Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 808 - 759: Returning the Favor (2)

Li Xing’an and Li Xingsheng continued to lead people in tidying up the old residence.

The reason given by Prince Luling was that Li Xingmao went to pick up their mother, along with his children and wife, so Li Xingsheng and Li Xing’an shouldn’t interfere. As bachelors without wives and children to worry about, it was right for them to clear the old residence.

The two brothers, dejected, continued with their work at the old residence.

Li Xing’an was indignant, "If I had known father was so biased, I would have found a wife in the village."

Li Xingsheng frowned slightly, didn’t speak, and continued chopping down shrubs with his hatchet.

Li Xing’an walked over and nudged his arm with his elbow, "Hey, second brother, why haven’t you taken a wife? You’re older than me. You marrying would make it easier for me to get a wife!"

"Shut up!" Li Xingsheng, feeling upset, kicked Li Xing’an and walked away with the hatchet.

"Are you crazy, second brother? I just asked about getting a wife, why are you kicking me?" Li Xing’an rubbed his calf, "Ouch, it hurts. I’m not refusing to marry the woman you want, why kick me so hard? Are you nuts!"

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The next morning, Prince Luling was accompanied by eunuchs from the palace to enter the palace.

Along with him were Second Master Wei, who had donned a new robe and was grinning with delight, and Li Yuzhu.

Prince Luling went to see the Empress Dowager, while Li Yuzhu went to see the Empress. The toxins in the Empress’s body had been fully cleared, but her health was weak, and Li Yuzhu would enter the palace every other day to check on her.

Li Yuwen’s belly had grown large. After leaving the Imperial Palace, she only visited Mrs. Wei and Old Mrs. Pei, and then stayed in Pei Shenyan’s residence to recuperate, without going out.

Pei Shenyan was the busiest, having to draft the summoning decree for the empire and select a new Nine Gate Deputy Envoy.

He had now become a stand-in for Prince Luling, handling all the political affairs that Prince Luling was unable to manage.

Since Mu Yuanxiu was idle, Prince Luling assigned him to assist Pei Shenyan.

.

After entering the palace, Li Yuzhu went to the Empress Palace, while Prince Luling went towards the Empress Dowager Palace.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat haggard from recent events.

Her husband had died early, her son had also died young, and none of her grandchildren were left to her.

She had thought about, like the Empress Dowagers from previous dynasties, choosing a young child from the Royal Family to sit on the throne while she ruled from behind a curtain. But on second thought, could she really suppress the ministers of the court?

The Yu Wen father and son had replaced the garrison commander of the West Mountain Camp, nearly replaced all the deputy envoys of the city gates, and had even poisoned the Emperor without her knowing, and it was others who discovered and told her.

If she were to seize power, could someone with ulterior motives use the same methods to take her life and seize power?

Her capability was only limited to the harem; she had no means to deal with those external ministers and generals.

Rather than seizing power and ending up universally despised, or even dying unexpectedly, it would be better to retreat to the harem, to live out her days peacefully.

However, she was still worried that Prince Luling might hold a grudge and burn bridges after crossing the river.

She didn’t want to see Prince Luling, but some matters needed to be instructed, and she had to muster her energy to meet Prince Luling.

The Chief Palace Maid helped her to the main hall and sat her down.

A eunuch led Prince Luling in.

The Empress Dowager sighed softly to herself and stood up.

Now, she had to sit on an equal footing with Prince Luling.

"Empress Dowager, how have you been today?" Prince Luling approached the Empress Dowager, nodded politely, and smiled, as a sign of greeting.

"I’m alright. How has the Prince been?" The Empress Dowager forced a smile.

There had been no sacrifice to heaven, nor any proclamation to the world, so Prince Luling’s status remained that of a prince. Therefore, the Empress Dowager still addressed him as "Prince."

"The same as usual." Prince Luling smiled.

"Please have a seat, Prince." The Empress Dowager gestured toward the guest seat.

"Empress Dowager, please sit first." Prince Luling didn’t sit down first and made a gesture for the Empress Dowager to take her seat.

The Chief Palace Maid next to the Empress Dowager blinked, her eyes flickering slightly.

The Empress Dowager looked slightly surprised but sat down.

The etiquette for sitting could reflect one’s status. Prince Luling inviting her to sit first was a sign of respect. Was Prince Luling genuinely respecting her or was it just a polite gesture? Doubts arose in the Empress Dowager’s mind.

After she sat down, Prince Luling took his seat among the guests.

"I have come to the palace today because there is something I wish to seek advice on from the Empress Dowager," Prince Luling began.

To seek her advice? Not to consult, nor to directly inform — this tone placed him in a humble position, could it be that Prince Luling truly respected her?

The Empress Dowager grasped the hem of her skirt, her eyes slightly narrowing, "Please speak, Prince."

