12dz Chapter 281 The Queen Mother's Coercion
Chapter 281 The Queen Mother's Coercion
Cen Jiexiao, accompanied by her beauty therapist, once again entered the palace, feeling apprehensive. She knew the Empress Dowager's wits were unpredictable, and she wondered what would happen next. Along the way, she constantly reminded herself to be cautious and not give the Empress Dowager any leverage.
When they arrived at the Queen Mother's bedroom, Sister Cen bowed respectfully and began to perform beauty treatments on her. Her hands trembled slightly, and every movement was made with extreme caution.
The Queen Mother closed her eyes, seemingly enjoying her beauty treatment with a calm demeanor. However, she was secretly plotting how to win over Cen Jiexiao once again. She knew that Cen Jiexiao was a talented woman, very different from the other women in the palace. If she could use her, it would be a great help to her plans.
The Queen Mother was waiting for a suitable opportunity, ready to extend an olive branch to Cen Jiexiao again.
While enjoying the tranquility of her beauty treatment, the Queen Mother slowly opened her eyes and cast her gaze upon the somewhat nervous Cen Jiexiao, a faint smile playing on her lips. "President Cen, I have always held your talent in high esteem.
If you are willing to serve me, I will naturally grant you more power and wealth." The Queen Mother's words were neither hurried nor slow, but they contained an irresistible majesty.
"You must know that in this palace, a single word from me is enough to allow you to enjoy endless wealth and glory. You will have the opportunity to gain a higher status in the palace, and no one will dare to look down on you." The Queen Mother continued, with a hint of expectation in her eyes.
Cen Jiexiao's heart tightened. She understood the Queen Mother's intentions, but she did not want to be bound by her. She bowed her head slightly and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your kindness. However, your ambition is not to do this. I would rather teach at Zhaoyin Academy and cultivate more pillars of talent for the Great Zhou."
The Queen Mother frowned slightly, obviously not satisfied with Cen Jiexiao's answer.
She was silent for a moment and spoke again: "You don't have to rush to refuse, think about it carefully. I can give you time to think about it, but you must understand that this is a rare opportunity. Once you miss it..." The Queen Mother left half a sentence, then closed her eyes again, waiting for Cen Jiexiao's reply.
Cen Jiexiao gently raised her head, her eyes clear and resolute. "Empress Dowager, I am deeply aware of your deep love for me, but I truly lack interest in the disputes of the imperial court. While this palace offers splendor and wealth, it is also filled with intrigue and scheming. I simply wish to live a simple life, engage in educational work among the people, witness the students' growth, and contribute my humble efforts to the future of our country."
Cen Jiexiao's words revealed a dignified demeanor and a resolute resolve. She knew her decision might cause some trouble, but she didn't regret it. Deep down, Zhaoyin Academy was her life; if she left, her wings would inevitably wither.
At the same time, she herself was even more unwilling to be bound by the disputes in the palace, and she did not want to become a tool in the power struggle. Even if she had to participate, Cen Jiexiao felt that she had to be a participant, a "player in this chess game."
The Queen Mother's expression changed slightly when she heard Cen Jiexiao's statement. She had never expected that Cen Jiexiao would reject her proposal so firmly.
The Queen Mother remained silent for a moment, but she remained unwilling to give up and attempted to persuade him again. "President Cen, you must consider this carefully. Within this palace, with my protection, you are safe. Otherwise, you could be exposed to various risks at any time." There was a hint of threat in the Queen Mother's words.
Cen Jiexiao's heart tightened, but she was not intimidated by the Queen Mother's threat.
She smiled calmly and responded, "Your Majesty, I am not afraid of risks. I firmly believe that as long as I keep the Great Zhou and Your Majesty in my heart, I will be able to escape danger no matter where I am. What's more, I have the 'Imperial Zhou Order' granted by Your Majesty."
