frightfiction Chapter 463: It's all her fault
Chapter 463: It's all her fault
As she applied the ointment to the person, Madam Zhuang wanted to say something else to the Empress Dowager, but then she heard a soft cough.
"If there's nothing else, I'd like to talk to Juan'er about something."
"That's right. Juan'er must be a little tired. I'll go and prepare some soup for you and the Empress Dowager."
Once Zhuang's mother had disappeared from sight, the Empress Dowager held Zhuang Lijuan's hand even more gently.
"You've really been wronged; it's all the prince's fault."
"It's not their fault. It's all Juan'er's wishful thinking. Just don't think like that in the future."
Although Zhuang Lijuan said this, she had no regrets at all, and even held the Empress Dowager's hand tightly.
But before she could utter the words she had prepared, she coughed even more painfully because of the pain in her neck.
She had finally regained some color in her face, but she was as pale as paper and couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
"The imperial physician just said that you must not be so impatient."
"I know what you're thinking, there's no need to hide it like that, and besides, at this moment..."
The Empress Dowager's eyes were filled with rage. She suddenly pinched Zhuang Lijuan hard, causing her to let out a muffled groan. She immediately came to her senses and released the other person's hand.
"Alright, you don't need to think about it anymore. I will take care of this for you."
"But neither the Emperor nor the Crown Prince agrees. Maybe we should just give up, so as not to affect your relationship with the two of them."
These words further displeased the Empress Dowager, who let out another cold snort.
"I am the Empress Dowager of the Emperor and the grandmother of the Crown Prince. How dare they contradict me? I think this is entirely Lin Rusi's doing."
Thinking of the fact that Lin Rusi had prepared such a complete birthday banquet even though it was her first time, her face darkened even more.
After all, she had used this method to make things difficult for others before, and none of them had been able to escape.
"Your Majesty, I have a feeling that I was tricked into saying something before, otherwise I wouldn't have done such a thing. You know me best, don't you?"
“You’re right. I’ve noticed something’s wrong these past few days, but Lin Rusi is too smart. I just can’t find an opportunity to call her over and observe her closely.”
Unexpectedly, Zhuang Lijuan stared blankly at the Empress Dowager. After a long while, she remembered that tall figure and anxiously grasped the hand in her palm.
Noticing that the little girl she had watched grow up was so nervous that she forgot herself, she wasn't angry. Instead, she patted her with her other hand to wake her up.
"Your Majesty, if that's really the case, even if I can marry my brother, the Crown Prince, I'm afraid I won't get to see him many times, let alone that so-called grandson."
As she said this, Zhuang Lijuan's face turned bright red, and she covered her face with the blanket.
The Empress Dowager looked at the flushed face, but instead of being angry, she smiled and straightened the quilt for the person, then used ointment to wipe the marks on the person's neck.
"Alright, take good care of yourself these days. Once you're fully recovered, I'll take you back to the palace. Don't worry about what others say about you."
"It's good that the Empress Dowager said that. Juan'er will definitely take better care of you when she returns to the palace. As for the Crown Prince, forget it. You can just find any young master... Hmm!"
"Don't say such discouraging things. I haven't asked you to give up yet."
Zhuang Lijuan looked at the Empress Dowager cautiously and, seeing that the other woman was smiling, forced a smile back.
I was forcibly awakened, and now that I can let go of everything, the drowsiness naturally washes over me.
The Empress Dowager noticed this and reached out to tidy up the hair with her well-maintained but slightly wrinkled hands.
"Get well soon and wait to marry the man you love."
"Juan'er thanks the Empress Dowager."
As she watched those eyes close, the Empress Dowager stood up and saw Zhuang Mu standing in front of her with a food box.
She waved her hand, preventing him from bending down.
"Juan'er has indeed suffered a lot of injustice this time, so don't say anything else that might make people think wildly."
"You're right. We will definitely comfort Juan'er properly, and there will absolutely be no other problems."
Having received this assurance, the Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction, boarded the prepared carriage, and left.
Upon returning to the palace, she began to inquire about what happened next from the old woman.
What no one expected was that the banquet, which should have been awkward, was resolved so easily.
"She actually has such methods; we really can't let our guard down at all."
"That's true. Moreover, the Crown Prince dotes on Lin Rusi to an extreme degree. Whenever she says she's sleepy, he immediately picks her up and takes her back to the East Palace."
Should we just take it back?
They really have no manners at all.
Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager's face darkened even more. She was about to make another move when she slammed her hand on the small table on the bed.
"It's fine on ordinary days, but it can cause a lot of trouble in public, since this weakness is too obvious."
"What the Empress Dowager said is indeed somewhat inappropriate. After all, the Crown Prince does not act like a Crown Prince and is too unbecoming."
"Although I haven't taken good care of him, I know that the Crown Prince's demeanor has never been problematic. It seems that the problem lies with one person."
The old woman understood what this meant and looked at the Empress Dowager with concern.
After all, I've heard quite a few rumors in the palace these days, and everyone is talking about how much the Crown Prince dotes on the Crown Princess, and how no one can be offended.
Thinking of the fear on the faces of those people, the old woman still let out a soft sigh.
“These days, I have been gathering information. Everyone in the palace is talking about how much the Crown Prince dotes on the Crown Princess, and about the group of people who are looking for the Crown Princess.”
"What else can we do? It's just some minor skirmishes."
The old nanny had always been by the Empress Dowager's side, so naturally she dared to say anything.
She shook her head and continued to finish the sentence she hadn't been able to say.
“Some people were dealt with directly by the Crown Prince, and the Emperor didn’t even bother with them, as if he tacitly approved of it.”
"It seems he has some skills, but these things are still not enough in the palace."
The Empress Dowager, having fought against two generations, was far too experienced to take it seriously and waved her hand to stop the nanny from continuing.
Knowing that her master already had a plan, the maidservant didn't say anything more and obediently retreated to the side to pour tea.
"Changning, who needed to be taken care of before, didn't have time. Now that the child can walk and talk, she doesn't need to worry about him at all. Finally, he can come and learn the rules, right?"
"The Empress Dowager's meaning..."
The Empress Dowager nodded to the nanny, then yawned, revealing a tired expression.
Noticing the barely perceptible drowsiness, the nanny immediately laid out the blankets so that her mistress could sleep peacefully.
The next day.
The Empress Dowager nodded to Zhang Mama, who was standing beside her, and then drank her tea again.
Upon receiving the instructions, Granny Zhang sighed as she looked at the palace maids outside with their heads bowed.
“One or two are of no use at all; they cannot compare to Miss Zhuang.”
"Granny, spare me!"
Hearing the sound of the palace maid kneeling on the ground, the nanny paid no attention and quickly walked towards the construction site.