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Although knowing it was unlikely, the Emperor still went to Bishui Alley, not only to inquire about the whereabouts of Empress Dowager Zhuang but also to remind Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang to be careful of their safety.
If Empress Dowager Zhuang was the archenemy of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, then Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang, who repeatedly sabotaged Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's good plans, were undoubtedly the thorns in her side.
Xiao Liulang had just returned from the Hanlin Academy, never expecting that such an incident would occur.
Gu Jiao was sun-drying medicinal herbs in the front yard, while the three children were playing in the backyard. The atmosphere in the house was peaceful and harmonious.
Xiao Liulang withdrew his gaze and said to the Emperor, "Grandaunt hasn't been here... We will be careful."
The Emperor nodded, "You mustn't have an accident again."
Xiao Liulang looked at the Emperor deeply, "Your Majesty, what is your plan?"
The Emperor clenched his fists and said, "Zhen will find imperial mother."
This was the second time Empress Dowager Zhuang had gone missing. The first time was because of him. He was the one who sent her to Leprosy Mountain, and was the one who lost her.
This time, he would personally find her and bring her back.
After murmuring these words, he turned around and walked heavily into the night.
"What's going on?" Gu Jiao walked over.
It was a matter of great importance, so Xiao Liulang didn't hide it from her, "Grandaunt and Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing have gone missing. His Majesty suspects that Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing has taken Grandaunt away."
"Who did you say... was taken away?" Old Chief's voice suddenly sounded behind them.
Both of them turned to look at him. Old Chief held a plate of freshly cooked brown sugar rice cake with freshly roasted white sesame sprinkled on top.
His hands started trembling slightly, and the hot syrup spilled out.
Gu Jiao walked over and reached out her hand, "Granduncle, give it to me."
"Ah?" His voice also trembled, "You... who did you say was taken away?"
"It's Grandaunt." Gu Jiao answered.
Old Chief staggered.
Gu Jiao supported him with one hand and caught the plate with the other.
The plate was very hot, so Xiao Liulang quickly took the plate and placed it on a nearby stone table. He said to Old Chief, "Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing won't harm Grandaunt for now. If she wanted to kill Grandaunt, she would have done it in the palace. Bringing Grandaunt out must serve some other purpose."
Gu Jiao looked at Xiao Liulang and said, "I'll go find Grandaunt. Husband, you and Granduncle wait at home for news."
Xiao Liulang hesitated for a moment before nodding his head.
After Gu Jiao left, Old Chief said, trembling, "I... I'll also go look for her."
Xiao Liulang didn't object. He looked at Old Chief, who seemed unsteady on his feet, and his gaze flickered slightly. He said, "I'll go with you, master."
Old Chief nodded anxiously, "Okay... Okay."
Thereupon, the two of them also left Bishui Alley.
The capital city was sealed off, and the four main gates only allowed entry, not exit.
On the winding path, two carriages moved forward, one after the other. There were four guards riding on horses, escorting the carriages along the way.
The sky gradually darkened as the last trace of the setting sun's radiance faded away, leaving a gray-blue hue on the horizon.
The carriages moved at a steady pace, and the people inside seemed calm and composed.
"Hong'er must not have expected that we have already left the capital city."
If the Emperor were here, he would surely recognize the voice as that of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, whom he had been searching for tirelessly.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing had changed into the attire of a common woman, tied her hair into a simple bun, and adorned it with an inconspicuous silver hairpin.
At her age, she no longer pursued beauty, but it had to be said that people who came out of the palace were vastly different from ordinary women.
Empress Dowager Zhuang, sitting across from her, had also shed the magnificent black and gold phoenix robe and was dressed in humble peasant clothes.
However, if one were to observe closely, the elegance and charm in her countenance were incomparable to that of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing.
Empress Dowager Zhuang closed her eyes, paying no attention to her.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing smiled and said, "Stop pretending to be asleep. I know you're not asleep. How could you sleep?"
"You're being noisy." Empress Dowager Zhuang replied with her eyes closed.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing looked at her intently, a hint of mocking smile appearing on her lips, "Zhuang Jinse, are you truly not afraid of death?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang remained calm, still keeping her eyes closed, clearly not intending to engage with this annoying woman.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing wasn't angered. She lowered her gaze and picked up a silver strand of hair from her robe, laughing as she said, "Time flies, and we've both grown old. It feels like we haven't been in the imperial palace for long. Do you remember the first time I saw you, sister? It was in the imperial garden, where you were wearing the Empress Phoenix robe, chatting with the other sisters in the pavilion. Unlike you, who became Empress upon entering the palace, I was just a lowly sixth-rank imperial lady. I didn't even have the qualification to greet you in person and could only bow from a distance under the guidance of the palace servants. You didn't even look at me; you just had a servant give me a jade bracelet, this very bracelet."
