Chapter 773

Xue Shengjing came before her, flustered and furious, lowering his voice: "Ru Xin, what exactly is your relationship with Hu Xiaotian? Why did you just call him husband?"

Huo Xiaoru hearing his question, already knew that just then when she and Hu Xiaotian were talking he had been eavesdropping in the dark all along, no wonder Hu Xiaotian acted so cautiously. She both worried about Hu Xiaotian's situation and was angry at Xue Shengjing for eavesdropping on their talk, and coldly said: "What business is it of yours what's between me and him?"

Xue Shengjing said with a bitter face: "How could it have nothing to do with me?" He had wanted to say "I am your father," but the words stuck in his throat and he swallowed them; he also knew Huo Xiaoru would never readily acknowledge him, so he changed his words: "How could you have privately pledged yourselves to each other?"

Huo Xiaoru bit her cherry lip, guessing that Hu Xiaotian must have been spouting nonsense in front of him; but since Hu Xiaotian had said it, she couldn't expose him. Remembering his earlier instruction to admit their private affair, she steeled herself and said: "So what?"

Xue Shengjing, usually clever but momentarily foolish, mainly because of his concern for his daughter, was vexed; he beat his chest and stamped his feet: "You, you're really foolish—without a proper matchmaker you've helped him bear a child, what are we to do?"

Huo Xiaoru's beautiful eyes widened in shock, her pretty face flushed all the way to her neck. "Hu Xiaotian, Hu Xiaotian, you're simply spouting nonsense—saying I've privately pledged myself to you is already over the top, and now you claim I've borne your child, while I'm still Yunying, an unmarried maiden; if this gets out, how can I face people?" Huo Xiaoru also knew Hu Xiaotian must have said this to save her, seeing Xue Shengjing's pained expression as if he already believed it, she actually felt a bit like laughing; since that's the case, she simply stopped fearing admission, turning her pretty face aside: "For the Hu lineage to retain a line of descent, I would die without regret." Then she sighed: "Just... just... I really am sorry... Xiaobao... I'll never see him again..." Huo Xiaoru, being a drama major, went all out to match Hu Xiaotian; saying this, tears streamed down and she began to sob.

Seeing this, Xue Shengjing believed Hu Xiaotian's words even more; it seemed true, the child's name had already been chosen. "Xiaobao!" he sighed: "Ru Xin, you're foolish! Don't you know that Hu Xiaotian is now a eunuch, you... you..." For a moment his chest felt choked, he could hardly speak.

Huo Xiaoru said: "No matter what he becomes, as long as he treats me well in his heart, I won't begrudge anything. I don't care about status or rank; all I care about is him!"

Xue Shengjing's heart felt as if struck by a heavy hammer; suddenly the image of his deceased wife appeared before him, her voice and smile still vivid—"Shengjing, I don't care what you become. Nor do I care whether you are a prince or a beggar; as long as you treat me well in your heart, I won't begrudge anything. I don't care about status or rank; all I care about is you..."

Past feelings surged up in an instant. Xue Shengjing secretly sighed, could this be retribution, heaven making me and Yunqi's tragedy replay in my daughter? How sad! How lamentable! How vexing! But... what can be done when the deed is done?

In the study, Emperor Xue Shengkang of Da Yong sat quietly by the window, gazing at the crystal-clear rain droplets falling like a bead curtain from the eaves. A gentle breeze blew. The droplets suddenly lost their rhythm, and Emperor Xue Shengkang frowned slightly in distaste; just then he heard a report from outside: "Your Majesty, Commander Shi has arrived!"

"Let him in!"

Shi Kuang strode into the study and knelt before the emperor.

Emperor Xue Shengkang said: "Rise!"

Shi Kuang rose to his feet.

Emperor Xue Shengkang then withdrew his gaze from the window, glanced at Shi Kuang's upright face, and asked: "Have you cleared up the matter concerning the second prince?"

Shi Kuang respectfully reported: "Your Majesty, last night there was indeed an assassination attempt at the Prince Yan's manor; the assassin was the famed singer Huo Xiaoru of Dakang. I, your humble servant, went to interrogate Huo Xiaoru on your orders, but the prince refused. According to my information, the prince did not torture her, merely detaining her temporarily. This morning Dakang sent the matchmaker Hu Xiaotian to the Prince Yan's manor, supposedly to plead for her."

Emperor Xue Shengkang nodded, picked up his brush, and slowly wrote a line on the desk—"Mountain rain approaches, wind fills the..." but he hesitated before finishing the final 'lou' character, ink droplets falling one by one onto the xuan paper: "Don't you feel something is off?"

Shi Kuang said: "Your humble servant does not know what Your Majesty refers to."

Emperor Xue Shengkang said: "You have no reservations—speak!"

Shi Kuang then bowed and said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me; from my understanding, the prince is not a tolerant person."

A faint smile touched Emperor Xue Shengkang's lips: "More than that, he always repays a grudge! I still recall that two years ago, a favored servant girl merely broke an ordinary cup, and he had her throat slit with the shattered porcelain. I also recall that a year ago, two servant girls, forgetting to take off their mud‑splattered shoes on a rainy day, dirtied his carpet, and he ordered their feet cut off... All these matters you reported to me."

