Chapter 17

Chapter 17

That day, Mother Empress summoned me to the palace, and I went with high spirits.

When she saw me, she wore a faint, knowing smile. On her table sat a packet of medicinal powder, and kneeling on the floor was my accompanying nanny.

I knew the secret was out. Immediately, I put on a fawning smile and dropped into a deep curtsy, not daring to rise.

Seeing me so compliant, Mother Empress sighed instead.

“Why bother? You could have simply told me and let me handle it. Why soil your own hands?”

My Mother Empress remained as dignified and magnanimous as ever, always considering my well-being.

It was for this very reason that I had to consider hers even more.

“If you were to act, Mother Empress, it would become a major incident. Consort Chen and Li Chun are not generous people; they wouldn’t remember your kindness, but would instead harbor a grudge against you.”

“You certainly have a sharp eye for character,” Mother Empress sighed deeply.

I understood immediately. It wasn’t that Mother Empress didn’t know; it was simply a pity that she had no sons of her own and could only choose one from among the many concubine-born princes.

Consort Chen held the highest rank among the consorts, and her son was the eldest.

Since ancient times, the Crown Prince was always chosen from either the legitimate sons or the eldest sons.

Since the Central Palace had no legitimate son, the eldest son of a concubine would naturally inherit the throne. This was a deep-seated convention that was difficult to shake.

I couldn’t help but say, “Mother Empress, why don’t you choose one of the other princes to adopt under your name?”

Mother Empress shook her head. “It’s too late. They wouldn’t be loyal.”

I was momentarily speechless.

Mother Empress had been waiting for a son of her own, but unfortunately, that day never came.

By the time she grew older and wanted to adopt one, it was already too late.

Mother Empress was kind-hearted. The birth mothers of the princes were all present in the palace. If she forced a child away from them, they might act happy on the surface, but who knew what they thought in private?

Once she had painstakingly raised the child to adulthood, the birth mother might beckon, and the son would return to her side, perhaps even blaming Mother Empress for separating them in the first place.

I left the palace feeling dejected.

On the way back to Huayang Temple, I ran into Jinzhu.

It was early winter now, and the weather had turned cold. She was wrapped in a cloak, yet she was still stomping her feet from the chill.

I invited her into my carriage.

She gave me a long, deep look, then lowered her head in silence.

I didn’t feel like talking either. Mother Empress had no son, Cao Shun was unpredictable, Li Chun was incompetent, the Rong State would launch a heavy offensive next year, and Cheng Su might die on the battlefield…

Everything weighed heavily on my heart, draining the strength right out of me.

After a long while, Jinzhu asked cautiously, “Are you angry?”

“Hmm?” I looked up at her.

Jinzhu twisted her handkerchief, bit her lip, and turned her face toward the window.

“I’m sorry. I used you. You have every right to be angry.”

“I didn’t want to marry Li Chun, but my mother insisted. She said Li Chun is the future Emperor, and that by marrying him, I could become the Empress.”

“Now that Consort Chen’s maiden family has lost its influence, they desperately need the power of our Duke’s Manor. This marriage alliance is supposedly good for everyone.”

“Mother also said that with me mediating, even after Li Chun becomes Emperor, he would remain respectful to you and my aunt.”

“I know Mother is right, but whenever I think about him fooling around with over fifty women, I feel so disgusted I want to vomit.”

“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t do it. Hit me or scold me as you wish; I’ll accept whatever punishment you give.”

She closed her eyes and tilted her face up, waiting for me to slap her.

My eyes stung slightly, and I felt like crying.

In the past, I thought she had grown arrogant and looked down on her own parents. It turned out my aunt-in-law was the one who was so contemptible, using her daughter as a bargaining chip in her schemes.

I gently touched her face with my fingers, feeling her tremble.

I let out a soft laugh and pinched her smooth cheek. “Such a beautiful face-it would be a pity to let it swell up from a slap.”

Jinzhu opened her eyes, stunned.

I smiled. “You were right not to marry him. Li Chun is a scoundrel. What good is there in marrying him?”

“You don’t blame me?”

“If I’m to blame anyone, I can only blame Li Chun for being a disappointment and myself for not disciplining him properly in the past. How could I blame you?”

Jinzhu’s eyes reddened. She suddenly threw herself into my arms and began to sob uncontrollably.

“Fuyun, why are you so good? Why don’t you hit me or yell at me? That would make me feel better.”

I held her and patted her back gently, singing a nursery rhyme to soothe her just as I did when she was afraid of the dark as a child.

After a long time, she finished crying but was too embarrassed to let me see her red eyes.

She called for the carriage to stop, jumped out, and looked back with a firm expression. “Fuyun, I owe you one. In the future, I will repay you with my life.”

She then shyly mounted her horse and rode away.

Worried, I quickly ordered my guards to follow her.

Back inside the carriage, I couldn’t help but chuckle, though my eyes grew misty as I laughed.

She had already given her life to save me in my dreams. Now, it was my turn to ensure she lived a peaceful, smooth, and worry-free life.