vrcanaries Chapter 191 Rejection
Chapter 191 Rejection
Su Rao felt the familiar warmth, and the chill in her heart gradually receded. She tried to force out a smile: "It's just a nightmare. I'm fine now."
The Queen Mother stroked her back gently, as if to dispel all the gloom.
Su Rao snuggled up to the Queen Mother and asked like a child, "Can you sleep with me?"
In this embrace, she found peace.
The Queen Mother smiled and agreed, her eyes full of love: "Okay, Mother will accompany you."
She gently touched Su Rao's forehead, her smile full of pampering: "In the eyes of the Queen Mother, you will always be a child who needs protection."
The Queen Mother gently embraced Su Rao, and the two of them snuggled in the brocade quilt. Her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to Qinglan's innocent days.
Qinglan at that time had a childish dependence, but now that dependence has become an empty nostalgia. The two emotions are intertwined together, forming a complex and profound thought.
The Empress Dowager felt both relief and sorrow in her heart. She was relieved that Qinglan left behind the most beautiful continuation of her life, but she was sorrowful that she would never be able to touch that warm entity again.
Life always needs a touch of light to guide the way forward. No matter how rough the road ahead is, that light is a comfort to the soul.
That night, Su Rao found precious peace in the Queen Mother's arms. The outside world seemed to be isolated by a gentle force. All the storms and noise had nothing to do with them. Only the atmosphere of tranquility and peace enveloped this small corner.
However, before the first ray of dawn of the next day completely dispelled the darkness of the night, a sudden piece of news shook the entire palace like thunder in a clear sky.
"Are you telling the truth? Queen Bixia issued an edict to make Prince Qi the crown prince?"
Su Rao woke up suddenly. Her face instantly lost its color and became as pale as white paper. The shock in her heart was indescribable.
The palace maid lowered her head and confirmed in a respectful yet somewhat helpless tone: "Yes, Your Highness, the imperial edict was indeed issued to all palaces and courtyards in the early morning."
This news was exactly what Su Rao was worried about and kept her awake at night. She once prayed silently that at the decisive moment, the King Yi who was on the expedition would be able to miraculously return and change the seemingly doomed fate in one fell swoop.
But reality responded to her prayers with its cruelest face, leaving her with a cold and unchangeable fact.
The establishment of Prince Qi as the Crown Prince meant that the power of the Wang family would reach an unprecedented height, while Prince Yi's Mansion seemed precarious, like a candle that could be extinguished at any time in a strong wind.
Those hands that have provided secret help in the past may now also have to face the cleansing storm brought about by the change of power.
Su Rao's mother, and Jun Ruxu - the one who is both a thorn in the side of King Qi and a threat to the Wang family, are likely to be the first to be hit by the storm!
"Don't be afraid, Rao Tiao. I will be your strongest shield."
The Queen Mother's tone was full of warmth and determination, "With me here, who dares to touch a hair on your head?"
Su Rao tried hard to force out a smile, which was a little bitter: "With your protection, I am naturally fearless, but I am worried about other people..."
"Although he has been appointed as the crown prince, he has not ascended the throne as the emperor. The Queen Bixia is in good health, so how can she allow him to do whatever he wants?"
The Queen Mother's words were like a magic needle that stabilized the sea, bringing a sense of stability to the turbulent waves in Su Rao's heart.
After all, under the absolute authority of the imperial power, even the newly promoted Prince of Qi did not dare to act rashly.
The superficial peace was temporarily restored within the palace walls, and it seemed that nothing could be changed as long as the emperor's position remained shaken.
However, behind this brief tranquility, another bigger storm is quietly forming.
Not long after, another shocking news came: Jun Ruxu was suspected of using evil magic and angered the emperor. Not only was he arrested and imprisoned, he was also sentenced to be cut into pieces in three days. His fate was about to come to an end.
Although Su Rao and Jun Ruxu had only met a few times, Jun Ruxu's past help, especially the kindness of saving Prince Yi from dire straits, made it impossible for Su Rao to stand idly by and watch his plight.
How could such a former benefactor be allowed to suffer cruel torture, with his skin torn apart bit by bit, until his last breath before he could be freed? What kind of pain and suffering did he have to endure before this liberation?
Could it be that the gentle and refined gentleman, who was as gentle as jade, ended his life in such a sad way?
"Queen Mother, this matter does not seem to be simple."
Su Rao pondered and said, "Jun Ruxu is a close minister to the Queen Bixia. If he is really suspected of witchcraft, this approach will not only fail to clarify the truth, but will prove that he was bewitched by witchcraft and become stupid."
Su Rao deeply felt that there must be some hidden story behind this, and that this matter was of great importance and made people very worried.
What's more, Jun Ruxu holds the key to helping the emperor stabilize the government, and at this moment the King of Qi is not yet fully grown, so it would be unwise to rush to deal with Jun Ruxu.
Although the Queen Mother had no intention of fighting for power, she was extremely wise and realized that something was unusual.
"Don't worry, let's wait and see what happens."
The Queen Mother said in a deep voice.
Su Rao knew very well that the Queen Mother's actions had their own hidden meanings, so she did not dare to urge her and could only wait patiently.
About an hour later, a palace servant ran in hurriedly.
"Did Empress Bixia hold a court meeting today?"
The Queen Mother asked quickly.
The palace maid shook her head, her expression solemn: "According to the eunuch, Her Majesty the Empress is not feeling well, and the morning court has been cancelled."
The Queen Mother frowned, her worry evident in her words.
Su Rao's mind suddenly became clear. The Queen Mother was probably worried that Empress Bixia had been controlled by Prince Qi. The so-called imperial edict was actually a drama directed by Prince Qi.
Such behavior was tantamount to forcing the emperor to abdicate in secret, which made Su Rao terrified.
In her previous life, Empress Bixia took the initiative to transfer the imperial power to Prince Qi when she was seriously ill, and her succession was legal.
But the outcome of today's changes is difficult to predict.
If the King of Qi really succeeds...
Su Rao didn't dare to think about it any further, the result would be too terrible.
"I must go visit Empress Bixia in person."
The Queen Mother spoke firmly.
"My daughter is willing to accompany you."
Su Rao responded.
The two arrived at Empress Bixia's bedroom, only to see heavy guards and an extremely tense atmosphere.
Just as the Queen Mother was about to step in, she was stopped by a eunuch.
"Empress Dowager, Her Majesty the Empress is not feeling well and should not meet with anyone."
The eunuch reported respectfully.
The queen mother's face darkened: "Even I can't see you?"
"The Empress has ordered that no one is allowed to disturb me. I am just following her orders. Please forgive me, Empress Dowager."
The eunuch's humble words revealed an unquestionable firmness.
The Queen Mother's anger gradually rose: "What if I insist?"
"I can only follow the Empress's orders."