met free Chapter 490 Mother is waiting
Chapter 490 Mother is waiting
The wise prince emerged from the inner palace, dejected and filled with regret: "Father, your political achievements are outstanding. You are diligent in governing and love the people. You are a wise and virtuous ruler praised by the people."
“As your son and a prince of Northern Qi, I should have put the people first, just like you. But instead of doing so, I committed a heinous crime and almost ruined your lifelong reputation.”
He knelt down in the center of the hall with a thud, tears streaming down his face: "Father, I deserve to die. Please punish me."
The wise king overheard the conversation between the Northern Qi emperor and his ministers in the inner palace and knew very well that the Northern Qi emperor was on his side, so he deliberately retreated as a means of advancement.
Those who impeach him today, he will surely settle accounts with them one by one in the future.
The wise king kept a record of their mistake in his mind.
"The remnants of the previous dynasty have returned with renewed vigor, attempting to overthrow my empire." The Northern Qi Emperor had no time to offer words of comfort to the wise prince. He patted the dragon throne he sat on and said, "Since ancient times, emperors and the state have been replaced. The civil and military officials and the common people do not care who sits in this position. They only care about who can bring them benefits in this position. What I want to do is to drag them into this."
The Emperor of Northern Qi stood up and walked step by step to the Prince Xian. He helped him up with both hands and solemnly said, "Heng'er, tomorrow at the morning court, I will order you to wipe out the remnants of the previous dynasty."
The wise king felt inexplicably flustered; his heart pounded violently against his chest.
He couldn't say whether it was because he had a premonition that something bad was about to happen, or because his father had opened up to him for the first time, that made him feel uneasy.
"You have wiped out the remnants of the previous dynasty, so your father will make you the crown prince." The Emperor of Northern Qi straightened the crown of the Prince Xian and sighed softly, "Your father's health is deteriorating, and I'm afraid he doesn't have many years left to live."
The wise prince's nose tingled with emotion: "Father..."
"Alright, you're a grown man now." The Emperor of Northern Qi patted the Prince Xian on the shoulder: "Go back to your residence and wait for news."
The wise king had never been treated with such tenderness by the emperor of Northern Qi.
At this moment, they were like an ordinary father and son.
For a moment, the wise king forgot his reverence for the Northern Qi emperor.
He pleaded, "Father, I wish to see Mother."
Seeing the filial affection flowing in the eyes of the virtuous prince, the emperor of Northern Qi softened his heart, a rare occurrence.
"Go then." The Emperor of Northern Qi thought to himself that after this meeting, the Prince Xian would probably never see Consort Shu again in this lifetime. He graciously said, "Take some food for your mother, as a token of your filial piety as her son."
"Your son thanks Your Majesty for your divine grace."
With the permission of the Northern Qi Emperor, the Prince Xian personally went to the imperial kitchen to select several of the Consort Shu's favorite pastries and hurriedly went to the Cold Palace.
It is likely that the Northern Qi emperor sent someone to give instructions, and the virtuous prince was able to enter the cold palace without any hindrance.
The situation inside the palace made King Xian stop in his tracks.
The hall was dark and damp, furnished with a few simple and worn-out pieces of furniture. It was nothing like the luxurious and opulent Zhaohua Palace. It was even less grand than the living quarters of the palace maids in Zhaohua Palace.
"Ahem... Wang Lin, I heard a noise at the courtyard gate. Go and see if my son has arrived."
The sound of Consort Shu coughing and wheezing came from the inner palace.
The Prince Xian hurried to the inner palace and saw Consort Shu lying on the bed. She was so thin that she was just skin and bones, with white hair growing at her temples. She looked as if she had aged ten years.
Previously, she had received great favor from the emperor, and Consort Shu still retained her charm. Although she was over forty years old, she had fair skin and a beautiful appearance.
He is now completely different from the person he used to be.
It is evident that Consort Shu suffered greatly in the Cold Palace.
"Mother Consort." Prince Xian's voice choked with emotion as he spoke to Consort Shu, "Your son has come to visit you."
Consort Shu looked in the direction of the sound and saw Prince Xian standing behind the screen.
The Prince Xian walked to the bedside and knelt on the footstool: "Mother, your son is late and has caused you to suffer."
"It's not bitter, Mother Consort, it's not bitter. The palace servants here have taken good care of me." Consort Shu held Prince Xian's face in her trembling hands, tears streaming down her face. "Mother Consort thought she would never see you again in this life."
“The other day, Wang Lin brought me a message saying that you have returned to the capital.”
"My mother longs to see you again, day and night."
"I've been waiting for you today."
Consort Shu's sobbing was like a sharp dagger, piercing deeply into Prince Xian's heart.
"Today, my father gave me a definite answer: as long as I wipe out the remnants of the previous dynasty tomorrow, he will make me the crown prince." The wise prince's eyes were red as he made a promise: "Please wait for me. Once I sit on that throne, I will welcome you to the Cining Palace to enjoy unparalleled honor."
Consort Shu nodded: "I'll wait."
She harbored resentment towards the Northern Qi emperor, hating his ruthlessness and heartlessness.
He never considered the fact that she had borne him children.
They banished her to the cold palace and never spoke of her again.
Fortunately, she still has her son.
The hard times are almost over and the good times are about to begin.
Thinking of this, Consort Shu smiled and said, "Mother is waiting for the day when my son comes to greet me."
-
After returning from the Cold Palace, the Prince Xian stayed quietly in his residence and did not go anywhere else.
He went to sleep at 9 PM.
"Thump—thump, thump, thump—"
"It's freezing cold, please keep warm."
The sound of the night watchman striking his clapper echoed in the quiet night.
The wise king awoke with a start from his sleep.
Just then, rapid footsteps came from outside the door.
The next moment, the attendant knocked on the door urgently: "Your Highness, something terrible has happened. Lord Wang and his entire family have been massacred."
The wise king was stunned.
Lord Wang was none other than the former official who had advised the Northern Qi emperor to adopt a son yesterday.
What has the wise king figured out?
Could it be that Lord Wang was killed by the Emperor of Northern Qi?
The reason why the Northern Qi emperor killed Lord Wang was to frame the remnants of the previous dynasty.
Once the remnants of the previous dynasty are involved, it will inevitably make the former officials of the previous dynasty uneasy, fearing that the remnants of the previous dynasty will also wipe out their entire families.
At this time, the Northern Qi emperor issued another decree ordering him to suppress the remnants of the previous dynasty.
In this way, the former officials of the previous dynasty will surely give him their full support.
It was already past midnight.
The wise king hurriedly got up, changed into his court robes, and rode into the palace.
As the wise king had predicted.
The massacre of Lord Wang's entire family shocked the court and the public.
Officials from both civil and military ranks urged the Northern Qi emperor to thoroughly investigate the massacre of the Wang family.
The Northern Qi emperor ordered Prince Xian to investigate the case and seek justice for Lord Wang.