latelenovela Chapter 284 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (184)
Chapter 284 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (184)
"So, do you want to see him or not?" the eunuch asked in a low voice.
Ji Shuqin wanted to tell her to go back and stop waiting, but then he thought that he had already given instructions, and now that she was still coming to him, she was not so easy to dismiss.
"Okay, let her in."
The sky was foggy today, making people feel a bit suffocated, but there was no sign of rain. Granny Ma, dressed in a drab gray robe that she had worn while practicing Buddhism with the Empress Dowager, knelt expressionlessly beside her.
She kept her head down, not looking at anyone. The wind blew her hair, but she remained motionless, as if she was determined to kneel here and die if she didn't see Ji Shuqin today.
"Oh! Please get up quickly, the Emperor has agreed to see you!"
The head eunuch who had been groveling before Ji Shuqin spoke with his chin held high in front of Granny Ma, revealing a somewhat mean-spirited demeanor.
"Who the Emperor wants to see or not see is entirely up to him, isn't it? You're really... be careful not to offend the Emperor, or you'll be in deep trouble!"
The servants in this palace each serve their own masters; only when their masters are doing well can the servants below them follow suit.
He served the new emperor, but because he hadn't been with him since childhood and didn't share that long-standing bond, he was even more careful in his service, afraid of losing this good job!
Now, everyone in the palace knows that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager have grown distant. Judging from the Emperor's demeanor, even those serving him dare not mention anything related to the Empress Dowager in front of him.
Now look what's happened! The servants in the Empress Dowager's palace have caused such a commotion with the Emperor. This Granny Ma is said to have served the young Emperor.
The head eunuch didn't know how much affection she had for the new emperor, so he didn't dare to carry her out rashly. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask the emperor for permission.
Isn't this just making things difficult for him?
The Emperor had long said that he would not see anyone related to the Empress Dowager. If the Emperor had any feelings for this old nanny, he might feel that he had failed in his duties and could not even get rid of an old nanny.
If the emperor doesn't care about her and only finds her annoying, then she, who went to inquire, will definitely suffer the consequences.
From this perspective, it was entirely a disaster, with no benefit whatsoever. Naturally, he had no kind words or attitude towards Granny Ma.
Granny Ma, however, kept her eyes straight ahead, as if she hadn't heard him at all, and walked into the new emperor's bedchamber with a solemn and serious expression...
Ji Shuqin had changed into his everyday clothes and stood behind the table with his hands behind his back. There were still some unfinished folding documents spread out on the table.
"This old servant greets His Majesty!"
Granny Ma stopped, knelt down, and performed a grand salute to Ji Shuqin.
Ji Shuqin frowned slightly, took two steps forward, and bent down to help her, but Granny Ma kowtowed to Ji Shuqin first.
"Get up," Ji Shuqin could only say softly.
"I know perfectly well why you've come today, Granny," Ji Shuqin said directly, speaking before she could finish.
Granny Ma composed herself and paused for a moment: "Even so, this old servant still wishes to say a few words to His Majesty."
Seeing her as serious as ever, Ji Shuqin sighed and ultimately decided not to interrupt her directly.
"Your Majesty...the Empress is still unable to get up." When the Empress was mentioned, Granny Ma spoke quickly, afraid that Ji Shuqin would hear and interrupt her.
"Has the imperial physician visited you every day?"
Ji Shuqin did not show any impatience or anger, and continued to ask gently and patiently.
"I come to treat Her Highness every morning and evening." Granny Ma's expression relaxed a little.
"That's good. I'll trouble you to look after Mother Mother, Granny." Ji Shuqin said calmly.
"Your Majesty is too kind to this old servant. This is what this old servant should do for Her Majesty!"
Granny Ma opened her mouth, wanting to say more than just that, but Ji Shuqin's attitude made it even harder for her to speak, leaving her unsure how to say the words she had prepared in her heart.
"Your Majesty, this old servant dares to say... that Her Majesty is in this state because she heard that Your Majesty ordered her to go to the temple to pray for blessings... This has caused Her Majesty to suffer this affliction. Her Majesty is not young, and this constant torment is not conducive to Her Majesty's peaceful recuperation."
"Mother, there is no need to go to the mountain temple to pray for blessings. I have already ordered the national temple to be repaired. Your mother will not be short of food, clothing and other necessities. I have also ordered the imperial physician in the palace who is good at treating this disease to go with you."
Ji Shuqin's gaze was indifferent. He paused for a moment and continued, "The Empress Dowager does not need to travel back and forth. She should rest and recuperate in peace."
For the first time today, Granny Ma lost her composure and looked at Ji Shuqin in disbelief. She understood the meaning behind Ji Shuqin's words: the Empress Dowager would never have to return to the palace again.
