"My son is useless, I have let my mother down," Zhong Ming'e did not get up. Instead, he hugged Concubine Shu's legs and sobbed, "Mother, I have let you down, it's all because of my incompetence. Please punish me..."
Concubine Shu was heartbroken by his crying. Her two well-maintained hands on Zhong Ming'e's shoulders trembled slightly. She sniffed and tried not to cry. After calming down, she slowly sat up straight. When she spoke again, she was definitely not as warm and kind as before.
"Since you know it so well, I have nothing more to say to you," Concubine Shu said in a deep voice, looking at Zhong Ming'e who was kneeling in front of her and sobbing. Every word seemed to be stinging. "Today, seeing the third brother wearing a royal royal robe that is more noble than yours, and seeing Da'an with such a big belly, you must feel bad, right? You also know that there must be a lot of rumors in and outside the palace, right? Two days ago, your father mentioned you. He asked when you and Zou would be able to give him a grandson. How did you expect me to answer? You are useless, so you deserve to be so embarrassed. Why do you let me embarrass the whole palace?"
"Mother..." Zhong Ming'e looked at Concubine Shu with tears in his eyes. He was no longer as angry and embarrassed as before. Instead, he seemed to have given up. "Mother, I am sorry for you. It's all my fault. Mother, I am useless. You scolded me and beat me..."
"I want to scold you and beat you! Beat you until you change your ways!" Concubine Shu couldn't bear to see him being so cowardly. She gnashed her teeth and grabbed Zhong Ming'e's shoulders tightly with both hands. She was so angry that her breathing became heavy. The mother and son were in a stalemate. Suddenly, Concubine Shu gave up. She took back her hands, wiped her wet eyes with a handkerchief, and said in a deep voice, "I won't say this to you in the future. You can do whatever you want. I will just pretend that I don't have a son like you."
“Mother!” Zhong Ming’e’s throat was sore and painful. He lost all strength after calling out “Mother”. He sat down on the ground and cried even harder. He covered his face with his hands and his whole body twitched. “Mother, don’t… don’t force me…”
"I have never thought of forcing you, it is you who has been forcing me!" Concubine Shu's voice suddenly rose twice as high, as if she had been suppressing it for too long and could no longer hold it in. But after she spoke, she pulled her lips weakly and revealed an extremely bitter smile, "Ming'e, if you were a princess, my status would naturally be different, but my life would definitely be much better than it is now. I wouldn't have to fight openly and secretly with those women in the harem for most of my life, and I wouldn't have to think carefully before doing or saying anything. I have lived such a cautious and prudent life for nearly 30 years, all for you."
"Ming'e, you are a prince. From the day you were born, you can't stay away from these disputes. Don't you know that?" Concubine Shu looked at Zhong Ming'e who was still crying and couldn't help but sighing. She continued, "The eldest prince is deposed. Everyone knows that the emperor will choose one between you and Prince Rong as the crown prince in the future. Even if you give up now and don't want to fight anymore, will Prince Rong let you go? Will the Zhao family let our Cui family go? Ming'e, you have to know that your hand What's at stake is not only your own life and property, but also the life and property of me, the Cui family, and even the Zou family!" At this point, Concubine Shu became obviously excited. She pointed at Zhong Ming'e with trembling fingers, and even her voice trembled violently. "Today, you cry like this, and lightly say that you are useless. Is this the end of the matter? Ming'e, you are playing with the lives of hundreds of people in the Cui family and the Zou family! Do you know it? ! "
"Mother, I don't..." Zhong Ming'e looked like a frightened little animal, his face full of panic and sorrow. His eyes were wide open, and his thin cheeks were full of tears. He looked at Shu Fei helplessly and panickedly, looking at the finger that Shu Fei was pointing at him, and also looking at Shu Fei's face full of sorrow and hatred. Finally, his pale lips trembled, and the words he said were no longer as pitiful as before, "Mother, I was wrong."
He stopped crying and was no longer panicked. He wiped his wet face vigorously and regained the composure, calmness and determination that a prince should have.
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