CHAPTER 682: CHAPTER 682: PRAYING FOR BLESSINGS

The Emperor spoke and left, leaving only the Empress, stunned.

Prayer for blessings? Prayer for blessings?

The Empress’s face was pale, completely devoid of color.

Normally, it would be quite ordinary for the Empress to pray for blessings. But with the Empress Dowager still present, this task should not have fallen to her. More importantly, the Emperor did not seem to specify when she should return. What if she never returns? What if...

The more the Empress thought about it, the more frightened she became, until she was trembling all over.

Yu Lan came in and was startled. "Empress, what’s wrong with you?" She noted the Empress’s frightfully pale complexion. "Are you feeling unwell again, Your Majesty? I will go and call the Imperial Physician immediately!"

As soon as Yu Lan spoke, she moved to leave, but the Empress hurriedly stopped her. "Wait! Don’t go!"

"Your Majesty!"

"I said don’t go!" the Empress shouted angrily.

Yu Lan was so frightened that she stopped in her tracks and did not persist, merely whispering a "yes" before falling silent.

The Empress felt somewhat guilty, but at that moment, she couldn’t care about much else. She took a deep breath, let it out, and then said calmly, "To Ningshou Palace!"

"Yes!"

「...」

「Inside Ningshou Palace.」

The Empress Dowager was praying in the small Buddha hall. It was Sister Qing who ushered the Empress in.

"Your Majesty, please wait. The Empress Dowager has been reciting sutras in the small Buddha hall these past few days. Have some tea to warm yourself in the meantime," Sister Qing suggested.

The Empress managed a weak smile. "It’s alright. I will wait."

Sister Qing smiled faintly and then stood to one side without speaking further.

The Empress Dowager recited sutras for two Shi Chen. The Empress waited there for two full Shi Chen, from mid-afternoon until the lanterns were first lit at dusk.

The Empress Dowager, finding it impossible to avoid her any longer, finally came out. Truthfully, she didn’t want to see the Empress. She had already heard about the Emperor’s visit to Jiaofang Hall that afternoon. The Emperor almost certainly knew the truth about the assassination attempt by now. But such a scandal in the Royal Family was not suitable for public discussion. Asking her to go to Wanyue Nunnery to pray for blessings was the most presentable excuse.

The Empress Dowager understood. Once the Empress leaves, she might not be able to return. Still, I don’t feel a shred of sympathy for her. In fact, I think she’s worthless. To fall before she could even be of much use—how unreliable!

Even though she thought this, the Empress Dowager maintained her composure on the surface. She walked out slowly, leaning on Sister Qing’s hand.

Upon seeing the Empress, the Empress Dowager feigned surprise and asked with concern, "What has happened? Why is your complexion so poor? My child, it’s so cold; whatever it is can wait until tomorrow!"

She pretended as if she knew nothing!

As soon as the Empress saw the Empress Dowager emerge, she quickly rose. Regardless of whether there were palace attendants nearby, she dropped to her knees with a THUD. "Empress Dowager!"

The Empress Dowager was taken aback. "What is the matter? The ground is cold. Get up quickly, then we can talk!" she urged, continuing to feign ignorance.

The Empress, however, could not attend to such considerations and did not rise, remaining on her knees. "Empress Dowager, save me! The Emperor, he..."

The Empress recounted the afternoon’s events through sobs and tears.

After hearing this, the Empress Dowager showed slight surprise, but it wasn’t exaggerated. She asked with some suspicion, "Prayer for blessings? The year’s end is almost here. What sort of blessings would he send you to pray for at this time?"

The Empress was thoroughly flustered and shook her head. "I don’t know, I truly don’t. Mother Empress, you must save me!" My intuition tells me this isn’t so simple!

Only the Empress Dowager could understand the implication. However, upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager immediately frowned, a flash of disdain in her eyes.

"Good child, get up quickly! The Emperor wants you to leave the palace; he’s also trying to let you avoid the current turmoil. Besides, what’s there to fear about praying for blessings? When the year’s end comes, with the rites for worshipping Heaven and venerating ancestors, you’ll naturally be able to return by then!"

The Empress was somewhat skeptical. The Emperor’s gaze was so terrifying; his purpose couldn’t be that simple! He must know something.

The Empress Dowager saw she still had concerns. She ordered all the palace attendants to withdraw, then took the Empress by the hand into an inner chamber and comforted her earnestly. "You needn’t worry. This matter lacks proof. In affairs of the court, not even the Emperor can dictate outcomes based on mere words; everything requires tangible evidence. At most, he’s only somewhat suspicious now. Don’t you know the Emperor’s nature? Even without evidence, he’ll want to do something. He’s always been one who refuses to suffer a loss! He’s annoyed, so sending you away for a while is also a form of punishment. With the Harem currently unstable, it’s good for you to lie low for a bit. Who knows, by the time you return, everything might be resolved! It might even be a case of absence making the heart grow fonder, like a second honeymoon!"

Her words were logical and consistent with common sense. The Empress’s panicked heart finally found a sliver of security. After repeatedly seeking confirmation from the Empress Dowager, the Empress finally believed her.

The Empress Dowager then smiled and took her hand. "Besides, your marriage was bestowed by the Late Emperor. The current Emperor has always respected the Late Emperor; he would never truly harm you!"

At last, the Empress’s heart settled. "Empress Dowager, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease!"

The Empress Dowager chuckled. "Ah, that’s the right way to think. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything!"

The Empress nodded. "Thank you, Mother Empress!"

That evening, the Empress Dowager had the Empress stay for dinner. Before the Empress departed, the Empress Dowager also had some travel provisions prepared for her: scripture scrolls, writing brushes and ink, a jade incense burner, and a string of smoothly polished Buddhist prayer beads.

The Empress was immensely grateful and immediately expressed her deepest thanks. The Empress Dowager then arranged for her to be personally escorted back.

Later, as Sister Qing attended to the Empress Dowager preparing for bed, she seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

The Empress Dowager’s expression settled, and she said flatly, "If you have something to ask, go ahead."

Sister Qing quickly said, "Forgive my presumption, Your Majesty, but there is something I don’t understand. Does the Emperor truly only want the Empress to go and pray for blessings?"

The Empress Dowager’s gaze flickered. After a long while, she slowly said, "No."

Sister Qing’s expression froze. She darted a glance in the direction of Jiaofang Hall and then asked, "Then, Empress Dowager, why did you...?"

With a lazy smile, the Empress Dowager replied, "Why did I lie to her?"

Sister Qing silently nodded.

The Empress Dowager gave a dry laugh, twirling the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand. "I lied to her for her own good. Having something to hope for might allow her to live a few more days. Otherwise... with the state she was in when she arrived, she wouldn’t have lasted long.

"A person’s heart is like the flame of a candle.

"Once the heart dies, the light goes out. When the light goes out, the person is gone."

After hearing this, Sister Qing remained silent for a long time. Perhaps it was sorrow, perhaps pity; regardless, she was deeply moved.

The Empress Dowager, however, was different. Having weathered the ups and downs of the Harem for decades, her heart had long since grown harder than steel. Helping the Empress now was merely because the Empress had taken the fall for her. Of course, there was also respect for Buddha to consider. This, in itself, was already an act of great mercy.

If I were younger, the first one to demand the Empress’s life wouldn’t have been the Emperor—it would have been me! HMPH!