Chapter 1254

Chapter 1254 The Empress Dowager Felt Anxious

“Ghosts appeared in the Commandery Prince Qing’s Mansion?” Chu Liuchen asked with a faint smile.

“Yes, it was said to be so. I heard ghosts appear in the burned place. Some people said they saw the figure of the petty official from the Ministry of Justice. Some spotted headless ghosts. The whole Commandery Prince Qing’s Mansion fell into a panic. Later, when Commandery Prince Qing came to investigate this matter in person, the whole mansion finally quieted down.”

Ancheng smiled.

They wouldn’t believe there were ghosts. There must be someone trying to mess up the Commandery Prince Qing’s Mansion.

Chu Liuchen’s beautiful eyes flickered slightly and turned indifferent as he asked, “No one suspicious visited Prince Cheng’s Mansion?”

“No one. Since Prince Cheng was in his mansion, he has never caused any trouble. No one comes to visit him, and he has no intention of going out. Even when food is delivered to his mansion, some specially-assigned people will collect and send the food into his mansion.” Ancheng reported. Then he added, “Prince Cheng is now Commandery Prince Cheng!”

Indeed, Prince Cheng’s Mansion had become the Commandery Prince Cheng’s Mansion. It was under supervision now. Not only secret guards of other mansions but also the guards sent by the Emperor closely surrounded the Commandery Prince Cheng’s Mansion. No matter how capable Commandery Prince Cheng was, he could not pass on the message to anyone outside.

“Then go to the Yuyun Temple and have a look,” Chu Liuchen said with a faint smile. He rolled his deep eyes and said casually.

“Master, do you mean Master Jieyan, the abbot of the Yuyun Temple,” Ancheng asked knowingly.

“Just go there and look around. There will always be some clues.” Chu Liuchen waved his hand and said meaningfully. His long eyelashes cast zigzag shadows on the snow-white skin under his eyes. The strange scene sent out an inexplicable chill.

“Yes, master. I’ll look for clues in the Yuyun Temple right now.” Ancheng nodded and withdrew. He really should go to check the Yuyun Temple. Master Jieyan worked for Commandery Prince Cheng. But when Commandery Prince Cheng went down the mountain, he didn’t take Master Jieyan. At this time, he should have stayed in the Yuyun Temple.

Compared with other people in the Commandery Prince Cheng’s Mansion, Master Jieyan was the most likely one to…

Yesterday, the Empress Dowager had just returned from the Huaguang Temple. She seemed to be in low spirits. Was it because of what had happened at the Emperor’s place last night? When Shao Wanru left the Huaguang Temple, the Empress Dowager looked good, though in low spirits. But now, she became much more feeble.

“Imperial Grandmother, did you not sleep well last night?” Shao Wanru asked and reached out to her. “May I take your pulse?”

“Nothing serious. I didn’t sleep well at night!” The Empress Dowager answered weakly. Nanny Wei took out a wrist cushion and put it under her hand.

The Empress Dowager and the people around her knew Shao Wanru had medical skills.

“You all can leave now!” The Empress Dowager Queen waved her hand.

One by one, the palace maids and eunuchs on both sides retreated carefully. However, Nanny Wei stood aside and continued serving them with a bright smile.

“You should also withdraw!” The Empress Dowager suddenly ordered.

Nanny Wei was stunned, for she had never expected the Empress Dowager to ask her to go outside. Briefly startled, she lowered her head with a flash of sadness in her eyes. Slowly, she retreated outside.

Standing still outside, she looked at the two rows of servants in the Palace on both sides — no one noticed her. Only then she breathed a sigh of relief. She felt depressed. In the past, when the Empress Dowager met Princess Chen, she had never asked her to go outside. Were they going to say something secretive today? And even Nanny Wei was not allowed to listen to their conversation?

Nanny Wei had served the Empress Dowager for so many years and had rarely seen the Empress Dowager being so cautious. In particular, Princess Chen was not of much use to the Empress Dowager. Why would Empress Dowager ask her to leave? Did the Empress Dowager no longer trust her?

Thinking of this, Nanny Wei felt increasingly gloomy. She simply stopped at the gate, listening quietly to what was happening inside.

She was too far away to hear their conversation inside. But if they made a big noise, she could hear it.

Shao Wanru reached out to feel Empress Dowager’s pulse. After a thorough diagnosis, she finally let go of her hands.

“How is it going?” The Empress Dowager said weakly.

“Didn’t you sleep well last night? At your age, you shouldn’t worry too much. The Emperor and several Princees are there to handle all the affairs. You need to take good care of yourself,” Shao Wanru suggested softly.

“How can I rest well after such a thing happened?” The Empress Dowager sighed heavily. She could barely find anyone and talk about some things, and Shao Wanru happened to come over. At this time, she felt it was best to speak to Shao Wanru.

“Don’t worry, Imperial Grandmother. I heard from His Highness that it was not a big deal. His Majesty felt much better after spitting out that mouthful of blood.” Shao Wanru comforted the Empress Dowager. Then she stood up and walked behind the Empress Dowager. Gently, she began massaging the acupuncture points on both sides of her forehead.

She wanted to relax her. She could feel the Empress Dowager was a little nervous.

Shao Wanru was very professional in massage. She pressed against the most aching and limp places with moderate strength. Feeling quite cozy, the Empress Dowager closed her eyes and said faintly, “How could such a coincidence happen to the Emperor? I can’t believe it. Someone must have planned to hurt him. Otherwise, such a thing wouldn’t have happened.”

