Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 271 - 269. Rejection, mother-child relationship is severed
269. Rejection, Breaking of Maternal and Filial Bonds
"What is going on here?" Empress Hua looked coldly at Noble Consort Liu, who was standing outside the palace with a furious look on her face.
The imperial guard standing at the door quickly reported, "Your Highness Empress, His Majesty has decreed that he will see no one other than Your Highness. When Her Highness Noble Consort arrived, we had no choice but to stop her."
The Empress was also somewhat surprised. She knew that Mo Jingqi had always favored Noble Consort Liu and often had conflicts with the Empress Dowager for her sake. Had she fallen out of favor after only a few years of absence?
But the Empress didn’t care about these matters. She nodded and turned to the newly appointed Consort Wise and Consort Virtue. "You two wait outside for a moment; I’ll go in and check."
Consort Wise and Consort Virtue were originally from respectable households. However, they were not favored by Mo Jingqi due to their lack of charm and were not proud of their sudden promotion. Naturally, they were obedient to the Empress’s command.
"We will comply with Your Majesty’s order," Consort Wise and Consort Virtue said in unison.
Empress Hua nodded, disregarding Noble Consort Liu, and slowly walked into the imperial chamber.
The moment she entered the chamber, she noticed how desolately empty it was, void of any attendants. The Empress frowned. Given the Empress Dowager’s indifference and her own detachment, Mo Jingqi, even as an emperor, must not be leading a good life, especially with his severe illness. The Empress knew Noble Consort Liu’s personality well; she would never come to see Mo Jingqi unless it was absolutely necessary. Still, the Empress did not show any anger. After so many years and so many experiences, how much of the initial affection between husband and wife could still remain? She could not help but harbor resentment when she thought of her young daughter, still not of marriageable age, now alone and stranded. Even the deeply ingrained education from her childhood, emphasizing a husband’s paramount importance, could not erase this bitterness.
Hearing footsteps, Mo Jingqi turned his head with difficulty. His gaze became somewhat hazy for a moment when he saw the elegant and dignified woman in her bright yellow phoenix robe. The Empress had always been beautiful; he knew that. Even though Noble Consort Liu was once renowned as the beauty of the Capital of Great Chu, and he had doted on her, Mo Jingqi had never considered Noble Consort Liu to be definitively more beautiful than the Empress. It was just that, in his eyes, the Empress was his wife; giving her sufficient respect was enough. More importantly, this wife of his was from the Hua Family. Before he ascended the throne, she was his support. After his coronation, however, the Hua Family became an entity he needed to guard against. Therefore, he rarely paid attention to the Empress’s appearance. He only needed to know that she was the Empress.
"You’re here... It seems you’ve been living well these days," Mo Jingqi said, a sense of desolation rising in his heart. He was on his deathbed. His own mother was indifferent; his brothers, his ministers, and his beloved consort were all eagerly anticipating his demise. Even his wife seemed unconcerned, as if his life or death was a trivial matter. Mo Jingqi suddenly envied Mo Xiuyao. Despite Mo Xiuyao’s severe injuries and disfigurement, Ye Li remained steadfastly by his side. To prevent Mo Xiuyao from being threatened, Ye Li had been forced off a cliff, her fate unknown. And Mo Xiuyao, for his wife’s sake, his hair had turned white overnight. Mo Jingqi knew this was a kind of devotion he would never obtain in this lifetime, or any other.
"Your Majesty summoned me. Is there something you require?" Empress Hua asked calmly.
Mo Jingqi looked at her and smiled. "I am about to die. Shouldn’t I see you one last time?"
The Empress frowned, looking at Mo Jingqi with a hint of surprise. "You seem a bit different today, Your Majesty. Are you not afraid of death anymore?" The Empress knew better than anyone how much Mo Jingqi feared death.
Mo Jingqi chuckled helplessly. "Of course, I am afraid. Who wants to die if they can live? But when you truly feel that your death is approaching, it’s actually not as frightening. Now, every time I fall asleep, I feel as if I might not wake up next time. If I were to just pass away in my sleep, what could I do then?"
The Empress remained silent. Hearing Mo Jingqi personally say he was about to die, she felt little disturbance in her heart. She looked at him indifferently and said, "Your Majesty, you released me at this time and also appointed Attendant Concubine Zhou and Zheng Zhaoyuan as consorts. I suspect it’s not that simple, is it? If Your Majesty has something to say, please speak plainly."
Mo Jingqi smiled helplessly. "After all these years... you are still the only one who speaks so directly to me."
"Noble Consort Liu also speaks very directly," the Empress stated.
