Chapter 60 - The Forsaken (1/2)
The Emperor walked into his reception hall to find the Empress dowager sitting down and seething. As soon as the doors closed behind him, she glared at him, ”How dare you keep me waiting here?”
The Emperor snorted, ”For someone who was said to be at death's door a little while ago, you sure do have a lot of energy.” He walked over and sat down on the main seat beside the Empress dowager.
”You sound disappointed.” The Empress dowager said frowning in his direction.
The Emperor simply cast her a side glance and did not respond. After a while of the two sitting in silence. The Empress dowager then sighed, ”I heard one of your precious Noble consorts got injured today.”
The Emperor cast her another side glance and did not respond.
The Empress dowager continued, ”...So I thought it wise to pay her a visit...and you treat me this way?” She finished raising her voice, then she scoffed, ”Well you have always been a fickle-minded person like your father, it is my fault for expecting more of you.”
The Emperor frowned and simply said, ”En, it is your fault.”
The Empress dowager's frown deepened and then she began to scold, ”How can a child desert his own mother? Do you know how ha-”
”Mother, I have been thinking on what to do with you. You ar-” The Emperor calmly said cutting her off.
The Empress dowager shot up in anger, ”Are you really going to abandon me again because of that little brat? Can't you see that this is all some stupid plot? She obviously caused this and-”
”Do you even remember it?” The Emperor interjected and the Empress dowager froze. The Emperor looked at her and then sighed, ”As I thought...You taught me that for one to stand above others, one must always be contained and never subject to the whims of others. Even though she somehow forced your hand, you should not have been in a place to be moved in the first place.”
The Empress dowager knit her brows and did not answer.
...How did he know?...
The Emperor continued, ”In the past, your motivation for all the things you did always had to do with the late Emperor. What motivation did you have in what you did today? I have tried but have been unable to make sense of this move, so do enlighten me on what you hoped to gain by killing her, especially that way.” The Emperor finished looking at the Empress dowager waiting for a response.
The Empress dowager blinked and then frowned, ”Y-You're blaming me for this?”
The Emperor sighed, ”While I can understand that you may have some problems...but as you often reminded me, it is your duty to keep them under control. If others grasp any weakness in you, it will be your downfall...But then again I don't think I need to remind of you of this, after all you have experienced that for yourself...”
The Empress dowager's frown deepened as she was reminded of her lowest moments and of that sickening woman's gloating words, '...Ah, there is no need for you to worry. I will make sure to take very good care of him for you.' Then her eyes filled with anger and she said through gritted teeth, ”You traitorous son! You want to abandon like this again?!”
The Emperor frowned and then got up, ”You abandoned me first. And it seems you are not aware of this, but your freedom today is because of me, the power you hold today is also because of me. I have shown you what is called forgiveness on the account for all your suffering that had nothing to do with me, and I have shown you a tolerance that you have never shown anyone. Rather than putting on this show here, I suggest you return and reflect on your own shortcomings before they destroy you.” He finished and started walking away, then paused after a few steps and turned back to her, ”I will add this. I am in no way...in any shape or form like the late Emperor. If you keep overstepping your boundaries, you will be held accountable to the full extent of the consequences. You can consider this a warning, do not push me.” He finished and walked out of the room. Leaving the Empress dowager standing there with a deep scowl.
After the Emperor left, Song mama rushed into the room to find the Empress dowager just standing there staring at the doors. After Song mama called to her a few times, she blinked and looked at her and asked, ”How long has it been since the Harvest moon celebration?”
”It was four days ago.”