Chapter 458

Chapter 458 The Empress Dowager could not read the emotions in the Emperor's eyes, nor did she wish to. She certainly would not remember the trivial matter of a few jade pieces from years ago. She was a stubborn woman. Even if the Emperor brought up old grievances, she would never admit her own fault—only think the Emperor was petty and held grudges too deeply, which only made her loathe him more. Watching the disgust and displeasure barely concealed in the Empress Dowager's eyes, the Emperor slowly rose to his feet and spoke the words that had been bottled up in his heart for years. "Mother does not like me, and in truth, I despise Mother just as much." "I once thought back then—why was someone as gentle and kind as Consort Ling not my birth mother?" "Why does my birth mother, who has nothing but a pretty face, have to be so foolish, so vicious, so selfish, so short-sighted..." The Emperor piled every scathing word he could think of onto the Empress Dowager. Just as she had once jabbed his brow and cursed him. But it seemed to strike the most furious chord in the Empress Dowager's heart. She could no longer hold back her curses: "I knew it! I knew it!" "You were bewitched by that slut Consort Ling back then—that's why you grew distant from me!" "She couldn't bear a child of her own, so she tried to steal mine, teaching you all sorts of nonsense, making you unfilial to your own mother!" "Slut! She's taking revenge on me—she's deliberately taking revenge on me!" "And you—you're just as heartless and ungrateful! You actually turned against your own mother for an outsider. And now you want to hound me to death!" The Empress Dowager slapped the bed frame, cursing like a fishwife. Amid her ranting, she began to weep for the late Emperor: "Late Emperor, why did you leave so soon—and why did you choose this cold-blooded, heartless thing to be Emperor?!" "If I'd known this day would come, you might as well have chosen Prince An..." Having vented the resentment in his chest, the Emperor no longer cared about the Empress Dowager's abuse. He had spent over a decade by her side—he knew his own mother to the bone. She never reflected on her own mistakes. When problems arose, she blamed others. Blamed heaven, blamed earth—but never herself. The Empress Dowager's curses and fury could no longer stir a single ripple in the Emperor's heart. His mother-son bond with her ended here. Perhaps for the Emperor, the moment he stepped through the gates of Rouyi Palace and was met with a barrage of accusations, that thin thread of maternal affection had already become a curse. From that day on, the Empress Dowager suddenly fell ill, spending her days on the bed cursing people. Sometimes cursing the Emperor, sometimes cursing Consort Ling and the other consorts of the late Emperor's harem. She would sleep half the day, then wake and curse for the other half—showing faint signs of madness. The Emperor only ordered the Imperial Medical Institute to use the finest medicines, and even specially summoned Xie Jiang—now a marquis—into the palace to treat the Empress Dowager. Every day, he brought Xie Run to Cining Palace three times to pay their respects. No one in the court or the harem did not praise the Emperor and the new Empress for their filial piety. Xie Run had heard bits and pieces of the news and guessed that mother and son had developed a rift—one that would likely never heal in this lifetime. Sometimes, when she played with Baozhen and Taotao, the Emperor would seem somewhat dazed. Standing nearby, wanting to join in, yet as if something stood between them. Xie Run knew the Emperor's nature well. Parents who do not know how to love raise children who also lack the ability to love. It wasn't that he didn't want to—it was that he didn't know how. The chance of the Emperor willingly bending down to be a loving father was far too small. Since he couldn't be expected to take the initiative, the children would have to. Xie Run quietly whispered a few words to Baozhen. Baozhen immediately beamed and scrambled up onto the Emperor: "Imperial Father, Baozhen is tired. I want you to hold me." The Emperor called it impertinence even as he shot Xie Run a look, signaling her to come help. Xie Run pretended not to see, and even reminded him: "Your Majesty, Baozhen is timid—don't be too harsh with him." The Emperor: "..." Baozhen had a sweet tongue, and coaxing and acting cute came to him naturally: "I'm not afraid of Imperial Father being harsh with me. I'm your son—even if you're harsh, I still love you!" The words stuck in the Emperor's throat. Taotao said nothing, quietly clearing the plate of pastries in front of the Emperor. Now that Taotao was older, Xie Run had begun to control his diet. Recently he'd developed a love for sweets, especially pastries. With Nanny Xu watching over him at the Princes' Residence and Xie Run at Zhaohua Palace, he had no choice but to restrain himself. Now that he'd finally gotten his chance, he secretly signaled Baozhen to keep the Emperor occupied for longer. Baozhen, who always listened to his elder brother, clung to the Emperor with even more effort. Sweet words poured out like they cost nothing—even Xie Run's teeth ached from hearing them. Taotao took the opportunity to sweep every pastry dish off the table. By the time Xie Run noticed, it was already too late. She helplessly pressed her forehead—truly, every person has their match. But this little scheme wasn't without results. Baozhen's clingy, coaxing nature somehow happened to suit the Emperor's taste. The Emperor's mouth stayed stubborn, but his heart softened. Until it evolved into him being completely helpless and defenseless against Baozhen. The three of them—father and sons—gathered several times a month: one acting cute and coaxing, one wolfing down pastries, and one basking in the satisfaction of being a father. Xie Run: Happily at ease. Three months later, the coronation ceremony for the Empress. The horns sounded, as if piercing the heavens. Banners fluttered, as if ten thousand people welcomed. Countless palace attendants stood in attendance, ministers clasped their hands and bowed their heads. Upon the high platform, the Emperor wore his ceremonial robes and imperial crown, a smile lingering in his composed, handsome eyes. Xie Run, dressed in the resplendent and solemn bright-yellow ceremonial robes, was supported by the female officials as she ascended the high platform step by step. Xie Run slowly placed her hand into the Emperor's palm, and suddenly felt a moment of dazed bewilderment. She had actually become the Empress of the Great Yu Dynasty? The Emperor chuckled in a low voice and asked, "Are you afraid?" Xie Run smiled gracefully and whispered, "With Your Majesty here, what would this humble one have to fear?" The Emperor tightened his grip on her hand. "I do love hearing you say such coaxing words." Xie Run's smile faltered for a brief moment, then she curved her lips, a glimmer of laughter in her eyes as if starlight had been crushed and scattered within them. The master of ceremonies proclaimed the joyous tidings in a booming voice, and below, ten thousand ministers bowed in reverence. Xie Run stood shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor, and together they took their seats upon the Phoenix Throne that countless had vied for. She had thought it was all a grand dream, yet the dream grew ever more vivid. In the blink of an eye, half a lifetime had passed. (The main text ends)