Chapter 698: Chapter 698 Disdain

This time, the kneeling was in vain.

But the appearance still had to be maintained.

The Emperor walked over, and the Empress held onto the Emperor’s legs, pleading bitterly, “Your Majesty, please show mercy to me once and spare my mother from the death penalty.”

The Emperor’s face was sullen.

“As the Mother of the Country, you must not only serve as a model for the world but also uphold the laws of Daqi. The crime committed by the Old Madam Duke Chong is unforgivable. You want me to spare her?”

“She harmed the first wife of the Old Prince, the birth mother of Prince Zhenbei. Do you want me to chill their hearts?!”

The Empress knew that getting the Emperor to free her mother was impossible.

But as a daughter, should she just watch her own mother being beheaded with open eyes?

Knowing full well that the hope was slim, she still had to strive for it.

Not only was it her inner wish for her mother to live, but the world was also watching.

“My mother is severely poisoned and won’t live much longer. Her grace in giving birth and raising me, I can’t repay. I only wish to show some filial piety in her final days. I hope Your Majesty will fulfill this wish,” the Empress cried uncontrollably.

“What my mother owes to Prince Zhenbei Mansion, I will repay.”

She to repay?

What can she repay with a human life?!

The Emperor ignored her, exerted force with his foot, and broke free from the Empress’s arms holding his leg.

The Empress lunged forward but failed to grab the Emperor’s Dragon Robe.

The Emperor entered the Imperial Study, with the Empress’s pleas trailing behind, “Your Majesty, please allow my mother more time.”

The little eunuch closed the door to the Imperial Study.

After entering, Eunuch Fu looked at the Emperor, “Your Majesty, the Empress is blocking the door. Should the Princess Consort Zhenbei be summoned to the palace now?”

“Perhaps call her a bit later, just in time for Your Majesty to have lunch with her.”

Hmm.

The Emperor’s initial frown and displeasure quickly dissipated.

Having lunch with his daughter, the Emperor was delighted.

He didn’t want the Empress to ruin his mood, “Then let it be later.”

“Have the Imperial Kitchen prepare a few more dishes she loves.”

“…”

The Emperor wanted to pamper his daughter.

Eunuch Fu was troubled.

Who knows what dishes the Princess Consort Zhenbei likes?

He only knew that the maid beside the Princess Consort Zhenbei loved meat buns.

That little maid should be well treated too.

Eunuch Fu personally conveyed the message to the Imperial Kitchen, and the chefs all looked troubled.

They didn’t know what the Princess Consort Zhenbei liked to eat, how could they prepare?

Sending someone to find out now would be too late.

The chefs asked Eunuch Fu.

Eunuch Fu said, “I also don’t know the Princess Consort Zhenbei’s preferences. Perhaps you should cook according to the Emperor’s and Consort Yun’s tastes. The daughter’s palate probably follows the mother if not the father.”

The chefs praised Eunuch Fu for his clever idea, offering them an ingenious plan.

The Imperial Kitchen Steward felt that currying favor with Eunuch Fu was definitely right. At crucial moments, they had to rely on Eunuch Fu to take charge.

But this time, nearly cost him his life.

The Imperial Kitchen Steward, “…”

Eunuch Fu returned to the Imperial Study, and after more than half an hour, he sent a little eunuch to Prince Zhenbei Mansion to convey the message.

By that hour, entering the palace, and after chatting for a moment, would roughly coincide with lunchtime.

As to why the timing was so precise, it was precisely to allow the Empress to kneel for a while longer.

Human beings tend to hold grudges. Eunuch Fu still remembered the Empress Dowager having someone poison his ointment.

He couldn’t trouble the Empress Dowager, and since the Empress and the Empress Dowager were in cahoots, if he couldn’t trouble the Empress Dowager, making the Empress suffer a bit would also give him relief.

The little eunuch rushed to Prince Zhenbei Mansion to convey the message.

When the little eunuch arrived, Su Jin was leaning on the Imperial Concubine’s Couch reading a book.

