"Thank you, Prince. I am old now and feel that the capital city is very familiar to me. I don't want to go back to my hometown anymore. I will stay here." Granny Su said with a smile, "Here are all the memories of my youth. At that time, although the rules in the palace were very strict, I met a good master and didn't suffer at all."
Having said that, she sighed and slowly stood up.
An Qingran took a sip of tea. It was already cold. It was time to go back to the palace.
After returning to the East Palace, Dongfang Jin was considering whether to tell his father about this matter.
An Qingran was sitting there hesitating. If this matter was made clear, it would mean that Prince Shou's kingdom would be taken away by Emperor Yunqi, which would be a loss in momentum.
Or maybe the Queen Mother didn't know about this, but because of whose fault?
Or, this matter has nothing to do with her at all?
While the latter is less likely, it is still possible.
After all, Granny Su's words were just one person's.
Dongfang Jin decided to ask for an audience with the Queen Mother with An Qingran.
The Queen Mother did see them, but she lay on the bed and just turned her head to look at them: "My health is just like this. I don't need to worry about it every other day."
Dongfang Jin sat down and said, "Grandmother, why don't you let Qingran take a look at your body? She has learned a few things and may have different ideas from the imperial physician."
The Queen Mother shook her head: "No need, I know my own illness, it's just old age..."
An Qingran put down the food box in her hand again: "Grandmother, this is the Fuling Cake I made for you. It clears away heat and removes dampness. It is just right for this season."
"You are thoughtful." The Queen Mother smiled, "After all, they are my grandson and granddaughter-in-law, and they have this royal grandmother in their hearts."
"Yes, by the way, Grandmother, I saw an old woman in the capital two days ago. After asking, I found out that she was a maid who was on duty in the palace more than 40 years ago. She told me some news, but I didn't believe it."
"What?" The Queen Mother's expression was obviously tense, but her voice was pretending to be relaxed.
An Qingran's heart tightened. She didn't expect that Dongfang Jin didn't discuss it with her but asked the Queen Mother directly. How could she admit it?
Isn't this just alerting the enemy?
Yes, to alert the enemy, is this Dongfang Jin’s purpose?
It's just that Granny Su said these things, her words alone are not enough to prove it, so he needs the other party to take action? To reveal the truth in the action?
Thinking of this, An Qingran smiled. This guy is really cunning.
But Dongfang Jin continued: "Her surname is Su, and she originally served Concubine Xie. She said..."
He stopped here.
The Queen Mother stood up, and Nanny Rong immediately took the embroidered brocade pillow and stuffed it behind her back. She stood up too hastily and coughed a few times. Nanny Rong reached out to pat her back, but she gently pushed her away: "Jin'er, what did she say?"
"She said that when she was in the palace, the Concubine Dowager treated her very well, so she came to Beijing this time because she wanted to revisit the old place in her lifetime..."
"She found yours?"
"Yes, my grandson is still curious. However, because the meeting was in a hurry, I did not arrange for her to enter the palace immediately. I just want to ask grandma, do we have such an ancestral rule? Can the slaves who were sent out to other places still enter the palace again?" Dongfang Jin looked humble.
An Qingran was secretly sweating beside him, wondering if the Queen Mother would be fooled?
How would he arrange it?
However, looking at his serene expression, her heart suddenly calmed down. Only then did she realize that he was sitting there, so beautiful, so calm, like a statue, which made people admire him.
He also said that he was there.
Yes, with him around, there is nothing for me to worry about.
When the Queen Mother heard the news, she immediately began to think deeply: "Logically speaking, there is no such ancestral rule, but did this servant find you?"
"yes."
"Did she say which old friend she wanted to see?" the Queen Mother asked, gently turning the Buddhist beads on her wrist with one hand, again and again, obviously thinking about something in her mind.
Dongfang Jin shook his head: "Maybe she wants to see the old people in the palace who lived forty years ago. However, considering the age, I am afraid that only Grandma Rong can be considered an old friend. I don't know the others. But when it comes to the past, I also want to hear my grandmother tell me about it."
"Back then? What's there to talk about back then? We were all young then, but now we are old. I, your grandmother, have become an old woman. Thinking about it this way, it's even more tragic."
Dongfang Jin smiled and said, "Father and Uncle Shou were born on the same day, forty-five years ago. That day must have been the happiest day in the palace!"
The Queen Mother's face froze for a moment, then she smiled: "Of course."
"The Empress Dowager looks a little tired, so I won't bother her. I will just report this matter to her to make her happy. If she wants to see her, I can arrange it." Dongfang Jin stood up and reached out to pull the wrinkles on the hem, and the small wrinkles were immediately smoothed out.