This... even the worst-case scenario that Granny Ma had imagined was not this bad!
Ji Shuqin's eyes were as calm as still water without a ripple: "If Mother has any needs, she may... bring them up with me before leaving the palace."
This statement is even more thought-provoking. Does it mean that the Emperor is no longer planning to spend any more time or effort on the Empress Dowager?
Or perhaps... once the Empress Dowager is moved out of the palace, there will be no more Empress Dowager! Granny Ma felt her palms starting to sweat.
She had been with the Empress for so many years, experiencing and witnessing everything, yet now, the usually gentle and benevolent new Emperor, and the eldest prince who had grown up by her side, instilled such a sense of intimidation in her, forcing her to lower her head.
"When you return today, you can tell the Empress Dowager what I said. I am busy with official business these days and will not be going there in person."
Ji Shuqin nodded, unwilling to discuss further, indicating that she could leave.
"Your Majesty! The Empress Dowager is now... Even if you keep her in the palace, what good will it do! Her health is probably no longer able to..." Granny Ma suddenly said sadly.
"Your Majesty, how could you not know the Empress's longing for this palace? She has spent half her life waiting, hoping, and resenting. Please, have mercy and show some compassion... let the Empress have some peace!"
Granny Ma's words were rather cryptic, but her affection for her was profound.
How could Ji Shuqin not understand what she meant?
It was precisely because he knew this that Ji Shuqin understood how to truly imprison and punish the Empress Dowager.
She felt that what she could easily obtain, what she had done through all sorts of trouble and schemed for years, she could never get, and that she would never have a smooth and happy life...
For someone as obsessive and unrestrained as the Empress Dowager, just like the first half of her life, there was never a moment of peace. She was always as if she were being roasted by fire and boiled in hot oil. She didn't know whether it was better to live or to die.
As long as she lives, every day will be a day of torment for her.
"Her Majesty, she is truly sincere towards you! Your Majesty, if you do not wish for Her Majesty to be with you... you only need to..." Granny Ma pleaded with Ji Shuqin.
“You should know what the Empress Dowager did, Granny,” Ji Shuqin interrupted her, staring intently at him.
“But Her Majesty is also a pitiful person. Her Majesty used to be…” Granny Ma wanted to say that the Empress Dowager was not like this before. Granny Ma had been serving the Empress Dowager since she was twelve or thirteen years old, and it had been decades since then.
Although the Empress Dowager was proud in her youth, she was not arrogant. When Ma Ma's parents were seriously ill, it was the young lady of the An family who gave her money so that she could take good care of her family.
When he discovered that she was secretly crying at night and had made a mistake during the day, after learning the reason, he did not punish her. Instead, he said to her, "A filial person is bound to be loyal and righteous. If you are not even filial to your parents and do not worry about them, how can I dare to have you serve by my side?"
From that moment on, Granny Ma decided to serve the young lady for the rest of her life, remaining loyal and devoted to her without any disloyalty.
"Then aren't the people who are hurt pitiful?" Ji Shuqin didn't directly address Ji Shumin, but instead asked in return.
"If I sit idly by and do nothing to correct this, what kind of person would I be?" Ji Shuqin felt more and more tired as he spoke. He had already put too much effort into the matter of the Empress Dowager.
"When the Empress Dowager goes to the National Temple, I'm sure you, Granny, will go with her. I hope you take care, Granny. This journey ahead may be the last time we meet." Ji Shuqin finally made his point clear.
"Your Majesty, you..." Granny Ma said dryly. She knew what the Empress Dowager had done over the years, and she also understood that even though she had taken care of the eldest prince when she was young, she was not someone worthy of special attention in the Emperor's heart at this moment.
The affection they shared in their youth has long since faded away. The fact that the Emperor is willing to see her today is truly a favor to him. After today, he will probably not show her any more favor.
“The Empress Dowager has a nanny by her side, so she is not completely abandoned by everyone.” Ji Shuqin’s voice was very low, but it was still shocking to nanny Ma.
The Emperor's dislike and resentment towards the Empress Dowager had accumulated to this extent.
Poisoning the late emperor, murdering her own son, and repeatedly interfering in politics—the Empress Dowager's actions have led to this tragic end; she is truly merciful.
Granny Ma lowered her head, unable to utter another word.
She was only trying her best to win back a sliver of the Emperor's mercy for the Empress Dowager, but she couldn't budge it in the slightest.
The little prince who once nestled beside his mother has now grown into a tall, refined, benevolent man, capable of discerning right from wrong and governing the world.
"It's getting late. The Empress Dowager needs someone by her side. You can go back now. I will have the Directorate of Ceremonial choose an auspicious day."
