Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 118 - Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, Empress Dowager Returns to the Palace

Chapter 118: Chapter 118 Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, Empress Dowager Returns to the Palace

The Western Region Prince and the Princess of the Western Regions entered the Imperial Palace to pay their respects. On that day, the Princess of the Western Regions was bestowed the title of Consort Qin and took charge of Yongle Palace.

This Consort Qin was filled with exotic charm and truly beautiful to behold, it was heard that the Emperor spent several nights consecutively at Yongle Palace, and for a time, Consort Qin’s favor was unceasing.

However, Murong Jiu, who had taken the Emperor’s pulse, was very clear that this was all just a show for the Western Regions’ envoys.

Even though the Emperor indeed had a weakness for beauty, ever since the incident with Noble Lady Hui and the excessive use of secret fragrances, the Emperor’s vitality had been insufficient, and he was no longer as robust as before.

Perhaps, his time with Consort Qin was spent just chatting under the quilt.

Consort Qin couldn’t possibly publicize the Emperor’s shortcomings, after all, she had received many rewards and had also made a place for herself in the palace.

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Most importantly, the Princess’s marriage to the palace was to solidify the alliance between the two countries; her being favored in the palace was enough.

Nevertheless, other concubines certainly did not wish for Consort Qin to be the sole focus of favor, unaware of the severity of the Emperor’s physical decline, they were still tirelessly engaged in various palace intrigues.

Only in Jingan Palace, situated near the Cold Palace, was there peace at this time.

Consort Jing Pin, who had been bedridden for years and almost forgotten, was lying in the Emperor’s embrace reading a book, her other hand twirling Buddha beads.

Her complexion was rosy, showing no signs of illness.

Her delicate features were beautifully exquisite, neither as boldly beautiful as Noble Consort Qi nor as dignified as the Empress; she possessed a calm and distant aura that none of the other concubines had, seemingly able to settle one’s heart.

Every afternoon, the Emperor would visit through a secret passage to rest here for a while.

To the Emperor, this place was a small world belonging to him and Consort Jing Pin, as well as his haven.

Here, he didn’t have to think about the court, the harem, nor the constant scheming.

He fondled a lock of Consort Jing Pin’s hair, somewhat sentimentally remarked, “These years have been hard on you and Huan’er.

Huan’er, his and Consort Jing Pin’s son, also known as the Third Prince, Jun Jinghuan.

“With Your Majesty’s favor, how could there be any talk of hardship? Please do not speak of such things again, Your Majesty, your concubine does not wish to hear them,”

Consort Jing Pin said softly, her index finger resting on the Emperor’s lips.

She continued, “In the past, your concubine was but a mere commoner. It was only because of Your Majesty’s favor that I could enter the palace as a palace maid and stay by Your Majesty’s side. If it weren’t for having Huan’er, and it becoming undeniable, your concubine would still wish to serve by Your Majesty’s side day and night.”

The Emperor loved how she devotedly focused only on him.

All other concubines had their own backing and influences, but Consort Jing Pin was wholly his, without a trace of distraction.

Content in his heart, the Emperor held Consort Jing Pin’s hand in his palm and said to her,

“I know your feelings, and so does Huan’er. He never complains about anything to me. The more it’s like this, the more I feel guilty. The eldest and the second are already at odds; I will intervene to ensure that Huan’er gains the advantage.”

A flicker of brightness passed through the calm depths of Consort Jing Pin’s eyes, but it quickly vanished. She said worriedly,

“Your Majesty, Huan’er and your concubine do not care for that position. Your imperial grace is vast, both mother and son are gratified and would never dare harbor such aspirations. Your concubine also fears that others might discern Your Majesty’s intentions…”

“No need to fear, for my health has greatly declined this year; I must plan ahead for you and our son. You don’t need to worry; I won’t let anyone focus on either of you.”

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The Emperor’s words were like a tranquilizer to Consort Jing Pin.

As soon as the Emperor left, Consort Jing Pin dropped the Buddha beads from her hands, her gaze deep and inscrutable.

