in2ebook Chapter 270 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (170)
Chapter 270 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (170)
Li Ruan didn't understand what the Empress Dowager meant for a moment, but then she saw the Empress Dowager take out another bright yellow, blank imperial edict.
Lu Liruan then realized that this blank imperial edict was the thing that could decide the fate of several princes and end this chaotic conflict.
"Why are you here, Your Majesty?"
Lu Liruan was a smart woman, and she didn't pretend to be stupid with the Empress Dowager at this time.
Since the Imperial Concubine was able to produce this item and place it in front of her, she naturally knew what had happened in the palace these past few days.
Rather than claiming ignorance and complete lack of knowledge about what happened between Ji Shumin, Ji Shuqin, and the Second Prince, and what they were searching for, it would be better to be frank and directly ask what the Empress Dowager truly intends to do.
The Empress Dowager pursed her lips slightly upon hearing Lu Liruan's words.
None of the girls from the Lu family are stupid, nor are they all empty shells.
"His Majesty personally handed it to me before they began their extensive search," the Empress Dowager said leisurely.
Lu Liruan was somewhat surprised. Through various channels, she learned what had happened between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor back then.
The estrangement between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor began when the Empress Dowager became involved in court affairs, which greatly displeased the Emperor.
Having gained considerable power and ascended to a high position, he was unwilling to let anyone interfere with his actions, especially his mother, who had always protected and supported him.
He desperately wanted to prove that he was in complete control of the court, and even became suspicious of the Empress Dowager's actions, feeling that she harbored ambitions of ruling from behind the curtain...
The Empress Dowager was heartbroken by this and from then on stayed only in the inner palace, and her relationship with the Emperor gradually cooled.
This must be an unresolved issue between the mother and son.
How did it come to the point that the Emperor personally handed the Imperial Seal to the Consort Dowager?
As if sensing Lu Liruan's thoughts, the Empress Dowager touched her cheek.
She said softly, "In one's life, at different times, one will have different thoughts..." Her expression was slightly melancholy.
"In youth, one seeks refuge and close companions. One seeks true affection and makes promises. In adulthood, one looks down on everything, wanting to break free from the cage, or abandoning those who once walked alongside one another, or having different intentions and going their separate ways."
"When you reach old age, you return to your true self, similar to your youth, yet different. Looking back, you'll mostly feel guilty and regretful. But in youth, everything is vibrant, while in old age, there's no going back..." she said slowly.
"Li Ruan... do you think that when people reach the end of their lives, they all leave this world with guilt and irreparable despair?" The Empress Dowager looked at Lu Li Ruan with her slightly red and swollen eyes, as if waiting for her answer.
Lu Liruan had not yet fully grasped the profound meaning and sorrow in the Empress Dowager's words, but she already felt somewhat distressed.
"I do not know."
"Ok?"
“I haven’t truly lived a lifetime yet, so I can’t imagine or guess how it will end,” Lu Liruan said truthfully.
"I have also thought that if I don't want to have regrets and remorse in my old age, then in this life, I should be able to think things through, let go of things, not invest my true feelings, and not have any thoughts or desires. Would that make things better?"
The Empress Dowager seemed to be asking Lu Liruan, but also seemed to be asking herself.
"But if you do nothing, try nothing, and give nothing, won't you still regret it in the end? Regret that you didn't have it or get it in your youth and middle age. Now that you're old and frail, you're too weak to pursue anything you want." Lu Liruan shook her head.
If she had a choice, she would never choose to do nothing.
She's had enough of feeling powerless. Now that she has the ability, even if her efforts go unrewarded, even if her sincerity isn't reciprocated...
You must always try, learn to possess, and also learn to let go. Learn to strive for what you want, and also learn to let things take their natural course.
Seeing Lu Liruan's serious expression, the Empress Dowager seemed to see her former self.
“Li Ruan is right.” The Dowager Princess nodded.
“But once a person possesses something they never had before, their state of mind will inevitably change, and this change is irreversible. I am worried that Li Ruan will suffer heartache in the future.” The Empress Dowager looked at Lu Li Ruan with eyes full of affection.
She truly loved this girl. Among the Lu family's children, she felt that Lu Liruan was the one most like her.
