The Cannon Fodder in Quick Transmigration Refuses the Usual Path

Chapter 612: The Arrogant Noble Consort Who Failed in the Struggle for the Throne (24)

It's a pity. While His Highness the Crown Prince could afford to wait, not everyone could.

In the first year after the Empress was established, looking at the woman seated at the head of the table—the Empress who remained as carefree, reckless, and unrestrained as ever—everyone felt privately troubled. They could barely console themselves with the thought, "So what if there are two Empresses Dowager in the future? If she were shrewd, it might be manageable, but the Imperial Noble Consort…"

Only the entire Ronghe Palace seemed to have been pressed with a pause button, becoming frighteningly quiet.

In the second year after the Empress was established, watching the couple still enjoying summer garden tours and winter hot spring visits, living a life of utter bliss, everyone could only sigh.

It was said that the paintings the Current Emperor personally drew for the Imperial Noble Consort during their outings alone filled more than half a storeroom.

The crowd: "…"

Fine, let the foolish woman be pleased for a little while longer.

However, the third year, the fifth year…

By the eighth year since An Ning was enfeoffed as Empress, not only had many imperial consorts successively died of illness, but even the Second Prince, the Prince of Yong, who had been jumping around quite actively during the succession struggle, had his life taken by a sudden bout of cold.

He was only thirty-six years old at the time…Well, considering the overall lifespan of the Old Xiao Family, it wasn't really surprising.

One could say it was standard procedure.

Even Xiao Qi himself only felt slightly saddened for a short while, before becoming even more clingy.

His attentiveness was truly meticulous.

Not only did he delegate a significant portion of daily government affairs to the Crown Prince, but every winter, without An Ning needing to mention it, he would take a large entourage and head straight for the hot spring retreat palace.

An Ning: "…"

Fine, becoming Empress Dowager a bit later isn't impossible.

The Crown Prince, who was several years older than the Second Brother and still remained in the icy-cold palace halls handling government affairs: "…"

Silently, he picked up the new health-preserving tea prepared by the imperial physicians. In the evening, facing a group of concubines eagerly waiting for him, His Highness the Crown Prince didn't even glance sideways.

Before leaving, his steps didn't waver in the slightest!

Especially in the following years, watching his unwilling Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother pass away one after another.

Yet his father, or rather, his Imperial Father and Empress Mother, the couple, were still living happily.

Early in the morning, it was said that after practicing swordplay, they could still happily tour the gardens together!

The crowd of ministers, now aged and decrepit: "!!!"

Heaven's justice, where is heaven's justice?!

Even Prince Ning, who occasionally returned from his fiefdom to visit his Imperial Father and Empress Mother, couldn't help but occasionally cast a sympathetic glance at his elder brother.

After marriage, his increasingly clear and innocent big eyes even flickered from time to time with a hint of relief.

It was practically written on his face: "Imperial Brother, that's just too tragic!"

The Crown Prince: "…"

Forget it. At least he's the only remaining brother left now, and a genuine blockhead at that. Causing him real harm wouldn't look good on him, not to mention how Imperial Father and Empress Mother would feel.

It wasn't until the Crown Prince was forty-five, the thirteenth year since An Ning was established as Empress, that Xiao Qi finally reluctantly abdicated. Perhaps he felt this son was truly pitiful, or perhaps he was genuinely feeling somewhat inadequate, fearing that the hard-won little life he had managed to secure might not survive the toil.

He took his Empress and moved beautifully into the newly constructed garden.

It truly wasn't easy!

Behind the Crown Prince, the crowd of old ministers who had witnessed the events of those years could hardly contain their tears of joy.

What the Crown Prince, who had finally touched the still-warm imperial throne after more than twenty years, at the age of forty-something, thought about it all, An Ning didn't know. As for herself, as one of the most revered figures in the land, the Grand Empress, she was quite happy.

