Chapter 257

Chapter 257: Still Somewhat Sensible

The next day, the Princess Consort of Prince Huai entered the palace.

That afternoon, Sheng Zhi Wan received news that Grandmother sent over.

A palace eunuch said, “The Empress Dowager told Princess to set your heart at ease. No matter what happens, Her Highness will never withdraw the decree.”

Hearing that, Sheng Zhi Wan felt warm and also a little amused.

So Grandmother really had issued that decree for Sheng Zhi Wan’s sake?

Sheng Zhi Wan had thought it was because of Mo Bei. Still, it was also because of Mo Bei that Grandmother had been given the chance.

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Please trouble Eunuch to tell Grandmother that if the Princess Consort of Prince Huai begs my Imperial Father, or if my Imperial Father speaks up, then Grandmother does not need to make my Imperial Father uncomfortable over such a small matter.”

Sheng Zhi Wan added, “After all, this palace already ended my marriage, and this palace even has a new consort. There is no need to drag Grandmother into the past.”

The palace eunuch left.

The smile on Sheng Zhi Wan’s face faded a little.

The young palace eunuch who came to deliver the message was not someone Sheng Zhi Wan had seen before at Ci Hui Palace. He was clearly new.

Yet how could Grandmother arrange for a newly assigned eunuch like that to deliver a message to Sheng Zhi Wan?

[Unless that message was not only meant for Grandmother to hear.]

Sheng Zhi Wan lowered her eyes and steadied her mind.

Sheng Zhi Wan should not make any big moves next, but that did not mean Sheng Zhi Wan had nothing to do.

Thinking that Nanny Yu had been busy lately sewing Sheng Zhi Wan’s wedding garments, Sheng Zhi Wan had someone invite Nanny Yu over.

In the Imperial Palace, Emperor Chong Sheng listened to the palace eunuch’s report. Emperor Chong Sheng’s tightly knit brows eased slightly.

Emperor Chong Sheng said, “It seems Qing Ning was still a sensible girl. Go back and report those words to the Empress Dowager exactly as they were.”

The palace eunuch withdrew respectfully.

Emperor Chong Sheng rubbed his forehead, looking troubled.

Today, the Princess Consort of Prince Huai entered the palace. Not only did she seek an audience with the Empress Dowager, she also came with Consort Dowager Yi to seek an audience with Emperor Chong Sheng.

Emperor Chong Sheng truly had not expected the farm girl he had only met once to be Prince Huai’s legitimate daughter.

It really was true that different places raised different people. Since she had not grown up in the prince’s residence, her bearing fell short.

But she was still Prince Huai’s legitimate daughter. With the Princess Consort of Prince Huai and Consort Dowager Yi pleading in front of him, Emperor Chong Sheng had to consider it.

Besides, back then, after Sheng Yan Yin died, those followers somehow got news and tried to assassinate Emperor Chong Sheng. Prince Huai had blocked a poisoned arrow for Emperor Chong Sheng.

If not for that poisoned arrow, Prince Huai would not have gone childless for so many years.

Everyone believed Emperor Chong Sheng bestowed an Imperial Gold Plaque on the Prince Huai Residence because the Princess Consort of Prince Huai had saved the Crown Prince.

But if that had been the real reason, then Emperor Chong Sheng should have bestowed it back then. Why would Emperor Chong Sheng wait two years?

It was because the true reason could not be made public.

In the end, Emperor Chong Sheng owed Prince Huai. Since Qing Ning did not care, Emperor Chong Sheng decided to speak with the Empress Dowager.

Emperor Chong Sheng went to Ci Hui Palace.

When the Empress Dowager learned why Emperor Chong Sheng had come, the Empress Dowager was so furious that she smashed a cup.

The Empress Dowager demanded, “Is the Emperor trying to grind this dowager’s dignity into the dirt?”

Emperor Chong Sheng said, “Imperial Mother, why must you make things hard for a junior? Meng Yang is Yan Huai’s only legitimate daughter. Meng Yang suffered a great deal outside. Now that Meng Yang has finally been found, Meng Yang cannot keep being a bedchamber maid with no status forever.”

