Chapter 1156: Chapter 1156: May the Believer of the Shih Family... Have Her Wish Fulfilled!

Zhao Junyao pondered for a while with no result.

He immediately stood up and gave orders.

"Someone, prepare to go to Ningshou Palace!"

He hadn’t visited the Empress Dowager in a long time. Perhaps... it was time to see her.

"Yes!"

Li Shengan answered and quickly went out to prepare.

...

Ningshou Palace.

The Empress Dowager wore a plain brown Phoenix Robe, her graying hair meticulously styled into a bun adorned with a simple glass hairpin and a brown antique jade hair ornament.

A string of 108 carved rosewood Buddhist prayer beads hung around her neck.

She held a delicate gypsophila Buddhist prayer bead bracelet in her hands.

Right now.

She was kneeling reverently before the Buddha, silently praying for something.

Time flowed by bit by bit, with each prayer bead in her hand being moved.

The small Buddha hall was profoundly tranquil, with sandalwood incense curling in the air, accompanied only by the quiet breathing and the gentle sound of ash falling.

When Zhao Junyao arrived, this was the scene he encountered.

He did not step forward to disturb, nor did he leave, but stood quietly to the side and waited.

It was unknown how much time had passed.

After reciting another set of the "Vajradhara sutra," the Empress Dowager finally rose slowly.

Turning, she saw the Emperor standing beside her and expressed no surprise.

She slowly set down the Buddhist prayer beads and wooden fish, gently tidied her garment, and smiled as she walked from the small Buddha hall.

"My Imperial Son, why are you here?"

Her face bore the sincerest smile, her eyes lightly shimmering.

He had seen that kind of smile before, but it had never been for him.

Zhao Junyao felt uneasy, lightly coughing twice.

"I came to see Mother!"

The Empress Dowager’s smile became even brighter.

"The wind outside is strong, come in quickly, my Imperial Son..."

Zhao Junyao said nothing, accompanying the Empress Dowager as they walked towards the main hall of Ningshou Palace.

...

See, this is the benefit of not tearing each other apart.

At any time and any place, you can discard everything and pick up the connections from eight hundred years ago.

Everyone smiles, chatting and laughing happily, performing the most ’sincere’ display of ’mother and son affection.’

As if those unpleasant events, those calculations, never happened.

But the most terrifying thing is that he had no choice but to do so.

The Empress Dowager arranged for someone to serve tea and snacks.

Her attitude was enthusiastic, just like how she arranged for Junqi and him to eat delicious food when they were young.

That expression, those brows and eyes, the curve of that smiling mouth; it was exactly the same as before.

Zhao Junyao suppressed his internal displeasure, forcing out a smile that was both awkward and unpleasant.

"Thank you, Mother!"

The Empress Dowager waved her hand dismissively with a fan.

"What is the Imperial Son saying!"

"I am your Mother, no need for such formality!"

"These are the snacks you used to love as a child!"

"All made by Mother herself, taste them, see if they’re still the same as before?!"

Her tone was gentle, her face full of smiles.

Time has passed, years have flown by.

The pace of her speaking had slowed considerably, the white hair at her temples unhideable.

And he was no longer the naive, easily deceived child he once was.

So... how could these snacks taste the same as before?

Zhao Junyao smiled faintly.

"I’m not hungry, Mother!"

"Leave these tasks to the servants, no need for you to tire yourself!"

The Empress Dowager shook her head, smiling with helplessness.

"Just passing the time in idleness!"

"Recently, I’ve been reminiscing about your childhood!"

"I remember when you were a child, you loved the snacks I made the most!"

"Lotus seed cakes, lotus root balls, lotus leaf cakes, pearl pudding, almond honey..."

"And savory ones—chicken oil rolls, shrimp ball soup, white jade tofu soup, corn rib soup..."

The Empress Dowager recited each one with familiarity and detail.

Zhao Junyao’s thoughts also slowly drifted back to his childhood.

However... now that he thought of the past, he just thought himself too foolish, too easy to trust others.

"Mother!"

"Are you tired?"

The Empress Dowager shook her head.

"I’m not tired!"

"But lately, with the cold days, you must wear more clothes, be careful not to catch a cold..."

Zhao Junyao nodded.

"You should do the same!"

The Empress Dowager’s smile was gentle, like a warm spring of water, not too hot but comforting.

There’s a saying that you never hit a smiling face.

Zhao Junyao patiently asked.

"Is the Shih family well lately?"

He was referring to Shih Wanxin, but it wasn’t out of concern, merely a casual question to fill the silence.

The Empress Dowager’s expression faltered for a moment, lightly mournful.

"Not too well!"

"She seems to be ill, constantly mentioning you every day!"

"I had no choice but to let her stay in another courtyard! My Imperial Son, you won’t blame me, right?"

Zhao Junyao felt no ripple in his heart.

It was as if hearing a matter unrelated to himself.

As if the other person was someone unrelated to him, indeed irrelevant.

"I won’t!"

Zhao Junyao’s manner wandered, responding perfunctorily.

...

After ’performing’ a segment of mother-son affection, the two fell silent.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Junyao suddenly said.

"Mother, you’ve grown older, if you’re unwell you must summon the Imperial Physician promptly, do not persevere alone!"

His voice was clear and devoid of any emotion.

Like mountain spring water—not cold, not warm, not soft, not hard.

The Empress Dowager felt a chill in her body upon hearing it.

’Unwell’ was none other than ’ill’, wasn’t it?

He used ’being ill’ as a reason to replace everyone around her, imprisoning her in Ningshou Palace for years.

Only recently had she been able to slowly come out, still having to be accompanied by palace attendants.

It was evident that he constantly monitored her, deeply distrustful.

Now... he brought up ’illness’ again.

What does he mean? A threat again?!

The Empress Dowager responded, smiling nonchalantly.

"Thank you for your concern, my Imperial Son!"

"I now spend each day with Buddhist scriptures, tapping the wooden fish, living calmly with a serene mind, feeling remarkably peaceful!"

"Quite comfortable physically and mentally, not unwell!"

Zhao Junyao gazed at her for a while, then finally smiled slowly.

"In that case, just reassures me as your son!"

Indeed.

Zhao Junyao was threatening.

Meaning: if you don’t behave.

Just as I made you ill once, I can make you ill again!

The Empress Dowager felt a vague unrest inside her.

However, she dared not show any hints, maintaining an indifferent demeanor.

Zhao Junyao, tired of seeing her act with feigned asceticism, stood up directly.

"It’s getting late, I have matters to attend to so I’ll leave first, I’ll see you another day!"

The Empress Dowager breathed a sigh of relief, quickly getting up.

"My Imperial Son, take care!"

"You’re busy managing affairs, be sure to look after your health, drop by often to see me!"

"Certainly!"

Zhao Junyao hastily made his way out without taking another look, striding swiftly away.

...

The Empress Dowager watched his figure gradually recede, feeling cold sweat breaking out in her heart.

This person, too dangerous indeed.

After all these years of effort, she ended up raising an ingrate.

He dared threaten her again!

He dared truly cast aside any bonds!

He dared truly harden his heart!

Indeed, the coldest hearts are found in the imperial family!

Indeed!

The Empress Dowager’s steps slowly took her back into the Buddha hall.

Taking up the wooden fish, grasping the prayer beads, she gently closed her eyes, beginning to pray once more.

"May the Buddha bless, may the faithful Shih family... fulfill their wishes!"

With Empress Dowager Zhen expelled from the palace gates.

The threats around her were temporarily gone, should... be able to succeed, right!