Chapter 218 Mother and Son's Separation
Pei Yanzhi put down the memorial in his hand. In recent days, the Crown Prince and the Imperial Preceptor had handled most of the government affairs, and what was being presented now were important matters that required the Emperor's decision.
He glanced at the mountain of documents, then got up and went to the Empress Dowager's palace.
It was already autumn, but the wind blowing in still carried a hint of summer heat. Pei Yanzhi walked forward with his hands behind his back.
They happened to run into Wei Heng, who was coming out of the Empress Dowager's palace.
In recent years, besides taking care of the Crown Prince's daily life, Wei Heng also frequently visited Yongning Palace.
Yinzi spotted the imposing figure immediately from behind and whispered, "Crown Princess, His Majesty has arrived!"
Wei Heng paused slightly, then immediately bowed her head and stepped forward to pay her respects: "Greetings, Father Emperor."
Pei Yanzhi glanced at her indifferently and nodded slightly: "Get up. Did you just go to see the Empress Dowager?"
Wei Heng lowered her eyes and replied, "Yes, the Empress Dowager has been feeling unwell recently, so I've been visiting her more often these days."
"Yes, thank you for your hard work."
Over the years, Wei Heng had served the Empress Dowager quite diligently, and he also learned from others that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess had been sleeping in separate beds all these years.
They have been married for more than three years, but the Crown Prince's residence still has no children. Although he can't say he likes Wei Heng, as her father, he can't openly give her any advice.
He simply said, "Now that I'm back, it's time to put your affairs with the Crown Prince on the agenda."
Wei Heng clenched her fists secretly, trying to control the turmoil in her heart, and replied in a low voice, "Daughter-in-law understands."
Pei Yanzhi then began to walk towards Yongning Palace.
Wei Heng raised her eyes and stared intently at the receding figure, the words he had just spoken still echoing in her ears.
Who would have thought that she, the Crown Princess, the most noble woman in the world, would be unable to win over even one man?
The last time they shared a room was in Yanzhou, after that person left, when Pei Xingjian was so drunk he was unconscious.
That was the second night they spent together, and she wholeheartedly believed that she would be able to conceive a child through that encounter.
But fate seemed determined to play a trick on her, and her period arrived as expected a month later.
Now, it's even more difficult for her to have sex with the Crown Prince.
This year, it's even harder to see him; most of the time, we meet him at the Empress Dowager's Yongning Palace.
She couldn't help but give a bitter laugh. As the Crown Princess, she was nothing more than a figurehead.
If he were unwilling to get close to her, that would be fine, but the Empress Dowager's words implied that Pei Xingjian wanted to take a concubine and choose a concubine.
He declined with various excuses.
Many times she couldn't help but wonder if he hadn't let go of that person at all.
Pei Yanzhi was nowhere to be seen on the garden path. It was quite ironic, considering how large the palace was. These two were truly father and son.
Even the woman he fell in love with was the same person, and the vast harem was practically nonexistent, as if he were keeping his chastity for the same person.
But... this is for the best.
As long as the throne belongs to Pei Xingjian, she will become Empress and Empress Dowager, and the Wei family will be honored beyond compare because of her.
No one in the Wei family will ever look down on them again.
Yinzi glanced at the Crown Princess's gloomy expression and lowered her head involuntarily.
The Crown Princess Xu has had a tough time these past few years, but she has gradually come to appreciate the taste of supreme power.
If four years ago she was still a young girl who longed for Xingjian, now, four years later, her desire for power is no less than that of any man.
...
Inside Yongning Palace.
When the palace maids saw His Majesty enter, they immediately prostrated themselves in respect.
The eunuch jogged to report to the Empress Dowager as she entered the palace.
Pei Yanzhi looked around; this was the first time he had stepped into Yongning Palace this year.
Since that incident three years ago, he has rarely met with the Empress Dowager, only appearing during festivals such as the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Before they even entered the hall, they saw Granny Chang helping the Empress Dowager out, and the entire room was filled with palace maids kneeling on the ground.
Pei Yanzhi walked to the head of the table, sat down, and said calmly, "When I came in just now, I met the Crown Princess, who said that the Empress Dowager was not feeling well today?"
"How are the servants treated?"
The palace servants kneeling below trembled instantly.
Seeing this, Empress Dowager Pei waved her hand and instructed Shutong to serve the emperor tea, then said, "It's just a minor cold."
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him; she hadn't been without regrets over the years.
She never imagined that her son would be so obsessed with that woman, leaving her, his mother, feeling estranged from him.
Thinking of the blood she coughed up this morning, a look of weakness appeared on her face as she said, "Heng'er has come to the palace for a few days every month for the past few years, which has been quite tiring for her."
Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi took a sip of tea and said casually, "She is the Crown Princess, and she is currently the only female member of the palace. It is only right that way."
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Pei swayed even more unsteadily, and all the color drained from her face.
"Is the Emperor... still resentful of me?"
"No, you hate me?"
"Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so slow to take in concubines all these years, and I would only come to Yongning Palace once a year."
Granny Chang, standing to the side, lowered her head and held her breath.
Even Shutong shrank her shoulders.
Pei Yanzhi lifted his eyelids, his expression indifferent, "What is Mother Empress saying? I don't quite understand."
"The world is at peace now, isn't that exactly what the Empress Dowager hoped for? It's just that the Empress Dowager and I don't expect the same thing."
Empress Dowager Pei's hand trembled slightly. "Yes, all I wanted was for her to give birth to her child safely. What wrong did I do? The mistake was letting you marry her, which has now caused a rift between mother and child..."
Her cloudy eyes looked at the emperor, with an almost imperceptible hint of submission and pleading in them. "Your Majesty, if you truly cannot let go of this, I, your humble servant, have now come to my understanding."
"I will send someone to find her. Are you satisfied now?"
Pei Yanzhi then turned to look at her, scoffed coldly, and replied, "My affairs are none of the Empress Dowager's concern. Since the Empress Dowager is well, I will return to the Taihe Palace."
He glanced at Zhuo Shutong and Granny Chang and said, "You two should serve the Empress Dowager well."
Having said that, he turned and left without looking back.
Seeing his ruthlessness, the Empress Dowager finally shed tears. She grasped Granny Chang's hand and said in a trembling voice, "Did I do something wrong?"
Granny Chang sighed deeply in her heart. The rift between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor over the years was far too deep to be mended simply by bringing him back.
These incidents, one after another, have long since exhausted the little affection left between mother and son.
It's just that the Empress Dowager has only just realized it now.
Granny Chang whispered a word of comfort: "His Majesty is just still angry. If that person really comes back, his anger might subside."
The Empress Dowager's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly.
As she reached her age, all those past moments came flooding back, and she realized just how terribly wrong she had been.
"Good, good, send another team to investigate thoroughly in various places."
"yes."
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