"This old servant understands, and this old servant kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your grace!"
It is unknown how Granny Ma reported to the Empress Dowager, but a few days later, when the Empress Dowager's health improved slightly, she actually dragged her ailing body to the palace of the Grand Empress Dowager.
The Empress had almost never set foot in the palace of the Grand Empress Dowager. Today, when she looked up, the Grand Empress Dowager's appearance was exactly the same as it had been many years ago. Apart from having a few more wrinkles, she seemed to have hardly changed.
Especially her eyes; the Empress remembered that when she entered the palace, her eyes were always gentle and smiling.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." The Empress Dowager's voice was hoarse.
The Empress Dowager was somewhat surprised. She knew the Empress's personality. She seemed respectful, but this noble lady who was famous throughout the capital had never taken her seriously since she entered the palace, even though the Empress Dowager never cared how others viewed her.
At this age, it's quite a rare thing for someone to take the initiative to visit you.
"Even if I have to die, I want to die in the palace..." the Empress Dowager said sadly.
"Grand Empress Dowager, please...please help me, please persuade Qin'er." The Empress Dowager softened her posture and finally pleaded with her head bowed.
She has no other choice now; the palace is her obsession, and she even feels that she will die the moment she steps out of the palace gates.
"I couldn't even persuade the late emperor in the slightest, how could I possibly persuade the new emperor? Now, this old woman of mine just wants to bask in the sunshine when it's good, and try her best to enjoy a few more years of blessings from her children and grandchildren." The Empress Dowager still had that kind and smiling look on her face.
"Are you blaming me? The late emperor treated me like that back then, and you turned a blind eye... You didn't say a single word for me back then, and now, are you going to just watch me die?" The Empress Dowager's resentment suddenly rose up, and she blurted out as she looked at the Grand Empress Dowager's face.
Why do I resent you?
The usually amiable Empress Dowager lowered her gaze, her eyes sharpening as she looked at the Empress Dowager's face.
"I……"
The Empress Dowager thought to herself that Lu Liruan had made things difficult for her in the past, and that when she returned to the palace, she had deliberately competed with the Grand Empress Dowager for the Phoenix Seal, suppressing the Grand Empress Dowager's power to the minimum and leaving her powerless in the harem.
But she couldn't say it; if she did, wouldn't that be admitting it...?
The Empress Dowager didn't press her. Instead, she leaned back on the cushion, waved her hand, and gestured for the old nanny serving her to step aside, leaving only the two of them to hear each other clearly.
"I am not unaware of what you have done."
The Empress Dowager said quietly.
"What are you saying?" The Empress Dowager's voice was tense; she had always felt that the Grand Empress Dowager knew nothing.
Otherwise, if she knew what I was doing, how could she not have told the late emperor?
The Empress Dowager noticed the subtle changes in her expression and knew what she was thinking, but she did not offer any explanation.
The emperor's actions often determine the rise and fall of a dynasty. An uncontrollable emperor who repeatedly makes absurd moves is in the most dangerous position.
The Empress Dowager could not bear to see the turmoil resume; she cared not only for the late Emperor, but also for many others.
Recalling the words the late emperor had spoken to her before his death, even the Empress Dowager, with her heart of stone, could not remain completely unmoved, but it was all too late.
Under the watchful gaze of the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager gradually began to nearly lose her mind again.
She gripped the ever-increasing amount of fabric tightly in her hands, her teeth clenched: "If that's what the Empress Dowager says, then if you don't help me stay, you won't be able to keep your secret either!"
"Whatever you say," the Empress Dowager said wearily.
"I agree with Qin'er's decision. My heart is with Min'er, Lie'er, and my beloved Li Ruan... You are such a scourge, so go where you belong."
It was rare for the Empress Dowager to say such unpleasant things.
The Empress Dowager left dejectedly, and in the palace, she could not get any help from anyone.
After returning home, she fell ill again, feeling weak and listless, and spent her days in bed.
The day the Empress Dowager left the palace was early summer. It had rained the night before, and on the mountain road in the suburbs, the horses' hooves pounded on the wet ground, splashing up mud. When Lu Liruan got out of the carriage, the hem of her skirt was also stained.
“If you insist on going back today, then get up and move around by yourself! The wheelchair is stuck and I can’t push it!” Lu Liruan stretched her stiff body from sitting for too long and complained to Ji Shumin, who was still in the carriage.
She tiptoed and twisted her waist, glancing casually in one direction. The emerald green was shrouded in a thick fog, making it impossible to see anything clearly.
It was even less likely that they would see that, behind the mountain, on the opposite road, another caravan was silently traveling, taking the Empress Dowager away.