Chapter 303 Preferring Prince Duan to be Emperor?
Dou Wenyi felt that things were becoming increasingly strange.
The Cold Palace was where Empress Wen lived in seclusion for four years. During her lifetime, Emperor Muzong had countless opportunities to win her back, but he preferred to keep a bunch of concubines who resembled her in the palace rather than lower his head to forgive her and rekindle their relationship.
He pretended to be deeply affectionate his whole life. Now that he's gone to the Cold Palace, is he trying to remember Empress Wen, or is he seeking self-redemption?
Seeking a way to escape?
Pei Siyan's gaze darkened slightly, and he spoke slowly, "Who's here?"
The young eunuch paused for a moment, then reported truthfully, "Prime Minister Meng, Second Grand Secretary Du Hao, Lord Shen, and the Imperial Diarist."
The Privy Council usually arranges for officials to be on duty in the Forbidden City at night. Unless there are urgent military matters, it is unheard of for two senior cabinet ministers to be on duty at the same time. So why was Shen Yanzhou involved in this incident? Was it because he was Emperor Muzong's confidant?
Upon hearing this, Dou Wenyi felt a chill run down her spine.
This deadlock was deliberately arranged by Emperor Muzong. He was determined to have these highly respected officials witness it, simply to make Pei Siyan forever bear the crime of regicide and usurpation!
Unfortunately, he was gambling with the lives of these important officials.
Let's see if Pei Siyan dares to kill them.
But once it is announced that the successor is not the crown prince, even if Pei Siyan is reluctant, he will be in a difficult position. In order to protect his status as the legitimate heir, there will inevitably be bloodshed tonight!
Dou Wenyi's heart was filled with turmoil.
She could remain indifferent and ignore others, but what about Chen Yanzhou?
Are we just going to stand by and watch Pei Siyan kill him?
Her breath hitched. "Your Highness, why don't you let these ministers go back first?"
"Yi'er, don't worry, nothing will go wrong!" Pei Siyan said calmly, as if nothing had happened. "If they weren't here, I would have had to send someone to invite them."
Dou Wenyi was getting anxious. "What if the Emperor wants to harm you?"
Pei Siyan smiled, a chilling smile playing on his lips. "I've already prepared a generous gift for him. I bet he won't."
He didn't care at all, which made Dou Wenyi even more surprised. Could it be that he had some magic trick to turn the tide and make Emperor Muzong change his mind?
Just then, they arrived at the Cold Palace. As the eunuch announced their arrival, the court officials who were waiting outside the Cold Palace courtyard quickly got up to greet them.
Pei Siyan took her hand and led her step by step into the gate of the Cold Palace.
"Your Highness!"
"Your Highness, His Majesty said he wants to draft an edict of abdication, so Xuan Chen and others came, and that's why we all came..." Vice Minister Du Hao bowed and hurriedly explained.
Pei Siyan remained expressionless. "Hmm."
Shen Yanzhou, dressed in a crimson official robe, stood gracefully under the crabapple tree, glanced at her indifferently, and then looked away.
Dou Wenyi sighed silently.
With his keen intuition, how could he not have guessed Emperor Muzong's thoughts? Yet he still appeared here, wasn't it because he didn't want to betray the emperor's favor?
Several rustic dishes were laid out on a simple table. Emperor Muzong, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat at the table, his aged face showing signs of illness. He slowly spoke, "The Crown Prince has arrived? Have a meal with me."
Dou Wenyi paused, stopping at the threshold.
Pei Siyan gripped her wrist tightly, their fingers intertwined, refusing to let her go.
Emperor Muzong seemed to notice her only now, his expression subtle and strange. "You are very satisfied with this marriage, so I will grant your wish! Crown Princess, let's go together."
Dou Wenyi was a little uneasy, so she could only sit respectfully to Pei Siyan's left.
Emperor Muzong seemed dazed, his tone somewhat self-deprecating, "These are the dishes your mother used to cook. Her cooking skills were terrible, weren't they? But whenever she cooked, no matter how unpalatable the dish was, you would still eat it with relish. It must have been really hard for you."
"Back then, I often thought, if only you were a little more mischievous, or a little weaker. Because if something happened to you, your mother might bow her head, think of me, and come to me for help..."
However, Pei Siyan was too sensible and too patient as a child!
Even when he was bullied, he would return to the Cold Palace and never mention it to Wen Wan. Even when he caught a cold, he would rather endure it for a few days than go to the Imperial Hospital.
Listening to these stories, Dou Wenyi couldn't help but feel sorry for Pei Siyan when he was a child.
At the same time, she found it even more difficult to understand the emperor's feelings for Empress Wen.
"It happened so many years ago, why bring it up again?" Pei Siyan picked up his chopsticks, casually took a bite of food, and chewed slowly.
Emperor Muzong's eyes suddenly darkened, and his voice suddenly choked up, "Last night, I dreamed of your mother."
Over the years, he had almost never dreamed of Wen Wan. In his dreams, he was overjoyed, even if she came to kill him with a sword in hand!
He knew that Wen Wan hated him, hated that he had let her down, and hated that he hadn't protected their son.
Emperor Muzong continued, "When you fell off your horse and became critically ill, you were faking it, weren't you? Just to lower my guard and then bestow a marriage upon you to bring you good luck? In reality, you had already seen her all along?"
"yes!"
Pei Siyan looked at her, a doting smile appearing in his dark eyes, and picked up another piece of tofu for her.
Dou Wenyi was having some difficulty breathing. These two, father and son, were too carefree, playing a game of 'truth' here.
But a group of court officials were still waiting outside, and the door of the house was wide open, so they could hear everything, no matter what secrets were being discussed!
With a "smack," Emperor Muzong slammed his chopsticks on the table.
"You unfilial son, that's a crime of deceiving the emperor!"
Pei Siyan stared straight at him and said in a low voice, "Consort Tan poisoned me. If it weren't for the heavens being kind to me and letting me meet 'Little Fairy Doctor,' I would have died from my headaches long ago!"
Emperor Muzong's expression softened for a moment, and he sighed, "It is I who have wronged you, and even more so your mother!"
"Those disaster relief measures, weren't they all your ideas?" Emperor Muzong asked with certainty.
"yes."
Emperor Muzong said with a helpless tone, "The fourth prince handled things so well, making me happy for nothing. I never expected that he was an imposter."
Pei Siyan's eyes were filled with disdain, and his tone was laced with sarcasm, "You're the one who concluded that the fourth son is mediocre."
Hearing this, Dou Wenyi breathed a slight sigh of relief.
It's truly unbelievable what Emperor Muzong was trying to achieve by making such a big fuss.
Meanwhile, the court officials outside were all listening intently, afraid of missing a single word, while the historian's pen never stopped.
Emperor Muzong continued, “I am old and useless, it is time for me to abdicate! In terms of talent and ability, none of the princes can compare to you. It is just a pity that you are too strong-willed, intolerant of any wrongdoing, and vindictive. You are too gentle. Those who are too rigid are easily broken, while those who are good at being gentle will never be defeated.”
"He doesn't act like a proper emperor!"
Pei Siyan's face was handsome yet cold, but when he looked at Emperor Muzong, there was a hint of sorrow in his eyes. "So, you prefer Prince Duan to be the emperor?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
