Chapter 355 - Submissive Foe (1/2)

The Empress dowager froze mid-sip as she saw the Emperor enter her reception hall and a frown slowly crept on her face. She silently watched as the Emperor stopped at the bottom of the steps and sent a cold glance towards Eunuch Li who was standing next to her chair before settling his cold eyes on her, holding his hands behind his back and icily going, ”What is the meaning of this?”

The Empress dowager off-handedly blew on her tea and took a sip as she leisurely said, ”Shouldn't I be the one asking that? I'm not the one who stormed into your hall without even so much as a greeting for your mother...”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes at the Empress dowager, ”A mother who thinks nothing of her son cannot cry disrespect.”

The Empress dowager slammed her cup on the table, ”You un-”

”Your majesty, your mother simply wanted to have a meal with the Empress to rekindle their good relationship.” Eunuch Li quickly cut in with a smile before the Empress dowager could ruin things for herself.

The Emperor scoffed and looked at Eunuch Li with a raised eyebrow, ”Good relationship? Since when did you care for fostering relationsh.i.p.s?” He asked, turning back to the Empress dowager with knit eyebrows.

The Empress dowager quickly re-adjusted, remembering her plan, antagonizing the Emperor was not part of the plan. Trying to get on her son's good side was the whole reason she even wanted to bother with Lei Xing.

The Empress dowager lightly touched her cheek with the back of her hand and ”embarrassingly” said, ”I have been quite unwell in recent times...” She paused and frowned before reverting her expression back to a forlorn one, ”... My behavior may have at times been...” She took a deep breath, ”...difficult, but you must know that I have always had you at the back of my mind, always.” She said looking even more forlorn.

The Emperor flexed his fists in discomfort as he glanced from her to Eunuch Li, who smiled and clarified, ”The Empress dowager wanted to set things right with you and the Empress before leaving. She even prepared gifts.” He said, motioning to the Emperor's right.

The Emperor followed Eunuch Li's direction and glanced at the decorated boxes arranged on the table with knit eyebrows.

”They are all herbs to aid with conception.” When the Emperor turned his skeptical eyes to her, her wry smile wavered but she held it and explained, ”You know how long it took me to have you... and it is ”heartwarming” to see how much you two love each other, but no matter how deep your love runs, it cannot be without a child.” She took a deep breath to reign in her anger as she added, ”Your father had other children so no one cared whether or not I conceived, frankly, they all hoped I wouldn't.” She bit out, slamming her fist on the arm of her chair with a frown, closing her eyes as she shook with contained fury.

The Empress dowager took another deep breath and opened her eyes and calmly said, ”They will not be so patient with you given your recent actions. In a few months, they will start clamoring, and if you persist, in another few months, her name will be dragged through the mud, and eventually, you will either be forced to take others to save her face and then bitterness will consume her and your ”heartwarming” relationship will crumble. I lived this life so I know, I am only thinking of you...” She finished with a ”warm” smile that made the Emperor's skin crawl.

The Emperor lowered his eyes with knit eyebrows, not quite sure how to feel. This was very uncomfortable. He had stormed here wanting to give the Empress dowager an earful but then he was met with this amiable facade and it honestly threw him off balance. It made it hard for him to lash out at her being so...so reasonable.

”Your concern is unnecessary. We are both young and healthy, Xing er' will conceive in due time... What is it that you truly want?” The Emperor asked, narrowing his eyes at her. The only person who smiled at him without wanting anything was Lei Xing, the rest, and most especially the Empress dowager did not. There was always a catch to any kindness he received and his mother, most especially, had never looked at him with kindness. He could honestly not even recall her ever smiling at him.

The Empress dowager frowned, annoyed at the accusatory tone in his voice, ”My concern is unnecessary? Is it wrong for me to want to look after my son? Is it wrong to want to see my daughter-in-law to offer her some words of advice?!” She barked, clenching her fists. She did not understand why they were treating her so coldly when she was trying so hard to be nice to them? She had planned it all out and now they were ruining everything!

”Your majesty -”

”Be quiet!” The Empress dowager ordered, glaring at Eunuch Li before turning her angry eyes back on the Emperor, ”I am you mother and by extension her mother. Not only has she never come here to pay her respects as custom demands, but now that I send for her she goes to cry to you that I have wronged her with no cause -”

”She did no such thing!” The Emperor said with irritation, closing his eyes and letting out a sigh. He knew his mother being amiable was too good to be true, ”Xing er' is unwell today and I happen to have been there when your maid delivered the message. As for the daily greetings, you were the one who told the Imperial wives to stop ”bothering your mornings” months ago. You cannot bl-”

”Still! The Empress is not the same as an ordinary Imperial wife, she should know better! I am not even asking for daily greetings, I don't need that. Also, I haven't even complained about you two not coming to pay your respects the day after the coronation ceremony yet. It's because you're like this that she dares to -”

”Is that it then?” The Emperor asked with a slight smirk, ”Alright, after Xing er' recovers, we will come to formally pay our respects... Anything else?”

The Empress dowager glared at him and then she stood up and walked down to him as Eunuch Li followed while sending the Emperor signals for him to calm down. The Emperor inwardly scoffed and looked away as the Empress dowager stopped right in front of him and frowned up at him. The Emperor let out a breath and unfeelingly looked down at her, waiting for her to get to the point.

”Have you forgotten who stayed back and saw to the destruction of your country while that demon returned here to ensure his sc.u.m-like existence did not meet retribution?” The Empress dowager bitterly asked through gritted teeth.