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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 5: One Lifetime, One Pair
In the end, should we believe in one lifetime, one pair?
Should we believe that the emperor has feelings?
I am Dowager Princess Cui Yan Yu, today is my wedding day, but instead of the bridal chamber candlelit night, the emperor sent my husband to battle.
"Yan Yu, since you are already married to me, I will definitely take care of you. When I come back, take care of everything." The prince held my hand as we walked out of the mansion, his voice extremely gentle and his eyes full of tenderness.
"Rest assured, my lord. I will quietly wait for your return. Please take care, my lord." I held back my tears, but my eyes were already turning red. The prince touched my face, "It's getting windy outside, you should go back quickly."
I nodded and was assisted by the maid as I slowly walked into the mansion. I heard the prince let out a long sigh, filled with helplessness and guilt. As I stepped out of the mansion, the prince had already mounted his horse and set off on his journey, leaving me standing there in my wedding gown, watching his army depart.
As the last figure disappeared, I was still in a daze. The maid reminded me, "Your Highness, please come inside. It's chilly outside." I nodded and went into the house.
"Princess, why aren't you crying?" the maid asked cautiously. I could tell she was also feeling sorry for me. A new bride, on her wedding night, with her husband off to the battlefield, anyone would cry, right?
I smiled and said, "Why cry? The prince said for me to wait for him to come back. He wants to protect me for the rest of my life." The maid nodded in comfort and helped me change into a nightgown.
I dismissed the maid and sat by the window. Looking at everything in the courtyard, I picked up the tea.
The tea was very fragrant, but it should have been mimosa wine.
My hands were trembling, and I spilled some tea, but I didn't feel any pain. It turns out that it really can be painless. Tears quietly slid down, I touched my eyes, smiled, and muttered to myself, "Why am I crying again? The king said he would protect me for a lifetime."
My days are plain, but respectable. I am the Dowager Princess, even the Son of Heaven, the master of the harem, would call me Imperial Consort, and others naturally wouldn't dare to act recklessly. I really should thank my husband for giving me such a noble position.
The love between the emperor and empress is envied by all. The empress accompanied the emperor through the hardships of raising the heir, and finally emerged as the mistress of the harem. The emperor also treated the empress very well.
And so, I, as an outsider, watched each batch of young women enter the palace with joy in their hearts, until my heart was worn down with expectations.
Watching the laughter, tears, quarrels, and fights in the palace like this.
Guarding the prince on his expedition like this, for one year, two years.
In the second winter, the empress suddenly fell seriously ill, and as an Imperial Consort, I entered the palace to take care of her. The empress held my hand, dismissed the others, and was about to speak but instead burst into tears.
I had a vague feeling that things were not as simple as they seemed.
I thought that the prince had encountered some trouble.
The queen wiped her tears with a handkerchief, composed herself, and forced a bitter smile as she said to me, "Imperial Consort, I..."
"Your Highness, please don't worry. Take your time and tell me," I patted her hand and comforted her softly.
"Your Highness, why am I unable to give birth to a healthy prince?" The Empress's tears welled up once again. As I comforted her, I carefully asked, "But what did the Emperor say?"
"The Emperor did not say anything, but today in the court, those ministers are pressuring the Emperor again about this matter. Imperial Consort, I..." The Empress tightly grasped my hand, her eyes filled with despair.
My heart trembled. These old ministers have brought up this matter more than once, and the Empress had just given birth to a princess not long ago. She already felt extreme guilt, how could she bear this kind of pressure.
"Take it easy, you will definitely have it. Don't worry about them. As long as the emperor hasn't said much, you don't need to worry too much. Just take good care of yourself." I comforted the queen softly, but this Phoenix Reigns queen is now crying in my arms like a child, completely devoid of her usual demeanor.
I kept comforting her, and the queen finally calmed down her agitated emotions, promising me to take good care of herself and take her medicine.
When I returned to the royal palace, I heard news about the emperor. The emperor has conferred titles on four concubines and has been visiting them one after another.
This news made me worry about the empress who is ill, so I sent a token into the palace.
When I stepped into the Chang'an Palace, the queen was coaxing the little princess to sleep, with tears still on her face, dripping onto the princess's clothes.
