Jiuxi

Chapter 583 [Filial Piety]

Walking on the way to the harem, Lu Chen slowly figured out the origin of the helplessness in Li Zongben's eyes.

There are currently two empress dowagers in the harem, one of whom is Empress Dowager Liu, who lives in Funing Palace. She is the prince’s biological mother and the late emperor’s concubine Liu Shufei.

The other was the late emperor’s empress, Xu, who lived in the Cining Palace, which represented the master of the harem.

The situation of two Empress Dowagers being equally respected has existed since ancient times. In the more than 100 years of history of the Qi Dynasty, the Empress Dowager had a high status but did not have the right to interfere in state affairs. Therefore, Li Zongben only needed to treat them equally in etiquette and respect the two Empress Dowagers equally.

Although Empress Dowager Xu is the biological mother of the eldest prince and the third prince, and is definitely not on good terms with Empress Dowager Liu and Li Zongben, as long as Li Zongben fulfills the literal meaning of filial piety, it will not cause any trouble.

But obviously it's not that simple.

After these days of contact and chatting, Lu Chen's impression of Li Zongben gradually became clearer.

The new emperor of the Great Qi Dynasty was indeed very similar to the previous emperor Li Duan in some aspects. For example, beneath his carefree and unrestrained appearance, he was very cunning, had excellent patience, and was able to be courteous and humble in his dealings with others. These were all prerequisites for him to become a wise emperor.

But his expression at this moment was enough to prove that Empress Dowager Xu in the Cining Palace brought him a lot of pressure.

The word "filial piety" cannot be neglected, and the emperor must be a role model for all people.

In fact, Lu Chen could have politely asked to withdraw and not be involved in the royal family's affairs, but Li Zongben had been very respectful to him these days, and it would have been too disrespectful to the new monarch if he had flatly refused.

More importantly, he wanted to further clarify Li Zongben's character from these details.

Only when faced with conflict does a person's true nature become clearly revealed.

Speechless all the way.

As the Cining Palace came into sight, Lu Chen quickly felt the solemn and dignified atmosphere.

All the palace servants in the hall were silent and knelt trembling with fear.

Arriving outside the inner hall door, Li Zongben asked the eunuch to come in and report, and took a deep breath.

After a moment, the king and his minister stepped inside.

Li Zongben stood still and said respectfully, "I heard that the Queen Mother was not feeling well, and I was very worried. I happened to be discussing state affairs with Shanyang Marquis Lu Chen just now, so I brought him with me to pay my respects to the Queen Mother."

This is a bit off the mark.

Lu Chen became more and more curious about what kind of problem Empress Dowager Xu behind the pearl curtain had given Li Zongben that made him so eager to use him as a tool, and he revealed it as soon as they met.

He couldn't help but look up slightly.

Behind the pearl curtain, there was a faint scent of sandalwood and a woman in palace dress sitting on a couch. The female officials beside her were silent.

When Li Duan was alive, Lu Chen often went in and out of the palace and had been to the harem many times, but he had never seen Empress Dowager Xu, who was known as a virtuous queen in the streets.

He just felt that the title of virtuous queen was questionable. Perhaps to the officials in the court and even the common people in the capital, Queen Mother Xu, who supported the late emperor and cared about the people's livelihood, could indeed be considered wise. However, Lu Chen would not forget the assassination on Qingfeng Street.

The reason why the Third Prince dared to do that was due to the support of the Xu family, and the root of the problem was Empress Dowager Xu behind the pearl curtain.

Queen Mother Xu was also looking at the young marquis outside.

When Li Zongben approached the Cining Palace, she already knew of Lu Chen's existence.

Empress Dowager Xu has extremely complicated feelings about this young man who is now a towering tree in the court of Da Qi.

On the one hand, she was very clear about Lu Chen's current status and power, especially his reputation in the border army system, which could be regarded as one of the pillars of the Great Qi court. Even if she was the queen mother, it was wishful thinking for her to control such a person.

Unless Lu Chen committed a shocking crime in public, such as cursing at the empress dowager in the Cining Palace.

On the other hand, seeing this powerful young marquis, Queen Mother Xu could not help but think of the third prince who was still imprisoned in Qiushan Lane, and the eldest prince who died in a bloody battle in front of her that night.

Even though more than half a year had passed, every time Empress Dowager Xu thought of the eldest prince, her heart ached as if it were being cut by a knife.

This is an emotional change that is difficult for others to understand.

After all, when the eldest prince was alive, Empress Dowager Xu did not love him much, and most of her love and care was given to the third prince.

Thinking back to the circumstances of the eldest prince's death, it was hard for Empress Dowager Xu not to hate Lu Chen, because in her opinion, it was Lu Chen who devised the strategy to lure the snake out of its hole, it was he who instigated Li Duan to take the risk, and he did not consider the eldest prince's safety at all, so that he fell into the hands of the thieves, and finally had to prove his innocence by dying together.

All these things caused Empress Dowager Xu to have complex emotions when facing Lu Chen.

The inner hall was silent, and time passed quietly. Queen Mother Xu coughed lightly and slowly said, "The Crown Prince is very filial. I am fine. I am sorry for your worry."

Li Zongben bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. This is my duty. I don't know why your Majesty is unwell. At this time of spring and summer, you need extra attention. I would like to call together all the officials of the Imperial Hospital to carefully diagnose and treat your Majesty."

