Chapter 19: Facing the Palace Drama, The Emperor Slaps Himself

Xie Zhizhi thought deeply—how could the Empress Dowager find the emperor useful now that the Third Prince had been confined to his quarters?

If the emperor were to reverse his order, wouldn’t that be him slapping his own face?

At this moment, Xie Zhizhi didn’t know that the “dog emperor” not only would slap his own face, but he was eagerly looking forward to it.

The night was dark with hidden currents, and tonight’s moon was unusually round and bright.

The palace’s cobblestone path was sturdy and smooth, wide enough for four carriages to travel side by side.

The Empress Dowager’s sedan chair was ahead.

Two rows of palace maids held lanterns, walking closely on either side. The Empress Dowager and a eunuch were talking, and within their conversation, there was concern for the Third Prince.

From the fragments of memory in Xie Zhizhi’s mind, the original owner wasn’t particularly familiar with the Empress Dowager, even though she was the biological mother of the Third Prince.

The original owner had tried to please the Empress Dowager several times, but was always brushed off. In the end, she gave up and focused on the Third Prince instead.

Xie Zhizhi had heard that the Empress Dowager was highly favored by the “dog emperor” and rarely left the Zhaoyang Palace. Her health wasn’t great, and she was known for being delicate. The emperor, however, seemed to adore this about her.

This was the moment when her son had been confined, forcing her to come out.

Xie Zhizhi wasn’t familiar with these palace rivalry tricks. After eating and drinking her fill in the space, she was finally going to meet the “dog emperor.”

The palace was incredibly vast, and after many twists and turns, she finally found him.

Outside the palace, in the Shuning Palace, the lights were bright, and even through the palace walls, one could hear the emperor and a concubine inside flirting and laughing.

From the original owner’s memory, this was the residence of the noble consort, but had the Empress Dowager come here to start a scene?

Quickly, she moved a chair, grabbed some melon seeds, and the big black dog, having drunk enough spiritual spring water, came to her side and sat down.

“Do you know how to crack melon seeds? Here, try some,” she said, noticing the dog’s eager look, and placed some seeds on a plate for it to chew on.

“Woof!” Thank you, master.

The dog wagged its tail happily, licking the melon seed shells. It tasted sweet but didn’t enjoy eating them.

“If you like something else, go pick it out from the warehouse!” Xie Zhizhi patted its head and looked outside to continue eating.

Outside, the eunuch by the Empress Dowager’s side entered the palace to report.

In the next moment, Xie Zhizhi noticed the Empress Dowager’s face looked visibly weaker, evoking sympathy. Her scarf half-covered her face, and her gaze was soft and alluring, exuding a natural charm.

Ugh, indeed, the harem was full of tricks.

She was probably pretending to be weak, right?

Less than five minutes after the eunuch’s report, a bloated man in a yellow robe walked out with somewhat unsteady steps—it was the emperor. When he saw the Empress Dowager, the concern on his face seemed genuine: “Didn’t I tell you to rest in your palace?”

The emperor was accompanied by a beautiful, elegantly dressed young woman—Consort Shu, who feigned a polite greeting: “Greetings, Empress Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager pretended not to hear and didn’t ask her to rise. She was helped down from the reclining chair, weakly gave the emperor a salute, and hurriedly said:

“Your Majesty, I’ve come for the Third Prince. He really hasn’t contacted Xie Zhizhi at all. He usually ignores her. Please don’t punish him, don’t confine him further. The Ministry of War still has a lot to handle…”

“Enough, enough!” The emperor irritably interrupted her. As soon as he heard Xie Zhizhi’s name, he remembered everything about the General’s residence, and his face turned furious.

“My word is final; there’s no taking it back. Besides, the crown prince is right. Xie Zhizhi came to see the Third Prince this morning. After leaving the palace, she ran away. The Third Prince is the biggest suspect. As long as she’s not caught, he stays in the palace!”

Xie Zhizhi: I’m right here! Where did I run?

The Empress Dowager’s heart sank. This meant her son was being sent to the cold palace. With all the court disputes, there would be no position left for him in a few months. This engagement had been forced by the emperor, without regard for her son’s wishes. Now, all the blame was on him. The old emperor was heartless.

Though the Empress Dowager felt hatred inside, she feigned weakness on the outside, closed her eyes slightly, and spoke gently, retreating with grace:

“Third Prince greatly admires Your Majesty, and I believe you will handle this matter well. I… I won’t disturb you and Consort Shu any longer.”

Her last words were filled with sorrow, and she turned to leave, as if unable to stand, every movement perfect and delicate, exuding an air of beauty and reluctance.

Xie Zhizhi, watching from the space, was almost mesmerized by the fragrant beauty. The glance was perfectly aimed to catch the emperor’s eye.

Sure enough, the next moment, she saw the emperor’s expression shift from displeasure to pity. He immediately forgot the harsh tone of his earlier words. Truly, a foolish emperor, smitten with beauty.

The emperor hurried forward to support the Empress Dowager’s fragile body, his hand gently stroking her back, trailing down as his voice softened, no longer serious, but full of desire. “You really don’t care for yourself. Let me accompany you back.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Of course, the Empress Dowager clung to him, casting a contemptuous glance at Consort Shu behind her. If it weren’t for her son, she wouldn’t bother to fight with you.