Emperor Chong Sheng continued, “Which prince’s legitimate daughter becomes a bedchamber maid?”

The Empress Dowager snapped, “Then he should not acknowledge that daughter at all! A thing blinded by profit, using commoner’ lives to earn filthy silver – what does the Prince Huai Residence want her for?”

The Empress Dowager grew even angrier.

Emperor Chong Sheng waved a hand and sent everyone around them out.

Only then did Emperor Chong Sheng explain the truth, that Prince Huai had been childless for years because Prince Huai had blocked an assassin’s poisoned arrow for Emperor Chong Sheng.

The Empress Dowager jerked up in shock. “What assassin? When did this happen? This… how did this dowager not know?”

The Empress Dowager stared at Emperor Chong Sheng, examining him from head to toe.

Only after Emperor Chong Sheng reassured the Empress Dowager again and again did the Empress Dowager finally loosen up, but the Empress Dowager still clutched Emperor Chong Sheng’s hand tightly. The Empress Dowager said, “Your brother is gone. If something happens to you too, how is this dowager supposed to live?”

Emperor Chong Sheng held the Empress Dowager’s hand in return. Emperor Chong Sheng said, “This was exactly what I feared, Imperial Mother. I hid it because I did not want you to worry.”

Emperor Chong Sheng added, “With that matter in place, when the Princess Consort of Prince Huai comes to beg, how could I refuse?”

The Empress Dowager fell silent for a moment. In the end, the Empress Dowager finally gave in. “Since that is the case, then this dowager will issue a new decree later.”

Emperor Chong Sheng said, “No need to rush. It will not be too late to issue it tomorrow.”

Emperor Chong Sheng asked, “Today, could I dine with Imperial Mother? I have not shared a meal with Imperial Mother for a long time.”

Emperor Chong Sheng ordered several dishes the Empress Dowager liked.

The mother and son ate together in harmony.

When Emperor Chong Sheng left, the Empress Dowager personally walked Emperor Chong Sheng to the entrance of Ci Hui Palace.

The Empress Dowager smiled warmly. Only when Emperor Chong Sheng’s figure disappeared completely did the Empress Dowager turn around.

Then the Empress Dowager suddenly swayed.

“Nanny Xiu!” someone cried. “Empress Dowager, are you all right?”

Nanny Xiu hurried to support the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager leaned on Nanny Xiu and said, “Help… help this dowager back… back inside!”

The Empress Dowager stared straight ahead, counting each step, afraid that if the Empress Dowager blinked even once, tears would fall.

The time Emperor Chong Sheng had mentioned for the attack was the exact time the Empress Dowager completely lost all news of Ru Feng and Ru Ye.

When Yan Yin was alive, Yan Yin had two guards who were loyal to the bone.

Yan Yin’s tragedy happened because Yan Yin had sent Ru Feng and Ru Ye ahead into the capital to deliver a birthday gift.

That had been the birthday gift the Empress Dowager least wanted.

After Yan Yin’s accident, Ru Feng and Ru Ye refused to believe Yan Yin had been killed by a vicious tiger. After requesting permission from the Empress Dowager, Ru Feng and Ru Ye investigated in secret, hiding in the shadows.

From time to time, the Empress Dowager received messages from them.

Until two years later, Ru Feng and Ru Ye suddenly vanished from the world. No more messages ever came.

The Empress Dowager had always thought they had grown tired of that life and found some place to live in seclusion.

Only now, after hearing Emperor Chong Sheng mention an assassination attempt, did the Empress Dowager think of them.

So Ru Feng and Ru Ye had also suspected the Emperor.

But if Ru Feng and Ru Ye suspected that, why had they never told the Empress Dowager?

Yes… In Ru Feng and Ru Ye’s eyes, the Empress Dowager was not only Yan Yin’s Imperial Mother, but also the Emperor’s Imperial Mother.

So Ru Feng and Ru Ye did not trust the Empress Dowager. Ru Feng and Ru Ye wanted to hide it from the Empress Dowager and go assassinate the Emperor themselves?