青春期撞上更年期第1部

Derong lowered his head and said, “Qing Mu, her personal maid, said so. Her Grace invited you to go there tonight, saying that she would be waiting for you in the Shuangxi Hall!”

“Has she forgiven me? Has she forgiven me for real?” The Emperor clenched his fists tightly in agitation.

It couldn’t be a question. The Emperor must have been talking to himself. Thus, Derong, hanging his head even lower, didn’t dare to answer it.

After a long while, the Emperor took a deep breath, controlled his emotions, and said with a faint smile on his serious face, “I’m finally forgiven. What happened back then… It was actually not my fault…”

Derong felt even more scared to say anything and just stood there motionless.

There was a long pause before the Emperor came to his senses. Then, his eyes fell on a memorial in front of him. It was from Prime Minister Wen, who opposed him deposing the Empress. He argued that the Empress was the foundation of a state and couldn’t be changed casually. It appeared that Princess Chen’s accident had all kinds of connections with the Empress, but no solid evidence could prove that the Empress was behind it…

“Derong, what if I give up the current Empress and make Consort Lan the Empress?” the Emperor spoke word by word.

“Your Majesty, you couldn’t do that!” Hearing that, Derong could no longer keep silent. He knelt with a plop and pressed his forehead against the ground, unmoving.

Consort Lan was a deep-seated taboo in the Emperor’s heart, which no one dared to touch. Derong knew it, so he didn’t dare to utter a word at first, but now he had to say something!

“Can’t I? Why can’t I?” the Emperor suddenly became stubborn.

“Your Majesty, please think twice!” Derong said implicitly because he didn’t have the courage to advise in detail.

The Emperor sat in silence for a long time. Then, he sighed heavily, “I feel sorry for her. I owe much to her!”

“Your Majesty, it wasn’t your fault. It was the fickleness of fate!” Derong whispered.

The Imperial Study fell silent for a while, and only the faint sounds of their breathing could be heard.

“Get up!” The Emperor said in a gravelly voice as if he had aged a lot suddenly. He waved his hand, motioning Derong to get up.

Derong got up scrupulously and stole a glance at the Emperor’s face, feeling bitter in his heart. The Emperor was old, no longer as high-spirited and vigorous as when he was a prince.

“Yue’er, Zhou’er…” The Emperor paused and added another name. “And Chen’er. Who is the most suitable?”

His voice was low, but his words shocked Derong so much that his face changed dramatically. In the past, according to the Emperor, only the former two princes were qualified to inherit the throne. But now Prince Chen was also included. Did this mean that the entire imperial court would take on an entirely newlook?

The Emperor had never considered Prince Chen. But it looked only right and proper when Prince Chen was added at this time. In the past, Prince Chen was excluded, mostly because of his poor health: though he was in imminent danger of death, he acted recklessly without considering his poor physical condition.

Now, it seemed that his only weakness was gone!

“Chen’er… He becomes a suitable candidate now!” The Emperor sighed heavily, but his voice was very, very low, barely audible, but Derong heard it.

Derong lowered his head even more, knowing well that he didn’t need to say anything at this time.

No one knew more about what had happened between the Emperor and Consort Lan than he did. Yet, he couldn’t say anything and could only be a loyal listener who kept his lips buttoned.

When the news from the imperial Palace came, Chu Liuchen had just finished dinner with Shao Wanru. He supported her as she walked. Mingqiu Nun told Shao Wanru not to always lie in the room. The wound on her arm wouldn’t split open if she was careful.

As soon as they stepped out of the courtyard, they saw the chief supervisor hurry in.

“Your Highness!” The chief supervisor said respectfully after saluting him.

Shao Wanru smiled slightly and looked up. Her black and watery eyes looked crystal clear. She said, “Your Highness, deal with your business first. I’ll take a walk with Yujie and Qu Le and talk about the previous event.”

The chief supervisor wouldn’t come here for no reason — it must be important.

“Walk for a while, but don’t go too far.” Chu Liuchen nodded and said, withdrawing his hand from Shao Wanru’s slender waist.

“I know.” Shao Wanru nodded. Her liquid eyes, full of glittering ripples, curved up with a smile.

“You don’t have to worry about the affairs in the Palace for the time being. Just focus on healing your wound.” Chu Liuchen reminded her again.

“I know.” Shao Wanru said again. Knowing Chu Liuchen was worried that she couldn’t take good care of herself, she reached out to gently pull his sleeve and shook it slightly with a hint of tenderness.

Sure enough, she couldn’t get her hands on the affairs of the Imperial Palace, especially at this time. But she worried that it would be inconvenient for Chu Liuchen. The imperial harem was full of women, so it was improper for Chu Liuchen to deal with them as a prince.

But at present, she understood he was worried about her, so he would not let her intervene at will.

When Shao Wanru agreed, Chu Liuchen showed a trace of a smile in his eyes and went to the outer court with the chief supervisor.

They entered the study outside. As soon as Chu Liuchen sat down, the chief supervisor said excitedly, “Your Highness, Consort Lan asked to see the Emperor on her own initiative.”

Since he also knew the inside story, he clearly understood the causes and effects of Consort Lan’s choice.

