The Legend of Zhen Huan Reborn: Overthrowing Zhen Huan to Become the Queen Mother

Jiang Ruyin pounded her palms in frustration as she spoke. "It worked at first, but then it stopped working and he kept asking about it. I couldn't stop him from learning, so I just let him do it."

The emperor cheerfully pulled Jiang Ruyin's hand, causing her fist to miss and hit his leg.

Facing Jiang Ruyin's resentful gaze, the emperor said:

"Hongxuan is at a stage where he's curious about everything, so it's normal for him to be studious."

The emperor thought of his childhood, when he was also four years old. The gossip in the palace reached his ears, and he always secretly looked into the Yonghe Palace when passing by. Tong Jia's mother was gentle and virtuous, and never stopped him. She often took him to Yonghe Palace to sit, but the queen mother never took the initiative to talk to him.

He was treated coldly by his biological mother, and was afraid that his Tonggiya mother would not want him, so at the age of five he imitated the examples in the books and gave away pears to entertain his parents.

Later, after leaving the palace to start her own household, she accidentally thought about this matter and realized that the gossip she had heard back then might have been deliberately instigated by others. Tong Jia's mother's method of dealing with it was to open it up instead of blocking it, and the effect was obvious.

Looking at Jiang Ruyin's eyes as clear as water, the emperor suddenly smiled. How could this kind of purity that goes with the flow not be similar in nature?

"The Emperor has many children, but I am different. Brotherly love and respect are good things, but Hongxuan is not very smart after all, and he is your child, so he should have some thoughts of his own."

The emperor came closer and spoke solemnly. His warm breath made Jiang Ruyin's eyes flutter.

Jiang Ruyin also came over and said solemnly: "Children are the most selfish. The emperor will know when the time comes."

The emperor suddenly laughed, "I was also a child, so I know. What I mean is that Hongxuan is different from other princes. Being too friendly with his brothers is not a good thing."

Jiang Ruyin was stunned, her eyes shining brightly. Before she could speak happily, she saw the emperor making a hushing gesture.

Jiang Ruyin quickly covered her mouth, her brows raised with joy.

Such a bright and beautiful person, and the woman at the end of his heart, the emperor simply loves her like this.

Suppressing the throbbing in his heart, the emperor changed the subject.

"Fifth brother is too devoted to his brothers. During the last years of the late emperor's reign, whenever any of his brothers were rewarded or punished, he would become distracted and depressed."

Jiang Ruyin blinked in sudden realization, "No wonder Prince Heng's wife is always so quiet."

The emperor was silent for a moment, then suddenly pulled Jiang Ruyin's hand and bit it.

The two of them fought for a while, and finally calmed down, drinking the cool milk together.

The emperor mentioned something, "The court has been quite shaken recently. Concubine Qi and Concubine Chun have been like dogs that have smelled blood, making frequent insinuations. I am very upset, but fortunately, Yin'er is here to help me resolve my worries."

"There are still Noble Lady Lou and Concubine Ling here. Do they both satisfy the Emperor?"

"Yong'er is quite talented, but lacks sentiment. Ling Changzai is only proficient in poetry and songs." The emperor leaned against the soft pillow behind him, showing a rare look of fatigue.

Jiang Ruyin took off her armor, revealing her green fingers, and clasped her hands together in a salute.

"It is my fault that I do not have a concubine who can satisfy the Emperor."

The emperor raised his eyelids. "This has nothing to do with you. They say a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent, but virtue often goes hand in hand with knowledge. Without knowledge, she is merely foolishly kind."

Jiang Ruyin opened her mouth and urged softly, "In view of the emperor's hard work and great achievements, I will not argue. But the sun is setting, and if we don't go to Shoukang Palace now, I'm afraid the empress dowager will retire."

Rubbing his brows, the emperor sat up and said, "Xiao Xiazi, send for the sedan chair. Concubine Fang and I will go to see the Queen Mother."

Xiao Xiazi came in from outside and said, "Your Majesty, the carriage is ready."

"You have learned some of your master's tactfulness." Jiang Ruyin smiled and smoothed out the wrinkles on her clothes.

The emperor also glanced at him and said, "Su Peisheng understands my thoughts. This kind of consideration has not been seen for a long time."

Under the brim of his hat, his face revealed a hint of unconcealable pride. Xiao Xiazi bowed and invited the emperor to get into the sedan chair. "Master, you should always be safe and secure by the emperor's side. This is why Xiao Dongzi and I have divided our responsibilities. Sharing Master's worries is serving the emperor wholeheartedly."

The sedan chair was spacious, so the emperor still pulled Jiang Ruyin to sit closer.

"If the Empress Dowager mentions matters from the past, just interrupt her, whether it's asking about her health or her diet."

Jiang Ruyin nodded. The emperor looked at her and sighed, "The harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs. The Empress Dowager is old after all, and I don't want to speak harshly to her."

"Is it about Longkodo?"

The emperor turned his head and asked, "How do you know?"

"The last time I went to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, she sent me some pickles, saying that Lord Longkodo had sent them to the palace," Jiang Ruyin said.

The emperor's face was expressionless as he silently clutched the beads. His tone was inarticulate, and he said, "Longkodo is indeed concerned about the affairs of the harem."

"Lord Longkodo is the emperor's uncle, so he is naturally closer to him."

"If everyone is like him, then the previous dynasty shouldn't be called the previous dynasty, just call it his one-man show!"

The emperor said this angrily. Jiang Ruyin held the emperor's hand tightly. "The emperor and his subjects come first, and then the family. The Empress Dowager also understands this principle. It's just that she is suffering from illness and is inevitably fragile."

The emperor held Jiang Ruyin in one hand and played with the beads in the other, wondering what he was thinking.

He thought to himself that he had given the Empress the face she deserved, had saved Longkodo's life, and had favored Concubine Chun and Concubine Qi. The incident of the previous dynasty sending daughters in exchange for official positions had broken out. If the Empress Dowager insisted on releasing Longkodo, then he would have to impose a severe punishment and a strict trial. If any officials were implicated, regardless of their family names, they would all be executed, and the main culprit would be executed immediately.

Thinking of this, they soon arrived at Shoukang Palace.

Jiang Ruyin sighed, "At this short distance, it seems I'm going to be accused of being spoiled again."

The emperor forcefully pulled Jiang Ruyin's hand over and said, "It is I who want to talk to you."

The two walked into the hall hand in hand, and the strong bitter smell of medicine hit them in the face.

Shen Meizhuang lifted the navy blue curtain and bumped into the two of them.

With tears in her eyes, Shen Meizhuang squatted down and saluted.

The emperor just frowned and walked quickly into the room.

Inside the bedroom, the light was dim and solemn. The Queen Mother reclined on the bed, looking haggard.

His face was as pale as paper, his cheeks were sunken, and his cheekbones stood out prominently, as if a thin layer of skin was tightly attached to the bones.

The eyes that were once always filled with sadness now have drooping eyelids, dull eyes, and cloudy eyeballs that occasionally move, full of fatigue and weakness.

The lifeless white hair was framed by a brown headband with dense lines, making him look lifeless.

His lips were slightly parted as he breathed with difficulty, each breath accompanied by a heavy snoring sound, like the whine of an old bellows.

The skinny hands rested on the quilt, the skin was loose and wrinkled, the veins were exposed, and the bloodless fingers occasionally twitched unconsciously.