Chapter 13 The Evil Stepmother
Jinyiwei Commander Lu Zheng received the order to thoroughly investigate the poisoning case of the Third Prince and bowed silently to leave the Purple Palace.
The hem of the black flying fish robe disappeared in the shadows outside the palace door, like a stone thrown into a deep pool, leaving only an even more stagnant air in the palace.
Liu Jin leaned against the cold back of the dragon throne, and the hall fell into silence again.
The heart-wrenching pain and overwhelming hatred just now disappeared temporarily like the receding tide, leaving only endless fatigue and emptiness.
Her fingertips unconsciously slid across the smooth edge of the imperial desk. The cold touch seemed to still retain the chill of the gold bricks in the delivery room fifteen years ago.
Child... the cry as weak as a kitten seemed to ring in my ears again, bringing a new round of fine, silent torture.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced down his surging emotions.
The emperor has no right to indulge in sorrow.
When his gaze refocused, it fell on a certain place in the void, and the figure of the young man who was standing with his back straight and analyzing the mystery in a clear and orderly manner in the imperial study emerged clearly.
The eldest son of Weiyuan Marquis, Cui Xiao.
He remained calm in the face of danger, had clear thinking and was extremely courageous.
What is even more rare is his dignified demeanor, and he is not at all shy in front of the emperor.
Liu Jin tapped his knuckles lightly on the imperial desk.
Cui Yan, Marquis of Weiyuan... Although he has lost some of his fighting spirit due to internal strife in the palace in recent years, he is still considered calm and reliable in the army and the court. He made a lot of efforts in the last restructuring of the capital's garrison.
Liu Jin's voice was slightly hoarse.
"I'm here." The eunuch who had been standing like a shadow immediately bowed and responded.
"I remember there are several pieces of fine Hui ink and Chengni inkstone in the storehouse?
And the set of 'Three Friends of Winter' jade paperweights that were presented as tribute from the south a few days ago?"
Liu Jin's voice returned to its usual calmness.
"Pick something unassuming but substantial, and add two pieces of brocade, and send them to the Marquis of Weiyuan's mansion. Tell them... that Cui Xiao has been rewarded for his meritorious service as a tutor to the Third Prince, and that he has made great progress recently."
Fuan understood.
Your Majesty is using Cui Xiao's name to show favor to the Weiyuan Marquisate.
The things are not expensive, but they are real "imperial gifts", they represent honor and favor.
He immediately agreed: "Yes, I will do it right away, and I will make sure that the Ministry of Internal Affairs handles it properly and gloriously."
In the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion, a high incense table was set up in the main hall, and everyone in the mansion knelt on the ground.
The eunuch who announced the decree read out the emperor's commendation word by word in a shrill voice with the unique majesty of the palace.
Cui Yan knelt in the front, listening to the imperial edict praising his son for his "diligent study" and "assisting the prince in making progress", and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
My son has established himself firmly in the palace and even won the favor of His Majesty!
This was better than the best situation he could have imagined!
He kowtowed deeply and loudly
"Your Majesty, Cui Yan, accepts your command and expresses gratitude! Long live the Emperor!"
The Marquis' wife, Xiao Zhou, was so happy that she cried. She held the hand of her son, who was also trembling with excitement, and felt very proud.
However, Mrs. Zhou, who was supported by her maid and kneeling in the corner, had a face full of wrinkles and slightly crooked due to a stroke, which was twisted with unwillingness and resentment.
His cloudy eyes were fixed on the bright yellow imperial edict and the rewards held behind the eunuch.
Why? How did that little bastard get the emperor's favor? What about her grandson Cui Jun? How is Jun'er inferior to him?!
While the eunuch had finished reading the decree and was chatting with Cui Yan, Mrs. Zhou suddenly broke free from the hand of the maid, took a step forward, and shouted in a hoarse and unclear voice:
"Eunuch...Eunuch! Please stay! I...I have something to say..."
The hall suddenly became quiet.
Everyone's eyes turned to her with astonishment.
Mrs. Zhou was completely unaware, or perhaps she was too busy to care. She pointed at her grandson Cui Jun, who was blushing and at a loss, and said anxiously to the eunuch announcing the decree:
"This... this is my grandson Cui Jun! He... he's more sensible than Cui Xiao! More... more promising!
