Chapter 0232: Emperor Jian with an Angry Expression, the Empress Letting Out a Light Sneer
“I knew it—how could he easily give up?”
In the past, the Second Prince was mediocre and incompetent, so Emperor Jian naturally wouldn’t entrust Jian’an to him.
But now, as soon as Xie Chengze returned, Emperor Jian couldn’t wait to make plans for him.
All the promises he had once made were nothing but jokes.
Fortunately, she had never believed them.
How could she have believed them anyway?
Snapping the Soul Incense in her hand in two, Cao Qingran turned and said calmly, “To the Hall of Mental Cultivation.”
Emperor Jian was currently recuperating in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Upon learning that the Empress requested an audience, he hesitated briefly before ordering Eunuch Zhao to let her in.
Separated by a screen, Cao Qingran gazed indifferently at Emperor Jian as he asked, “What matter has brought you here?”
Cao Qingran’s lips curved downward slightly. “Why hasn’t Your Majesty resumed court sessions? A kingdom cannot be without its ruler for even a day. Although the Prince Regent can maintain the court for now, it cannot last forever and will eventually lead to instability.”
With many ministers already deciding to support Xie Chengze, how could Cao Qingran stand by and do nothing?
Emperor Jian coughed lightly. “My health is truly not well.”
“Then abdicate early and become the Retired Emperor, passing the throne to Jinyu,” Cao Qingran said calmly. “That way, I won’t mistakenly believe that Your Majesty intends to leave the throne to the Prince Regent.”
“Cao Qingran, how dare you!” Emperor Jian’s face flushed with anger. “You are merely the Empress. Whether I become the Retired Emperor or not is not for you to decide!”
“Heh.” Cao Qingran let out a light laugh. “When the Prince Regent was still the Second Prince, he once brought this up. Your Majesty’s reaction was quite different back then.”
“He is my son and a prince of Jian’an. It is his duty to consider the court,” Emperor Jian said coldly. “You are merely a woman of the inner palace. Managing the harem is what you should be doing!”
Cao Qingran’s expression shifted slightly.
“You are just a woman! Marrying the Crown Prince and becoming the Empress is what you were meant to do! Do not fantasize about freedom—this is your fate!”
“You are a daughter of the Cao family! The Cao family gave you life and raised you. You should dedicate everything to repay them!”
“You are destined to be the Empress! Bearing the Crown Prince for our Cao family, ensuring our family remains in the court for generations—that is the purpose of your life!”
She had heard such words countless times.
In this world, everyone wanted her to be the Empress. Everyone believed she should marry into the royal family, give birth to the Crown Prince, and don the phoenix robes and ceremonial attire, enjoying a life of looking down upon the masses.
No one ever cared whether she was willing.
What she loved was the vast grassland, the falling white snow, the withered yet poignant plum blossoms, and the eagle soaring through the sky.
She loved the carefree spirit of the martial world, the intertwining of love and hatred in life, the heartfelt confessions shared over a cup of strong liquor, where both parties were willing.
Not for an unloving man, where a wrong note on the zither would earn her a slap, a misplaced move in a game of chess would lead to kneeling in punishment, a misplaced stroke in a painting would confine her to a cold inner chamber, crying until her heart broke, gradually growing numb.
But she could not break free from this fate.
In the end, she was locked in this cage called the “inner palace,” until Hua Ning appeared.
She was radiant and generous, full of passion and vitality. She was an eagle truly raised by heaven and earth, living the life Cao Qingran had once imagined.
And it was this very version of Hua Ning that Emperor Jian loved.
How laughable it was—she had suffered so much, forced to carve herself into the perfect inner palace woman, only to have the man she married love the very person she had once aspired to be.
She could neither obtain a man’s love nor her own freedom.
She envied Hua Ning for being unburdened by parental and familial constraints, resented her carefree life in the martial world, rejoiced in her ability to see through her own destitution and desires, yet harbored bitterness that she had effortlessly stolen the man’s affection, making her the laughingstock of the entire realm.
Cao Qingran gazed at the man behind the screen, the curve of her lips growing increasingly sardonic. “If Hua Ning were here, you would never say that women of the inner court must not interfere in state affairs.”