As the long-planned retirement home, the Moonlight Garden was undoubtedly built with exquisite craftsmanship. It had everything one could want for eating, drinking, playing, and enjoyment. Thanks to years of sword practice, An Ning's health was exceptionally good.

Her own parents were also long-lived and could come over to play and chat from time to time. Especially her father, Shen's Old Man, who was over seventy but still nimble, his sword dances soaring, more energetic than some thirty-year-old youths. Every time he visited, he could make both the Grand Emperor and the Current Emperor's eyes turn green with envy.

Of course, with her father setting this precedent, An Ning herself was no less impressive.

In her fifties, she could still beautifully enjoy boating and music appreciation with her little daughter, occasionally discussing beautiful clothing and fragrances. To some extent, due to their status and excellent taste, the mother-daughter pair were still the fashion trendsetters for the entire capital.

Not to mention the former emperor was still around. Anyway, as one of the few remaining younger siblings, the Current Emperor's attitude was still quite good.

Fine. An Ning silently put away the medicine she had stored in her space…

However, it was precisely this attitude that made the former Consort Qi, formerly Beauty Qi, increasingly unable to suppress her simmering rage.

Yes, former Consort Qi, not former Empress.

For no other reason than that the Grand Emperor and Empress were still alive. The empire couldn't possibly have two empresses, could it?

That made no sense anywhere.

Even this title of former Consort Qi was something the Current Emperor had fought for.

It's just… truly tenacious, this stubborn willpower.

Looking at the woman in the palace hall, her hair completely white, her expression gaunt and haggard, yet still stubbornly clinging to a breath of life, An Ning couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration. Compared to the "true love" life-saving act of the person beside her, in An Ning's opinion, this Beauty Qi was the formidable character who had stubbornly clung to a breath of life, enduring "humiliation," determined to wait until she became Empress Dowager, trampled her sworn enemy underfoot, and enjoyed supreme honor.

Of course, it would have been even better if that sworn enemy wasn't An Ning herself.

A pity. There are no ifs.

Not to mention the grudges from her previous life, for the sake of her own lazy life, there was absolutely no chance for this woman to rise to power in this lifetime.

However, the one who should be most troubled now was undoubtedly the current Empress, Madam Lin.

In Han Zhang Hall, the Empress couldn't help but rub her temples with a headache.

So troublesome! To have a mother-in-law who not only loves snatching harem authority but also constantly tries to push her own niece into a higher position. Whichever aspect you look at, she herself is the one directly confronted.

But then again, isn't it obvious that this woman is scheming and power-hungry? If not, the Emperor wouldn't have been stuck in the Crown Prince position for a full twenty-something years.

Compared to this one, the one in Moonlight Garden was simply too worry-free.

Thinking about the happy life Third Sister-in-law had lived all these years, and then looking at her own…

In the darkness, the Empress sighed silently.

Fortunately, perhaps due to excessive unwillingness, or perhaps because nothing went her way, having to remain subordinate to others every day, watching her detestable sworn enemy live as happily as before.

Even her daughter-in-law, the Empress, hah!

Especially now, when her son had already ascended the throne, yet she seemed to have gained nothing!

In short, less than two years after the new emperor's accession, the former Consort Qi's stubborn will finally completely dissipated. Only before her death, she still stared fixedly at the wall, her face still filled with unwillingness.

Her position as Empress Dowager!

Seeing this, while breathing a sigh of relief, the Empress couldn't help but curl the corner of her lips.

Who's to blame? Pushing away her own position as Empress Dowager, apart from this one, no one else had enjoyed decades of honor quite like this.

Even the Current Emperor only sighed almost imperceptibly!

Especially when he thought of that other mother, carefree and worry-free, her eyes clear and bright, looking a good ten years younger than him.

Mother, ah!

As for the other party involved, hah, right now she's dressed beautifully, having a great time playing in the garden with her little daughter!

The Grand Emperor, well… presumably another masterpiece will soon be added to the collection.