After a master of metaphysics severed ties with his family, the whole family was filled with regret!

Chapter 59 Past Events

The Empress Dowager was surprised that Xiao Jinglin would bring up this past incident again, and her expression immediately turned sour.

"You still resent me? Back then, before you married the Crown Princess, you favored that maidservant day and night. What if she had gotten pregnant with your child? You really don't know what's important!" The Empress Dowager stared at Xiao Jinglin in disbelief, unable to believe that he still resented her because of this matter.

"That's right, I do resent the Empress Dowager. If she truly feared that I would become pregnant with her child, a bowl of contraceptive soup would have solved the problem. Why did she have to be executed? And you will never know, Mother, that when I was handling her funeral arrangements, the coroner mentioned that she was already a month pregnant at that time! It was you who personally killed my first child! Now you want to use the same trick again to kill my second child?"

Xiao Jinglin's eyes immediately reddened as he confronted the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager staggered back several steps, her eyes wide:

"What did you say? That slut is pregnant? How is that possible! You're deliberately lying to me, aren't you?"

"Why would I deceive the Empress Dowager with my own offspring? In short, from this day forward, the Empress Dowager is not to see Consort Jiang again until Consort Jiang safely gives birth to the Empress Dowager's first grandson or granddaughter. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite. Guards, escort the Empress Dowager back to Cining Palace—"

"Your Majesty, this way please."

The eunuch who had been serving Xiao Jinglin knew that he was really angry, so he didn't dare to disobey and directly asked the Empress Dowager to leave.

Even after the Empress Dowager had been gone for a long time, Xiao Jinglin remained immersed in grief and unable to move on.

This is one of the reasons why he never dared to let his concubines get pregnant; he was afraid that he was not strong enough to protect the women and children he loved.

Is His Majesty inside the palace?

"Your Highness, His Majesty is restless and in low spirits. I hope Your Highness can offer some words of comfort and reassure His Majesty," Gui Dezi said to Xiao Beiming.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Beiming nodded, indicating that he knew, since he had immediately taken Luo Chujiu back to the palace as soon as he heard about the incident.

Meanwhile, Luo Chujiu went to visit Consort Jiang, while he came to see His Majesty.

"Didn't I say that no one is allowed to disturb me? Gui Dezi, are you out of your mind? Ciyou? Is that you? How did you suddenly enter the palace?"

Ciyou, Xiao Beiming's courtesy name, can only be called by his closest confidants.

The only person who would call him that is His Majesty.

"Jinxing, I haven't seen you look so dejected in a long time."

Xiao Beiming also called out Xiao Jinglin's courtesy name; the two were incredibly close at this moment.

Xiao Jinglin was sitting on the ground when Xiao Beiming saw this and sat down on the ground with him, putting his arm around Xiao Jinglin's shoulder.

"Tell me what's on your mind, don't keep it bottled up inside. We're good brothers, aren't we?"

Upon hearing Xiao Beiming's words, Xiao Jinglin couldn't utter a single word of refusal. He sighed deeply and then said to him:
"Do you remember the woman I posthumously honored after I ascended the throne?"

"I remember, Consort Lan, right? I think she was your concubine when you were still the Crown Prince? She later died of illness."

Xiao Jinglin shook his head. "No, she didn't die of illness at all. She was put to death by the Empress Dowager. Ciyou, you don't know, she was already pregnant with my child at the time, only a month along. Two lives lost."

Xiao Beiming was shocked to hear this; he never expected the truth to be like this.

"Then why did the Empress Dowager..."

"Why? It's just because I'm afraid I'll give birth to a son before I marry the Crown Princess. As you know, the Empress Dowager has always wanted me to marry a woman from her maternal family as the Crown Princess, but I refuse. Even Consort Chen, the daughter of the Prime Minister, was only given the title of Consort after entering the palace."

Xiao Beiming fell silent, unsure how to comfort Xiao Jinglin, and then heard him continue:
“Back then, I was incompetent and couldn’t defy the Empress Dowager. But now, I’m the Emperor, yet I almost caused Consort Jiang to miscarry and failed to protect her from the calamity. Don’t you think I’m useless? I’m simply not good enough to be an Emperor.” “No, Jinxing, you are a very good ruler, and you will also be a very good husband and father. Whether it was Consort Lan or Consort Jiang, it was just an accident. I believe you will not let such a thing happen a third time. You must have confidence in yourself. If you give up on yourself like this, then who will protect Consort Jiang and the child in her womb?”

Xiao Beiming said coldly, wanting to bring Xiao Jinglin to his senses and stop him from wallowing in grief.

As an emperor, he could grieve, but only for a while, not forever. Xiao Beiming believed that Xiao Jinglin himself was well aware of this; he just needed someone to guide him out of it.

And perhaps I am that person.

Upon hearing Xiao Beiming's words, Xiao Jinglin looked up at him:

Do you really think I'm good enough to be emperor?

"Of course, Jinxing, as I said, if you become the emperor, I will be the powerful minister to help you consolidate the Nanzhao Kingdom's rule. We are inseparable. I will do my best to help you. You only need to act freely in the court. I will always stand behind you."

Upon hearing Xiao Beiming's words, Xiao Jinglin immediately felt a surge of conviction.

He nodded and looked at Xiao Beiming:

"Okay, I believe in you, and I believe in myself. Ciyou, let's witness the greatness of our land together!"

"That's natural."

The two exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.

On the other side, Luo Chujiu rushed to Luoheng Palace, where Consort Jiang lay on the bed, her face pale and her lips devoid of color.

"Cousin Kui Kui, are you alright?"

Luo Chujiu carefully sat on the edge of the bed, took her hand in his, and asked softly.

Consort Jiang raised her eyes, glanced at Luo Chujiu, and then slightly raised the corners of her mouth, forming a smile:
"I am fine, Xiao Jiu need not worry."

“Cousin Kui Kui, you don’t have to smile if you don’t want to. You don’t have to pretend in front of me.”

Luo Chujiu felt heartbroken. She was clearly so sad, yet she had to pretend that nothing was wrong.

This harem is truly a place that devours people without spitting out their bones.

She had predicted that her cousin Kui Kui would face a difficulty in having children, and thought she had already overcome it, but who knew that it would come true now.

Upon hearing Luo Chujiu's words, Consort Jiang could no longer hold back and burst into tears, one tear after another falling down her cheeks.

Luo Chujiu hugged Consort Jiang tightly, comforting her.

Seeing her mistress so heartbroken, Caiwei couldn't help but tear up as well.

Her Majesty has had it so tough. From the moment she entered the palace, she was targeted by the Empress Dowager at every turn. Even when she was pregnant with a prince, she was still bullied by the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager is simply too much!
Consort Jiang leaned against Luo Chujiu's chest and cried for a long time before she finally stopped crying.

"Xiao Jiu, I must thank you."

Luo Chujiu looked at her, confused:
Why are you suddenly thanking me?

Please, everyone, could you please write a five-star review in the book review section? I'm begging you!
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(End of this chapter)