Please, eunuch... please, eunuch, say a few good words to His Majesty! Let... let him enter the palace too!
"Become the prince's study companion! I will reward you handsomely!"
As she spoke, she tried to grab the eunuch's sleeve.
The eunuch who announced the imperial decree was an old veteran in the palace. What kind of scene had he not seen?
He calmly took a step back, avoiding the skinny hand, his face still wearing a professional smile, but his eyes were filled with coldness and undisguised contempt.
His voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard throughout the hall.
"Old Madam, be careful with your words. The prince's study companion was personally chosen by His Majesty. How can a minister interfere? It is also not something that an ordinary nobleman can casually ask for.
The old lady is very kind-hearted, so you should take good care of yourself. My Lord, I will take my leave."
He bowed to Cui Yan, whose face was ashen and he wished he could find a hole to crawl into, then turned around and left with his men, leaving the room in dead silence and the old lady's face instantly pale and desperate.
When the eunuch who announced the decree returned to the palace, he naturally told the "heroic deeds" of the "old lady's successor" in the Marquis's Mansion to the eunuchs he was familiar with as a joke.
For a moment, the tea room of the Inner Court was filled with laughter.
"Oh my, this old Lord of Weiyuan Marquisate is really bold!"
"That's right! She thinks the palace is her backyard? She even wants to force her grandson in there?"
"Tsk tsk, she's just a stepmother from a humble family, not even worthy of being in public! She's completely disregarding the rules and etiquette!"
"I heard that he wanted to poison his grandson! He has such a vicious heart, no wonder he is so confused.
Liu Jin was reviewing the memorials when he heard Fu An's whisper with a smile. He just raised his eyelids slightly and a very faint, cold arc appeared at the corner of his lips.
"You are an ignorant and foolish woman, making a fool of yourself." He ignored her as if brushing off a speck of dust.
Fu An, however, saw that his master seemed to be in a better mood today than before, and thought of Cui Xiao, the young man.
Following the topic, with a bit of interest in telling stories, he told the thrilling incident of "step-grandmother poisoning grandson" before Cui Xiao entered the palace, and the latest hot gossip in the circle of nobles in Beijing.
He described it vividly, from how the old lady poisoned him under the pretense of ginseng soup, to how Cui Xiao's life was hanging by a thread, to how the mysterious young doctor saved his life with three injections.
Finally, it tells how the old lady was unwilling to hold a banquet again and poisoned the food, but was "deployed" by a young genius doctor who tasted the poison for her. She was so angry that she had a stroke on the spot, and how she later became notorious...
Liu Jin was just listening casually at first, but the more he listened, the tighter his brows furrowed.
He put down his red pen and his eyes became sharp.
"You're saying that Cui Xiao was poisoned twice by his step-grandmother? Once with a mixture of red cinnabar and slow-acting poison, and once... with a snack?"
"Absolutely true, Your Majesty!"
“It is said that the first time was extremely dangerous. If it weren’t for that young genius doctor, the Weiyuan Marquis would have been… The second time was even more dangerous. If it weren’t for that young genius doctor’s alertness, the consequences would have been unimaginable!
The old lady of Weiyuan Marquis was so cruel and despicable that it was simply horrifying!
In all my years in the palace, I have never seen a woman in the inner chambers who could be so vicious! "
Liu Jin was silent.
He thought of his child who died young, and of the Queen Mother Zhou's instigation and cruelty.
Are all the "grandmothers" in this world so unbearable?
Cui Yan... How could the Marquis of Weiyuan, who was calm, experienced and methodical in the court, have such a vicious stepmother?
And that kid Cui Xiao actually grew up in such a den of tigers and wolves?
No wonder he was so calm and smart beyond his age in front of the emperor. That was all honed on the brink of life and death!
A subtle complex emotion flashed across Liu Jin's eyes, and he understood Cui Xiao's situation a little bit.
Perhaps there was a hint of... sympathy? Hadn't he, too, been struggling to survive under the shadow of Empress Dowager Zhou?
But, he couldn't protect his own child...
"Your Majesty, the Second Prince requests an audience."
The eunuch's report outside the hall interrupted Liu Jin's thoughts.
"Announce." Liu Jin collected his thoughts and restored his imperial dignity.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
