Who knew his biological son Zhu Jianjin would not be fortunate enough to enjoy it? Just announced as the heir to the imperial throne, he died of a sudden illness after only a short year, passing away before his father.
Shortly after Zhu Jianjin’s death, his mother, Empress Hang, also passed away.
At that time, Emperor Jing was only in his twenties, in the prime of his life.
One wife died, but he still had many wives. In the palace, there were plenty of women.
Randomly grabbing a woman with his eyes closed, as long as it wasn’t a eunuch but a female, each would be beautiful as a flower.
However, despite his efforts and enthusiasm, despite nightly revelry and spreading his seed everywhere, he had no other son to continue his lineage.
Emperor Jing didn’t even get to drink cold water before choking.
Several powerful ministers, eager to create chaos, took advantage of Emperor Jing’s serious illness and launched a coup in one night. They rescued the retired Emperor Zhengtong from his comfortable confinement in the Southern Palace and restored him to the throne he had been away from for eight years.
This palace coup was historically known as the “Southern Palace Restoration” or the “Coup of Seizing the Gate”.
Emperor Jing was the architect of his own destruction.
Shortly after removing his imperial robes, he died. There were different accounts of his death. Some said he died of shock and fear; others said he was forced to commit suicide with a white silk cord given by his elder brother, Emperor Zhengtong. In any case, Emperor Jing died and went to heaven to reunite with his son Zhu Jianjin, Empress Hang, and his numerous concubines.
This was called accompanying burial.
Because it was fashionable, one had to follow the trend.
The only concubine who escaped this fate was Lady Wang. Lady Wang was rewarded for her goodness. Years ago, she had sacrificed her position as empress to prevent the deposition of the crown prince. Now, the crown prince repaid her kindness, requesting his father to spare her life and allow her to live in her old residence for her remaining years.
Yi Wang’s difficult days were finally over. After weathering storms, he saw the rainbow and was also reinstated as crown prince, moving back to the future emperor’s residence – the magnificent Eastern Palace.
As the crown prince’s longtime companion, Wan Zhen’er naturally returned to the Eastern Palace with him.
Today’s Eastern Palace was different from the past. This time, as crown prince, he was like a piece of meat already in his mouth, almost certain to become the future emperor.
The ten-year-old crown prince tasted what it meant to hold his head high and be the center of attention for the first time. Wan Zhen’er benefited from this as well.
Now, Wan Zhen’er was no longer a young palace maid, but an old palace maid.
Wan Zhen’er’s treatment had improved significantly. She was no longer an ordinary palace maid, at least not in the Eastern Palace. In the Eastern Palace, she was above everyone except one. The eunuchs and palace maids all had to look at Wan Zhen’er’s face and follow her orders. Just a glare from Wan Zhen’er would make everyone too afraid to speak.
Wan Zhen’er felt that she now had a bit of the imposing manner of Empress Dowager Sun back then.
Empress Dowager Sun still lived in the Renshou Palace, and she was still the empress dowager. The emperors changed repeatedly, but Empress Dowager Sun’s position remained unshakable – of course, she had no reason to fall. She was the legitimate empress of the previous emperor, so who would dare to touch even a single hair on her head? To do so would be disrespectful to the former emperor, unfilial, and improper, and would leave a stain on one’s reputation for thousands of years.
On a sunny afternoon, Wan Zhen’er followed the crown prince, tottering behind him to see her idol, Empress Dowager Sun. After several years, Empress Dowager Sun had become an undeniable old lady, with completely white hair, wrinkled skin, and dim yellow eyes.
Seeing the crown prince, Empress Dowager Sun was very excited, with tears streaming down her face, and she reached out her trembling hand to stroke the crown prince repeatedly.
She murmured, “My good imperial grandson, my good imperial grandson!”
Wan Zhen’er stepped forward and knelt down, kowtowing: “This servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”
Empress Dowager Sun turned around and helped Wan Zhen’er up, saying repeatedly, “Zhen’er, Zhen’er, quickly get up.”
After stroking her beloved imperial grandson, she then touched Wan Zhen’er: “Zhen’er, good Zhen’er! Thanks to you, my imperial grandson is where he is today.”
Wan Zhen’er knew her merits were great, and also knew that without her, the crown prince would not be where he was today. But she did not dare to take credit, especially in front of such important figures.
Wan Zhen’er put on a look of trepidation, saying nervously: “This is what this servant should do.”
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Empress Dowager Sun said: “Zhen’er, you’ve done very well, been responsible and dedicated. I misjudged you back then.”
Wan Zhen’er still maintained her anxious demeanor: “This is what this servant should do.”
Empress Dowager Sun nodded: “Zhen’er, you are good! Very good!”
Wan Zhen’er lowered her head: “Thank you for the praise, Empress Dowager.”
Empress Dowager Sun was very satisfied that Wan Zhen’er did not show off, and rewarded her with many things.
Finally, Empress Dowager Sun said: “Take good care of the crown prince.”
Wan Zhen’er kowtowed again: “This servant understands.”
Wan Zhen’er decided to reach out for help and ask the Prince to assist her. Although the Prince was young, he was still the future emperor, and his power could cover the sky with one hand.
Wan Zhen’er first played the emotional card: “Prince, am I good to you?”
The Prince said: “Good.”
Wan Zhen’er escalated the flattery: “Do you love me?”
The Prince said: “Love.”
Wan Zhen’er mustered her courage and finally got to the point: “Prince, can you help me with something?”
The Prince said: “Wh-what?”
Wan Zhen’er said: “Can you help me find someone?”
The Prince asked: “Who?”
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Wan Zhen’er said: “Du Zhenyan.”
As soon as the Prince heard these three words, he looked as if he’d seen a ghost. He suddenly sat up from the bed. In the darkness, Wan Zhen’er saw the Prince’s eyes sparkling, and his voice was urgent and angry. She had never seen him so angry before.
After a while, the Prince asked hatefully: “Is it that dog slave called Du Zhenyan?”
Oh, the Prince’s memory was really good. He still remembered Du Zhenyan.
Wan Zhen’er didn’t care about his anger and said coyly: “Yes.”
The Prince’s voice was furious: “Why, why do you still think about him?”
Wan Zhen’er laughed before speaking: “He’s very good.”
The Prince was even more angry, questioning: “Aren’t I good?”
Wan Zhen’er said: “You’re good too, but it’s different.”
The Prince asked: “How is it different?”
Ah, the Prince was still a child. How could she explain?
She was confused. She certainly couldn’t tell the Prince that she was feeling lustful, that she was thinking about a man.
Wan Zhen’er is not a fool, and the crown prince raised by Wan Zhen’er is not a fool either.
They are both particularly clever because they grew up eating onions. Although Wan Zhen’er said nothing and still maintained a pleasant smile, the crown prince knew that she was angry and that she was punishing him.
The crown prince quietly killed the man Wan Zhen’er liked.
Wan Zhen’er was not very sad about Du Zhi’yan’s death. Her feelings for Du Zhi’yan had not reached the point of two butterflies dancing together on the same jade platform. Wan Zhen’er was just angry. She felt that she had been played by this young boy whom she completely trusted, and who had even ruined her potentially happy later life.
