The Empress Dowager, dressed in palace attire, entered surrounded by attendants.
Upon seeing this, Jingtan and Yunshu quickly stepped forward to help Jiang Xianhao to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.
Jiang Xianhao stood still in front of the Empress Dowager and bowed respectfully.
The Empress Dowager has not seen Jiang Xianhao for a long time.
She didn't have many rules to begin with, and she was never required to go and pay her respects.
Jiang Xianhao used poor health as an excuse, and the frequency of his greetings gradually decreased from once a month to once a year.
Over the years, Jiang Xianhao has confined herself to this courtyard, never going out or interacting with others, living a life as if she had been banished to the cold palace.
Now, she looked down at Jiang Xianhao's face.
One can't help but sigh, it seems that time has left no trace on this beautiful woman.
Both her appearance and her temperament were exactly the same as before.
Moreover, her demeanor and poise remain as elegant as ever.
Seeing Jiang Xianhao like this made the Empress Dowager certain that she could turn the tide.
She sat down in the main seat of Jingyu Palace, looked at Jiang Xianhao who was bowing her head and looking meek, and ordered everyone present to leave before slowly speaking.
"Did you know that Hechuan has a child?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xianhao slowly raised her eyes and looked at the Empress Dowager in surprise.
"You are, after all, Hechuan's mother. I have thought about this matter for a long time, and I still feel that I should tell you."
"He was wounded in the border war five years ago. He was rescued by a woman. Later, the woman disappeared. He couldn't find her and was very upset."
Unexpectedly, the woman turned out to be Gu Jingchun, the eldest daughter of the Yong'an Marquis's family who had been separated from her family. After being found, she brought back a four-year-old child.
This child is Hechuan's child.
The Empress Dowager paused here, carefully observing Jiang Xianhao's expression, before continuing.
"However, Hechuan is in a difficult situation now, and for the sake of the child's safety, I do not intend to reveal his identity."
"However, His Majesty has arranged a marriage between Gu Jingchun and Luo Ziqian, and they will be married in three days."
The Empress Dowager sighed softly as she spoke.
"As for Hechuan, he seems gentle, but he is actually very stubborn. If the day of the wedding really comes, I am afraid that he will do something to disobey the imperial decree."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xian seemed to give a self-deprecating smile.
"Your Majesty, what's the point of telling me all this?"
"Do you really think that I can change any of this in my current state?"
The Empress Dowager's gaze involuntarily fell on Jiang Xianhao.
Whether something can be changed or not, we'll only know by trying.
The Empress Dowager sighed, as if she were thinking of the past.
“Jiang, you’re still too stubborn. If only you had softened your stance back then…”
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager..."
Jiang Xianhao suddenly raised her voice, interrupting the Empress Dowager. A glint of light flashed in her calm eyes, piercing straight at the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, what happened back then is in the past, and I do not wish to recall it."
Her expression was cold, and her words carried a chill.
It's just like Shen Hechuan when he's angry.
"The Jiang family!"
The Empress Dowager also raised her voice.
"Don't forget, you are the Empress of Dacheng!"
"The Crown Prince's mother!"
"Since you're in this position for a day, you have responsibilities!"
“You should stand up and do everything you can to protect yourself and your children, instead of hiding in this little corner, grieving in silence, and wasting your life.”
The Empress Dowager was annoyed by his lack of ambition, and her voice rose considerably.
"Go out and take a look now."
"Just how far has Consort Hui and her son pushed Hechuan?"
"He is the crown prince of the Great Cheng!"
"A crown prince who was virtuous, talented, wise and intelligent, and loved by all the officials, was repeatedly framed by Consort Hui and her son, and was suspected by his own father, the emperor."
"But what about you?"
"Yet he hides in the deep palace, secretly grieving, doing nothing, watching helplessly as Hechuan suffers injustice at the hands of the Emperor's pillow talk."
The Empress Dowager spoke quickly, and when she got excited, she banged her cane on the ground, trying to wake Jiang Xianhao, who was pretending to be dead.
Jiang Xianhao, however, kept her head down and remained silent.
After a long while, she slowly raised her eyes, tears welling in her eyes, her voice choked with sobs, and said, "Your Majesty, this concubine... my fate with His Majesty was severed more than a decade ago."
"Now, His Majesty despises me to the extreme. Even if I were to leave, what could I possibly do?"
"Perhaps, because of me, His Majesty will dislike the Crown Prince even more."
As she spoke, tears welled in her eyes, and she slowly uttered her last words.
"The Crown Prince...does not have a good mother."
I can barely protect myself, how could I possibly protect him?
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager sighed again.
That's enough!
Ultimately, Shen Hechuan is just like Jiang Xianhao in temperament.
Once they've made up their minds, they will never change them, no matter what.
If that weren't the case, why would she have moved to this remote Jingyu Palace without saying a word back then?
"I will say no more now. Your son's future is in your hands. Think carefully about what you should do."
After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she said no more, got up, and left.
After the Empress Dowager left.
Jiang Xian sat there for a long time before standing up and returning to the pavilion.
She looked at the zither in front of her, raised her fingers, but left them hovering above the strings for a long time without letting them fall.
After a long while, she withdrew her hand and gave instructions to Jingtan behind her.
"Jingtan, go and get me a charcoal brazier."
Charcoal basin?
Jing Tan was puzzled, but she still obediently took one.
Jiang Xianhao picked up the zither, touched it lovingly in her hands, and then slowly placed it into the brazier.
Jing Tan, who was behind her, was startled and quickly spoke up to stop her.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, why did you burn the zither? Wasn't it your favorite zither?"
Jiang Xianhao slowly closed her eyes and spoke softly.
"What's the use of liking it?"
"Since it's no longer useful, there's no need to keep it."
After saying that, she slowly stood up.
"Go and find out what has happened to the Crown Prince recently."
"yes."
Jing Tan hadn't seen Jiang Xianhao look so stern in a long time, so she nodded respectfully and hurried off to make the arrangements.
After Jiang Xianhao finished speaking, she turned around and strode away.
Behind her, the zither was quickly engulfed by the flames and gradually turned to ashes.
The news of the Empress Dowager's visit to Jingyu Palace quickly reached Emperor Rongcheng's ears.
"How long did the Empress Dowager stay in the Empress's palace?"
Dexi lowered his head and replied, "It will take about half an hour."
Dexi continued, "This old servant also heard that when the Empress Dowager came out, her complexion was not very good."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Rongcheng couldn't help but let out a soft snort.
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