The autumn air was crisp, and the Empress Dowager's palace was even more adorned with flowers. When the emperor arrived, palace maids and eunuchs were arranging flower pots, with various chrysanthemums vying in splendor.
Women's laughter came from within the hall, mingled with the noise of children.
The emperor waved off the eunuch's formal announcement and walked in, seeing inside the Empress Dowager's hall the concubines, princesses, and princess consorts gathered, with many children playing under the watch of palace maids and eunuchs. Seeing this harmonious family scene, the emperor also smiled.
"The emperor is here," the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
It was only then that the people inside noticed and joyfully greeted him with bows, chatting for a moment. At the Empress Dowager's signal, everyone took their leave.
"The emperor seems very happy recently," the Empress Dowager said.
The emperor replied affirmatively.
"The country is at peace, the politics are clear," he said.
The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction.
"That's right, one should be happy," she said. "As for those disobedient ministers, as an emperor, why bother getting annoyed with them? It's beneath you."
The emperor respectfully replied affirmatively.
"Whether to use a minister or not, and how to use them, that's your prerogative. They are under your control, how can they sway you?" the Empress Dowager said.
It's easy for you to say, you're not the one facing them, the emperor thought to himself, daring not reveal any of it on his face, and replied even more respectfully.
"Mother's teachings are right," he said.
The Empress Dowager gave him a look. She knew her son well—perhaps because he was used to putting on a show since childhood, he always displayed one thing but felt another inside. He said nice things, but who knows what grievances he held in his heart? Yet today, the emperor's face was filled with a cheerful smile.
"What's the good news?" she asked with curiosity.
The emperor looked around, as if wary of something.
"What are you looking at?" The Empress Dowager frowned immediately. "I can't stand you acting like this! You're the emperor now, this is your realm. Why are you acting so secretively?"
"Mother, calm your anger," the emperor hastily said, then leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Those things from back then, they have been recovered."
The Empress Dowager looked at him.
"So many things from back then? Which one?" she asked.
The emperor leaned in closer.
"Money," he said in a low voice.
The Empress Dowager's expression shifted for a moment.
"There's still some left?" she frowned and asked.
"There was quite a bit left," the emperor said quietly. "I hadn't expected that Fang to be so capable, managed to establish himself and amassed wealth, and he still had quite a bit left. He's also trustworthy. Once he had money, he didn't use that money anymore."
"Trustworthy? I see him as crafty, just waiting to use that as leverage," the Empress Dowager said coldly.
The emperor replied affirmatively.
"At that time, my father was still around, and I didn't dare push him too hard. I was afraid of what might happen..." he explained, "But now it's all good, everything has been taken back, the imperial decree and the money, nothing missed."
The Empress Dowager nodded lightly.
"Since everything is settled, let them die early and reincarnate early," she said, then added, "Regardless, they have contributed to His Majesty, and the glory they deserve in life and after death should not be lacking."
She waved her hand as she finished.
"Make it generous," she said.
The emperor replied affirmatively, unable to hide the joy in his eyes, like a heavy stone being lifted from his heart.
"Look at you," the Empress Dowager glared discontentedly. "Making a big deal out of nothing."
The emperor just smiled in response.
The Empress Dowager also smiled slightly.
"I know your thoughts, there's really no need," she said coldly, looking around the hall. "This throne was rightfully yours, as is this realm. As for the prince, he was destined to die."
The emperor instinctively looked around the hall; outside, the sunlight was bright, highlighting the hall's dimness. In the shadows, there seemed to be a man standing.
He was dressed in splendid robes, wearing a jade crown, appearing graceful.
"Has mother been eating well recently?" he asked, his voice gentle and elegant, conveying concern that felt sincere, like the genuine closeness of mother and child.
The emperor's hands clenched on his lap.
He really couldn't remember this prince brother's appearance anymore; he was raised by a wet nurse and left the capital for Shandong at a young age, with few returns.
But he remembered his demeanor; everyone praised him, saying the Empress raised him well, his likeness to the Empress.
He was the Empress's biological son, yet when he walked out, he would only be mocked.