I saw that the queen had not dressed up, her long hair was loose behind her, and she was only wearing thin sleepwear, looking very disheveled. I left the palace and found the palace maid Min Shu by the queen's side.
"What exactly happened to the empress? Tell me the truth," I asked, staring intently at Min Shu.
Min Shu understood that I needed to hear the truth, and after some thought, replied, "After the queen left that day, the emperor brought a doctor who was not from the palace. The doctor said that the empress's body was no longer suitable for childbirth, and the empress fainted from the shock. Later, I overheard the emperor asking again, and the doctor assured him that the empress had no hope of bearing children. Even if she did have a child in the future, it would not be healthy, and he also said..."
"What else is there to say!" I exclaimed angrily.
"Still saying, you will end up like elder prince, relying on medicine to sustain your life," Min Shu knelt directly on the ground.
I helped Min Shu up and gestured for her to continue speaking.
"The Emperor waited for the Empress to wake up and then reasoned with her. The Empress understood the Emperor's intentions and quickly let go. Only then did the Emperor appoint four concubines and bestow his favor on them," Min Shu said, her voice trembling, showing how much she cared for her mistress.
I sighed and instructed Min Shu, "Just serve diligently, make sure to have the imperial physician check regularly, and keep an eye on the empress's medication. I will do my best to help the empress with the rest."
Min Shu's eyes immediately filled with hope and gratitude. She quickly knelt down and thanked me, and I helped her up, nodded, and then entered the palace.
"I, your servant, pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be blessed." I bowed deeply to the Empress Dowager, who wiped away tears quietly. When she stood up, she almost stumbled, and I hurried to support her.
"Imperial Consort, you have come," the Empress Dowager's voice was very weak, and her complexion was pale.
"Why do you let yourself go like this, Your Highness? It's not good to scare the little princess," I asked knowingly.
"It's okay, I feel heavy and have no desire to dress up anymore," the queen mother forced a smile, but it pained my heart.
In the past, that Phoenix Reigns, the virtuous and beautiful Queen Mother has now become like this.
"Imperial Consort, help me dress up a bit. I want to take Ah Yuan to see the Emperor. The Emperor hasn't come to see Ah Yuan for several days." The Queen Mother looked at the little princess who opened her eyes in the cradle, full of love in her eyes.
"Alright, Imperial Consort, I'll help you." I helped the queen to sit at the dressing table and called Min Shu to prepare things, then began to dress the queen.
The queen kept coughing, so it took about an hour to finish dressing her up.
I looked at the person beside me, lost in thought, still so captivating, exuding an air of nobility throughout. Under the phoenix crown was a charming and moving countenance, even in illness, not a hint of grace was diminished.
"Your Majesty is so beautiful," Min Shu voiced my thoughts, and I smiled and said, "You're quick, stealing my words." Min Shu also smiled and apologized, and the queen looked at herself in the mirror, sighed, and smiled as well.
The little princess was carried in and when she looked at the queen, she smiled, and then the queen also smiled.
"Ayuan saw her mother the queen looking so beautiful and also smiled." I smiled at the queen, and the queen took the little princess, smiling gently.
We then left Chang'an Palace and headed towards the Taihe Palace.
Along the way, everyone was mesmerized by the Empress, who had returned to her former stunning beauty, which had once made her the most beautiful woman in the Nine Provinces, despite her usual lack of interest in dressing up.
When we arrived at the Taihe Palace, the Royal Physician had just walked out of the palace. The Queen Mother asked, "Why is the Royal Physician here? Could it be that the Emperor is unwell?"
Seeing the Royal Physician's troubled expression, I supported the Queen and said, "We just arrived, let's go in and take a look."
"Indeed, look at me," the queen mother smiled and pulled me into the Taihe Palace.
The queen mother led the little princess into the hall, but then came back out. I asked, "Why did the queen mother come out again?"
"Your Majesty, you are busy, so I won't disturb you." The Queen Mother handed the little princess to Min Shu and helped me walk outside the palace. Just as we stepped out, she coughed several times, and I saw the bloodstains on her handkerchief, which pained my heart.
