Shen Fei listened to the Empress Dowager rambling about the Late Emperor as if she were hearing a story.
Because she didn't know that person, she didn't have much empathy.
In short, the Late Emperor's childhood was quite bitter.
The Late Emperor was the third emperor of the Dayu Dynasty. After the Chu Family's ancestor established the empire, the Grand Emperor passed away after reigning for only a few years.
The person who initially inherited the imperial throne was not the Grand Emperor's legitimate son, but his third son, Chu Wen Zhao.
When Chu Wen Zhao initially ascended the throne, the court situation was still very turbulent.
He didn't have much energy to focus on the Imperial Palace, and Emperor Chu Cheng Yan did not receive much attention, plus his mother passed away early.
Children living in the Imperial Palace without a Mother Empress's care could be bullied by palace maids and eunuchs.
"When This Concubine first entered the palace, I met the Late Emperor; he was really not as plump as I was!"
The Empress Dowager sighed.
Shen Fei asked, "What happened later? How did you and the Late Emperor meet? Was it love at first sight?"
Shen Fei gossiped playfully.
The Empress Dowager was amused by Shen Fei's question, "No, This Concubine was only six years old at the time; how could I have fallen for the Late Emperor? He was as thin as a little chick."
Shen Fei: "..."
It was quite bitter!
"This Concubine's aunt is Noble Consort Rong. Later, because This Concubine and the Late Emperor became acquainted, my aunt often took care of the Late Emperor, and his life improved a little."
Shen Fei understood that the Previous Emperor probably relied on the Rong Family's support to ascend the throne.
Otherwise, relying solely on his own identity, it would have been very difficult to defeat other princes and ascend the throne.
"The Late Emperor was also a man of affection!"
He was also a man of conscience, and ultimately passed the imperial throne to the Crown Prince, his own son.
Otherwise, it would really be unfair to the Rong Family.
The Empress Dowager pondered this in her heart but didn't say it out loud.
The Empress Dowager took a sip of tea; she had talked too much and felt a little tired.
At this time, the old nurse beside the Empress Dowager came over, "Empress Dowager, it's time for you to rest."
Shen Fei immediately stood up. When she saw the Empress Dowager drinking tea, she felt that she should take the child and leave.
But this was the Imperial Palace, and she wasn't sure how to bring it up without being offensive.
Fortunately, the old nurse helped her out, so she replied, "Empress Dowager, I will come to see you another day. I will take Fubao and leave today."
The Empress Dowager glanced at Fubao again and found that he looked a little down today.
The Empress Dowager found it funny; such a young child could have emotions.
She must have misunderstood.
"Shen, you must treat this child well, understand?"
Shen Fei found the Empress Dowager's instructions strange. This was her infant; she would naturally take good care of them.
But she doubted it in her heart, and wouldn't foolishly show it, "Please rest assured, Empress Dowager."
When Shen Fei left with Fubao, she also took the reward the Empress Dowager gave Fubao before leaving.
The Empress Dowager was getting old, she liked to recall the past, and now the only things she could remember seemed to be the good times.
As for the foolish things the Late Emperor did in his later years, the Empress Dowager selectively forgot them.
She only remembered things from his youth, which is why she valued Fubao so much.
Looking at Fubao, the child could fill the Empress Dowager's heart with less emptiness.
Shen Fei held the child, sitting in the sedan chair, still a little confused.
She learned a lot about the Late Emperor; she could share this gossip with Tang Zhi Ling.
But she found it strange why the Empress Dowager would tell her, an outsider, these things.
She felt it was inexplicable.
Shen Fei didn't know that her son's little face evoked the Empress Dowager's memories.
At this time, Fubao nestled in Shen Fei's arms. Shen Fei tightened her arms, "Baby, do you like Mother so much?"
Shen Fei felt her son's dependence and kissed Fubao's forehead, "You're Mother's good son."
Fubao's wet eyes looked at Shen Fei's face and smiled.
Shen Fei felt her heart melt. This youngster was so well-behaved.
Then she kissed Fubao's cheeks on both sides, "Baby, Mother promises that she won't let anyone bully you."
Shen Fei didn't feel deeply about the Late Emperor's affairs, but she knew that he lost his mother and did not receive maternal love; he was a pitiful child.
Shen Fei felt that she also had to live well, so she patted Fubao's back and murmured, "I have to live well myself, and so does your father. Let's be a happy family."
Fubao: "..."
Fubao smiled, revealing a few millet-like teeth, and nodded.
Then he hugged Shen Fei's neck, his little head resting on Shen Fei's shoulder, and he imitated Shen Fei's actions, gently patting her back.
While the mother and child were enjoying this tender moment, an accident occurred on Tang Zhi Ling's side.
Tang Zhi Ling looked at the black-clothed men who intercepted his horse-drawn carriage and questioned, "Who are you?"
The black-clothed man glanced at Tang Zhi Ling, "People who are here to teach you a lesson."
After saying that, he waved to those behind him.
Tang Zhi Ling carefully considered these words. "Teach you a lesson" instead of "kill you," which means the other party didn't want to take his life, but they didn't think his life was going too smoothly.
Then he knew who sent these people.
"Are you sent by Tang Zhi Xuan?"
The black-clothed man was stunned for a moment, didn't refute, and directly shouted, "Attack!"
So several black-clothed men rushed over.
At this time, Wu Dan and Wu Yang also started fighting. Tang Zhi Ling could tell that these black-clothed men were not guards from the Tang Mansion. Although those people's skills were not as good as Wu Dan and Wu Yang, they were still better than these black-clothed men.
Soon, the black-clothed men realized their weakness.
So he glanced at Tang Zhi Ling and threw a hidden weapon.
Tang Zhi Ling felt something flying towards him and hurriedly dodged, but his speed was not fast enough, and he was still hit in the arm.
Seeing this, Wu Yang began to strike lethally, directly eliminating two people before coming to Tang Zhi Ling's side, "Young Master, you're injured."
Tang Zhi Ling endured the pain and shouted, "Kill them all; leave no one alive."
Seeing this, Wu Dan's movements became faster, each strike lethal.
The black-clothed men saw their fallen comrades; they had suffered considerable losses, and Tang Zhi Ling had also been struck by his hidden weapon. He had poisoned the weapon, and it was uncertain whether the man would live or die.
They had completed their mission. "Retreat!"
The remaining black-clothed men no longer lingered and left one after another.
Wu Dan didn't chase after them, fearing it was a feint. "Young Master, how are you? Let's go back quickly and take you to the medical clinic."
Tang Zhi Ling endured the pain, "Okay!"
Wu Dan and Wu Yang helped Tang Zhi Ling onto the horse-drawn carriage, then tied the bodies of several black-clothed men to the back of the carriage, intending to send them to the Jingzhao Prefecture's yamen.
They couldn't believe that someone was so bold as to assassinate a court official outside Chang'an.
"