CHAPTER 626: CHAPTER 626 PLEADING

"It’s all my fault! I’ve always indulged him too much!"

"It’s all because of my lack of discipline that he committed such a mistake!"

"Emperor, if you must kill or cut him, start with me. Little Sixth is still a child!"

Zhao Junyao hadn’t been so angry at first. But when Consort Zhen Taipin spoke like that, his face darkened with fury.

"Presumptuous!"

CLANG. A teacup hit the ground, shattering right in front of Consort Zhen Taipin.

Consort Zhen Taipin trembled all over, so frightened that she quickly knelt and scooted back a few steps.

"Emperor!"

Zhao Junyao glared at her furiously.

"Consort Zhen Taipin, you are an elder! I have always respected you!"

"Little did I know you were such an ignorant, foolish woman!"

"What do you mean, ’he’s still a child’?!"

"Because he’s a child, his mistakes can be tolerated? He can kill people?"

"Because he’s a child, he can molest Palace Maids?"

"Because he’s a child, he can anger the Empress Dowager to the point of fainting?!"

Zhao Junyao spoke each word with deliberate emphasis, his eyes as sharp as ice blades.

He terrified Consort Zhen Taipin so much that she didn’t dare utter another word.

Zhao Junyao had lost his patience as well. With a grand wave of his hand, he ordered, "Guards, escort Consort Zhen Taipin out. She is to be well looked after and is not to leave her residence without my command!"

This was clearly house arrest.

Li Shengan hurried in and immediately acknowledged the order.

Consort Zhen Taipin still wanted to say something, but Li Shengan wouldn’t allow her to speak further.

Together with a few Little Eunuchs, they dragged her out.

Once outside, Consort Zhen Taipin realized her body had gone completely limp. The moment the Little Eunuch let go, she collapsed to the ground.

"Eunuch Li, I’m begging you, please plead with the Emperor on my behalf!"

"Little Sixth is still a child; he can’t die!"

The Emperor’s gaze earlier had been murderous, as if he were ready to kill someone on the spot.

Back then, the Empress’s second elder brother had also caused someone’s death and had been executed by the Emperor. Now, her own son had caused a death.

She was truly terrified that Little Sixth would be killed! Truly terrified!

Her former arrogance and condescension had vanished completely.

Overnight, Consort Zhen Taipin seemed to have aged considerably, her tears almost cried dry.

"Eunuch Li, I’m begging you..."

Li Shengan needed to hurry back and report, so he sighed and said, "If you had known this would happen, why did you act that way in the first place?" She had been the one to spoil him so excessively. If one doesn’t discipline one’s own son well, then the Emperor will naturally take over his upbringing. "Imperial Concubine, I am merely an eunuch. You should return and await news!"

After saying this, he gave an order, "Escort the Imperial Concubine back!"

"Yes!"

The surrounding Little Eunuchs immediately complied.

Then, Consort Zhen Taipin was pulled up and led away.

Just then, Fifth Master arrived, coming face to face with them.

Seeing his mother being dragged by a few Little Eunuchs, he quickly stepped forward.

"Mother!"

Consumed by overwhelming despair and grief, Consort Zhen Taipin couldn’t be bothered with much. Even with Fifth Master’s arrival, she showed little concern.

Without even lifting her eyelids, she said faintly, "You’re here."

A flash of disappointment crossed Fifth Master’s eyes, but he still dutifully stepped forward.

"Mother... let your son escort you back!"

Only then did Consort Zhen Taipin lift her eyelids slightly. She patted his hand, tears falling once more.

"You are a good child, but your younger brother...!"

Fifth Master’s eyes dimmed further. Ever since his younger brother was born, Mother had focused all her attention on him. No matter how hard he tried, Mother never seemed to notice his existence. Even when she spoke, her words were never far from ’your younger brother.’ ’You are the elder brother; you must give way to him!’ ’When you leave the palace to establish your own residence, or go to your fiefdom, you must look after your younger brother!’ ’In the future, your younger brother...’ Younger brother, younger brother; Mother’s eyes were full of only his younger brother. He had become the child no one doted on, no one loved. They were both her biological sons; how could the disparity be so great! The more he thought about it, the more resentful he felt.

However... it didn’t matter anymore! His sixth brother was now in deep trouble; it was uncertain if he would even survive! At this thought, an inexplicable sense of exhilaration surged in his heart! This time, even if his sixth brother didn’t die, he would be completely finished. In the future, Mother would only have him to rely on! Heh heh, Mother! You can only rely on me now!

Thinking this, a barely perceptible, somewhat chilling smile touched the corners of Fifth Master’s lips.

「 」

After Consort Zhen Taipin was sent away, Zhao Junyao immediately went to see the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager was seriously ill, with many attending to her. The Empress, the Noble Consort, and Shih Jieyu, who were usually close to the Empress Dowager, were naturally present. The rest, led by Consort Ning and several other Concubines, were also waiting respectfully outside the hall. They couldn’t enter. After all, the Imperial Physician had said that quiet rest was needed.

When Zhao Junyao arrived, the eunuchs dared not announce him loudly, nor did the Concubines dare to greet him with loud voices. Everyone silently bent their knees, which served as their greeting.

As Zhao Junyao passed by outside the hall, he glanced at Xia Ruqing.

Xia Ruqing was looking down, watching those Dragon Boots stop in front of her for a moment before moving on. Her mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts. The first time she saw the Emperor, she had also only seen his Dragon Boots! In a flash, several years had passed!

Entering the inner chamber, Zhao Junyao immediately saw the Empress Dowager lying on the bed, her face pale and weak. The Empress, the Noble Consort, and Shih Jieyu were sitting beside the bed.

"Emperor!"

The three of them rose to make room.

Zhao Junyao waved his hand tiredly, said nothing, and sat down.

"Mother!"

The Empress Dowager weakly raised her eyes. Before she could speak, tears streamed down her face.

"I never imagined! I’m practically at death’s door, yet I have to suffer such humiliation!"

"A fine child, gone just like that!"

"It’s my fault! I failed that child!"

"It’s my fault! I failed her!" the Empress Dowager said, weeping again. "To think that despite my years of devout Buddhist worship, I caused a child to hang herself like this. I cannot bear it in my heart!"

Zhao Junyao was somewhat bewildered. When had his mother become so compassionate? It was just a Palace Maid, and a newly selected Little Palace Maid at that—the kind who might not even see her mistress once in ten days or half a month. Although it was a human life, this reaction... wasn’t it a bit excessive? A person who had navigated the treacherous depths of the palace for decades couldn’t possibly have such a soft heart. This... it defied logic!

"Mother..." Zhao Junyao felt a bit awkward, unsure how to comfort her.

Ultimately, it was the Empress who stepped forward to console her. "Mother, you didn’t intend for this to happen. Miss Rong Qiu, if she knows in the netherworld, would not blame you!"

The Empress said, also shedding a few tears.

However, neither the Noble Consort nor Shih Jieyu showed much sorrow on their faces.

That was more like it, Zhao Junyao thought. A Palace Maid had been violated and hanged herself; some display of grief from the mistress should suffice. For the Empress Dowager of the dynasty and the current Empress to be weeping so dramatically over this, it was too strange! Women... they were too good at acting!

The Empress Dowager seemed to sense the Emperor’s discomfort. She quickly wiped her tears and said, "I am old, and my heart has grown soft. I just can’t bear to see these things. I must have worried my Imperial Son."

Zhao Junyao hastily responded, "Mother is merciful!"

The Empress, still dabbing at her tears, suddenly felt somewhat awkward. The Empress Dowager is old; it’s understandable for her to be sentimental and mournful. But what about me?!