Upon returning to the post station, Zhao Shu went directly to the Empress Dowager. She didn't tell anyone what Hongye had told her—not Wei Tingsi, not Huo Baichuan. She believed they wouldn't abandon her in her time of need, and she also believed they wouldn't sell the information. They didn't lack imperial favor or opportunities for advancement, but she didn't believe they would support a crown prince who almost lost himself on his first trip out of the capital and even injured his leg.
Upon arriving at the courtyard where the Empress Dowager resided, she was immediately stopped by Zhang Chu. Zhang Chu had a sullen face, but a rare hint of pity appeared on her face. She curtsied and said, "Princess, the Empress Dowager said that you should mind your own business. She asked you whether you have ever personally made a garment for the Prince, whether you have ever personally cooked a meal for the Prince, and whether you know the meaning of Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher."
Upon hearing Zhang Chu's words, Zhao Shu was about to kneel down, but Zhang Chu stopped her. "Princess, the Empress Dowager asks you, over the years she has doted on you and protected you, do you know how to be grateful?"
"Ah Jun knows her sins." Zhao Shu slowly straightened up, her eyes moist. She remembered that her father had asked a painter to draw a pattern for her to make a garment for him, which he would wear when he returned. She also remembered that she had never actually cooked a complete meal for her father herself. She was, in fact, an unfilial daughter.
The position of crown prince is not one that just anyone can fulfill. So what if he is born of the empress? If Dayong wants to prosper for a long time, each of its emperors must be wise, intelligent, and have great talent and strategy to be competent. If a crown prince cannot even keep his position, how long can Dayong exist? Who knows when a so-called righteous army will come to the capital and leave the Zhao family with nowhere to be buried.
The Empress Dowager's explicit refusal made Zhao Shu begin to understand the Empress. If the Empress had pleaded with the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager would have sent people to search for the Crown Prince, but she wouldn't have put in the effort to find him. This was because she had many grandsons; if one didn't work out, she could find another. Princes were born every year; if one wasn't smart enough, she could look for the next one. However, Prince Yong was the only one in the world. Therefore, the Empress did not directly plead with the Empress Dowager.
Because she knew that if something happened to the Crown Prince, the Empress Dowager could easily make her commit a grave mistake and then support a new Empress and a new Crown Prince, leaving her only to live in the Cold Palace.
In the past, the late Empress Dowager treated the current Empress Dowager in the same way. In any change of the head of a family, the one who is most capable in the end always wins. He can protect himself and his family. Although Wang Kuanqi won, he did not have a good end in the end. The Wang family can no longer be called a first-class family.
Survival of the fittest is the law of nature. Emperor Mingde is currently busy consolidating imperial power, and changing the crown prince would indeed shake the foundation of the country. However, if any of his sons is capable of dethroning Zhao Yi and becoming the crown prince, he would be happy to see it happen and would even be pleased, because he is first and foremost the ruler, and only then the father.
Zhao Shu understands the Empress Dowager, but what if Zhao Yi falls and Zhao Bi immediately takes the throne?
"Ah Jun, let's go back. It's late, and we have to travel tomorrow." Huo Danlan's face was covered with a thick cloth, and her beautiful eyes were full of heartache.
"Okay, Auntie." Zhao Shu took one last look at the closed courtyard gate before turning back with Huo Danlan.
After seeing Zhao Shu off, Zhang Chu breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly turned back to report. Upon seeing the Empress Dowager, before she could speak, the Empress Dowager said, "Who taught her to meddle in these matters? Tomorrow you will personally go and be her tutor, and you must correct her wicked thoughts for me."
Zhang Chu curtsied and replied, "Yes."
Zhao Shu and Huo Danlan said goodnight to each other and went back to their rooms. Huo Danlan was unaware of the Crown Prince's situation and only thought that the Empress Dowager was still angry with Zhao Shu because of the assassination attempt.
