Many years had passed, and the Emperor still could not break the habit of seeing Wan Zhen’er every day. Even if it was just a glance, listening to Wan Zhen’er’s high-spirited voice or just staying by Wan Zhener’s side, saying nothing and doing nothing, the Emperor felt a sense of security.
But this time, Wan Zhen’er did not let the Emperor see her and refused him at the gate.
Wan Zhen’er’s voice was full of sorrow: “Why does the Emperor still come to see me? Go and accompany your Concubine Ji instead.”
The Emperor felt guilty and hurriedly said: “My beloved concubine, I…”
Wan Zhen’er interrupted him: “Your Majesty, you don’t need to explain. I will no longer believe your words. You have forgotten the oaths you made to me. I have nothing more to say to the Emperor. In the future, I do not want to see the Emperor again. Your Majesty, take care of yourself.”
The Emperor stood outside the gate, anxiously: “My beloved concubine, open the door, let’s talk slowly.”
Wan Zhen’er did not open the door; she just cried.
At first, she only whimpered softly, but later, she broke into loud wails.
The Emperor listened, and his heart was torn. He was overwhelmed with emotion.
Because of the sudden arrival of his son, the Emperor was overjoyed, his excitement clouding his judgment. He forgot that he should have stood in Wan Zhen’er’s position and considered her best interests. The Emperor also knew that Wan Zhen’er’s actions over the years were unavoidable, and she had her own difficulties.
After a long time, the Emperor softly said: “My beloved concubine, you can rest assured, I will give you a satisfactory answer.”
Wan Zhen’er wanted to ask what this so-called satisfactory answer was, but she held back and finally did not ask. Wan Zhen’er insisted on not opening the door for the Emperor and did not let him see her. She had to punish the Emperor in her own way to prove that she cared.
Soon after, the Emperor, feeling extremely elated because he now had a son to continue his lineage, was ready to pass away, finally able to hold his head high and proudly go to heaven or hell to meet his father and ancestors.
Before going to heaven or hell, the Emperor summoned Concubine Ji, who had just become his concubine, to drink and celebrate together.
Concubine Ji was no longer the same innocent girl from seven years ago. Now, after years of constant fear and anxiety, missing her young son, she had a hint of weatheredness on her face.
But Concubine Ji was still beautiful.
The Emperor suddenly sighed.
No matter how beautiful Concubine Ji was, she could not compare to his Wan Zhen’er.
The Emperor opened his mouth and asked Concubine Ji: “Is the imperial son well-behaved?”
Concubine Ji replied: “Reporting to Your Majesty, the imperial son is very obedient.”
He studies and learns to read every day and is progressing quickly.
The Emperor said: “The imperial son has troubled the beloved concubine to teach.”
Concubine Ji again respectfully answered: “This concubine obeys the command.”
After the son was revealed, some of the more upright officials in the court, like the Grand Scholar Shang Li, feared that this hard-won son might follow the same path as the late Crown Prince Diao Gong and be “killed by exposure” by Wan Zhen’er. They quickly submitted a petition saying: “The imperial son is the foundation of the state. With the noble concubine’s protection being more than sufficient, it is better for the birth mother, Lady Ji, to oversee his upbringing.”
Therefore, Concubine Ji was able to live with her son day and night in the Yongshou Palace.
The Emperor was in high spirits, ordering a eunuch to bring wine and cups, and personally poured the wine.
The first cup of wine was poured for Concubine Ji, then a second cup for himself. The Emperor raised his cup and said gently: “My beloved concubine, let’s drink.”
Concubine Ji smiled: “This concubine thanks the Emperor.” She tilted her head back and drank the entire cup in one gulp.
The wine was bitter and spicy, burning like fire as it went down her throat. Concubine Ji barely managed to swallow the wine, feeling a hot and spicy sensation in her stomach, the qi tumbling her internal organs.
Ji Shufei felt very uncomfortable and found her stomach unbearably painful. Heavy sweat beaded on her skin.
The Emperor saw this and asked with concern: “My beloved concubine, what is wrong with you?”
Ji Shufei’s face was pale, and she weakly replied: “Your subject’s stomach hurts.”
The Emperor said: “It’s nothing, right?”
Ji Shufei could no longer endure it, struggling to kneel before the Emperor: “Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your subject wishes to retire first.”
The Emperor nodded: “You should return to the palace and rest.”
Ji Shufei kowtowed: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
A palace maid came over and supported Ji Shufei. Surrounded by small eunuchs and palace maids, Ji Shufei returned to her palace. The Emperor looked up, his expression complex, staring blankly at Ji Shufei’s gradually receding figure, lost in thought, then softly sighed.
In a voice barely audible, the Emperor murmured: “If I could only choose one, I would still choose Wan Aifei.”
To prevent the Emperor from being careless, and given that the Crown Prince is young and unaware of precautions, potentially allowing Wan Zhen’er to be “accidentally” eliminated, the Emperor’s mother, Empress Dowager Zhou, brought her grandson to her Renshou Palace, keeping a vigilant eye on him and personally managing the Crown Prince’s daily life.
In any case, no matter how arrogant or lawless Wan Zhen’er might be, she would not dare to cause trouble at the Emperor’s mother’s place. After all, she is her mother-in-law, the formidable Empress Dowager, who may have retired but still commands respect – and no one, including Wan Zhen’er, would dare to touch a single hair on her head.
Wan Zhen’er was left with no choice but to gnash her teeth in frustration.
Though young, the Crown Prince was very hostile towards Wan Zhen’er. Every time he saw her, his expression was filled with anger, wishing he could drag her to the King of Hell’s palace to apologize to his mother, Consort Ji.
Wan Zhen’er was terrified.
To improve her relationship with the Crown Prince and ease the tension between them, Wan Zhen’er decided to lower her noble head and extend a hand of friendship, turning hostility into harmony.
Indeed, living under the same roof, they were family, and they would see each other daily – they couldn’t be at odds and become a laughingstock.
To prove her sincerity and show she was truly laying down her metaphorical knife and becoming enlightened, Wan Zhen’er prepared a feast in her palace and invited the Crown Prince, with whom she was sworn enemies.
The Crown Prince did come, but his expression was forced. His small face was tense, looking as if everyone in the world owed him a massive debt.
Wan Zhen’er didn’t mind.
At least, she pretended not to mind.
Adults should be magnanimous, after all. The Crown Prince was still just a child, and she was old enough to be his grandmother. How could she hold a grudge? Wan Zhen’er smiled her brightest smile, warmly inviting the Crown Prince to sit and instructing the eunuchs to serve the dishes.
Plate after plate of delicious food was brought out.
But the Crown Prince was unimpressed. He had no interest in eating and coldly said, “I’m full. I can’t eat anymore.”
Wan Zhen’er persevered, ignoring the Crown Prince’s attitude and maintaining her composure. She personally ladled a hot soup and brought it to the Crown Prince.
With maternal gentleness, she softly said, “Crown Prince, drink the soup while it’s hot.”
The Crown Prince, being a child, couldn’t hide his emotions. His feelings were written clearly on his face.
