Chapter 466 Summoning
After the Empress Dowager mentioned the idea of surrogacy to Meng Lingge, although the two did not have a major falling out on the surface, the Empress Dowager still keenly sensed that Meng Lingge had become much more distant from her than before.
Not only Meng Lingge, but even Wen Zhiming was entering Cining Palace less and less often.
The Empress Dowager initially thought it was Meng Lingge who had complained, but she knew her own son well. If it weren't for Meng Lingge's intervention, Wen Zhiming might have made a scene against her after finding out about this.
Meng Lingge was able to dissuade Wen Zhiming, so she probably wouldn't have taken the initiative to complain. It's possible that she accidentally let it slip, or that some loose-lipped servant in the palace leaked it.
The Empress Dowager knew that she was in the wrong, and with Granny Qian constantly comforting her, she gradually came to her senses.
Anyway, Consort Chen won't come to her to show off anymore. She can wait a few more years. Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge are angry right now, so let them be cold to her. In time, they will naturally understand her good intentions.
Besides, she wasn't lonely. Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge had been visiting less often, but her granddaughter Wen Woyu had been coming frequently lately, spending most of her day with her at Cining Palace.
Hearing the sweet, chubby little girl calling her "Grandmother" again and again, her heart melted, and she naturally didn't have much time to be angry.
Wen Woyu arrived early as usual today. The grandmother and granddaughter were admiring the flowers and telling stories in the corridor. The Empress Dowager was telling the story attentively, and Wen Woyu was listening even more attentively. Just as the story was about to reach an exciting part, Granny Qian hurriedly came over.
"Your Majesty, several court officials are requesting an audience outside."
The Empress Dowager assumed it was just another request, as usual, for her to intervene and persuade the Emperor to restore the harem and encourage the birth of an imperial heir. She had just offended Meng Lingge on this matter and didn't want to listen to the ministers' ramblings any longer. She frowned and prepared to have them dismissed.
"I am too busy. Tell them to go to the Emperor if they have any business to discuss."
Only after she finished speaking did she notice the panic and uncertainty on Granny Qian's face.
Granny Qian was an old servant of hers and always took rules very seriously. In all the years she had been in the palace, she had never seen her so flustered.
The Empress Dowager's train of thought suddenly broke down. "Did they say why they wanted to see me?"
Granny Qian cautiously raised her head and glanced at Wen Woyu.
Wen Woyu immediately understood that Granny Qian did not want her to hear what was to come. Although she was very curious, she still politely addressed the Empress Dowager.
"Grandmother, Woyu, go to your room and wait for me. Once you've finished your business, I'll tell you a story."
Her sensible and well-behaved nature touched the Empress Dowager's heart.
"No need. Woyu is my granddaughter. There is nothing she cannot listen to from me."
This was both a reply to Wen Woyu and a message to Granny Qian that they could get down to business.
Upon hearing this, Wen Woyu smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling. The Empress Dowager leaned down and took Wen Woyu's small hand in her large one.
Granny Qian wasn't trying to prevent Wen Woyu from getting involved; it was just that it was an adult matter, and she felt it best not to affect the child. But since the Empress Dowager had said so, and the matter was urgent, she could only anxiously reply.
"They said that the Emperor abdicated the throne to Prince Zhong during the morning court session today. The Emperor has volunteered to return to the position of Prince of the Northern Frontier and will be stationed there. He will depart in three days."
"Has the Emperor gone mad?"
The Empress Dowager was so angry that her face turned red, and she suddenly tightened her grip on Wen Woyu's hand.
"No wonder they make Woyu come to keep me company every day. I thought they were just being polite and complaining on the surface, but they were still filial to each other in private. It turns out they just wanted Woyu to keep me in the dark. I was the last to know about such an important matter."
She was extremely disappointed, and her face darkened as she looked at Wen Woyu.
"Woyu, tell me, did your mother send you to keep me company? You and your mother are quite cunning, one deceiving the Emperor and the other fooling me. I cherish you like my own heart and soul, and you, at such a young age, are already plotting against me?"
"Grandmother." Wen Woyu's clear eyes showed a hint of fear. In her memory, the Empress Dowager had never been so fierce to her.
Her voice sounded slightly aggrieved, but she still explained earnestly.
"The Empress Dowager said she's been busy lately and doesn't have much time to spend with the Empress Dowager, so she asked Woyu to come and make the Empress Dowager happy more often. Woyu doesn't know what abdication is and why it would make the Empress Dowager so angry, but Empress Dowager, Woyu likes you, that's why I'm willing to come and keep you company. I'm not trying to fool you, and I'm not plotting anything against you."
Granny Qian felt distressed upon hearing this and quickly offered words of comfort.
"Your Majesty, the eldest princess is only three years old. How would she know about adult matters? The ministers are still waiting. Please make a decision quickly and don't frighten the eldest princess."
"Go and tell them that I will be seeing the Emperor shortly, and that they may leave."
The Empress Dowager turned around, unable to bear looking at Wen Woyu's face, but her hand still held Wen Woyu's small hand tightly.
"Abdication means giving up your position to someone else. It means your father and mother no longer want to be the emperor and empress. I can't be the empress dowager, and naturally you can't be the eldest princess. You will go with me to see the emperor. I want to ask him if he even respects me and you as his daughters. He has to keep such an important matter from us. Is it only he and his wife who are family, and you and I have become outsiders?"
As instructed, Granny Qian went to inform the officials. The Empress Dowager pulled Wen Woyu back to her room, changed her into a set of noble and luxurious clothes, and then continued to hold Wen Woyu's hand as they walked outside.
She was holding her breath, but her steps remained steady and unhurried, without affecting her demeanor. However, she unconsciously tightened her grip on Wen Woyu's hand, turning that delicate pink hand bright red.
"Royal grandmother, it hurts..."
Wen Woyu struggled to pull her hand away, looked up and asked the Empress Dowager in a low voice.
"Grandmother, now that Father and Mother are no longer Emperor and Empress, will they abandon me? Will they abandon Grandmother?"
"How would I know..." After saying this angrily, the Empress Dowager saw that Wen Woyu's eyes were red and quickly said, "That's not true. Your father and mother like to be unconventional and they must do what they decide, but they would not neglect their parents or not love their children. Wherever they go, they should take us with them."
The Empress Dowager was indeed reassured about this.
She knew that even if Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge became beggars, they would never wrong the elderly and children.
“Woyu thinks so too. Mother said that as long as the family is together, happy, free, healthy and harmonious, that’s the best. Woyu doesn’t know why Father Emperor abdicated, but he must have his reasons. Grandmother, don’t get upset, Father Emperor will definitely give you an explanation.”
The Empress Dowager was furious, but the gentle coaxing from the little girl, who was as soft as a marshmallow, calmed her down a bit. When she reached for Wen Woyu's hand again, she noticeably reduced the force of her grip.
"Very well, I'll go and hear how he explains it now."
The grandfather and granddaughter, accompanied by their servants, hurried along the way when they encountered Zhimei, Meng Lingge's personal maid.
She and her entourage were waiting at the intersection, clearly there specifically to wait.
"Zhimei greets the Empress Dowager, the Eldest Princess, and Her Majesty the Empress."
The Empress Dowager sneered upon hearing this.
"I was planning to go see the Emperor first, and then see her. But she actually came to me of her own accord, and even wants me to come see her? What an arrogant attitude! When did it become her place to 'summon' me?"
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