Jinyi Spring

Chapter 204 Empress Dowager Xue

He Quan had been in the palace for over thirty years and served the Emperor for twenty. What could he not understand the hidden meaning in her words? Princess Yong'an was openly referring to the three of them, but secretly telling him that Wang Mama and the two head maids could not be of low rank.

He quickly bowed and smiled, "Having served Your Highness since childhood, I am now an old servant. This old servant understands and will certainly make an exception. Please rest assured, Your Highness."

Shui Chuchen nodded slightly and said no more.

As for Mu Jin, who was the most meticulous and adept at interpersonal relationships, she was left to serve her mother from then on, and she was no longer taken to the palace.

He Quan bowed and withdrew, and the palace servants who were not involved also filed out, and the hall became quiet.

Shui Chuchen stood in front of the curtains, looking at the unfamiliar yet magnificent surroundings, and let out a long breath.

Peony was too frightened to say anything more.

Granny Li briefly explained the palace rules to Feng Chuchen, and also gave a special reminder, "Your Highness has already been granted a title, and His Majesty has bestowed upon you the Renshou Palace. From now on, you should refer to yourself as 'this Palace' when addressing people of lower status than yourself."

Although she wasn't used to it, Shui Chuchen agreed.

Tang Jian, who was standing nearby, gently reprimanded Shaoyao, "Miss Shaoyao, the palace is a place where rules are the most important. For the sake of Her Highness the Princess, you must be careful in everything you do and not give anyone a reason to provoke you. Otherwise, it will be Her Highness who will be in trouble."

Peony quickly curtsied and said, "Yes, please remind me more often in the future, Eunuch Tang."

Granny Li said softly, "It's already late Hai Shi (9-11 PM), Princess should rest."

Shui Chuchen nodded, and with the help of Granny Li and Shaoyao, she changed her clothes and washed up before heading deeper into the bedroom.

In the center of the sleeping quarters, there was a rosewood canopy bed, like a small room, surrounded on three sides by carved railings with lotus scroll patterns and the Five Blessings surrounding Longevity.

A lotus-colored silk canopy hung from the bedposts, embroidered with sprigs of orchids in silver thread, with dense tassels cascading down to the edge of the bed.

Lifting the curtains, one sees a large canopy bed, made of Yun brocade fabric and Shu brocade mattress, with two small gilded incense balls beside it, emitting a faint scent of agarwood.

Granny Li said softly, "Your Highness, would you like me to stay and keep watch tonight?"

Shui Chuchen snapped out of her reverie and shook her head. "No need. Peony is enough."

Granny Li responded and curtsied as she withdrew.

Peony helped Shui Chuchen lie down, lowered the bed curtains, and extinguished the other candles, leaving only a gauze lamp in the corner, which glowed dimly.

"Your Highness, I am in the outer room. Please call me if you need anything."

Shui Chuchen softly hummed in agreement and lay down. The tent ceiling was a pale lotus-colored hue, shimmering slightly in the candlelight. She closed her eyes, but couldn't fall asleep.

She recalled the simple courtyard and hard wooden bed in Baima Village, and the impoverished days the original owner spent in the Feng family...

In the side hall, Granny Li quietly explained the palace rules to Peony.

-

Inside the Cining Palace, the candlelight flickered, casting a dim, yellowish glow throughout the room.

Empress Dowager Xue leaned against the phoenix couch, her face pale, with tear stains still visible at the corners of her eyes.

Overnight, her hair turned completely white, and she looked twenty years older. She held her son's hand tightly, the veins on the back of her hand bulging, but she gripped it so tightly that she would lose everything if she let go.

"I have repeatedly warned Xue Qinghe that since the late Emperor forbade Yun'er to be the crown prince, she should give up that idea. But she disobeyed and did so many bad things. I never expected that she would be so bold as to make a big fuss about one of my dreams."

Her voice was hoarse, trembling with sobs, "She deserves to die! But if she does that, who in the Xue family dares to disobey her? Your Majesty, the Xue family helped the late Emperor, helped me, helped you... You can't condemn them all!" Emperor Jianzhang sat motionless on the edge of the bed. His hand was gripped tightly by his mother, his knuckles white, but he offered no response.

Empress Dowager Xue knew that her son already suspected her. She cried even harder, tears streaming down her wrinkled cheeks and dripping onto the bright yellow bedding, leaving a small, dark, damp stain.

"Especially my father, your maternal grandfather, who took an arrow for you that year and lost half his life, spending the last ten years in bed. Xue Qinghe committed a grave error, and Xue Jicheng aided and abetted the evildoer; I will not plead for them. I only beg you to spare your maternal grandfather's other descendants..."

