PFC Chapter 208 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (112)
Chapter 208 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (112)
The victor is king, the loser is villain. They followed the second prince, and it's not feasible to switch sides halfway. If they betray their old master, they won't be valued by the new master in the future. Besides, this first prince is aloof and unwilling to descend into the mortal world. There's simply no way to get past him.
The eldest prince is backed by the empress, and the empress is backed by the An family. Although they are not as powerful as before and are no longer as useful as the Zhuang family, a fallen camel is still bigger than a horse. With the empress regaining control of the harem, the An family's resurgence is probably imminent...
They wanted to find a place to use their talents and avoid being purged later, so they had to unite and stick to one path to the bitter end. Only if the second prince could ascend the throne could their situation turn from danger to safety.
Although no one said it, anyone could see that the emperor was getting older and his health was deteriorating day by day.
During court sessions, the emperor's once sharp eyes became cloudy and narrowed, and when he looked down at the court officials, he did so with scrutiny and wariness.
He is now completely alone.
Even when he was young, the Emperor was suspicious. He would test and consider even those he trusted. Once, he went too far, and the Dowager Consort had to speak up and remind him: "Even the most loyal person cannot withstand the test of the bond between ruler and subject."
The Emperor respected the Dowager Consort, but because of her words, he did not visit her palace to pay his respects for several months, as a sign of his dissatisfaction with her interference in state affairs.
The Empress Dowager was neither angry nor anxious. She had said what she needed to say, and the rest was beyond her concern.
The Emperor later calmed down and seemed to realize that the Dowager Consort was cold towards him. Whether he felt guilty or understood the Dowager Consort's good intentions, he went to pay his respects, and that gradually eased the relationship between him and the Dowager Consort.
This was also the biggest rift between the nominal mother and son, but this was only what the Emperor thought...
In his prime, the emperor was arrogant. As the ruler of the world, he didn't care what others thought. As long as they were loyal to him and served him, he would reward them; if they disobeyed him or angered him, he would punish them.
He believed that after neglecting the Empress Dowager, he acted as a filial son and took the initiative to reconcile, returning to his former ways. However, it wasn't until many years later that he slowly realized and recalled:
Since then, the Dowager Consort continued to take good care of him, but she only cared about his health and whether his daily routine was regular, and never said anything else.
When he calmed down, he recalled the clever and quick-witted young lady who had guided him through crises and helped him ascend the throne when he was young, but she no longer cared about teaching him.
He had tried to mend fences with the Dowager Consort, but what was there to mend? The Dowager Consort was always the same, without any faults to be found, and she wasn't acting out of spite towards him. The Emperor felt utterly powerless.
It seemed that nothing was going according to his plan, and only imperial power and the world were things he could hold onto.
Lu Liruan didn't know any of this at first; she only learned about it from the old people in the palace.
Ji Shumin didn't care that she was asking about the past. When Lu Liruan asked him about it, he would tell her about it in detail.
These secrets, when spoken by him, sounded like everyday gossip, without any need for concealment or cover-up.
As Lu Liruan traced the past events within the palace, she discovered that everyone in this deep, red-walled palace had a history of causes and effects and had experienced various changes.
When Lu Liruan mentioned that matter, the Empress Dowager paused for a moment, then smiled. She was no longer young; there were deep lines at the corners of her eyes, and her gaze was kind and wise.
"Does Ruan Ruan think that what I did back then was wrong?" she asked Lu Li Ruan in return.
Lu Liruan sat on the soft chair that the Empress Dowager had specially prepared for her. The chair was wobbly, and on the small table next to her was a pot of steaming flower tea, with several pieces of soft white milk cake piled on a plate.
The servants in the room were all dismissed. The Empress Dowager sat on a wooden chair, wearing a light pink palace dress with a thin shawl over it, and looked at her.
Lu Liruan always felt very surprised by the Dowager Consort's presence. Perhaps it was because she was an elder in the family, and because the Dowager Consort was kind and loving, she always treated her like a child and took care of her with affection.
It's warm and cozy here with the Dowager Consort, and the snacks are delicious. Lu Liruan often comes over to sit, and the Dowager Consort likes her to keep her company, always saying, "As I get older, I just like being around people."
Upon hearing the Dowager's question, Lu Liruan shook her head: "I'm just a little..."
"I find it strange that I would act this way?" The Dowager Consort pointed out what Lu Liruan was thinking.
Indeed, Lu Liruan did not understand why the Dowager Consort could suddenly let go of everything. Back then, the Dowager Consort's skills were no less than those of the current Empress, and she was even more tactful and gentle. Everyone in the palace respected the Dowager Consort.