At the mention of Noble Consort Liu, Mo Jingqi’s expression darkened slightly. He looked at the Empress and sighed. "I don’t want to talk about her right now. Empress... once I die, if Mo Jingli succeeds to the throne, he might still treat you, his imperial sister-in-law, with kindness. However, if the Crown Prince succeeds, Noble Consort Liu will become the Empress Dowager. Have you considered how you and the Hua Family will manage then? The enmity between the Liu Family and Hua Family, and between you and Noble Consort Liu... well, it’s not truly enmity between you two, more like Noble Consort Liu’s one-sided disdain for you. What will you do then?"
"What exactly is Your Majesty trying to say?" Empress Hua asked in a low voice.
After saying so much, Mo Jingqi felt somewhat weary. He took a breath before continuing, "The Sixth Imperial Prince, born to Zheng Zhaoyuan, is already nine years old this year. Zheng Zhaoyuan is of humble origins, so I have registered the Sixth Imperial Prince under your name. After I am gone, take my imperial edict... and establish the Sixth Imperial Prince as the new Emperor. With the support of the Hua Family, Eldest Princess Fuxi, and Aunt Zhaoyang, even if Mo Jingli and the Liu Family are resentful, they will not dare to act rashly. The Leng Family and the Mu Family are loyal to me; as long as you hold my imperial edict, they will support you. As for what happens after that... it will be up to you all."
Having said this, Mo Jingqi closed his eyes to rest.
The Empress’s slender brows furrowed slightly as she calmly said, "Your Majesty, I am afraid I cannot comply with your wishes."
Hearing this, Mo Jingqi startled, his eyes snapping open. He stared at the composed Empress before him and gritted his teeth. "Why not?"
Empress Hua lowered her gaze and replied evenly, "Your Majesty has only spoken of matters within the imperial court but has forgotten those outside it. Although I am a woman confined to the inner palace, I am still aware of some things. The Northern Territory is encroaching on our borders, and the Beirong tribes of Xiling are watching us like tigers. Once the Sixth Imperial Prince ascends the throne, Prince Li and the Liu Family will surely contest it. The Hua Family will then be dragged into the court’s struggles. How would it all end? As Empress, it is indeed my duty to support a young emperor. However, if Your Majesty intends to drag the Hua Family into ruin, please forgive my defiance."
"The Hua Family are also subjects of Great Chu!" Mo Jingqi declared sharply.
The Empress responded, "Your Majesty is correct. The ancestors of the Hua Family fought and died on the battlefields for Great Chu; many made the ultimate sacrifice. The Hua Family dares not harbor any resentment. But what has the Hua Family gained in return? Honestly... in the current situation, whether the Crown Prince or the Sixth Imperial Prince ascends the throne, what difference would there be in the final outcome? A child emperor on the throne means power will fall into other hands. With all the scheming in court, who will genuinely care for the welfare of Great Chu? Back then... regarding Prince Ding’s Mansion, Your Majesty, you made a mistake."
"Then what do you suggest?" Mo Jingqi asked, staring at her coldly.
The Empress remained unfazed and said calmly, "Since things have come to this, and if Your Majesty is unwilling to pass the throne to the Crown Prince, then pass it to Prince Li. The Sixth Imperial Prince is innocent; please, Your Majesty, spare him."
Although she had been under house arrest for many years, she had still heard things. The Sixth Imperial Prince was admittedly clever and quite favored. However, for someone like Mo Jingqi, his so-called ’favor’ was often not something one could easily bear. With Noble Consort Liu and the Liu Family fanning the flames, the Sixth Imperial Prince had been taught only to indulge in play and amusement. He hadn’t learned any of the proper things a prince should. For such a prince to ascend the throne would, in fact, be his undoing.
"Impudent!" Mo Jingqi roared in fury, a fit of violent coughing overtaking him, his face flushing as if engorged with blood. "Since when has the Hua Family sided with Prince Li’s faction?"
"The Hua Family is not part of any faction," the Empress stated calmly. "Regardless of which prince Your Majesty passes the throne to, countless schemes and power struggles will inevitably follow. If Your Majesty is truly considering the welfare of Great Chu, you would naturally know the best course of action. Besides... Your Majesty appointed Prince Li as the Regent Prince. His power is now considerable. Can the Hua Family truly contend with Prince Li? In the end... Your Majesty, it seems you still wish for the Hua Family to be buried with you."
Mo Jingqi suppressed his anger, waiting for the turmoil in his chest to subside before speaking. "You and Mo Xiuyao have shared a deep bond since childhood. If you become the Empress Dowager and ask Mo Xiuyao for help, he absolutely will not stand idly by. He will naturally help you deal with Mo Jingli. All you need to do is properly educate the Sixth Imperial Prince. When he grows up, he will naturally be filial to you and treat the Hua Family well."
