Chapter 13 If he doesn't give up his desire to become a monk, she will have no way to survive
Soon, the maid in the house of Marquis Liang brought a box of clothes and a box of jewelry.
Everything she opened was good stuff. She was afraid that the palace would find out that she treated Su Rui harshly and ruin her reputation as a virtuous woman.
Liang was a thousand times more calm and cautious than Zhou Yao. She would not release the eagle until she saw the rabbit. If she had not seen any news in the past seven days, even if she knew that Su Rui deliberately ruined Zhou Yao's business for more than half a year, she would not let Zhou Yao instigate Su Ye to cause trouble for her.
But she didn't expect that the queen would send someone over as soon as she gave in.
In fact, Su Rui didn't expect that the queen would invite her into the palace.
The current queen is the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Lin. She has been named the Crown Princess since birth. She is the childhood sweetheart of the emperor and is the most outstanding lady among the noble families.
Su Rui had never been to the palace, nor had she ever seen Empress Lin. She only knew of her reputation for kindness and benevolence.
But she shouldn't have any contact with such a person in the clouds. Even though Queen Lin is Yun Ji's sister-in-law, her status does not require her to be specially invited into the palace to meet her.
But the decree had been issued, and no matter how worried Su Rui was, she could only choose a turquoise gauze skirt and a set of gold-plated and pearl-studded headgear. After a little makeup, she got on the carriage to the palace.
Xier was accompanying him, and Su Rui originally thought that it was she who led him into the palace.
But when he arrived at the inner palace gate, he saw that the palace maid who led the way was already waiting. Su Rui secretly glanced at Xier and some guesses began to emerge in his mind.
Following the palace maid to the gate of Fengqi Palace, Xier was not allowed to enter. When Su Rui stepped into the palace, Queen Lin was pruning branches with scissors beside the flower bed.
She was wearing a bright yellow cloud satin gauze dress and a flying phoenix hairpin on her head.
Although she was already in her early forties and had given birth to two children, Empress Lin showed no signs of the ravages of time and looked like she was in her twenties.
Although her appearance is not outstanding, her temperament is extraordinary, as if she was born to be the mother of the country.
"I'm here." Looking up and seeing Su Rui, Queen Lin smiled and greeted her, as if she was someone very familiar.
"I, Su Rui, pay my respects to the Empress."
"No need to be so reserved." Empress Lin reached out and helped Su Rui to her feet, her smile as warm as a spring breeze. "Two days ago, I should have sent someone to take you to Fahua Temple, but the Emperor wasn't feeling well, so he didn't leave any instructions. I thought you'd be feeling uneasy after such a long time, so I summoned you today. Firstly, to reassure you, and secondly, I also wanted to see you."
"Thank you for your concern, my lady. I am terrified."
"You are so well-behaved, just like your mother. When I was a girl, I often ran into your mother at banquets. So, I am considered your elder."
Although her mother died early, Su Rui never remembered that her mother had any friendship with Queen Lin.
If that were true, my mother wouldn't have been tortured to death in the Marquis' Mansion.
Now that Queen Lin mentioned it, it seemed like she was trying to get closer to her.
"It must have been pretty hard at Fahua Temple the other day."
"Mr. Yunji didn't ask me to work too hard, it's just that I'm incompetent." Su Rui told the truth.
Empress Lin was so shocked by her bluntness that her face flushed with shame. She smiled helplessly and said, "You little kid, I just said you were well-behaved, and now you're so blunt."
Su Rui smiled but said nothing.
"It's Yunji's fault, too. He's too stubborn." Speaking of Yunji, Empress Lin's eyes showed a hint of pity. "But don't blame him either. He's had it so hard. Because of Concubine Yun's dying wish, he was sent to the Fahua Temple at a young age to practice asceticism, and was to become a monk the next day. Now he's being asked to marry and have children. It's hard for him to accept."
No one would be happy to be manipulated like a puppet.
But the royal family is a place where people have no control over their own affairs, and Su Rui is also a clay Buddha, and she has no ability to show mercy to Yun Ji.
