The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 799 - 799 Empress Dowager 372 (First Watch of the Night)

Chapter 799: Empress Dowager 372 (First Watch of the Night) Chapter 799: Empress Dowager 372 (First Watch of the Night) “Your Majesty…” Eunuch Wei tried to explain that Empress Dowager Jing did not push him. However, before he could speak, Emperor coldly said, “Silence!”

Eunuch Wei shut his mouth.

Looking at the wounded expression on Empress Dowager Jing’s face, the Emperor wasn’t sure why his previous feelings of compassion were replaced with a touch of resistance and doubt.

“I didn’t.”

Empress Dowager Jing did not speak these words.

Because she understood the effects of this medicine better than anyone else.

“Empress Dowager Jing did not do it.” The nun argued forcefully, “Eunuch Wei simply lost his footing.”

The Emperor spoke coldly, “How did he just lose his footing out of nowhere?”

Eunuch Wei: Uh … indeed it was me who stumbled!

The Empress Dowager Jing gave the Emperor one last look before abruptly turning around and leaving, clutching her handkerchief tightly!

“Empress Dowager Jing! Empress Dowager Jing!” The nun had no choice but to follow her. The nun kept looking back, hoping the Emperor would stop the Empress Dowager Jing; however the Emperor did not.

As the Emperor watched Empress Dowager Jing’s retreating figure, a moment of distraction appeared on his face. But it only lasted for a moment before he solemnly left for his study.

Eunuch Wei was utterly baffled. He dismissed the servants and asked Gu Jiao, “Miss Gu, you saw it all, didn’t you? Is there anything wrong with His Majesty? He wasn’t like this. Did he have a fight with Empress Dowager Jing? Or was he affected by something?”

Gu Jiao didn’t answer his question, instead she asked: “Did Empress Dowager Jing really not push you?”

Eunuch Wei replied, “No! His Majesty was mistaken! I really fell by myself. It’s not related to the Empress Dowager Jing! It’s so strange…”

“When did His Majesty become like this?”

“Miss Gu, do you mean…”

“He suddenly became indifferent to the Empress Dowager Jing.”

Ah, Eunuch Wei had an epiphany. He’d been trying to find a word to describe His Majesty. After thinking for a long time, he couldn’t come up with one. So ‘indifference’ was it.

He replied, “Not too long ago. Yesterday, His Majesty detained the wet nurse Cai in his anger to question her. In the evening, Hui An, who stays beside the Empress Dowager Jing, came to report that she did not eat or drink the whole day. His Majesty showed compassion and went to visit her. He’s been too laborious and fell asleep halfway through his meal. When he woke up, he became like this!”

It seemed like someone tampered with the medicine in the black bottle.

As expected, Godfather was right. There really were those who used their cleverness against themselves.

Watching Gu Jiao’s small, curling lips, Eunuch Wei felt a chill up his spine for some reason. “Miss Gu, why are you smiling?”

Gu Jiao blinked her eyes, “Nothing, it’s fine. His Majesty is fine, you don’t have to worry.”

Eunuch Wei was still doubtful, “Really, should I stop worrying?”

Gu Jiao waved her hand, “No need, His Majesty is perfectly okay. I have to visit my godmother first!”

“Ah, let me send you, Miss Gu.” Eunuch Wei accompanied her out of Huaqing Palace.

Gu Jiao visited Renshou Palace, Empress Dowager Zhuang had just finished her morning court and was reading reports in her study.

Her reports were different from the Emperor’s. What she read were first-hand reports from the six ministries. Only the reports she approved would be presented to the ministers and delivered to the Emperor. So the documents the Emperor reviews each day were in fact second-hand reports…

Poor Emperor.

Gu Jiao didn’t disturb her godmother and went to look for Eunuch Qin in the side hall.

Eunuch Qin was enjoying the sun on the grass with his little pet turtle. Seeing Gu Jiao come over, his first reaction was to protect his little pet turtle!

Gu Jiao: “…”

“Cough, cough!” Perhaps realizing that his reaction had been excessive, Eunuch Qin coughed awkwardly twice and surreptitiously put his pet turtle into a pond. He said to Gu Jiao, “Miss Gu, you’re here? It’s sunny today. Would you like to sit in the pavilion?”

I will never admit that I am worried Miss Gu will hurt my pet again.

Even though Miss Gu didn’t do it on purpose, the little turtle was scared – he sensed it deeply.

“That’s fine.” Gu Jiao didn’t refuse.

They both moved to the pavilion where Eunuch Qin served tea and snacks.

Gu Jiao said, “Eunuch Qin, Empress Dowager and His Majesty started having disagreements before the late emperor’s death. It wasn’t until the late emperor passed away and His Majesty ascended to the throne – with Empress Dowager refusing to let go of her power – that their relationship completely deteriorated.”

Eunuch Qin nodded, “Yes, that’s what happened.”

It seemed that the medication started before His Majesty’s ascension, but the effect isn’t immediate. It has a fermenting process. It wasn’t until my godmother started ruling behind a curtain, touching His Majesty’s base line, did they have no way back.

If that’s the case, His Majesty’s dislike for Empress Dowager Jing also needed to deepen gradually through a series of “misunderstandings”.