The Empress gave a bitter laugh, shaking her head and sighing. "After all this talk, it turns out this was your crucial point. Your Majesty, by saying this... I’m afraid you’ve never truly understood Prince Ding, have you? I once told you that Prince Ding’s Mansion would not plot treason, but you didn’t believe me. Now, I am telling you that Prince Ding’s Mansion will not give up on revenge. I presume you won’t believe this either? Does Your Majesty think that just because Prince Ding has made no move these past few years, he is not fixated on this hatred? The enmity from a father’s murder... is one where adversaries cannot live under the same sky. I fear that even if the previous Regent Prince were to be reborn, no one could dissuade Prince Ding. His stillness all these years only signifies his capacity for forbearance. The greater his forbearance... the deeper his hatred for you."
With a final glance at Mo Jingqi, the Empress said, "If Your Majesty has nothing further, I will take my leave. Oh, and Noble Consort Liu is still outside seeking an audience."
Without waiting for Mo Jingqi to say whatever else he might have wanted to, the Empress turned and departed. Her calm eyes held no sorrow, only a faint trace of regret. Regret that after more than a decade of marriage, in the end, he still only sought to use her.
Behind him, from the corner of his eye, Mo Jingqi watched the bright yellow figure depart without the slightest hesitation. An incredibly complex look filled his eyes. After a long moment, a sharp pain suddenly pierced his chest, and he could not stop himself from vomiting a mouthful of blood.
「Outside the gate」
Upon seeing the Empress emerge, everyone quickly approached. The Empress said calmly, "His Majesty is unwell. Consort Virtue, Consort Wise, you may pay your respects at the door and then return."
Consort Virtue and Consort Wise saw the Emperor perhaps once or twice a year at most. Having grown accustomed to this over the years, they felt no particular disappointment. Following the Empress’s instruction, they kowtowed at the doorway in gratitude for His Majesty’s grace and then departed with her. Noble Consort Liu, however, stared intently at the tightly closed doors of the bedchamber for a long while before finally turning and leaving with a flick of her sleeves.
「News from the palace traveled quickly to the outside.」
Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li were discussing whether to visit the Eldest Princess when Zhuo Jing entered.
"What happened?" Ye Li asked, raising an eyebrow.
Zhuo Jing reported respectfully, "We just received word. Mo Jingqi has released the Empress, who had been under confinement, and has also conferred the title of Consort Virtue upon Attendant Concubine Zhou, and Consort Wise upon Zheng Zhaoyuan."
Hearing this, Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, leaned back in his chair, and said casually, "It seems Mo Jingqi is on his last legs."
Both Ye Li and Zhuo Jing turned to look at him. Ye Li asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "Mo Jingqi wants to arrange his affairs after his death; naturally, he’s not going to last much longer."
Zhuo Jing was puzzled. "But hasn’t Mo Jingqi already named Noble Consort Liu’s son as the Crown Prince? What do arranging his affairs have to do with the Empress and the two newly appointed consorts, Consort Zhou and Consort Zheng?"
Mo Xiuyao clapped his hands and laughed. "That Mo Jingqi is extremely suspicious and holds a grudge over the smallest offense. How could he not be aware of the recent struggles between Mo Jingli and the Liu Family? And after Noble Consort Liu’s performance today... Mo Jingqi will absolutely not pass the throne to the Crown Prince. Since he doesn’t want to pass it to the Crown Prince, nor to Mo Jingli, he naturally has to find another successor."
Zhuo Jing had a sudden realization. "The Sixth Imperial Prince, born to Zheng Zhaoyuan!"
Mo Xiuyao nodded, smiling. "There’s another reason. Mo Jingqi must already know that I am currently in the Capital City. He also knows of the close relationship between myself, the Empress, and Old State Duke Hua. He probably thinks that out of consideration for Old State Duke Hua and the Empress, I might overlook past matters, and perhaps even help him resolve his current troubles."
Ye Li asked, "And will you?"
"He’s dreaming. Or does he truly take me for some benevolent Bodhisattva detached from worldly affairs?"
Standing up, Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "I should also go to the palace to see him. If I’m too late, I might miss my chance."
Ye Li also rose. "I’ll go with you."
「At Prince Li’s Mansion」
They had also received this news. Upon hearing his subordinate’s report, Mo Jingli sneered. "This imperial brother of mine really knows how to stir up trouble. In such a short time, he’s managed to create so many problems for me."
Princess Qixia, leaning against Mo Jingli, asked softly, "What are your plans, My Prince?"
Mo Jingli narrowed his eyes, his voice cold. "To the palace. I am going to see Mother."
「Outside the bedchamber」
The Empress Dowager approached with a grave expression. The guards at the door naturally dared not obstruct her; they quickly stepped aside and respectfully invited her in.
