Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Chapter 530 Mother and Son Conversation

Ru Ping looked at the eunuch Yuan Xiao, who was looking up at her. "This eunuch looks unfamiliar. Please allow me to report to the Empress. The Empress has just returned from paying respects at the Cining Palace and hasn't even had breakfast yet!"

When Eunuch Yuanxiao heard this, his fingertips almost touched Ruping's nose. "How dare you! How dare you neglect the Empress Dowager like this! We are following the Empress Dowager's orders! Hurry and call the Queen out!"

Ru Ping stared at the finger on the tip of her nose, resisting the urge to break it. Without even moving her eyes, she said, "Please allow me to report back!"

“You!” Eunuch Yuanxiao was furious. He was about to step forward, but suddenly cried out in pain and bent down. “How dare that bastard hit my ancestor…”

Eunuch Yuanxiao turned around with a ferocious look on his face. When he saw the figure in a black robe with a four-clawed golden python slowly walking towards him, the expression froze on his face and he couldn't utter a word.

The Crown Prince approached slowly, his tone calm, yet he inexplicably brought a suffocating pressure: "Whose ancestor are you! Who allowed you to be so presumptuous in Fengqi Palace!"

Although Eunuch Yuanxiao looked terrified, he still said, "Your servant pays respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I am here on the orders of the Empress Dowager! Your servant..."

As he was speaking, two figures quickly stepped forward, silently attacked, and forced Eunuch Yuanxiao to his knees on the ground.

Song Wen knelt down without thinking, lowered his head and dared not look up.

The Crown Prince smiled coldly: "Where is the Imperial Edict from the Empress Dowager? Bring it out!"

Even if Eunuch Yuanxiao was blind, he knew he had hit a wall: "This servant is following an oral order!"

It's easy to imagine how Empress Dowager Li could openly use her seal to torture her daughter-in-law.

The Crown Prince's face darkened. "Go, drag this slave who falsely conveyed the Imperial Grandmother's decree out and give him fifty lashes of the cane, right at the gates of Fengqi Palace! How dare you sow discord among our royal family!"

A big hat was put on him, and before Yuanxiao could open his eyes wide and cry out for justice, a rag was stuffed into his mouth. He only made a "wuwuwu" sound, and was dragged away the next moment.

Song Wen was so frightened that he trembled and moved forward bit by bit.

The prince didn't even glance at her again, and simply flicked his sleeves and walked into the hall.

Lan Qingwu was reclining on the beauty couch to rest. She had played with Emperor Shenwu until midnight last night. After returning to the palace, Emperor Shenwu refused to give up and continued to make trouble for more than two hours. In the morning, people were sent from Cining Palace again. When Lan Qingwu got up, she felt exhausted. She lay down as soon as she came back from Cining Palace.

Of course, Lan Qingwu heard all the noise just now.

The prince's worry was evident on his face: "Mother, what's wrong with you?"

Lan Qingwu, who was resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened his eyes: "Why is Chu Ming here?"

The prince took two quick steps, helped Lan Qingwu up, leaned her back against the beauty couch, and carefully tucked the golden brocade quilt for Lan Qingwu.

Lan Qingwu smiled faintly and said, "Your father is furious, and you're still rushing over at this time? The people sent by your royal grandmother were beaten back like this. How can your royal grandmother let it go after losing face? I'm afraid she'll be even more angry!"

The Crown Prince sat on a chair beside the Beauty Couch. "Mother, if I can't protect you, then wouldn't this Crown Prince position be in vain? And don't worry, Mother. Even though Father is angry, he can't bear to see you suffer. As for the Empress Dowager, I'll go and pay my respects to her shortly."

Lan Qingwu was silent for a while: "Chu Ming, do you want to ask mother something?"

The Crown Prince had been somewhat hesitant at first, but now, seeing Lan Qingwu's state, he finally said in confusion, "Mother, I don't quite understand why you don't want to be buried with Father. Living and dying together, sharing the same grave—this is the best promise and destination Father has given you. I really don't understand."

The Crown Prince was bewildered. "In this world, what woman wouldn't care about being buried beside her husband after death? Mother, do you intend to watch helplessly as my father is buried with another woman, worshipped by the world and future generations?"

Considering the teachings that Emperor Shenwu gave to the prince, he was indeed confused about this matter.

Lan Qingwu sighed slightly, "Whenever your mother thinks about the seventy-two concubines surrounding her and your father in the imperial mausoleum, she becomes very depressed. Your mother doesn't care about what happens after death. She lived a life as splendid and colorful as a summer flower. It's enough for her to live out her life in peace and stability! As for what happens after death, where can't we bury someone? We can even start a fire and scatter your mother's ashes into the sea. From now on, she can be truly free. What's wrong with that?"

The prince looked at Lan Qingwu in shock: "Free? Free? Mother, are you... unhappy with father's many concubines now? You have always cared about these..."

Who in the palace truly has freedom? There are only responsibilities, obligations, and family interests...

Lan Qingwu looked at the prince seriously: "It is both my fortune and misfortune that your mother met your father, and it is also his fortune and misfortune that your father, as an emperor, met your mother! There are too many women in the palace, which is far from what your mother had planned since she was a child. Your mother does not approve of men having three wives and four concubines nowadays, and she has suffered a lot because of this, and it has also put too much pressure on your father. Therefore, your mother does not want these illusory things about joint burial after death to cause unrest in the former dynasty and the harem. After all, the late queen did nothing wrong!"

"But Chu Ming, don't be influenced by your mother. Your father and I have known each other since we were young. Our situation is completely different from yours. Sometimes your mother doesn't know how to teach you and your husband some things."

The prince murmured, "It's indeed the opposite. Those surrounding my son are like some exquisite mannequins! Profits and family come first!"

Lan Qingwu frowned. "The Crown Princess and you are bound together by mutual interests. It's normal for her to be hesitant, seeking benefits and avoiding harm, and weighing the pros and cons when encountering things. Don't expect her to be like us mother and son."

This is true.

The Crown Prince nodded. "Son, you understand. If a matter of life and death arises, we are the only ones willing to sacrifice our lives for each other! As long as she doesn't make a serious mistake, I will grant her the honor and wealth of a Crown Princess!"

Lan Qingwu gave a bitter laugh. She looked at the Crown Prince carefully, then reached out her white hand and gently stroked her son's brow. "You and your father are alike! He's just like you: sharp, strong-willed, and never one to give in to false feelings. When I first entered the palace, I thought I might as well just be servile to your father, as he has so many concubines! But every time he looked at me with those eyes, I couldn't say anything against my will. Your father could see through it at a glance."

"So, your mother felt wronged, and your father was also dissatisfied!"

"Chu Ming, you have a keen eye for detail, which is a good thing for the government, as you won't be easily deceived by your subordinates. However, when it comes to love, you're surrounded by women from aristocratic families, who have been taught to compete for favor, rise to power, and bring honor to their families! Your mother is deeply concerned, fearing that the sincerity you've gained in this life will be shallow! So, Chu Ming, if one day you're convinced of a woman's passionate sincerity, don't let her down!"

It is not easy to find a warm and sincere royal family member, so Emperor Shenwu was dissatisfied with Lan Qingwu's perfunctory treatment back then. After all, he had received such a pure heart when he was young.

The royal family members grew up in a world of intrigue and deception, so they would not give their true heart first, and the prince was certainly even worse!

But people always love to forget, sincerity is mutual, any relationship that is too passionate will not last long!