But suddenly she stopped caring about anything and settled down in her palace to live a life of leisure.
"Because I cannot break the rules." The Dowager Consort sighed softly: "Ruan Ruan, the person of today is not the same person of tomorrow. Even if their appearance remains unchanged, their heart may have already changed in the slightest."
"I ask for nothing but peace and stability. Some things are best left undone after one time. Why make things worse?"
Lu Liruan understood what she meant.
Some things only need to be experienced once. To put it bluntly: learn from your mistakes and don't let others flatter you and make you think you're something special. Don't overestimate yourself.
Don't be too soft-hearted.
"Some things, even if you mean well, will be interpreted differently by others." The Dowager's tone was gentle, without any hint of dissatisfaction, only a faint teasing.
Lu Liruan didn't know if she had been sad or disappointed back then. The palace intrigue was fraught with danger back then. If she hadn't genuinely protected him, how could the Emperor have been safe?
She had no children of her own and had never been a mother. All the compassion she felt was used to raise that poor little prince back then. In the end, she was treated so coldly just because she had offered a word of advice. Back then, everyone in the palace knew that the Dowager Consort had displeased the Emperor.
However, due to the Empress Dowager's usual good relationships, even in the sycophantic palace, no one hated her much, and she lived a relatively comfortable life.
"It was I who made a mistake. The empress dowager must not interfere in politics. In this palace, no matter how many mistakes one makes, it is never wrong to follow the rules." The Empress Dowager patted Lu Liruan's hand, looking at her as if she had something left unsaid.
Lu Liruan was confused for a moment, then she understood why the Dowager Consort was willing to bring up the past with her.
The Dowager Consort never gossips or dwells on the past. Today, she followed Lu Liruan's words and brought up these things with her, simply to make her understand: don't get caught up in it, and don't take yourself too seriously.
Seeing her realize something, yet looking rather conflicted, the Empress Dowager smiled: "How did our Lu family produce such a sincere and lovely girl like you..."
Her words had a deeper meaning.
It is said that the girls from the Lu family of the Marquis of He'an are all lucky, but what lies behind this good fortune? They are intelligent, decisive, skillful, and have a cold heart.
"Have you heard about Yun'er's marriage?" the Dowager Consort suddenly brought up the matter.
Lu Liruan nodded.
"Do you know what she said in her letter to me?"
Lu Liruan shook her head again.
"Yun'er said she doesn't ask her future husband to come from a noble family. She knows that although she is loved by her parents, some people look down on her, but she can respect herself and wants to live a good life."
"The best thing about the husband your father chose for her is not his handsome appearance, nor his upright character or his sudden rise to the throne, but his gentle nature and the fact that his family background is not as good as that of the Marquis of He'an." The Dowager Consort smiled.
Lu Liruan blinked. She remembered that when that person was mentioned, Lu Wanyun's face was clearly shy, but she had considered so much in private.
"Ruan Ruan, what are you thinking about?"
The Dowager Consort suddenly asked.
Lu Liruan opened her mouth, not knowing what to say, and could only take a bite of the milk cake.
"Childlike nature..." The Empress Dowager was amused by her and stroked Lu Liruan's head like she was petting a cat.
Lu Liruan understood the Empress Dowager's intention, and she wanted to tell herself: Don't place all your hopes on Ji Shumin.
Lu Liruan didn't know if the Empress Dowager had seen through Ji Shumin's ambition, or whether she had realized that he was not giving up or backing down, but was secretly plotting.
But Lu Liruan knew that she wouldn't care or interfere. Just as she said, she would abide by the rules, and no one could shake her position.
She chose to live her life guarding her own heart, remaining unmoved and free from worldly desires, no matter what happened.
"Think more about yourself, Ruan Ruan. I can't protect you for a lifetime, and neither can your parents. If you suffer in the future, don't cry to a mound of yellow earth and cause us pain down there for nothing."
A sour feeling rose in Lu Liruan's stomach, and she forced a smile: "Your Majesty, please don't scare me."
She ultimately did not answer the Dowager's question: what was she thinking?
At least for now, she trusts Ji Shumin. He keeps his promises and has never betrayed her sincere feelings.
Lu Liruan couldn't hold back either; it was her own choice, and she couldn't blame anyone else.
That evening, Ji Shumin noticed that she was always distracted and seemed absent-minded. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers in front of her, startling Lu Liruan.
"Does the Empress Dowager have any scary things? How come she managed to steal Li Ruan's soul?" he asked mischievously.
On the table were milk cakes that Lu Liruan had brought back from the Dowager Consort; the snacks from the Dowager Consort's palace kitchen were the best.