The Queen Mother's eyes were attracted by his actions, and after a while she spoke, "I don't want to see my old friend now, fearing that it will only add to my sadness. What's more, she was a servant of Concubine Xie, and I don't have any impression of her at all. You guys go down and bring the cakes to me. I want to taste them."
An Qingran and the other person left the house. An Qingran whispered, "Your move is dangerous, but have you sent someone to protect Granny Su?"
Dongfang Jin nodded: "However, I should be the one who is worried now. She will definitely send someone to follow me."
An Qingran thought about it and realized that it was true, otherwise how could she have found Granny Su out of nowhere.
"But won't the Queen Mother doubt you?"
"So what if she doubts, she won't leave anyone behind to harm her."
"Actually, she can just ignore it." An Qingran thought for a moment, "If she doesn't move, there's really nothing we can do."
"Yes, we will find another maid who was with the Queen Mother before and after my birth."
"This... is really difficult."
"I'm here." Dongfang Jin still said the same words, which made An Qingran's heart moved.
She liked the way he was so sure of everything.
It seems as if there are thousands of ravines in his chest, and he dominates the world.
"Besides, the Queen Mother is not as smart as Qingqing. She may not be able to see that this is a trick. Moreover, the Queen Mother has another shortcoming, which is her conceit. So, it is possible that she knows that this is a trick and she must go along with it!"
An Qingran nodded. Indeed, the most unpredictable thing is the human heart. No one can guarantee what everyone will do next.
*****
The next day.
Prince Shou rushed into the palace.
The Queen Mother lay on the bed gasping for breath, and the imperial doctors were busy on the floor. When she saw him come in, she drove all the doctors out.
Prince Shou said anxiously, "Mother, what happened to you? You were fine a few days ago."
"Isn't it because of that father and son? Do you know? What did the prince say in front of me yesterday? He mentioned that bitch, Concubine Xie, and said that an old maid wanted to see an old friend. Did he think I couldn't hear it? He was just testing me to see if I was guilty. Why should I feel guilty? It was that bitch who played tricks and switched you with the emperor, causing my son to hand over the country to others..." When the queen mother said this, she coughed and tears flowed. Prince Shou hurried forward to massage her back: "Mother, in fact, after so many years, the emperor has done a good job. Besides, Run'er has no interest in the country. You can be comfortable as your queen mother, and the emperor and I will be filial to you together, isn't it good?"
"Good? What's good about that? You unfilial son, you are my son, you should be the emperor, how can that slave's blood compare with mine? I raised her son for so many years in vain, we are so indebted to each other, it's a pity that I didn't poison the prince back then, and I didn't poison him now, but he started to suspect me. Let me tell you, Prince Shou, if you don't avenge your mother, she will die with no peace of mind... Also, no matter whether the old maid the prince mentioned exists or not... Ahem, you have to kill her. Once she dies... No, you should take her in. With her around, we can expose what happened back then to the public and let people know whether the emperor is right or wrong. However, you have to be prepared by then, you have to let the important officials stand on your side, otherwise it will be useless. The winner is the king and the loser is the thief, it has been like this since ancient times... Tell me, you have been almost ready for so many years, right?"
The Queen Mother grabbed Prince Shou's hand and held it tightly.
Prince Shou looked helpless. When he saw the Queen Mother's mental state, he nodded quickly, "Okay, okay, Mother, you should have a good rest first. Don't get excited. This matter can be handled slowly. There is no rush."
"So you agree?"
"Okay, I agree." Prince Shou said helplessly.
The Queen Mother felt relieved after hearing this. She sat there and slowly spoke again, "Dongfang Jin, you have to follow him. Don't let him think that he has obtained any evidence. If he knew that we were using this matter in return, he would definitely regret it. I really want to see his self-righteous look turn into a dumbfounded expression. Humph, just like Xie Bitch, so mean and evil. If it weren't for God's eyes, I don't know when I would recognize you. I trained that man's son to be the emperor in vain... By the way, I found a teacher for Run'er. He will teach him everything he should know to become an emperor. Tomorrow, I will let him find you."
"this……"
"Don't use Run'er to fool me. You are his father, can't you come to this conclusion? He is a child, what does he know?"
"clear."
"Then you can go down. I'll take a rest too." The Queen Mother closed her eyes tiredly, her voice weakened. "If I don't see you take back the country in my lifetime, I will die with my eyes wide open..."
After Prince Shou left.
The Queen Mother's thoughts drifted back to seventeen years ago.
At that time, the Emperor had just married Queen Yun, and they got along very well. It reminded her of the late Emperor's love for her. She felt a little sad, but she was also very satisfied with Emperor Yun Qi. After all, he was the late Emperor's son and had inherited his father's good genes.
At that time, she still remembered telling this matter to the couple.
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