Chapter 375: Volume 1 Chapter 375 Empress Dowager, I'm Sorry

Yan Yin's complexion was pale and bloodless; she met the Empress's steady gaze, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I thank your guidance. I have taken it to heart, and will now take my leave."

Rong Luoge watched Yan Yin leave, feeling a touch of sorrow. She truly wished Yan Yin could stay in the palace peacefully, but if they remained obstinate, there was nothing she could do.

On the way to Funing Palace, Yan Yin's mind replayed the decades she had served the Empress, as if a blink had spanned all those years.

In earlier years, she accompanied the Empress into the inner palace; at that time, their master‑servant life was far from easy.

The Empress Dowager was not favored by His Majesty and was suppressed by Ming Taifei; for several years it was truly hard. She once offended Ming Taifei on the Empress's behalf and nearly lost her life, but the Empress Dowager protected her.

That night, she stayed with the Empress, weeping through most of the night; the two of them, master and servant, saw no glimmer of dawn in the endless darkness.

Later, the Empress Dowager set aside the pride of a noblewoman, began to please His Majesty, and with the aid of the Su family, gradually secured a foothold in the inner palace. She later bore His Majesty, and then could share equal standing with Ming Taifei.

Those years were truly difficult.

So now the Empress wishes to protect the Su family; she can understand that.

But His Majesty will not understand, and the Empress will not understand.

She knows the Su family has changed, the Empress Dowager has changed, and only she remains steadfast in her loyal servant role.

Yan Yin returned to Funing Palace, but unexpectedly met Su Virtuous Consort outside the palace; she halted, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Virtuous Consort."

Su Ying looked at Yan Yin, slowly smiling, "Aunt Yan Yin, where are you coming from?"

Yan Yin, disliking Su Virtuous Consort, replied, "I was handling some matters for the Empress Dowager. Is Virtuous Consort here to visit the Empress Dowager?"

Su Ying listened as Yan Yin skirted the issue and changed the subject; she grew increasingly displeased, ignored her, turned, and entered Funing Palace.

Yan Yin waited until Su Virtuous Consort entered, then followed behind her inside.

The Empress was waiting for Yan Yin's return, but was surprised to see Yan Yin arrive with Su Ying. She perked up, looked at Su Ying, and asked, "Why are you coming over now?"

"Aunt, how does your health feel today?" Su Ying said with a smiling tone as she sat down, asking concern.

The Empress smiled at Su Ying, nodded, and said, "I am fine; you are thoughtful."

"Aunt, you must take care of yourself; our entire Su family now relies on you. Unfortunately I am of no use— even within the palace I cannot aid the family. Now everything is in disarray. Aunt, what should we do now?" Su Ying's eyes reddened as she spoke, a hint of choking in her voice.

Yan Yin watched Su Virtuous Consort's pretentiousness, felt a slight heaviness in her heart, and couldn't help but look at the Empress. She hoped the Empress Dowager would regain some clarity and not act recklessly again.

Alas, fate doomed Yan Yin to disappointment.

The Empress, after hearing Su Ying, said, "You need not worry; even for the sake of my family, His Majesty will not act against the Su family."

Yan Yin's heart sank; she lifted her head slightly, feeling a deep bitterness.

She does not hate the Empress Dowager; she only finds Su Virtuous Consort truly detestable, constantly using the Su family to restrain the Empress, knowing full well the Empress cannot abandon the Su family yet still stokes trouble.

The Empress dismissed Su Ying, then looked at Yan Yin and asked, "What does the Empress say?"

Yan Yin sighed inwardly, looked at the Empress Dowager, and respectfully replied, "The Empress has been busy with the workshop and truly cannot find time to come over…"

The Empress's face darkened at the news, "She, as Empress, does not properly manage palace affairs. Running out all day— what is that like?"

"Empress Dowager, please do not be angry; this was permitted by His Majesty, and it is His Majesty who assigned the workshop to the Empress." Yan Yin pleaded as best she could.

The Empress's expression wavered; after a while she said, "It is precisely because it was given to the Empress that His Majesty became her victim of manipulation…"

"Empress Dowager." Yan Yin fell to her knees with a thud, and when she lifted her head, her face was streaked with tears.

"Yan Yin, what are you doing?" the Empress startled, asking hurriedly.

Yan Yin bowed heavily before the Empress, "Empress Dowager, the Kang and Song families have pledged allegiance to His Majesty, did you know? The Kang family surrendered all their subordinate fiefs and all their slaves, and the Song family did the same. Empress, now His Majesty's momentum is strong; you must think carefully."

The Empress's face turned pale, "Who told you that? The Empress?"

Yan Yin listened to the Empress Dowager's questioning and realized the Empress harbored some displeasure toward her. She took a deep breath, looked up at the Empress, and said, "Empress Dowager, the Empress now enjoys great popular support, and the workshop she oversees is thriving. I have heard palace staff say that Kang Shufei is leading people to conduct recruitment for the workshop. Though I, a servant, do not fully understand what recruitment entails, I have heard that if it succeeds, the Empress will raise a large sum of silver for His Majesty, enough to forge many cannons."

The Empress's face turned pale.

Yan Yin wept like rain, "Empress Dowager, His Majesty is your own son; no matter how close, he is not flesh and blood. You cannot think only of the Su family. Now His Majesty's power is in his grasp, yet the Su family still tries to block it like a mantis against a chariot…"

"Silence!" the Empress slammed the table, glared at Yan Yin, and shouted angrily.

Yan Yin fell silent, bowed, and pressed her forehead to the ground.

The Empress's heart softened instantly; this was not a stranger, but Yan Yin, who had served her all her life.

"Get up," the Empress said, exhausted.

Yan Yin staggered to her feet; she was no longer young and should have left the palace long ago, but she could not bear to part from the Empress. She inhaled, looked at the Empress, and said, "Empress Dowager, this old servant wishes to leave the palace."

The Empress was startled, looking at Yan Yin as if in disbelief, "What did you say?"

Yan Yin lowered her head, "Empress Dowager, at my age staying in the palace would only cause you more trouble."

The Empress stared at Yan Yin, then snapped, "Is the Empress threatening you?"

Yan Yin quickly bowed, "The Empress never said anything; it is just that this old servant's bones are frail, falling ill every few days, truly unable to continue serving the Empress. Please, Empress Dowager, considering that I have served you all my life, allow this old servant to leave the palace."

Yan Yin actually did not want to leave, but her natal family still had nephews and grandnephews. She feared that if she continued to follow the Empress, her own life would be at risk, which she did not mind, yet she was unwilling to bring danger upon her family.

The Empress, suddenly feeling much older, looked at Yan Yin, "Even you must leave? Did I truly do something wrong? But what mistake? Shouldn't we protect our own family?"

Yan Yin knew nothing she said would help, so she knelt on the ground, hoping the Empress would raise her noble hand.

She had spent her whole life worthy of the Empress Dowager, a lifetime of loyal service, but she felt only guilt toward her family; she could not, in her old age, bring danger to them.

Empress Dowager, I am sorry.