A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 760 Meeting

The Empress Dowager gazed intently at the door. As the sound of wooden wheels grinding against the bluestone pavement grew closer, her heart began to pound more frantically.

The man she had dreamed of countless times, yet had not seen in reality for over twenty years—was he about to appear? Her heartbeat quickened, her expression tightened. Yet, a sense of irony pricked her heart.

She had imagined their reunion so many times, but she never thought it would be like this: at the Ministry of Justice, outside a prison cell, just after she had wept her heart out.

In a moment of daze, a man in a purple and white robe appeared before everyone, seated in a wheelchair. He had gained a little weight, his hair was somewhat gray, and his face bore the marks of time. However, perhaps because he had lived so leisurely in Guangnan all these years, his face showed few signs of hardship. Even in his eyes and brows, so strikingly similar to the Late Emperor’s, one could faintly discern the elegance of his youth.

Back then...

The Empress Dowager fell into deep thought. How dashing and spirited he was, radiating charm and vitality! His horsemanship was superb; with a light flick of his whip, he could leave everyone behind. His calligraphy was exceptional, the characters he wrote with a sweep of his hand breathtaking. He was skilled in archery and martial arts. From childhood, the Old Emperor marveled every time he saw him. Even the martial arts masters who taught him declared him a genius!

He truly was a genius. But unfortunately, heaven envies the gifted—and so do men!

An accident injured his legs. The man who once galloped on horseback eventually could not even stand. The man who was once masterful in literature and arts lost all heart for them.

Everyone lamented for him, pitied him, and came to comfort him, saying:

"Actually, a simple, quiet life is quite good!"

"There are admirable tales of hermits of old who found companionship with plum blossoms and cranes; you could live like that too!"

"You wouldn’t have to worry about anything for the rest of your life. Living freely like the clouds and cranes, or enjoying wealth and splendor—either way, to be carefree and secure, how wonderful that would be!"

So... After a period of despondency, he deliberately pretended not to care. He began to live a life as carefree as the clouds and cranes. When idle, he would practice calligraphy; when the mood struck, he would flourish a pair of broadswords. He spent his days tending flowers and birds, seemingly content. Gradually, everyone’s worries subsided. Later, he married a Lady from a Humble Family as his Main Wife, and they raised children. Now, at least in the eyes of others, his life seemed complete!

But...

"Prince Yan, Your Highness!"

"Greetings to Prince Yan!"

Prince Yan waved his hand. "All rise!"

These few words, like a sudden, sharp sound, instantly snapped the Empress Dowager from her reverie back to reality.

In her panic, she instinctively wanted to tidy her hair and clothes. But when she looked down, she realized Junqi was still behind her. Her own hem was stained with fresh blood. My hair is probably a mess, and my eyes might still be swollen from crying. Having just come out of the prison cell, I probably don’t smell very pleasant either. The Empress Dowager felt overwhelmed. After so many years, what an embarrassing way for us to meet again!

There was nothing she could do to fix her appearance now, so she could only stand rooted to the spot.

Unexpectedly, Prince Yan completely ignored her. He wheeled himself over, his gaze calmly fixed on Zhao Junqi, who stood behind the Empress Dowager.

"You still have the audacity to show your face!"

Zhao Junqi shrank back in fear. "Father, I was wrong! I was framed!"

Prince Yan was furious. "Shut your mouth! Do you think I wasn’t aware of the things you’ve done?!" he roared. "The evidence is irrefutable, yet you still dare to argue! Men, bring the tiger bench! Beat him! Beat him to death!"

The Minister of Justice and the others hurriedly came forward to dissuade him. "Your Highness Prince Yan, please calm yourself! There’s no need for this!" they urged. "The Master Prince has already undergone punishment. The Emperor will decide the rest!"

At the mention of the Emperor, an inscrutable light flickered in Prince Yan’s eyes, gone in an instant. He glanced at Zhao Junqi and sighed. "In that case, watch him closely!" he said. "The evidence is ironclad; I have nothing more to say! Deal with him as you see fit. No one is to take him away! Everything will be handled according to the law!"

The Minister of Justice quickly agreed. "Prince Yan, Your Highness’s impartiality in upholding justice even against family is truly admirable!"

Prince Yan turned his head and gave a bitter smile. "Impartiality even against family?"

With that, he shook his head and, assisted by a servant boy and other attendants, turned and left.

Zhao Junqi was also taken away again. The Empress Dowager, however, only had eyes for Prince Yan and paid no attention to her son. Perhaps, realizing the situation was hopeless, she felt it was no longer appropriate to say anything more.

Just as Prince Yan’s silhouette disappeared around the corner, the Empress Dowager suddenly came to her senses and hurried after him. Sister Qing quickly followed.

"Your Majesty, please slow down!"

The voices bidding farewell to the Empress Dowager faded into the distance behind them.

At the bend, the Empress Dowager caught up to Prince Yan’s wheelchair. "You..."

Prince Yan seemed to have expected her. Without turning back, he said calmly, "Empress Dowager, you honor us with your presence. This subject thanks you on behalf of my son. However, this is a matter of life and death; I’m afraid even your arrival cannot change his fate. It’s best to abide by the Emperor’s decision."

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager trembled. "You... you still hate me, don’t you?!"

Prince Yan, his back still to her, gave a faint smile. "Empress Dowager, why would you say such a thing? Those distant, bygone matters... this subject has long forgotten them." After a pause, he added, "You needn’t trouble yourself over my son’s affairs. Whatever happens, our family will bear it."

"You..." The Empress Dowager was momentarily choked with indignation. She felt as if an entire bucket of ice water had been poured down her spine, chilling her to the bone and piercing her heart with a pain she could not voice.

"Fine..." she finally managed, her lips trembling.

Prince Yan’s lips curled into a slight smile. "That’s for the best," he said. "If there’s nothing else today, this subject will take his leave. On another day, I will naturally have my wife enter the palace to express our gratitude."

The Empress Dowager’s body trembled slightly. "There’s no need. No need for thanks at all!"

She had been about to say that it was only what she should do. But as she opened her mouth, she was struck by a sudden, harsh realization: I can’t say that. I have neither the status nor the right!

In the end, she truly was an outsider.

「...」

Prince Yan left.

The Empress Dowager returned to the palace, utterly dejected. She skipped dinner and did not even leave her bed. The thought of Zhao Junqi facing execution made her heart ache so intensely she could hardly breathe.

She seemed to have retired early, but in reality, she tossed and turned for most of the night, unable to sleep. A deep chill settled in her heart. Prince Yan is truly cold-hearted! Why are all men in the world so cold-blooded? Just like the Late Emperor—cold to all women! Heartless! All I wanted was to see him, to talk to him! But he... he still refused to truly acknowledge me. Even when we were face to face, he almost completely ignored me. Could it be that after all these years, he still harbors such hatred?! But that incident... it truly wasn’t my fault!

After an unknown amount of time, the Empress Dowager finally drifted into a restless sleep. But she had only been asleep for one Shi Chen when Sister Qing came knocking at her door.

"Your Majesty, it’s dawn! You should get up!"

"Empress Dowager, today is the last day! I heard the joint trial by the three judicial departments is going to...!"

"Say no more!" the Empress Dowager snapped, enraged, though an overwhelming chill gripped her heart.