ch 79

In the Buddhist hall of Ci 'an Palace.

The Empress Dowager twirled a string of prayer beads in her hand. She didn't know when some white hair had appeared on her temples. She lowered her eyes and asked, "How is it?"

The servants in the hall didn't dare to make a sound. Song mama had served the Empress Dowager for a long time. She knew the Empress Dowager's temper, so she could only brace herself and go forward.

She bowed and respectfully said, "Empress Dowager, an accident happened on the way to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. The Imperial Concubine was … kidnapped by King Wu. He's fine, but he's a little frightened. I'm afraid the coronation ceremony will have to be postponed."

The Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes. She paused and asked in a deep voice, "Then … how does the Emperor want to punish King Wu?"

Song mama said awkwardly, "I don't know yet, but …"

The Empress Dowager took a deep breath. She had lost her usual calmness. She slammed the table and said, "Speak!"

"But I heard that King Wu was shot in the leg. He's now imprisoned in the Imperial Prison and handed over to the Lord Wang, Wang Shou."

"Wang Shou …" The Empress Dowager's face was extremely ugly. "The black-faced King of Hell who made the criminals in the Imperial Prison tremble in fear? No, Aijia must see the Emperor. "She suddenly stood up and walked out.

Song mama hurriedly chased after her and advised, "Empress Dowager, His Highness King Wu destroyed the ancestral ceremony and tried to coerce the Imperial Concubine to murder the Emperor. He committed a heinous crime. The Emperor is angry right now. If you interfere, won't you be alienated from the Emperor? His Highness King Wu will have no way to live."

The Empress Dowager slowed down. She clenched the prayer beads in her hand and said sternly, "Aijia is his mother after all!"

Song mama came to her side and whispered, "Do you still remember what happened in the Imperial Study during the winter of the 13th year of Emperor Chong?"

As soon as her voice fell, the Empress Dowager's fingertips trembled. She finally stopped. Even if she wanted to forget, how could she forget?

When Zong Huan was born, he cursed the Empress Dowager to death. Although the previous Emperor was afraid of him, he couldn't blame him for these groundless things. He was usually cold, but not to the extent of banishing him to the Cold Palace.

The reason why he was completely disliked was because of an incident that happened in the Upper Study Room during the winter of Emperor Chong's thirteenth year.

At that time, the Empress Dowager was still just Concubine Xiao. Her close friend, Concubine Shu, was pregnant with the Empress Dowager's child. The late Emperor was very happy and stayed in Concubine Shu's palace almost every night.

In a place like the imperial harem, there were no long-term friendships. There was only mutual exploitation. When there was a common enemy, they were friends. When there were conflicting interests, they were enemies. Noble Consort Xiao didn't hesitate. She decided to have Noble Consort Shu miscarry.

Although Imperial Consort Shu had always been on guard against her, Imperial Consort Xiao was more skilled. The sachet she wore was filled with a medicine that could cause a miscarriage. It was colorless, odorless, and difficult to detect. The medicine's effect was very slow, and it wouldn't take effect for a while. However, she and Imperial Consort Shu often met, and within two months, Imperial Consort Shu showed signs of a miscarriage.

Things were often this coincidental. That day, Imperial Consort Shu had received the late Emperor's permission and was fortunate enough to enter the Upper Study Room to visit the Fourth Prince. Unfortunately, she was carelessly bumped into by Zong Huan. Actually, the bump wasn't heavy, and Imperial Consort Shu was only startled. She took two steps back and steadied herself, but in the next moment, she saw red.

If it had been someone else, the late Emperor might have considered the reason. However, the target was Zong Huan, who had cursed the Empress Dowager to death as soon as he was born. It was very reasonable that Imperial Consort Shu would miscarry because of his baleful aura.

Noble Consort Xiao was also present at the time. She had entered the Upper Study Room because of Imperial Consort Shu, but she saw her son being ruthlessly reprimanded by the late Emperor and sent to the Cold Palace. That child expressionlessly knelt on the ground and didn't say a word from beginning to end, as if he had accepted his fate.

However, before he left, he glanced at Noble Consort Xiao, causing her body to instantly turn cold. Even now, she had already become the Empress Dowager from Noble Consort Xiao, but she still remembered that deep and cold gaze.

— — He knew!!

He knew that it was Noble Consort Xiao who caused Imperial Consort Shu's miscarriage. He also knew that his Imperial Consort Mother had given up on him for the sake of her future. She had even watched him die without saving him. She didn't say a word for him, nor did she plead for mercy.

This was also the reason why the Empress Dowager had never once visited Zong Huan during his three years in the Thousand Autumns Palace. She actually had a guilty conscience and felt guilty, but there was no turning back for her.

Now that Nurse Song mentioned this matter, she finally came to her senses. Although the Emperor still treated her as a filial mother, the relationship between the two of them was far from that of an ordinary mother and son.

She had once taken a life for King Wu. Now, she didn't have the face to ask for a second time.

She closed her eyes, a dejected expression appearing on her face. She had lived a life of endless honor and glory. She had originally thought that she was the final winner of this harem, but it turned out that she had lost so miserably.

= = =

Chengqian Palace. The scarlet candlelight gently swayed.

Zong Huan fed Su Yang some warm water. His pale lips finally showed a moist luster, but his face was still extremely pale. The boy in his arms lowered his eyelashes, like a delicate and beautiful puppet that he could manipulate, but refused to say a single word.

How could this kind of obedience not be a form of resistance? Zong Huan never knew that there really was such a kind of pain in the world. There was clearly not the slightest scar, but the pain was suffocating.

He steadied his mind, leaned over, and kissed the corner of the boy's lips, saying: "We have already sent people to investigate. The second day of the next month is an auspicious day. You should take good care of your body and wait for us to marry you."

The boy, who had been quiet all this time, finally raised his eyes and softly asked: "Do we not need to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices?"

His tone was very calm, as if he was just casually asking, but in Zong Huan's ears, it was no different from ridicule.