Font Size:
Yan Cang stepped into the study, raising his eyes to see the Empress Dowager present, furrowing his brows involuntarily, “The study is a sacred place, Your Majesty should not be here.”
The Empress Dowager stood up, explaining instinctively, “Yan Qing poisoned the Emperor. After hearing about it, this humble one was too anxious and couldn’t help but come to see.”
“Mother, please go back and rest, the imperial physician should also withdraw.” Yan Chen stood up, walked behind the desk, and sat down, “I asked Uncle to come today because there are some matters I would like to seek his opinion on.”
The Empress Dowager nodded to Yan Cang and walked out of the study.
It’s not yet time to confront the Prince Regent. For the stability of her son’s throne, the Empress Dowager has always been extremely polite to Yan Cang and will not directly oppose him.
And this attitude will continue.
As long as the Prince Regent is alive, the Empress Dowager will not turn against him.
However…
Walking out of the study, the Empress Dowager looked up at the azure sky, feeling uneasy about Yan Chen being poisoned. She stepped onto the phoenix carriage, “To the Princess Chang residence.”
“Yes.”
The grand procession of guards escorted the Empress Dowager’s entourage out of the palace towards the Princess residence. Approaching noon, a loud chant rang out, “The Empress Dowager has arrived—”
Outside the gates of the Princess residence, the servants knelt down in a flurry, respectfully wishing the Empress Dowager well.
“We pay our respects to the Empress Dowager, long live, long live, long live a thousand years.”
Sitting on the phoenix carriage, the Empress Dowager’s exquisitely made-up face remained cold and proud, “This humble one wishes to see Yan Qing.”
“I will go and announce this immediately.”
“Impudent!” The Empress Dowager exclaimed in anger, “Do you even need to announce your visit to your own daughter? Doesn’t Yan Qing know to come out and greet me?”
Shen Mo remained calm, “Does that mean there’s no need to announce it, Your Majesty?”
The Empress Dowager’s face turned pale, “Where is Yan Qing?”
“Her Highness is in her chambers.” Shen Mo’s gaze lowered slightly, “Her Highness has always preferred peace and dislikes being disturbed unless it’s important, so…”
The Empress Dowager coldly interrupted him, “Summon her.”
“Yes. I will inform Her Highness immediately.”
Shen Mo entered the mansion and, after reaching the Cloud Perch Hall to report, he heard Yan Qing say, “Bring the Empress Dowager to the Lakeside Flower Pavilion to sit.”
“Understood.”
“For the sake of her son, the Empress Dowager can really set aside her pride.” Yan Qing sneered, “But this move inevitably shows weakness, making it difficult to regain control in the future.”
Shen Mo quickly returned outside and respectfully reported, “Please have the Empress Dowager visit the Flower Pavilion for tea.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression darkened, “Yan Qing doesn’t personally come out to greet me?”
“The Princess is currently occupied with matters and cannot free herself at the moment. Please forgive her, Your Majesty.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression instantly turned furious, glaring coldly at him for a while. Considering her purpose for coming today, she had to temporarily suppress her anger, took the hand of the maid beside her, and got off the phoenix carriage.
Shen Mo called a maid from the mansion to lead the Empress Dowager to the Lakeside Flower Pavilion for tea, then hurried to the Cloud Perch Hall.
“Wen Yao.” Yan Qing instructed, “Take the tea over.”
“Understood.”
Yan Qing turned to look at Wen Jin, “What if I were to poison all the members of the Yan Royal Family and proclaim myself Emperor, what would happen?”
Wen Jin spoke obediently, “As long as Your Highness takes action, I will definitely pave the way for you.”
“Forgetting your own place again.” Yan Qing sneered, “You are just a pet now. Do I need to remind you constantly?”
Wen Jin lowered his eyes, “Even a pet can occasionally be useful.”
“Is that so?”
“Dogs can bite, cats can scratch. If Your Highness wishes, even a pet can have strong killing power.”
“That’s true.” Yan Qing’s voice was light, “If a pet wants to kill its master, its claws can be very sharp.”
Wen Jin remained silent, but his lips couldn’t help but tightly purse.
Yan Qing walked out with two maids, instructing as she walked, “Have two plates of fresh fruits brought over.”
“Understood.”
Shortly after, Yan Qing arrived at the Lakeside Flower Pavilion, gazing at the sparkling lake surface, with ripples shimmering under the sunlight, creating a soothing atmosphere.
