Chapter 455

Chapter 455 The Empress Dowager was taken aback, never expecting the Emperor to suddenly bring up this matter. Her first reaction was confusion, along with a flicker of guilt. But all that guilt was buried beneath her righteous indignation as she questioned the Emperor, "You have the nerve to come and ask me?" "Since you ascended the throne, have I ever enjoyed even half a day of the prestige befitting an Empress Dowager?" "First I was suffocated by that Empress of yours, and now I've been sent to this barren place at Baohua Temple. I have to live my life watching your every expression—how dare I speak up for your elder brother?!" Parents who play favorites rarely see anything wrong with their favoritism. To them, it's merely that they gave you a little less today, and you're being petty, holding a grudge over it. Likewise, selfish people, when confronted, don't reflect—they only pick faults in you and shift all the blame onto your shoulders. The Emperor: "I said before that my cold and heartless nature is just like yours, Mother, but you refused to admit it." "These past years, I've been thinking about one thing." The Empress Dowager glared at the Emperor with fury. The Emperor: "I've been thinking—if one day I were the one to lose, would Mother treat my wife and concubines the same way?" "And so I've never lifted the house arrest on my elder brother and Jin'er, only to remind myself constantly." This was the true reason the Emperor could never be close to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager had always favored Prince Su since childhood. The Emperor bore no resentment or hatred—he simply held a stubborn fire in his heart, refusing to let anyone look down on him. He only hoped that one day he would astonish everyone and make the Empress Dowager regret her favoritism. Regret that she had misjudged him. But then one day, Prince Su's rebellion failed, and the Prince Su estate fell. The Emperor watched as his mother, who had always doted on Prince Su, showed not a single word of concern—as if that son were not her own flesh and blood. A chill suddenly rose in his heart. The Emperor saw through the so-called favoritism and maternal love—it was merely a bet the Empress Dowager had placed on Prince Su. Simply because Prince Su could bring her benefits. And the Emperor, the youngest son who was never favored, was likewise only because he was useless, unable to bring her any benefit. After seeing all this clearly, the Emperor could never get past that hurdle in his heart. The stubborn fire he had held inside suddenly turned into resentment and disgust. His attitude toward the Empress Dowager became twisted and conflicted. He saw through her selfishness and coldness, and had no desire whatsoever to let her live well off his power. Yet at the same time, he wanted to see her flaunt her authority and act arrogantly on his strength—to confirm his suspicions and deepen his contempt for her. After suppressing this turmoil in his heart for so long, he finally voiced it on today's occasion. The Empress Dowager's heart turned cold, and she felt a chill rush up from the soles of her feet. The Emperor: "As you said, Mother, I am indeed a selfish, cold-blooded, narrow-minded person." "With someone like me, what makes you think you can control me with filial piety?!" The Empress Dowager finally panicked, recalling the Emperor's temperament in handling matters: "Emperor, are you saying you would even kill your own mother?!" The Emperor looked at her coldly. "Your son would never dare commit matricide." "It's just that your son is narrow-minded and holds grudges deeply." "If Mother were understanding and considerate toward me, I would naturally cherish you in return. But if Mother remains so obstinate and unrepentant, I believe you are better suited to repenting before the Buddha." "In the dead of night, have you never dreamed of Empress Xiaohui, covered in blood, coming to you to cry out for justice?!" The Empress Dowager's eyes flew wide. "You..." She wanted to curse the Emperor, but in the end, she was afraid of what he had just said. Afraid that in a fit of rage, he would truly have her confined at Baohua Temple for the rest of her life. ... On the sixth day of the fourth month, the Fifth Prince Xiao Cong's birthday. The Six Palaces gathered at Zhaohua Palace, celebrating the Fifth Prince's birth. Suddenly, an imperial edict arrived. Eunuch Shian could hardly contain the smile on his face as he slowly unrolled the edict. "Noble Consort Xie, whose conduct exemplifies propriety, whose grace is serene and pure, whose gentleness resides in her heart—is hereby elevated and enfeoffed as Empress..." Just as everyone was about to kneel in gratitude, they saw Eunuch Shian produce another scroll of edict and continue reading: "The Fifth Prince Xiao Cong, gifted with extraordinary intelligence, virtuous in character, possessing both benevolence and filial piety, worthy to be heir—is hereby established as Crown Prince, to bear the hopes of the realm..." These were the two longest edicts Xie Run had ever heard, and the two most unforgettable. It wasn't until Eunuch Shian, beaming, addressed her as "Her Majesty the Empress" that she dazedly rose, aided by attendants. That the Emperor would elevate her to Empress was known throughout the Six Palaces. Everyone had also anticipated that the Emperor would choose the day of the Fifth Prince's birth. What they hadn't expected was that alongside the edict of enfeoffment came another decree—the appointment of the Crown Prince. Xie Run's emotions churned within her, but in the end, she calmly received the edict. Congratulations rang out from all around. Baozhen quietly asked Taotao: "Brother, what is a Crown Prince?" "Is it something good? Why does everyone look at you like they're hungrier than for the imperial kitchen's pastries?" Taotao: "...Don't talk nonsense!" Taotao didn't really understand the significance of being Crown Prince either, but just as he was basking in the congratulations from everyone around him, he suddenly heard Baozhen's question. He patted Baozhen's head. "A Crown Prince is... someone who'll have your big brother's back from now on—no one can bully you anymore!" Baozhen's eyes lit up. "Then the Crown Prince really is a good thing." Hearing this, the Third Princess beside her also said happily, "I want Fifth Brother to protect me too!" The Second Princess clapped her hands and laughed along, "Me too, me too!" Taotao said with great boldness, "Don't worry, from now on Fifth Brother will have your backs!" Xie Run stood nearby: "..." She couldn't bear to watch. The imperial decree came down during the day, and by evening the Emperor arrived at Zhaohua Palace. As they say, reunion after a long separation is better than a wedding night. That night, the Emperor was unexpectedly passionate, like dry wood meeting a blazing fire, leaving Xie Run barely able to withstand it. For five consecutive days, the Emperor stayed at Zhaohua Palace. Xie Run had truly captured the spotlight of the Six Palaces, and her position as the favored consort was now firmly established. The Ministry of Rites in the court and the Imperial Household Department in the harem were already preparing the ceremonies for the enshrinement of the Empress and the Crown Prince. Yet someone brought up another matter. The imperial beauty selection. Although the Crown Prince had been decided, the Emperor's offspring were still not numerous. The number of consorts in the harem was pitifully small—compared to the late Emperor's, it was simply embarrassing to look at. Court officials, seeing the Emperor's unprecedented achievements since taking the throne, were all growing restless. After all, since the Emperor had returned from his personal campaign, he had not yet begun rewarding merits. Many had distinguished themselves on the front lines this time. When titles and promotions were handed out, the situation in the capital was bound to stir once more. If the Emperor held an imperial beauty selection at this time, it would serve both as a reward and as an opportunity for those seeking to curry favor. The Emperor neither refused nor agreed. After court was dismissed, the Emperor went straight to Zhaohua Palace. After changing clothes, he lounged lazily on the couch. "The court officials want me to hold another beauty selection. Suisui, what do you think?"