If he didn't give up his idea of becoming a monk, she would have no way to survive.
"But fortunately, you are here. Yunji grew up under my care, and he treats you differently. I sincerely hope that you can let him give up becoming a monk and fulfill the wishes of the late emperor and the late emperor, so that he doesn't have to live a life of seclusion." Queen Lin held Su Rui's hand, looking like a loving mother seeing her savior.
"I, a humble woman, have been entrusted with the Emperor's orders, and I will do my utmost."
"Good boy, I will not make you work so hard in vain. If there is anything you want, just ask me and I will give it to you."
It sounded like whether he met her or rewarded her today, it was all because Yun Ji was willing to condescend and grab her as the only straw for a breakthrough.
But it was obvious that she was following the emperor's orders.
After hesitating for a moment, Su Rui guessed in her heart, "I would like Your Majesty to grant me a few maids and servants."
Hearing her request, Queen Lin's expression paused.
Seeing no response, Su Rui immediately knelt down in panic, "It was me who made such a hasty advance."
"I don't mean to blame you." Queen Lin smiled softly and pulled Su Rui up. "It's just that you are such a fool. What kind of reward is a maidservant? Never mind. I will make all the arrangements for you."
Su Rui, who hadn't even stood up yet, immediately leaned forward to express her gratitude.
"Alright, alright, I'll keep you any longer, but I'm afraid your slender waist will be broken in Fengqi Palace today. Yun Ji went to the palace to pray for the emperor today, and I think he will leave the palace soon. You should go and wait for him to return together."
Su Rui obediently left.
After they left Fengqi Palace, Aunt Youlan, who was beside Empress Lin, leaned over and asked, "Your Majesty, have you followed Miss Su's request?"
"Do it! She's a smart person. Since she has extended an olive branch to me, it's not easy for me to refuse her. Let's do it cleanly and don't let the emperor know that it was she who asked for it." Queen Lin washed her hands and picked up the scissors again to trim the branches.
…
Hall of Mental Cultivation.
After finishing his prayers at the side shrine, Yun Ji walked to the dragon bed and said to the emperor behind the curtain with his hands clasped together, "Your Majesty, the prayers are over. Please fast for the next three days."
"You know very well that I didn't summon you here to pray for blessings." Behind the curtain, the emperor's voice was vague and uncertain, mostly breathless.
Yun Ji's expression remained unchanged. "This is all I can do for the Emperor."
"You... cough cough cough..." The emperor coughed violently, and after a few breaths, he finally recovered his breath and said in a suppressed voice, "I just asked you not to become a monk, but you have to go against me like this?"
"I am devoted to Buddhism, and I hope Your Majesty will not make things difficult for me."
"I know you blame me, and that's why you're deliberately opposing me. Yes, I've been unfair to you in the past, but it was my father's decision, and it was a helpless one. You should understand."
then.
Yun Ji naturally understood that it was helpless, it was for his own good, and it was an inevitable choice.
After so many years, he has understood.
But now...
"Why does the emperor have to force me like this? Is it so important whether I become a monk or not?" Yun Ji didn't understand why he had to be stopped from becoming a monk.
Is this also a helpless act?
But now the emperor is firmly in power and his son has grown up, so he is of no use to him.
"This is my father's last wish, and I shall fulfill it myself."
"Whether the late emperor sent a dream or not, only the emperor knows."
"You mean I fabricated it... cough cough..." The emperor seemed to be sitting up excitedly, coughing and then gasping for breath, each breath more rapid than the last.
The eunuch serving inside was so anxious that he hurriedly called for the imperial physician.
There was chaos in the Yangxin Palace. Yun Ji watched as the curtain was only partially opened when someone came in or out. Finally, he bowed and said goodbye silently.
The breathless emperor felt helpless and melancholy when he saw Yun Ji's receding back after lifting the curtain a little.
He doesn't have much time left.
Not much left!
No matter what, no matter what method, Yun Ji must, must give up the idea of becoming a monk!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