Upon entering, the Empress Dowager saw Mo Jingqi lying in a deep sleep on the bed, a patch of bloodstains marring the quilt on his chest. She hurried forward, crying out, "My son... My son, how are you?"
After a moment, Mo Jingqi slowly opened his eyes. Looking at the Empress Dowager, he offered a faint smile. "Mother, you’ve finally come."
For some reason, the Empress Dowager suddenly felt a twinge of guilt and averted her eyes, not daring to meet his gaze. Mo Jingqi, however, didn’t seem to mind and merely smiled faintly. It was a gentle tranquility she had never seen in him before, and seeing it now, the Empress Dowager felt a secret sense of alarm.
Noticing the blood on the quilt before Mo Jingqi, the Empress Dowager stood up and exclaimed angrily, "Where have all these damned servants run off to?! Why hasn’t His Majesty’s quilt been changed?!"
"Never mind, Mother. I wished for some quiet, so I had them withdraw," Mo Jingqi calmly interrupted the Empress Dowager.
A wave of faint embarrassment washed over the Empress Dowager. She sat down again beside Mo Jingqi and said with heartache, "My son, are you in discomfort anywhere? Quickly tell me..."
Mo Jingqi said, "It’s nothing. I have been waiting for you, Mother. There is something I wish to entrust to you. Please, Mother, for the sake of this being my final wish, I implore you to grant it."
They were mother and son, after all. Hearing such words, how could the Empress Dowager hold back her tears? They streamed down her aged face as she clutched Mo Jingqi’s hand, saying repeatedly, "My son, my ill-fated son... Whatever you want to tell me, just say it. I will ensure it is done for you. Oh, my poor son..."
Mo Jingqi said, "After I pass away, when the young ruler ascends the throne, court affairs will inevitably face some instability. Jingli is now powerful and influential; he no longer listens to me, his imperial brother. Even if he did, once I am gone, my words will be useless. I only ask that you, Mother, for the sake of the new emperor being your grandson, will look after him..."
Before he could finish, the Empress Dowager had already stopped weeping and cut Mo Jingqi off. "Nonsense! Are you truly planning to pass the throne to the son of that vile Liu woman? Do you have any idea what she has been doing? The moment Mo Xiuyao returned to the capital, she eagerly rushed off to pay respects to the ancestors of Prince Ding’s Mansion! Is paying respects to ancestors something a mere consort of the imperial harem can decide on her own? Whose ancestors is she worshipping? She even invited Prince Ding for tea and reminiscence in the middle of the street, utterly disgracing our imperial family! Such a woman! If you, Your Majesty, truly pass the throne to her son, have you considered what she will do afterwards? How could she possibly assist the new emperor properly? I’m afraid she’d have long since been fawning over Mo Xiuyao! Your Majesty... you are muddled!"
"Mother..." Mo Jingqi gave a self-deprecating smile, took a breath, and then cut short the Empress Dowager’s words, asking, "Then, what is Mother’s intention?"
The Empress Dowager hesitated for a moment before saying, "My son, this is all fate... Jingli is a good child too. He is now the Regent Prince, and you know the situation with Xiling. If things were to truly reach that point, wouldn’t it damage the relationship between uncle and nephew? Eventually, it would lead to disaster erupting from within our own walls. Since that’s the case, it would be better to... better to just pass the throne to Jingli. He will surely treat his nephews well in the future, and I, even if it means staking my life, will protect my grandchildren."
"Mother!" Mo Jingqi cried out sharply, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Mother! Do you have any idea that I am in this state precisely because of Mo Jingli?!"
"My son..." The Empress Dowager frowned, looking at Mo Jingqi. Of course, she knew. She also hated how ruthless her younger son was, showing no mercy in his actions. But things had already come to this. She was already about to lose one son; did she really want to lose another? This choice was for the good of everyone. If Jingli were truly pushed to the point of rebellion, how could a newly enthroned young emperor possibly withstand him?
"Heh heh..." Gazing at the Empress Dowager before him, who was frowning at him, Mo Jingqi suddenly burst into loud laughter. Yet, the sound was more akin to a desolate, painful sob. When he had laughed his fill, Mo Jingqi lifted his head, pointed at the Empress Dowager, and said, "Mother... you truly are my good mother... Heh heh..."
Seeing her son in such a state, the Empress Dowager also began to wipe her tears. "My son, please don’t blame Mother. Mother was also forced into this; I had no other choice."
"What benefits did he offer you?" Mo Jingqi suddenly demanded.
The Empress Dowager froze, her expression instantly turning unsightly. Meeting Mo Jingqi’s eyes, which seemed to see through everything, the preceding conversation felt like nothing more than a grotesque farce.
Mo Jingqi nodded. "I understand now. Heh... What I cannot have, none of you shall have either! Get out!"
"My son, you..."
"GET OUT!"