"That's not mockery, it's endurance," the Empress Dowager coldly advised him.
Endurance? The emperor coldly laughed inside. If he were meant to be emperor, why endure this? Why work so hard to become emperor? Why suffer such grievances?
All those accomplishments were ultimately by his effort.
The emperor looked into the hall, his gaze vicious as he waved his hand, dissipating the phantom man instantly.
Outside, children's laughter was heard. Who knew what game the palace maids were playing with them.
The sound of laughter softened the Empress Dowager's expression.
"Family is family; one's own child and others raised are different," she said, looking at the emperor. "Remember, he was destined to die, just a matter of time. You becoming the emperor was only a matter of time too, indisputable."
The emperor responded respectfully.
"Let the children all come in," the Empress Dowager called out, "Today we celebrate, everyone dine with me."
Then she glanced at the emperor.
"The emperor needn't bother, politics are paramount."
Beauties were not to be accepted, banquets were forbidden. In her eyes, he was just a tool, right? One she raised herself, different from those raised by others, the emperor scoffed internally.
"Yes," he said, respectfully smiling. Just as he stepped out of the palace, he saw an eunuch rushing in.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty," he disregarded formalities, forgetting to bow, and hurriedly approached. "A letter from Eunuch Yuan."
The emperor casually took it, broke the wax seal, and as he skimmed it, his gentle expression changed, and he turned back towards the Empress Dowager's hall.
The empress, concubines, and princesses had just come in and had yet to settle. They stood up hastily again.
The emperor paid them no mind and quickly went to the Empress Dowager.
"Mother, something's wrong, the money is gone," he whispered to her.
The Empress Dowager's expression froze, then she became furious.
"Useless!" she scolded.
The emperor flinched, and the empress and concubines paled as they rose.
"All of you, leave," the Empress Dowager ordered sharply.
The empress dared not delay and quickly led everyone away; the emperor instinctively followed.
"Who told you to leave?" the Empress Dowager barked.
The emperor quickly halted.
"What's going on?" the Empress Dowager demanded.
"The details are unclear, only that it was robbed on the way in Henan Province," the emperor said. "Yuan Bao is investigating."
The Empress Dowager looked at him.
"Truly useless," she gritted her teeth. "Couldn't even handle this."
She might have been scolding Yuan Bao and the others, but the emperor felt it was directed at him.
Useless...
The emperor hung his head, eyes filled with shame and anger. Did she think she could just talk, while he had done so much since he was young? So many things he had handled himself; did she think he became emperor just by relying on her?
...
....
"Trouble in the palace?"
Hearing this, Lu Yunqi looked up.
"No," he shook his head, answering without hesitation.
Jiang Qianhu hesitated for a moment.
"All we know is His Majesty received a letter, and the Empress Dowager became furious," he said, then with some hidden anger. "The letter was sent through that Eunuch Yuan's subordinate. His Majesty has allocated some Investigation Bureau from the Ritual Department to him, behaving strangely and arrogantly, even we can't interfere."
This had never happened before. Did it imply the emperor was not that trustworthy to the Jinyiwei anymore? Their existence depended entirely on the emperor's trust. If...
Lu Yunqi remained expressionless.
"All are serving His Majesty," he said quietly. "There's nothing strange about it. Just obey His Majesty; everything else is irrelevant."
Jiang Qianhu nodded obediently.
Lu Yunqi was silent for a moment.
"Probably something to do with Yangcheng," he said.
This was a response to the previous question. Jiang Qianhu frowned.
"Nothing much in Yangcheng, just a fight over inheritance," he said, with some shame. "We will quickly find Miss Jun's whereabouts."
Lu Yunqi, however, brushed the table lightly.
"She's not in Yangcheng?" he said.
The Fang Family had created the illusion of Miss Jun being in Yangcheng. Jiang Qianhu was taken aback. But, she wasn't there.
Was Lu Yunqi implying to cover for her?
If the emperor's anger was indeed related to matters in Yangcheng, was it connected to Miss Jun?
Should it be concealed?
"Yes," Jiang Qianhu responded dutifully.