Even so, the Empress Dowager wanted to protect her more and think more about her needs.
I hope her future path will be easier and that she won't have to suffer any more pain and torment.
How could Lu Liruan not feel that the Dowager Consort was her elder? Although she didn't talk much, her earnest teachings to Lu Liruan had benefited her greatly.
The Empress Dowager was never the kind of person who acted arbitrarily. Perhaps it was because of what had happened in the past that she had no intention of controlling others.
She's just saying it, and you're just listening. As for how you choose to proceed, that's your own business. The Empress Dowager doesn't insist.
Even if you embark on a bumpy road and fall down, she will still gently pull you up.
Looking at the Imperial Concubine, Lu Liruan naturally understood what she meant by what she was saying...
To whom should the throne be given?
Lu Liruan had no idea how much the Empress Dowager knew about Ji Shumin's situation.
Do you know that he has now fully recovered, can walk on his own two legs, and is almost no different from others?
However, among the Empress Dowager's choices, Ji Shumin was obviously among them.
The Empress Dowager was using her own experience to teach Lu Liruan that if one gains power and ascends to that position, people's hearts may change.
Everything that happened in the past may no longer matter.
Whether it's family ties or spousal affection, perhaps these are no longer important matters for those sitting in high positions...
Perhaps complications will arise, or perhaps the bond of friendship will be severed.
Just like she and the Empress back then, she suffered greatly and was heartbroken, but it was all in vain and nothing could be changed.
She eventually withdrew in time and is now living a relatively peaceful and tranquil life. But look at the Empress, what kind of life has she been living all these years?
Seeing Lu Liruan's slightly bewildered expression, the Empress Dowager put her arm around her back, letting her snuggle close to her.
"Li Ruan, don't be afraid. I will always love you as always. Even if I, who am almost buried, change, I won't change much." She made a joke to comfort Lu Li Ruan, her warm palms making Lu Li Ruan's hands feel warm.
Lu Liruan curved the corners of her mouth slightly, but the smile did not reach her eyes.
“But if a person’s identity remains unchanged, will their thoughts remain unchanged?” Lu Liruan asked sincerely.
"No... how could anyone remain completely unchanged? It's just that it's more difficult." The Empress Dowager didn't try to coax Lu Liruan with sweet words.
Lu Liruan was indeed somewhat confused, not because of anything else, but because right now, at this moment, just thinking that Ji Shumin might one day become like the emperor made her feel a chill starting from her fingertips, making all her joints uncomfortable.
Regardless, she didn't want to see Ji Shumin, with whom she had spent so much time, become unrecognizable.
Lu Liruan took a deep breath, then suddenly exhaled: "If I even have doubts when I trust him, wouldn't I be the suspicious one?"
The Empress Dowager was taken aback, then shook her head: "What Li Ruan said is true, I had not thought of it that way."
"Both brothers have their own strengths for their positions," the Empress Dowager brought the conversation back on track.
Lu Liruan knew she was referring to Ji Shuqin and Ji Shumin.
Ji Shuling, it seems, was excluded by the Empress Dowager from the very beginning.
Just as Lu Liruan had thought, although the Empress Dowager did not interfere, she was clear about the matter and was not ambiguous at all.
"I also had my own selfish reasons, so I summoned Li Ruan first." The Empress Dowager's expression revealed a faint air of authority.
Lu Liruan looked at her, feeling touched, but she did not expect the Empress Dowager to do such a thing. She was telling her that if she did not want Ji Shumin to ascend to that position, she would grant Lu Liruan's wish.
If he hadn't risen to that high position, perhaps his life wouldn't have changed much, and Lu Liruan would have been happier.
"The Empress Dowager is so kind to me." Lu Liruan took the Empress Dowager's arm and leaned her head against her.
The Empress Dowager laughed: "Of course I love you, so..."
"How can I make decisions on matters of national importance based on my own selfish desires? I must act in the best interests of the country and its people. Even if I have tried my best and strived for it, and the future is not as I expected, I will have no regrets," Lu Liruan said firmly.
At least for now, she will not, out of selfish desires, because of unfounded doubts about the future, or because of distrust of Ji Shumin's character and feelings, use a blank imperial edict to put everything under her control.
This was completely contrary to her original intention and purpose, and it also tainted the relationship between her and Ji Shumin.
