12dz Chapter 225 Return to the Palace
Chapter 225 Return to the Palace
A few days later, the sun was shining brightly and the breeze was gentle. Everyone boarded the carriage and prepared to return to the capital.
An Lingrong, wearily slumped against the carriage window, her head poking out to peer forward. Not far away, she saw Yongzheng, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, standing tall and straight. He supported Zhen Huan with one hand, his movements gentle and caring. Zhen Huan, smiling, spoke to him. Their figures, shimmering in the sunlight, were strikingly striking.
Shen Meizhuang directed everyone in an orderly manner, with a dignified and steady posture. She arranged all matters properly, no matter how big or small, showing her shrewdness and ability.
When everything was ready, she boarded her carriage. As the eunuch sang in a high, shrill voice, the carriage moved slowly, and the wheels creaked.
An Lingrong lowered the curtain, turned around and complained to Shen Meizhuang beside her, "Sister, this trip to the Old Summer Palace wasn't fun at all!"
Seeing her face filled with disappointment and dissatisfaction, with her lips slightly pouting, Shen Meizhuang smiled and nodded, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze, trying to soothe Ping Lingrong's irritability: "Don't think too much, those unpleasant things are in the past. When we return to the palace, it will be a new situation."
"Alas, I don't know how the situation will change when I return to the palace this time!" An Lingrong sighed lightly, her brows furrowed, and her eyes were full of worry.
Compared to the previous trip, the procession returning to the palace was noticeably smaller. The once bustling convoy now seemed considerably quieter, now missing several carriages. The trees lining the road receded rapidly as the large army galloped along the official road, the clatter of hooves and wheels intertwining as they headed towards the magnificent Forbidden City.
In Cining Palace.
The Queen Mother woke up from her nap and sat up in bed. Zhuxi immediately went over to help her up.
"Empress Dowager, I will help you change your clothes. The Emperor is returning to the palace today. I have sent word that I will come to pay my respects to you later!"
"Yes!" The Queen Mother nodded, and with the help of the bamboo breath, she got off the bed and sat in front of the dressing table.
Wu Ya Chengbi is over sixty years old, but because of good maintenance, she looks no more than fifty years old. However, her eyebrows are always slightly furrowed, as if there is an unrelieved sorrow lingering in them.
Sure enough, two quarters of an hour later, a young eunuch announced, "Your Majesty, the Emperor is on his way to the Cining Palace!"
A moment later, Yongzheng appeared at the entrance of the palace in his casual attire. He lifted up his coat, took a step forward, and knelt respectfully on one knee: "Your son pays his respects to the Empress Dowager!"
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "Get up!"
After the ceremony, the mother and son sat facing each other on the couch.
"Is the Empress Dowager doing well these days? Your son is in the Old Summer Palace and misses you all the time!"
"I'm fine! I know everything about what happened in the Old Summer Palace. Sigh, I never thought that Concubine Hua would end up like this!"
Mentioning Nian Shilan, Yongzheng felt a surge of bitterness in his heart. His voice was filled with deep guilt and helplessness, as if every word weighed a thousand pounds: "It is my son who has let her down. She has served me for many years and is sincere to me."
"I know what you're thinking. The Huan Yi Xiang we only gave to Concubine Hua contains musk, but there's nothing we can do about it." The Queen Mother's tone was calm, unperturbed, yet brimming with unquestionable authority. "A monarch's decisions must be made by a monarch. If Concubine Hua has a son, Nian Gengyao will undoubtedly support the child as emperor. If he forces her to abdicate, you and I will be left with nowhere to live."
"I'm not a good husband, not a good father!" Yongzheng closed his eyes in pain, his voice trembling as he spoke, "When she was pregnant, I had no choice but to kill my own child. Before she died, she asked me if I still remembered the child. Every word she said was heartbreaking, every voice was filled with tears. These past few nights, I've often dreamed that she knew Huan Yixiang's secret and came to question and accuse me."
Seeing his self-blaming and painful expression, a trace of pity flashed in the Queen Mother's eyes. She sighed softly and comforted him, "Since Concubine Duan was responsible for what happened back then and she took the blame, then it could only be her who did it. Now that you've handed Princess Wen Yi over to her, it can be considered a comfort to her. So many years have passed, so don't think about it!"
Yongzheng took a sip from the teacup. The warm tea flowed down his throat, gradually calming his chaotic thoughts. He slowly put the teacup down, his thoughts gradually returning to his senses, and his emotions stabilized. He said solemnly, "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your comfort."
Seeing that he had calmed down, the Queen Mother asked again, "How do you plan to deal with Nian Gengyao?"
"My son saw him at a funeral a few days ago. He looked more than ten years older, with white hair on his temples. He no longer had the energy and spirit he once had. Besides me, he was the person Shilan cared about the most. Now that he is no longer a threat, I will let him live out his retirement in peace. This will also comfort Shilan's spirit in heaven!"
The Queen Mother nodded, "This is an appropriate treatment!"
After saying this, a gleam of light flashed in her eyes. After a moment's deliberation, she continued, "There are many veteran officials in the court who made great contributions when you first ascended the throne. If you can achieve a good result, everyone in the court will praise you for your kindness and your willingness to remember your meritorious officials. This will greatly benefit your implementation of the new policies."
Hearing this, Yongzheng's eyes moved slightly. He raised his head and looked at the empress dowager indifferently, his hand constantly fiddling with the beads. The beads turned quickly between his fingers, making a slight clash sound.
The Empress Dowager was trying to speak up for Longkodo! Yongzheng understood instantly.
Thinking about what Longkodo had done, Yongzheng's face showed a hint of impatience, and his brows furrowed slightly. He shook the beads in his hand, as if to vent all his anger on them.
Yongzheng's eyes became more and more fierce. Now that he had dealt with Prince Dun and Nian Gengyao, the only one left was his "uncle"!
Seeing his eyes, the Queen Mother sighed inwardly and didn't dare to say anything more on the matter. She could only change the subject: "I heard that you chose the girl from the family of the meritorious official in the case of Prince Dun to be your concubine?"
Yongzheng collected his thoughts and nodded: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs is already taking care of it."
"This is a good idea. Firstly, it will avoid the need for a grand selection, which would be a waste of money and manpower, and would also prevent the harem from becoming restless. Secondly, it will also make the ministers more loyal and aware of your favor."
The Queen Mother's words were clear and logical.
"The Empress Dowager is right! Wanpin is also the daughter of a meritorious official, and my son has conferred the title of Concubine Wan on her!" A smile appeared on Yongzheng's face, and his eyes were full of admiration for Wanpin.
"Good!" The Queen Mother nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction on her face: "You have handled the matter of Prince Dun's family very well."
"It was Wanpin who reminded my son."