Chapter 783 Trap!
Empress Dowager Jiang looked at her with a smile.
She was still holding a scripture in her hand, which she had obviously been looking at while waiting for her. She put it back in its original place, then turned to face Shang Ruyi, her smile full of joy and happiness, and said, "I thought we wouldn't have a chance to see each other again, but I didn't expect to meet again so soon."
"Empress Dowager..."
"Princess Qin, please have a seat."
Empress Dowager Jiang pointed to the side, and Shang Ruyi then saw that in the center of this pavilion, two bookshelves had been deliberately moved away, leaving a fairly spacious open space. A round carpet was laid on the ground, but it was piled higher than usual, whether the carpet was too thick or for some other reason.
On the blanket was a low table with some simple cups, tea, and snacks.
Master Xinzheng, being a man of the world and adept at flattery, did not neglect his duties even though he knew this meeting should be brief and simple.
So, Shang Ruyi followed Empress Dowager Jiang over, and the two sat down facing each other.
However, when Shang Ruyi sat down, she was having a hard time sitting because of her large belly. When the Empress Dowager saw her like this, her eyes crinkled up. She personally came over and helped her sit down properly before sitting down opposite her. After sitting down, her smiling gaze remained fixed on Shang Ruyi's belly.
Shang Ruyi blushed slightly and lowered her head, while the Empress Dowager gently asked, "It looks like you're seven or eight months along, right?"
"Eight months."
"You should take good care of yourself during pregnancy."
"It has always been raised with great care."
"Then why did you come here? Even though we didn't leave the city, it's still a long and tiring journey."
After a year, Shang Ruyi felt that she had experienced and changed a lot. As for the Empress Dowager, after experiencing the most significant change in her life, she seemed to have remained unchanged. In terms of mindset, Shang Ruyi even felt that her caring tone and attitude were no different from those of the Empress who had summoned her to the palace to accompany her.
Her gentleness remained as meticulous as ever, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.
Shang Ruyi smiled and pushed the food box that she had placed on the table before sitting down toward her, saying softly, "I brought this to you."
"this?"
Empress Dowager Jiang was taken aback and looked at the food box. She had originally thought it was a small token of Shang Ruyi's affection, but after hearing her talk about it, it seemed that this gift was unusual.
Shang Ruyi said softly, "During my pregnancy, Ruoyan learned to cook and prepare meals by herself. Now her skills are incredibly good. Whenever I crave something sweet, I rely on the pastries she makes to satisfy my cravings."
"ah!"
Empress Dowager Jiang's breath trembled.
This, more than anything else, stirred her emotions. She looked at the food box with a hint of disbelief, then turned to look at Shang Ruyi. Her calm, hoarse voice finally showed a slight fluctuation: "Really, really?"
Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "Of course it's true."
"..."
"She told me that the Empress Dowager loved water chestnut cake the most, and that she also liked hawthorn cake when she was pregnant, so she made some for me too."
Empress Dowager Jiang's gentle yet desolate eyes slowly filled with tears.
Tears welled up, her eyes trembling. She first smiled, but quickly took a deep breath and suppressed the smile. Although every fine line at the corner of her eyes was filled with joy, she still tried her best to control her emotions and said to Shang Ruyi, "Pregnant women shouldn't eat too many hawthorns."
Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "I know, I didn't eat much."
"That's good,"
Empress Dowager Jiang nodded, but in the end she couldn't hold back and a tear welled up in the corner of her eye. She immediately reached out and wiped it away, then said softly with a smile, "She is fine, and you are all fine too, so I am relieved."
Perhaps because she hadn't spoken so much in a long time, and because of the hideous scar across her neck that showed how badly she had been injured, her voice clearly couldn't hold up after she finished speaking. She coughed several times in succession, her voice hoarse like a dull, rusty knife scraping against rough gravel, which was very unpleasant to hear.
Shang Ruyi quickly picked up the teacup and handed it to her.
After coughing, Empress Dowager Jiang looked down at the teacup placed in front of her, smiled, and said, "This is not good, I'll do it myself."
Shang Ruyi knew that she was mindful of her own status and that of her. After thinking for a moment, she could only place the cup in front of her. Empress Dowager Jiang picked it up and took a sip. Once her dry throat had moistened a bit, she put the cup down and said softly with a smile, "I haven't been this happy or talked this much in a long time."
Shang Ruyi nodded gently.
Empress Dowager Jiang then gently stroked the heavy food box with her slender fingers and said with a smile, "If Fei'er eats the pastries made by his sister, he will be happy too."
After saying that, as if she had thought of something, she looked up at Shang Ruyi and said doubtfully, "But, is this all the reason you came here? His Majesty the Emperor—I'm afraid he won't agree so easily, will he?"
As expected, the Empress Dowager is still the Empress Dowager.
