CHAPTER 600: CHAPTER 600: UNFORGETTABLE OLD FEELINGS

When he woke up, it was already late afternoon, and moreover, the Empress Dowager was personally by his side.

Zhao Junqi hurriedly got up.

"Empress Dowager, your nephew has been remiss, oversleeping!"

"Have you come to hasten your nephew’s departure?"

Amused by his words, the Empress Dowager let out a chuckle.

"You child, always talking nonsense!"

"Ningshou Palace is so quiet; I wander around when I find myself idle!"

"And it’s rare for you to come back. Naturally, I want to spend more time with you!"

Zhao Junqi replied happily,

"Empress Dowager, I just knew you care for me the most!"

The Empress Dowager looked at him with an unwillingness to part, saying,

"No matter how dearly I hold you, aren’t you still bound to leave?"

"It’s already February. When will you be leaving the Capital City?"

The fief of Prince Yan was in Guangnan; they always had to return.

Zhao Junqi pondered for a moment, then said,

"Speaking of leaving the Capital City, I haven’t heard Father set a date yet!"

"In past years, we would leave right after the New Year!"

"But this year, my father said he’s getting on in years, misses his hometown more than ever, and wants to stay in the Capital City. He suggested that I take over affairs in Guangnan from now on!"

"It seems Father doesn’t wish to leave anymore!"

The Empress Dowager was entirely taken aback.

"What... what did you say? Your father doesn’t wish to leave?"

What does this mean?

Is he truly planning to stay?

All sorts of thoughts flashed through the Empress Dowager’s mind.

On the surface, however, she had to maintain her composure and smiled.

"That might be good; when people grow old, they want to return to their roots!"

"But from now on, you will be alone in Guangnan! You better not become an unruly overlord no one dares to control!"

Zhao Junqi chuckled. HEH HEH.

"You guessed wrong, Empress Dowager. My behavior is absolutely beyond reproach; the local populace all speak highly of me!"

"Is that so?"

The Empress Dowager tapped his forehead.

"Don’t brag!"

"HAHA..."

Zhao Junqi laughed, seizing the opportunity to dodge away.

He was already so old, yet the Empress Dowager still loved to tap his forehead. His own mother didn’t even do that anymore!

The Empress Dowager withdrew her hand and turned to sit down on a chair nearby.

Zhao Junqi quickly stood at the side to attend to her.

The actions of the two strangely fell into a familiar rhythm.

They chatted for a while, and the Empress Dowager grew even more joyful. She inquired if all was well at home and urged Zhao Junqi, "If there’s a girl you fancy, just come to the palace and ask me!"

"Although I no longer manage affairs, I can still grant a marriage!"

Zhao Junqi responded with a laugh, but within his heart fluttered the image of that snow-white figure, that plum garden, and that night.

He smiled bitterly to himself.

A granted marriage? Could it really be possible?

After accompanying the Empress Dowager for a while, Zhao Junqi then left the palace with his entourage.

The Empress Dowager had Sister Qing and others escort him all the way to the gate of Ningshou Palace before returning.

She barely touched her evening meal. After washing up, the Empress Dowager lay down.

With closed eyes, she couldn’t fall asleep.

Listening to the WHOOSHING sound of the wind outside, she tossed and turned for quite a while before gradually drifting into a light sleep.

She slept poorly, plagued with all sorts of chaotic dreams throughout the night.

In her dream, she saw herself dressed in a bright red Phoenix Crown and wedding robe, making her bridal procession.

Zongcheng wore a red robe, and a grand palanquin came to pick her up.

Childhood sweethearts, a grand bridal procession, a matched union.

Those who had once fiercely opposed their union were now beaming with good wishes for her.

At this moment, all the happiness in the world belonged to her.

No tears, no betrayal, no regrets.

She sat under the red bridal veil in the palanquin, listening to the lively music outside, happiness brimming in her eyes, a radiant smile bloomed on her face.

Suddenly, the scene shifted, and everything changed.

The excitement gave way to silence, and day turned to night.

Before her eyes, there was a child, blurry and crying, calling her ’mother’ and asking her why she didn’t want him.

The child’s questioning was like a sharp sword thrusting straight into her heart.

Her heart was in such pain that it convulsed.

The scene shifted again.

She saw Zhao Zongcheng staring at her in anger, asking her why she betrayed him, why she hurt him.

He held a sword in his hand and thrust it hatefully toward her.

’You wretched woman, die!!’

"No!"

"Zongcheng, I didn’t, no! I didn’t!"

The Empress Dowager trembled all over, crying and shouting.

Sister Qing heard the commotion and pushed the door open.

"Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, what’s wrong with you?"

"Empress Dowager, wake up!"

Her head felt as if it were splitting, her heart breaking.

The Empress Dowager awoke amid overwhelming sorrow.

Looking at the familiar Sister Qing, the familiar Ningshou Palace.

She couldn’t control her emotions any longer and burst into loud weeping.

"I didn’t... I didn’t betray him..."

Sister Qing’s eyes reddened too.

"This servant knows, this servant knows it all!"

But now, what was the use of thinking about all this?

One was the reigning Empress Dowager, the other was Prince Yan.

They were destined to have no possible ending.

The Empress Dowager wept for a while, and her mood gradually calmed.

Sister Qing finally felt relieved.

"Cry it out, it’s better to cry it out..."

Ever since the Lantern Festival, the Empress Dowager hadn’t slept well for a long time.

And all this was simply because, on the day of the Lantern Festival, during the palace banquet, the Empress Dowager had glanced at Prince Yan from afar. It was only one glance.

Sigh...

Everyone thought feelings would be gradually worn away by time.

But they didn’t know that some emotions, after fermenting with time, would only grow stronger.

Don’t look at how they appeared calm and nonchalant on the surface, pretending it was easy; in reality, every bit was gathered in the heart.

Once suppressed to a certain extent, it turned into a deep wound. With just a slight touch, emotions would gush out, overwhelming and uncontrollable.

"Sigh..."

Once a happy pair of mandarin ducks, but now such is their plight. Truly a sin.

That night, Sister Qing stayed by her side the whole time.

It wasn’t until dawn was about to break that the Empress Dowager finally fell asleep.

「In the middle of February, Zhao Junqi left the Capital City alone.」

Using his advanced age and homesickness as reasons, Prince Yan stayed in the Capital City.

The Princess Consort Yan, along with several concubines, some butlers, accountants, and servants, all stayed behind.

After all, it was a Prince’s Mansion; with the Master there, it had to look the part, right?

Actually, it was against the rules. However, Prince Yan was old and had poor mobility. He just wanted to live in the Capital City, so Zhao Junyao really couldn’t say much.

However, from then on, he was even more reluctant to go to Ningshou Palace.

He was not deaf; over the years in the palace, he had heard everything, whether he should have or not.

This matter was simply his nightmare, the most intolerable existence in his heart.

The Empress Dowager, Prince Yan, uncle and sister-in-law, old affections.

When these words collided with each other and were linked with the Royal Family, it was a scandal.

The Emperor Father must have known as well.

Otherwise, there was no way he would have sent Prince Yan to distant Guangnan despite them being brothers.

Prince Yan was one thing.

What pained him the most was the Empress Dowager, his own mother.

If it were any other Imperial Noble Consort or Imperial Concubine who dared let such rumors spread, he would have ordered them executed immediately.

But the Empress Dowager was his own mother, so he could do nothing.

He could only cover it up and turn a blind eye.

Zhao Junyao felt as if he had swallowed a fly—disgusted, yet unable to spit it out.

This is indeed the most pathetic thing in his life, Zhao Junyao thought hatefully.