Chapter 302: Volume 1, Chapter 302 — Is the Empress Even Speaking Human Words?

After finishing the letter, Liu Yingying had someone send it to the Empress, who would then have her people forward it to Yunjiang. Even at the fastest pace, a round trip would take a month, so she settled her heart and waited patiently.

Liu Yingying recalled the suffering she had endured at her stepmother's hands, and how her father could not look after her at every moment. Her heart was full of hatred and resentment, and unwilling to be manipulated by her stepmother, she summoned the courage to seek a place at the Empress Dowager's side.

But what future did the Empress Dowager arrange for her?

She had her serve the Late Emperor and compete with Consort Ming for favor.

At that time she was terrified, but she had no way out and could only steel herself and press forward.

Later, she rose and fell several times in the Hou Gong, and only because the Empress extended a hand to save her did she achieve the glory she had today.

She did not know how to repay the Empress, so she could only do what was within her power.

"My Lady Consort Dowager, Consort Dowager Zhong has arrived with Princess Yile."

Liu Yingying quickly gathered her thoughts, rose, and went out to greet them. The moment Consort Dowager Zhong saw Consort Dowager Liu, she scrutinized her expression, and only after seeing her look normal did she quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

Liu Yingying smiled and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Consort Dowager Zhong took her daughter from the wet nurse, dismissed the attendants, and then said softly, "I was just worried about you."

Liu Yingying had originally lived with Consort Dowager Zhong so they could look after each other. After so long together, the bond between them had grown much warmer than the distance of their early days.

"Sister Zhong, don't worry. The Empress invited me over because she wants me to help at the dyeing workshop."

Consort Dowager Zhong was taken aback. "The dyeing workshop? The one by the Weaving Workshop?"

Liu Yingying smiled and nodded. "This is a good thing. The more I do, the more private savings I can put aside, and when our Yile marries, she'll have that much more for her dowry."

Consort Dowager Zhong was not pleased, however, and instead asked with some worry, "Why would the Empress think of sending you there? Is there truly nothing going on?"

"Nothing will happen. I know a thing or two about weaving and dyeing. Back when I was at home, life under my stepmother wasn't easy, so sometimes I would secretly embroider things to sell and supplement my income. The Empress knew I had some knowledge of these things, which is why she sent me." Liu Yingying looked at Consort Dowager Zhong and smiled.

Consort Dowager Zhong then felt reassured. "It's not me worrying for nothing — it's just that things at the Weaving Workshop are far too heated right now, and I'm a bit afraid. I don't ask for great wealth or nobility — as long as the three of us are safe and sound, that's enough."

Consort Dowager Zhong had known both supreme glory and favor in the Hou Gong, and had also fallen overnight into the mire. She had tasted every bitterness life's ups and downs could bring, so now that heaven had opened its eyes and given her a child, she only wanted to raise her child in peace and asked for nothing else.

"I know. Rest easy, Sister Zhong." Liu Yingying saw Yile squirming to reach her, so she reached out and took the child, and Yile laughed out loud with delight.

Looking at the child in her arms, Liu Yingying felt envious in her heart. She too wanted a child of her own, but in this lifetime it would never be possible.

Liu Yingying soon went to the Weaving Workshop to begin managing affairs. When the news reached the Empress Dowager, she fell into another fit of stifled anger, and her health grew even worse.

Yan Yin did not know how to comfort her and could only accompany the Empress Dowager in worshipping Buddha and chanting sutras, hoping she would come to her senses sooner.

How could the Empress Dowager not be angry?

What was Liu Yingying, anyway? Back then she was nothing but a pitiful creature who had come begging to her. She had given her a way to live, but what about her?

She went behind her back and got involved with the Rong woman — this ungrateful wretch. If the Rong woman hadn't kept a tight watch back then, she would have driven Liu Yingying out of the palace.

And now — she had asked the Rong woman to leave a vacancy at the Weaving Workshop for Su Ying, but the Empress flatly refused, then turned around and sent Liu Yingying in. Wasn't that a slap to her face?

How could the Empress Dowager not be furious, not be stifled, not be enraged?

At this moment, the Empress Dowager also felt some resentment toward her own brother. Why did he have to be at odds with her son? Her son had become emperor — if her brother threw his full support behind him, wouldn't the Su family's good days be theirs for the taking?

Yet her son was stubborn, cold, and heartless, and her brother gave no thought to her as his sister, fixating solely on the position of empress.

How bitter the Empress Dowager's heart was, no one knew — and even if Rong Luoge knew, she would only say the Empress Dowager deserved it.

How could anyone please both sides? She wanted her maiden family to soar and produce another empress, and she also wanted her son to set aside imperial dignity to give the Su family face — how was that possible?

The Empress Dowager only remembered that she was a daughter of the Su family, not that she was the emperor's mother. Naturally, Rong Luoge felt nothing for her and did not pity her.

Therefore, upon hearing the news that the Empress Dowager had fallen ill, she did not so much as twitch an eyebrow — after all, the Empress Dowager had played the trick of feigning illness far too many times. She routinely had an Imperial Physician sent over to take her pulse, and also had someone pass word to Shi An: when the emperor had time, he should report back.

Then she tidied herself up before making her way unhurriedly to Funing Palace to visit the sick.

When Rong Luoge arrived, she saw that Su Ying was already in attendance — dressed in plain clothes, looking quite the part.

Had she not known Su Ying's nature, she might well have been fooled.

"Greetings to the Empress. May the Empress be well." Su Ying came forward to pay her respects.

Rong Luoge smiled and waved her hand. "Virtuous Consort, no need for such formality. How is the Empress Dowager doing now?"

"The Empress Dowager has taken her medicine and is now asleep," Su Ying said softly.

Rong Luoge did not believe a single word. She had just seen the Empress Dowager, though her eyes were closed, shift her gaze — she had caught it exactly.

The Empress Dowager did not want to see her.

Rong Luoge had no desire to make herself unwelcome, so she looked at Su Ying and asked, "What did the Imperial Physician say?"

"The Imperial Physician said the Empress Dowager has a buildup of melancholy in her chest, with tightness and shortness of breath, and needs to recuperate slowly." As Su Ying spoke, her brow furrowed slightly, looking worried.

Listening to this same old tune, Rong Luoge scoffed inwardly, but said aloud, "The Empress Dowager and the Late Emperor were a devoted couple, deeply in love. Who would have thought that so long after the Late Emperor's passing, the Empress Dowager still cannot let go." So saying, Rong Luoge did not even glance at Su Ying's startled face, and continued with a look of concern, "This cannot go on for long. I shall speak to His Majesty — for the sake of the Empress Dowager's health, perhaps a short stay at a villa to relax might be a fine idea."

Su Ying: …

Was the Empress even speaking human words?

The Empress Dowager was already ill, and she still wanted to drive her out of the palace?

How dare she?

Su Ying's face turned livid, and she looked at the Empress and said, "The Empress Dowager needs to rest and recover in peace. The journey to the imperial lodge is long, and the bumps along the way would surely be worse for her health. The Empress's kind intention had best be dropped."

Rong Luoge looked at Su Ying, nodded with utmost seriousness, and then said, "What the Virtuous Consort says is reasonable. In that case, the Virtuous Consort must look after the Empress Dowager more attentively. After all, the Empress Dowager does not much care for seeing me, so I should come less often and not add to her distress — it would not be conducive to her recovery."

Su Ying: …

Was the Empress even speaking human words?