The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 971

Chapter 971: 452 Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law (Third Watch)

Eunuch Qin’s heart skipped a beat when he heard these words, "Empress Dowager, you can’t possibly be thinking..."

The words "relinquish power" came to the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to say them.

Empress Dowager Zhuang knew what he wanted to say. She had indeed seriously considered the matter. Holding complete control of the court, it was unclear whether it was for self-preservation, for the Zhuang family’s sake, or for the welfare of the nation—or perhaps it was just for the little money in the treasury.

After all, an Empress Dowager with real power certainly reaped far more benefits than one without.

But now—

It seemed she no longer needed to protect herself, nor did she need to safeguard the Zhuang family. As for the welfare of the nation and the little money...

Hmm.

She was quite reluctant to let go of the money.

There was no helping it, she had many children to provide for!

Eunuch Qin was unaware that the Empress Dowager’s thoughts were already far astray, and he sighed, "Alas, you had warned the Zhuang family long ago. It’s the Zhuang family’s own appetite that has grown too big and can’t be reined in."

How could only Consort Zhuang giving Ning Wang notions he shouldn’t have led to Ning Wang deviating so drastically from the norms? Grand Tutor Zhuang must have also played a significant part.

And now, they have sent the child’s future under the executioner’s blade.

"What does His Majesty plan to do with Ning Wang?" Empress Dowager Zhuang asked.

Eunuch Qin replied, "I heard that he is to be stripped of his royal title, demoted to a commoner, exiled from the Capital City... banished to a bitterly cold place."

This punishment for the emperor’s most beloved eldest son was extremely severe; it must have been decided amidst agonizing heartache.

He didn’t consult Empress Dowager Zhuang for her opinion.

It wasn’t that he disrespected her, but precisely because he respected her too much, he didn’t want her to endure the pain of punishing Ning Wang.

Once the imperial edict was announced, from that moment on, the father-son relationship would be severed, never to see each other again in this life.

This was almost no different from a parent sending off their child to death.

Let him alone bear everything. In countless nights to come, waking from dreams filled with longing for his son, regretting his past decisions for being too heartless—these would be his sufferings alone.

"Did Ning Wang... not defend himself at all?" Empress Dowager Zhuang asked.

"He did defend himself, but it was ineffectual," Eunuch Qin sighed.

In his view, Ning Wang’s defenses were as frivolous as Consort Zhuang’s angry words, managing to irritate the emperor without addressing the core issues. The only real way to excuse himself was to place the blame on the Crown Princess—

Claiming that she lured Ning Wang, whether Xiao Hen or Wo Yang, it was all her idea, and Ning Wang was merely bewitched by her. If necessary, feign madness, claiming to be drugged by her "baiyao" would do.

No matter the truth, his own brothers are always one’s own people, while the Crown Princess is always an outsider. The emperor would surely be lenient with Ning Wang.

But Ning Wang, he just—

Well, forget it, he’s a real man.

The news that the emperor intended to depose Ning Wang swiftly spread to the East Palace.

The Crown Princess had been locked in her room these past couple of days. Neither the Empress nor anyone else had come to interrogate or punish her, but the longer this went on, the more anxious she grew.

Furthermore, hearing that Ning Wang was to be deposed, her anxiety increased even more.

If Ning Wang, the emperor’s own son, could face such fate, how could her own end be any better?

Even though she wasn’t the main instigator, her involvement had led to sibling rivalry and the emperor would surely hold her responsible.

She opened her room door, only to be stopped by the palace maid at the entrance.

With a hint of pleading, she said, "Let me go see the Crown Prince!"

One of the palace maids replied emotionlessly, "The Empress has ordered that the Crown Princess is not to leave."

...

Gu Jiao hadn’t entered the palace for the past couple of days and was unaware that it had turned upside down. A brawl at a gambling house in the Capital City had led to dozens of injuries, with eight people critically wounded, all sent to the Divine Hand medical hall.

Gu Jiao and Doctor Song, among others, were so busy they barely touched the ground, only finishing all the suturing by evening.

She remembered that Princess Xinyang’s medicine should be finished, so she needed to make a trip to Vermilion Bird Avenue.

Little Xiao Hen was playing in the courtyard. Hearing her plans, he placed his small hands behind his back and adorably asked, "Jiaojiao, can I go with you? I want to see Long Yi."

He had made a new friend, Long Yi.

Gu Jiao had no objections.

With Little Xiao Hen pestering Long Yi, Long Yi wouldn’t come to her to waste time, perfect.

Gu Jiao took Little Xiao Hen to Vermilion Bird Avenue, still with Xiao Sanzi driving the carriage.

"Long Yi!"

As soon as Little Xiao Hen hopped off the carriage, he couldn’t wait to find Long Yi in the courtyard.

Gu Jiao went to examine Princess Xinyang. The weather was nice today, so the princess sat by the window, where she could clearly see the courtyard scene, and naturally, she saw the little buzz-cut tyke.

The little tyke also saw her and stopped, politely greeting her, "Princess Xinyang."

Princess Xinyang gave a slight nod in response.

The little tyke didn’t move, as if waiting for something.

Princess Xinyang looked at him, puzzled.

With his little hands behind his back, the little tyke tilted his head and seriously said to Princess Xinyang, "You haven’t greeted me yet."

Princess Xinyang paused for a moment, then said, "Jing Kong."

Little Xiao Hen cheerfully shook his head and dashed off to find Long Yi.

Long Yi didn’t let Little Xiao Hen search for long, leaping down from the rooftop.

The two of them joined forces to make mischief among Princess Xinyang’s flowers.

Princess Xinyang: "..."

Princess Xinyang glanced at the hand reaching into her robe, then at the stethoscope hanging from her ears, her expression somewhat indescribable, "Where on earth did you get these strange and unusual things? I’ve never seen a physician like you. You couldn’t possibly be trying to take advantage of me." _{freeweɓnøvel.com}