Chapter 103

Chapter 103: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“Yes.” Zhu Xi did not dare hide it and continued, “The branch families of the Wu La Na La clan and the Wu Ya clan both have young ladies of suitable age. After some time, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager plans to find an excuse to bring two young ladies into the palace. She will also have the Sixth Prince and Princess Wen Ning spend time with them. Whichever one wins the Sixth Prince and Princess Wen Ning’s favor, Her Majesty will keep.”

“Good. Good. Good!” The Emperor laughed in fury. “Worthy of being my Imperial Mother. The Sixth Prince and Wen Ning’s birth mother isn’t even dead, and she’s already picking foster mothers for the siblings. For the sake of her Wu Ya clan and the Wu La Na La clan, she treats my son and daughter like tools. Truly, what a good mother of mine. Come – to Kang Shou Palace.”

Filled with rage, the Emperor stormed toward Kang Shou Palace. Yong Shou Palace. Li Si Qi gave an order at once. “Xiao Hu Zi, do it.”

A cold light flickered in her eyes. “Isn’t the Fourteenth Prince fond of drinking? When he’s dead drunk, have him go riding, then make the horse bolt. As for what happens to him, that depends on his luck.

His mother committed sins – let him pay for them.”

“Understood!” Xiao Hu Zi immediately went to arrange it.

As for what happened in Kang Shou Palace… The Emperor sat without saying a word. The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and did not look at him. She wanted to use this method to fight him to the end. To make the Emperor bow his head and admit defeat.

Just then. A palace maid walked in. At once, she drew the attention of both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. She bowed and reported, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, news has come from Jing Ren Palace – Her Majesty the Empress has passed away!”

“What did you say?” The Empress Dowager had been prepared.

Yet hearing it, she still could not quite believe it.

“Replying to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager,” the maid answered softly, “Her Majesty the Empress passed away with the imperial child in her womb!”

“The Empress…” The Empress Dowager choked up.

“Leave.” The Emperor motioned for the maid to withdraw.

He looked at the Empress Dowager and said, “With things as they are, Imperial Mother need not grieve.”

“Emperor, the Empress died to produce a legitimate son.” The Empress Dowager stared at him and said heavily, “She devoted herself to the Great Qing. The Emperor must grant the Empress honor.”

“Honor?” the Emperor asked calmly. “What honor does the Empress Dowager want to grant her?”

“The Empress died in childbirth, taking the child with her.” The Empress Dowager spoke as if it were only natural. “Then she cannot be shamed over other matters.”

“Shamed?” The Emperor’s gaze turned strange. “So Imperial Mother also knows the Empress did things that brought shame to the Wu La Na La clan.”

“Emperor, what nonsense are you saying?” The Empress Dowager showed anger. “Can’t you have a conscience? The Empress managed the prince’s household before and the harem after entering the palace. She was virtuous and worthy. Now she has died to produce a legitimate son. My meaning is to record the dragon-phoenix twins under the Empress’s name. From now on, they will be the legitimate son and legitimate daughter. No one will outrank those siblings.”

“No.” The Emperor refused bluntly. “The dragon-phoenix twins have a birth mother and a foster mother. They are already fine. They don’t need some ‘legitimate son’ and ‘legitimate daughter’ title.”

“Emperor, what do you mean by that?” The Empress Dowager flew into a rage. “The Empress was your wife. Can’t you give her a little face? She died to give you a legitimate son…”

“The Empress Dowager is wrong.” The Emperor cut her off at once. “The Empress did it for herself, for her Wu La Na La clan, to protect the reputation of her maternal family. She never once thought for my sake. Don’t think I don’t know what she did. Imperial Mother, must I tear off her last fig leaf? If I issue an edict right now to strip her of the Empress’s status, will you be satisfied then?”

“How dare you!” The Empress Dowager’s fury shot sky-high. Ignoring the pain in her spine, she shouted, “Emperor, the Empress is dead, and you still won’t let her go?”

