EMPRESS DOWAGER

The Empress Dowager was the Emperor's mother, and before she was known by that title, her name was Li Suyin.

As Empress Dowager, she was no longer active in imperial politics even though her husband was previously the Emperor of the empire. It was a real shame when her husband suddenly passed away many years ago. Her husband died at a prime age, and that was why Wu Shun had to ascend the throne when he was so young.

Wu Shun even needed to get married at the age of twenty as a precaution in case his father suddenly left the world, and that decision was the right thing to do because Wu Shun's father did leave so suddenly, and Wu Shun had to ascend the throne with his young wife as the new Empress.

Wu Shun did marry at a young age, but he lived separately from his young wife until he was officially appointed as the new Emperor three years after his marriage. And three years after Wu Shun officially became the ruler of the empire, the Empress got pregnant, and nine months later, Wu Jinhai was born into the world.

That was a story related to the Empress Dowager and her son, and it happened many years ago. This year, she would turn seventy, and one could say she was not very healthy. In a year, Empress Dowager would get sick more than ten times, and it seemed like she fell sick every month for a year.

That was why how the Empress Dowager fell ill during the new Crown Prince's ceremony was nothing new. The Empress Dowager couldn't even witness how her grandson was appointed as the new Crown Prince of the empire, but apparently, her condition was a little better today when she was even able to get out of her bed.

After hearing one of the palace maids report to her that she was receiving a visit from the Second Prince, she carefully got up from the bed before positioning herself at the square table within her pavilion. She then asked the maid to let the Second Prince in, and that was why three people were sitting at the table now.

"I didn't expect you to come too, Ming'er," the Empress Dowager said as she looked at the pink-robed figure sitting before her.

Yu Ming had indeed come to the Empress Dowager's residence with the Second Prince, and the two men were now seated across from her.

When Yu Ming heard Empress Dowager's statement, he smiled faintly before replying, "Why didn't you expect me to come to visit you, Your Majesty? Do you think I am not filial enough to visit my grandmother?"

Yu Ming's relationship with the Empress Dowager was quite good. It was Wu Jinhai who introduced the two of them a long time ago, and it seemed that Empress Dowager had a good first impression of him. Yu Ming didn't even know what Wu Jinhai had said to his grandmother, but the Empress Dowager had even acknowledged him as her grandson, and that was how the grandmother-grandson relationship was established between the two of them all those years ago.

However, Empress Dowager snorted loudly after hearing Yu Ming's question. "I believe you are my filial grandson, but I'm not even sure whether you are a loyal man or not, Ming'er," she replied sarcastically.

Hearing Empress Dowager's sarcastic reply, Yu Ming looked confused to the point of furrowing his brows. "You must have heard a lot of rumors about me, haven't you, Your Majesty? You must have heard how I used to play with lots of people, but I've stopped doing that sort of thing recently, Your Majesty. I think I'm prepared to be loyal to just one person, but unfortunately, I still haven't found the right person for me," he replied.

Yu Ming didn't even pause as he uttered a reply for the Empress Dowager, and it seemed he was quite confident in his words. In his eyes, the Empress Dowager was like a mother figure to him. Perhaps the cause was that Empress Dowager was the only woman who treated him well when he was in the Xinyang Imperial Palace. Of course, he couldn't expect Concubine Zhu to treat him well, and that was why he was quite grateful that there was still Empress Dowager treating him as a family in the palace.

That was why Yu Ming wanted to flatter the old lady, but what he just said caused someone to snort loudly within the pavilion, and both Yu Ming and the woman turned to that person after hearing the loud noise. At this moment, they could see how awkward Wu Jingguo looked after realizing how he failed to control his reaction after hearing Yu Ming trying to flatter the old lady.

"I… I apologize for my impolite behavior, Your Majesty," full of embarrassment, Wu Jingguo made an apology, and even Yu Ming tried to hold back his laughter when he witnessed the bashful expression on Wu Jingguo's face.

The Second Prince was full of himself most of the time, and even when he was in front of Emperor Wu Shun, he still tried to appear charming and powerful. However, the young man suddenly made a bashful apology in front of Empress Dowager, and the sight was quite comical in Yu Ming's eyes.

Sure enough, Yu Ming had predicted that Wu Jingguo would mock his statement earlier, and that was why he was now laughing in his heart when he could see how embarrassed the Second Prince was.

But Yu Ming's playful expression was a stark contrast to how Empress Dowager frowned disdainfully as she stared at the black-haired man. Wu Jingguo was sitting next to Yu Ming, and the two of them were opposite the old woman, but now the woman kept her eyes fixed on the figure of the Second Prince.

"I don't even care if you play with the many men out there, Ming'er. But, why do you have to play with this brat? I heard how you've gotten closer to this brat recently, and today I too heard how my son appointed you as this brat's attendant. So, you will no longer serve my grandson, Ming'er? You will no longer be loyal to Xiao Hai?"