dtnovels Chapter 85 The Wife-Killing, Childless Emperor and His Beloved Concubine 20
Chapter 85 The Wife-Killing, Childless Emperor and His Beloved Concubine 20
Anning Palace
The Empress Dowager was furious when she saw the people kneeling in front of her. None of the four of them could please the Emperor.
It's been so long, and he hasn't even served her in bed.
"Consort Xu, you are the highest-ranking among these people. I ask you, has the Emperor summoned you?"
The Empress Dowager asked wearily.
Consort Xu lowered her head in embarrassment and said bitterly, "Your Majesty, no."
His Majesty refused to see them, so they thought they should go to him themselves, but His Majesty's side was impenetrable, and he wouldn't let anyone get close.
They tried to find a solution through Consort Chu, but His Majesty took Consort Chu with him wherever he went, so they couldn't even see her.
Having been in the palace for so long, I am still just a figurehead.
The Empress Dowager was extremely disappointed. Although her ultimate goal was for Yu'er, these people hadn't managed to take away Consort Chu's favor.
"If you want to gain favor, you have to show your abilities. If you all cower like turtles, how can the emperor like you?"
These words were a bit harsh, and everyone lowered their heads in embarrassment and awkwardness.
"Alright, all of you, get out of here."
The more she looked, the more upset she became. The Empress Dowager closed her eyes wearily. She was worried about the Emperor, who had been embroiled in rumors.
She is still anxious because she has no children.
Jinxiu gently massaged the sides of her forehead, saying, "Empress Dowager, please don't overthink it. His Majesty knows his limits."
"Jinxiu, I am old, and Chen'er has no children. Is the Xiao family's empire going to be lost in his hands?"
The Empress Dowager's voice was filled with heartache and resentment; she would never allow such a thing to happen.
"Your Majesty, adoption is also an option..." Jinxiu said cautiously.
The Empress Dowager paused, then said wearily, "In the end, no one is as good as one's own child."
Jinxiu dared not say anything more and fell silent.
The Empress Dowager opened her eyes. "Three days from now is my birthday. Go and tell the Emperor that there is no need for a grand celebration. Just have him come and have a meal with me."
"Yes... it's the Empress Dowager."
Jade Palace
In recent days, Chu Yue has not been in good spirits. She has had little appetite, looks haggard, and appears listless.
To avoid worrying the emperor, she instructed Xiao Tao to apply thicker makeup to her every day, so that the emperor wouldn't notice.
"Your Majesty, you are not feeling well. Why didn't you let His Majesty know, or allow me to summon the imperial physician?"
Xiao Tao was extremely worried. Consort Chu had been feeling unwell these past few days and couldn't eat anything.
Chu Yue shook her head weakly: "I'm fine. If I tell His Majesty, it will alarm the entire Imperial Hospital, which would be too exaggerated."
"Your Majesty, His Majesty loves you, you..." Xiao Tao asked, somewhat puzzled.
"His Majesty is already very busy during the day, and I don't want to bother him with such trivial matters. I know what I'm doing."
Chu Yue comforted her.
Xiao Tao didn't say anything more, but she took even better care of her to make her more comfortable.
In the evening, the emperor arrived under the moonlight, having been busy too late that day.
When he arrived at the Jade Jade Palace, Chu Yue was already quite sleepy, her eyelids were drooping.
"Your Majesty..." Chu Yue still mustered her spirits to greet him.
The emperor hurriedly stepped forward, grasped her hand, preventing her from bowing, and pulled her into the hall.
"Are you feeling any better today?" The emperor carefully observed her expression.
These past few days, he knew that Consort Chu was feeling unwell, but he assumed it was because he had been too rough with her.
But I can never control myself, and then I feel extremely remorseful afterwards.
"Your Majesty, I am fine, just a little tired. I will be fine after a rest."
Chu Yue smiled and comforted him.
The emperor was somewhat skeptical, as Consort Chu never wore makeup at night and her skin was always clean and delicate.
