Chapter 184.1

Empress Wei’s body under her phoenix robe trembled slightly. She was furious.

She never expected that one day, her most beloved grandson would threaten her like this.

“Great! You’re really great!”

Zhao Zuo said, “Grandmother Empress, grandson is not great at all. If this grandson was great, this grandson wouldn’t be here today making Grandmother Empress so furious.”

Empress Wei snorted and said nothing.

Zhao Zuo said again, “Grandmother Empress, this grandson was forced to act. Back then, when you forced the Wei Famly to do those things, Jin Wang counted it as under my name. Because of this, he impeded the marriage between this grandson and the young miss of the Chen Family. If this didn’t happen, there wouldn’t have been a marriage between this grandson and the young miss from the Wang Family. Without the matter with the Wang Family, perhaps the matter between father and mother consort wouldn’t have happened. Naturally, there wouldn’t have been the matter between the young miss from the Wang Family and his father. His father also wouldn’t have been deposed as the crown prince.

“This grandson has changed from a dignified crown prince’s shizi to Hui Wang Shizi, and the reputation of Hui Wang Manor has been ruined by father. No matter how hard this grandson tries, this grandson can’t wash it away. Now that this grandson has been abandoned by Grandfather Emperor, the Wei Family, and even you, what do you expect this grandson to do?”

Zhao Zuo said it in a sobbing voice, which would be touching. However, as long as one listened carefully, one would be able to hear all sorts of nonsense.

According to his logic, everything should be blamed on Empress Wei and Duke Wei Manor. However, wasn’t it Hui Wang and his wife who committed the crimes, and negatively impacted the future prospects of their son? Or perhaps it was Zhao Zuo himself who was inferior.

If it was the past, Empress Wei would empathize and feel pity for him. Unfortunately, what Zhao Zuo had said earlier struck an extremely sensitive nerve, so now, she had nothing but anger and fury. However, Empress Wei had been in the palace for many years, so naturally, her ability to control her emotions was not bad. She quickly changed her expression and softened her voice.

“You have to know that even though Grandmother Empress is the empress, your maternal great-grandfather is still there. Your Grandmother Empress has never been able to control the Wei Family. Your father is useless, and your imperial uncles are all eyeing that position. Your maternal great-grandfather feels that your third uncle is more suitable for that position. This is why he changed his mind to help your third uncle. Your father and your third uncle are brothers. If your third uncle really does sit in that position one day, he definitely wouldn’t mistreat you. On the contrary, if one of your other imperial uncles were to sit in that position, both you and your father, plus your third uncle, would not have a good ending.”

“Then why not this grandson? Grandfather Emperor originally planned to pass that position to this grandson. True, something had gone wrong in the middle, but father and third uncle are biological brothers. Third uncle is also this grandson’s biological uncle. If this grandson can take that position, this grandson definitely wouldn’t mistreat third uncle. Why can’t it belong to this grandson?!” demanded Zhao Zuo, very aggrieved.

Empress Wei wanted to stabilize Zhao Zuo’s emotions, so she patiently explained, “My dear child, why can’t you understand this? If your grandfather really favoured you, how could he depose your father’s position as the crown prince? Ever since that one came back to the capital, it was already determined that none of the others would have a chance.”

Zhao Zuo was taken aback for a moment, and then asked, “Are you talking about my fifth imperial uncle?”

Empress Wei nodded.

“Is this why Grandmother Empress ordered the people from Jingshi Division¹ back then to deal with fifth imperial uncle like that? It’s also why Grandmother Empress ordered the Wei Family to give fifth imperial uncle that poison?” Zhao Zuo seemed to be a little dazed as he said these words like a parrot.

In fact, he should have known it in his heart long ago. If Grandfather Emperor really does like him, he wouldn’t have deposed his father as the crown prince. However, since he always remembered how his Grandfather Emperor had treated him so well and had high hopes for him, he couldn’t help but hope. Now that Empress Wei said all this so plainly, he had a heart-wrenching realization.

“Why? Why must it be him? Grandfather Emperor doesn’t treat him differently.”

Empress Wei smiled wryly and lowered her voice. “Because your fifth imperial uncle’s mother is the woman your Grandfather Emperor loves the most.” Because Emperor Hongjing had always done things like this. Few people have ever known what he liked and cared about. The things that someone believes he like, he might actually treat like a shoestring. As for what people think he doesn’t like, he might actually treasure it with all his heart and people would not be able to tell.

She had also been his woman for all her life, and it had taken her many years to understand. But so what if she understood? That woman had already made her mark in his heart, and she couldn’t dig it out or erase it. It had taken her a long time to understand how futile it was for the living to fight with the dead. If only she had known it earlier…

“Grandson understands.”

Zhao Zuo didn’t stay any longer and left, disheartened.

After he left, Hong Rang walked in from the door, and Empress Wei’s eyes flashed with a gloomy look. “This child knows too much.”

“So Your Majesty’s intentions are?”

“Well, Hui Wang only has this one redeemable son. If he is gone, Hui Wang Manor might really be ruined. Find someone to watch over him, and don’t let him cause any trouble.”

“Then as for Jin Wang’s side?”

“Now is the calm before the storm and it’s not easy to get away with doing anything. Father is still wooing the courtiers to see if he can establish Dai Wang as the new crown prince. If it can be done, great. If it can’t be done, then we shall see what can be done. Jin Wang’s foundation in the capital is shallow. Duke Ningguo Manor, which has lost its military power, is like a tiger without claws and is nothing to be afraid of.”

Hong Rang nodded without speaking.

“Shen Luan’s son is just like herself, always acting and even putting all his efforts into acting. Since he always acts like he’s not interested in fighting, it’s best not to fight for the rest of his life!”

Zhao Zuo, who had just left Kunning Palace, turned around and glanced gloomily at the palace behind him. He clenched his fists tightly under his sleeves.

Of course, he knew that Empress Wei was lying to him. If she really believed Jin Wang posed a threat, why would she let him live for so many years in the palace? If she truly was scared of Jin Wang, why wouldn’t she stifle the disaster while it was still in its infancy? What was the point of making all these excuses now, much less bringing in Consort De who had been dead for many years?

To put it bluntly, she had already made up her mind. Even if he were to expose what he held over her, the empress had already decided to stand on the side of Dai Wang.

Of course, Zhao Zuo knew that he wouldn’t win a fight against these people led by Empress Wei. He simply took advantage of the situation to put on a show of enduring his grievances. However, he would remember everything that happened today.

gingercat's notes:

¹This division works under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and is in charge of the emperor's sexual affairs.