Shi Kuang said: "Your Majesty, your perception is keen; this time the prince has indeed acted contrary to his nature."

Emperor Xue Shengkang said: "That's why I sent you to demand her; his refusal shows how crucial Huo Xiaoru is."

Shi Kuang said: "I don't understand; the prince never defies your orders, not even for a dancer—if you asked for anything of his, he wouldn't even frown."

Emperor Xue Shengkang said: "The second prince once said that everything he has belongs to me, that I may take it whenever I wish, even his life." Having said this, Emperor Xue Shengkang finally put brush to paper and wrote a large 'lou' character on the xuan paper.

Gazing at the characters on the desk, he was dissatisfied, frowned, crumpled the sheet into a ball, and tossed it onto the floor.

From the emperor's subtle movements one could see his mood was not good.

Shi Kuang dared not speak further, attending carefully at his side.

Emperor Xue Shengkang said: "Quickly ascertain Huo Xiaoru's background."

"Yes!"

Just as Shi Kuang had left, the Supervisor of the Directorate of Ceremonies, Bai Desheng, hurried over and whispered a report: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's phoenix palanquin has already arrived at the palace!"

Emperor Xue Shengkang startled; this was quite sudden—the Empress Dowager had come to the palace without prior notice, for what reason? Since she had been residing in the Garden of Benevolent Grace to enjoy her twilight years, she rarely came to the imperial capital except for major celebrations; today's breach of routine puzzled him, and he vaguely felt something was amiss, even suspecting that her visit might be related to last night's assassination attempt at the Prince Yan's manor.

Emperor Xue Shengkang had intended to go out to meet her, but then he thought: "Bai Desheng, why are you only reporting this now?"

Bai Desheng replied: "Your humble servant reports that the Empress Dowager previously gave no indication; it seems she deliberately kept the palace in the dark, wishing to give Your Majesty a surprise."

"A surprise?" Emperor Xue Shengkang shook his head and immediately abandoned the idea of going out to meet her; if he showed he was prepared, wouldn't that disappoint her?

Emperor Xue Shengkang returned to his desk; Bai Desheng hurried over and, with great flourish, prepared the ink. After loading his brush with thick ink, Emperor Xue Shengkang wrote four large characters on the smoothed xuan paper: "Overturning rain, turning clouds!"

"The Empress Dowager approaches!"

Hearing that announcement, Emperor Xue Shengkang then took a cotton towel, wiped his hands clean, and went out to meet her.

The rain had stopped; in the Elegant Pleasure Garden outside the study, vegetation was lush and dripping, everywhere brimming with vitality. Supported by Eunuch Dong, the Empress Dowager came along the winding path, swaying with each step.

Emperor Xue Shengkang hurried forward: "Empress Dowager! Why have you come? I, your son, pay my respects!"

Empress Dowager Jiang chuckled, came before Emperor Xue Shengkang, examined his face, and said: "I heard from Lingjun that girl say you've been busy with state affairs and feeling unwell these past two days, so you couldn't spare time to visit me at the Garden of Benevolent Grace. Normally I shouldn't trouble you, but I've been missing you, feeling restless in the Garden, so I decided to stroll through the palace without prior notice—won't you blame me, Your Majesty?"

Emperor Xue Shengkang laughed: "Empress Dowager, you overstate it; this palace is your own home, and the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility has always been kept ready for you—whenever you wish to return, you may do so without needing to notify anyone."

Empress Dowager Jiang smiled: "Just as I knew you'd be filial." She turned to Eunuch Dong: "You all wait outside; I will speak a few words privately with His Majesty."

"Yes!"

A group of eunuchs and palace maids all withdrew from the garden.

Emperor Xue Shengkang came to his mother's side, supported her arm, and said respectfully: "Empress Dowager, shall we speak inside?"

Empress Dowager Jiang shook her head: "No, it's stuffy in there; just keep me company for a walk outside."

Mother and son came to the Ink‑Washing Pavilion in the garden and sat down.

Empress Dowager Jiang reached out and grasped her son's large hand, speaking softly: "Shengkung, since you became emperor, opportunities for us mother and son to be alone like this have grown ever rarer."

Emperor Xue Shengkang smiled: "My son, I have indeed been busy with state affairs lately; once I finish them, I will certainly visit the Garden of Benevolent Grace more often to keep you company."

Empress Dowager Jiang sighed: "You have the world on your mind; as your mother I shouldn't be a burden to you. Don't go out of your way—just being able to visit me during festivals and holidays is already enough to satisfy me."

Emperor Xue Shengkang said: "If you miss me, Empress Dowager, just stay a few days in the palace; then I can come each day to pay my respects."

Empress Dowager Jiang laughed: "I'm not used to living in this palace; if I did come, I'd be driven mad by your concubines every day—I'd rather enjoy a few more days of tranquility."

Emperor Xue Shengkang couldn't help laughing; a major reason the Empress Dowager, upon leaving the palace to reside permanently in the Garden of Benevolent Grace, grew tired of the concubines' rivalry—concubines seeking advancement must flatter not only the emperor but also the empress dowager, and there's little he can do about it, as this has been the case throughout history.

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "You've grown thinner than before; don't just bury yourself in state affairs—also take care of your health."

In the early hours I send the first update, begging for monthly tickets and recommendations! (To be continued~^~)