But in recent days, she still wears a thin layer of rouge at night. Like now, her face is noticeably pale, and that blush is just a build-up of rouge.
"I'll have the imperial physician examine you," the emperor said, still uneasy.
Chu Yue stopped him: "Your Majesty, it's late. Don't make a fuss. Tomorrow is the Empress Dowager's birthday, and we need to go to her place. If I feel unwell, I'll tell you."
Speaking of this, the emperor felt somewhat guilty. He carefully said, "My beloved consort, the Empress Dowager does not want to go to great lengths this year. Jinxiu came to tell me that tomorrow... I only need to go there once."
The Empress Dowager probably didn't want to see Consort Chu.
Chu Yue's face stiffened, and the gentle smile she had just given her froze on her lips.
She said bitterly, "I understand..."
"Don't overthink it. The Empress Dowager is old and doesn't want too many people around," the Emperor comforted her.
Chu Yue nodded and said nothing more, but calmly helped him undress and wash up.
The emperor knew she was upset because the empress dowager had been making things difficult for her. The empress dowager had liked her at first, but now she disliked her just as much. That's why the emperor treated her even better, not wanting her to have any more worries.
Knowing that she was not feeling well, the emperor did not harass her, but simply held her affectionately, offering her silent comfort.
The next day, Anning Palace
Although the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration was not grand, Anning Palace was still filled with joy, and all the palace staff received rewards.
A sumptuous meal was prepared well in advance, and the Empress Dowager was already waiting for the Emperor when he arrived.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty." After so long, the Emperor returned here, but his mood was far from what it used to be.
"Chen'er is here, come quickly, come and sit down." The Empress Dowager treated him with the same attitude as always.
After the emperor sat down, the palace servants respectfully bowed in unison: "Greetings to the Empress Dowager, greetings to Your Majesty, wishing the Empress Dowager boundless happiness and longevity..."
"Very well, Jinxiu, I'll reward you again." The Empress Dowager was very happy and generous today.
Jinxiu nodded and left with the palace servants.
"Chen'er, are you still angry with your mother?" Only the Empress Dowager and the Emperor remained in the hall. The Empress Dowager was slightly choked up. The estrangement between mother and son was heartbreaking.
The emperor paused, then said in a deep voice, "Mother, I dare not."
"Chen'er, is it really not okay to let Yu'er enter the palace?" the Empress Dowager asked again.
"Mother, I know you want the Liu family to stand strong. I am willing to grant you official titles and ranks. My cousin is at the prime of her life, why waste her time in the palace?"
The emperor patiently explained once again, hoping the empress dowager would listen.
The Empress Dowager forced a stiff smile and said bitterly, "Very well, since the Emperor has said so, I have nothing more to say."
He picked up his wine cup again: "Chen'er, have a drink with your mother."
The emperor was also feeling uneasy, after all, she was his mother. He softened his attitude: "Mother, I have only met someone I like at this age, and I don't want to waste any time. I beg you to grant my request."
The Empress Dowager nodded, tears welling in her eyes: "Alright..."
After saying that, he downed the wine in his hand in one gulp.
The emperor breathed a slight sigh of relief; thankfully, the empress dowager was willing to listen.
"Your Majesty, I toast you." He then drank the wine.
"Chen'er, eat some food." The Empress Dowager personally served food to the Emperor.
The emperor ate them all.
After the meal, the Empress Dowager asked the Emperor to stay and play chess with her, saying, "Chen'er, spend some more time with your mother."
The emperor felt a little dizzy and also felt a bit depressed.
It was suffocating. He said in a deep voice, "Mother, I feel a little dizzy and would like to go back first."
"Chen'er, you've had too much to drink. Rest here with your mother for a while." The Empress Dowager then instructed Jinxiu, "Go and tidy up the side hall. The Emperor has had too much to drink and needs to rest."
Jinxiu received a signal from the Empress Dowager and quickly withdrew to make preparations.