“Hmm, I thought I could get His Majesty to retrieve the Dragon Shadow Guard right away.” Gu Jiao murmured.

“What did Miss Gu say?” Official Qin didn’t hear clearly.

“Oh, nothing.” Not in a hurry, after bullying the old lady for so long, it’s only right to collect some interest first, Gu Jiao said without changing her expression, “I was saying… hasn’t the old lady ever suspected that someone drugged His Majesty?” Gu Jiao asked.

Official Qin sighed: “Alas, at that time, the late Emperor was seriously ill, and the Liu family and the court were in chaos. Who could think of this? Everyone thought that the two were arguing because of the late Emperor’s illness.”

Gu Jiao paused for a moment: “What is there to argue about the illness?”

Official Qin said: “The late Emperor suffered from a brain disease. The imperial doctors and physicians of Zhan Country were helpless, so the court invited a doctor from Yan Country. The doctor said that to treat this disease, the skull must be opened.”

Gu Jiao touched her chin: “The old lady advocated for the opening of the skull, but His Majesty disagreed?”

Given the old lady’s temperament, she should be bold enough to try. On the contrary, His Majesty is relatively conservative.

Unexpectedly, Official Qin shook his head: “No, Miss Gu guessed wrong. It was His Majesty who advocated for the opening of the skull, but the Empress Dowager disagreed.”

“Is that so?” Gu Jiao was surprised.

Official Qin nodded again: “Exactly. But actually, before that, the two had several disagreements, just that it was not known to outsiders. The first disagreement was about what, this old servant doesn’t remember, nor does the Empress Dowager remember. It’s been too many years. Anyway, in the eyes of outsiders, their breakup was all because of whether to perform craniotomy on the late Emperor.”

“Did they end up doing it?” Gu Jiao was rather curious about this.

Official Qin shook his head: “No, before the two could argue out a result, the late Emperor passed away.”

Gu Jiao continued: “Then… when did the Empress Dowager and Concubine Jing fall out?”

Official Qin said: “It was in the last few days before the late Emperor’s death. The Empress Dowager and Concubine Jing had a quarrel. The Empress Dowager even slapped Concubine Jing. This old servant was waiting outside at that time and didn’t clearly hear what they were arguing about, only knowing that from then on, the Empress Dowager stopped having any contact with Concubine Jing.”

Given the old lady’s temperament, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, she is willing to take any risks. She is a woman who is more decisive and brave than a man. If both of them disagree then it would be fine, but even the Emperor agreed, how could the old lady be more conservative than the Emperor?

Could it be that there was something wrong with that Yan Country doctor?

Or to speculate boldly, that doctor was brought in by Concubine Jing to assassinate the late Emperor.

It was just that Concubine Jing’s plot was discovered by the old lady, so the old lady opposed the craniotomy. Because the Emperor was drugged and influenced by Concubine Jing, he became rebellious against the old lady, which led to the later advocacy for craniotomy.

So did the late Emperor really die of illness?

What exactly was written in the decree he left behind on his deathbed?

The Empress Dowager came over after reading the report. Seeing her dressed properly, looking like she was about to go out, Gu Jiao couldn’t help but ask, “Eh? Old lady, are you going out?”

The Empress Dowager rolled her eyes: “Aren’t I supposed to act with that stupid emperor?”

“No need.” Gu Jiao curved her lips, “The old lady has been working hard these days. From now on, the old lady doesn’t have to force herself to act with His Majesty.”

If it was someone else, they would ask why, but the Empress Dowager didn’t ask. She said: “Will the candied fruits still be given?”

Gu Jiao shrugged: “If we’re not acting, of course not.”

The Empress Dowager’s face darkened instantly.

Act!

She will act!

Just for five candied fruits!

Then, the Empress Dowager picked up her phoenix robe and went to Huaqing Palace with a clatter!

Was this girl dissatisfied with her acting?

Humph, it’s not a big deal, she could just act harder!

The memorandums today were rather numerous.

The Empress Dowager called him to discuss matters last night and it was indeed important. The news of the Crown Princess’s violation of the Kun formation had been sent to the other five nations. Liang, Zhao, and Chen countries had all responded, expressing admiration for the Crown Princess and congratulating Zhan Country, and all three countries had sent invitations to the Crown Princess of Zhan Country.

The original intention of the Empress Dowager was for the two of them to reconcile first, in order to avoid disputes in court.

He didn’t go.

As a result, the Jinluan Hall was indeed in chaos during the court session this morning.

Some advocated going to Liang Country, as Liang Country is a superior country, having a good relationship with it would only benefit Zhan Country.

Some advocated for Zhao Country, because after all, the hometown of old Master Meng, Pu City, is located in Zhao Country, which is known as the city of chess.

There were also suggestions to go to Chen Country, because the king of Chen Country was about to confer a new queen, and the Crown Princess, along with the emissaries, could attend the queen’s coronation ceremony, killing two birds with one stone.

The Emperor was in a headache, when a palace maid reported that the Empress Dowager had arrived.

The Emperor didn’t think much of it, thinking it was to discuss this matter. He picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea, only to hear a forceful shout from the door: “Honyhong—”

The Emperor was shocked, and the tea cup in his hand flew right out!

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