Chapter 970: Empress Dowager 451 (second update) Chapter 970: Empress Dowager 451 (second update) The affair of Prince Ning was of great importance and had shamed the entire Imperial Family. The Emperor made every effort to suppress the news, even resorting to a combination of grace and intimidation with Yuan Tang, hoping he would keep his lips sealed about the incident.

Yuan Tang verbally agreed, but what he did secretly was beyond the Emperor’s control.

Unless Yuan Tang was killed, there would be no certainty in sealing this breach; however, the Emperor was not a tyrant and was far less cruel and ruthless than Empress Dowager Zhuang and the late Emperor.

The Emperor instructed the King of Rui and his wife to also keep their mouths shut. The couple, always honest, agreed not to speak out and truly kept their word.

Afterward, the Emperor had the Dragon Shadow Guard arrest Ning Wang’s trusted servant, Qi Fei, and handed him over to Eunuch Wei for interrogation. Whether through severe torture or intimidation and bribery, they had to find out what happened four years ago.

Eunuch Wei had been at it for a full day and night, and when he came to report back, his hair was disheveled. He tidied himself up outside the door.

“All right, come in!” the Emperor said impatiently.

Eunuch Wei entered the room, having served the Emperor for many years, forming a deep bond between master and servant. He looked at the Emperor with a complex expression and hesitated to speak.

“Speak,” the Emperor said, “I can take it.”

Eunuch Wei sighed: “The murderer from four years ago was indeed His Highness Prince Ning.”

The cup in the Emperor’s hand crashed to the floor, shattering with a loud bang.

…

“Disaster! Your Majesty! The Emperor wants to depose Prince Ning!”

Inside Yongshou Palace, a palace maid ran in frantically, her skirt hoisted up. Consort Zhuang’s face changed drastically, and without finishing her half-done hair and makeup, she rushed to Huaqing Palace.

She and Prince Ning knelt on the ground, Prince Ning seemingly crushed by the blow, his face ashen, while Consort Zhuang crawled on her knees to the Emperor, grabbing the hem of his robe, choking and pleading, “Your Majesty! Please do not depose Han’er! Han’er is your own flesh and blood… he is the one you watched grow up bit by bit… back when the Liulang Residence had only one child… have you forgotten how much you cherished Han’er?”

Her voice was filled with tears!

Wasn’t the Emperor heartbroken?

The son was his, not picked up from the side of the road!

Among all his children, it was Prince Ning who had grown up by his side since infancy; he had personally cared for him, changed his diapers as a prince of the realm, bathed him, fed him, and taught him his lessons himself.

Prince Ning’s first smile was for him, and his first steps were also taken towards him.

Back then, it was meaningful because he had been an idle prince with no major responsibilities, and spending time with his eldest son had almost become the most significant part of his life.

Latter, he became Emperor.

And even later, he had Empress Xiao and many more children.

The eldest son remained the most special in his heart, but he was no longer the Emperor’s only concern.

He had many things to care about; they were first sovereign and subject, and only after, father and son. They say the Imperial Family is heartless, but why did his heart hurt so much?

Seeing the Emperor unmoved, Consort Zhuang’s gaze grew colder and colder, she released the hem of the Emperor’s robe, sitting back on her knees on the cold ground, and looked up at the Emperor with red-rimmed eyes.

“Please execute us, mother and son,” she said.

The Emperor’s brow furrowed.

Eunuch Wei was also shocked, not expecting Consort Zhuang to utter such rebellious and outrageous words.

To ask the Emperor to kill his own consort and son was surely not to make matters worse.

Consort Zhuang raised her hand to wipe the tears from her cheeks, but no sooner had she done so, more tears uncontrollably fell.

She scoffed coldly, “Your Majesty has been waiting for this day for a long time, hasn’t he? We, mother and son, have been thorns in Your Majesty’s side, obstacles in your path.”

The Emperor said coldly, “Consort, what nonsense are you spouting!”

Consort Zhuang retorted bitterly, “This consort is not speaking nonsense. I am Your Majesty’s legitimate wife, yet after ascending to the throne, you did not make me the Empress. They say a man should not cast aside his wife of humble beginnings, but demoting his wife to consort and forcing her away, how are these any different? When Your Majesty sees us, mother and son, you are reminded of your own disgraceful decision. We are a disease in Your Majesty’s heart, it’s better to end the pain quickly and remove this ailment!”

The Emperor was so angered by Consort Zhuang that he didn’t want to deal with anyone.

“I have finally realized why Qin Chuhan has become what he is today; it was all because you led him astray!”

In her heart, how she thought would naturally be how she acted. It was she who instilled in Qin Chuhan all the thoughts that should have belonged to them as mother and son, causing an imbalance in his heart and leading him down a point of no return.

Why didn’t I let Zhuang Mingzhu become empress back then? Isn’t the reason obvious enough?

With Empress Xiao and the Marquis of Xuanping holding them back, the Zhuang family still dominated everything. It is easy to imagine that if Qin Chuhan had become the empress’s legitimate child, the first thing the Zhuang family would have done was to kill me, the emperor, and support Qin Chuhan to ascend the throne legitimately!

