Emperor Jingxi slightly lifted the hem of his robe and stepped into Changshou Hall.
The floor heating inside the hall radiated warmth.
Emperor Jingxi, clad in soft gauze socks, walked across the carpet to the screen at the back.
A court lady was attending to the Empress Dowager, who lay on a low couch, her eyes slightly narrowed as she enjoyed the late autumn sunlight and the meticulous massage.
Emperor Jingxi chuckled softly and took a seat nearby.
A palace maid had already served tea, which he sipped leisurely.
The Empress Dowager said irritably, “What, has the Emperor run out of tea in his own palace so that he must come to this old woman’s quarters for a sip?”
Emperor Jingxi inclined his head slightly, his tone respectful and gentle.
“Mother, virtue begins with filial piety. Your son governs the realm with filial devotion. Lately, affairs of state have kept me too busy to attend to you. Now that I have a moment, it’s only right to show my devotion.”
The Empress Dowager snorted coldly and opened her eyes, signaling the court ladies to withdraw.
The attendants bowed their heads and retreated silently.
The Empress Dowager studied Emperor Jingxi.
Her son was, of course, exceptionally-brilliant, wise, and majestic.
He had ascended the throne at fourteen and taken personal control of governance at fifteen, ruling diligently and treating his mother with utmost filial piety.
Apart from the lack of grandchildren, she could find no fault in him.
But now, after thirty-two years of satisfaction, her good son had suddenly dropped a bombshell on her!
She gazed at Emperor Jingxi and sighed, shaking her head.
“You are the Emperor. I’ve long withdrawn from governance, and you understand many things better than I do. You must know what it means to bring that woman into the harem. Are you willing to cast aside your legacy and turn our Great Hui imperial family into a laughingstock for posterity?”
Emperor Jingxi tilted his head slightly, feigning innocence.
“Mother, she’s just a minor noble consort. How could she possibly stir up any trouble?”
The Empress Dowager snapped, “A minor noble consort? Do you think I don’t know? Today she’s a noble consort, tomorrow she’ll be a zhaoyi, and soon enough, she’ll be an imperial consort! Will you then make her an imperial noble consort too?”
Emperor Jingxi replied patiently, “Mother, everything follows protocol. If she proves herself worthy, there’s no harm in her becoming an imperial noble consort.”
The Empress Dowager fumed, “So you do have such intentions!”
Emperor Jingxi remained unhurried.
“Your son is merely stating possibilities. If she fails to prove herself, she’ll remain a noble consort.”
The Empress Dowager took a deep breath.
“Enough of this nonsense. Just tell me when did you start harboring such thoughts? Did you plan this from the beginning? Don’t tell me you schemed to take your own son’s concubine!”
As she looked at this majestic emperor, sorrow welled up in her heart.
“You were doing so well as Emperor-why did you suddenly come up with this? How could you do such a thing? How am I supposed to explain this to your father in the afterlife?”
Emperor Jingxi maintained a humble and docile expression, speaking gently.
“Mother, you can tell Father that his son is truly a scoundrel. I’ve already scolded him for you, and when he arrives, you can reprimand him further.”
The Empress Dowager, upon hearing this, grabbed a brocade pillow beside her and thumped the low couch in frustration.
“You-you-!” Emperor Jingxi considerately began massaging her legs.
“Mother, please calm your anger. Don’t harm your health over this.”
The Empress Dowager retorted, “Calm my anger? How dare you tell me to calm down? Send that woman away at once-to a nunnery, a temple, anywhere!”
Emperor Jingxi reasoned with her: “She’s already entered the palace, and you’ve accepted her tea, Mother. How can we send her away now? Are we incapable of supporting one frail woman? The imperial family of Dahui cannot afford such disgrace.”
The Empress Dowager trembled with rage: “Disgrace? You still care about disgrace? Emperor, do you realize what you’re doing? You defy all moral principles: a father stealing his son’s concubine, a ruler taking his subject’s wife! How dare you speak of disgrace?”
The doors and windows were tightly shut, leaving Changshou Hall in silence, broken only by the aged and quivering voice of the Empress Dowager echoing through the chamber.
