Сhаpter 23: Соnsulting thе Еmрress
Emprеss Dоwager Zhаo stoоd uр, smiling hеlрlеsslу as shе рursеd hеr lips. “Our Еmperor is far tоо clеvеr. Ву bringing it uр oреnlу, he knew I wоuld inеvitablу refuse, thus cutting оff anу further entanglеment.”
Вefоrе this, Emprеss Dowager Zhао hаd indеed entеrtаinеd thе idea.
Аfter аll, he was thе eldest sоn and had lоst his birth mother. Thеrе wаs no suitаblе candidatе in the раlacе to raisе him.
Tо оthеrs, this might havе been а hot pоtаtо, but for her, it was different.
Nanny Guan didn’t dаrе say much.
Thе Еmpress Dowаgеr always worried that after her passing, her children would not be treated well by the Emperor, so she wanted to secure more support.
Yet, this approach was more likely to arouse the Emperor’s suspicion.
“Forget it,” Empress Dowager Zhao sighed and slowly walked inside.
After leaving Cining Palace, the Emperor went straight back to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
By evening, Li Sheng approached the Emperor with the plaques from the various palaces for attending the Emperor at night.
Chu Ze glanced up but said nothing.
Lately, he found it all rather dull.
“Take them away,” Chu Ze waved his hand.
Seeing the Emperor had no interest, Li Sheng quickly retreated with the plaques. Not long after, he saw the Emperor emerge.
“Your Majesty, where are you heading?” Li Sheng asked softly.
Chu Ze walked ahead with his hands clasped behind his back, saying nothing. Li Sheng understood—the Emperor simply wanted to stroll aimlessly.
Following behind the Emperor, Li Sheng couldn’t help but recall the milk cake from earlier in the day.
The Emperor had seemed to enjoy it, yet he hadn’t mentioned visiting the Empress.
Could it be that the Emperor was doing this intentionally?
Li Sheng pondered this but felt the Emperor wouldn’t be so conflicted. The Empress wasn’t some fearsome monster.
Why would visiting her require such careful consideration?
Just as they left the Palace of Heavenly Purity, they saw several people approaching.
It was Consort Shu, accompanied by the First Prince.
Upon seeing the Emperor, the First Prince ran toward them.
His face was wet with tears, yet he managed to perform a proper bow to the Emperor.
“Your son pays respects to Father Emperor. May Father Emperor enjoy boundless fortune and peace!”
Chu Ze watched the little figure’s movements, a faint smile barely visible on his stern face.
Though the smile seemed almost nonexistent.
Li Sheng bowed slightly to the First Prince.
The First Prince slowly raised his head, gazing at his father before him.
In his eyes, his impression of his father wasn’t specific, but he seemed immensely tall, as if he could never reach him.
Even though he longed to see his father, at this moment, he felt a bit timid.
The First Prince’s voice was soft and tender. “Father Emperor, your child misses you and misses Mother Consort.”
As he spoke, large teardrops rolled down his cheeks, his sorrow palpable.
Behind him, the wet nurse, Madam Qin, knelt and bowed, quickly explaining.
“Your Majesty, please forgive us. The First Prince has been crying incessantly, missing Your Majesty terribly. To comfort him, this servant had no choice but to bring him out to search for you. I dared not disturb you, but we happened to meet Consort Shu on the way. Her Ladyship took pity and brought the First Prince to see Your Majesty.”
At this moment, Consort Shu also approached. She bowed properly and said, “Your Majesty, seeing the First Prince so heartbroken, I couldn’t bear it and took the liberty of bringing him here. Please do not blame me.”
Chu Ze nodded but said nothing more. He bent down to look at the First Prince, Chu Yunyuan, before him.
He reached out, somewhat awkwardly wiping the child’s small face.
Yunyuan was his first child, and he had placed great hopes in him.
But before he could grow up, he had already been affected by his birth mother’s misfortunes.
Chu Ze’s gaze gradually softened. He knew all too well the pain of losing a mother.Therefore, he would not involve the child and make him suffer.
