Chapter 231: The Emperor Refused

The Dowager Madame had gone to the palace.

She met with the Emperor in the Imperial Study.

There was an unfamiliar Chief Brush Eunuch in the room.

The Dowager Madame smiled and asked, “Is this Eunuch Sheng? Where is Eunuch Feng?”

“Dowager Madame, my master sprained his foot. His Majesty has graciously permitted him to leave the palace and recuperate. I am taking his place on duty. You have an excellent memory, Dowager Madame. I’m deeply honored that you still remember me.” Eunuch Sheng was profoundly grateful.

He appeared genuinely frightened and respectful.

His attitude was exactly the same as that of Consort Wu, who had recently gained the Emperor’s favor.

The Emperor liked the people around him to act this way toward the Dowager Madame.

It proved that he was doing a good job as her “son.”

He needed that sense of accomplishment.

Of course, the Emperor would not punish anyone for failing to abase themselves before her. He simply would not spare them a second glance.

The Dowager Madame’s heart turned cold.

She immediately understood that Eunuch Feng’s injury and departure from the palace were probably Zhou Yuanshen’s doing. And this Eunuch Sheng, like Consort Wu, was one of Zhou Yuanshen’s spies.

After winning the Emperor’s favor, Zhou Yuanshen had quietly planted quite a few people around him.

The Dowager Madame had to be even more careful with her words.

“Winter is so cold. His Majesty used to love date-paste pastries. If we brew tea beside the brazier and serve it with a plate of date-paste pastries made from the fine dates of the northwest, it should be a delightful treat,” the Dowager Madame said with a smile.

The Emperor replied, “Mother-in-law, if I have the time, I’ll visit the Duke’s residence and sit with you for a while.”

Then he added, “It is time I paid a visit there.”

Mentioning the date-paste pastries suddenly reminded the Emperor of jade dumpling cakes.

He said, “Mother-in-law, it has been many years since I last had jade dumpling cakes.”

The Dowager Madame’s heart gave a sudden jolt.

“I haven’t had them in many years either,” she said with a smile. “We can make some.”

She did not mention the jade dumpling cakes Cheng Zhao had presented to her when she had first entered the household.

The Emperor glanced at her.

There were some things he wanted to say, but could not be bothered to.

The Dowager Madame merely smiled.

There was another matter she needed to discuss with the Emperor. She wanted him to visit the Chen Duke’s residence, even if doing so went against propriety.

The Emperor agreed. “There is indeed something I wish to discuss with you.”

The Dowager Madame looked at him in puzzlement. “Your Majesty may speak frankly.”

The Emperor smiled. “We’ll discuss it when we go to the Duke’s residence.”

He gave her no further hint, merely setting a date for their visit to the Chen Duke’s residence.

When the Dowager Madame returned to the Shou’an Court, the tightness in her chest finally eased somewhat.

Although matters had turned out worse than she had imagined, everything was still within her control. Zhou Yuanshen had gained some ground for the moment, but that did not matter. She would slowly teach him the consequences of crossing her.

“You sent for Lady Huan,” the Dowager Madame instructed Nanny Sun.

Nanny Sun acknowledged the order.

Huan Qingtang arrived soon after.

“...We already have some leads. You only need to put your mind at ease,” the Dowager Madame told her kindly.

Huan Qingtang had been slightly puffy these past few days, perhaps because she had been resting in her courtyard and lying down all day.

Even so, her appearance remained striking.

At her age, she was like a fruit just beginning to ripen on a branch—fragrant and enticing, with several years yet before it would reach full maturity and begin to decay.

She could withstand any upheaval and endure wind and rain.

“Grandmother, I certainly won’t disappoint you,” Huan Qingtang said.

As she spoke, her cheeks flushed slightly, but her eyes were resolute.

She was shy, yet filled with yearning.

Her attitude was entirely different from that of the foolish Mu Jiang.

The Dowager Madame was greatly pleased.

“In the future, don’t say that this Duke’s residence belongs to you. Perhaps the entire realm will belong to you as well,” the Dowager Madame said.

Huan Qingtang’s eyes flickered. “I wouldn’t dare harbor such ambitions. I only ask that Grandmother look after me, so that I may have a small place to call my own. Besides, Cheng Shi is trying to drive me to my death.”

She lifted her eyes and looked deeply at the Dowager Madame.

She hoped the Dowager Madame would give her a promise: if they succeeded, Cheng Zhao must not be spared.

It was Cheng Zhao who had ruined her.

“Good and evil will always receive their due. Heaven will not forgive her,” the Dowager Madame said calmly.