Even though he had long since left the imperial court and spent so much time with the ancient Buddha and the dim lamp, his keen senses had not dulled in the slightest.
Shang Ruyi said, "My father originally didn't want me to disturb the Empress Dowager's meditation, but recently, a lot of good news has come from the front, and my father was very pleased, so he agreed to let me come."
"Oh? Good news?"
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Jiang looked at her with a flicker of curiosity, but she didn't dare to ask too many questions.
After all, good news that would please the emperor must be of great importance to the country, and given her current status, she should not be involved in such matters.
Normally, Shang Ruyi wouldn't have said that, but today, just now, after receiving news that Jiang Chongen had surrendered to Yuwen Yuan through Tongguan and sent such an important map, she subconsciously felt that perhaps she should ask the cousin of that key figure about this matter.
The Empress Dowager is more accurate in judging people than they are.
So, after careful consideration, Shang Ruyi told Empress Dowager Jiang about the matter. At the end, she added, "If we can really take back the Eastern Capital this time, it will be a great achievement for your brother."
But as soon as she finished speaking, she realized something was wrong.
Empress Dowager Jiang's usually warm and gentle face gradually turned serious, especially her brows furrowing into a knot. Just as Shang Ruyi finished speaking, she suddenly looked up and asked anxiously, "Has His Majesty already set off?"
Shang Ruyi nodded: "We set off very early this morning."
Empress Dowager Jiang took a deep breath and said, "Quickly, quickly send Fengchen to bring the Emperor back!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately sensed something was amiss, and her expression tensed up as she said, "What does the Empress Dowager mean by that—"
Empress Dowager Jiang hurriedly said, "Jiang Chongen is a cowardly and afraid of trouble. He is also afraid of death. Since he has already surrendered to Liang Shide, he would never abandon his peaceful life and turn back to Dasheng unless there is a life-or-death situation. If he really does do so, there is only one reason."
At that moment, Shang Ruyi seemed to understand as well: "The Empress Dowager suspects that he is only pretending to surrender?"
Empress Dowager Jiang nodded vigorously.
Her face turned deathly pale instantly, and she continued, "My brother is incompetent, but he is ambitious and pleasure-seeking. Although Liang Shide is the leader of the rebels, he has the ability to recognize talent and the wisdom to use people. Under his command, Jiang Chongen can at most rely on the merit he gained from surrendering the city. He will not get anything else. However, given his nature, he will not be willing to be neglected and will try to earn some merit."
"..."
"However, he has no other skills to achieve great deeds or conquer cities and strongholds. If he wants to make a name for himself, he can only—"
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and immediately understood.
Yuwen Yuan sent Shen Tu Tai to capture the two prefectures of Song and Xu, which had a great impact on Liang Shide. He knew that the next step was for Da Sheng to send troops eastward to deal with his Luoyang, and at that time, a bloody battle was inevitable.
Although the relative strengths of the two sides are currently unclear, Liang Shide should know that Yuwen Yuan has many capable generals under his command. Shen Tu Tai alone would be enough to give him trouble, not to mention Yuwen Ye and Yuwen Qian, whose strength he cannot fathom. Before the two sides face off head-on, Liang Shide should also want to find a way to weaken the fighting power of Dasheng.
Using Jiang Chongen is a highly profitable strategy.
If Jiang Chongen's surrender is truly feigned, Yuwen Yuan could very well fall into his trap, and once—
Shang Ruyi suddenly shivered.
She hurriedly reached out to hold onto the edge of the table, trying to stand up, but because her body was so heavy and she was startled by the news, she couldn't stand up. Instead, her legs felt swollen. Seeing this, Empress Dowager Jiang quickly got up and came over to help her.
Just as Shang Ruyi was barely able to stand up straight, she suddenly frowned: "Hmm?"
Empress Dowager Jiang looked at her: "What's wrong?"
Shang Ruyi sniffed. The strong smell of ink, which felt like an invisible stick constantly hitting her head, seemed to have some other smell mixed in... like the smell of something burning.
She asked, "Your Majesty, is something burnt?"
Empress Dowager Jiang was taken aback and subconsciously looked down at the table. Only a candle was burning obediently, and there was nothing unusual about it.
However, the burning smell in the air became more and more obvious, and even Empress Dowager Jiang gradually sensed something was wrong. She subconsciously looked up at the only wall in the pavilion that was exposed. There was only one window on the wall, but because they needed to avoid being seen, the window was closed. At this moment, on the closed window, some distorted light and shadow could be faintly seen, making the two of them increasingly uneasy.
Empress Dowager Jiang released Shang Ruyi's arm, walked over, and opened the window.
A wave of heat swept over us!
"careful!"
Shang Ruyi was shocked and hurriedly stepped forward, grabbing her arm and pulling her back. With a "whoosh," flames suddenly rushed in like a greedy venomous snake, almost engulfing Empress Dowager Jiang.
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