“Alright, come with your father.” Chu Ze patted his head, then had the wet nurse lead him toward the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
Consort Shu curtsied slightly, preparing to take her leave.
“We are heading to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. Since you are already here, Consort Shu, accompany us.”
Chu Ze stopped her. In the eyes of most, Consort Shu was one of the few qualified to raise the First Prince.
Consort Shu nodded and walked to the Emperor’s side, her gaze hesitant, as if she had something to say but held back.
Chu Ze looked at her. “If you have something to say, Consort Shu, speak frankly.”
Only then did Consort Shu speak slowly, “Your Majesty, if I go, I fear Empress will think I wish to raise the First Prince. But I have absolutely no such intention. You know me—I dislike contention the most.”
Hearing she did not want to raise the First Prince, Chu Ze showed a hint of surprise in his eyes. He had thought her visit was precisely for this matter.
Could it be she truly pitied the First Prince?
“I have never been able to let go of the thought that if I had been more careful back then, perhaps the child between you and I would not have been lost.”
As Consort Shu spoke these words, tears fell.
This was her deepest pain, impossible to conceal once mentioned.
Chu Ze had not expected that after all these years, she still could not release this sorrow.
Thus, he understood she truly did not wish to raise the First Prince.
When they arrived at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, they saw the Empress coming out to greet them.
Today she wore a violet-gold informal gown, with a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin in her hair. The teardrop pendant hung between her brows, swaying gently with her steps.
The Empress’s demeanor had grown even more distinguished.
Consort Shu calmly withdrew her gaze and performed a proper curtsy.
Hua Shu glanced at them and curtsied in return.
She thought to herself, they came in a whole group. Seeing these people, she understood that today the matter of the First Prince must be settled.
Chu Ze’s gaze lingered on her for a moment.
She’s quite obedient today, even knowing to come out to greet us.
Thinking of how she had deliberately avoided him before, Chu Ze could not help feeling somewhat displeased today.
He walked over, looking down at her. “Rise. I have matters to discuss with you.”
Hua Shu complied.
They entered, and the First Prince stared at her wide-eyed, having shown no sign of courtesy since earlier.
The wet nurse, perhaps noticing the Empress’s gaze, hurriedly pulled the First Prince into a bow, saying, “Your Majesty, please forgive him! The First Prince is young and ignorant. I beg your pardon!”
Hua Shu glanced at her, then turned coldly and walked inside.
The Emperor and Empress sat together, Consort Shu took a seat to the side, while Madam Qin stood by with the First Prince waiting nearby.
“Yuan’er, the Empress is your mother. Why do you not bow and greet her?” Chu Ze said, thinking how the child had known to greet him earlier, yet now, upon seeing the Empress, he remained completely silent.
The First Prince shuffled a step closer to the Emperor, his voice small. “Father, Empress does not like me. I’m afraid.”
Hearing this, Hua Shu wore a faint smile. “The First Prince is only five, yet quite perceptive—already able to read expressions.”
Her words carried a hint of mockery as she cast a cold glance at Madam Qin.
Madam Qin kept her head lowered, not daring to speak.
Seeing her speak thus, Chu Ze waved his hand, signaling Madam Qin to take the First Prince outside to play for a while.
Once they had left, Chu Ze turned to the Empress. “The First Prince needs a proper place to go.”
She was the Empress of the central palace; these matters of the inner court were what he had come to discuss with her.Of course, it was also because of this matter that he had not yet fully considered his own thoughts and came first to see others’ opinions.
Hua Shu’s gaze fell upon Consort Shu. “Your Majesty already has a decision, does he not? Consort Shu has no children and is gentle and attentive—she is most suitable to raise the First Prince. I have no objections.”
Upon hearing this, Consort Shu hurriedly stood up. “Your Highness has misunderstood His Majesty. It was I who saw the First Prince on the road and, feeling pity for him, was moved by compassion. That is why I brought him to His Majesty’s side. I truly have no such intention. I beg Your Highness to forgive me.”