Read Daily Updated Light Novel, Web Novel, Chinese Novel, Japanese And Korean Novel Online.
The Unstoppable Lady: Fortune Meets Power (Web Novel) - Chapter 2004: Epilogue
Chapter 2004: Epilogue
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
Zhan Country, Renshou Palace.For the past few days, Empress Dowager Zhuang hasn’t had much of an appetite, and Eunuch Qin keeps having the Imperial Kitchen try different ways to prepare her meals, but she barely eats a few bites.
Eunuch Qin secretly passed a message to Bishui Alley, only for Empress Dowager Zhuang to intercept it.
Empress Dowager Zhuang glared at him.
Eunuch Qin sighed, knowing she didn’t want her juniors to see her in her ailing state, but his heart ached for her.
"Empress Dowager, His Majesty has arrived." A palace maid reported from outside the Sleeping Palace.
Seeing that Empress Dowager Zhuang looked quite ill, Eunuch Qin whispered, "Should I inform His Majesty that you are resting?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang glanced at the crescent moon hanging in the night sky, suppressing the fatigue between her brows as she said, "For him to come at this hour, he must have something important."
"Yes," she responded.
Eunuch Qin went to invite His Majesty in.
The Emperor stepped into the room, glanced at Empress Dowager Zhuang seated calmly in the official hat chair, and asked worriedly, "Mother, are you feeling any better?"
This son may be a bit slow-witted, but his concern for the Empress Dowager is genuine.
Rarely, Empress Dowager Zhuang didn’t roll her eyes, instead saying blandly, "I have long been fine; it is you all who fuss about each day. Speak, what’s the matter that brings you to me at such a late hour?"
The Emperor sat by his mother’s side and, resigned, said, "To be honest, Mother, there is indeed something I wish to discuss with you."
"Is it the matter of establishing the crown prince?" Empress Dowager Zhuang asked pointedly.
The crown prince had been deposed for two years, and the calls within the court for establishing a successor were growing louder. If no decision was made soon, it could lead to factional struggles for the throne.
The Emperor acquiesced silently.
Empress Dowager Zhuang looked at him and asked, "What are your thoughts on the matter?"
The Emperor replied, "I believe Prince Rui is up to the task." Saying this, he paused, then added, "However, Xiaoqi has also matured a lot over the past two years."
Empress Dowager Zhuang gazed into the boundless night, "Xiaoqi is eighteen, nearly nineteen, at his age, Ahen had already passed the imperial examination as the top scholar."
"Yes," the Emperor sighed, "I am torn between Prince Rui and Xiaoqi and wish to hear your opinion."
Empress Dowager Zhuang spoke calmly, "I have no particular opinion; you are the Emperor, and to whom the succession belongs is up to your Qin Family."
"Mother!" The Emperor disliked her drawing such a clear line between them, as if she were not part of this family.
Empress Dowager Zhuang snorted, "What? I have worked for the Zhan royal family all my life, am I not allowed peace for a few days at my end?"
The Emperor frowned, "What are you saying, Mother? You are to live a long, long life!"
"Enough, enough, I can’t stand hearing those words," Empress Dowager Zhuang waved her hand, opened the jar of preserved fruits on the table, which were newly made by Jiaojiao, three pieces a day, and she had been saving them for five days.
She took out a piece, stared at it, and said, "Let me ask you, if Prince Rui were to ascend the throne, would Xiaoqi accept it in his heart?"
"This..." the Emperor hesitated.
Empress Dowager Zhuang continued, "If he does not accept it and rises in rebellion, can Prince Rui withstand it?"
A trace of desolation flashed across the Emperor’s face, "Certainly, he cannot."
Although behind Prince Rui stood the Duke’s Residence of Luo, behind Qin Chuyu was the entire Xuanping Marquis Residence, and the relations between Princess Xinyang and Xiao Ji had eased, so she would aid him.
He also had sworn brother Xuanyuan Xi and the youngest son of the Minister of War, Xu Zhuzhu.
The Emperor hadn’t even accounted for Xiao Hen’s connections.
Additionally, a very crucial point, Xiaoqi is the firstborn of the central palace.
The answer was truly self-evident.
This position, it’s not a matter of not vying for it if one does not wish to; even if Xiaoqi himself did not crave the throne, how could Empress Xiao content herself? Would ministers eager to share in the merits of accompanying the dragon easily give up?
Empress Dowager Zhuang said earnestly, "To be an emperor, one doesn’t necessarily have to be the smartest, but must be the most suitable, the one who can make the nation most stable."
Only with Qin Chuyu ascending would the other princes not dare eye the throne, as none had the confidence to successfully rebel against Xiao Ji.
Empress Dowager Zhuang gave him a sidelong glance and said, "Moreover, Xiaoqi is not as lacking as you think; don’t underestimate him."
Growing up with Jingkong, the mischievous child would have been ruined without some skills.
The Emperor pondered for a moment, "I understand, Mother."
After the Emperor left, Empress Dowager Zhuang, in the end, couldn’t bear to eat that piece of preserved fruit and returned it to the jar.
Eunuch Qin stepped forward to pour her a cup of warm water and, seeing her looking absent-minded, couldn’t help but ask, "The matter of establishing the crown prince has been resolved; is there something else on your mind?"
Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Zhuang looked at him deeply and abruptly said, "You are getting old."
Eunuch Qin was momentarily stunned and then smiled, "An old servant is no monster, how could I not age?"
