The Succession Struggle in the Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 182 Three Women's Palace Intrigue

This time, the one who came was none other than another empress dowager from the Eastern Palace, Empress Dowager Xiaoning.

His appearance created a somewhat awkward atmosphere.

Because everyone knows that Empress Dowager Xiaoning, who also rarely leaves the Eastern Palace, is definitely not just taking a stroll for no reason.

They must have come because of what happened on the eleventh day of the month, and most likely to make things difficult for Empress Dowager Cixi.

This is not just speculation; it is true that in the year following the new emperor's ascension to the throne, the relationship between the two empress dowagers had changed from harmonious to adversarial.

In the past, Empress Dowager Cixi, as the empress dowager and with the support of her three sons, could easily control the palace.

However, ever since Prince An unexpectedly ascended the throne and jointly honored the two empress dowagers, Empress Dowager Xiaoning and Empress Dowager Ci'an have been on equal footing.

However, at this time, because the retired emperor was in the middle and the emperor had not made things difficult for Empress Dowager Cixi, the relationship between the two empress dowagers was still acceptable.

However, what brought her success also brought her downfall. It was precisely because the retired emperor supported her and the emperor didn't hold a grudge that Empress Dowager Cixi was unable to control her temper, which she had developed over the years.

His continued reckless behavior in the palace was intolerable to Empress Dowager Xiaoning, who was also an empress dowager.

Especially after Tu Chengyu killed Prince Yixiao, Empress Dowager Cixi caused quite a few troubles during that period.

In order to protect her grandson and to demonstrate her own status, Empress Dowager Xiaoning clashed with Empress Dowager Ci'an.

During the time Tu Chengyu was away from Beijing to Jiangnan, they engaged in countless battles, both openly and secretly.

So when everyone saw Empress Dowager Xiaoning arrive, they could already guess what kind of drama would unfold next.

Among everyone present, perhaps only Tu Chengyu was unaware of the power struggle between the two empress dowagers.

However, Tu Chengyu had just met with Empress Dowager Xiaoning that morning and clearly sensed her hostility towards Empress Dowager Cixi, so he shared similar thoughts with everyone else.

In this eerie atmosphere, Empress Dowager Xiaoning's palanquin arrived before everyone.

After everyone had exchanged greetings, Empress Dowager Xiaoning went straight to the point and asked:

"Your Majesty, I have heard a strange tale from the palace: someone is openly attempting to snatch a prince from within the palace walls?"

Before Empress Dowager Xiaoning could even speak, the Empress already felt a headache coming on.

She was already struggling to deal with Empress Dowager Cixi, and now Empress Dowager Xiaoning has come along as well.

If these two were to disregard everything and start arguing here, it would surely become the laughing stock of the entire capital.

And she, as the empress, was inevitably the one who was ridiculed in the rumors.

Now that Empress Dowager Xiaoning has spoken, although she doesn't seem to intend to argue, her words are clearly loaded with implications.

The Empress still wanted to calm things down and prevent them from arguing.

So she thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, today's events were just a misunderstanding; there was no incident of abducting a prince."

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiaoning surprisingly did not argue with the Empress about its veracity, but simply said:
"Since it's a misunderstanding, why are you all still gathered here? Don't you have anything better to do?"

It is clear from this statement that Empress Dowager Xiaoning was fully aware of everything that had happened here.

She even knew about Empress Dowager Cixi's plan to take Xiao Shiyi away.

It is evident that Empress Dowager Xiaoning had people keeping an eye on this place from the very beginning.

It is estimated that Empress Dowager Cixi was deliberately making things difficult for Tu Chengyu, which is why she rushed over to help him out.

Seeing that Empress Dowager Xiaoning did not pursue the matter but merely asked everyone to disperse, the Empress was overjoyed and echoed Empress Dowager Xiaoning's words:
"The misunderstanding has just been cleared up, and everyone is about to disperse."

The two women, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, worked together to completely ignore Empress Dowager Cixi.

Tu Chengyu saw all of this and felt that the Empress Dowager Xiaoning's complaint that the Empress and Empress Dowager Ci'an were colluding might not be true.

Judging from the current situation, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are clearly cooperating better.

The two who were rumored to be colluding were just now arguing with each other.

Just as Tu Chengyu was lost in thought, the Empress seized the opportunity and, without consulting Empress Dowager Cixi, directly instructed Tu Chengyu and the others.

"It's getting late, so don't stay here any longer. Go back to your respective courtyards."

It seems that neither Empress Dowager Xiaoning nor the Empress wanted to escalate the matter, so Tu Chengyu was naturally happy to cooperate.

He said to the Empress, "Your subject obeys."

After speaking, he bowed to the two empress dowagers and then took Xiao Shiyi's hand, preparing to leave.

Empress Dowager Cixi was left standing aside, remaining silent for quite some time.

Tu Chengyu thought that she would temporarily put aside her temper because of the arrival of Empress Dowager Xiaoning.

Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Cixi showed no sign of restraint. She said to Tu Chengyu:
"Xiao Wu, if you want to leave, then leave on your own. Don't take Xiao Shiyi with you."

Tu Chengyu was taken aback upon hearing this, and turned around to look at Empress Dowager Cixi.

However, this time Tu Chengyu didn't have to confront Empress Dowager Cixi directly; Empress Dowager Xiaoning had already taken action on Tu Chengyu's behalf.

Why did you keep Little Eleven with you, sister?