“Do you mean these imperial physicians made the wrong diagnosis?” Hearing what she said, Shao Wanru asked tentatively.

“It’s hard to say whether the diagnosis is wrong. I’m afraid my son deliberately let these imperial physicians say so because he didn’t want me to worry about him.” The Empress Dowager pinched the handkerchief in her hand and added, “If anyone in the Palace were behind this, it would be a big deal. Who on earth wanted to harm His Majesty secretly? How audacious the person was to do this!”

With this, the Empress Dowager was in a filthy mood. The Emperor was in the prime of his life. Such a thing should not have happened.

“Don’t worry, Imperial Grandmother. Since the Emperor has said so, he must have his reason. Maybe he has made a well-thought-out plan,” Shao Wanru said.

This time, the Empress Dowager did not speak for a long time. The hall became so quiet that Shao Wanru almost thought the Empress Dowager was asleep.

“What do you think of the Empress?” The Empress Dowager asked in a low voice that only Shao Wanru could hear her.

Her gentle voice wafted across the spacious hall like a cold breeze, and Shao Wanru’s hands trembled. She was so frightened that she almost pressed the wrong place. Hurriedly, she withdrew her hands, trying hard to suppress the horror in her heart. Then, she whispered, “Imperial Grandmother! I don’t dare to talk about the Empress’s affairs!”

“Then tell me, what do Consort Ming and Consort of Virtue think?” The Empress Dowager suddenly asked.

“Imperial Grandmother!” Shao Wanru turned to face the Empress Dowager, lifted her dress, and knelt. She couldn’t afford to talk about these two people either.

“It doesn’t matter. Only you and me are here. Only I can hear what you say. No one else can catch your words, and I won’t blame you for anything you say.” The Empress Dowager reached out and kindly held Shao Wanru’s hands, trying to pull her up. There was even a faint smile on her face.

The Empress Dowager was in poor health, so Shao Wanru did not dare to refuse to stand up. Taking her hand, Shao Wanru stood up but looked embarrassed.

“Go ahead!” The Empress Dowager said. She looked at Shao Wanru but ignored her look of embarrassment.

Shao Wanru pursed her lips slightly and raised her watery eyes. The look on her exceedingly beautiful little face was no longer as troubled as before. Her limpid eyes looked calm and tender, with a hint of deep-hidden momentum. At this moment, she was no longer the frightened Princess Chen. She seemed to appear more relaxed and powerful.

Eyes on the Empress Dowager, she said unhurriedly, “Though Consort Ming has some ideas, Prince Xin, with a peaceful mind, won’t get involved in the competition. Even if Consort of Virtue wants to compete, she is not sure if Prince Yue can succeed.”

Shao Wanru knew from Empress Dowager’s attitude that she couldn’t avoid discussing this matter. In this case, she chose to face the reality.

The current situation was unknown. Every one of them might win or lose. No one would have the guts to assault the Emperor unless the person was sure to win.

“If anyone is sure to get the throne, the person might launch the first attack. Is that what you mean?” The Empress Dowager repeated what Shao Wanru said, her eyes growing slightly colder.

Shao Wanru’s heart skipped a beat. Lowering her head, she said, “Imperial Grandmother, I’m just talking about the matter as it stands. In their hearts, they might think they have a greater chance of winning. But in everyone’s eyes, the few princes have the same possibility of winning. It’s not worth it for anyone to take action. Even anyone with a secretive agreement may not win. Besides, if there is an agreement in secret, they would be more cautious now and never act rashly.”

“Why?” The Empress Dowager looked a little relieved and asked after thinking for a while.

“Think about it, Imperial Grandmother. The person with a private agreement is sure to get the throne. In this case, why would the person cause such big trouble? After that, His Majesty is bound to suspect this person. Besides, the few princes are not old. It doesn’t matter even if they must wait more than ten years. They will get the throne sooner or later. Then how could any of them be so anxious to seize it in advance?”

Her words made the Empress Dowager Queen silent again. She nodded and sighed softly. Although Empress Dowager still sighed this time, Shao Wanru felt her mood was much better than before. Then, the Empress Dowager reached out to hold her hand, letting her sit on the chair aside.

“How does Chen’er treat you?”

They had been talking about the Emperor’s issue. But suddenly, the Empress Dowager changed the topic and began talking about the private things between the young couple. Shao Wanru felt herself blush. Lowering her head, she pinched the handkerchief and said shyly, “He is very nice to me.”

“Then that’s good. Chen’er has been a solitary child since his childhood. He was not willing to play with others. When he grew up, he couldn’t get close to anyone except me. He looks gentle, but his heart is somewhere far away from others. Back then, he abandoned himself to despair and didn’t care about anything, including his life. His Uncle the Emperor and me have been begging him with the greatest care. That is why he is willing to live for so many years.”

When the Empress Dowager spoke of this, the rims of her eyes reddened. Such a young child had been quiet since he was little. It seemed as if he had lived in a different space from others. He quietly watched others play, but his beautiful eyes had always been empty. He looked ahead blankly as if nothing was meaningless to him. Every time she saw him like this, the Empress Dowager felt distressed. After all, this boy was the most innocent one.

It was the fault of the previous generation. Why did this child have to take the blame…