The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 839 - 839 386 The truth comes to light (second update)_5

Chapter 839: 386 The truth comes to light (second update)_5 Chapter 839: 386 The truth comes to light (second update)_5 During that time, his relationship with Empress Dowager Zhuang had actually deteriorated; they had several disputes over the treatment plan for the late emperor.

Consort Jing said that the physician from Yan Country was very skilled, and His Majesty wouldn’t survive without trepanation; why not gamble on a slim chance of survival?

Looking back now, trepanation was such a terrifying procedure; how did he come to think that Consort Jing’s suggestion was so reasonable at the time?

Empress Dowager Zhuang opposed trepanation, and he came to believe that she deliberately denied the late emperor a glimmer of hope for recovery…

How could he have just…

The emperor pulled his wandering thoughts back and focused on the imperial edict.

He had actually never seen that imperial edict; everything was based solely on Consort Jing’s word, so did it really exist?

If it did indeed exist, had Consort Jing truly destroyed it?

He was unclear about her thoughts in the past, but now the truth had come to light; how could she possibly miss an opportunity to execute Empress Dowager Zhuang?

There must be something in between… that he did not know of!

The night was like water.

After the hour of Xu, the Imperial Palace gradually quieted down.

The majestic Jinluan Hall seemed like a dormant lion, silently crouching under the night sky.

Since the emperor had not summoned any consorts today, all the ladies in the palace gave up waiting, sighed, and closed the Palace Gate.

In the tranquil Nunnery, Consort Jing had just finished chanting a volume of Buddhist Scriptures. The cool night air fell on her slender figure, casting a layer of quiet light.

“Your Highness, it is time to rest,” reminded Nurse Cai from the side.

Consort Jing, holding the wooden fish mallet in hand, softly asked, “What time is it now?”

Nurse Cai replied, “We’ve just passed the hour of Xu.”

“So it is the hour of Hai,” said Consort Jing as she placed the mallet back on the table, “His Majesty likely won’t come tonight.”

Nurse Cai sighed.

His Majesty… hadn’t come to visit Consort Jing for several days now.

With a heavy heart, Nurse Cai said, “Your Highness, His Majesty he is…”

Consort Jing nodded lightly, “I understand, it’s my confusion, and I prescribed the wrong medicine.”

Nurse Cai looked at Consort Jing with a complex expression and said, “Your Highness…”

Consort Jing said softly, “Go to sleep.”

“Yes.”

Nurse Cai had just helped Consort Jing to stand, when suddenly there was an exclamation from Hui An outside the door: “Your Majesty!”

A gleam of light swiftly returned to Consort Jing’s dim eyes; her grip on Nurse Cai’s hand tightened.

…

In the teahouse, Consort Jing and the emperor faced each other, kneeling on their own cushions. Between them was a small rectangular table, laid with freshly brewed Flower Tea and some vegetarian snacks from the Nunnery.

“Have some tea,” Consort Jing placed a cup of Flower Tea in front of the emperor.

The emperor looked at the cup of tea without reaching for it. His gaze fell on the delicate vegetarian snacks: “Does Mother Consort actually enjoy eating vegetarian food?”

Consort Jing looked at him, slightly puzzled.

Nurse Cai softly stepped out and said to the several young nuns outside, “You all go rest; you are not needed here.”

The young nuns went back to their Meditation Rooms.

Nurse Cai closed the door for the two of them and stood quietly in the corridor.

Consort Jing also poured herself a cup of Flower Tea. With fingers that were well-maintained despite her age, she gently picked up the cup and smiled casually, “Is Your Majesty asking if I like eating vegetarian food? Initially, I was indeed not accustomed to it, but having eaten this way for so many years, even if I disliked it, I should have gotten used to it by now.”

“So Mother Consort dislikes going to the Nunnery,” the emperor keenly caught the implication in her words.

Consort Jing was slightly startled, then put down her tea cup and said, “That’s not what I meant. I was just making a comparison; I don’t dislike eating vegetarian food.”

“But you don’t like it either,” said the emperor.

Consort Jing furrowed her brows and looked at the emperor, “Did Your Majesty come here late at night just to argue with me?”

The emperor chuckled bitterly, “Alright, then let me change the question.” As he spoke, he raised his eyes and looked intently into Consort Jing’s, “Does Mother Consort truly consider me her own son?”

“Your Majesty’s words are getting stranger and stranger. What do you mean by asking if I truly consider you my own son? You were raised by me; you were brought to my palace not long after your birth… Although you are not my flesh and blood, in my heart, you and Ning An are the same! Both are my children!”

“Speaking of this reminds me of something. When I was about to be born, my birth mother also seemed to be close to delivering. In the end, she gave birth to a stillborn, which angered the late emperor. If it wasn’t for that incident, I would have actually been my birth mother’s child, wouldn’t I?”

Consort Jing’s heart skipped a beat!

“You…”

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