Her tone was very light.

It was as though speaking any more forcefully would cause the hatred she felt for Cheng Zhao to spill out.

Given the Dowager Madame’s status, wealth, and age, why would she hate a junior like Cheng Zhao? To do so would be to elevate Cheng Zhao.

Cheng Zhao was not worthy of that.

And yet, Cheng Zhao had somehow made the Dowager Madame regard her with more importance than she should have.

The Dowager Madame hated her bitterly as well.

Was it Huan Qingtang’s resentment toward Cheng Zhao that had infected the Dowager Madame?

The Dowager Madame smiled at Huan Qingtang. “Our grandmother and granddaughter will have good days ahead. Women in this world do not have to depend on men to survive. Without a husband, there are sons; without sons, there are grandsons. In the end, they will all be useful to us.”

Huan Qingtang took the lesson to heart. “I’ll remember that.”

Then she left.

Two days later, in the middle of the afternoon, the Emperor once again left the palace in disguise. He wandered through the bustling streets before arriving at the Chen Duke’s residence.

It was dusk.

The weather was cold, yet the evening clouds glowed brilliantly. They reminded the Emperor of Xian Si.

His heart stirred for no discernible reason.

The Duke’s residence was on full alert. Starting from the main gate, the gatekeepers were no longer members of the Zhou family. The Shou’an Court was also under strict guard. Unrelated people were kept away to prevent any rumors from spreading.

Nanny Sun and Huan Qingtang stood nearby to attend to them.

Huan Qingtang had changed into plain white clothing.

It resembled mourning attire.

Against the white, her face appeared as pale as snow, while her lips looked especially fresh and vivid. She seemed fragile and pitiful, and was exceptionally captivating.

The Emperor was distracted and barely spared her a glance.

The Dowager Madame brought out the jade dumpling cakes made in the household.

The Emperor took one bite, then did not eat any more. He still remembered the jade dumpling cakes of those years ago. He also remembered his paternal aunt—and the proud cousin in her household who had never once looked him in the eye.

What was her name again?

He remembered only her title: Zhaoyang.

The daughter of a Grand Princess was not ordinarily entitled to be named a commandery princess. She could only be made a county princess, unless the Emperor issued a special decree granting her the higher title.

Commandery Princess Zhaoyang had been deeply favored by the Emperor, and the late Emperor had doted on her especially.

The Emperor looked toward the Dowager Madame. “Mother-in-law, I still want a Crown Prince born of the Chen Duke’s residence.”

Huan Qingtang, standing to one side, felt her heart leap.

Even though the Dowager Madame had already told her, even though she had been mentally prepared, hearing the words still left her deeply shocked.

How could anyone harbor such an unfathomable notion?

What was the source of his obsession?

“It is Ah Jiang who has failed to deliver,” the Dowager Madame sighed.

Then she glanced at Huan Qingtang. “However...”

The Emperor also looked at Huan Qingtang.

His brows drew together slightly.

The Dowager Madame noticed his expression, and her heart sank.

“Mother-in-law, Xian Si is still living in the Yujin Court? From now on, have the Duchess treat her well. Yuanshen knows my intentions,” the Emperor said.

The Dowager Madame stared at him in astonishment.

Huan Qingtang abruptly raised her head, forgetting all about propriety as she looked at the Emperor.

Then she looked toward the Dowager Madame.

She was unwilling to accept this.

Why had an opportunity that was right before her eyes been allowed to slip away?

The Dowager Madame gave the slightest shake of her head.

Huan Qingtang recalled what the Dowager Madame had told her about the reason Mu Jiang had been beaten with the rod. She desperately wanted to do something, yet feared that acting rashly would only make matters worse.

Her face went deathly pale.

The Emperor noticed and spoke displeasedly. “You may withdraw. Nanny Sun’s presence is sufficient.”

He added, “You’re so clumsy. If you were in the palace, a servant like you would be beaten to death.”

Huan Qingtang hurriedly acknowledged his command and withdrew in disarray.

The Dowager Madame’s heart sank into an abyss.

Xian Si—the dancer?

The Emperor had not spoken this way before. He had wanted the Dowager Madame to raise and educate the Crown Prince for him. But what about now?

Did he think that notion was completely groundless? Had he been unable to break his word, and therefore decided that someone from Zhou Yuanshen’s side would do instead?

The Emperor remained seated only a short while before leaving.

Peace and quiet returned to the Duke’s residence.

That night, a knock sounded at the door of Cheng Zhao’s inner chamber. Zhou Yuanshen sat up abruptly, startling Cheng Zhao awake as well.