The gentle look on Chu Liuchen’s face slowly faded, and his eyes turned ice-like. After a long while, he asked, “Will the Palace become restless today?

“It should be. Consort Lan has been inconspicuous for so many years. But in the past… Though she is careless about matters in the Palace, it doesn’t mean that others can bully her,” the chief supervisor said with bitterness.

He had witnessed everything his young master had experienced for so many years. Lots of events occurred, which involved many people. Among them, his young master was the most innocent. But why would he take all the blame?

Consort Lan had been staying away from others for so many years. It appeared that she did this to protect his young master, but she caused more harm to Prince Chen.

When Consort Lan became incapable, how could she protect Chu Liuchen? At that time, Chu Liuchen was little, and no one took him seriously.

He was the legitimate son of the deceased emperor. This identity brought him no honor but aroused the envy and hatred of others.

When he was little and ignorant, he must have lived a miserable life in a Palace, the center of power. However, at that time, Consort Lan had been totally immersed in her sadness and had forgotten that a little child was badly in need of her care.

Gradually, the child grew up. Only then did Consort Lan realize she should take care of and protect him. It was a pity that the child no longer needed her.

“Master, if Consort Lan becomes the Empress…” The chief supervisor added. The idea excited him at once, and he looked up at Chu Liuchen, his face full of expectation.

“She can never be the Empress!” Chu Liuchen mercilessly poured cold water on his fancy thought.

“But, she…” The chief supervisor still wanted to say something, but Chu Liuchen interrupted with curt finality. “Stay in frequent contact with Qing Mu, and make a deal with the Empress. It’s better to let the Empress do this.”

“Wh-what?” The chief supervisor was stunned and couldn’t believe his ears. His young master meant to make a deal with the Empress, who had suffered her defeat. So, what was the use of cooperating with her? They should trade with Consort of Virtue because she seemed to have come out on top.

“Sir, the Empress is losing her power and influence. It won’t be easy to depose her if we don’t help her. Those old officials in the imperial court will protect her. Moreover, when she falls from power because of Zhuozhuo, the people on Prince Zhou’s side will vent their anger on Zhuozhuo. In this way, all of this will benefit Chu Liuyue and his people only.”

Chu Liuchen said lightly, not moving a muscle of his countenance.

Chu Liuyue was flushed with success, while Prince Zhou and his supporters fell into disgrace. Moreover, the Empress’s matter had implicated Prince Zhou and his people. If Chu Liuchen reached out to give the Empress a hand at this time, he could get unexpected results.

He hadn’t thought much of this outcome in the past, but now he needed it.

“Am I going to contact the Empress?” The chief supervisor had been serving in the Palace for so long. Just now, he was too concerned about the situation to think straight. When he heard Chu Liuchen’s words, he immediately understood that this was the best way.

“You don’t have to go. Let Qing Mu do it. Consort Lan brought up this, so she is the most suitable to handle the matter.” Chu Liuchen smiled slightly and said in a light tone, looking out of the window toward the imperial Palace.

This day had finally come!

“I see, and I’ll tell Qing Mu.” The chief supervisor nodded repeatedly. At this time, his young master couldn’t intervene personally in the crisis. It was best for Consort Lan to reach out to others. She had decided to stop keeping a low profile and earn a proper place in the Palace. Then, there was no need to hide her choice from the Empress.

However, the chief supervisor was still worried because the Empress knew some things others did not know.

“Master, would the Empress threaten Consort Lan with those things?” After thinking for a while, the chief supervisor expressed his worries.

“She wouldn’t dare. Since she didn’t dare to expose these things for so many years, she has no courage to do it now. Otherwise, Chu Liuzhou… would die!” Chu Liuchen said with a smile. His voice was gentle but ice-like, as piercing as an arrow with hostility. Both he and the Empress knew Chu Liuzhou had been her weak point.

“Trust me, Your Highness. I know how to tell Qing Mu!” The chief supervisor understood and looked at his young master with admiration. He would use Prince Zhou to pin down the Empress and ask Consort Lan to make a request. At that time, the Empress would not refuse, for she had to agree.

Consort Lan’s loyal servants had been thinking about the same thing as him. However, Consort Lan had no such ideas, and his young master had given himself up as hopeless. Now, it was all right. The chief supervisor turned sideways and wiped away his tears slightly. His eyes were filled with gratification and excitement. His young master was no longer willful and reckless, and he knew he should cherish himself.

All of this was because of Princess Chen, which made him respect her even more.

“I’ll arrange for someone to notify Qing Mu right now.” The chief supervisor paused to get his breath back and said.

Chu Liuchen waved his hand, and the chief supervisor left.

Ancheng stood behind Chu Liuchen with a bright smile. Although he didn’t say a word just now, he heard everything clearly, and a trace of sharpness flashed in his eyes — he would do his best to support his master, no matter what Chu Liuchen planned to do!

“Dispatch someone to keep an eye on Prince Zhou. If there is any news from the Palace that the Empress disagrees, take action.” Chu Liuchen ordered mercilessly.

“Yes, Master. Please rest assured. I know what to do!” Ancheng nodded decisively. Since his master needed to deter the Empress in the Palace, they would deal with Prince Zhou. “Then, the Empress Dowager…”

“I have my ways to deal with this!”