Emperor Jingxi gazed calmly yet resolutely at his furious mother: “Mother, I understand everything you say. But I’ve already taken this step -there’s no turning back. I want her, I want her to stay in my harem, to remain by my side.”
The Empress Dowager looked at her son with profound sorrow in every word:
“Does the Emperor comprehend his own words?”
Jingxi replied: “I do, more clearly than ever.”
The Empress Dowager gave a bitter smile: “She was Mo Yao’s concubine, a woman who shared his bed! How can you expect me to accept this?”
With a light chuckle and utter nonchalance, Emperor Jingxi declared: “I was born by Heaven’s mandate, blessed with divine favor to rule over all under heaven as father to my people and master of the great way. Is there anything in this world beyond my reach? She’s merely a woman.”
Bathed in the glow of the brazier’s fire, he turned his head, revealing a profile both sharp and handsome.
His gaze rested vaguely ahead as his thin lips curved into a smile: “Be it my son’s concubine or even my father’s-if I desire her, I shall have her.”
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager shook with such fury her hands trembled uncontrollably.
She stared at her son in disbelief.
The light from the octagonal glazed palace lanterns fell upon his light amber eyes—calm and rational, yet utterly mad.
She never knew her son could be like this.
This wasn’t him!
Her hands shook violently as she struggled to close her eyes.
The silver charcoal in the brazier crackled softly.
Taking a deep breath, the Empress Dowager reopened her eyes, now filled with pain.
Born into a modest family, she had risen from a lowly Zhaoyi to Noble Consort, then Empress, and finally Empress Dowager.
When the late Emperor passed, Jingxi was only fourteen-a mother and son left alone in a vast, uncertain world.
Through her own efforts, she guided her son until he firmly secured the throne.
All these years, she had been immensely proud of this son-always prudent, diligent, never making a single misstep.
But now she understood: at thirty-two, her son had suddenly gone mad.
With deep sorrow, the Empress Dowager looked at Emperor Jingxi and said:
“As the supreme ruler of the realm, is there any woman you cannot have? Why must it be her?”
Jingxi replied simply: “She’s beautiful.”
The Empress Dowager pressed: “Just beautiful?”
The Emperor raised a brow slightly, considering: “Young, fresh-had you not known her past status, didn’t you initially like her too, Mother? It seems great minds think alike.”
The Empress Dowager exclaimed: “I truly wish to slap you! But in your position, if I strike your face, the fault would be mine.”
Though his mother, he was the Emperor!
Emperor Jingxi gazed tenderly at the Empress Dowager, speaking respectfully:
“If Mother wishes to strike me, this son will remove the dragon robes and submit to your punishment.”
As he spoke, he reached to undo his jade belt, preparing to disrobe.
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager hastily stopped him: “There’s no need for this.”
Emperor Jingxi paused in his movements and let out a bitter laugh.
“Mother, I almost wish you would give me a good beating. I have indeed made mistakes and deserve punishment.”
Lowering his gaze, he murmured softly, “If the late emperor were still here, I would kneel before him and beg for a thrashing… After one good beating, all faults could be erased, and then my father would clean up the mess left by his foolish son.”
At these words, the Empress Dowager felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.
How could she not ache for her own son?
He was the treasure of her heart!
Had the late emperor lived just five or six years longer, her son’s path wouldn’t have been so arduous.
But the late emperor had departed too soon, leaving a fourteen-year-old boy to shoulder the empire alone!
Unable to bring herself to scold him harshly, she heaved a long sigh and spoke earnestly, “Your Majesty, for several years now, you haven’t taken any new consorts into the palace. If you prefer young, fresh beauties, you could select some virtuous maidens from among the common people.”
She added: “Throughout our great Hui Empire, aren’t fair and youthful maidens as plentiful as the stars? Surely there must be someone better than her. If you dislike common selections, you could choose from among the daughters of civil and military officials—any of them would surpass her.”
Emperor Jingxi was tall and imposing, a dragon among men.
At just thirty years of age, even without his imperial status, any noble family would have daughters vying for such a handsome man’s favor.
Thus, if the emperor were to select from official families, there would surely be no shortage of candidates.
With almost pleading desperation, she urged, “Your Majesty, I beg you to prioritize the stability of the realm!”