"There's no need to mobilize so many troops."

Queen Mother Xu sighed and continued, "I am saddened by your majesty's sadness, which cannot be cured by medicine. Prince, I have an unreasonable request, please just listen to it. If you think it is inappropriate, I will not force you."

Lu Chen clearly felt that Li Zongben in front of him was slightly tense, like a wild beast in danger.

Li Zongben hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "How dare I disobey the Queen Mother's orders?"

Queen Mother Xu seemed very pleased and said, "Prince, although the royal family is different from ordinary palaces and has rules and regulations for everything, you also know that I am actually just an ordinary woman. In these years, I have followed Your Majesty from Jiangbei to Jiangnan, and I have never dared to ask about the affairs of the court, let alone interfere in the government affairs of the court, and it is the same now. You will ascend the throne the day after tomorrow, and I am naturally happy for you. I also believe that you can uphold Your Majesty's will and make Da Qi prosperous again."

Li Zongben listened in silence.

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. He had already guessed what Queen Mother Xu wanted to say next.

Behind the pearl curtain, Empress Dowager Xu's tone gradually turned sad: "Li Zongjian has always been willful and mischievous, and I bear an unshirkable responsibility. Your Majesty has punished him, demoted him from the title of prince to the lieutenant of Fengguo, and made him stay in Qiushan Lane for more than a year. I know your Majesty's difficulties and my own shortcomings, so I have never and dared to plead with your Majesty for more than a year. I only hope that Li Zongjian can reflect on himself and change his ways. Now..."

She hesitated.

Li Zongben couldn't help but say, "Queen Mother, it was the will of the Emperor to let my third brother cultivate himself in Qiushan Lane."

"The Ai family knows."

Queen Mother Xu took up her handkerchief and wiped her eyes, saying in a sad voice, "Your eldest brother has passed away, and Li Zongjian is imprisoned in Qiushan Lane. On the occasion of Your Majesty's passing, I only hope that Li Zongjian can send Your Majesty off on my behalf, so that it will not be in vain... it will not be in vain for the relationship between Your Majesty and me as husband and wife. If you don't like him, after Your Majesty's funeral, you can send him to the imperial mausoleum to guard the mausoleum. As long as he can save his life, I will never ask about it in the future."

Lu Chen sighed in his heart. He already understood the source of Li Zongben's headache.

The coronation ceremony will be held the day after tomorrow, so the court will naturally be calm and there won't be any disturbances.

But at this critical juncture, if Empress Dowager Xu caused trouble, although it would not affect Li Zongben's throne, it would definitely make him very upset.

Although the two Empress Dowagers are equally respected at present, in terms of etiquette and law, Empress Dowager Xu's status is higher than that of Li Zongben's biological mother, Empress Dowager Liu.

Because Empress Dowager Xu was the wife of the late emperor and the biological mother of the new emperor, her status was naturally higher than that of the biological mother.

Queen Mother Xu would not be crazy enough to openly deny Li Zongben's position as the heir to the throne, but even if she just put on a cold face before and after the coronation ceremony, it would cast a shadow over Li Zongben's throne.

Moreover, Empress Dowager Xu kept a very low profile today and did not use her airs to force Li Zongben to bow his head. This method is the most difficult to deal with.

Lu Chen had no intention of gloating, he was just curious about how Li Zongben would respond.

After a brief silence, Li Zongben bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I completely understand your feelings, but it is the will of the Emperor that my third brother lives in Qiushan Lane. How dare I disobey? To be honest with you, Your Majesty, after the New Year, the Emperor took me to Qiushan Lane. He told me directly that my third brother should stay in Qiushan Lane to reflect on himself. In my opinion, at least for the time being, my third brother should not go out. I have asked someone to set up an incense table in Qiushan Lane for my third brother to pay tribute to my father."

Queen Mother Xu quietly looked at the young heir through the pearl curtain.

His words were not new. He was just clinging to the late emperor's will. This was his only weapon to fight against the word filial piety.

This was already within Empress Dowager Xu's expectations.

Empress Dowager Xu knew what kind of person Li Zongben was better than Lu Chen. She would definitely not give in easily, and it was even more impossible for her to allow Li Zongjian to leave Qiushan Lane.

Because he is the only person who can pose a threat to his throne right now.

She sighed as if very sad, then slowly stood up.

Separated by a fine pearl curtain, the three people inside and outside the curtain could not see each other's expressions. The palace servants inside and outside all held their breath and dared not make any sound.

As Empress Dowager Xu stood up, the atmosphere became extremely tense.

"I know that this matter goes against the Crown Prince's principles and is not in line with the court's rules, so I said this is an unreasonable request. I only hope that the Crown Prince will consider that I am a woman in the deep palace, that you and Li Zongjian are both your majesty's blood, and that there is a need for royal children to guard your mausoleum, and will show leniency to Li Zongjian."

She took a step forward and continued, "As long as the prince agrees to my request, I will pray day and night in the Cining Palace and fast for your majesty, the prince, and the Great Qi all year round."

The next moment, she suddenly lowered her body slightly and said, "I would like to thank the prince in advance."

The air in the inner hall seemed to freeze at this moment.

Lu Chen's pupils suddenly shrank.

(End of this chapter)