eurekapd Chapter 286 The Perfect Statue
Chapter 286 The Perfect Statue
That day, sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, casting mottled shadows. Eunuch Zhao was waiting outside the imperial study, his heart full of doubts.
He had been with Emperor Zhao for many years and knew very well that the emperor was diligent and was overwhelmed by the mountains of memorials every day. Normally at this time, the emperor would be buried in his papers, writing furiously.
But today, Emperor Zhao was rarely sitting by the window, staring out in a daze. The memorial in his hand had not been turned for a long time, as if he was disturbed by something.
Not only that, Emperor Zhao always had the habit of quietly going to the East Palace to visit the unconscious Crown Prince Zhao Hao in the dead of night. Going there during the day was the first time in history.
Before Eunuch Zhao could figure out what was going on, Emperor Zhao had already stood up and ordered a sedan chair to be prepared to take him to the East Palace.
As soon as Emperor Zhao's ceremonial procession arrived at the gate of the East Palace, the news spread quickly to the ears of Concubine Rong and the Queen.
Concubine Rong was sitting in front of the mirror and dressing herself. Upon hearing this, the jade comb in her hand suddenly stopped, and her face under her exquisite makeup instantly became gloomy.
She was already upset about the marriage, and now seeing how much Emperor Zhao valued Zhao Hao, new and old grudges surged in her heart. Her hatred for Zhao Hao grew stronger, and her nails unconsciously dug into her palms.
As for the Queen, years of silence in the palace have made her character extremely tough.
When she learned that Emperor Zhao had gone to the Eastern Palace, although her face remained calm, her heart was in turmoil.
Zhao Hao is her only concern and also her confidence in this deep palace. Over the years, she has been neglected by Emperor Zhao and has only the title of queen, experiencing loneliness and grievances.
At that time, Emperor Zhao ignored everyone's opposition and insisted on enthroning Concubine Rong. He doted on her and made her, the empress, a laughing stock. If she had not given birth to Zhao Hao, the position of empress would have changed hands long ago.
Even so, Emperor Zhao paid little attention to Zhao Hao. The eldest prince and the second prince were held in high esteem under the protection of Concubine Rong. The forces behind them even suppressed the Empress's lineage wantonly, but Emperor Zhao turned a blind eye.
Now, although the Chu Palace and the Huo Marquis Palace have fallen, Concubine Rong still lords it over in the palace.
Thinking of this, the queen felt mixed emotions, but she quickly calmed herself down and rushed towards the East Palace without thinking.
Emperor Zhao walked into the bedroom of the Eastern Palace and looked at Zhao Hao, who was pale and breathing weakly, as if he was in a deep sleep. He stood quietly beside the bed with a soft and complicated look, as if he was recalling the past, or thinking about something, and a meaningful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Just as he was about to speak, Eunuch Zhao's slightly anxious voice came from outside the door: "Empress, the Emperor has driven all the servants out. I'm afraid it's not convenient to disturb you now."
"Eunuch Zhao, how come the emperor suddenly has time to come and see my son today?" The queen's voice was cold and questioning.
"This...this...The Emperor has always been very concerned about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Eunuch Zhao responded hesitantly, knowing in his heart that even he could not convince himself with this statement.
"Care?" the queen repeated softly, her voice full of self-mockery. In her opinion, this was simply ridiculous.
Eunuch Zhao stood in front of the door, facing the queen, not daring to breathe.
He knew very well that although the queen was not favored, she had the support of civil officials headed by Prime Minister Bao. It would be easy for her to deal with him, a little eunuch.
Just at this moment, the door slowly opened with a creak.
"Queen, come in!" Emperor Zhao's eyes swept across the Queen's face with a calm expression. After saying this, he turned around and went back into the house.
The queen took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, and walked into the house steadily.
"Please sit down!" Emperor Zhao had already sat down on a chair in the inner room. He personally picked up the teapot and brewed a cup of tea for the queen. The steaming aroma of the tea rose in the air, but it could not dispel the complex atmosphere in the room.
The queen stood there, her posture straight, like a pine tree standing firm in the cold wind. Her eyes swept across the cup of steaming tea, but she had no intention of sitting down. Instead, she walked straight to Zhao Hao's bed.
Her steps were quick and gentle, as if she was afraid of disturbing the person sleeping in the bed.
Coming to the bedside, the queen slowly leaned over, her eyes fixed on Zhao Hao's face, which was as pale as paper.
Looking at her son's pale face, a thin layer of mist instantly appeared in her eyes, which was a mother's deep worry and heartache for her son.
She blinked subconsciously, trying to hold back the tears that were about to burst out. Years of palace life had taught her to be patient. Even in front of her closest people, she was used to hiding her vulnerability.
Emperor Zhao, standing aside, quietly watched the queen's every move, his gaze fixed on her slightly slender back, the expression in his eyes complex and indecipherable.
He didn't care about the queen's behavior just now. After all, his neglect of the queen over the years was like a thick layer of frost, separating the two of them. It was normal for her to feel resentment in her heart.
"Don't worry, I will definitely find a way to wake Hao'er up." Emperor Zhao's voice broke the silence in the room, and there was an unquestionable firmness in his tone.
The queen was gazing at her unconscious son in a trance. When she heard what Emperor Zhao said, she turned around abruptly, and looked straight at Emperor Zhao with a sharp look in her eyes, as if she could see through people's hearts.
"What can the Emperor do? The doctors at the Imperial Hospital are all helpless. They're all desperate to avoid the Eastern Palace, fearing they'll lose their heads if they can't cure our son. Is there any doctor in the world more skilled than the doctors at the Imperial Hospital?"
The Queen's voice trembled slightly. She had been running around for Zhao Hao's illness these days, exhausted, but she still couldn't see a glimmer of hope. At this moment, it was difficult for her to have any hope for what Emperor Zhao would say.
In fact, the queen did not try without effort.
During the time when Zhao Hao was in a coma, she secretly sent people to the countryside many times to inquire about doctors with excellent medical skills. She did not hesitate to spend a lot of money to invite them into the palace just to cure her son's illness.
All of those doctors were famous, and some even claimed to be able to bring people back to life. However, when faced with Zhao Hao's condition, they all shook their heads and sighed, helpless.
Thinking of this, the Queen felt more disappointed, and there was a hint of sarcasm in her eyes when she looked at Emperor Zhao.
"Your Majesty, do you think of my son now? If I hadn't worried about him, how could he be where he is today?"
Her tone was full of resentment. For so many years, she had seen and remembered how Emperor Zhao ignored Zhao Hao. Now that Emperor Zhao suddenly showed concern, she felt it was just a ridiculous farce.
Emperor Zhao was slightly startled. He looked at the emotional queen in front of him. In his memory, she was always gentle and peaceful, with dignified manners, like a perfect statue, polite and aloof. She did not fight or compete in the harem, and adhered to her duties as a queen. She was a role model for everyone in the harem.
But she always made him feel like something was missing.
And at this moment, the queen in front of him was really angry, with distinct emotions on her face, which made him suddenly feel that she was a flesh-and-blood, vivid and real woman.
"The Queen has worked hard." Emperor Zhao looked at the Queen without any anger on his face. Instead, he showed a gentle smile and comforted her softly.