He was always infinitely tolerant of Hua Ning.
So much so that he loved everything associated with her, indulging even that child to the fullest.
Caught off guard by the mention of Hua Ning’s name, Emperor Jian’s eyes flickered. “She… never questions my decisions.”
Indeed.
Cao Qingran let out a soft, derisive laugh.
Of course she wouldn’t question you, because she received all of your love.
And what about her?
From the moment she became a daughter of the Cao family, she had already stood in opposition to Emperor Jian. Behind her was the Cao family, destined to seek benefits for them, even to help the Cao family push one after another version of her former self into this cold inner court.
Had she not already extended her influence into the court, Xie Jinyu would likely have faced countless memorials from officials urging him to marry and produce an heir.
Taking a slight, deep breath, Cao Qingran’s eyes shifted subtly. “If that is the case, Your Majesty should take good care of your health. I have sought a renowned physician from the martial world who may be able to cure Your Majesty’s illness, or at the very least, provide considerable relief.”
“Unnecessary.” Emperor Jian waved his hand wearily. “If there is nothing else, you may withdraw.”
“Your Majesty, avoiding treatment for fear of illness is a grave mistake.” Cao Qingran stepped forward, her gaze fixed intently on Emperor Jian. “Even if not for your own sake, think of the common people. Only with Your Majesty’s swift recovery can Jian’an regain stability.”
“I said it’s not needed! Cough—” Emperor Jian began to cough, lifting his eyes to look at Cao Qingran beyond the screen. “Eunuch Zhao!”
“Empress…” Eunuch Zhao hurried in, making a gesture of invitation.
Cao Qingran cast him a faint glance, not retreating but instead advancing toward Emperor Jian behind the screen.
“Oh! Empress!” Eunuch Zhao quickly moved to block Cao Qingran, only for her to raise her hand and strike sharply at his neck with a hand chop, her technique so keen it was clear she was trained in martial arts.
Eunuch Zhao’s eyes sharpened slightly. “I apologize for the offense, Your Highness!”
He raised his sleeve, blocking Cao Qingran’s assault with his arm and barring her path. “His Majesty’s cold has lingered without improvement and may even be contagious. For the sake of Your Highness’s health, it is best not to approach.”
“Eunuch Zhao, this renowned physician was secured through Hua Ning’s reputation.” Cao Qingran stared at him coldly. “Do you truly intend to stop me?”
“This…” Eunuch Zhao hesitated, and from behind the screen, Emperor Jian’s voice returned to normal. “It’s not needed, Empress. You should return.”
Cao Qingran’s brow twitched slightly.
She stared at the screen for a long while before finally letting out a leisurely laugh, flicking her sleeve as she turned and strode out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Her expansive golden phoenix robe trailed along the ground, unfurling like wings breaking free from a gilded cage, finally able to stretch out completely.
Your Majesty.
Your time is running short, isn’t it?
Ever since that night when Emperor Jian stayed at Kunning Palace, and she stood by the bed watching for so long while he slept soundly without any reaction, she had sensed that something was amiss.
Emperor Jian had always been a light sleeper, especially in the mornings, when even the slightest disturbance could rouse him. Only by Hua Ning’s side could he rest more peacefully.
During their visit to Liaozhou for the New Year, she keenly observed that Emperor Jian frequently coughed and appeared weary. Eunuch Zhao’s occasional worried expressions further confirmed that the emperor’s health was failing, perhaps even irreversibly.
Though inherently rebellious, Emperor Jian had been rigorously disciplined since childhood, making him reluctant to reveal frivolity or irrationality. Even when wishing to celebrate with the common people, he would never leave the palace with half his officials, risking the court’s security.
Now, he had even ceased attending court altogether, delegating all affairs to the Prince Regent.
Only when facing death do people indulge their desires and reveal their true nature.
The thought of Emperor Jian’s impending death made Cao Qingran bend over in laughter. She laughed wildly, tears welling in the corners of her eyes, until she clenched her fists, her sharp nails nearly piercing her flesh.
“No wonder he’s so desperate to secure everything for him.”
Pity. I will never let you have your way.