Of course, my decision at the time was based on my simultaneous fear of both the Empress Dowager Zhuang and the Zhuang family.

Now, I understand my mother had no intention to harm me, but I still do not regret my decision from before.

As long as Zhuang Mingzhu became empress, it would be difficult to ensure that the Zhuang family wouldn’t make a move against me. Whether it was Empress Dowager Zhuang turning a blind eye to the Zhuang family’s attempt to assassinate me, or Empress Dowager Zhuang breaking with the Zhuang family to protect me, it would inevitably bring a storm of blood and strife to the court.

Back then, I was poisoned by Consort Jing, filled with loathing for Empress Dowager Zhuang; I wouldn’t acknowledge her kindness. Thus, the worst outcome would be a destruction where all three parties are injured.

A nation plagued by internal troubles will inevitably attract external threats.

Consort Zhuang, having failed to plead her case with the emperor, got up and went to Renshou Palace.

An incident as big as this naturally couldn’t have escaped Empress Dowager Zhuang, and she expected Consort Zhuang would come to her. She did not hide; instead, she directly instructed Eunuch Qin to let her in.

As soon as Consort Zhuang entered Empress Dowager Zhuang’s Sleeping Palace, she threw herself at her feet, clinging desperately to Empress Dowager Zhuang’s legs, weeping and pleading, “Auntie… please save Chuhan… save him… Chuhan is your grandson… your own nephew… the same blood of the Zhuang family flows in his veins… save him… Auntie… save him…”

Empress Dowager Zhuang closed her eyes deeply and said, “You ask me to save him, but who will save Xiao Hen, who will save Wo Yang?”

Consort Zhuang retorted, “Wo Yang’s death is not to be regretted! He was of bad character, with vile intentions…”

Empress Dowager Zhuang looked at her coldly, “Wo Yang was of bad character, yet your son committed such an act, and you still have the face to criticize Wo Yang for his bad character and vile intentions.”

Consort Zhuang said agitatedly, “What I said is the truth!”

Empress Dowager Zhuang snapped, “Even so, it does not warrant a death sentence!”

“Auntie!” Consort Zhuang lifted her head, looking at Empress Dowager Zhuang with grievance.

Empress Dowager Zhuang looked down at her, “Alright, you say Wo Yang deserved to die, so how about Xiao Hen? What did such a virtuous and fragrant person do to warrant displeasure from others?”

Consort Zhuang’s eyes flickered as she said, “He… he… he is Empress Xiao’s most beloved nephew! The legitimate son of the Marquis of Xuanping! Auntie, the Xiao family has brought such misery upon us, and both the crown prince and Empress Xiao have taken away everything that should have belonged to us. Is it so wrong for Chuhan to seek revenge for himself?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang clenched her fists, her body trembling slightly, “So this is what you think!”

Realizing her slip of the tongue, Consort Zhuang hurriedly corrected, “I… I… didn’t mean that, Auntie, I just spoke in anger! What I meant to say is, Chuhan surely did not harm Xiao Hen, they are framing him! They are framing my Chuhan!”

Empress Dowager Zhuang said indifferently, “Is that so? Even the emperor would frame his own son?”

Consort Zhuang was startled at first, then she bit her lip and said resentfully, “Auntie, you actually just don’t want to save Chuhan because he ordered the capture of that scholar who looks like Xiao Hen. Auntie, you’ve shown more concern for that scholar than for Chuhan! It’s favoritism! Have you even considered what your current status cost? Without the Zhuang family, could you be where you are today? His Majesty was suspicious of you many times in the past. Our mother and son suffered because of you, leading to our downfall. And now, Auntie, you’ve reconciled with His Majesty, enjoying a deep bond of mother and son, while pitiable Chuhan and I have become stepping stones for all of you!”

Consort Zhuang was driven out.

Empress Dowager Zhuang slumped into her chair, her body leaning weakly against the backrest.

Prince Ning’s trouble would not leave Empress Dowager Zhuang indifferent; after all, he was someone she had once doted on. Whether it was the Prince of An County or Prince Ning, both were children she favored.

If not for comparing Prince Ning with Xiao Liulang, there really wasn’t much of a comparison to be made; the two affections were different.

But in this matter, Empress Dowager Zhuang did not favor Xiao Liulang.

It was Prince Ning who had truly done wrong.

“Empress Dowager,” Eunuch Qin came in with a bowl of Ginseng Soup, “You’ve barely eaten these past two days, and you look pale. Have some Ginseng Soup to nourish yourself, lest Miss Gu and Xiao Xiuzhuan worry again.”

Empress Dowager Zhuang sighed, “I can’t drink it.”

Eunuch Qin tried to console, “You need not take to heart what the Consort said.”

Empress Dowager Zhuang said wearily, “She still talks like this in front of me; I can’t imagine how she educates her child in private. I am also to blame; I have given them delusions they should not have had.”

Being in a high position of power, and at odds with the emperor, it’s inevitable that people would think I was bound to break with the emperor one day.