Empress Dowager Feng said, her face radiating maternal glow as she spoke of Yuan'er.
Empress Dowager Feng wanted to say something more, but Cui Jin shook her head, indicating that someone was eavesdropping. The two chased after her and indeed saw a fleeting shadow.
"What should we do?" Empress Dowager Feng panicked again.
"It's alright, I just arrived." Cui Jin's words gave Empress Dowager Feng a boost of confidence.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com