webnovelfull Chapter 371 The Empress Dowager's Wrath
Chapter 371 The Empress Dowager's Wrath
Afterwards, Xie Yanli told Qin Jiuwei what Gao Xian had told him.
After listening, she paused for a long time.
Finally, he only said, "That's fine too."
Gao Xian... lacked ruthlessness but had plenty of kindness.
It's best if he can figure it out.
But I'm afraid he won't be able to figure it out.
royal palace.
"Has His Majesty been like this for the past few days?"
The Empress Dowager frowned as she looked at Gao Xian, who was drunk in front of her.
Eunuch Li carefully bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, it has been like this ever since the young master entered the palace that day..."
On the soft couch, Gao Xian sat slumped, the wine glass in his hand had long since fallen to the ground, his eyelids drooping, and his breath reeking of alcohol.
She had completely lost her usual dignified and solemn demeanor.
"How dignified!"
The Empress Dowager's eyes turned cold. She reached out and grabbed a cup of tea that had long since gone cold from the table, and without saying a word, splashed it on Gao Xian's face.
The tea was poured over his head, and Gao Xian suddenly jolted awake.
His hazy eyes cleared up a bit in an instant.
He raised his hand to wipe his face, his eyes filled with surprise and bewilderment.
Then he met the Empress Dowager's stern gaze.
Gao Xian's gaze fell on the Empress Dowager's face, and it took him a while to recognize her.
His lips twitched, but in the end he only chuckled softly and said in a hoarse voice, "Mother has arrived."
"Look at the state you've become these past two days!" The Empress Dowager's tone was filled with anger.
"The emperor, a man of great stature, spends his days drowning his sorrows in wine. What will his court officials think of him? What will the people of the world think of him?!"
Gao Xian lowered his eyelids, his voice tinged with weariness: "Mother, I don't want to hear this."
The Empress Dowager's eyes showed a hint of heartache, but she still kept a straight face and said coldly.
"You don't want to hear it? Then what do you want to do? Abandon the country and live a life of debauchery?"
"Where do you place the country? Where do you place the people of the world?"
Gao Xian closed his eyes, turned his face away, and stopped answering.
He didn't want to suffer like this.
But he really had no choice...
He couldn't have Qin Jiuwei, and he couldn't bear to hurt Xie Yanli either...
I can only keep torturing myself like this.
Drink to yourself and try not to think about it.
Don't dwell on the past.
Don't have any expectations.
Seeing his appearance, the Empress Dowager felt both angry and helpless.
Finally, he stormed off in anger.
Shou'an Palace.
The Empress Dowager summoned Eunuch Li, and through a combination of coercion and enticement, they quickly learned what had happened.
After hearing this, the Empress Dowager forcefully threw the teacup in her hand onto the ground.
The teacup shattered instantly.
"A king of a nation, reduced to this state because of a woman!"
Granny Wei whispered, "Empress Dowager, please calm down. The Emperor might..."
The Empress Dowager interrupted her directly.
"How can I not be furious! A woman has caused him to become so despondent; it's utterly absurd!"
My son is just too soft-hearted!
It's all because she protected Gao Xian too well, allowing him to have an easy life.
They never experienced sibling rivalry or open and covert struggles.
She secretly eliminated all potential threats for him, whether they were the eldest prince or the unborn princes.
From the moment he was born, he was the sole, designated next emperor.
So much so that he was too kind-hearted!
He lacked even the decisiveness and ruthlessness expected of an emperor!
If you like a woman, just take her!
The whole world belongs to him, who dares to say anything?
The Empress Dowager stood up, took a deep breath, and turned her gaze: "Issue an imperial decree to bring her into the palace!"
She wanted to see just what kind of person Qin Jiuwei really was!
She could be so infatuated with the emperor!
The main hall of the Marquis's residence.
Several eunuchs and a nanny stood in front of the hall, with the nanny Wei, who was in the lead, standing steadily.
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has decreed that you must enter the palace immediately."
Qin Jiuwei recognized her at a glance.
Wei, the old nanny who served the Empress Dowager.
In her past life, she had a lot of dealings with Granny Wei.
It seems that this time, it really is the Empress Dowager who wants to see her.
And there's no escaping it.
Shou'an Palace.
As soon as Qin Jiuwei stepped into the main hall, she felt a suffocating aura.
Before she could even stand still, she heard a "splash" and a basin of water was poured at her feet without any warning.
The splashing water directly soaked the tops of her shoes and the hem of her dress.
Qin Jiuwei remained calm, showing no sign of panic on her face.
"Granny Wei, the servants of Shou'an Palace are becoming increasingly unruly," the Empress Dowager said slowly.
Granny Wei lowered her head and said respectfully, "Yes, this servant will take care of it right away."
He then led the maid who had splashed water away.
Qin Jiuwei knew that this was a show of force deliberately given to her by the Empress Dowager.
She bowed and said, "Your humble servant Qin Jiuwei greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager raised her eyes and her gaze fell directly on her.
The Hall of Nourishing Heart.
Gao Xian awoke from a daze, his head throbbing with pain.
He sat up, propping his forehead up with his hand, his eyes still somewhat glazed.
The palace maid brought over a hangover soup with trepidation.
Gao Xian took it, took a small sip, and then Eunuch Li carefully stepped forward, bowing as he spoke.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's wife... has been summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager."
Gao Xian froze, his brows furrowing instantly.
"what?"
Eunuch Li said in a low voice, "The Empress Dowager has decreed that Granny Wei personally went to the Marquis's residence and has already brought the Heir Apparent's wife to the palace."
Gao Xian's expression changed drastically, and the effects of the alcohol were completely dispelled at that moment.
"Why did the Empress summon her to the palace? Is it to punish her, or...?"
Kill her.
Eunuch Li dared not respond, and simply lowered his head in silence.
Gao Xian got up and headed straight for Shou'an Palace.