EBE Chapter 1083 Coming for Brightness
Chapter 1083 Coming for Brightness
Liang Chongyue brought his mother back to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. Before they even got off the carriage, a group of people were already waiting at the entrance of the mansion.
Liang Chongyue led his mother off the carriage.
"Your Majesty, I bring my whole family to pay our respects. Long live Your Majesty!"
A crowd of people knelt in front of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. Everyone who passed by knelt down when they saw His Majesty's arrival.
At the same time, I couldn't help but envy the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.
In the past, every family hoped that an empress would emerge from their household; now, everyone envies that the Duke of Dingguo's family has produced an empress dowager.
His Majesty is so filial; His Highness the Crown Princess will surely follow suit and be very filial to His Majesty as well.
All eligible young men from each family are outstanding in both talent and character, and also have good looks.
They are all confined to their homes, never to be married, waiting only for His Majesty to find a husband for His Highness the Crown Princess.
Thinking that I could give it a shot.
Your Majesty only had one child with the Crown Princess before her health was damaged and she could no longer have any more children.
Her Highness the Crown Princess may not have only one child.
"Get up, all of you. I won't go in. I'll take A-Zheng and leave. Duke Dingguo, I'm entrusting my mother to you. I'll come back tonight to take her back."
The Duke of Dingguo immediately responded.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, the Empress Dowager will certainly have a great time here with me."
As he spoke, the Duke of Dingguo beckoned to Xiang Zheng, calling her to the front.
Liang Chongyue picked up Xiang Zheng and left. She didn't need to say anything to her mother.
As soon as the Empress Dowager arrived, her aunt greeted her.
The Empress Dowager didn't even have time to turn around and look at her.
Liang Chongyue got used to it and took Xiang Zheng out of the city.
"I noticed quite a few people have come to the Duke of Dingguo's residence today. Is your family holding a spring banquet so early?"
Xiang Zheng picked up the snacks from the carriage and ate them with practiced ease.
"How could that be? There are only a few princes left living in the capital now, and the princes' mansions haven't even held their spring banquets yet. With my father's increasingly cautious nature, how could he dare to hold one in front of the princes' mansions?"
As Xiang Zheng spoke, she noticed that His Majesty's teacup was empty, so she refilled it for him before continuing her story:
"Those people came for clarity."
As she said this, Xiang Zheng's brows furrowed involuntarily, her face full of displeasure, and even the candied fruit in her hand no longer tasted good.
"Everyone has privately inquired about what happened in the outskirts of the capital. It's mainly because His Majesty is diligent in his duties and rarely takes a break from court, especially during the busiest time before the New Year."
Even before receiving the news, various factions were already waiting for an opportunity to find out the real reason why His Majesty had suspended court.
It was later learned that a traitor had appeared in the main camp outside the capital, and had nearly injured Minglang. His Majesty then immediately suspended court to deal with the matter.
Liang Chongyue knew at the time that this incident occurred in the suburbs of Beijing and could not be kept secret.
Since it can no longer be concealed, the scapegoat is naturally Han Qi.
"When this matter reached my father's ears, he had already written his resignation, just waiting to hand it in when His Majesty questioned him, saying that it was worth it to exchange his life for the safety of his whole family."
Liang Chongyue forgot to use this incident to torture the Duke of Dingguo.
Even Minglang couldn't stand seeing him so cautious.
If this continues, the future of the Xiang family's younger generation will be ruined.
"and then?"
Xiang Zheng recalled how her father used to try to guess the emperor's intentions at home during those days.
"Then my father waited in vain for His Majesty's summons and received news that His Majesty had canceled all activities for the year. That very morning, he took his resignation and went to court."
As it turned out, Minister Li beat him to it. Before he could even submit his resignation, he saw Minister Li being reprimanded by the Emperor and then slinking away with his resignation.
So the father dared not submit it again.
Liang Chongyue listened to Xiang Zheng tell these stories as if they were jokes.
Of the entire Xiang family, only Xiang Zheng dared to chat with her like this.
"After my father returned, he went to find Minister Li and subtly inquired about the reasons why Minister Li's resignation had been rejected."
That night, my father locked himself in his study all night, and when he came out, the way he looked at me was strange.
When Xiang Zheng said this, her tone sounded very calm, but Liang Chongyue heard a hint of self-deprecating laughter in it.
"My father regrets not letting me serve in the court. He thinks that with my relationship with His Majesty, I might have become one of His Majesty's favorite ministers in a decade or so."
The Xiang family now only has the Empress Dowager's affection left, and a little bit of goodwill from when they helped His Majesty conquer the country.
Xiang Zheng is the daughter of the Xiang family, and she has enjoyed a life of happiness that many members of the Xiang family have never experienced.
Her life was naturally dedicated to serving the Xiang family.
She had such a good relationship with His Majesty since childhood. How could she be completely unmoved by watching His Majesty fight alone on the path of women's self-reliance?
But she couldn't choose; the Xiang family was too powerful at that time.
There was no one on either side. Above the Xiang family was Her Majesty, the first female emperor in the world.
Beneath the feet of the Xiang family lie the rebels whom His Majesty has slain along the way.
She couldn't climb any higher; if she did, she would touch His Majesty's skirt.
Therefore, she could only build her own restaurant opposite Wangjiang Tower, catering only to women, and use her own methods to help His Majesty establish his authority as a woman.
Looking at her father's current regret now is laughable, especially since she has already resigned herself to the fact that this is all there is to her life.
Her father told her that his shortsightedness had ruined her life.
Xiang Zheng couldn't complain; her father had simply made the best decision available at the time.
His Majesty has always treated her the same way. Perhaps if she had entered the court as an official back then, her relationship with His Majesty would not have been as pure as it is now.
"So it was your idea for the old Duke of Dingguo to take Ake to the Taihang Mountains for arduous cultivation."
Liang Chongyue's statement was not even a question. Given her relationship with Xiang Zheng over the years, she knew Xiang Zheng better than anyone else what kind of person she was.
"Yes, His Majesty is strongly advocating for gender equality, so how could I let the Xiang family miss out on this opportunity? His Majesty won't blame me, will he?"
Xiang Zheng put down the pastries in her hand, smiled, and raised her teacup to Liang Chongyue.
"I offer tea instead of wine to apologize to Your Majesty. Of course, this is certainly not enough. I hope Your Majesty will do me the honor. I have already sent people to make arrangements to ensure that Your Majesty has a pleasant day and can sweep away all the fatigue of the past year."
Liang Chongyue looked at Xiang Zheng with some doubt, but finally raised her teacup and clinked glasses with her.
"Then I will follow you today. You had better keep your word, or I will hold your father accountable."
Upon hearing this, Xiang Zheng burst out laughing and almost choked on her tea.
"Father is just waiting for His Majesty to give him a quick death. If His Majesty really interrogates Father, it will be a relief for Father."
What others would consider disrespectful remarks, Liang Chongyue didn't find anything wrong with.