The empress dowager couldn't help but feel a little angry when she saw Sister Cen Xiao bringing up Emperor Chai Zhen in a serious tone and also mentioning the matter of Yu Zhouling.
She felt Cen Jiexiao wasn't appreciating her, but she could do nothing about it. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her anger. "Since you're so determined, I won't force you. But you must remember that your choice may have consequences." The Queen Mother's voice was cold and chilling.
Cen Jiexiao bowed slightly and replied, "Your Highness understands."
After saying that, Cen Jiexiao continued to provide beauty care for the Queen Mother, but she was thinking in her heart that refusing the Queen Mother's solicitation might bring some trouble to herself, but she did not regret it.
The Queen Mother, who thought the matter was over, now talked about some things about Chen Zigui.
This made Cen Jiexiao's head full of confusion.
Mention the relationship between her and Chen Zigui at this moment!
That must be because he had no other intention except to use Chen Zigui to coerce and threaten me.
She raised her eyes slightly and looked at the Queen Mother, but she only saw her unfathomable expression. She tried her best to remain calm and carefully considered how to respond to the Queen Mother's question.
Cen Jiexiao wondered what the Queen Mother was up to. Was it because Chen Zigui had defended her at the previous banquet, sparking her suspicions? Or did the Queen Mother have some other, unspoken agenda?
"Your Highness, I'm just a casual acquaintance of Lord Chen," Cen Jiexiao replied cautiously. She didn't dare reveal too much, fearing the Queen Mother's wrath. However, the Queen Mother clearly wasn't impressed by her answer.
The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes slightly, a sharp glint in her gaze. "A casual acquaintance? I don't think so. At the last banquet, Minister Chen defended you vigorously. If we were just casual acquaintances, why would he act like this?" The Queen Mother's words were tinged with doubt.
Cen Jiexiao's heart tightened, knowing the Empress Dowager wouldn't easily accept her explanation. She tried to maintain her composure and replied, "Your Majesty, Lord Chen is an Inspector appointed personally by Your Majesty. Perhaps out of a sense of justice, he believes what I say is reasonable, so he defended me."
The empress dowager snorted, clearly dissatisfied with Cen Jiexiao's response. "Dean Cen, please don't deceive me. I was young once, too. There must be something unusual between you and Inspector Chen." The empress dowager's tone was dignified.
Cen Jiexiao secretly groaned inwardly, not knowing how to explain herself to the Queen Mother. She knew the Queen Mother's methods well, and if she couldn't give an answer that satisfied the Queen Mother, she was afraid it would bring her trouble.
"Your Majesty, Master Chen and I are just ordinary friends. I used to teach at Zhaoyin Academy, and our relationship was just that of a senior and a junior student."
After hearing this, the Queen Mother naturally could not believe her words.
The Queen Mother didn't seem to intend to let her off just yet. "President Cen, you must consider this carefully. Inspector Chen is a pillar of the Great Zhou. Don't let him stray from the right path and get stuck in a quagmire. That would be more trouble than good." The Queen Mother's words were filled with threats.
Cen Jiexiao's heart trembled. She knew the Queen Mother was forcing her. Her mind raced, pondering how to respond to the Queen Mother's threat. She knew she couldn't easily admit her special relationship with Chen Zigui, or she would be in even greater danger.
"Your Highness, I swear to heaven that Lord Chen and I are merely casual acquaintances. If I lie even a little, I will be punished by heaven," Cen Jiexiao said firmly. She hoped that by swearing, she would convince the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother gazed into Cen Jiexiao's determined eyes and remained silent for a moment. Finally, she nodded slightly. "Very well, since you are so resolute, I will trust you for now. However, you must give me a precise response to my request. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences." The Queen Mother's words still carried a warning.
Cen Jiexiao bowed slightly and said, "I understand. Thank you, Her Majesty, for your trust." She felt a sense of relief, but also a tinge of unease. She knew that even though the Her Majesty had temporarily let her go, she was still treading on thin ice.