Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine

“I am also a person, and I have my own emotions. I can also feel hatred and jealousy. But because I am the empress, I cannot have these emotions, otherwise, I would be deemed unworthy. A good empress, virtuous empress, do you think it’s so easy to becsuch a good empress…”

Empress Wei was clearly smiling, but tears covered her face. “Why don’t you think from my point of view? Those lowly women gave birth to children and all of them call‘Mother Empress,’ as if I cherish being their mother. Every ‘Mother Empress’ remindsthat you, as my husband, have fathered so many illegitimate children with other women…”

“…I once thought about it. Which woman didn’t experience such things? Even if they are not in the imperial palace, men still have three wives and four concubines causing constant turmoil. But you didn’t even leavethe last bit of dignity. I am the empress! This world should belong to my sons! Yet, you want to pass this throne to the son born to Shen Luan, that wretched woman!”

Empress Wei turned her head and stared fiercely at Jin Wang, as if the two of them had sdeep-rooted enmity, as if she wanted to devour him.

“All the men of your Zhao Family are hypocrites. Did you think I wouldn’t know why you favour Zuo’er so much? You think the crown prince has grown up and developed his own opinions, so you aren’t at ease just passing the throne on to him like that. So you hold up Zuo’er, creating a rift between the crown prince and his own legitimate son. The higher you elevate Zuo’er, the lower you demean the crown prince.”

“How simple it is! A father who couldn’t even compare to his son’s abilities. Everyone reminds him of this. So the crown prince loses himself more and more and becomes less respectable. I watched helplessly as my son, step by step, moved toward destruction. I couldn’t control it, and I didn’t dare to. In my heart, I thought, even if it’s not the crown prince, at least it’s Zuo’er. You truly madebelieve that even if you don’t leave the throne to our son, it would be left to our grandson. Unfortunately, you forcedto personally depose the crown prince, and naturally, Zuo’er becuseless too.”

Empress Wei suddenly burst into laughter, unable to stop herself, laughing uncontrollably.

“Look at you, so clever and cunning. The great crown prince, revered by thousands, has been brought down overnight. Can you blme? Since you took away all my hopes, why can’t I fight for myself? Why should I helplessly watch that wretched person climb to the top and rule over my son?”

Emperor Hongjing suddenly started coughing violently. Li Dequan hurriedly went forward to pat his back and give him water.

“You’ve gone mad! You’ve gone mad! You’ve gone mad!”

“I am mad. It’s you who droveto madness! That night, I truly wanted to stop Jian’er, but then I thought, with or without you, it doesn’t make much difference. Why should I bring suffering upon myself? Isn’t being the Empress Dowager better? High and mighty, without these filthy and troublesmatters.”

Emperor Hongjing’s face visibly turned purple, causing Li Dequan considerable alarm. He quickly called for the imperial physician. However, Emperor Hongjing held him back, took several deep breaths, and the colour gradually faded away, leaving only exhaustion on his brow.

He looked utterly fatigued, his voice filled with weariness. “Whether you believe it or not, I, at the beginning…”

After those words, he fell silent. Emperor Hongjing had unexpectedly fallen asleep. Unconsciously, he murmured something, but it was indistinct and incomprehensible to others.

The hall fell silent.

Jin Wang spoke, “Let Father rest well. Someone, escort—” he glanced indifferently at Empress Wei, “escort Mother Empress back to the Kunning Palace.”

Soon, someone cforward and led Empress Wei away.

Chang Jian’an was finally found, but he was discovered as a lifeless body.

He was found in the pond of the imperial garden, with no visible wounds, as if he had accidentally fallen into the water and drowned.

This manner of death was too suspicious, leaving people wondering if there were any hidden secrets behind it. Nevertheless, along with Dai Wang’s suicide, the rebellious forces within the palace were thoroughly eliminated, and the Forbidden City finally regained its former tranquillity.

Duke Weiguo and his son were imprisoned, Empress Wei was confined to the Kunning Palace, and other high-ranking officials involved in the conspiracy, including Elder Chen, were all imprisoned, awaiting Emperor Hongjing’s orders on how to deal with them.

Unfortunately, Emperor Hongjing’s health was deteriorating, and with numerous other matters demanding his attention, this had not yet been placed on the agenda.

During these days, Jin Wang had also been extremely busy. Emperor Hongjing’s weakened condition required him to take care of many things. No one voiced any objections because, with the return of Elder Chen and others, the matter of the real posthumous edict was widely known. Elder Chen had brought out the edict, which revealed that the one to ascend the throne was none other than Jin Wang.

There weren’t actually three copies, but only one. The existence of three copies was just a scam created by Minister Chen to deceive Dai Wang, with the purpose of diverting attention and protecting himself.

Jin Wang was incredibly busy, so much so that he spent several consecutive nights staying in the palace.

On this day, he finally had sfree tand returned to his residence to rest for half a day.

“Will Empress niangniang still be deposed?” After listening to Jin Wang’s account, Yaoniang subconsciously asked this question.

“Why? Are you hoping for her to be deposed?”

Yaoniang waved her hand and said, “It’s not like that. I just feel that if she has done such things, shouldn’t she be punished?”

Jin Wang took her hand and played with it in his palm, saying, “Don’t think too much. Father Emperor has never been merciful towards women. The delay in taking action is simply due to his lack of energy at the moment.”

In fact, there was another reason that Jin Wang didn’t mention. Perhaps what Empress Wei said on that day was true, which made Emperor Hongjing abnormally indecisive.

But soon, something happened that shocked everyone.