Chapter 216.3

Meanwhile, as Li-shi was being taken away from the Yao Family, Emperor Jin’an paid a visit to Qianqing Palace.

No one knew what he discussed with the Emperor Emeritus, but the next day, the Emperor Emeritus summoned Zhao Zhuo into the palace.

Zhao Zhuo hadn’t seen the Emperor Emeritus in a long time. Last time during the New Year’s celebrations, he had been denied an audience, with the excuse that the Emperor Emeritus’s health wasn’t good and needed recuperation.

In reality, Zhao Zhuo knew the Emperor Emeritus wasn’t really unwell; he simply didn’t want to see him. He could hear the laughter, noise, and music from the palace even when he stood outside the hall. In plain terms, he was no longer the favoured grandson of the Emperor Emeritus.

“Let’s see how long your favour lasts!” Many times, Zhao Zhuo had such bitter and jealous thoughts.

Today, the Emperor Emeritus unexpectedly summoned him to the palace, which surprised Zhao Zhuo. He couldn’t help but recall a certain matter, and for a moment, he felt uneasy. However, he quickly dismissed the idea and that it couldn’t be that matter. He had been discreet, and no one should have discovered it.

Upon seeing the Emperor Emeritus seated cross-legged on the kang, all kinds of emotions turned into admiration all over his face. The Emperor Emeritus looked very good, even better than before when he was seriously ill. His eyebrows were relaxed, and his complexion was rosy, which was the result of physical and mental comfort.

“Grandfather Emperor…” His voice was filled with sorrow, grievances, and even confusion, resentment, and other emotions.

When the Emperor Emeritus heard this voice, he couldn’t help sighing. This was probably one of the most meaningful phrases he heard at such an old age. Without exception, these people were nothing good. Of course, this “nothing good” was according to Emperor Emeritus’s perspective.

“Get up. Li Dequan, give him a seat.”

At some point, the relationship between the two, Zhao Zuo and the Emperor Emeritus, had changed. In the past, whenever Zhao Zuo came to Qianqing Palace, they never treated each other as outsiders. But now, there was a sense of formality and restraint.

The Emperor Emeritus lost in thought, couldn’t recall if it was he who had changed or the other way around. Perhaps it started ever since the crown prince was deposed. No one knew for sure.

“Have you read any books recently? Any good news from Wu-shi? It has been a while since you and Wu-shi got married, and the priority should be on having offspring,” the Emperor Emeritus inquired.

Zhao Zuo replied one by one, “Grandson has been idle recently, reading ‘Analects with Annotations.’ When this grandson opened that book, this grandson remembered that you, Grandfather, gave it to me when this grandson first started reading the Four Classics. There are many annotations written by yourself, which made me treasure it greatly, and reading it again brings back many memories.”

“As for Wu-shi—”

He paused for a moment, a hint of disgust flashed in his eyes, but his tone remained respectful, “Grandson naturally hopes that Wu-shi can give birth to a child soon, but unfortunately, there is still no good news.” His voice grew dim at the end.

The Emperor Emeritus remained silent, and Zhao Zuo couldn’t help but look at him. His pupils immediately constricted at the sight.

Surprisingly, the Emperor Emeritus wasn’t listening to him speak. Instead, he was playing with the fish in a porcelain basin on the table with a jade rod in his hand, showing great attention. His gaze didn’t even shift toward Zhao Zuo.

Zhao Zuo suddenly felt a sense of frustration, as if he were performing for a blind man. However, he dared not say anything and could only lower his head in patience.

After a moment, or perhaps two, the Emperor Emeritus finally put down the jade rod and said leisurely, “It’s good that you can calmly read. Idle thoughts can lead to trouble. Learn from your imperial uncles.”

Then, he yawned, waved his hand for a servant to come, and gestured at Zhao Zuo. Then someone led him away.

Even after they left the palace gate Zhao Zuo still didn’t understand the Emperor Emeritus’s intentions.

He felt embarrassed and humiliated, thinking that the Emperor Emeritus had summoned him to the palace for no reason and said nothing. Just as he was pondering this, a group of people approached from nearby, led by two young children who were walking unsteadily.

These two children, a boy and a girl, didn’t resemble each other but were beautifully delicate and incredibly cute. Their steps were somewhat hurried, making people worry that they might fall, yet they didn’t allow the palace maids and eunuchs around them to hold or support them, even pushing them away with their tiny hands.

This group of people quickly arrived in front of Zhao Zuo, and then they crossed him and entered the palace gate. Around Zhao Zuo, there were people everywhere, and his ears were filled with voices, like a buzzing swarm of flies, irritating him.

“Princess, please be careful not to fall…”

“Third Prince, please walk more slowly…”

Only after these people entered the palace did the noise subside. However, soon Zhao Zuo heard the distinctive, slightly sharp sound of joy from the children, mixed with the hearty laughter of an older person.

It was the laughter of the Emperor Emeritus. His grandfather had never laughed like this at him, even when he was a child.

Zhao Zuo was momentarily lost in thought, feeling a mixture of frustration and humiliation. Compared to the treatment he received before, all of this felt like a slap in the face.

He was angry and resentful, but what could he do? At that moment, he couldn’t do anything.

The Emperor Emeritus’s earlier words echoed in his ears.

“…Learn from your imperial uncles…”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

What should he learn from them? People he had once scorned, despised, and even considered enemies now had to be treated with deference and even flattery?

Perhaps when he returned, he would try his best to have a son, preferably twins, since his Grandfather Emperor seemed to like children, didn’t he?

…

After sending away the two troublesome children who insisted on going to Qianqing Palace, Yaoniang spoke to Emperor Jin’an, “It’s good to tell Father Emperor about this matter. It also prevents you from being caught in the middle and avoids future grievances.”

Naturally, this matter referred to the activities that had occurred behind the scenes of that incident. Emperor Jin’an had hesitated to let Yaoniang handle such matters, but he had agreed and allowed the necessary actions to be taken.

The so-called incident naturally refers to the fact that someone was making moves behind the scenes. Emperor Jin’an, who wasn’t completely at ease with Yaoniang handling such matters, gave her permission but also arranged for An Yi to conduct some discreet investigating.

Who would have thought that An Yi would find something unexpected?

The thugs responsible for collecting debts had done such things several times before and had never caused a fatality. However, this time, there was a mistake, and they were oblivious to the fact that someone had tampered with their actions.

Given the current power of Hui Wang Manor, they could only engage in such underhanded activities secretly, but they didn’t expect to be discovered.

However, Emperor Jin’an did not take action against Zhao Zuo. Instead, he handed the matter over to the Emperor Emeritus, and Yaoniang’s words were quite fitting in this context.

“You don’t need to worry too much about this matter. It won’t stir up any storms, it just unfairly burdens you.”

“What’s there to be burdened about? Flies don’t bite seamless eggs and I didn’t see him go after my older brother and the others. It’s also good to send Li-shi back, so my sister won’t always have to endure her.”

Emperor Jin’an nodded slightly, his gaze shifting across her pristine face, and suddenly, his mood improved significantly.

“All right, let’s not talk about this. Let’s talk about something else.”

“What should we talk about?”

As her eyes met him, her face blushed instantly.

gingercat's notes:

Second last chapter of the main story!