She casually flipped a page.

Bi Zhu entered through the beaded curtain, “Princess Consort, the Emperor has summoned you to the palace.”

Su Jin’s gaze moved from the book to Bi Zhu.

“Summoned me to the palace?” Su Jin knitted her brows.

Bi Zhu nodded quickly, affirming that Su Jin had not heard wrong.

Xingxing happily said, “The Emperor must want to see you.”

But I don’t want to see him.

Su Jin screamed internally.

When the time comes, how should I address him?

Calling him Emperor seems distant.

Calling him Father-Emperor feels improper and unjustified.

Such an awkward situation, Su Jin didn’t want to face.

But with the Emperor’s summons, not going to the palace would be inappropriate, especially with a maid eager to take away her book and help her dress.

This was the first formal entry to the palace for Su Jin after her identity was revealed. Xingxing wished dearly for Su Jin to dress splendidly, but unfortunately, she couldn’t wear bright clothes yet.

Although Su Jin didn’t need to observe mourning for the Old Madam, she had to be considerate of other people’s feelings at the Prince Mansion.

Xingxing carefully selected a light blue dress for Su Jin and changed her hairstyle before departing.

Hmm.

Eunuch Fu’s planned leisure time for father and daughter was obliterated by Xingxing’s fussing.

Eunuch Fu never considered that it would take a long time for a young lady to get ready before going out.

Adding the momentary delay from encountering the Prince NanAn Mansion’s engagement delivery along the way, the dishes were already prepared and waiting for Su Jin at the palace.

Xie Jingchen wasn’t at ease and wanted to accompany Su Jin to the palace.

But upon escorting Su Jin to the mansion gate, the little eunuch stopped him, “Young Master, the Emperor only summoned the Princess Consort.”

Xie Jingchen, “…”

Was it his illusion?

He felt the disdain from his father-in-law.

Observing Xie Jingchen’s slightly darkened face.

Su Jin felt a bit sympathetic for him.

Having been ordered around by her father, the Marquis Dongxiang, before, he would likely have to endure the same from the Emperor in the future.

“With Xingxing accompanying me to the palace, you can stay and read at the mansion,” Su Jin chuckled sullenly.

“…”

Inside the Imperial Study.

The Emperor was reading memorials, occasionally glancing at the hourglass.

Why haven’t they arrived after so long?

Eunuch Fu, knowing the Emperor’s impatience and fearing worry, persuaded, “Your Majesty, rest assured. Now that it’s known the Princess Consort Zhenbei is a princess, no one would dare harm her.”

Had Eunuch Fu not mentioned this, the Emperor hadn’t thought of it.

Why wouldn’t anyone dare?!

Despite knowing the Princess Consort Zhenbei was his and Consort Yun’s daughter, they still insisted on sending her to the Ministry of Justice prison?!

However, having Su Jin in prison earlier gave the Minister of the Ministry of Justice more reason to arrest the Old Madam Duke Chong.

If it wasn’t for bringing people to the Ministry of Justice, the Minister’s domain, it probably wouldn’t have been so easy to convict the Old Madam Duke Chong.

The words said by the Marquis Dongxiang when he hit him were still fresh in his ears.

He didn’t know Consort Yun had a daughter, but others did.

Repeated dangers befalling Su Jin were precisely because she was a princess.

Thinking about these, the Emperor felt a sting in his heart.

Su Jin had never enjoyed the honor and wealth a princess should; instead, her identity as a princess repeatedly brought her danger.

No matter how he, as the Father-Emperor, tried to make up, it was never enough.

After waiting and waiting, at last, the little eunuch ran over, “Your Majesty, the Princess Consort Zhenbei’s carriage has entered the palace.”

Only then did Eunuch Fu advise the Emperor, “Your Majesty, the Empress is still kneeling outside.”

The Empress felt a heavy blockage in her heart.

Was this because he disliked her kneeling outside the Imperial Study affecting the Princess Consort Zhenbei’s good mood?!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep