Chapter 184.1

Chapter 184.1

Empress Wei’s body under her phoenix robe trembled slightly. She was furious.

She never expected that one day, her most beloved grandson would threaten her like this.

“Great! You’re really great!”

Zhao Zuo said, “Grandmother Empress, grandson is not great at all. If this grandson was great, this grandson wouldn’t be here today making Grandmother Empress so furious.”

Empress Wei snorted and said nothing.

Zhao Zuo said again, “Grandmother Empress, this grandson was forced to act. Back then, when you forced the Wei Famly to do those things, Jin Wang counted it as under my name. Because of this, he impeded the marriage between this grandson and the young miss of the Chen Family. If this didn’t happen, there wouldn’t have been a marriage between this grandson and the young miss from the Wang Family. Without the matter with the Wang Family, perhaps the matter between father and mother consort wouldn’t have happened. Naturally, there wouldn’t have been the matter between the young miss from the Wang Family and his father. His father also wouldn’t have been deposed as the crown prince.

“This grandson has changed from a dignified crown prince’s shizi to Hui Wang Shizi, and the reputation of Hui Wang Manor has been ruined by father. No matter how hard this grandson tries, this grandson can’t wash it away. Now that this grandson has been abandoned by Grandfather Emperor, the Wei Family, and even you, what do you expect this grandson to do?”

Zhao Zuo said it in a sobbing voice, which would be touching. However, as long as one listened carefully, one would be able to hear all sorts of nonsense.

According to his logic, everything should be blamed on Empress Wei and Duke Wei Manor. However, wasn’t it Hui Wang and his wife who committed the crimes, and negatively impacted the future prospects of their son? Or perhaps it was Zhao Zuo himself who was inferior.

If it was the past, Empress Wei would empathize and feel pity for him. Unfortunately, what Zhao Zuo had said earlier struck an extremely sensitive nerve, so now, she had nothing but anger and fury. However, Empress Wei had been in the palace for many years, so naturally, her ability to control her emotions was not bad. She quickly changed her expression and softened her voice.

“You have to know that even though Grandmother Empress is the empress, your maternal great-grandfather is still there. Your Grandmother Empress has never been able to control the Wei Family. Your father is useless, and your imperial uncles are all eyeing that position. Your maternal great-grandfather feels that your third uncle is more suitable for that position. This is why he changed his mind to help your third uncle. Your father and your third uncle are brothers. If your third uncle really does sit in that position one day, he definitely wouldn’t mistreat you. On the contrary, if one of your other imperial uncles were to sit in that position, both you and your father, plus your third uncle, would not have a good ending.”

“So Your Majesty’s intentions are?”

“Well, Hui Wang only has this one redeemable son. If he is gone, Hui Wang Manor might really be ruined. Find someone to watch over him, and don’t let him cause any trouble.”

“Then as for Jin Wang’s side?”

“Now is the calm before the storm and it’s not easy to get away with doing anything. Father is still wooing the courtiers to see if he can establish Dai Wang as the new crown prince. If it can be done, great. If it can’t be done, then we shall see what can be done. Jin Wang’s foundation in the capital is shallow. Duke Ningguo Manor, which has lost its military power, is like a tiger without claws and is nothing to be afraid of.”

Hong Rang nodded without speaking.

“Shen Luan’s son is just like herself, always acting and even putting all his efforts into acting. Since he always acts like he’s not interested in fighting, it’s best not to fight for the rest of his life!”

Zhao Zuo, who had just left Kunning Palace, turned around and glanced gloomily at the palace behind him. He clenched his fists tightly under his sleeves.

Of course, he knew that Empress Wei was lying to him. If she really believed Jin Wang posed a threat, why would she let him live for so many years in the palace? If she truly was scared of Jin Wang, why wouldn’t she stifle the disaster while it was still in its infancy? What was the point of making all these excuses now, much less bringing in Consort De who had been dead for many years?

To put it bluntly, she had already made up her mind. Even if he were to expose what he held over her, the empress had already decided to stand on the side of Dai Wang.

Of course, Zhao Zuo knew that he wouldn’t win a fight against these people led by Empress Wei. He simply took advantage of the situation to put on a show of enduring his grievances. However, he would remember everything that happened today.

gingercat's notes:

1This division works under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and is in charge of the emperor's sexual affairs.