Even if Ji Shumin didn't know, he would probably live with guilt and self-blame day and night from now on. Lu Liruan has always been open and honest, daring to move forward and fearless of the future.
Therefore, she will not choose it.
"Li Ruan, have you made up your mind?"
"Think about it."
"Actually, I... anticipated Li Ruan's answer." The Empress Dowager held the imperial seal in her hand.
"If it were Your Highness, what would you choose?" Lu Liruan suddenly became curious. Having lived most of her life, what would the Dowager Consort choose?
"Perhaps I will be like Li Ruan," the Empress Dowager said calmly. "As Your Majesty said, even today, I still feel that choosing Your Majesty back then was the most correct choice at that time."
"Perhaps... this is why His Majesty ultimately gave the Imperial Seal to me." The Dowager Consort shook her head: "Everything has a cause and effect."
The Empress Dowager sighed, "Let the brothers decide for themselves. I... can't interfere anymore."
Lu Liruan blinked, thinking to herself, "Your Highness, you really are something. If I had no ideas, you would just wash your hands of it."
It's not exactly abandoning them.
Suddenly, Lu Liruan felt that she had gained a deeper understanding of the Empress Dowager's personality.
As expected of the Lu family's aunts, each one has her own temperament. The Empress is getting older and becoming more and more kind. Perhaps she was quite different when she was young.
Considering what the Empress Dowager did in her youth, she was certainly not a kind and gentle person who could have done such things.
The Empress Dowager ordered someone to invite Ji Shuqin and Ji Shumin over. When the two brothers entered, Ji Shuqin's gaze fell on the Empress Dowager, while Ji Shumin immediately looked at Lu Liruan.
The moment Lu Liruan and Ji Shumin locked eyes, Lu Liruan's heart suddenly calmed down. All the thoughts she had had when the Empress Dowager spoke seemed to vanish like smoke.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Imperial Concubine."
"Come and see for yourselves." The Empress Dowager didn't bother with any mystery and directly summoned the two of them.
"The situation is urgent now, and I know that you two should decide how to write this blank imperial edict," the Empress Dowager said calmly.
Ji Shuqin and Ji Shumin were genuinely quite surprised.
The Empress Dowager never interfered in affairs, so they really didn't expect... that the item was actually with the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty...this..." Ji Shuqin looked at the national seal with a serious expression, not knowing what to say for a moment.
After a moment of surprise, Ji Shumin calmed down.
"Your Majesty, please tell me everything in your will, Father Emperor," Ji Shumin said respectfully.
He was a thoughtful man, and seeing the Empress Dowager's actions, he wondered if she was intentionally testing him.
But looking at Lu Liruan, he felt that his little wife's expression... was something he couldn't quite understand.
Lu Liruan and he were so familiar with each other that they could detect each other's subtle expressions and movements.
"I am not lying. As you all know, the Emperor was like that. This blank imperial edict is the only one left." When the Dowager Consort faced the two of them, her attitude was different from the loving care she showed towards Lu Liruan; she was slightly more peaceful and distant.
The Dowager Consort always treated all the princes equally.
When the princes were young, the Dowager Consort treated them all equally, showing kindness to each child, but she was not particularly close to any of the other consorts or princes.
The princes also respected the Dowager Consort, and none of them harbored any dislike for her.
"Over the years, I have never lied to you younger generation, nor have I ever had such intentions. Therefore, you need not doubt that I have any intention of testing you," the Empress Dowager said frankly.
Ji Shumin lowered his gaze: "Your grandson does not doubt you."
Now that the Empress Dowager had made her stance clear, Ji Shuqin and Ji Shumin no longer refused. After all, having come this far, they were indeed lacking a legitimate imperial edict.
Originally, preparations were made. Since Ji Shuling wanted to besiege the palace, then they would fight back. Ji Shumin had already laid out his plans. In terms of connections, prestige, and combat strength, Ji Shuling could not win.
When the blank imperial edict was written on and the imperial seal was solemnly affixed, everything settled down in that instant, including the hearts of everyone in the room.
After seeing the name on the imperial edict, Lu Liruan was so shocked that she turned to look at Ji Shumin.
How... how come the eldest prince has ascended the throne?