Chapter 3615: The Most Favoured Woman in the Inner Palace (34)
Chapter 3615: The Most Favoured Woman in the Inner Palace (34)
‘Merciful.’
Hearing Fu Min praise her this way left Ning Shu feeling quite conflicted. If Fu Min ever found out that Ning Shu was the one who killed Ao Tianze, she would probably want to drag Ning Shu down to the grave with her.
Ning Shu maintained a reserved smile. “It is nothing, really.”
She then asked, “Aside from this register, what else did the late emperor leave for you?”
Fu Min froze for a moment, then quickly shook her head. “He left nothing else. He likely only left the register for the sake of the empire.”
Ning Shu noticed a flash of unnaturalness in Fu Min’s expression. Though it was gone in an instant, Ning Shu caught it. Did Ao Tianze leave her something else?
Since Ao Tianze knew he was dying and had written a secret decree barring Ao Yong from the throne, it was entirely possible he had given Fu Min a secret decree as well. Was it an order to depose her as empress?
Putting herself in his shoes, if she were Ao Tianze and knew she was failing, she would certainly have found every possible way to protect Fu Min and provide her with a way out. Therefore, Ning Shu guessed that Fu Min must have something else left by the late emperor.
This would be easy enough to check. She just needed to scan Fu Min’s palace later. Even if there was a decree, as long as it wasn’t one to depose the empress, Ning Shu wouldn’t say anything. Besides, Ao Tianze hadn’t been entirely without power. His shadow guards hadn’t made a move.
Ning Shu smiled faintly. Fu Min seemed unable to sit still any longer, so she stood up, bowed, and prepared to leave. Ning Shu nodded. “Don’t keep yourself shut up in your chambers all day. You should come out and walk around more. A person’s life is very long.”
Now that the ‘shared cucumber’ that was Ao Tianze was gone, the open and secret struggles of the inner palace had turned much calmer. Of course, the concubines had also become much lazier, as they had no idea what to do with themselves.
Before, they had exerted all their effort to win the emperor’s favor. Now that the emperor was gone, they spent their time visiting one another, doing embroidery, or making snacks. If they didn’t find something to do, they would simply die of boredom.
Barring any accidents, these concubines would likely spend the rest of their lives in the palace until they died of old age. They were in the prime of their youth, the oldest being only in her twenties. However, they had no lack of food or clothing, were surrounded by servants, and wore fine silk. It was quite a leisurely existence.
Dowager Consort Xuan brought her daughter to Ning Shu’s palace, claiming the sister missed her brother. Ning Shu said nothing.
She let Dowager Consort Xuan watch the two children. She kept stealing glances at Ning Shu, but every time Ning Shu noticed, she quickly looked away.
“If you have something to say, just say it,” Ning Shu said.
Dowager Consort Xuan said awkwardly, “The dowager empress truly sees through everything.”
Ning Shu simply looked at her. Dowager Consort Xuan continued, “Your Highness, I am the child’s biological mother.”
“I know. I know you are his biological mother. Oh, are you saying you want to be regent? Do you want to carry the child to court and sit on the dragon throne?”
Ning Shu could see through Dowager Consort Xuan’s thoughts almost instantly.
Dowager Consort Xuan’s face twitched with extreme embarrassment. “I would never have such a treacherous thought.”
“It is fine if you do. Since you want to carry the child to court, then go ahead. I could use a rest tomorrow anyway.”
Having to wake up in the dead of night just to get ready was a miserable chore, not a great honor. When the child grew up, he would surely want to take power for himself. There were already regents in the court, plus a dowager empress above him. As an emperor, he would be lucky if he didn’t feel stifled by everyone pressing down on him. He might even end up causing the dowager empress’s ‘sudden death’ just to get her out of the way.
Ning Shu never dared to underestimate human nature, whether for good or for evil. Right now, she was just acting as a nanny. Once her work was done, she would retire. She had no intention of trying to rule the court forever.
Dowager Consort Xuan’s eyes lit up. This was the true meaning of ‘a mother’s status rising with her son.’ To have the officials bow to her was an incredible thought.
“Leave the boy here. Come early tomorrow to take him to court. If the officials ask, just tell them I am ill and feeling unwell,” Ning Shu said tonelessly. Since Dowager Consort Xuan wanted it, she would give it to her. Did she really think sitting there was fun?
“Yes, I understand!” Dowager Consort Xuan left in high spirits.
That night, Ning Shu headed toward Fu Min’s courtyard. Before she even reached it, however, she stopped. Several shadow guards were currently protecting the area.
Ning Shu was surprised. Had Ao Tianze given his entire shadow guard force to Fu Min? He had done it all just to protect her. These guards were weapons capable of anything.
Ning Shu frowned slightly, staying close to the base of the wall. Ao Tianze had truly given Fu Min a great deal—his exclusive love, to the point that he’d even made plans for her after his death. It seemed very affectionate, but to everyone else, he was a ‘devoted scum.’ Aside from the one he loved, everyone else was just trash to him, no different from livestock. That was why he’d felt no guilt in letting shadow guards bed the other concubines.
Ning Shu released her spiritual energy to scan Fu Min’s palace. Fu Min was already asleep in her chambers. Her face was still stained with tears even in her dreams. To the other concubines, the emperor’s death was just the loss of a ruler; they didn’t even dare to consider him their husband. But to Fu Min, Ao Tianze was truly her husband.
Ning Shu’s scan found something under Fu Min’s pillow—a secret decree. It must have been given to her by Ao Tianze. A black jade pendant hung around her neck, tucked inside her clothes against her skin. That, too, must have been a gift from him.
Sometimes, jealousy truly was futile. Ning Shu remained unmoved, but she imagined that if she were the original Tan Yuxin, her heart would be incredibly bitter. Tan Yuxin was his principal wife, yet he had left her nothing and even tried to kill her. The difference in treatment was like heaven and earth. It was no different from a blood feud.
Since shadow guards were watching Fu Min, Ning Shu turned and left. She didn’t need to sneak into the palace. She could just ask her directly if necessary.
Back in her own palace, Ning Shu lay down on her bed and went to sleep, looking forward to sleeping in the next day.
The next morning, before the sun was even up, Xi’er whispered to Ning Shu, “Your Highness, Dowager Consort Xuan has come for the emperor.”
Ning Shu didn’t even open her eyes. She simply gave a hum of acknowledgement. “Tell her to protect her child well.”
Xier handed the sleeping boy to Dowager Consort Xuan and told her, “Your Highness, the dowager empress told me to remind you to protect the emperor well.”
“I know.” Dowager Consort Xuan took the child gently. In her arms was not just the emperor, but her own child—a child of incomparable nobility.
Under the watchful eyes of the court officials, Dowager Consort Xuan stepped out from the side hall and walked toward the shining dragon throne. Faced with their gaze, she grew incredibly nervous, and her muscles started trembling uncontrollably.
The distance to the dragon throne felt immense, but she finally managed to sit down. The palace girls hurried to straighten her long dress.