Chapter 451: Empress Dowager
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
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O R A N G E S T A R
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G O L D S T A R
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R A I N B O W S T A R
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T H E S U N
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Ning Wang's matter was of great significance, causing humiliation to the entire imperial family. The Emperor was doing everything in his power to suppress the news, even extending favors and influence to Yuan Tang, hoping that he would keep quiet about this incident.
Yuan Tang had verbally agreed to cooperate, but secretly, the Emperor had no control over his actions.
Unless Yuan Tang was eliminated, there would always be a risk. However, the Emperor was not a tyrant and didn’t resort to ruthless methods like Empress Dowager Zhuang and the former Emperor.
The Emperor also instructed Rui Wang and Rui Wangfei to keep their lips sealed. The couple were genuinely honest individuals. They promised not to divulge anything, and they truly wouldn’t reveal anything.
Following that, the Emperor ordered the Dragon Shadow Guard to apprehend Ning Wang's trusted subordinate, Qi Fei, and handed him over to Eunuch Wei. Whether through torture or coercion, they must extract the truth about what happened four years ago.
Eunuch Wei went through a full day and night of interrogation, and when he came to report, his appearance was disheveled. He tidied up himself outside the door.
"All right, just come in!" The Emperor impatiently exclaimed.
Eunuch Wei entered the room. Having served the Emperor for many years, their relationship was deep and complex. He looked at the Emperor with a mixed expression, struggling to speak.
"Speak." The Emperor said, "Zhen can handle it."
Eunuch Wei let out a sigh, "The culprit four years ago was indeed Ning Wang."
The cup in the Emperor's hand crashed to the ground with a loud noise, shattering into pieces.
......
"Not good! Not good, Your Highness! His Majesty intends to depose Ning Wang!"
Inside the Yongshou Palace, a frantic palace maid hurriedly entered, holding up her skirt slightly. Imperial Consort Zhuang's expression changed drastically. Disregarding her partially styled hair, she rushed to Huaqing Palace.
She knelt beside Ning Wang. Ning Wang seemed to have been deeply affected and crushed by the blow, his complexion ashen. Imperial Consort Zhuang kneeled before the Emperor, grabbing his robes, and tearfully pleaded, "Your Majesty! Please don’t depose Han'er! Han'er is your biological son... The one you watched grow up step by step... Back then, in the Sixth Prince Residence, there was only Han'er as your child... Has Your Majesty forgotten how much you cherished Han'er?"
She burst into tears!
Wasn't the Emperor also in pain?
This was his flesh and blood, not a random child picked up from the roadside!
Among all his children, it was Ning Wang who had grown up by his side from an early age. He, an imperial prince, had personally cared for him, changing his diapers, bathing him, feeding him, and teaching him knowledge.
Ning Wang's first smile was directed at him; Ning Wang's first step was taken towards him.
Back then, because he was an idle prince with nothing significant to occupy his time, being with his eldest son as he grew up had become one of the most meaningful things in his life.
Later, he became the Emperor.
And afterwards, he had Empress Xiao and many other children.
His eldest son remained the most special presence in his heart, though no longer the only one he cared about.
He had many matters to care about, and they were ruler and subject first before they were father and son. They said that the imperial family was heartless, but why did his heart ache so much?
Seeing that the Emperor remained unmoved, Imperial Consort Zhuang's expression gradually turned cold. She released the hand grabbing onto the Emperor's robe and knelt down on the cold, icy ground, raising her reddened eyes to look at the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, go ahead and execute us, mother and son." She stated.
The Emperor furrowed his brow.
Eunuch Wei also looked horrified, not expecting Imperial Consort Zhuang to utter such rebellious words.
To have the Emperor kill his own imperial consort and biological son, this was making the situation even more explosive.
Imperial Consort Zhuang wiped away the tears on her cheeks with her hand but as soon as she did, more tears uncontrollably streamed down.
She sneered, "Your Majesty, you've been waiting for this day for a long time, haven't you? This consort and her son have been obstructing Your Majesty's path and vision."
The Emperor said in a cold voice, "Imperial consort, you're talking nonsense!"
Imperial Consort Zhuang retorted, "This consort isn’t talking nonsense. This consort is Your Majesty's legitimate wife, yet after Your Majesty ascended to the throne, you never bestowed the title of Empress upon this consort. They say don’t abandon a wife who had shared the hardships of her husband, but what's the difference between Your Majesty reducing this consort to a concubine and abandoning this consort? Every time Your Majesty sees us, you must be reminded of your dishonorable decision. We are a thorn in Your Majesty's side. Instead of enduring this pain for so long, why not remove this thorn now!"
The Emperor was so infuriated by Imperial Consort Zhuang that he didn't want to engage further.
"Zhen finally understands why Ning Wang has turned into what he is today. It's all because of your wrong teachings!"
What she thought in her heart reflected in her actions in daily life. It was her who instilled in Han'er that everything should have belonged to their pair of mother and son. This imbalance in Han'er's heart had led him down an irreversible path.
Wasn’t it clear enough why he didn't make Zhuang Mingzhu the Empress back then?