It was right to have a conversation here. In case of a bad mood, looking at this scenery could help relax a bit, otherwise, it might just stir up her murderous intent.
The Empress Dowager was having tea.
Yan Qing walked over, her crimson dress swaying gently with the breeze, exuding an ethereal charm.
“Does the tea from my mansion still suit the Empress Dowager’s taste?”
With a loud bang, the Empress Dowager set down her teacup heavily, raising her eyes slightly, speaking indifferently, “You certainly have a high opinion of yourself.”
“Not daring to.” Yan Qing sat down to the side, poured herself a cup of tea, exuding elegance in every move, “What brings the Empress Dowager here?”
In her twenty-five years of life in the past, the Empress Dowager had never condescended to visit her mansion personally.
Exiled to Zhuque City for ten years, married to Xiao Jinghan for seven years after returning to the capital, until her death, the Empress Dowager always maintained her high and aloof demeanor, taking the estrangement between mother and daughter to the extreme.
However, when Yan Chen was poisoned, she let go of all her pride and arrogance and came in person… indeed, no one is truly so lofty and noble, just not pushed to that extent.
“Did you poison Yan Chen?” Sharpness flickered in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, “How malicious of you? He is your brother, the current Emperor. Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution for doing this?”
“Divine retribution?” Yan Qing smiled playfully, “Aren’t I the ‘lonely star of calamity’? If Mother truly believes in this prophecy, then she should believe that the ‘lonely star of calamity’ is capable of anything.”
With a slight pause in her tone, “Mother’s visit today is actually a mistake. Those close to me will not have a good ending. If Mother falls ill after returning to the palace, I’m afraid I will once again bear an indelible accusation.”
“Slick tongue,” the Empress Dowager said coldly, “I have never seen such a disrespectful daughter who dares to speak to her mother like this.”
“Likewise,” Yan Qing chuckled, “I have never seen a mother who could exile her own daughter for ten years, nor have I seen a mother whose ten months of pregnancy are less valuable than a single prophecy.”
The Empress Dowager looked at her expressionlessly, “Do you resent me?”
“Resent?” Yan Qing sneered, “No, I have nothing to resent. Resentment implies hope, but I have long lost any hope for affection these years. Father and Mother have personally killed all of that, so don’t expect me to still consider you a mother.”
If even a mother doesn’t count, then what about the so-called elder brother?
The Empress Dowager originally intended to use blood ties to soften Yan Qing, but it seemed she disregarded any sense of kinship.
“How will you provide the antidote for Yan Chen?”
Yan Qing raised an eyebrow, “If both Mother and Yan Chen are poisoned at the same time, with the same poison, and I have only one antidote, would Mother choose to save herself or Yan Chen?”
“What did you say?”
Yan Qing’s lips curled up slightly, “The tea Mother just drank is poisoned, the same poison as Yan Chen’s.”
The Empress Dowager’s face changed drastically, abruptly standing up, “You—”
“This poison is not immediately lethal, but it recurs every month, causing excruciating pain that lasts for three days. Only I can provide the antidote.” Yan Qing calmly took a sip of tea, showing no reaction to the Empress Dowager’s outburst, “Mother can now consider, if I have only one antidote, who should receive it.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression turned livid, her gaze dark and chilling as she stared at Yan Qing. It was only at this moment that she truly felt the ruthless cruelty of the ‘lonely star of calamity.’
Daring to poison the Emperor, daring to poison the Empress Dowager.
She truly had no concept of the word “death.”
“Yan Qing, you are truly audacious.” She said coldly, “Aren’t you afraid of implicating those in your mansion?”
“I am not even afraid of death myself, so why worry about implicating others?” Yan Qing held the teacup, her delicate and fair fingers appearing luxurious, yet unknown to many, these hands had become ones that could kill at any moment, “The soldiers under my command can only be loyal to me in their lifetime. If I die, who will allow them to live? So unless Yan Chen sends troops to besiege me, he really can’t do anything to me.”
At this point, Yan Qing sighed, as if lamenting the fate of others, “Unfortunately, if a siege were to happen, there would be countless casualties. I wonder if Yan Chen has the ability to bear the consequences. If he can’t protect his kingdom, I believe he will suffer more than I will.”
“You beast!” The Empress Dowager was so enraged that she trembled all over, raising her hand to strike Yan Qing across the face.