dkrc Chapter 218 Falling Apart
Chapter 218 Falling Apart
Inside the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager was already waiting. After the two entered, they first performed the usual greetings to the Empress Dowager. Aunt Qingruo brought a cushion, and Shen Shixi then performed a more formal greeting.
The Empress Dowager asked the Emperor if his journey had been smooth, and the Emperor simply replied, "Smooth."
Very perfunctory.
The mother and son remained silent, and the Empress Dowager knew that Zheng's death had ultimately angered the Emperor.
"Has the Emperor heard about Zheng's sudden death?" The Empress Dowager still tried to save face, "She was a menace even while she was alive. After all, she had violated palace rules, and she should have known that she would die sooner or later."
The emperor said, "I had no idea that Li Yuanyin's influence extended so far. He can even control the lives of my concubines. Does this mean he will eventually sit on my throne?"
The Empress Dowager was so shocked she was terrified. "Emperor, what are you saying?!"
"Zheng's death is related to Li Yuanyin. He instructed the people of the Imperial Household Department to torture her to death! Regardless of Zheng's faults, whether she lives or dies should be up to Li Yuanyin."
He was acting under the orders of another of my concubines!
Li Yuanke's expression was extremely cold at this moment, and there was not a trace of warmth in his eyes. He did not look at the Empress Dowager as if she were his own mother.
It's clear that he was really badly hurt.
As the emperor, he was naturally used to everyone treating him as the center of attention and revolving around him, but unfortunately, his mother always chose her youngest son.
His own mother could step on his face whenever she wanted!
First there was Yang Tingyue, now there's Li Yuanyin, who will emerge in the future?
Time and time again!
He was a very proud and aloof person, and also very ruthless. Abandoning his own mother was not something he could not do.
Li Yuanke sneered, "Or are you going to implicate me in this matter, Mother, and tell me that you did it! When the incident came to light, I ordered her execution, so why did you spare her life, Mother?"
The Empress Dowager was probably not expected to see this and was frightened by his appearance. "Why do you only blame Yuan Yin for this? You only said that you wanted to execute Zheng Shi, but I said that Xie Shi should be executed as well. Why did you not agree?"
You know perfectly well that keeping Xie alive is a disaster, yet you insist on sparing her life. I knew that sooner or later, it would cause discord between you brothers!
Li Yuanke didn't really care much about Li Yuanyin. Even though his foolish younger brother made mistakes, acted without thinking, and was easily fooled by Xie, Li Yuanke still trusted him as a person.
The Empress Dowager favored her youngest son, and Li Yuanke understood this. Li Yuanyin was obedient to the Empress Dowager and was later known as a "mama's boy".
But he was different; he never listened to a single word.
The Empress Dowager may not like him, and he may not care much, but she cannot sacrifice his interests again and again, or even embarrass him.
Li Yuanke said, "Lady Xie is pregnant, and the imperial heir is of utmost importance. Does the Empress Dowager think that the imperial heir is less important than Li Yuanyin's reputation? If he were to follow the rules, how could he have engaged in an affair with one of my concubines!"
"Shut up!" The Empress Dowager stood up abruptly. "He's your brother, your own brother! How can you say such things? How can he ever face the court and the people again?"
"If you dare to do something, you must dare to take responsibility!" Li Yuanke remained unmoved. "In the Empress Dowager's eyes, Li Yuanyin's face is a face, but is my face the floor tiles of this Cining Palace?"
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but cover her face and weep bitterly, "When did I ever mean that? You are older than him, and you are older than Tingyue. You have always been a person with your own ideas, and you have many people who help you. You have never caused me any worry since you were a child. I have no worries about you."
"You are my own son, you are the Emperor, how could I disregard your dignity? One of them is your younger brother, and the other is your cousin!"
Li Yuanke's brows were furrowed, clearly indicating that he was suppressing his discomfort.
Shen Shixi had no choice but to say, "Empress Dowager, first there is the relationship between ruler and subject, then between mother and son, brothers. His Majesty is first and foremost the ruler of the Great Zhou, and only then is he your son and the elder brother of the Prince."
Otherwise, why would the Emperor tolerate such a tragic death of the First Prince? It's not that he can't bear to oppose you because you are his mother, but rather that his status as the Son of Heaven prevents him from doing so. You are well aware of this, and that's why you've always used it to manipulate him!
The Empress Dowager, enraged and humiliated, retorted, "How dare you! You have the right to interrupt when I'm speaking to the Emperor!"
Shen Shixi ignored her words and said, "If you truly loved the Emperor, you wouldn't be so reckless!"
"How dare you sow discord between me and the Emperor?" The Empress Dowager was shocked and furious. "You are talking nonsense! How could I have ignored it?"
Shen Shixi said, "The previous dynasty only lasted two generations and thirty-eight years! Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, as a princess of a fallen kingdom, was fortunate enough to survive. Do you perhaps think that if the Emperor were to become the ruler of a fallen kingdom, you and I would still have such good fortune?"
"How dare you spout such nonsense? Aren't you afraid I'll punish you?" The Empress Dowager was furious!
"You are used to being in a position of power. You think a human life is not worth mentioning. You are used to being high and mighty and do not care about ordinary people! But, Empress Dowager, without the people, there is no country. Without the country, there is no monarch."
Your son is a king, but he is not your king alone; he is the king of all people. He sits securely on the throne only because he receives the offerings of all people. What you are doing is no different from smashing his bowl and prying off his throne!
Li Yuanke glanced at her.
The Empress Dowager roared, "How dare you lecture me? Your Shen family is a family of scholars and officials, and you received your early education in the family. Is this how the Grand Tutor taught you? Do you even know how to write the character for 'filial piety'?"
Shen Shixi raised his sleeves and said slowly, "Empress Dowager, the word 'filial piety' has been on the Emperor's shoulders since his birth. When the late Emperor was alive, you couldn't lower yourself to compete for favor, yet you couldn't lose his favor either, so you constantly urged the Emperor to seek his favor."
Other princes rise in status because of their mothers, but you, as the only one, rise because of your son. Over the years, have you grown accustomed to it? Accustomed to having the Emperor in your life, accustomed to asking him for everything, accustomed to him protecting you and the Prince, accustomed to sacrificing his interests to fulfill your ambitions and desires. Have you ever considered even the slightest of his difficulties?
The Empress Dowager rose, then slumped back onto her throne. "You're talking nonsense!"
Shen Shixi said, "If the harem can't resolve something, the ministers will resolve it in the court. You must know that! Are you sure that even if the Zheng family points their fingers at the emperor and questions him, the emperor won't dare to bring up Li Yuanyin's petty affairs out of filial piety?"
While Xie was certainly immoral, was Li Yuanyin any more so? Within the palace walls, a mere male official from outside the capital, would he simply obey anyone's summons? What was he thinking? Don't think everyone in the world is a fool! Coveting his own sister-in-law—where has his education gone? Does he even know anything about propriety, righteousness, or a sense of shame?
Snapped!
The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly. "Shen, shut up! I used to dote on you so much, and Yuan Yin trusted you completely, yet you speak of him like this? Don't you have any conscience at all?"
Shen Shixi smiled, "Thank you for your kindness, Empress Dowager! All the good and bad things are nothing in the face of life and death! You are the Emperor's mother, and I am his woman. If the country is destroyed and the family is destroyed, we will be the first to suffer!"
"I implore Your Majesty to show more compassion to the Emperor. He is not only your son, but also the ruler of the nation and the sovereign of the world. His dignity is of paramount importance and must not be trampled upon!"