CHAPTER 547: 547 EMPEROR’S SCUM

As a result, the late Emperor sent Prince Min and his mother away to live in their fief, yet secretly left them an edict, allowing Prince Min to return to the capital at the age of twenty-five.

And now, this year Prince Min is twenty-five, and he brought out the edict, claiming he hadn’t escorted his late father to the Imperial Mausoleum in the past and now wishes to return to the capital to pay his respects to the late Emperor.

The younger brother wants to return to the capital, holding the edict of the late Emperor, so naturally, Emperor Chu agreed.

However, while he agreed, Empress Dowager Wang was not pleased. After all the effort to send that concubine witch away, now they want her back to poke at her eyes? Isn’t it better to stay well at the fief? What kind of shenanigans do they plan to stir up by coming back?

She would not agree.

Emperor Chu said the edict could not be defied, but Empress Dowager Wang refused to listen, bluntly accusing Emperor Chu of being unfilial and defiant to her, also claiming that mother and son only returned to cause trouble.

Thus, the mother and son were stuck in a standoff. Empress Dowager Wang, in her caprice, went as far as to threaten with a hunger strike, which outwardly was portrayed as her being sick.

This is truly, quite a dramatic turn of events.

Yet Song Ci listened with great interest.

"... Who do I do this for if not for his empire? That mother and son have been in their fief for so many years, suddenly wanting to return, and only to pay respects to the late Emperor? Bah! The ambition of wolves is what it truly is! And yet he claims I hold onto past grievances," Empress Dowager Wang exclaimed, slapping the beauty couch in anger, causing her to cough and wheeze.

Song Ci stood up, soothing her back, saying, "Look at you, getting worked up just after a few words," as she picked up a cup of tea and brought it to her lips. Empress Dowager Wang sipped it, sighed deeply, and said, "How can I not be angry? Ah Ci, do you not know how I got through those years? Fighting wits with that wicked concubine, I almost wished I could pull you into the fray with me."

Song Ci: "..."

She recalled that she seemed to have no memories of that beauty concubine, what was going on.

"Unfortunately, you had gone off with Prime Minister Song to take office elsewhere, so I had to fight alone."

So that’s how it was.

No wonder she had no memories of that beauty concubine.

"Even if I were here, coming into the palace to help you would not be possible, as ministers and monarchs are different. How could a mere Imperial Decree, a lowly lady such as myself, contend against a high-ranking favored concubine?" Song Ci chuckled.

Empress Dowager Wang sheepishly replied, "At least you could offer advice."

"Lady, that’s all in the past. No matter how much grievance you suffered then, now you are the most honorable woman in the empire, and thus, you are the winner. You, the victor, getting worked up over a loser, harming your own health, is truly not worth it!" Song Ci advised.

Empress Dowager Wang’s expression turned a bit forlorn, saying, "Rather than say I am angry with that wicked concubine, I am more angry with the late Emperor."

Song Ci raised her brow.

"The late Emperor issued such an edict to send them away to protect that mother and son, and how affluent Xuzhou was back then, he had everything planned out for them," Empress Dowager Wang said with a self-mocking smile. "Giving them a prosperous fief was fine, the whole realm is in my son’s hand, what’s a simple fief? But this edict is truly sickening to me."

"Yes, indeed quite sickening, a real scoundrel!" Song Ci cursed.

Empress Dowager Wang: "..."

Seeing Empress Dowager Wang’s gaze, the chill ran down Song Ci’s spine. Hastily she apologized, "This unworthy wife was indiscreet, speaking recklessly, I deserve to die."

Empress Dowager Wang hurriedly held her from kneeling, chiding, "That mouth of yours, always so sharp. It’s fine before me, but outside, you must be careful not to let others hear you curse the late Emperor, or it will spell trouble."

Song Ci felt a mix of fear and gratitude, as Empress Dowager Wang truly cared about her.