Chapter 1188: Chapter 1188: An Unusual Mother-Son Relationship

Mother Empress always maintained a dignified and elegant appearance, sitting high above.

When he paid his respects, she would say he was excused from the formalities.

When he inquired about her health, she would smile, compliment him a bit, and then casually show concern for herself.

Though young, he was not foolish.

He could see through the forced smile on her face that it wasn’t genuine.

So, as he grew older, he became more reluctant to visit.

When he did visit, it felt like merely fulfilling an obligation.

After exchanging a few words of greeting, they had nothing more to say, often parting on a sour note.

Later.

He met Qingqing.

She was different from all other women.

She was genuine, forthright, and openly expressed her desires regardless of how they sounded.

She was carefree, without any scheming.

In front of him, she was like a transparent glass doll, with no hidden intentions.

She was pure and flawless, pure like a child who never grows up.

For the first time, he met a woman who openly wanted to cling to him, to rely on him.

It made him instinctively want to take her under his wing and protect her well.

Later. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

They had children.

The first, the second, the third, the fourth.

No matter if it was Chenchen, Henger and Yeye, or Yue Er.

No matter if it was the eldest, or the second, third, or fourth.

No matter if it was a prince or a princess.

No matter if it was the Crown Prince or any of the other children.

She cared for each one meticulously, always worried, unwilling to leave for a moment.

...

Chenchen was so similar to how he was back then.

Also taken from his mother at three years old, taught personally by his father.

Destined to inherit the throne, he couldn’t be raised by women or be spoiled even a little.

But Qingqing was very different from Mother Empress back then.

When Chenchen was to move away, she was extremely reluctant, sending the most reliable of Palace Attendants to care for him.

Seeing Chenchen studying diligently, she wept in distress, often visiting whenever she had the chance.

Checking if he was lacking anything, if he was cold or hungry, if he was overworked or wronged.

At first, he didn’t understand, thinking Qingqing was too emotional, overly indulgent.

Yet Chenchen did not become weak because of it.

Instead, he became more spirited, open, and straightforward.

At the mere age of ten, brave, hardworking, and with an open mind, he was already a true young man.

Poised to outshine his predecessors.

Only then did he understand.

Not all love is doting.

Not all love hinders a child’s progress.

True care only helps a child grow better and become stronger.

Kids growing up under the love of both parents will always be different.

See?

Even if a mother can’t always watch over her child, her love cannot be concealed.

Close your mouth, and it will show through your eyes.

Close your eyes, and it will emanate from your heart.

It will never disappear.

Qingqing is like this.

The Imperial Noble Consorts and Imperial Concubines are like this too.

But why wasn’t Mother Empress like this?

It’s so abnormal!

This is far too abnormal!

Zhao Junyao frowned, pondering for a long time without understanding.

"Emperor!"

"Emperor?!"

Seeing his face grow increasingly grim, Xia Ruqing hurriedly tugged at his sleeve and called out to him.

Zhao Junyao, lost in his memories and thoughts, suddenly snapped back.

Just in time to see Xia Ruqing staring at him.

"Emperor, are you feeling unwell?" she asked with concern.

"No! No discomfort!"

Zhao Junyao instinctively hid his expression.

He put down his book, got up, stretched, and cleared his throat twice.

"It’s getting late, let’s rest early!"

Xia Ruqing was filled with curiosity.

But seeing he was unwilling to elaborate, she didn’t ask further.

She just nodded assent.

After saying so, she too got up, washed, and went to bed.

That night, Zhao Junyao had a peculiar dream.

In a blur, he dreamt of a woman repeatedly crying out for her child.

She was all wet, as if she had just come out of the water.

Her hair was soaked, hanging in strands, covering her face completely.

She was covered in blood, her face too.

He couldn’t see her face clearly, only heard her heart-wrenching cries for her child.

"Child?" Zhao Junyao awoke instantly.

He was drenched in sweat.

It wasn’t the first time he had such a dream.

Even as a child, he had been frightened awake by this woman in his dreams.

There was even a time when he clung to Mother Empress, crying in terror.

Vaguely, he remembered how Mother Empress comforted him.

"Child, what you think about during the day will appear in your dreams at night!"

"You must have gone fishing at Taiye Pool again, disturbing the water ghost there!"

"That woman is the water ghost, who lives off the fish in the water. If you took her fish, she’d surely be angry!"

"Her heart-wrenching cries for you is because she’s angry!"

"If you go there again, she’ll devour you!"

Back then, being so young, he believed it completely.

Looking back now, how ironic it is!

The Royal Family most dreads ghosts and spirits, especially for the princes.

The fear is that they might encounter something unclean and be frightened to death.

The palace has a rule that all wetnurses, nannies, Palace Maids, and eunuchs are forbidden from discussing gods and ghosts in front of princes and princesses, to prevent spreading superstition.

But.

As a mother, for her to say such things to a small child, what was Mother Empress’s intent?!

Zhao Junyao didn’t dare to think further.

Seeing Xia Ruqing sleeping soundly in his arms, he tightened his embrace and closed his eyes.

...

The next day.

Zhao Junyao got up early to secretly meet with several Imperial Censors and secret investigators.

They discussed the current situation and the next steps, issuing several secret edicts.

First: Investigate the past affair between the Empress Dowager and Prince Yan.

Second: Track down the whereabouts of Zhao Junqi.

Third: Investigate the reasons behind the discord between the late Emperor and Mother Empress.

Two of the three secret edicts are about old affairs.

Though puzzled, the Imperial Censors and secret investigators dared not ask, and having received their orders, they all left.

Soon.

The large room was left with him alone.

He wore a white jade robe, with his hair loosely tied on top, held by a white jade hairpin, standing by the window with hands behind his back.

His sharp gaze fixed outside the window, pondering the increasingly puzzling mother-son relationship.

Previously, he never wished to bring up those old matters.

But now, he wanted to know the truth!

What is the real truth?!

His face was slightly pale, lips tightly pressed, hands clenched together under his sleeves.

When Xia Ruqing arrived, she saw him standing there.

There was an indescribable sadness and loneliness in his back view.

She approached slowly and gently called out to him.

"Emperor?"

Zhao Junyao turned back.

"Up already?"

Xia Ruqing glanced at the clear weather after the autumn rain, and joked.

"The sun’s already shining on our behinds, how could we not be up?"

Zhao Junyao forced a faint smile.

"Indeed!"

"Are you hungry, let’s go have breakfast!"

With those words, he turned to lead her away.

Xia Ruqing suddenly stopped, unwilling to move.

"Emperor!"

She suddenly became serious.

"What’s really going on with you?"

"Last night, I felt something was off, and now this morning too..."