Chapter 285: Gentle Persuasion
One sentence reminded the Empress, who immediately stopped crying and instructed Yu Lu, “You must find someone to block the news immediately. Absolutely do not let the Grand Tutor know this terrible news. His old body has not yet recovered, and once he knows, he will surely shorten his remaining years by grieving. This child was his beloved junior, and his departure to the North had already made him extremely anxious; how could he bear this…”
“Your Ladyship, please rest assured, I will go out now.” Yu Lu quickly agreed and then requested of Consort Hui, “Her Ladyship Consort Hui, please kindly comfort the Empress.”
After Yu Lu left, it was Consort Hui and Wen Mingqian who took turns comforting the Empress.
Finally, Wen Mingqian burned benzoin, causing the Empress to fall asleep.
At lunchtime, the Emperor specially came to the Empress’s Palace to dine with her.
The Empress looked quite weary. The Emperor comforted her, saying, “Even though the Empress is sad, you must find a way to appease Princess Consort Zhao. I cannot personally intervene in this matter; as her elder sister, you must take responsibility.”
“Yes! Since I am her elder sister and have also experienced the pain of losing a child, I am most suited to comfort her,” the Empress said faintly.
The Emperor paused upon hearing this and said, “It seems this matter has reopened your old wounds. Tan’er was also Our flesh and blood. You ache, and do We not ache as well!”
Ying Tan was the Crown Prince born to the Empress. He died of illness five years ago, nearly costing the Empress her life.
The Empress’s headaches and insomnia began around that time. She grieved for her son to the point of illness, crying day and night. Only in recent years had she managed to slightly alleviate her heartache, but once it was stirred, she still found it difficult to let go.
“If Tan’er were still here, today’s situation would not have happened, and Song’er would not have died,” the Empress sighed.
“Turn your thoughts away from this!” The Emperor did not wish to dwell on sad matters. “What is past cannot be changed; let us look at the present!”
“I am alright, I can always comfort myself. I am only worried about Father…” the Empress said with concern. “His health has not been good in recent years; he truly cannot bear any more sadness.”
“I have matters to attend to. I see you have not eaten much; I will have someone prepare some dim sum for you later,” the Emperor said as he rose. “Someone has submitted a memorial impeaching Dong Gang, stating that he engaged in much favoritism while inspecting salt in Jiangnan.”
“It must be those censors again, grasping at straws and impeaching whomever they see,” the Empress said dismissively. “With his status and position, why would he need to be corrupt? Most likely, he simply could not refuse requests and gave vague assurances.”
“It is the inherent duty of censors to speak on matters. As the Empress’s nephew and the Grand Tutor’s grandson, he should be even more cautious and adhere strictly. Even if there is no major issue this time, he should be warned; it will be good for him,” the Emperor said.
These words were rather uncomfortable for the Empress to hear. She did not know when it was that the Emperor gradually stopped being like he was before.
It was her own father, Grand Tutor Dong, who had insisted on establishing him as Emperor, making their family the foremost contributor to his ascension.
For many years, the Emperor had rarely rejected matters concerning the Dong Family, which was the point the Empress was most satisfied and reassured by.
But now, something had subtly changed…
When she came back to her senses, she found that the Emperor had already left.
“Your Ladyship, Madam Wen has made medicinal cuisine for you and sent it over,” a Palace Maid said softly. “Please try to eat some! You barely touched your lunch earlier.”
The Empress looked at the cold meal on the table and said after a moment’s thought, “Very well, let her come in!”
After the Empress drank a bowl of medicinal cuisine soup, she called for a musician to play music softly in the outer room.
This music could help her mood become slightly more peaceful.
“Mingqian, how do you think I should comfort Princess Consort Zhao? The pain of losing a child is etched into one’s bones; it cannot be easily consoled with mere words,” the Empress said with a face full of exhaustion.
“Your Ladyship speaks the truth. This servant believes that such pain is irreplaceable. The Princess Consort must endure it herself over time. Your Ladyship is merely fulfilling your intention. In this life, there are always various unavoidable circumstances and helplessness. I only hope time passes more quickly, and only by this can the grieving be comforted,” Wen Mingqian also sighed softly.
“You have not experienced the pain of losing a child, have you?” the Empress looked at Wen Mingqian and said. “That is a pain one can never forget, even until death. I remember when the Crown Prince passed away, I wished I could personally go to the Hall of the King of Hell and bring back his soul! When he was gravely ill, I prayed to heaven every day. But when he was gone, I began to hate heaven. I hated why it had to take my son’s life, why it was so cruel?”
Tears streamed down the Empress’s face as she spoke. “I will not comfort Princess Consort Zhao; I will only tell her to be content. Compared to me, she is already considered fortunate, as she still has a son to rely on. And me? I can only raise another’s son.”
“Moreover, if their mother and son had not acted foolishly before, would they have ended up in this situation today!”
Wen Mingqian remained silent, her tears falling like unstoppable raindrops.
“Why are you crying so sadly?” the Empress asked her.
Wen Mingqian wiped her tears somewhat haphazardly and said, “This servant feels heartache for Your Ladyship. You are in such extreme pain that you speak these words. Everyone reveres and envies your position as Empress, yet they do not know how much unbearable suffering you have endured. This servant truly regrets her own powerlessness…”
“Alright, let us both stop crying. Even if our tears flow like a river, what is gone is gone and cannot be kept,” the Empress sighed. “You are also a person of misfortune. Although I do not know the details of your situation, I know the general circumstances. You were driven back to your hometown by the Gong Family and endured seven years in that difficult place, bearing what ordinary people cannot.
By the way, since you are divorced from Gong Xu and are still young, why do you not consider remarrying?”
The customs of Great Xia did not prohibit women from remarrying; there were even instances of the Emperor marrying a remarried woman.
Wen Mingqian shook her head with a bitter smile and said, “Your Ladyship, you may not know, but firstly, I only wish to live with my son. Furthermore, even if I were to remarry, the family would undoubtedly want me to bear them more children. However, when I was in Chang An, I nearly died, and I can no longer conceive.”
“Ah? Is that so! Do the Gong Family know?” the Empress asked.
“This servant has not mentioned it to them,” Wen Mingqian said. “My mind is made up, and there is no point in saying more.”
The Empress sighed upon hearing this. “Indeed! Women fear heartbreak the most. I imagine you were deeply in love with Gong Xu back then.”
“This servant’s affairs are not worth mentioning. I only hope Your Ladyship can find some solace and feel less sorrow.”
“Go and gather some things that Princess Consort Zhao usually likes. I will send someone to deliver them to the North later. I am only doing my part; I cannot manage much else,” the Empress said.
“Then, this servant will fetch some warm water for you and help you wash your face and reapply your makeup, shall I?” Wen Mingqian wiped away the remaining tears from her eyes. “If Your Ladyship shows even a hint of cheerfulness, then our skies will clear.”
