A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 764: Old Feelings
"Stop right there!"
The Empress Dowager clambered out of bed, craning her neck to shout outside.
Zhao Junyao already had one foot out the door. He had no choice but to turn back. "What other orders does Mother have?" he asked, his voice tinged with impatience.
The Empress Dowager took a few deep breaths and spoke softly. "There are indeed some things I have done wrong... but, considering I gave birth to you and raised you all these years, can you not forgive me?"
Zhao Junyao curled his lips in a cold sneer. "Mother, some things... cannot be forgiven!"
She can care about anyone, but not Prince Yan!
Even when Father Emperor was alive, idle rumors had already been spreading. Now that Father Emperor is in the Underworld, he cannot allow him to suffer such humiliation even in heaven! Therefore, he absolutely could not compromise!
The Empress Dowager said urgently, "Your Ninth Imperial Uncle is about to die! We’ve known each other for so long. Can you not leave the palace to see him off? One Shi Chen is enough! Imperial Son! I’m begging you!"
Zhao Junyao’s heart felt as cold as if it had fallen into an icy abyss. He laughed out of anger.
After all this time, Mother still doesn’t understand what I’m saying?! Fine, fine! Let them be! Has Mother ever considered my feelings? Go on then! Once this little bit of mother-son affection is exhausted, I’ll have no more reservations, will I?!
Zhao Junyao didn’t say a word. He snorted coldly, flung his sleeve, and left.
The Empress Dowager went completely limp.
A moment later, Sister Qing pushed the door open, holding a bowl of medicine. Seeing the Empress Dowager’s ashen face, she was startled. "Your Majesty, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
The Empress Dowager clutched her hand tightly, tears streaming down like rain. "Qingyun, Qingyun!"
She wailed! Her heart felt icy cold and hollow, as if a huge piece were missing.
"He’s leaving, he’s leaving! He’s going to die in place of Junqi! My heart aches so much! It’s so painful!"
Sister Qing cried too. "Your Majesty, this servant knows what you’re thinking, but this is the palace. You mustn’t speak of this anymore! Come, let’s get you up. Drink your medicine."
The Empress Dowager sobbed for a while before finally stopping her tears. After getting up and drinking her medicine, she lay askew on the bed. Disheveled and haggard, she looked as if she had aged several years overnight.
She lay there in a daze for a while before instructing, "Prepare the sedan chair. We’re leaving the palace tonight!"
Her gaze was full of determination.
Parting by life or death... She had harbored this regret for half her life and had to make amends. Even if she couldn’t make up for it, she had to see him one last time! Zongcheng... you will meet me, won’t you?
Sister Qing shook her head and sighed, but still went to make the arrangements. She had served the Empress Dowager for half her life. She knew all the Empress Dowager’s secrets. She knew deep down that if the Empress Dowager didn’t go this time, she would regret it for the rest of her life! So... she had no choice but to obey.
「 」
That night, an unremarkable small sedan chair left through the back door of Ningshou Palace. It moved through the Imperial Garden, from the Harem to the front palace, and then to the palace gates where they switched to a carriage.
Half a Shi Chen later, the carriage stopped at the back gate of Prince Yan Mansion. After the hurried journey, the Empress Dowager was shivering all over.
Was it the cold? Or fear? She couldn’t tell anymore. It wasn’t even October yet; how could it really be this cold?!
The Empress Dowager patted her chest to calm herself, then had Sister Qing knock at the gate. After a while, a small sedan chair came to fetch her. The Empress Dowager got down from the carriage, sat in the sedan chair, and entered. Afterwards, she was carried straight to Prince Yan’s courtyard.
The Empress Dowager got out of the sedan chair and, alongside Sister Qing, walked into the courtyard. They were both dressed in plain clothes, at first glance resembling ladies of the mansion.
The courtyard was pitch-black, with no lamps lit. They followed the lanterns along the path to Prince Yan’s room.
It was early evening, just as the lanterns were being lit. The Prince Yan Mansion was usually bustling with people, but today it was desolate. The servants purchased from outside had already been dismissed. As for the household-born servants, there was no escape. They could only wait to be registered into the lower class!
In truth, they were already of lowly status; how much lower could they possibly sink?!
Let’s not talk about that.
The Empress Dowager went to the room where Prince Yan stayed. There were hardly any guards, and the two of them easily entered. Pushing open the door, they found the room inside equally bleak. The valuable items and furniture had already been removed. The whole room was empty and desolate.
「 」
Prince Yan was lying in bed, about to fall asleep. Hearing someone open the door to the outer room, he sat up. "Who is it?"
His voice was haggard and weary. He wanted to go and see, but unfortunately, his legs were infirm, so he could only struggle to lean and peer past the screen.
"Changfu..."
"COUGH, COUGH!"
Changfu was his chief butler, having followed him across the lands for most of his life. He had his utmost trust. Now, he called out habitually, not expecting an answer from beyond the door. Only then did he remember that Changfu was not a household-born servant. This morning, he had given him back his deed of sale and told him to leave.
This meant he had no one left beside him now!
A wave of desolation washed over his heart, but then he thought, Yes! What need does a dying man have for attendants? Heh.
Prince Yan gave a bitter smile and lay back down.
But just then, footsteps sounded from outside the door! Two people, and they were getting closer!
"Who is it?"
He sat up again. He already had a dagger ready by his side.
If someone is here to harm me, I must defend myself! I will die openly and with dignity, not be assassinated!
The footsteps grew nearer. Prince Yan leaned to the side to look outside. His body tilted more and more until, all of a sudden, his hand slipped, and he uncontrollably tumbled from the bed!
THUD! He rolled onto the footboard, then tumbled to the floor!
"Zongcheng!" The Empress Dowager called out and ran over.
Prince Yan shuddered! His head swam and his ears rang, but amidst the din, he heard someone call his name. "Who is it?"
Ignoring the pain, he struggled to turn over! But after just one glimpse, he froze.
"It’s you?"
Tears instantly slid down the Empress Dowager’s eyes. "It’s me! Zongcheng, it’s me. I’m here to see you!"
Saying this, she and Sister Qing desperately helped him up and managed to lift him back onto the bed.
"Why have you come?" Prince Yan looked somewhat discomfited.
He had always preferred to sleep alone; he disliked showing such weakness, especially before women. He hated the pitying looks of others!
The Empress Dowager didn’t say more, busying herself with settling him comfortably. She added another blanket, poured a bowl of hot tea from the stove, and brought it to him. "You must be thirsty! Have some hot tea!"
Prince Yan was even more astonished. He didn’t take the tea, merely staring in shock. "Why have you come?"
His gaze towards the Empress Dowager was extremely complex, a mixture of unfamiliarity, disbelief, and... something else.
The Empress Dowager glanced at Sister Qing, then said, "I wanted to come and see you!"
Sister Qing tactfully left.
When only the two of them remained, the Empress Dowager could no longer hold back. She grabbed Prince Yan’s hand and began to weep uncontrollably. "Zongcheng! I’ve wronged you! It is I who have wronged you!"
Prince Yan watched her expressionlessly, slowly withdrawing his hand. "Empress Dowager, it seems... your tears are misplaced."
"Zongcheng, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have betrayed you back then! I shouldn’t have married him! But... that horse race incident, it really wasn’t me, it truly wasn’t!"