Recalling the difficulty Royal Physician faced earlier, I suddenly understood everything. Later, as I expected, the Emperor had called Royal Physician to check Ruyi's pulse, as she was pregnant.
I suggested, "How about taking a stroll in the Plum Garden? The Empress has always liked green plums. With the light snow just fallen, the green plums must be even fresher." The Empress nodded in agreement.
"Imperial Consort, remember that the plum blossoms in this garden were personally planted by the Emperor for the Empress. Such affection is enviable to others." I said with a smile. The Empress shook her head lightly, sighed, but still smiled.
When I arrived at the garden, I heard a commotion ahead. I stopped the queen mother who was walking alone and went to see a group of eunuchs who quickly dropped their tools and bowed. "What are you doing?" I looked at the already dug up Green Plum tree and felt uneasy.
"Your Highness, the taste of these green plums is said to be harmful to the pregnancy of Lady Ruyi, so the Emperor has decreed to eradicate these plum blossoms." A eunuch respectfully replied to me.
"Nonsense, Ruyi's residence in Rongqi Palace is far away, with Lin Ye Palace in between. How could the scent possibly reach her?" I reprimanded.
"Dowager Princess, the servants are just following orders, please don't make it difficult for us," the servants said, clearly afraid when they saw me getting angry.
"Go back and report to the Emperor that Dowager Princess also enjoys these Green plums and has decided to keep them. Tell Ruyi that Prince Yu still has a palace in the palace. If Ruyi feels that the scent is not good for her pregnancy, she can move into Prince Yu's palace, and I will personally take care of her." The servants quickly agreed and prepared to leave.
"Remember, as long as the queen is still here, she is the master of the harem. It's not the turn of a mere concubine to act arrogantly here." I spoke sternly, and those people quickly apologized. I was very angry in my heart. How dare a mere concubine, relying on her pregnancy, think she can trample on the queen? Who gave her the courage.
After sending those people away, I thought for a moment and prepared to go back to explain to the queen. Unexpectedly, when I turned around, the queen was already there, quietly watching.
I was about to speak when the queen suddenly coughed up blood and fainted straight away. The bloodstain on the snow was particularly striking.
After I had everything settled and was about to leave, I saw the emperor coming over. "Imperial Consort, I..." The emperor was about to speak, and I found the rouge mark on his collar amusing.
"Your Majesty, the Empress is indeed your lawful wife." With these words, I bowed and left the palace.
Upon returning to the mansion, I received a letter from the Prince. He had won a great battle and would be returning to the capital in about a month.
I can hardly contain my joy in my heart. It has been two years since I last saw the prince after we parted that day.
I have been busy organizing people to clean both inside and outside the mansion, preparing to welcome the prince. At night, while sewing sleeping clothes for the prince, I accidentally pricked my hand. I realized that I am still worried about the queen.
The prince returned to the capital, and the emperor promoted his official position and gave him many rewards. During the celebration banquet, I noticed that the empress's health seemed to have deteriorated. Halfway through the banquet, the empress asked to leave. Later, the one accompanying the emperor was Ruyi, whose pregnancy was already showing. It is said that Ruyi is carrying a boy.
The prince treats me extremely well. I thought he would bring a woman back to the mansion as depicted in the novels, but he didn't. The prince didn't even consider taking a concubine. He always says he owes me too much and wants to compensate me well, so he treats me a hundred times better.
Later, I really couldn't rest assured about the queen, so I entered the palace again. When I arrived at the palace, the queen had already changed into her ceremonial dress and was quietly waiting for me.
I escorted the queen to the Taihe Hall, and she was holding a medium-sized wooden box tightly in her hands.
This time, the empress did not even step into the palace.
"Your Highness, the emperor said that he is busy with state affairs and asked Your Highness to return to the palace first," Duke Zhongde said as he came out from inside.
The lady did not say much, and handed me the wooden box in her hand.
"I will go and report again, Your Grace," said eunuch Zhong De.
"No need," the queen mother said softly. She suddenly took a step back and made a formal bow towards the palace. Everyone quickly knelt down. I saw a tear slide down the queen mother's cheek, falling onto the cold marble. In that moment, I understood that the queen mother's heart had already died.