Faced with Empress Dowager Xiaoning's question, Empress Dowager Ci'an did not even turn her head, but coldly said, "I miss Little Eleven and want to take him to my place."

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiaoning said, "But I have noticed that the Eleventh Prince does not want to go to his sister's place. Why make things difficult for a child?"

Empress Dowager Cixi coldly replied, "Who said that the eleventh prince doesn't like to come to my palace? He had a great time playing in my palace a few days ago."

Empress Dowager Cixi was truly capable of lying through her teeth. Who in the room dared to lie to her? Little Eleven was terrified of what she might become.

Empress Dowager Xiaoning was probably aware of this situation, and said with a hint of sarcasm:
"If Little Eleven really liked it, why would there have been a fight over it? Besides, Little Eleven is old enough to study and learn manners with the Emperor and Empress."
Even I, his own grandmother, dare not disturb him, yet you call him over every day. Isn't that disrupting the child's studies too much?

The phrase "dear grandmother" immediately broke Empress Dowager Cixi's defenses.

"You..." After Empress Dowager Xiaoning arrived, Empress Dowager Cixi looked at Empress Dowager Xiaoning for the first time, but she was too angry to speak.

Because what Empress Dowager Xiaoning said was true. From a bloodline perspective, all those living in the palace now are Empress Dowager Xiaoning's own grandsons; there is no Empress Dowager Ci'an among them.

Not only did she not have any grandsons in the palace, but she didn't have any in the entire capital.

After the rebellion, Empress Dowager Cixi's grandsons were either demoted to commoners and exiled to border regions, or imprisoned in their hometowns for life.

The only one who remained in the capital was killed by Tu Chengyu.

Therefore, when Empress Dowager Xiaoning said those words, it indirectly stirred up Empress Dowager Ci'an's sad memories.

Empress Dowager Cixi's face turned visibly ugly, her eyes wide open, as if she wanted to rush forward and tear Empress Dowager Xiaoning apart.

However, her remaining rationality suppressed her crazy thoughts, and after catching her breath, she slowly calmed down.

Then, she resumed her cold and aloof demeanor and slowly said:

"Little Eleven is your grandson now, but who knows in a few days?"

These words sounded strange, but they conveyed a sense of unease.

Empress Dowager Xiaoning looked even more incredulous and asked, "What did you say?"

Seeing Empress Dowager Xiaoning's expression, Empress Dowager Cixi felt a little smug. Just as she was about to continue speaking, the Empress suddenly interrupted her.

"Your Majesty, it's almost time for the meal. The Emperor Emeritus is waiting for you two ladies to eat in the palace. We can discuss anything else tomorrow."

It was clear that the Empress knew what Empress Dowager Cixi wanted to say and tried her best to stop her from saying it.

Seeing the Empress like this, Empress Dowager Cixi became even more pleased, and a long-lost smile even appeared on her face.

However, Empress Dowager Xiaoning was not willing to let the matter rest. She stared at the Empress and asked, "Empress, tell me, what did she mean by that?"

The Empress replied, "Your Majesty, these are just some things that are far from certain, why bother with such a big deal?"

The Empress clearly did not want to discuss the matter, and although Empress Dowager Xiaoning was eager to know what it was, she did not press the matter further out of respect for the Empress.

At this point, if Empress Dowager Cixi had been even slightly more understanding of the Empress, she should have followed Empress Dowager Xiaoning's example and stopped talking, so as not to embarrass the Empress.

However, Empress Dowager Cixi did the opposite and showed no consideration for the Empress.

She stated directly, "This isn't something that's just a pipe dream; I've already spoken with the Emperor Emeritus, and we'll have Little Eleven adopted by Crown Prince Yixiao after some time."
"Then Little Eleven will be my own grandson."

Prince Yixiao was the former crown prince and the biological son of Empress Dowager Cixi.

Empress Dowager Cixi actually said she wanted to adopt the eleventh son to him, and that she had even obtained the Emperor Emeritus's consent.

This shocked Tu Chengyu, and Empress Dowager Xiaoning was so surprised that she was speechless for a moment.

The other brothers looked at each other in disbelief, clearly not expecting such a thing to happen.

Xiao Shiyi, the person involved, gripped Tu Chengyu's hand tightly at this moment.

He kept saying to Tu Chengyu, "Fifth Brother, I don't want to leave Mother Consort, and I don't want to be someone else's son."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

At this moment, Tu Chengyu finally understood why Xiao Shiyi didn't want to go to Empress Dowager Cixi's palace anymore after visiting it a few times, and why he looked scared when he saw Empress Dowager Cixi.

It must have been after Empress Dowager Cixi took the eleventh child to her that she spoke to him about the adoption.

She may have been trying to test Xiao Shiyi's attitude, but she never really thought about it.

How deeply hurt a five-year-old child must feel to hear that someone is going to take him away from his mother.

No wonder Xiao Shiyi hasn't dared to linger in the Imperial Study lately.

It turned out that she was worried he would be taken away and never see Consort Hui again.

This made Tu Chengyu feel very sorry for Xiao Shiyi, and he couldn't help but hug Xiao Shiyi in his arms and comfort her softly.

At the same time, Tu Chengyu had some dissatisfaction with the Empress.

From the conversation just now, it was clear that the Queen knew about this matter, but she did not try to stop it, allowing things to develop to this point.

It's astonishing that such a young child like Xiao Shiyi has to live in fear for such a long time.

(End of this chapter)