"Ah Jun is just a child playing around. If I hadn't stirred things up, what trouble could she have caused? As for the Crown Prince, I was just afraid that you would worry yourself sick. After all, the Crown Prince's disappearance is a blow to the foundation of the country. I just don't want you to worry about the country anymore. Mother Empress suffered a lot for me in the early years, and I remember all of that. Now that I have the world at my feet, I naturally want to give you a peaceful life."
The emperor had to deal with a multitude of state affairs every day, like the vast ocean. He had to contend with powerful families and nobles within the court, and guard against rebellions by vassal kings outside. He was so busy that he wished he had two more hands to review more memorials. The empress had just angered him again. Even though he still remembered to be filial, his tone of voice changed unconsciously.
The Empress Dowager turned her head away, her face cold as she refused to look at Emperor Mingde, and said slowly, "I am old. You are right. Now that you have the world at your feet, there is no need for me to interfere anymore. I know that since ancient times, the empress dowager has not been allowed to interfere in politics. In the future, the emperor will not need to come to my Cining Palace to see this old woman."
"Is Mother determined to make things difficult for me? As the ruler of a country, what does Mother think I should do? I am where I am today entirely because of Mother's support. If Mother were to refuse to see me in the future, wouldn't I be condemned by all generations? And where would Mother place my filial piety?"
After Emperor Mingde spoke, the mother and son fell silent. All the eunuchs and palace maids were led out by Zhang Chu. The palace doors had already been closed when the two began their conversation, so it was impossible for outsiders to hear their conversation.
"Does the Empress Dowager intend to summon Zhihai back?" Emperor Mingde asked. The words he had spoken earlier were just words spoken in anger, but this was the key point. He had always been well aware of Zhihai's abilities. If Zhihai had not refused to submit to him back then, Zhihai, as the Empress Dowager's chief eunuch, would not have had to go to Biyou Palace in his later years.
The Empress Dowager turned around and looked at her eldest son. If it weren't for the absence of Zhihai all these years, she wouldn't have only received the real news last night about what her precious granddaughter had done. If someone hadn't wanted to get rid of her granddaughter, would he have kept it from her for the rest of his life?
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