"This morning, the eldest son went to Zhen An Prefecture to pick up his mother and wife with their children. The old residence of Lu Ling Royal Mansion will be where the three brothers reside in the future, and I will live in the palace with their mother. The Tianming Palace of the late Emperor needs renovation before it can be inhabited, which cannot be done in one or two months. I plan to live with the Princess Consort in the Yongxing Palace; it is also closer to the Imperial Study Room, so let’s leave the Tianming Palace vacant for now."

The Chief Palace Maid by the Empress Dowager’s side lifted her head in surprise, her eyes wide with astonishment.

The Empress Dowager’s eyes also suddenly flickered with excitement and joy. Perhaps too excited, her eyes reddened slightly, and her lips trembled a bit.

The Chief Palace Maid glanced at her and sighed softly with concern.

Others didn’t understand the Empress Dowager, but she understood her very well.

Prince Luling’s decision not to move the furnishings in Tianming Palace moved the Empress Dowager.

In the bedroom of Tianming Palace, everything remained in place as it was on the day of Li Can’s passing.

Even the small bloodstain Li Can had left on his pillow before his death was not washed away.

The Empress Dowager would occasionally go there to sit, touch those old belongings, and stare blankly at the discolored bloodstain.

A mother and child duo, living an orphan’s life, should have supported each other and developed a harmonious relationship, but Li Can and the Empress Dowager never got along well from the start.

Back then, the Empress Dowager was too busy vying for the Emperor’s favor among the concubines, neglecting Li Can’s upbringing, leaving him to be raised by a wet nurse.

The wet nurse, fearing Li Can might report her, indulged him in every way possible, giving him whatever he wanted.

When Li Can became curious about matters between men and women at just over ten years old, the wet nurse neither discouraged him nor guided him but instead found a beautiful palace maid for Li Can to enjoy.

As a result, Li Can developed an indulgent and licentious nature early on.

By the time the Empress Dowager discovered Li Can’s bad habits, it was too late for him to change.

Ignored and blamed by his mother since childhood, Li Can grew to resent the Empress Dowager even more.

At that time, the late Emperor had passed, and having more princes was impossible.

Regardless of whether Li Can was good or bad, the Empress Dowager could only painfully accept him.

If she forcibly pressured her only son to change his ways, what if it drove him to desperate actions?

To ease their mother-son relationship, the Empress Dowager chose an Empress from her mother’s family, the Cui Family.

Empress Cui was outstanding in appearance, well-educated, and gentle in temperament.

The Empress Dowager hoped the Empress would advise Li Can and dreamed that Li Can would be grateful for the beautiful and virtuous Empress she had arranged, thus improving their relationship.

However, to everyone’s surprise, Li Can showed little regard for the Empress, and within just a few days of their marriage, he had discarded her.

He often complained to the Empress Dowager, saying the Empress was a dull woman and that he might as well become a monk!

The relationship between Li Can and the Empress Dowager grew even colder.

Because of that, the Empress Dowager grew extremely resentful of the Empress.

Whether it was the Empress’s fault or Li Can’s, everyone in the court and harem knew clearly, even the Empress Dowager knew.

But how could the Empress Dowager admit that her son was at fault?

To appease her son, the Empress Dowager punished the Empress and selected another woman to enter the palace.

Ironically, the other beauty sent to Li Can caused his death.

The Empress Dowager refused to admit her mistake and imposed severe punishment on the Yu Wen Family.

"Let Tianming Palace remain empty, I have no objections," the Empress Dowager collected herself and said.

"There is another matter regarding the Empress Dowager’s residence," Prince Luling said, casting a glance at the Empress Dowager’s residence in Yongfu Palace.

Yongfu Palace has traditionally been the Empress Dowager’s residence.

It’s a quiet place with rare flowers, a small lotus pond, and a slope for gazing into the distance. On clear days, one could see the streets outside the imperial palace, whether it’s carriages or palanquins traveling along them.

It’s a very suitable place for health and well-being.

Ever since she moved into Yongfu Palace, the Empress Dowager grew fond of it.

When Prince Luling mentioned the prosperity of Yongfu, she immediately raised her eyebrows, her expression wary.

Was Prince Luling suggesting she relocate?

The Empress Dowager’s eyes narrowed slightly, "What’s the matter with my residence?"

Prince Luling smiled, "If the Empress Dowager likes it here, you may stay as long as you wish. However, if you find another place more to your liking, you can tell me, and I will arrange for someone to find a location. We cannot afford to wrong the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager’s expression relaxed slightly, "No need to move around, it’s rather troublesome. I’ll just stay here."

Prince Luling said, "I respect the Empress Dowager’s wishes."

After some brief idle chatter, Prince Luling took his leave.

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In the afternoon, Prince Luling sent someone to the palace with a box of dried plums for the Empress Dowager.

The light rouge-colored dried plums exuded a faint sweet fragrance.

The brocade box was decorated with a painting, depicting two grinning children.

They were exchanging peaches and plums.