Actually, the Empress Dowager hadn’t summoned Zhao Junyao for anything particularly important. It was merely that the Fan Family issue had recently concluded.
Even though the Fan Family had taken the blame for the assassin incident, the Empress Dowager still felt uneasy. After all, she had a hand in the matter. The Emperor was always savvy and astute, so he might well have noticed something amiss, especially since he hadn’t visited her for so long. Her heart grew increasingly suspicious and anxious.
So, the Empress Dowager summoned the Emperor to probe him and, incidentally, play the emotional card, hoping to properly maintain the bond between mother and son.
Looking at the Empress Dowager’s kindly and amiable smile, Zhao Junyao could only muster a smile in return, though his carried a faint trace of mockery.
Yes, he knew the Empress Dowager had a hand in that matter. But now, he couldn’t understand why his own mother would act against him. What on earth was she doing it for?! She was his birth mother, after all! What matter could possibly be so important as to cause a mother to move against her own son?!
In fact, it wasn’t hard to figure out, just by considering who ultimately benefited. The Shih Family. It was for the Shih Family. She had been in the palace her entire life, yet even now, she was still thinking of the Shih Family. Previously, her actions hadn’t been excessive, so Zhao Junyao had chosen to ignore them. But now, she had actually arranged for someone to act against him for the sake of the Shih Family. Zhao Junyao found it unacceptable. So, he could only evade it, only force himself not to think about it.
The Empress Dowager, with a beaming smile, inquired about his food and daily life. She also subtly tried to put in a few "good" words for the Empress.
Finally, tugging at his sleeve, she smiled and said, "Since you’ve come today, it’s a rare occasion. I’ve specially ordered your favorite dishes to be made. Accompany Aijia for a meal, won’t you?"
Zhao Junyao frowned the moment he heard this. "My favorite dishes?"
The Empress Dowager promptly nodded. "Don’t you just love the steamed meat in a small bowl that Sister Qing makes? And the little crispy ribs? Both are available for lunch today!"
After speaking, she patted his shoulder without waiting for a response and then commanded the servants to serve the meal.
Zhao Junyao frowned deeply, remaining silent for a long time. His expression was grim, his eyes filled with disappointment.
Steamed meat in a small bowl and little crispy ribs—those were clearly Zhao Junqi’s favorites! When they were children, he, Zhao Junqi, and Wanxin would come to the Empress Dowager’s place for meals. The Empress Dowager always had these dishes prepared. Zhao Junqi would gobble them down every time. And he himself couldn’t very well refuse to eat, so he could only go along and eat them too. In truth, he didn’t like them at all, but he was never a picky eater. How had it now, in the Empress Dowager’s mind, become his favorite?
Unable to contain himself any longer, Zhao Junyao said coldly, "There are several urgent memorials in the Imperial Study Room waiting for my review! Mother, please enjoy your meal alone."
With that said, he turned and started to leave without a backward glance.
The Empress Dowager suddenly grasped his arm. "Imperial Son!"
Her eyes were cautious, and somewhat reddened. "Imperial Son, are you... disdaining Aijia?"
She had already made inquiries; the Emperor had come from Consort Xian Pin’s chambers. If there were memorials in the Imperial Study Room, why would the Emperor linger in the Harem? This was clearly an excuse, but the Empress Dowager ultimately chose not to expose it.
Zhao Junyao let out a faint, cold laugh. "Mother, how could your son dare!"
"Junqi will be back in a few days. Wouldn’t it be better for him to accompany you for a meal then?" Zhao Junyao said, feigning nonchalance.
The Empress Dowager was momentarily stunned, her eyes instantly brightening. "Junqi is returning this year? Will he really come back?"
There was really nothing more to say.
Imperceptibly, Zhao Junyao removed her hand from his arm and gave a sarcastic smile. "Naturally!"
With that, he departed without looking back.
It wasn’t until his retreating figure had disappeared that the Empress Dowager finally recovered her senses. "Ah, Imperial Son!"
Sister Qing said, "Empress Dowager, the Emperor has already gone far."
Only then did the Empress Dowager belatedly feel a twinge of regret. "Qingyun, did Aijia say something wrong just now?"
Sister Qing felt a little helpless. "Your Majesty, why do you keep bringing up the Princely Heir of Yan? The Emperor is your own child!"
The Empress Dowager jolted and quickly nodded. "Yes! That’s right, Junyao is Aijia’s own flesh and blood!"
Seeing the Empress Dowager in this state, Sister Qing couldn’t bear to say more, so she changed the subject. "Your Majesty, the midday meal is ready. Let’s go and eat."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Aye!"
「 」
As the end of the twelfth lunar month neared and New Year’s Eve approached, Zhao Junqi indeed returned. This year, both Prince Yan and Princess Consort Yan were in the Capital City, so the cumbersome processions of carriages and horses typical of previous years were absent. He alone, accompanied by servants, rode through the night to return.
After resting for one night at the Prince Yan Mansion, he went to the palace early the next morning to pay his respects to the Emperor.
Zhao Junyao sat in the Imperial Study Room, looking at his cousin, who bore a slight resemblance to him. He felt extremely irked! He couldn’t quite pinpoint the reason; he just found his cousin unbearable to look at.