Even with Empress Xiao and Marquis Xuanping acting as constraints, the Zhuang Family still held considerable power. It was easy to imagine that if Qin Chuhan had become the legitimate heir to the throne, the first thing the Zhuang Family would have done was to eliminate him as the Emperor and support Qin Chuhan's ascension to the throne justifiably!
Of course, his decision at that time was based on the premise that he was wary of both Empress Dowager Zhuang and the Zhuang Family.
At this point, he understood that his imperial mother had no harmful intentions towards him, but he still didn’t regret his initial decision.
If Zhuang Mingzhu had become Empress, it would have been difficult to prevent the Zhuang Family from taking action against him. Whether Empress Dowager Zhuang allowed the Zhuang Family to harm him or took a stand against them, it would inevitably lead to a bloody struggle within the imperial court.
At that time, he was also under the influence of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's medicine, harboring strong resentment towards Empress Dowager Zhuang. He wouldn't have been receptive to her, so the worst-case scenario would have been mutual destruction.
Internal troubles within a country invite foreign aggression.
Seeing that her plea fell on deaf ears with the Emperor, Imperial Consort Zhuang got up and headed to Renshou Palace.
With such a major incident, Empress Dowager Zhuang couldn't possibly be unaware of it. She expected Imperial Consort Zhuang to come to her and didn't avoid her. Instead, she had Eunuch Qin let her in.
As soon as Imperial Consort Zhuang entered Empress Dowager Zhuang's bedchamber, she acted as if she had gone mad, throwing herself at Empress Dowager Zhuang's feet and clinging tightly to her legs, crying out, "Aunt... Please save Han’er... Save him... Han’er is your grandson... Your own grandnephew... He shares the same blood of the Zhuang Family with you... Please save him... Aunt... Please save him..."
Empress Dowager Zhuang closed her eyes deeply and said, "You want Aijia to save him? Then who will save Xiao Heng? Who will save Wen Yang?"
Imperial Consort Zhuang argued cunningly, "Wen Yang's death is no great loss! He had questionable character in the first place and was untrustworthy..."
Empress Dowager Zhuang looked at her coldly, "Wen Yang has questionable character? Your son's actions are even worse, yet you still have the face to criticize Wen Yang's character and trustworthiness?"
Imperial Consort Zhuang became agitated, "I'm just speaking the truth!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang angrily retorted, "Even if that's the truth, it doesn't warrant death!"
"Aunt!" Imperial Consort Zhuang raised her head and looked at Empress Dowager Zhuang with a pleading expression.
Empress Dowager Zhuang also lowered her head and said, "Fine, you say Wen Yang deserved to die, then what about Xiao Heng? He's a man of exemplary virtue. What has he done to deserve this?"
Imperial Consort Zhuang's eyes flickered as she said, "He... He... He's Empress Xiao's beloved nephew! He's Marquis Xuanping's legitimate son! Aunt, the Xiao Family has brought great suffering upon us. Empress Xiao and the Crown Prince have taken everything that should have belonged to us, mother and son. Can't my son seek revenge for himself?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang clenched her fists, and her body trembled slightly, "Is that really how you think?"
Imperial Consort Zhuang, realizing her blunder, hastily corrected herself, "I... I didn't mean it that way, Aunt. I was just speaking in anger. What I truly wanted to say is that my son would never harm Xiao Heng. They framed him! They falsely accused him!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang responded calmly, "Is that so? Even the Emperor would falsely accuse his own son?"
Imperial Consort Zhuang was momentarily stunned, then gritted her teeth and said defiantly, "Aunt simply doesn’t want to save Han’er because he sent people to abduct the newly appointed top scholar who resembles Xiao Heng. You care more about that new top scholar than Han’er! You're biased! Has Aunt ever thought about the position you hold today? Without the Zhuang Family, would you be where you are now? Back then, His Majesty distrusts Aunt greatly, and only because of Aunt that Han’er and I reached this point. Now Aunt and His Majesty have reconciled and grown close. Han’er and I have become stepping stones for all of you!"
Imperial Consort Zhuang was kicked out.
Empress Dowager Zhuang slumped in her chair, her body leaning weakly against the backrest.
It was impossible for Empress Dowager Zhuang to remain indifferent when something happened to Ning Wang. After all, he was someone she had cared for. Whether it was An Junwang or Ning Wang, they were all children she favored.
There was no need to compare Ning Wang and Xiao Liulang; there wasn't much to compare. The two feelings were different.
Empress Dowager Zhuang wasn't partial to Xiao Liulang in this matter.
It was Ning Wang who did commit a sin.
"Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin entered with a bowl of ginseng soup, "You've hardly eaten these past few days, and your complexion is not good. Please have some ginseng soup to nourish your body, or else Young Miss Gu and Senior Compiler Xiao will worry about you."
Empress Dowager Zhuang sighed, "Aijia can't bring herself to eat."
Eunuch Qin consoled her, "You needn't pay too much attention to what the imperial consort has said."
Empress Dowager Zhuang, feeling exhausted, said, "Even in front of me, she is like this. Aijia can't help but wonder how she teaches her son in private. Aijia is also at fault. Aijia has given them a false sense of entitlement."
With her high position and influence, coupled with her strained relationship with the Emperor, it was inevitable that people would think she would eventually break ties with him.
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