After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 944 - 929: Empress Dowager Shan

Liu Yi immediately took his attendants into the palace.

It was called a palace, but it was merely a name; its predecessor was a garden of a famous local aristocratic family that Liu Cong had occupied after taking Lu County.

Liu Cong killed several brothers, including their wives and children, so those residing in the palace now are his wives, concubines, children, Empress Dowager Shan, and some palace concubines.

Since fleeing with the court and separating from her son, Empress Dowager Shan had been low-key and quiet. After the news of Liu Yuan’s demise, she became even quieter, anxious about Liu Yi’s whereabouts but not daring to express it, much less join the ministers in searching for him. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

She could only hide in a corner, quietly sending people out to gather information, happy if she learned anything about her son. If she heard nothing, she would stay awake all night, praying for his safety and well-being.

Due to this quietness, Liu He did not think of causing her trouble after ascending the throne, although he hated Liu Yi and Empress Dowager Shan when he was Crown Prince, fearing they might take his position at any moment.

But Liu Yi voluntarily diverted the pursuing soldiers, and the remaining Empress Dowager Shan was obedient, not causing him trouble. Plus, he needed to placate the ministers, so he didn’t make things difficult for Empress Dowager Shan, instead respecting her as the Empress Dowager per protocol.

Afterward, he just left her aside, unattended.

Empress Dowager Shan’s days were not particularly good, but neither were they particularly bad; whenever migrating she had to exert effort not to fall behind, an occasional hunger and stumble or lack of carriage forcing her to squeeze into a bullock cart with palace attendants were hardly worth mentioning.

What concerned her most was only Liu Yi’s safety.

When Liu He was killed by Liu Cong, Empress Dowager Shan was suddenly brought forth because theoretically, she had the right to determine the next successor.

Empress Dowager Shan did not at all enjoy this attention, although her treatment improved, every day she lived in fear and trepidation, terrified of Liu Cong, feeling he might kill her for the throne at any moment.

When Liu Cong publicly declared his intention to find Liu Yi and appoint him emperor, she became even more frightened and anxious.

She wasn’t clever, but she possessed survival intelligence, reasoning that if Liu Cong wanted his brother to be emperor, he wouldn’t have killed Liu He and his sons?

Therefore, Empress Dowager Shan awaited anxiously for the moment she might be killed, finding no escape, only hoping that Liu Yi could remain safe.

Eventually, the news of Liu Yi being captured as a hostage spread overnight among the Xiongnu, and Empress Dowager Shan didn’t have time to feel happy or worried about finding Liu Yi’s whereabouts before Liu Cong poisoned Emperor Jin and Zhao Zhongyu.

Empress Dowager Shan’s heart turned cold.

Liu Cong poisoned Emperor Jin and Zhao Zhongyu—could her son survive in the hands of the Jin?

For this matter, Empress Dowager Shan cried for three days and nights.

Afterward, whenever she thought of her son of unknown life and death, she wept until they fled north from Boping County, then she had no time to think of her son.

This time, although Liu Yi returned, he couldn’t live in the palace, and she couldn’t leave; mother and son met only twice, now was the third time. Upon receiving the news, Empress Dowager Shan meticulously prepared, taking out her best clothes and jewelry, comparing them in the mirror, she smiled at her maid: "Let’s wear this set."

The maid smiled in agreement, helping her change clothes, binding her hair while smiling: "Mistress looks truly beautiful, seeing you like this, His Highness will be at ease, wait until His Highness receives an official position and appeals to Your Majesty, perhaps they could let you live separately."

Empress Dowager Shan’s smile slightly faded, a light worry lingering between her brows; though she didn’t participate in politics, she was aware of the arguments outside.

Liu Yi wanted to pledge allegiance to Zhao Hanzhang, but the emperor forbade it.

Empress Dowager Shan touched her heart, feeling uneasy, her heart seemed to beat especially fast today.

She asked: "Has Xiaoqi entered the palace?"

The maid smiled: "Time wise, should be quick."

Empress Dowager Shan’s heart raced faster, and she simply got up and stepped out of the house, standing at the door looking into the distance.

The maid, holding the hairpin to insert, felt a bit overwhelmed, hurriedly following, "Mistress, what’s wrong?"

"Feeling a bit stuffy, just getting some air."

As Empress Dowager Shan watched, she felt uncomfortable, asked the maid, "Is there noise outside, who is outside?"

Hearing this, the maid quickly set the hairpin down, went out to check, soon returned, "There are guards from the palace."

Empress Dowager Shan was puzzled, "Why would guards be here?"

"They said it’s to protect palace safety, more personnel deployed everywhere," the maid smiled, "Mistress, let’s continue dressing up."

Empress Dowager Shan’s face turned pale; she had experienced palace coups, sensing something amiss.

Disregarding the maid, she turned upstairs, climbed into the attic, pushed open a small window to gaze into the distance.

By now it was dusk, everything still visible, with her good eyesight she quickly spotted guards in armor gathered below the high walls, far exceeding the usual number.

Empress Dowager Shan often came to this attic, before Liu Yi returned, she loved to watch ministers traverse the front courtyard, hoping to catch some information.

Today she saw hundreds of times more guards than usual.

Only one person could mobilize so many inside this garden; Empress Dowager Shan’s face immediately paled further, contemplating what had prompted the emperor to deploy so many guards within the walls?

Hidden behind high walls, too.

Trembling, Empress Dowager Shan descended the attic, grabbing the equally pale maid, "Did you see it?"

The maid nodded, her body trembling.

Empress Dowager Shan held her tight, "You must sneak out through the crack in the back wall and go inform the King of Beihai; you may survive."

The trembling maid shook her head, afraid to go.

Empress Dowager Shan anxiously said, "I am the mother of the King of Beihai, tonight I am surely doomed; follow me and you will also die, only by escaping and informing the King of Beihai can you survive, understand?"

Empress Dowager Shan tearfully said: "Tell him to leave quickly, flee Lu County as fast as possible; his father and I spoiled him too much, while Liu Cong is far older, battle-hardened; how could he be his opponent?"

Hearing only escape meant survival, the maid composed herself somewhat.

Empress Dowager Shan stuffed a badge into her hand, led her to the back courtyard under some flowers, parted them to reveal a hole in the wall.

This was a small hole they occasionally discovered, later even manually expanded, removing quite a few bricks.

Couldn’t precisely say why, merely thought when another rebellion occurred, or if the Zhao Family Army broke in, they could hide or escape from here.

Empress Dowager Shan pushed her out, whispered, "Keep the badge well, my son will believe you on sight. If intercepted, claim you’re going out to buy for me, understand?"

The maid nodded frantically.

Empress Dowager Shan finally pushed her out, watched her crawl and run far, before wiping her tears and restoring the flowers back, shaking as she returned, trying to steady herself, though her hand holding the eyebrow pencil kept trembling.