Chapter 250: The Empress Dowager’s Intention
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Feng Yili lowered his head and replied, “It’s Yili’s fault for making the Empress
Dowager unhappy…”
Upon hearing this, Yu Yunxi could not help but turn to look at Feng Yili. It seemed like his relationship with the Empress Dowager was slightly better than his relationship with the Emperor.
The Empress Dowager coughed again.
Yu Yunxi hurriedly brought the medicine she prepared and said, “Empress
Dowager, take this medicine. It’ll make you feel better.”
“Alright,” the Empress Dowager replied weakly. Then, she took the medicine without hesitation.
“Empress Dowager!”
The old palace servants at the side panicked when they saw this. After all, the
Empress Dowager should not eat anything that had yet to be tested for poison.
Yu Yunxi’s expression changed slightly. She was indeed too rash with her actions. Based on the Empress Dowager’s status, everything she consumed had to be tested for poison first.
Seeing how nervous everyone was, the Empress Dowager said with a smile, “If the Princess Consort truly intended to harm me, she would’ve done it a long time ago. Moreover, even if there were something wrong with the medicine, I’m sure she’d be able to save me.”
The Empress Dowager’s trust in Yu Yunxi was very obvious.
Yu Yunxi looked at the Empress Dowager in confusion. When did the Empress Dowager become so easygoing?
At this time, the Empress Dowager looked at Yu Junjin and said, “Come here, little one.”
The little bun was not afraid. He ran over with his short legs and called out obediently, “Imperial Grandmother.”
“You must be the little guy who came to my palace previously,” the Empress Dowager said kindly as she looked at the little bun.
A hint of surprise flashed in Feng Yili’s eyes. After all, the little bun had disguised himself previously and most people did not associate the current little bun with the former little bun. Most people assumed that the little bun in disguise was Shen Hezhi’s son and the current little bun was Feng Yili’s son.
“Yes,” the little bun nodded bravely.
The Empress Dowager stared at the little bun’s face and murmured, “Both of you really look alike…”
It was as though the Empress Dowager was seeing someone else through the little bun. However, the person did not seem to be Feng Yili.
Yu Yunxi was still puzzled over this matter when the Empress Dowager murmured again, “I remember that out of so many princes, Little Ninth resembles the former Emperor the most…” ‘Little Nine? Is that Feng Yili?’
Yu Yunxi looked at Feng Yili curiously.
The Empress Dowager looked at the little bun and said with a smile, “This means that you resemble your Imperial Grandfather a lot.”
“Oh, this means that Imperial Grandfather was quite good-looking as well,” the little bun said with a straight face.
The Empress Dowager laughed when she heard this, causing her to pull on her wound. Her expression changed immediately.
The old palace maids at the side called out worriedly, “Empress Dowager!”
The Empress Dowager shook her head. “I’m fine, I’m fine…”
The Empress Dowager had forgotten how long it had been since she had laughed like this. The little fellow was truly interesting. After a moment, her smile faded slightly, and her expression turned serious as she asked, “Do you know why I summoned you into the palace?”
“Isn’t it because of what happened during the day?” Yu Yunxi asked.
“No. I’ve already heard about what happened. The Emperor has his own plans on how to punish Gao Shixuan. I don’t intend to interfere,” the Empress Dowager said, shaking her head.
‘Then, what could it be?’
“Junjin is a child of the imperial family. According to the rules, his name should be recorded in the imperial family tree. We can’t skip this ceremony. I’ve already instructed the Ministry of Rites to make preparations. You don’t have to do anything. I summoned you here to ask if you want a simple ceremony or a grand ceremony,” the Empress Dowager said with a gentle gaze.
Yu Yunxi furrowed her brows slightly. She really could not figure out the Empress Dowager’s thoughts. Did the latter really summon them here just to ask about this? Moreover, she had heard previously that Consort Dowager Ning expended a lot of effort to get Gao Zixiu’s name recorded in the imperial family tree, but she failed to obtain the Empress Dowager’s approval. So why was the Empress Dowager so agreeable now?
Finally, Yu Yunxi replied in a soft voice, “Just a simple one will do.”
The Empress Dowager could guess Yu Yunxi’s thoughts with just a look. She let out a long sigh and slowly said, “Do you think I’m a scary and ferocious beast? Indeed, things were not pleasant when I summoned you into the palace previously. However, you have to understand that the King of Xinan’s Residence has a special existence in Tianxia…”
Then, the Empress Dowager looked at the little bun with a hint of guilt as she said, “Junjin, Imperial Grandmother’s words were indeed a little harsh previously. Please don’t take it to heart.”
“It’s alright, Imperial Grandmother. You didn’t do anything wrong. You just have a different standpoint so you don’t have a choice,” the little bun replied seriously.
Feng Yili and Yu Yunxi did not think much of the reply, but the Empress Dowager and the few old palace maids were very surprised by the little bun’s reply. Despite his young age, his thinking was very mature. It was obvious that Yu Yunxi had spent a lot of effort to nurture him.
The Empress Dowager looked at Yu Yunxi and said kindly, “It’s been hard on you. You’ve taken such good care of Junjin all these years.”
‘The King of Xinan’s Residence is very lucky to have Yu Yunxi so is it not the same for the imperial family?
The Empress Dowager, who was engrossed in her thoughts, suddenly coughed again, pulling on her wound.
“Empress Dowager, please rest,” Yu Yunxi said as she took a pillow and placed it behind the Empress Dowager.
“It’s fine. This is just a small injury. I can handle it,” the Empress Dowager said as she shook her head gently. After that, she said solemnly, “There’s also another reason I summoned you into the palace today…”
“Please speak, Empress Dowager.”
The Empress Dowager said in a complicated tone, “I’m sure you know that
Weiping is about to marry into Nanyue, right? She’s been crying and throwing tantrums in her palace, insisting on marrying Young General Yu. She said that she’d rather die than marry Crown Prince Nan.”
Yu Yunxi did not beat around the bush and asked bluntly, “Empress Dowager, could it be that you want us to think of a way to stop the marriage alliance?”
After all, it was said that the Empress Dowager doted on the Fourth and Eighth Princesses a lot. It was not surprising if the Empress Dowager wanted to protect Feng Weiping.
However, the Empress Dowager shook her head and said, “No, I support the marriage.”
Yu Yunxi’s eyes flashed with surprise.
“Perhaps you’ll think I’m ruthless. If the marriage is successful, it’ll be good for everyone except for Weiping. However, I married the late Emperor for the sake of my family back then and have been restrained in this palace all of my life. Weiping is a member of the imperial family, and she has been enjoying the treatment that comes with this identity. Now that the time has come, she has no choice but to bear this burden,” the Empress Dowager said. Her expression turned stern nearing the end of her words..