No, I have been diagnosed with pregnancy and cannot serve the queen in the palace anymore. I have very few sources of information every day.
Later, when the prince brought Min Shu back to the mansion, I found out that, during this time, the emperor had only visited the queen twice. And each time was for Ruyi's dragon fetus, and he did not stay overnight.
Every time the emperor asked the queen about her health, she would lightly respond, "No problem, I'm getting better." Before I had another chance to enter the palace and see the queen, I heard the funeral bell tolling, and the queen was gone.
After the emperor's last visit to Chang'an Palace, the empress never took medicine again and soon committed suicide in the palace. She was posthumously honored as Empress Sunjeong and buried in the imperial mausoleum.
However, the emperor did not appear at the empress's funeral because Ruyi claimed to be feeling unwell.
Back in the Fu Mansion, I lay in the arms of the prince, touching my already round belly, and asked him, "My lord, will you accompany me no matter what I do?"
The prince pinched my fingers and said softly, "Whatever the princess does, I will accompany her."
I exchanged a smile with the prince and then entered the palace. "Brother Emperor, Imperial Consort, please have a seat," the emperor said warmly.
"No, Imperial Consort came this time to deliver something to His Majesty on behalf of the Empress. This is what the Empress left for His Majesty." I handed over the small wooden box.
"The Empress said that she has put all the things she wants to tell His Majesty in this box," I added.
"Why doesn't she give it to me in person?" The emperor took the wooden box and held it tightly.
"The empress wanted to give it, but the emperor was not available," I said with a bitter smile.
"Zhongde! Why didn't you report to me!" The person on the dragon throne scolded the eunuch beside him.
"Your Majesty, the servant did report, but you said that state affairs were too busy," Zhongde immediately knelt on the ground.
"Brother, I heard that the Empress is very understanding. The other day, I saw her outside the palace, behaving very respectfully." The prince suddenly spoke.
"Your Majesty, Imperial Consort said that the Empress is your lawful wife! Why would you want to hurt her like this?" My voice trembled with tears, as I witnessed the Empress's pain with my own eyes, and now the memory is even more heartbreaking.
The prince held me in his arms, comforting my mood.
"Brother, you know, that doctor is not a folk healer at all. He was just bribed early on by Ruyi's father," the prince said, looking up at the emperor.
"What! I checked at the time, it's impossible," the emperor stood up suddenly, looking extremely nervous.
"If one truly intends to act, not to mention that Your Majesty was already wavering at the time. How thorough could the investigation have been?" the prince chuckled, looking at the distracted emperor.
"No, no," the emperor slumped to the ground, muttering to himself.
"Your Majesty, the queen is now pregnant. Please take back my military power. I want to take the queen out for a stroll. I owe her too much," the prince said, turning to look at me with a look of apology in his eyes.
I never expected the prince to say such words and make such a decision. The prince has been fighting on the battlefield since he was young, loving to lead the army in battle. But now, he is willing to give up everything for me. I can hardly believe what I am hearing.
In the end, the emperor could not resist the prince, so he took back the prince's military power, but rewarded him with more things.
We stayed in the palace for a while, and I instructed Min Shu to take good care of the prince and the little princess. I walked the same path with the queen mother again, feeling a chill in my heart. The emperor had Ruyi executed, and Ruyi's child was not spared either. The emperor said that Ruyi's child should not have come into the world and was impure.
On the day when I and the prince set off, the emperor personally saw us off at the palace gate.
"Brother, take good care of Imperial Consort." After much contemplation, the emperor finally said these words.
The prince smiled and nodded, then instructed the emperor to take good care of the elder prince and the little princess.
He then turned and took my hand, boarding the carriage. As the carriage headed out of the city, I lifted the curtain and saw the imposing palace gates close heavily once again.
The prince held me in his arms, rubbed my head, and covered me with a blanket.
Later, I gave birth to a girl, and the prince doted on her. We settled in Hangzhou and lived a very happy life.
What the Queen Mother has always longed for may be just like what the prince and I have now.
To spend a lifetime together with the Emperor.
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