At this, Emperor Jingxi gave a wry smile.
“Mother, in my eighteen years ruling this land, what kind of peerless beauty have I not seen? Do I truly lack for any woman?”
During previous selections, there had been stunning beauties who went unchosen.
In truth, he wasn’t overly fond of feminine charms.
Consort Shun had been exceptionally beautiful in her youth, no less lovely than A wu is now, yet he had merely glanced at her without feeling anything.
Empress Dowager: “Then why must it be her? What is so special about her?”
This question gave Emperor Jingxi pause—indeed, he had pondered it countless times himself.
After another moment’s thought, he replied, “Looking at her brings me joy. She needn’t do anything, just stand there, and I am happy.”
With a quiet laugh, he continued slowly, “Mother, from the first moment I saw her, all the world’s colors turned to dust. Only she remained -only her.”
The Empress Dowager was stunned.
Seeing the infatuation in her son’s eyes, she gave a bitter smile.
“Your Majesty, do you recall what Prince Mo Yao said in my chambers just two months ago? And what you said to him in return?”
Emperor Jingxi froze at this reminder.
He remembered the Crown Prince-how the young man had stubbornly resisted him in this very room, determined to keep his beloved concubine.
And how he himself had crushed that resistance with thunderous authority, insisting the woman be sent away.
The words Prince Mo Yao had spoken then were identical to those he now uttered.
In barely two months, he had become the very son he had disapproved of.
Slowly, he lowered his thin eyelids without offering any defense.
There was nothing to defend.
He had once prided himself on being emotionless, with all things under his control-able to cast aside attachments with each painful severance.
Yet in this struggle…
Deeper and deeper he sank.
After this, it would be either kill or love—a decision made in an instant.
Since he hadn’t chosen to kill, he had allowed himself to drown in it, and now he was doomed beyond redemption.
He had long lost his father and ascended to the throne, with no one left to restrain him.
His self-control had been the only leash, but now that tether had snapped.
The self he had suppressed for so long had finally broken free!
An emperor without virtue, blinded by folly, seizing his son’s concubine, trampling upon morality-this was the path he had chosen.
Why?
For the rebellious yet helpless boy he had been at sixteen, and for that tender smile beneath the crimson palace walls just moments ago.
Emperor Jingxi let out a low chuckle, his voice deep and resolute.
“Mother, once the piece is placed, there’s no taking it back. Your son has already taken this step-there’s no turning back now.”
The Empress Dowager pleaded bitterly, “Your Majesty, let her go. Give her a good life elsewhere for your own sake!”
But Jingxi’s smile faded as he met her gaze.
“Mother, am I truly unworthy?”
Her heart sank at his words.
Slowly, deliberately, he continued, “I only want her. Why can’t I have that? Am I not even allowed to desire what I want?”
The Empress Dowager’s voice grew hoarse as she pressed on, “Are the consorts in your harem not enough? You have so many! You can take in new beauties. There are countless peerless women in this world. You could have as many as you wish!”
Jingxi retorted, “The harem? What if I don’t want it anymore? What if I depose the Empress, cast her out, drive away every concubine— keep none of them? Let them all be gone!”
The Empress Dowager stared at him in disbelief, her lips trembling.
This was not the son she knew.
Jingxi pressed on, “A table full of imperial delicacies is laid before me, yet I have no appetite. Must I be forced to eat? Mother, I once toiled dutifully, ruled diligently, visited the harem as expected-but I no longer wish to. Let whoever wants it take it. If the Crown Prince desires it, he can have my entire harem!”
The Empress Dowager was so furious her vision blurred, her body shaking.
This was madness!
Had he lost his mind?!
Jingxi stepped forward, lifting the hem of his robe as he knelt before her.
“Mother, I can face the world. I can even face Mo Yao. But I beg you to stand by me in this.”
Tears streamed down the Empress Dowager’s face.
“Your Majesty, you—”
Jingxi raised his eyes, his light brown gaze pleading.
Slowly, he extended his hand and said:
“Eighteen years ago, the treasury was empty, the borders unstable, the empire crumbling. You alone turned the tide, steadied the realm, and helped your son ascend the throne at the Altar of Heaven to rule this land.”