Chapter 971: 452 Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law (Third Watch) Chapter 971: 452 Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law (Third Watch) Eunuch Qin’s heart skipped a beat when he heard these words, “Empress Dowager, you can’t possibly be thinking…”
The words “relinquish power” came to the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to say them.

Empress Dowager Zhuang knew what he wanted to say. She had indeed seriously considered the matter. Holding complete control of the court, it was unclear whether it was for self-preservation, for the Zhuang family’s sake, or for the welfare of the nation–or perhaps it was just for the little money in the treasury.

After all, an Empress Dowager with real power certainly reaped far more benefits than one without.

But now–
It seemed she no longer needed to protect herself, nor did she need to safeguard the Zhuang family. As for the welfare of the nation and the little money…

Hmm.

She was quite reluctant to let go of the money.

There was no helping it, she had many children to provide for!

Eunuch Qin was unaware that the Empress Dowager’s thoughts were already far astray, and he sighed, “Alas, you had warned the Zhuang family long ago. It’s the Zhuang family’s own appetite that has grown too big and can’t be reined in.”

How could only Consort Zhuang giving Ning Wang notions he shouldn’t have led to Ning Wang deviating so drastically from the norms? Grand Tutor Zhuang must have also played a significant part.

And now, they have sent the child’s future under the executioner’s blade.

“What does His Majesty plan to do with Ning Wang?” Empress Dowager Zhuang asked.

Eunuch Qin replied, “I heard that he is to be stripped of his royal title, demoted to a commoner, exiled from the Capital City… banished to a bitterly cold place.”

This punishment for the emperor’s most beloved eldest son was extremely severe; it must have been decided amidst agonizing heartache.

He didn’t consult Empress Dowager Zhuang for her opinion.

It wasn’t that he disrespected her, but precisely because he respected her too much, he didn’t want her to endure the pain of punishing Ning Wang.

Once the imperial edict was announced, from that moment on, the father-son relationship would be severed, never to see each other again in this life.

This was almost no different from a parent sending off their child to death.

Let him alone bear everything. In countless nights to come, waking from dreams filled with longing for his son, regretting his past decisions for being too heartless–these would be his sufferings alone.

“Did Ning Wang… not defend himself at all?” Empress Dowager Zhuang asked.

“He did defend himself, but it was ineffectual,” Eunuch Qin sighed.

In his view, Ning Wang’s defenses were as frivolous as Consort Zhuang’s angry words, managing to irritate the emperor without addressing the core issues. The only real way to excuse himself was to place the blame on the Crown Princess–
Claiming that she lured Ning Wang, whether Xiao Hen or Wo Yang, it was all her idea, and Ning Wang was merely bewitched by her. If necessary, feign madness, claiming to be drugged by her “baiyao” would do.

No matter the truth, his own brothers are always one’s own people, while the Crown Princess is always an outsider. The emperor would surely be lenient with Ning Wang.

But Ning Wang, he just–
Well, forget it, he’s a real man.

The news that the emperor intended to depose Ning Wang swiftly spread to the East Palace.

The Crown Princess had been locked in her room these past couple of days. Neither the Empress nor anyone else had come to interrogate or punish her, but the longer this went on, the more anxious she grew.

Furthermore, hearing that Ning Wang was to be deposed, her anxiety increased even more.

If Ning Wang, the emperor’s own son, could face such fate, how could her own end be any better?

Even though she wasn’t the main instigator, her involvement had led to sibling rivalry and the emperor would surely hold her responsible.

She opened her room door, only to be stopped by the palace maid at the entrance.

With a hint of pleading, she said, “Let me go see the Crown Prince!”

One of the palace maids replied emotionlessly, “The Empress has ordered that the Crown Princess is not to leave.”

…

Gu Jiao hadn’t entered the palace for the past couple of days and was unaware that it had turned upside down. A brawl at a gambling house in the Capital City had led to dozens of injuries, with eight people critically wounded, all sent to the Divine Hand medical hall.

Gu Jiao and Doctor Song, among others, were so busy they barely touched the ground, only finishing all the suturing by evening.

She remembered that Princess Xinyang’s medicine should be finished, so she needed to make a trip to Vermilion Bird Avenue.

Little Xiao Hen was playing in the courtyard. Hearing her plans, he placed his small hands behind his back and adorably asked, “Jiaojiao, can I go with you? I want to see Long Yi.”

He had made a new friend, Long Yi.

Gu Jiao had no objections.

With Little Xiao Hen pestering Long Yi, Long Yi wouldn’t come to her to waste time, perfect.

Gu Jiao took Little Xiao Hen to Vermilion Bird Avenue, still with Xiao Sanzi driving the carriage.

“Long Yi!”

As soon as Little Xiao Hen hopped off the carriage, he couldn’t wait to find Long Yi in the courtyard.

Gu Jiao went to examine Princess Xinyang. The weather was nice today, so the princess sat by the window, where she could clearly see the courtyard scene, and naturally, she saw the little buzz-cut tyke.

The little tyke also saw her and stopped, politely greeting her, “Princess Xinyang.”

Princess Xinyang gave a slight nod in response.

The little tyke didn’t move, as if waiting for something.

Princess Xinyang looked at him, puzzled.

With his little hands behind his back, the little tyke tilted his head and seriously said to Princess Xinyang, “You haven’t greeted me yet.”

Princess Xinyang paused for a moment, then said, “Jing Kong.”

Little Xiao Hen cheerfully shook his head and dashed off to find Long Yi.

Long Yi didn’t let Little Xiao Hen search for long, leaping down from the rooftop.

