Chapter 603: Chapter 603 Admonition
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The Empress was startled by the Empress Dowager’s shout. Looking at her gloomy face, she dared not make another sound.
However, she was cursing the Empress Dowager internally. How dared the Empress Dowager humiliate her in front of so many people? Was she tired of living?
Zhou Ying smiled and nodded at the Empress Dowager to show her gratitude. She then lowered her head and continued eating.
When she caught a glimpse of Zhou Jiaying’s disappointed expression from the corner of her eye, Zhou Ying knew what was going on. Zhou Jiaying was the one who started the dispute by claiming that she was infertile, and even the Empress had been used by her.
Thinking of this, she huffed coldly. Since Zhou Jiaying didn’t want a good life and insisted on finding trouble, don’t blame her for retaliating.
After the banquet ended, Gu Chengrui told Zhou Ying about the Fourth Prince’s olive branch on the way back and said, “I’m not sure what he’ll do next. Be careful.”
“I guess there is no tacit understanding between them, husband and wife.” Zhou Ying retold how Zhou Jiaying made things difficult for her, “In the future, if King Kang comes looking for you again, you can use her as an excuse and let them fight each other.”
“It’s a good idea. Let’s give them a taste of their own medicine and stir up the Kang Imperial Residence.”
On the other side, after returning to the palace, the Empress Dowager called the Empress into her palace and questioned her, “Do you still remember your identity?”
“As the Empress.” The Empress was shocked by that question before replying.
“I thought you didn’t remember. Although Gu Chengrui is an official of the Ming Dynasty, he is not a slave of the Yang family. What right do you have to interfere in other people’s family affairs?
“Even after she rejected you, you still tried to use your power to force her. How do you want everyone to think of you? How do you want them to think of our royal family?”
“I know her mistake. I just didn’t expect Zhou Ying to not give me any face at all, so I just got angry…”
“But did you give them face? She initially rejected you tactfully, but you insisted on arranging a concubine for them.
“If it were you, would you be willing?”
The Empress Dowager sighed and continued tiredly, “The position of Empress does have a lot of power, but it also has a lot of restrictions.
“This is because your words and actions represent the royal family’s attitude.
“You must consider the bigger picture and not act recklessly based on your personality.
“Another thing is that being a mother to the country doesn’t mean you’re actually their mother, but it’s a saying that you should be a role model for all the women and lead them well.”
“I understand.”
“Go back and think about this carefully. Your attitude will, at the very least, affect the prestige of the Emperor and King Hui.” After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she waved her hand to let her out.
After the Empress had left, Nanny Liu asked, “Empress Dowager, isn’t that too harsh? I’m afraid that the Empress will hate you.”
“She hates me already.
“Ever since she was grounded, she’s always been moody. If she weren’t scolding one person, she would be scolding another. Her temperament is really too different from Empress Zhou’s.” The Empress Dowager sighed, “Unfortunate.”
After Nanny Liu heard this, her heart ached for the Empress Dowager. If she cared too much, the Emperor would suspect her of taking control. If she cared too little, everything would look terrible on her. She was stuck in a dilemma.
After the Empress left the Empress Dowager’s palace, she was so furious that her face turned green. This time, however, she did not flare up again.
There was one sentence that she had taken to heart, which was that her attitude represented King Hui. She could not embarrass her son and needed to wait for him to return and discuss another big plan.
Thinking of this, she asked her substitute nanny, Nanny Yu, “Oh right, how long has it been since King Hui sent a letter?”