Back in her room, she thought and thought, then summoned Xiao Zhu Zi. To avoid Sun Yun, Zhao Shu went out of the room and listened to Xiao Zhu Zi's report in the corridor. Xiao Zhu Zi was extremely ashamed. "Princess, this servant is incompetent. Ever since Mr. Huo's men followed the Prince, our people have not received any news. The Marquis has not sent any messages to this servant for many days either."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Zhao Shu was a little angry. How dare Xiao Zhuzi keep such a big thing from her.
"Princess, please forgive me, please forgive me, Princess." Xiao Zhuzi hurriedly knelt down. He had no idea that things would turn out this way. He had always thought that the lack of news from his subordinates was good news. With the Huo family following the prince, he thought there would be no trouble. The princess had so many worries every day, and the matter of Prince Duan required careful planning and calculation, so she didn't have much free time to pay attention to it.
Zhao Shu's face was as cold as ice. "You must not make any mistakes in the future! Otherwise, you will suffer the consequences!" Zhao Shu was furious and wanted to vent all her anger, but she held back.
"Yes, Your servant obeys," Little Zhu replied hastily.
Where is Mr. Huo?
Just as she asked, the chubby boy beside her arrived. "Princess, my young master is waiting for you in the backyard."
A flash of murderous intent crossed Zhao Shu's eyes, but it quickly passed. The Huo family had gotten wind of Hongye's matter so quickly. Yes, the Empress Dowager knew about it too. It seemed that Hongye's matter was now an open secret.
Thinking of this, she quickened her pace and arrived at the backyard. The backyard of the Lanxi Town Inn was just an open space of a little over a hundred square meters. There was a large vat filled with water, a sweet osmanthus tree next to it, a few stone tables and chairs, a few wooden racks for drying vegetables, and nothing else.
Huo Baichuan sat on a stone bench, toying with a jade cup in his hand. The aroma of tea wafted from the cup. Zhao Shu glanced at it and saw that there was no teapot on the stone table.
"Mr. Huo, I wonder how my father is?" Zhao Shu sat down opposite Huo Baichuan and asked directly.
Little Fatty didn't follow, seemingly acting as a lookout, so Zhao Shu spoke without restraint.
Huo Baichuan swirled the tea in his jade cup, glancing at Zhao Shu. There were lampposts at the four corners of the courtyard, with lanterns hanging from them. In the dim light, Huo Baichuan's face had a half-smile, gentle and peaceful, without any aggression, which inexplicably made people feel at ease.
"Now you know to ask about your father? Weren't you having a lot of fun playing tricks a few days ago? Let me guess, what's the Prince of Duan like now? Has he become the most honored eunuch in history? Women, women, so vicious. Does your father know? At such a young age, you're not learning anything good. A little girl should stay at home embroidering, or writing poetry to cultivate her temperament. When she's old enough, she should find a husband, be a good wife and mother."
“Mr. Huo, can we talk about something useful? How is my father doing now?” Zhao Shu interrupted Huo Baichuan’s incessant chatter. She suspected that if she hadn’t interrupted him, he could have lectured her all night.
Huo Baichuan gave a fake laugh twice, "Your father is living a very good life now. He can bury this beauty's father when he has nothing to do, and pay off that beauty's father's gambling debts when he has time. Wherever he goes, he is always in a grand procession, more like an emperor than the emperor himself."
"Mr. Huo, thank you. Please tell me where my father is now."
“In Xiliang.” Huo Baichuan held the jade cup in front of him, seemingly examining the tea inside. “Your uncle is also in Xiliang, but it seems he’s gotten into trouble.”
Upon hearing that something had happened in Jiangzuo, Zhao Shu became anxious again and hurriedly asked, "I wonder what crime my uncle has committed?"
"You got into a conflict with the Qian family of Xiliang and were imprisoned for many days. It was one of your uncles, Prince Jing, who rescued you. However, Prince Jing arrived a little too late. Your uncle's arm was injured, and we don't know if he can save that hand. Princess, do you feel very guilty?" Huo Baichuan poured the tea from his cup onto the ground. "Being a person is like water. If you put it in the sea, you will become vast and boundless. If you put it in this soil, you will be drained dry. What do you say, Princess?"
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