Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The Empress was startled by the Empress Dowagerâs shout. Looking at her gloomy face, she dared not make another sound.
However, she was cursing the Empress Dowager internally. How dared the Empress Dowager humiliate her in front of so many people? Was she tired of living?
Zhou Ying smiled and nodded at the Empress Dowager to show her gratitude. She then lowered her head and continued eating.
When she caught a glimpse of Zhou Jiayingâs disappointed expression from the corner of her eye, Zhou Ying knew what was going on. Zhou Jiaying was the one who started the dispute by claiming that she was infertile, and even the Empress had been used by her.
Thinking of this, she huffed coldly. Since Zhou Jiaying didnât want a good life and insisted on finding trouble, donât blame her for retaliating.
After the banquet ended, Gu Chengrui told Zhou Ying about the Fourth Princeâs olive branch on the way back and said, âIâm not sure what heâll do next. Be careful.â
âI guess there is no tacit understanding between them, husband and wife.â Zhou Ying retold how Zhou Jiaying made things difficult for her, âIn the future, if King Kang comes looking for you again, you can use her as an excuse and let them fight each other.â
âItâs a good idea. Letâs give them a taste of their own medicine and stir up the Kang Imperial Residence.â
On the other side, after returning to the palace, the Empress Dowager called the Empress into her palace and questioned her, âDo you still remember your identity?â
âAs the Empress.â The Empress was shocked by that question before replying.
âI thought you didnât remember. Although Gu Chengrui is an official of the Ming Dynasty, he is not a slave of the Yang family. What right do you have to interfere in other peopleâs family affairs?
âEven after she rejected you, you still tried to use your power to force her. How do you want everyone to think of you? How do you want them to think of our royal family?â
âI know her mistake. I just didnât expect Zhou Ying to not give me any face at all, so I just got angryâ¦â
âBut did you give them face? She initially rejected you tactfully, but you insisted on arranging a concubine for them.
âIf it were you, would you be willing?â
The Empress Dowager sighed and continued tiredly, âThe position of Empress does have a lot of power, but it also has a lot of restrictions.
âThis is because your words and actions represent the royal familyâs attitude.
âYou must consider the bigger picture and not act recklessly based on your personality.
âAnother thing is that being a mother to the country doesnât mean youâre actually their mother, but itâs a saying that you should be a role model for all the women and lead them well.â
âI understand.â
âGo back and think about this carefully. Your attitude will, at the very least, affect the prestige of the Emperor and King Hui.â After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she waved her hand to let her out.
After the Empress had left, Nanny Liu asked, âEmpress Dowager, isnât that too harsh? Iâm afraid that the Empress will hate you.â
âShe hates me already.
âEver since she was grounded, sheâs always been moody. If she werenât scolding one person, she would be scolding another. Her temperament is really too different from Empress Zhouâs.â The Empress Dowager sighed, âUnfortunate.â
After Nanny Liu heard this, her heart ached for the Empress Dowager. If she cared too much, the Emperor would suspect her of taking control. If she cared too little, everything would look terrible on her. She was stuck in a dilemma.
After the Empress left the Empress Dowagerâs palace, she was so furious that her face turned green. This time, however, she did not flare up again.
There was one sentence that she had taken to heart, which was that her attitude represented King Hui. She could not embarrass her son and needed to wait for him to return and discuss another big plan.
Thinking of this, she asked her substitute nanny, Nanny Yu, âOh right, how long has it been since King Hui sent a letter?â