SFS Chapter 928 The Empress Dowager is displeased!
Chapter 928 The Empress Dowager is displeased!
No matter how unhappy Princess Zhaoyang was, she dared not show it on the surface.
The Empress Dowager's attitude today has already shown that she dislikes her daughter. Naturally, she wouldn't be foolish enough to deliberately provoke the Empress Dowager.
Mu Xin Nuan smiled slightly as she looked at Zhao Yang's resentful expression.
I used to think Zhao Yang was an extremely shrewd person, but I never expected her to act so foolishly today!
Even if you want to make a big fuss, don't you even know what time it is?
The Empress Dowager's birthday was taken away, yet she had people say such discouraging things. Who would want to listen? Moreover, the situation in the court is stable now, and the Li family still has several generals leading troops in the field. Does this Zhaoyang really think that just because she suffered a few grievances, she can get Aze to issue an order to confiscate the Li family's property?
Did she get her brain squeezed by a door?
At this moment, Mu Xin Nuan had to think carefully: was this woman really the master behind Consort Luo and Lady Zhuang? How come she seemed even less capable than them?
It's no wonder Mu Xin Nuan was suspicious; Zhao Yang was simply too hasty in dealing with today's events.
Zhao Yang was too arrogant. She only thought that with so many people around today, she could bring up Li Wanhe's matter and the Empress Dowager would surely stand up for her own daughter. But she completely forgot that the Empress Dowager was so old, how could she be willing to hear such ominous words?
Furthermore, she underestimated the Empress Dowager's trust in Mu Xin Nuan.
The Empress Dowager was shrewd and intelligent, and could not possibly be someone who couldn't distinguish right from wrong. Even if she was old, putting aside everything else, just considering how filial Mu Xin Nuan was to her, she would never suspect the Li family.
Who can blame them when the Li family is Mu Xinnuan's maternal grandparents' family?
Furthermore, the eldest patriarch of the Li family is currently guarding the border, and Prince Duanmu Xing is by his side. If Zhao Yang makes such a fuss, won't that only embarrass the royal family?
What an idiot!
At the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, no one dared to mention that rumor again.
Moreover, since the Empress Dowager has spoken and Princess Zhaoyang has personally admitted it, it is just a rumor. So, who would make unfounded speculations?
The Empress Dowager felt a little tired along the way, so she asked her two daughters to accompany her to the back to rest.
As the head of the central palace, the Empress naturally had to take charge of the overall situation in the absence of the Empress Dowager.
Madam Li shook her head. "Anuan, I never imagined that such a huge rumor would be resolved so easily. Now that the Empress Dowager has spoken, who would dare to spread such nonsense again?"
“Mother, there are some things that the Empress Dowager may not interfere with, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know or understand them. The Empress Dowager knows in her heart that only in this way can she protect this daughter.”
Li was taken aback, and a look of surprise appeared in her eyes as she looked at Mu Xin Nuan.
"Anuan, do you mean you've already come up with a plan? Even if the Empress Dowager sides with Princess Zhaoyang today, you'll still make all her schemes fail?"
“That’s natural. Now that the situation in Dayong is stable, His Majesty finally has a chance to rest. As his wife, I naturally want to help him solve his problems. I can’t let His Majesty worry about everything.”
"That's good. Ah Nuan, I was worried that things would get out of control. Thankfully, you're here."
Madam Li, who was standing to the side, also understood the meaning behind Mu Xinnuan's words.
If the Empress Dowager helps Zhaoyang today and things escalate, the one who will likely suffer the most is not the Li family, but Princess Zhaoyang herself. In that case, Zhaoyang's reputation will be truly ruined.
Zhaoyang is a royal princess. Even if the Empress Dowager doesn't consider blood ties, she still has to consider the reputation of the entire Duanmu family.
"The Empress Dowager is indeed a shrewd person."
Meanwhile, Duanmu Jing and Zhaoyang helped the Empress Dowager back to Fushou Palace. The Empress Dowager made an excuse that she wanted to eat bird's nest and sent Duanmu Jing to go and check on it.
As the Empress Dowager, why would the princess need to personally go to get what she wants to eat?
Duanmu Jing understood that the Empress Dowager had something to say to Zhaoyang, so she tactfully withdrew.
"Mother, it is all my fault for being unfilial. I really shouldn't have troubled you today."
"Hmph! You wretched child, how dare you speak like that? Do you know that if I hadn't shielded you today, you wouldn't be safe and sound!"
Zhao Yang was taken aback, his face showing surprise and doubt.
"Mother, I don't understand."
"You think everything you've done is flawless? Let me ask you, did you deliberately have these rumors spread?"
"Your Majesty, I have no other choice. I have only found out this much, but I have no evidence whatsoever, so I have no choice but to act in this manner. I beg Your Majesty's understanding."
"Understanding? Zhaoyang, do you really want me to explain things so clearly? When were you poisoned? What kind of poison? Are you sure you can explain all of this clearly?"
Princess Zhaoyang was startled, lowered her head slightly, and dared not look up to meet the Empress Dowager's gaze for a long time.
She was unsure whether the Empress Dowager actually knew something, which was why she asked that question.
If that's the case, then all her plans will be disrupted, and in that case, wouldn't I have no chance to turn things around?
More importantly, she will lose the Empress Dowager's favor, and in the future, no matter what she does, she will likely find it difficult to regain her mother's trust.
Thinking of her two children, Zhaoyang gritted her teeth and suddenly raised her head.
"Mother, I don't understand why you suspect me like this. Think about it, you raised me since I was a child. Don't you know what kind of person I am? Do you really think that if no one had poisoned me, I would be such a cruel and bloodthirsty person?"
The Empress Dowager looked at her daughter with tears in her eyes. Although she felt wronged, there was still a stubbornness in her eyes.
"You mean to say that none of this has anything to do with you, and that Li Wanhe really did drug you?"
“Mother, Li Wanhe herself admitted that the Imperial Son-in-Law was also present at the time. I did not use any torture on her. If she did not do it, why would she admit it?”
The Empress Dowager remained silent, only looking at her with some uncertainty.
"Mother, I know I've never been as good as Jing'er, not as cute or sensible as her, and you and Father have always favored her. But over the years, have I ever done anything to betray the royal family?"
The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered slightly. Faced with her own daughter's questioning, she was really unsure whether her previous guess was true.
"Mother, think about it. If no one poisoned me, how can you explain the huge difference between my behavior before and after? I have been married into the Luo family for many years. When have I ever been known to mistreat the servants?"
Zhao Yang saw that the Empress Dowager was soft-hearted, so she quickly pressed her advantage and tried to persuade the Empress Dowager to believe that she had really been drugged.