Chapter 235: That’s Good!

Inside the palace hall

Empress Niangniang was applying a facial mask. It was a secret recipe from the Imperial Hospital, a herbal mask specifically for beauty.

A palace maid hurried in and said, “Empress Niangniang, the Crown Prince and Eldest Princess request an audience!”

The empress was taken aback for a moment. “So soon? Let them in!”

Waiting outside, Chu Tiankuo, with his sharp ears, thought: “. . .”

Eight years, is that fast?

However, hearing his mother’s voice, full of energy and as lively as ever, he felt relieved.

The old momo came out and smiled at the two young masters. “This old servant greets Your Highnesses! May you both enjoy ten thousand blessings and peace! Your Highnesses, Niangniang invites you in! It’s been a few years, and both of you have grown into such handsome young men and a graceful young lady! The Empress will be delighted to see you.”

Chu Tiankuo and Chu Zijun politely greeted the Empress’s nanny.

“Nanny Zhao, I trust you are well!”

“Nanny Zhao, it’s been a while!”

Nanny Zhao said with a smile, “This old servant is doing well! It’s you two Highnesses who have suffered! Please come in!”

The two then walked inside.

There was no one in the hall. The old momo smiled and said, “Empress Niangniang was just taking care of her skin. Your Highnesses, please wait a moment, she’s gone to wash her face.”

Chu Zijun laughed. “Mother is still so beauty-conscious, she must take care of her skin before bed.”

The old momo smiled. “The Princess is the same! When you were little, you always insisted on doing your skincare routine with the Empress.”

Chu Zijun smiled faintly. For the past seven years, she hadn’t cared about her appearance at all, and even wished she were less attractive.

The old momo noticed the tinge of bitterness in Chu Zijun’s smile and felt a pang of sympathy for her!

She had inadvertently touched upon a sensitive topic!

She quickly changed the subject. “Crown Prince, you’ve grown so tall! This old servant has to crane her neck to see you!”

Chu Tiankuo was surveying his surroundings when he heard Nanny Zhao’s words. Looking at her cheerful face and the palace decorated exactly like the Kunning Palace of their childhood, he suddenly realized that the only place he had failed to thoroughly investigate in the past seven years was this Cold Palace, heavily guarded and off-limits, and his father!

At this moment, Empress Niangniang, dressed in a red palace gown and looking radiant, rushed out, stretching out her arms to embrace them both. “Zijun, Tiankuo, Mother has missed you so much!”

Chu Tiankuo: “. . .”

The Empress hooked her arm around Chu Tiankuo’s neck and pulled him close. He instinctively bent down to let her reach him.

Seeing that his mother was alive and well, he realized his worries over the years had been for naught!

He had expected to see his once cheerful and lively mother become taciturn and emaciated, bursting into tears at the sight of them. It seemed he had overthought things!

The Empress rubbed their faces affectionately, just like she used to when they were children.

Hmm, her skin was as smooth and supple as her children’s!

The Empress was satisfied and happily released her two children!

“That scoundrel Prime Minister Liang has finally been captured! Our family can finally be reunited! My son is truly remarkable!”

The Emperor had said it might take half a month! To capture all those rebellious officials and traitors!

Hmph!

As expected, the son she bore was truly decisive!

Chu Tiankuo had doubts in his heart and asked, “Mother, have you been well all these years?”

“Well, of course, well! You don’t have to worry about Mother. Actually, your father only pretended to banish me to the Cold Palace. The heavy guard was to protect me, not to confine me.”

Apart from not being able to leave, her days could be said to be more carefree than a deity’s.

Compared to her children, she had lived a truly carefree life like a deity.

Hearing this, Chu Tiankuo looked at Chu Zijun to see if she knew.

Chu Zijun nodded. “You were still young then, little brother. We kept it from you to prevent you from accidentally revealing the secret.”

Chu Tiankuo voiced his suspicions from recent times, a glimmer of hope igniting in his heart. “Then what about Maternal Grandfather’s family?”

Chu Zijun was about to say something.

The Empress, playful by nature, couldn’t help but tease him. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Chu Tiankuo understood. He clenched his fists, barely managing to keep his expression calm.

That was good!

✿✿✿

It didn’t matter if they had kept it from him!

Everyone had their own reasons and difficulties.

His elder sister had sacrificed even more.

There must be a compelling reason behind all this.

The Empress felt most sorry for Chu Zijun. She had heard about Wei Feng kneeling outside the Phoenix Spirit Palace for a whole day.

It was fine for her son to experience hardships outside, but her daughter had sacrificed too much. She couldn’t bear to see her daughter’s happiness shattered. Her daughter, a princess, deserved to marry well, regardless of her past experiences!

She held Chu Zijun’s hand and said, “My Zijun has lost weight. You’ve suffered all these years!”

Chu Zijun shook her head. “No, I haven’t suffered.”

She didn’t regret her contribution to Chu’s current state of affairs.

The Empress wanted to persuade her daughter to accept Wei Feng. She glanced at Chu Tiankuo, signaling him to leave. She needed to have a heart-to-heart talk with her daughter.

Seeing this, Chu Tiankuo tactfully stood up. “This son still has matters to attend to. I shall take my leave! After I clear the Marquis Changping’s name, I will officially welcome Mother out of the Cold Palace!”

He had originally wanted to tell the Empress about his intention to take a wife, but his elder sister was also present, so tonight was not the right time. Chu Tiankuo decided to bring it up another day.

The Empress nodded happily. “Good!”

After Chu Tiankuo left, the Empress began to counsel Chu Zijun, but no matter what she said, she couldn’t persuade her daughter.

When Chu Zijun returned, Wei Feng was still kneeling.

She didn’t even glance at him and went straight inside.

Inside the bedchamber, Little Ling’er helped Chu Zijun lie down.

As the bright yellow bed curtains fell and she was left alone in the small space, tears streamed down her face.

The night deepened, and a mixture of rain and snow began to fall from the sky.

The raindrops and snowflakes pattered against the roof tiles.

Chu Zijun, unable to sleep, sat up when she heard the sound.

Little Ling’er, who was keeping watch, immediately heard the movement from the bed. “Princess, are you awake?”

Chu Zijun: “Yes, is it raining outside?”

Little Ling’er replied, “Yes, Princess, it’s sleet. It will get colder soon. Should I prepare a warming bottle for you?”

The princess had been particularly sensitive to cold in recent years. Although the Crown Prince had given her pills to regulate her body, it wasn’t something that could be remedied overnight.

“No need, I’m not cold.” Chu Zijun thought of Wei Feng kneeling outside and frowned. She wanted to ask if he had left, but felt embarrassed to do so.

Little Ling’er seemed to guess her thoughts. “General Wei is still kneeling outside. It’s raining now, and his clothes are getting wet. If he continues kneeling, he’ll probably get sick tomorrow!”

Chu Zijun was furious. “Let him kneel if he wants to! Tell him to get lost, don’t kneel at my courtyard gate! If he freezes to death, I’ll find it unlucky!”

Little Ling’er immediately replied, “Yes! Should I take a cloak out to General Wei? So he doesn’t get sick and blame it on you, Princess.”

Chu Zijun wanted to say no, but in the end, she didn’t.

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers in the world~