novelraw Chapter 1251 - 468: Palace Schemes Pale Before Rebellion (Part 5)
Chapter 1251 - 468: Palace Schemes Pale Before Rebellion (Part 5)
"Outrageous!"
"Kneel!!"
Lady Hu seemed to hear the words "Old Witch" from her daughter’s mouth for the first time, a mix of surprise and uncontrollable anger.
She disregarded any mother-daughter relationship, rebuking loudly.
Zheng Nianer was frightened, almost unable to react, instinctively plopping down on her knees.
Bang!
In the quiet side hall, there was a teeth-clenching sound of a heavy object hitting the ground.
Zheng Nianer was in so much pain that her eyes welled up with tears, her small body trembling lightly.
Lady Hu seemed to ignore her daughter’s pitiful appearance, continuing her icy cold reprimand: "Zheng Nianer, how dare you disrespect the Empress Dowager?"
"Is this how I usually teach you? Even if the Empress Dowager is somewhat strict, she is the Empress Dowager of the Dayuan Dynasty, the Mother of the Emperor!"
The last sentence was the focus of Lady Hu’s outburst.
While reprimanding Zheng Nianer, she secretly observed Emperor Yongcheng with the corner of her eye.
Sure enough, seeing Lady Hu and Zheng Nianer’s actions, Emperor Yongcheng’s dark expression finally showed a change.
Lady Hu took the opportunity to signal her daughter with a glance.
Zheng Nianer looked innocent and lively, but she wasn’t truly naive.
Suddenly receiving such a scolding from her mother and being forced to kneel on the cold and hard bluestone floor.
Her knees hurt terribly, without looking she knew they must be bruised.
From childhood to now, when had she suffered such pain?
Zheng Nianer’s heart was beyond aggrieved, and she had some complaints against her mother.
But, seeing Lady Hu’s look, her cleverness quickly grasped the situation.
With a thick cry, she pitifully said, "Mom, I was wrong! I, I should show more respect to the Empress Dowager for Erlang’s sake."
"But I just feel distressed for Erlang, all these past years, the Empress Dowager has been so cold to Erlang, never treating him as her own son—"
Zheng Nianer was ostensibly admitting fault, but her words were laced with the flavor of sowing discord.
"Impertinent! You dare speak recklessly?"
Lady Hu was secretly pleased, truly her daughter, taught by her, was clever indeed.
On the surface, she still showed a look of anger.
She seemed to be restraining herself, as if, if she weren’t concerned about Emperor Yongcheng’s presence at her knee, she would stand and rush to Zheng Nianer, giving her a good lesson.
"Mom~~~" Zheng Nianer initially only had tears swirling in her eyes, but was scolded again, causing tears to flow down.
Emperor Yongcheng, seeing this, couldn’t help but feel compassion. He lifted his head, stood up, walked to Zheng Nianer’s side, and looked at her with full pity.
Familiar with taking a handkerchief to wipe her tears, he instinctively defended her, "Wet nurse, that’s enough, don’t reprimand Nianer anymore!"
"She’s always been like this, innocent and lively, speaks without restraint. Whatever is in her heart, she will say directly!"
As Emperor Yongcheng spoke, he couldn’t help but recall his childhood.
At that time, he was just four years old when his mother suddenly sent him outside the palace.
Accompanied only by a few wet nurses, a close eunuch, and palace maid.
Emperor Yongcheng was afraid and aggrieved, not knowing what had happened, worried he had caused trouble, wondering why he was suddenly sent away from the palace?
Though he was the Emperor’s son, his older brother a few years senior could still lean on their father with affection.
As for him, he could only look on with envy from afar.
They said the palace had an outbreak, so he was sent out to avoid it, while his brother could stay with their father in Taiji Hall.
...No one knew the depth of Emperor Yongcheng’s envy and jealousy towards his brother.
They all said he was the most noble legitimate son of the Empress, but he would rather not be any legitimate son, wishing only to have a dignified yet loving father like his brother, and a gentle yet noble and kind mother.
Unlike him, rejected by his father, with a mother who was equally indifferent.
Apart from forcing him to study, and to practice martial arts, there was no other warmth.
Emperor Yongcheng once even doubted if he was truly his parents’ biological child.
Fortunately, he still had Lady Hu, the wet nurse, by his side.
During the four or five years outside the palace, he relied entirely on Lady Hu’s wholehearted care.
Lady Hu and her family showed him utmost sincerity.
Lady Hu gave him the motherly love he longed for, while Zheng Nianer was the warm light in his bleak childhood.
Even now, Emperor Yongcheng clearly remembers—
Just after leaving the imperial palace and staying at the He Family’s manor for a few days, due to his heavy heart and maladaptation, he fell ill.
The wet nurse stayed by his side day and night, tirelessly caring for him.
As for Zheng Nianer, although she was just a little child herself, she stayed obediently by his sickbed, telling him stories and feeding him candied snacks.