Upon hearing this, Hongli put down his pen, leaned back on the dragon throne, pinched his brow, and remained silent.
Unable to guess his thoughts, Yu Ying continued to persuade him, "The Empress Dowager's birthday is also known as the day of mother's suffering. She raised you with great difficulty. Even if her words and actions are sometimes inappropriate, Your Majesty should not hold it against your own mother. If you cannot bear to offend her, I can do it for you."
Hongli remembered the Empress Dowager's birthday, and he understood the principle of being filial to his mother. It was because he kept this in mind and cared about the bond between mother and son that he endured all the difficult things the Empress Dowager had done to him and Yushan.
However, tolerance did not earn him understanding. The Empress Dowager became increasingly demanding, repeatedly making requests and forcing him to do things he disliked. Hongli could no longer tolerate it and finally decided to send the Empress Dowager away.
"If the Empress Dowager had any regard for the bond between mother and son, she would not have repeatedly threatened me. Since she wants to make trouble, then I will grant her wish."
The so-called threat refers to the Empress Dowager's demand that he ask her for a legitimate son, right?
Feeling slighted, Yu Ying clenched her fingers tightly, but she couldn't hold a grudge and magnanimously said:
“Your Majesty’s intentions are clear to me. This matter is actually quite easy to resolve. Your Majesty can come to Changchun Palace. We can refrain from sexual relations. I will cooperate with you and will not put you in a difficult position. In this way, the Empress Dowager will no longer cause you any trouble.”
He used to be willing to give her face and put on an act, but now he's too lazy to even pretend and speaks his mind directly.
"I'm afraid the Empress has forgotten what happened when I visited Changchun Palace last time."
How could she forget? She would never forget such a shameful situation for the rest of her life! Biting her red lips, Yu Ying was overwhelmed with shame and indignation, and could not speak for a long time.
Hongli paid no heed to her feelings, his expression remaining indifferent. "I have my own plans regarding the Empress Dowager's affairs; there's no need for the Empress to worry. If you truly miss the Empress Dowager, why don't you go to Changchun Garden to accompany her in chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha?"
Yu Ying sneered inwardly; Hongli was trying every means to get rid of her!
After banishing the Empress Dowager from the palace, and then finding another excuse to banish her as well, what's next?
Could it be that he wants Su Yushan to become empress?
How could a woman of Han origin with no family background become the empress of a country?
Now that she no longer has the authority to manage the harem, if she were to lose her title as empress, wouldn't she be utterly disgracing the Fucha family?
No matter what, the Empress's position must be preserved!
As for the Empress Dowager, she tried to persuade the Emperor, but he refused to listen, so there was nothing she could do.
In the end, Yu Ying did not disobey the emperor's wishes any further and curtsied to take her leave.
After returning to the palace, Yu Ying felt increasingly aggrieved. Dong Ling suggested, "Why doesn't Your Majesty summon Consort Rong and have her persuade the Emperor?"
When Gao Xiuwen was mentioned, Yu Ying dismissed her with disdain, “Back when we were in the Prince’s Palace, she was close to me. Now that Consort Chun is in power, I have lost the power to manage the harem. Even Consort Rong looks down on me and hardly ever visits Changchun Palace. Instead, she is very close to Consort Chun.”
What use would it be for me to seek out such a snobbish person? She's just going through the motions and won't take my words to heart at all; she simply doesn't want to offend Consort Chun.
Yu Ying sighed inwardly at the fickle nature of human nature. No one was worthy of her trust. Every time she went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she was met with cold stares. As the Empress, she was not even as good as an ordinary concubine.
But she was burdened with the heavy responsibility of her family, so she had to keep going no matter how tough things got.
Even if she doesn't win Hongli's favor, she has to endure it so that Su Shi has no chance to dream of becoming empress!
The Empress was deeply wary of Su Yushan, unaware that it was not Su Yushan's dream at all.
She spends her days taking care of the children at Jingren Palace, living a carefree and comfortable life, and never bothers to think about those scheming and intrigue matters.
However, Hongli was having a headache. Not only did the Empress come to persuade him, but even the court officials were nagging him.
Feeling troubled, Emperor Hongli summoned his fifth son to the palace to play chess.
As the chessboard was just set up, Hongzhou casually asked, "The Empress Dowager's birthday is approaching. What are your plans, Your Majesty? Will you take this opportunity to bring the Empress Dowager back to the palace?"
Hongli was impatient and unwilling to speak frankly to others, but he trusted his fifth son greatly. Holding a white piece, he shook his head.
"There hasn't been much movement from Hongxi yet; they're just waiting to see what I do at the end of the year. If I bring the Empress Dowager back, it will prove that she went there for medical treatment, and the rumors that I mistreated her will be dispelled. If I don't bring her back, they'll have a reason to make a big fuss and continue to spread rumors that are detrimental to me."
"You have to cast out a long line to catch a big fish." Hongzhou understood this principle, but he still had some concerns.
"This plan is good, but how do we explain it to the Empress Dowager? She will surely blame you again."
"Let her think what she wants! She's already considered me an unfilial son, so one more charge won't make a difference." Hongli was too lazy to flatter her, so Hongzhou offered his suggestion.
"How about I try to persuade the Empress Dowager? I can coax her a bit and make her feel better. It would be troublesome if she got sick from being upset."
If Hongzhou goes, it will be like giving the Empress Dowager a way out: "Don't bring him back to me."
Hongzhou always knew exactly how to handle things. "Don't you trust your brother, Your Majesty, with your authority?"
Since he was willing, Hongli did not stop him and allowed him to make the trip.
Hongzhou was always efficient in his work, and he set off for Changchun Garden the next day.
The Empress Dowager was waiting for the Emperor, but instead of the Emperor, she was greeted by Prince He.
Upon seeing Hongzhou, the Empress Dowager felt even more disheartened, and sighs of regret filled her heart.
"Even though the fifth son isn't my biological son, he still knows to come and visit me. How can my own son be so heartless, refusing to see me at all? How can he be so cruel?"
Hongzhou said with a forced smile, "Empress Mother, my brother is too busy with state affairs to come over."
She didn't believe him at all. "Don't make excuses for him. Even if he's busy, can't he spare two days?"
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