Suddenly, the twelfth prince shouted, "Mother! Don't copy! You're bullying my mother!"
A ten-year-old child, so angry he was praying for blessings.
He was at an age where he understood many things, yet he wasn't fully aware of them.
He knew his father was dead, he knew his mother had moved, and he knew everyone was bullying his mother, but he didn't understand why.
You should know that he has always been the most favored child, and his brothers and sisters would flatter him whenever they saw him.
It all happened so suddenly, he had no time to adjust.
"Twelfth Brother!" The Eighth Princess exclaimed in surprise, quickly rising to her feet and kneeling down. "Mother, Imperial Brother, Twelfth Brother must have been drinking! Twelfth Brother! How dare you be so insolent? Mother should be punished for her mistake, don't make a scene!"
The little girl was only thirteen years old.
But she had to take on the responsibility of protecting her younger brother.
She knew very well that her mother's life would only get worse, and there was nothing she could do to save her.
But my younger brother is still young, and he's a boy, which makes him even more feared. If he speaks recklessly, he might die.
She was scared.
"Consort Zhen, what a fine child you've raised!" the Empress Dowager roared.
"You're bullying me! Sister, they're bullying me! And you're still siding with them! I'm not talking to you anymore!" The twelfth prince also started crying.
He was always pampered and never had time to grow up before this happened, leaving him completely mentally unstable.
"Your Majesty, it was my fault. Please forgive them. It was my mistake." Consort Zhen knelt down.
"Alright! What a spoilsport! You may all go home now, we'll talk about the rest tomorrow." The Empress Dowager waved her hand.
Consort Zhen thanked her and left the table with her two children.
There was a slight awkwardness among the guests, but no one really cared about Consort Zhen.
So it's easy to continue.
Princess Jane hadn't seen her two children up close in a long time.
Now that she could finally meet him alone, she led the children on the road, receiving money from those who saw them off and giving them some time.
“Ning’er, don’t make a fuss. Things are different now than in the past. You must listen to your sister. I’m doing this for your own good,” Consort Zhen cried.
"Mother, I don't want to. I want to go back to my home. I don't want to live alone." Shu Ningfeng cried as she pulled on her hand.
“Good child, sweetie, I…” Consort Zhen’s tears could not be stopped, and the Eighth Princess could only cry as well.
"Good child, you should give your younger brother some pointers. Your mother knows you are a smart child." Consort Zhen stroked her daughter's face again.
The Eighth Princess couldn't utter a single word; she could only cry.
"Ning'er, look at your mother, please be more sensible, okay? It's my fault for not protecting you all," Consort Zhen cried.
Shu Ningfeng finally nodded: "I've got it."
"Your Highness, it's almost time. If we're any later, we won't be able to explain ourselves," a eunuch said with a forced smile.
Princess Zhen nodded: "Go."
She took out a handkerchief and wiped away the tears of the two children.
My heart is in excruciating pain, but what else can I do?
Although the Cao family seems to have a good status now, it's easy to see that they're just waiting.
Once the mourning period ends, things will be different.
I just hope that time will pass and the Empress Dowager's anger will lessen, so that she won't make things difficult for the child.
After the family banquet ended, the emperor saw off the Grand Empress Dowager, and the empress saw off the Empress Dowager.
The rest of the people dispersed.
Your Majesty will still reside in the Beichen Palace.
After seeing off the Empress Dowager, they returned home.
After changing her clothes in the Empress Dowager's Ruining Palace, Granny Fei came to serve her.
"The Empress Dowager's expression today was truly fascinating."
"Hmph, if only I had known this day would come..." The Empress Dowager didn't finish her sentence.
What kind of nonsense is this? Thinking of her Changfeng, she wished she could kill that bitch.
We can't kill her. It would be too easy for her if she died. She wants her to suffer, to be unable to live or die.
"Your Highness, if I may be so bold, we should send someone over there to inform her. I don't think she's a strong person. What if she does something rash?" said Granny Fei.
The Empress Dowager nodded: "Send Hongguo there."
Granny Fei agreed.
Granny Fei thought to herself, "It goes without saying that the Empress Dowager hates Consort Zhen. She deserves to die."
But if she dies, I'm afraid the Empress Dowager's pent-up anger will be directed at the Eighth Princess and the Twelfth Prince.
She didn't feel sorry for the twelfth prince because His Majesty had suffered a lot of injustice.
But the Eighth Princess had it tough. Despite her small stature, her cheeks were sunken from exhaustion, and she still had to worry about her mother and younger brother.
Once Consort Zhen dies, I'm afraid that child won't survive either.
It would be better to let Consort Zhen endure it for a few years. By then, the Empress Dowager's anger will have subsided, and the Eighth Princess will be able to get married, and everything will be fine.
Hongguo left that very night.
Yingfu Palace was in a dilapidated state, clearly having never been repaired.
With the new emperor's ascension to the throne, the residences of the imperial concubines naturally needed to be renovated.
However, if the repairs aren't thorough enough, people will still need to live in these unrepaired areas.
Then Consort Zhen and Consort Cao moved in.
Consort Jane was actually doing quite well; she had enjoyed her life for many years.
Consort Cao's situation was rather unfortunate. She was only a Jieyu (a concubine rank), and now she was called Consort Dowager, but she still lived in a side palace.
The place was already dilapidated; even the main hall was unbearable to look at, let alone the side halls.
Now that the Empress's head maid has arrived, even Consort Cao dares not refuse to come out.
Princess Jane also came out.
Hongguo was not pretentious at all. After paying her respects politely, she said she had something to say to Consort Zhen.
Consort Zhen naturally let the person in.
"What is it, Miss Hongguo?" Consort Zhen tried to appear humble.
Having been in a high position for so many years, she really didn't know how to be approachable to those below her.
"The Empress Dowager has a message for you, which I will convey to you," Hongguo said with a smile.
"Go ahead and say it," said Consort Zhen with a forced smile.
"Her Majesty said that the times are not good now, and the Dowager Consort Li has just been sent away, which really saddens her. She can't bear any more misfortune. She told you to take good care of yourself, because if anything happens to you, the Eighth Princess and the Twelfth Prince will be left without anyone to care for them. After all, they need their own mother."
Consort Zhen understood, her face turning pale: "Yes... I understand, thank you for your grace, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Hongguo smiled and said, "Then this servant will be leaving. You should also get some rest, as you have to copy Buddhist scriptures tomorrow morning."
After saying that, he politely took his leave.
Consort Zhen sat there, speechless for a long time.
Luo Shui sighed, "Your Majesty, at least... you still hold a position. Although these words... at least they mean..." She couldn't finish her sentence.
“At least she said I wouldn’t die…” Consort Zhen bit her lip: “She just wanted me to live and suffer. She was overthinking it; I didn’t expect to die.”
Luo Shui nodded, but in her heart she thought, "If things continue like this, you'll start to regret it sooner or later."
Luo Shui sighed, wondering how she would live from now on. After spring, the people serving the imperial concubines would also be changed, and she wondered who would be replaced.
I'm afraid that from now on I'll only be able to keep one close companion.
Nowadays, there are no rules about palace maids leaving the palace. Those who are allowed to leave the palace usually only have a few opportunities.
For example, if a new emperor releases a group of people after ascending the throne, it is considered a favor.
Or it might be due to some major event, such as establishing a crown prince or bestowing the title of empress.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
