163 Crown Prince’s orders.
“WHAT? What do you mean that no one can go inside? Do you think anyone in this palace has the authority to stop me from meeting His Majesty?” Yang Lingxin looked at the guards who were standing in front of His Majesty’s chamber and asked coldly when they tried to stop her from entering the chamber and meeting His Majesty.
“How dare you stop me, the Empress of the Zheng Empire, from going inside His Majesty’s chamber? Do you have a death wish?” She yelled at them as she couldn’t bear the disrespect that they were showing her.
After His Majesty fell sick, she has been visiting his chamber almost daily and has been staying by his side the whole day. She only leaves his chamber to have her meals and comes back soon to stay by his side.
She is his wife and the Empress of the Empire. How can they dare to stop her from meeting him?
The guards were shaken when the Empress shouted at them and threatened them with her authority.
They lowered their heads in fear and explained, “Your Majesty, His Highness has ordered us that from now on no one will be allowed to enter His Majesty’s chamber except Master Jiang Tai and Lady Yu Ling who will take care of His Majesty and will help him with day-to-day menial tasks.”
“Your Majesty, we cannot do anything either. We are only following the Crown Prince’s orders.” One of the guards answered in a meek voice as he lowered his eyes in front of her.
He has never seen the Empress who is the epitome of grace and elegance speak in such a crude and rude manner with anyone, not even the servants or the royal guards.
Yang Lingxin’s face turned crimson in embarrassment and fury. So the guards were stopping her from entering the chamber of His Majesty on the orders of Zheng Liang?
.....
How dare he! His Majesty is still alive yet he is already showing his true colors by stopping her from meeting His Majesty.
What is the meaning of this? Is he trying to announce a fight against her already? She pursed her lips and could feel her blood boiling in rage. How can he disrespect her like that?
“What do you mean only Master Jiang Tai can go inside to treat His Majesty? Wasn’t Master Jiang’s disciple, Bai Jiang, in charge of feeding the medicines to His Majesty and looking after his health? What about him?” Her eyes widened in shock as she could not believe that Zheng Liang had not only banned her from entering the chamber but also Master Jiang’s Assistant Physician as well.
“Yes. Other than Master Jiang Tai, no other physician could attend His Majesty or come near to the royal chamber.” The guard informed her.
What is going on inside his head? Does he think that by doing all these things, everything will get better and become the same as before?
Did he find out about anything? How can it be possible? There is no way he would be able to find out the cause behind His Majesty’s condition.
No! He must be doing all this to look down on her. Yes. He is trying to showcase his power in front of her and nothing else. She repeated in her head and controlled her hands which were trembling in nervousness.
She took a deep breath and regained her composure. This won’t do. She cannot lose her control here.
She looked at the guard and said in an understanding manner. “Zheng Liang has ordered not to let anyone visit His Majesty? If that’s the case, you should follow his orders.” She lowered her voice and nodded in understanding.
“However, I am sure I am an exception to this order since I am not just anyone but the Empress of the Empire and His Majesty’s First Consort. There is no way he would try to stop me from entering His Majesty’s chamber, don’t you think so? Now open the door and let me go inside. I have brought the scented incense for His majesty’s chamber which will dissipate the evil energy and unpleasant scent that has surrounded His Majesty and caused him to fall sick.” She said,
“If you do not open the door, you will be held accountable for the sickness of His Majesty and will be thrown into jail for overlooking my orders.” She threatened him without holding back on displaying her authority as the Empress of the Empire.
“Your Majesty….”, The guards looked at her with hesitance and didn’t know how to stop her from entering His Majesty’s chamber anymore. She is the Empress of the Zheng Empire after all, how can he go against her?
If he does not open the door and follow the Crown Prince’s orders, he will be punished by the Empress and if he doesn’t do that and open the door for her, he will be punished by His Highness. In the end, he will be punished by both sides. What can he do to avoid the worst situation?
While the guards were wondering what to do and how to resolve this matter, they heard a voice that not only surprised them but also allowed them to let out a sigh of relief.
___
“Greetings to Your Majesty. Are you here to visit Father?” Yang Ning asked as she walked towards Yang Lingxin who was trying to intimidate the guards earlier by using her authority and title as the Empress.
Yang Lingxin frowned when Yang Ning walked up to her while smiling and pretending to be on friendly terms with her. This girl sure knows how to keep a fake smile on her face.
However, what bothered her more was the way she addressed His Majesty. She addressed her using the formal title, meanwhile, she called His Majesty, Father. Since when did she become close to him that she is addressing him as Father when Zheng Liang doesn’t call him Father frequently?
Is she trying to boast to everyone in the palace that His Majesty has accepted her as his daughter-in-law and has even gifted her his necklace?
Yang Lingxing pursed her lips and forced a smile when Yang Ning walked towards her and stood in front of her, “Yes. I came to meet His Majesty and brought this scented incense which will keep his chamber fragrant. However, this guard has been stopping me from going inside and saying that Zheng Liang has given orders to not let anyone go inside His Majesty’s Chamber.”
“Until yesterday, there was no command like that. I was baffled when I came to meet His Majesty and was stopped from going inside in front of his chamber.”
“I am His Majesty’s First Consort and as his wife, it is my filial duty to serve him and look after him. If I cannot meet him, then who will take care of His Majesty? Yang Ning, you are Zheng Liang’s wife and stay by his side all the time. You tell me if one day Zheng Liang falls sick and you will be stopped from meeting him, what will you do? Don’t you think this order is unfair and disrespectful towards me?” She asked, putting Yang Ning in a complicated situation.