The two of them joined forces to make mischief among Princess Xinyang’s flowers.

Princess Xinyang: “…”

The pair had made mischief together before, and now they were adept at it; Gu Jiao, however, was unaware that they were repeat offenders and thought it was their first time.

This behavior must be stopped the first time it occurs.

Gu Jiao, through the window sill, addressed Little Jingkong, “Jingkong, you mustn’t damage someone else’s flowers.”

In Jiaojiao’s presence, Little Jingkong was an absolutely obedient and well-behaved baby, never challenging Jiaojiao and always eager to avoid troubling her.

Little Jingkong retracted his hand in a second, “Okay, Jiaojiao!”

Seeing the mischievous child from another family being controlled, Princess Xinyang felt she had to restrain her own, or it would be quite embarrassing.

Princess Xinyang said to Long Yi, “You should also stop picking flowers.”

Long Yi really did stop picking.

He simply uprooted them instead!

Princess Xinyang: “…”

Unable to control Long Yi, Princess Xinyang was resigned, thinking let it be what it will be.

The older and the younger went off to cause trouble in the courtyard again.

After checking Princess Xinyang’s pulse, Gu Jiao took out a stethoscope and placed it inside Princess Xinyang’s robe.

Princess Xinyang glanced at the hand reaching into her robe, then at the stethoscope hanging from her ears, her expression somewhat indescribable, “Where on earth did you get these strange and unusual things? I’ve never seen a physician like you. You couldn’t possibly be trying to take advantage of me.”

Gu Jiao released the stethoscope and gave her a quick squeeze, “This is what taking advantage looks like.”

Princess Xinyang looked down at the hand on her chest: “…”

You couldn’t possibly think the Human World is too harsh and want to run off to the underworld.

Gu Jiao continued to use the stethoscope, unflinchingly checking her heart rate.

Just, the feel is quite good.

It’s also lucky that Princess Xinyang, irritated by Long Yi, had developed immunity; otherwise, Gu Jiao might not have escaped a punishment to the palm of her hand.

Little Jingkong was playing wildly in the courtyard.

“Long Yi, Long Yi! Come catch me!”

He hid behind a tree and made faces at Long Yi.

The next second, Long Yi appeared behind him.

“Eek!”

Little Jingkong’s hair stood on end and he ran away flailing his little arms!

“He’s a lot like Ahen,” Princess Xinyang said, watching Little Jingkong escape and waving his little claws.

“As a child,” she added. “Apart from his face which isn’t similar, his expressions and little movements are very much so.”

Gu Jiao: That’s right, they sleep in the same room every night, squabbling from morning till night.

Princess Xinyang, gazing at the two frolicking in the courtyard, commented, “Long Yi treats him like the four-year-old Xiao Hen.”

Oh?

This had not occurred to Gu Jiao, after all, Xiao Hen had already grown up and couldn’t possibly return to being a child.

But it seems the thought processes of the Dragon Shadow Guard are not like those of normal people; Long Yi could accept the presence of Little Xiao Hen, as well as the existence of the young Xiao Hen, without one disturbing the other.

She just didn’t know what would happen if the two appeared at the same time.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

The sound of Little Third Son came from the doorway, “Eh? Big Brother Xiao! How come you’re here! Are you here to pick up Miss Gu? Miss Gu is inside!”

Xiao Liulang was unaware that Gu Jiao had come here; he just happened to be passing by.

But Little Third Son directly dragged him inside.

Long Yi, busy catching Little Jingkong, heard the disturbance at the entrance. He turned his head, glanced at Xiao Liulang, then turned back to look at Little Jingkong in front of him, his brain crashing once again!

…

The presence of Xiao Liulang and Little Jingkong together proved to be problematic.

Long Yi would be confused.

Xiao Liulang’s gaze, passing through the window sill, met with Princess Xinyang from afar, and both of their eyes skimmed over a sea of complexities.

Xiao Liulang then glanced at Gu Jiao beside him before turning and walking out of the courtyard to return to his carriage.

Princess Xinyang lowered her gaze and picked up a cup of tea from the table, which had already gone cold, and asked casually, “Has his hand healed?”

Gu Jiao packed away her stethoscope and raised an eyebrow: “Why not ask him yourself?”

Princess Xinyang responded indifferently, “If you won’t say, never mind.”

Gu Jiao sighed resignedly, “Alright, alright, I’ll tell you. It hasn’t healed yet.”

Princess Xinyang’s fingers on the teacup tightened slightly.

Gu Jiao measured with her fingertips and sighed, “There’s a small scar left. He must apply Scar Ointment every day, it will take three months for the skin to return to its original state.”

Princess Xinyang looked at her pointedly, “Can’t you just say everything all at once?”

Gu Jiao spread her hands, “That’s why I told you to ask him. He, at least, can say it all in one breath.”

Princess Xinyang: This girl!

After playing for a while in the courtyard, Little Jingkong ran into the house with a sweaty head and said to Gu Jiao, “Jiaojiao, I want a mask, too.”

Gu Jiao took out her spare mask from her small backpack and handed it to him.

Princess Xinyang, looking at the showily flamboyant peacock feather on the mask, felt her eyelids twitch uncontrollably.

What on earth is this girl’s sense of taste!

“Thank you, Jiaojiao!” Little Jingkong, holding the mask, ran out excitedly, “Long Yi, Long Yi, I have a mask now!”

The scene suddenly reminded Gu Jiao of something. Resting her chin on one hand, she looked at Long Yi in the courtyard and asked Princess Xinyang, “Princess, why doesn’t Long Yi have tattoos on his face?”