Chapter 57 Factory Director?
The scene was completely silent.
Yu Jinghong was struck dumb, collapsing to the ground, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word for a long time.
Mother...do you really not want him anymore?
Yu Zhaoning was leaning against the car window, with half a piece of mung bean cake still in her mouth.
Wow!
[The Dowager Consort Duan is really tough this time! That's right, trash should be thrown in the trash can, why keep it to smoke cured meat for the New Year?]
[But how painful that must be, after all, it's flesh and blood of my own flesh, even if that flesh is rotten and stinking.]
The little empress sighed inwardly, stuffed the remaining half of the mung bean cake into her mouth, and puffed out her cheeks even more.
Yuan Hua, with a cold expression, slammed his cane down heavily.
"Someone come here!"
"Capture the Carefree King!"
Several imperial guards immediately stepped forward and dragged Yu Jinghong up like a dead dog.
Yu Jinghong then came to his senses and struggled frantically.
"Let me go! I am the late emperor's biological son! I am the true royal bloodline, while you, the emperor, are nothing but a princess!"
"How dare you, you bunch of lackeys, treat me like this?!"
"Grandmother! I am your grandson! I have the blood of the Yu family flowing in my veins!"
His voice was filled with wailing, and his eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets.
Yuan Hua looked at him, his eyes devoid of even the last trace of disappointment, leaving only icy coldness.
"So what if he was the late emperor's own son?"
"With royal blood flowing through your veins, you should know even more what propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame are, and what the most basic human ethics are!"
"Not only are you ungrateful, but you have also murdered your mother and rebelled. You are worse than an animal!"
"With such poor character, the entire Great Yu Dynasty cannot tolerate you!"
Yuan Hua's voice was strong and resonant.
"Imperial decree!"
"Immediately strip Yu Jinghong of his title of Prince Xiaoyao and demote him to a commoner!"
"Take him back to the capital and imprison him in the lowest level of the Imperial Clan Court, never to set foot outside again!"
Never to step out again!
This means that Yu Jinghong will spend the rest of his life getting moldy in that dark and gloomy room.
Yu Jinghong froze: "No!!"
"I'm innocent! Mother, save me! Mother!"
The sound gradually faded away until he was stuffed into the prison van and could no longer be heard.
Yu Zhaoning patted the crumbs off her hands.
[Is that all?]
[I thought it could jump around a bit more, but it's just a weakling with a combat power of only five.]
[However, the Imperial Clan Court is a nice place; they provide food and lodging, though it's a bit damp. It'll be good for him to calm down and clear his head.]
Ministers:...
Your Majesty, your focus is always so peculiar.
there.
Consort Duan remained kneeling on the ground, her expression dazed, showing no pleasure whatsoever at her son's fate.
She stared blankly at the ground, tears falling drop by drop onto the bluestone slab.
"Empress Dowager... I was wrong..."
"It was my fault!"
She suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself hard across the face.
"Back then, I felt that I was of lowly status, being a palace maid, and unworthy of the late emperor's favor, so I kept pressuring Hong'er to fight for it and snatch it away!"
"I told him that only by standing the highest can one avoid being looked down upon!"
"I'm the one who turned that innocent child into the monster he is today!"
"It's all my fault! I'm a sinner!"
Consort Duan cried her heart out.
Sudden.
She suddenly stood up, her eyes resolute, and rammed herself into a sharp, large rock by the roadside!
"I shouldn't have been born!"
The change happened so fast that the surrounding ministers didn't even have time to react.
"Stop her!"
An urgent voice suddenly rang out.
Actually, there was no need to shout; Cui'er, who had been watching this side the whole time, had already dashed out like an arrow.
Just as Consort Duan's forehead was only half an inch away from the stone.
A hand was steadily blocking the way.
With a flick of her wrist, Cui'er used the force against her and pushed Consort Duan back.
Consort Duan staggered a few steps, fell to the ground, covered her face and burst into tears.
"Let me die...let me atone for my sins..."
By the car window.
Yu Zhaoning frowned, her face full of disapproval.
"Consort Duan!"
The little girl's voice was crisp and clear, carrying a hint of disappointment.
"Do you think you can let Yu Jinghong have his way by dying?"
Consort Duan was stunned, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked up blankly.
Yu Zhaoning put her hands on her hips and said angrily.
"That jerk just called you useless!"
"If you die now, he'll be clapping and cheering in prison, saying that your useless mother has finally made room for you!"
"You're doing this kind of losing proposition—it hurts you, but it pleases your enemies?"
Consort Duan opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know how to refute it.
The Little Empress's inner thoughts followed immediately.
[Exactly! It's such a waste to die!]
[The Great Yu Dynasty is currently in dire need of manpower; even roadside dogs are being used to plow two miles of fields!]
[Although this Consort Duan is not well-educated, she is still a source of labor!]
[You can exchange for textile machine blueprints from the shop! We're short-handed here, and I've heard that Consort Duan's weaving skills are exceptional; she's adept at handling many fabrics and produces extremely beautiful patterns. Isn't she a perfect candidate? Consort Duan should be a good factory manager, right?!]
The ministers:???
Should the dowager be brought in to be the factory director?
Your Majesty, we could hear your scheme from miles away!
Yuan Hua's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, but a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes.
Hearing that innocent voice, Consort Duan's heart, which had been dead still, inexplicably skipped a beat.
A textile factory?
Was she really that amazing?
"Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty."
Consort Duan gave a bitter smile and wiped away her tears.
He seemed to be deep in thought.
During this time, listening to her innermost thoughts, she gradually discovered...
The new things His Majesty mentioned were all incredibly amazing. If she could really participate in them, she might even leave a lasting legacy.
Isn't this much better than leaving quietly?
At least if she stayed in the capital, her life wouldn't be in danger, and she wouldn't have to live in constant fear.
After all, His Majesty still needs her, and the Great Yu Dynasty still needs her!
Seeing that she was no longer contemplating suicide, Yu Zhaoning nodded her little head in satisfaction.
"That's more like it!"
"If you feel too bored or upset, go do some work!"
"The Great Yu is thriving now, and there's a lot to do!"
"I'll arrange a good job for you later, I guarantee you'll be so busy you won't even have time to be sad!"
Consort Duan looked at the little empress who was leaning against the window and was not even as tall as the carriage window, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
She solemnly kowtowed.
"I will remember Your Majesty's teachings!"