Chapter 34 - Retrospect (1/2)
The empress dowager was currently sitting down with a few maids holding trays of jewelry while she was selecting which one to wear for the Harvest moon festival the next day. Song mama came in and the empress dowager glanced at her, ”So?”
”The emperor has returned to the royal study.” Song mama informed.
”And Prince Yi?”
”Prince Yi was not with him.” Song mama answered and then seemed a bit hesitant.
The empress dowager narrowed her eyes at her, ”Who is he with now?”
Song mama glanced at the empress dowager and responded, ”A noble consort.”
”Oh? Which one?” The empress dowager asked with keen interest, raising her eyebrows.
Song mama glanced at the maids in the room and then said, ”Noble consort Lei.”
...This girl again?...
The empress dowager frowned, ”What is she doing there?”
”It seems the emperor sent for her.”
”Sent for her?” The empress dowager asked with a sneer.
Song mama looked at the maids and motioned for them to leave. The maids bowed and then left the room. Song mama then walked up to the empress dowager's side and poured some tea for her, ”Your highness, maybe we can use her?”
The empress dowager scoffed.
...I can tell from her attitude that she's the stubborn sort...Kai'er is already like this, someone like her will only make the situation worse...she is no good...how can he not see this is an attempt to control him?...
She took the tea that Song mama offered and sipped it, ”Any progress with any of the others?”
”Noble consort Zhao has gone over to the royal study a few times but the emperor refused her every time saying he was busy. Yesterday night, she even went to wait for the emperor at the front of his palace till his return with the hope to serve him for the night. The emperor told her to go back without even sparing a second glance.” Song mama finished with a snicker.
The empress dowager sneered, ”It seems she learned well from her aunt, but if she thinks it would be that simple, then she is too stupid. He is after all my son.”
Song mama snickered again, ”Naturally. Perhaps she is feeling confident because the late empress raised the emperor for some time.”
The empress dowager scoffed, ”Raised him? If she did a good job of it, she wouldn't be dead now, so where is that confidence coming from?” She finished with raised eyebrows and then smiled, ”She is just a naive fool, but a fool is much better than that sneaky witch.”
Song mama nodded, ”She is indeed different from the late empress.”
The empress dowager's expression straightened, ”What about Chen You?”
”Noble consort Chen went over to the royal study with some snacks and health tonic a few days ago. The emperor declined her visit with the same excuse of being busy but at least he accepted the snacks and tonic.”
The empress dowager frowned.
...Can that be considered as progress?... What is he being so difficult for? -_-)...
The empress dowager frowned and then suddenly remembered something, ”What about the other one?”
”Noble consort Li has not made any movements. She mostly keeps to her palace and occasionally goes to the Imperial garden.”
The empress dowager scoffed, ”Good, at least she knows her place.”
...Even if the minister of works was making a desperate attempt for power...couldn't he have found someone better than a maid's daughter...idiots...but this Lei one is the main problem...
Song mama continued, ”Some concubines have also encountered the emperor around the palace but other than responding to greetings, he doesn't stay around for conversations.”
The empress dowager knit her brows in contemplation, ”So what is she doing there?”
”It seemed they are having a conversation, but the emperor sent everyone away so we're not able to find out the details.”