“If not for the fact that she is already dead, I would have stripped her title at once.”

“You wouldn’t dare! The Wu La Na La clan must never produce a deposed Empress.”

“If Imperial Mother wants the Empress deposed after death, then don’t think of granting her honor. The Wu La Na La clan is not worthy!”

“Emperor, how can your heart be so cruel? The Empress was your wife!”

“I would rather not have such a wife.” The Emperor’s voice was full of coldness. “Imperial Mother, recover from your injuries properly from now on. Palace matters do not require Imperial Mother’s interference.”

“What do you mean, Emperor?” The Empress Dowager’s face flushed red as she glared at him. “I am the Empress Dowager. I have the right to ask about harem affairs.”

“Imperial Mother!” The Emperor stared at her coldly. “Without my permission, no consorts and no imperial children will come to pay respects to Imperial Mother. From now on, live in Kang Shou Palace like Imperial Grandmother did. Don’t do anything else that makes me angry. Otherwise, don’t blame me for taking it out on the Wu Ya clan and the Fourteenth Prince.”

“You dare!” The Empress Dowager’s eyes went bloodshot with rage. “Fourth Son, do you even put me in your eyes at all?”

“Imperial Mother, it is you who never put me in your heart.” The Emperor suppressed his fury and said coldly, “For your Wu Ya clan, for a Wu La Na La clan that has nothing to do with you, you use my children as stepping stones. Do I even have a mother like you? Are you trying to force me to issue an edict right now and execute the entire Wu La Na La clan? Would that satisfy you?”

“You… you beast!” The Empress Dowager’s rage made her dizzy, and she cursed aloud. “How could I have given birth to a beast with no humanity? When you were born, I should have strangled you with my own hands!”

“Strangle me?” The Emperor’s heart turned completely cold, and he answered with a sneer. “Would you have? If you strangled me, would you, a foot-washing maid, have been qualified to sit at the rank of Noble Lady De?”

“Get out, beast! Get out of here at once!”

“Pass my decree.” The Emperor looked deeply at the Empress Dowager.

Then he turned and left without hesitation. As he walked, he issued the order: “The Empress Dowager requires quiet recovery. No one may enter or leave Kang Shou Palace at will. Whoever dares defy the imperial edict will be executed without mercy!”

“Fourth Son, come back! Fourth Son, you thing worse than a beast! Fourth Son…”

Inside, hoarse curses rang out. The Emperor stood outside the hall, eyes closed, listening in silence. He did not know how long had passed. The cursing behind him still did not stop.

When the Emperor opened his eyes again. Only coldness and ruthlessness remained in them. He strode away from Kang Shou Palace. Not long after.

A squad of guards arrived at the gates of Kang Shou Palace under imperial orders. From that day on, they stood watch there. No matter who entered or left, an imperial edict was required. The Empress Dowager was effectively confined inside, unable to contact the outside.

When Li Si Qi heard, she was very satisfied. This was exactly the result she wanted…. The Empress died from a difficult labor. Although mourning rites were announced, neither the Empress Dowager nor the Emperor showed up.

Noble Consort Hua became the one in charge. The consorts kept vigil, and the wives of the imperial clan and the female relatives of officials of the third rank and above came to pay their respects. It looked bustling with people coming and going, yet everyone could feel the deep chill. It did not feel like an Empress’s funeral at all, but more like a consort being sent off.

Among the common people, entertainment and weddings were banned for a month. The coffin lay in state for seven days before it was sent out of the palace. In the eyes of the imperial clan and the ministers, it all carried the taste of perfunctory dismissal. Thinking of the Empress Dowager being confined in Kang Shou Palace.

And the Empress, who had been pregnant for sixteen months before delivering, only to die in a difficult labor… Everyone guessed that something had happened in the palace during this period. In the days that followed. The palace was quiet. Imperial Study.

“Both legs are broken?” The Emperor’s face was blank. “Can it be cured?”