Chapter 86: The Grand Consort’s Final Wish

Chapter 86: The Grand Consort’s Final Wish

Han Ruzi didn’t have time to bid farewell to his wife before being sent into a carriage outside the Cui manor. Under the escort of a group of eunuchs and guards, he headed straight for the imperial palace.

When he emerged from the carriage, he found that the destination wasn’t Cishun Palace where the Empress Dowager resided. Instead, it was a narrow and dilapidated alleyway that seemed vaguely familiar. It suddenly dawned on him that this was the place where his mother had once been imprisoned. His heart sank, fearing that he might be confined.

Several eunuchs didn’t bother to explain and led the deposed emperor into a small courtyard. They then pushed him into a tiny room and closed the door from outside.

In such a situation, no one could remain fearless. The most terrifying aspect wasn’t the imminent danger, but the unsettling ignorance. The house was dimly lit and cramped, with a lingering scent of decay. Han Ruzi felt as though he had been thrown into a strange abyss, where a wild beast could emerge from any direction.

He stood by the door for a while, tempted to turn around and pound on it, to plead with the eunuchs outside to let him out. However, he knew it would be in vain.

“Has Your Majesty arrived?” a feeble voice asked.

Han Ruzi shuddered, focusing his gaze and spotting a low bed in the corner against the wall. The voice came from there. “Grand Consort?”

“Heh, do I still have the title Grand Consort?” the voice responded.

Han Ruzi slowly approached the bed and saw the haggard face. Half a year had passed since he last saw her, and the once radiant appearance had completely faded. But there was no doubt it was the Grand Consort.

Being summoned into the palace to see the Grand Consort left Han Ruzi perplexed. “I thought...”

“You thought I was dead,” the Grand Consort finished his sentence. After a moment’s pause, she continued, “How could the Empress Dowager bear to let me die easily? She wants to torment me bit by bit...”

“Did you ask for me to come?” Han Ruzi felt some sympathy for the Grand Consort, but he truly didn’t want to hear her recount the conflicts between the two sisters.

“Is that so? Oh, right, yes, I wanted to see Your Majesty. I never thought she would agree,” the Grand Consort said.

Han Ruzi was equally surprised and took another step forward. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”

“You are the Emperor...”

“No, I am not the Emperor. I abdicated a month ago.”

“The Empress Dowager didn’t kill you?”

“It seems not. I’ve been titled the Weary Marquis and have my own manor. I live freely and comfortably.”

“Freely and comfortably?” The Grand Consort let out a bitter laugh, her breathing suddenly grew heavy, and she coughed severely for a moment. Han Ruzi attempted to help her sit up, but the Grand Consort raised her hand to refuse and after a while, she quieted down. “How could there be freedom and comfort? You think that you are flying free, but you’re still tethered. With a gentle tug, she can drag you back to the ground.”

“That’s still better than staying on the ground all the time,” Han Ruzi said. Even if this wasn’t the imperial palace, he wouldn’t be completely frank with the Grand Consort.

“Talking about this is useless. I brought you here because I need a favor from you.”

“I have abdicated,” Han Ruzi reminded her.NewW novels updates at novelhall.com

“Just a small favor. Now that you’re no longer the Emperor, it’s actually even easier.”

“Why choose me?” Han Ruzi didn’t recall owing any favors to the Grand Consort. On the contrary, she had deceived and used him before.

The Grand Consort seemed to have forgotten those things, weakly lifting her arm to gesture for Han Ruzi to come closer. Suddenly, she started coughing violently again.

It was difficult to refuse a request from a sick person. Han Ruzi hesitated and sat down by the bedside. Underneath him was a hard wooden board, with only a very thin mat.

“I’m about to die. I won’t have to suffer the Empress Dowager’s torment anymore.”

“The Grand Consort?” Cui Xiaojun was taken aback, finally managing to stop her tears.

Han Ruzi took out the jade ornament and briefly explained the situation.

“The Empress Dowager actually allowed you to see her? And let you take the jade ornament with you!” Cui Xiao-jun was even more surprised. “Are you really going to go to Bao’en Temple?”

“Since I promised, I’ll go if I have the chance.”

“I want to go with you. Bao’en Temple has a great reputation, and they say the bodhisattvas there are the most efficacious. I want to burn more incense for you.”

“For us,” Han Ruzi chuckled.

“You won’t... go back to the palace again, will you?”

“That’s hard to say. I must participate in court ceremonies and if the Empress Dowager summons me, I can’t refuse...”

“No, I mean, do you want to return to the palace?” For the first time, Cui Xiaojun raised this question to her husband.

Han Ruzi shook his head. “The palace is like a prison. The Grand Consort and Jing Yao are confined in there, and even the Empress Dowager isn’t truly free. I don’t want to go back. I only hope that one day, I can bring my mother out of there.”

Cui Xiaojun leaned against his chest and softly said, “That’s good. I know how painful it is to be disregarded, but I also know how difficult the path of power struggle is. The Cui clan is in danger without realizing it. I’m genuinely afraid you might get caught up in it.”

“I’m truly ‘alone’ now, with no support. Even if I wanted to fight, I can’t. Don’t worry, I won’t be that foolish.”

Cui Xiaojun smiled. She enjoyed her current life – the simpler, the happier. Moving away from her husband’s chest, she said, “When the weather gets warmer, I want to tidy up the backyard. It’s quite spacious, and it’s a shame to let it go to waste.”

“Sure, we’ll tidy up the yard together.”

Not long after nightfall, Han Ruzi went to see Yang Feng. Yang Feng was the only one who hadn’t greeted the Weary Marquis at the gate during the day.

Han Ruzi didn’t mind and explained the situation to Yang Feng, eventually asking, “What is the Empress Dowager really thinking?”

Yang Feng shook his head. “Don’t ask me about what women think. I don’t understand.”

From Yang Feng’s perspective, the Weary Marquis’ recent visit to the palace had nothing to do with the court struggles. “Are you scared?” he asked.

Han Ruzi stared at Yang Feng for a while before responding, “Honestly, I was terrified. The saying goes ‘the victor becomes king; the loser becomes an outlaw’. Yet the fate of the loser is far worse than that of an outlaw.’ Comparatively, execution might even be more merciful.”

“Very good,” Yang Feng nodded.

“Very good?”

“If someone doesn’t understand the danger they’re facing, their willingness to step forward is merely recklessness, not bravery. Your fear of failure indicates that you can make the right choices. Remember, no one is forcing you. Even if you remain a marquis, it’s much better than your previous life.”

“Can I lead a stable life as a marquis?”

Yang Feng remained silent.

Han Ruzi had already made his decision. “The Grand Consort was right – I’m still tethered. It’s not just the Empress Dowager; no matter who’s pulling the string on the other end, I’ll fall to the ground if they pull.”

He paused for a moment. “Lord Yang, you couldn’t stand being controlled by others. Neither can I.”

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