That same afternoon, the Emperor suddenly decided to test the knowledge of several of his sons.

Catching the Third Prince off guard with his lack of answers, the enraged Emperor smashed a tea cup and sentenced him to study at Yingtian Academy until his knowledge was sufficient, after which he could return to the Capital City.

This was like a signal.

The Third Prince, already out of favor, now had drawn even more aversion from the Emperor.

There was hardly any chance of redemption, and he was ultimately destined to have no connection with the position of Crown Prince.

Before leaving, as a gesture to show the magnanimity of an elder brother, the Second Prince personally saw the Third Prince off on his journey.

Murong Jiu finally found the opportunity to subtly bring up the matter of the Third Prince with Jun Yuyan.

She couldn’t mention that the Jingan Palace of Consort Jing Pin was connected to the Emperor’s Yangxin Hall by an underground tunnel. Jun Yuyan had numerous spies within the palace, and even his people hadn’t discovered it, so how could she know?

Superstitions and myths—she feared that Jun Yuyan might view her as some kind of monster.

Although she subconsciously felt that Jun Yuyan wouldn’t see her in that light.

However, she truly hadn’t considered telling Jun Yuyan that she had been reincarnated. She dared not let anyone know, firstly because others might not believe her, even if she told them, and secondly, she feared revealing the secrets of fate might reset everything back to the beginning.

So she told Jun Yuyan to send someone to Yingtian Academy to secretly observe and see who the Emperor had appointed as the teacher of the Third Prince.

Jun Yuyan, fully aware of her secrets, tacitly did not inquire further and, as she had requested, dispatched several of his trusted subordinates to Yingtian Academy.

Yingtian Academy, located in Yuzhou, was neither too far nor too close to the Capital City. Even if the Emperor wished to summon the Third Prince back to the capital secretly, it would be an easy task.

But let’s leave that matter for now.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, and a palace banquet was being held, which Jun Yuyan and Murong Jiu would naturally attend.

The Third Prince had been driven out of the Capital City before the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, further solidifying his reputation as undesired.

For this occasion, one needed to dress elaborately, wearing the heavy attire of a Princess Consort, but Jun Yuyan didn’t want her to suffer and allowed her to wear a light, yet still noble dress.

When paying respects to the Empress, the Empress responded with an ambiguous smile: “Prince Ling truly dotes on the Princess Consort, to the extent of abandoning ancestral customs.”

“There are reasons for everything, it’s not necessary to strictly adhere to customs.”

Just then, the Empress Dowager walked into the palace, supported by the nanny.

All the princes and princesses present promptly paid their respects to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress quickly put on a smile: “Mother, you’ve finally returned to the palace, that’s wonderful. His Majesty will definitely be delighted to know this.”

The Empress Dowager primarily resided in the Imperial Monastery to devote herself to Buddha and rarely returned to the palace.

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s voice, Murong Jiu’s spirit also lightened, for in her previous life, the Empress Dowager was the only person in this grand Imperial Palace who had shown her kindness.

However, the Empress Dowager had passed away even earlier than she had.

The Empress Dowager wasn’t the biological mother of the Emperor; when the Former Emperor had passed away, the Empress Dowager had only been in the palace for a few years, having married the Former Emperor after the previous Empress Dowager’s death.

Ironically, the Empress Dowager was only a few years older than the current Empress, and even appeared somewhat younger.

Yet, the Empress Dowager, solemn and serene like an ancient Buddha in plain clothes, neither indulging in unnecessary chatter nor laughter, looked very serious, adding an aura of dignity.

The Empress, with a smile plastered on her face, greeted the Empress Dowager and seated herself at the upper seat.

Though the Empress Dowager seldom returned to the palace, she remained a figure of paramount respect, over whom no one in the harem could prevail.

“Princess Consort Ling, rise and let Us have a look at you,” the Empress Dowager said just after sitting down, beckoning to Murong Jiu.

Murong Jiu, pleasantly surprised, hadn’t expected that even without any prior interactions, the Empress Dowager in this life also showed her kindness.