Chapter 626: Acting Gentle

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Only in the presence of the Empress Dowager could the Emperor shed tears and unveil his true emotions.

Following a severe illness, the Empress Dowager seemed to have recuperated.

“Your Majesty, I erred in the past. I apologize to the ancestors of the royal family.”

Since entering the harem, she had inflicted harm upon numerous princes and descendants, never harboring regrets. The harem had always been a brutal battleground where only the ruthlessly cunning could prevail.

In this cutthroat arena, those who hesitated inevitably lay defeated, and the victors stood atop countless corpses.

However, she remained unwilling to witness the Public House’s ascendancy, ultimately replacing the Chu family.

Yet, circumstances had evolved to an irrevocable point, rendering her powerless.

All she could do now was hope to shamelessly meet the ancestors of the Chu family after her demise.

The Empress Dowager sighed.

“Lord State Duke has asserted that as long as I live, the world will continue to bear the surname Chu. Hence, I shall attend to my health and strive to prolong my life a bit longer.”

The Emperor’s countenance darkened. “Has the Public House ceased attempting to conceal their intentions?”

Did this admission imply a looming change in dynasty?

‘Does it suggest that my time is running out?’

Unable to bear witness to the Emperor’s defeated demeanor, the Empress Dowager offered gentle reassurance.

“If you maintain the current status quo, they may refrain from endangering your life. After all, you are their biological nephew.”

The Emperor burst into laughter. “Biological nephew?”

“What significance does being my nephew hold? Even if he were my biological son or father, none can rival the allure of that dragon throne!”

“Will they not harm me? Empress Dowager, you must be speaking against your own conscience!”

“If I don’t die, how can they make my eldest son the emperor? How can they legitimately control the court?”

The Emperor left the Empress Dowager’s chambers in a daze.

The Grand Empress Dowager hadn’t truly relinquished control, but he understood that she no longer possessed the strength to torment him.

If she lacked the strength to persist, her remaining days would be numbered.

Upon returning to his own chambers, the Emperor felt such frustration that it verged on madness. Day or night, he summoned a beauty to attend to him.

Despite venting, his body was drenched in sweat, yet his mood failed to improve; instead, a sense of suffocation intensified.

Submerged in the bath, he contemplated and finally, a fierce glint crossed his eyes. An idea had struck him.

After changing attire, he instructed a young eunuch to issue a decree and arrange for a meeting in the Jingren Palace. He intended to see the Empress and the Crown Prince.

Upon receiving the news, the empress hastily gathered a retinue of palace attendants, nurses, and eunuchs to welcome him at the palace entrance.

Although the emperor was a mere puppet, within the harem, he still retained the stature of a formidable ruler.

He clung to the remnants of his harem’s prestige.

Observing the empress bow to him, the emperor graciously moved to assist her. “Empress, there’s no need for formalities.”

The Empress was greatly puzzled. What was the Emperor plotting?

“All of you can leave.”

The Emperor’s mood seemed unusually pleasant today, and his tone was surprisingly gentle. This caught everyone off guard. Once the Empress overcame her initial surprise, a sense of discomfort settled over her.

As the attendants withdrew, the emperor unexpectedly embraced her.

“Yu’er, it’s been a long time since I’ve been close to you…

The emperor was straightforward, promptly removing his garments. The empress blushed. “Your Majesty, it’s daylight.”

She assumed the emperor had something to discuss, not anticipating his immediate intentions.

The empress was a clear-headed woman. She didn’t believe the emperor’s sudden tenderness stemmed from genuine affection for her. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have avoided her for months.

Nor did she believe he lacked alternatives among the numerous beauties in the harem.. With such a diverse array of choices, why would he turn to her now, having previously grown weary of her?