Emperor Jianzhang remained silent for a long time before speaking, "As Your Majesty knows, Xue Qing conspired to harm the Empress, framed the Princess, and murdered loyal officials. Each and every one of these acts is a capital offense. The Xue family conspired with her, committing heinous crimes, and according to the law, their entire clan should be executed."

"cannot!"

Empress Dowager Xue trembled violently, her face turning even paler.

Emperor Jianzhang quickly squeezed her hand, his gaze falling on his mother's aged face. "The crimes of the Xue family are obvious, but for the sake of the Empress Dowager and my maternal grandfather, I will spare the rest of the Xue family."

Empress Dowager Xue felt relieved and was about to say something when Emperor Jianzhang said again, "Tonight, I have posthumously conferred the title of Empress Xiaoxian on Lady Xiao, made Heng'er the Crown Prince, and made Chuchen the Princess Yong'an."

Empress Dowager Xue's hand trembled violently, and her voice changed tone, "Why is my son in such a hurry? Lady Xiao died pitifully, and I also feel sorry for her. So let her be posthumously honored."

"Chen'er has suffered so much. She is my eldest granddaughter and deserves a title. But the matter of establishing an heir is of utmost importance. Why not... why not wait until we discuss it with the Grand Secretaries before making a decision?"

Emperor Jianzhang's expression darkened slightly. "Is there anything in this world that I cannot decide? Mother, rest assured, apart from Xue Shi, Xue Jicheng, and Xue Jipeng, who must die, the rest of the Xue family members can live. However, they cannot stay in the capital. They should all return to their hometowns, and their descendants for three generations are not allowed to hold official positions."

Empress Dowager Xue stared at him blankly, tears still streaming down her face, but she gradually fell silent. She knew that this was the greatest concession her son could offer.

She closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. When she opened them again, her gaze had shifted from sorrow to clarity, even carrying a hint of sharpness.

“Those people deserve to die, and I hate them to the core. But Heng’er cannot be the crown prince. If he ascends the throne, he will not spare the Xue family and Yun’er just because of the Xiao family. Furthermore, Heng’er has been indecisive and incompetent since childhood. Your Majesty cannot make a hasty decision on the heir out of momentary guilt; that would be irresponsible to the country and the people.”

She paused, then gripped her son's hand tightly. "Your Majesty, please think of a way to depose Heng'er from his position as Crown Prince and let him live a carefree life as a prince."

“I have always remembered the late Emperor’s last instructions and never thought of making Yun’er the crown prince. Let’s just have Xiao’er. He is virtuous, diligent and wise. He will definitely be a wise ruler. Didn’t the Emperor also think the best about him before? If he ascends the throne, I can close my eyes in peace.”

Emperor Jianzhang shook his head. "Mother, it was you who told your son that Master Yuhui once said that the son born to Lady Xiao would inherit the destiny of the world and save the people from suffering."

"I have observed Heng'er for eighteen years, and among all the princes, he is the most suitable to be the crown prince. Mother, rest assured, Heng'er is kind-hearted and has the demeanor of an emperor. He will not make things difficult for the Xue family."

He stood up and tucked the blanket around his mother. "It's late, Mother. Please rest well. I'll come to see you again tomorrow. After the mourning period in Yong'an is over, let her come to pay her respects. She's a good girl and has excellent medical skills. Let her take a look at you."

After saying this, Emperor Jianzhang turned and walked towards the palace gate.

As they approached the door, Empress Dowager Xue's aged voice came from behind, "Your Majesty, twenty years ago, when Lady Xia first spoke, she said—'The daughter born to Lady Xiao will surely inherit the destiny of the world and save the people from suffering.'"

Emperor Jianzhang turned around abruptly and stared at his mother in surprise.

Empress Dowager Xue's gaze was as deep as an ancient well, and her voice was low, "At the time, I thought I had misheard—how could a young lady inherit the fortune of the world? So I asked another question. Xia immediately corrected herself, saying that she was wrong, and the master's original words were 'the child she gave birth to'."

She paused, then changed the subject, "Whether it's a son or a daughter, I'm afraid that the child who 'bears the fortune of the world' will fall into the Ming family and bring misfortune to the royal family. That's why I hurriedly told the Emperor."

"Looking back now, Yong'an was called a miracle doctor at such a young age, saving so many lives. She is still so young, who knows how many more people she will save in the future. It is no exaggeration to say that she 'bears the destiny of the world and saves people from suffering'."

Empress Dowager Xue lowered her voice even further, "Could it be that Xia lied and altered the master's original words without permission? Alas, the Kong family's affair had to come to light at this time, and Xia's death was so coincidental..."

"Could the Ming family have deliberately let Xia say those things in order to make Heng'er the crown prince, and then silence her in the end? My son, we must be on guard." (End of Chapter)