allonlinenovel Chapter 95 Queen Mother
Chapter 95 Queen Mother
Jiang Qingyue's words surprised even the Empress Dowager.
I was surprised by her outspokenness, and even more surprised that she dared to outwardly comply while inwardly disagreeing.
"Are you defying the imperial decree? Aren't you afraid I'll report you to the Emperor?" The Empress Dowager looked Jiang Qingyue up and down, wanting to know what she was really up to.
"Your Majesty, you wouldn't do that. To be honest, I only used Your Majesty's name as an excuse to leave the palace. How could I possibly go back!"
In her previous life, the Empress Dowager had also heard that she was unwilling to return to the palace. Therefore, Jiang Qingyue had never met the Empress Dowager and knew nothing about her.
However, this incident reveals that the Empress Dowager was a passionate person in her youth, and that her feelings for her own son, Qin Xuanyu, were deeper than those for her grandson, Qin Jinghao; otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed in the Buddhist temple for so long.
That's why Jiang Qingyue dared to speak like that.
As expected, upon hearing Jiang Qingyue's words, the Empress Dowager laughed instead of being angry, "You dare to say that."
"After all, one should not lie before Buddha." Jiang Qingyue returned this quote to the Empress Dowager.
"Haha, you little rascal, you're really interesting." The Empress Dowager rarely encountered such an interesting girl. Usually, they would try to please her or approach her with a purpose. It was actually quite pleasant to see her directly state her purpose.
"This emperor is becoming more and more absurd these days. How old are you? And he still..." The Empress Dowager couldn't finish her sentence.
Yes, she misunderstood. She thought the emperor had taken a fancy to the girl in front of him, and that he was using the excuse of persuading her to leave the palace because he didn't want her to.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingyue naturally realized that the Empress Dowager had misunderstood. "No, Empress Dowager, it's...it's His Highness the Crown Prince."
Therefore, Jiang Qingyue briefly told the Empress Dowager about the entanglement between Qin Jinghao and Jiang Chuchu, her own grudges with Jiang Chuchu, and the recent events.
"This is utterly absurd!" When the Empress Dowager heard about the affair between Qin Jinghao and Jiang Chuchu, she couldn't help but slam her hand on the table, which startled Jiang Qingyue.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!" The Crown Prince has committed such an absurd act! The Emperor, as the ruler of the nation, not only fails to address the problem but also condones it! How has he raised his son all these years? He's truly regressed with each passing year!
The Empress Dowager harbored deep resentment towards the Emperor, and finally had the opportunity to openly curse him. However, because she was the Empress Dowager, if it were an ordinary person, they would definitely be executed along with their entire family.
The Empress Dowager, having been immersed in the inner palace for many years, naturally knew some of the intricacies of the court. She understood that Jiang Qingyue was being used as a bargaining chip, and couldn't help but feel pity for the girl. "Alas, you are a pitiful person too."
At the same time, the Empress Dowager also understood that this marriage could not be arranged. Otherwise, they would definitely use the Gu family's military power to rival her youngest son, Qin Xuanyu, and might even start to take action against him.
Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager could no longer sit still.
If she originally had no intention of returning to the palace, but after learning about this matter, she wanted to return instead, at least with her keeping an eye on things, the emperor would be more wary and wouldn't do anything to Yu'er for the time being. Moreover, this marriage must not go through.
"Don't worry, if you don't want this marriage to happen, I can help you."
She had witnessed all of Qin Xuanyu's hardships over the years.
Each time, he could not openly visit his mother, but instead had to do so secretly, for fear of arousing the emperor's suspicion.
Of course, Qin Xuanyu was not afraid of the emperor, but rather because he did not want the empress dowager to be caught in the middle. Therefore, he made concessions at every turn, which became the reason for the emperor to press him step by step.
She decided to discuss it before General Gu returned.
However, Jiang Qingyue shook her head, "I dare not cause trouble for the Empress Dowager or affect your relationship with His Majesty. I will handle this matter myself."
Jiang Qingyue's words made the Empress Dowager even more satisfied with her.
"Very well, as I knew, I hadn't misjudged you. You may stay here for now. If you wish to do your own thing, then do so. Consider this your time here to keep this old woman company, and you'll be able to explain things to the Emperor as well."
The Empress Dowager decided to also focus on "delaying," hoping to delay until the Gu family returned. By then, the Emperor's wishful thinking would surely fail.
"Yes, Your Majesty, thank you."
At this moment, two people with their own thoughts reached a tacit understanding of balance, each for their own reasons.
When Jiang Qingyue returned to her room, she suddenly heard a noise from the window, and then Qin Xuanyu reappeared.
"What are you doing here? You come and go without a trace." Jiang Qingyue looked as if she had expected it.
"Let me show you how well I've recovered," Qin Xuanyu couldn't help but tease.
"Are the imperial physicians in the palace all vegetarians?" Jiang Qingyue thought that Qin Xuanyu must have nothing better to do than sneak in in the middle of the night without being discovered. He should at least wait until nightfall to come!
Realizing what she had just thought, Jiang Qingyue was startled, then coughed awkwardly and went straight to Qin Xuanyu's hand to examine it.
"What, are my hands that beautiful? Why are you staring at them?"
Jiang Qingyue suddenly realized what was happening, and her face instantly turned bright red when she heard Qin Xuanyu's words. "I...no! Um...how's your injury?"
Jiang Qingyue shifted her attention and quickly took his pulse. The expression on her face gradually relaxed, and the tension in her heart eased. "Don't worry, it's nothing serious now. After resting for a while, you'll be back to normal."
"Hmm." Qin Xuanyu gave a soft "hmm" and didn't say anything, just looked at Jiang Qingyue.
"What...what are you doing here? Just to let me see your injuries?" Jiang Qingyue asked, breaking the awkward atmosphere.
"No, I've come to see my mother."
"Oh, then go ahead."
"..."
There was another long silence, a silence that made Jiang Qingyue extremely uncomfortable.
"I'll be leaving first." In the end, it was Qin Xuanyu who spoke first.
After he left, Jiang Qingyue breathed a huge sigh of relief; she had felt like she was suffocating.
No, why is she so nervous?
Jiang Qingyue shook her head, trying to shake away the thoughts she shouldn't be having, muttering to herself: "It must be my imagination, it must be my imagination..."
Qin Xuanyu, who had already left, naturally did not hear Jiang Qingyue's murmurs.
He arrived at the Empress Dowager's house and knocked on the door in their unique way.
When the knocking sounded, the Empress Dowager did not react in any way.
But when she heard that familiar knocking rhythm, she suddenly stood up, and the moment she opened the door, a familiar figure came into view.
"Yu'er..." The Empress Dowager's tone was filled with disbelief.
After all, he hadn't been here for a very, very long time...
"Mother, it is your fault for being late and causing you worry..."
At this moment, Qin Xuanyu shed all pretense and defenses, his coldness vanished, and he became an ordinary, newly returned traveler...