As she spoke, she extended her left wrist, pulling up her sleeve to reveal a high-quality jade bracelet.
"Sister, as the legitimate daughter of the Zhuang Family and the Empress of the State of Zhao, everything you used was of excellent quality. Even a randomly picked bracelet would be priceless as a reward. Do you know what I was thinking at that time? I was thinking, how could such a fortunate person exist in this world? Noble birth, esteemed status, unparalleled beauty, and the favor of the Emperor... What is there in this world that you couldn't obtain, sister? I didn't even have the qualifications to envy you."
"But who could have expected that I, someone as lowly as dust, would catch your eye?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang replied nonchalantly, "Who hasn’t been blind once when they're young?"
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing chuckled, "Sister, you really know how to joke. In fact, I was truly grateful to you and wanted to be lifelong good sisters with you, but why did you have to be so scheming? You praised me openly but used me as a stepping stone behind my back to climb even higher!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang finally opened her eyes slowly, her expression showing a hint of impatience, "Imperial Concubine Jing, is it that you are blind, or is it that Aijia is blind?"
When did she ever use her as a stepping stone?
Was she even worthy?
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing sneered, "Sister, you knew deep down that the late Emperor desired you, yet you always sent me to serve him. Those who didn’t know thought that I was basking in your light. But I understand that you were just playing hard to get. The late Emperor visited me only to hear some news about you. Sister, you're truly good at manipulating people. I can't compare to your skills in controlling others."
Empress Dowager Zhuang couldn't be bothered with her twisted words. Let her think whatever she wanted. Some people just liked to act innocent and be let off lightly.
However, regardless of whether Empress Dowager Zhuang responded to her or not, Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing mockingly laughed and said, "There are countless concubines in the harem, and the late Emperor would go to anyone but your place. But how could you understand that his heart was never elsewhere? His heart had long been left in your Kunning Palace."
Empress Dowager Zhuang let out a cold snort.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing looked at Empress Dowager Zhuang with a hint of confusion and said, "What? Am I wrong?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang gave her a pitying look and said, "Imperial Concubine Jing, you truly are pitiful."
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's expression briefly showed a flicker of turmoil, but she quickly regained her perfect smile, "Sister, you calling me 'Imperial Concubine Jing' brings back memories."
Empress Dowager Zhuang said calmly, "Stop reminiscing about the past. If you want to chat, find Grannie Cai in the carriage behind. Aijia wants some peace and quiet."
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing lowered her gaze and threw the strand of hair she was holding onto the ground, "Sister, aren't you curious why I wanted to sabotage your relationship with Hong'er?"
Surprisingly, Empress Dowager Zhuang wasn't curious, "Does someone need a reason for their wicked deeds? Do they have to experience all the hardships of life and then say they had no choice, they had no alternative? Are you trying to move Aijia or yourself?"
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's smile faded, "Sister, you really don't show any mercy with your words."
Empress Dowager Zhuang closed her eyes once again, determined to ignore Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing this time.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, feeling uninterested, didn't pursue the topic any further. She parted the curtains and looked outside for a moment before speaking with a tinge of sadness, "I want to go to the border and see Ning'an. Sister, accompany me. Ning'an would surely be delighted to see her imperial mother."
Empress Dowager Zhuang's eyebrows twitched but she didn't open her eyes.
After all that, she just wanted to take her to the border to see Ning'an? Who would believe it?
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing murmured, "Let's all go and see Ning'an for the last time."
This statement sounded strange.
Empress Dowager Zhuang suspected that Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's sanity might be slipping.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing let go of the curtains and smiled at Empress Dowager Zhuang, "We're getting old, after all. We won't be able to make another trip."
It seemed like she was trying to explain her previous statement.
However, the next moment, she laughed again and said, "Or maybe, after seeing Ning'an, I'll kill you, sister."
……
Night fell.
The search in the capital yielded no progress.
The Emperor stood beneath the towering city gate, watching the guards search the people entering the city one by one, his expression filled with extreme solemnity.
Eunuch Wei looked at the Emperor's cracked lips and said with concern, "Your Majesty, you've been busy all day. Take a rest. Eunuch He will take care of things."
The Emperor's eyes grew frosty, filled with a chilling intensity, "Imperial mother is still in that woman's hands... Zhen is not tired. Until Zhen finds imperial mother, Zhen won't rest."
This time, he would not lose his imperial mother again.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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