Lu Liruan brought it back every time she went there.
With a sigh, Lu Liruan shook her head: "After hearing Your Highness talk about some past events in the palace, I feel quite uneasy."
Whether Ji Shumin believed it or not, he moved next to Lu Liruan, leaned against her lazily, and continued reading the book he hadn't finished.
Lu Liruan felt a little more at ease. These days, she always had a sense of unease, not knowing... how far she and Ji Shumin could go.
But let's take it one step at a time. At least for now, she believes in him, loves him, and feels happy when they're together.
After lying down at night, Lu Liruan's breathing gradually calmed down, but Ji Shumin still kept his eyes open. He turned around and faced Lu Liruan in the darkness, his fingertips lightly brushing against Lu Liruan's cheek.
She can't hide a thing, and she still thinks she can get her heart back from me? Impossible... Ji Shumin knew he would never let go.
Ji Shuqin was talking to him about the treacherous affairs of the court, but he found that Ji Shumin was listlessly distracted and didn't respond at all after talking for a long time.
“Min’er…”
"Hmm?" Ji Shumin responded lightly, raising his eyes slightly, seemingly displeased that he had interrupted his thoughts.
"Do you want me to help you keep him under house arrest?" Ji Shumin coughed and straightened his robes.
Ji Shuqin was taken aback, not expecting Ji Shumin to say such a thing, and his brows furrowed: "Why would I ask you to do this?"
“If we let him out, the backlash that has been suppressed for so long may not be so easy to deal with, even if it is the Empress Dowager…” Before Ji Shumin could finish speaking, Ji Shuqin’s expression turned sullen when he heard “Empress Dowager” and his son.
"How is the Empress Dowager these days?" Ji Shumin asked.
"Do you know about Seventh Brother's legs?"
"I heard that he was delirious during his illness, had a high fever, jumped off the roof, and broke his leg." Ji Shumin was not interested.
"It was...it was the Empress Dowager who forced Consort Rong and her son..." Ji Shuqin seemed unable to recount the complete story, a hint of reluctance showing on his face.
"Oh?" Ji Shumin finally looked at him properly.
Seeing that Ji Shumin didn't know, Ji Shuqin hesitated for a moment whether to continue, but he really couldn't help himself.
After remaining well-behaved for some time, Consort Rong finally found an opportunity to plead her case before the Emperor.
Ji Shuqin stood beside the emperor, listening to her sobbing as if she were crying blood, and was almost dumbfounded.
"If Lie'er's leg is not cut off, she will make Lie'er suffer from illness and death! Your Majesty, please do justice for me and Lie'er!" Consort Rong no longer had her former noble appearance; she was even emaciated and looked like an old woman.
Ji Shuqin looked at the Emperor and wearily threw down his vermilion brush: "Nonsense!"
"How could the Empress do such a thing? Lie'er was bewitched that night, and the imperial physicians have already examined her!"
He showed no concern whatsoever, only looking at Consort Rong with disgust: "What, have you gone mad and become hysterical too?"
Consort Rong looked dazed, repeating only those few words in her mouth, her voice growing increasingly mournful. She had nothing left to lose.
Her child is still like a lost soul, living like a living dead, without a trace of life. And she herself, she can't even believe that she was once such a noble imperial concubine!
Once by the emperor's side, now dust beneath the steps. Consort Rong sometimes wondered how she had felt so carefree back then, and how she had been so prone to such delusions.
Consort Rong was eventually dragged out.
"Qin'er, don't believe it so easily." The Emperor said this lightly and then didn't mention it again.
But Ji Shuqin knew perfectly well that what Consort Rong said was true.
When the Empress heard Ji Shuqin's questioning upon his arrival, she replied arrogantly, "Qin'er, don't you feel sorry for Min'er? I will make this woman's child suffer the same fate as Min'er. Why do you pity him?"
Ji Shuqin felt he had heard the most ridiculous thing imaginable: "Because Min'er injured her leg, you broke someone else's leg, thinking it was for Min'er's good?"
What is the reasoning behind this?
"Let those who deserve retribution receive it. Isn't this doing him a favor?" the Empress said coldly. "Min'er's heart is harder than yours. If he knew what I did, he would be overjoyed."
A look of disgust flashed in Ji Shumin's eyes: "Why are you making wild guesses about me?"
He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table: "What does this have to do with me?"
"Your Majesty shouldn't have done this!"
"Then what are you going to do? Your Majesty, I can't help you in the slightest. If you don't want things to turn out this way, you should find a way yourself," Ji Shumin said coldly.
He stared at Ji Shuqin, forcing him to see all of this clearly.