Chapter 1335: Chapter 496: Palace Scheming Is No Match for Rebellion (Part 33)

The awkward birthday banquet concluded in endless silence.

Upon leaving the Imperial Palace, Wang Yuan and a few other old foxes gathered their confidants overnight to discuss the situation.

Feng Shou directly closed his doors, claiming illness, and refused to see anyone.

Tao Yong and his fellow military merit holders, however, acted as if nothing had happened, continuing with their duties or leisure as usual.

As for Emperor Yongcheng bestowing the title of "Empress Dowager Xiao Zhen" and elevating Lady Hu as "Lady Fengsheng," the entire Imperial court seemed uninterested.

It was as if, in their view, the Emperor was merely playing house, and all his actions were nothing but a farce.

Many forces, including the noble families, were all waiting, waiting for Empress Dowager He to "erupt."

Empress Dowager He was not someone to be trifled with; the humiliation at the birthday banquet and the Emperor’s reckless behavior would have pushed even a saint to the brink.

Let alone the already strong-willed and fierce Regent Empress Dowager?!

But to everyone’s shock, since that day of the birthday banquet, Empress Dowager He seemed to vanish.

She directly moved out of the Taiji Palace and went to the Daming Palace on the northern side of the Capital City.

"Is the Empress Dowager planning to break with His Majesty? Or actively retreating?"

Would she really yield the Imperial Palace and retreat to the Daming Palace outside the city?

Wang Yuan and the other old foxes scrutinized and pondered carefully.

"Whether she breaks or retreats, it doesn’t matter. After all, she’s already left the Capital City, akin to a dog that lost its home!"

Noble Dowager Consort Xie, hearing that "Empress Dowager He" had gone to the Daming Palace, felt a sense of pleasure in this sudden change of fate.

Back then, just after the late Emperor passed away, she was forced by Lady He to guard the Imperial Mausoleum.

Fortunately, Lady He had a brilliant son, who opposed her, his own mother, in every matter.

Noble Dowager Consort Xie was adept at feigning weakness, acting pitiful, and pretending to be kind and virtuous, thus deceiving Emperor Yongcheng into believing she was a good person.

After only a few months at the mausoleum, Noble Dowager Consort Xie was summoned back to the Capital City by Emperor Yongcheng to reunite with her son, Prince Liang.

Although she only suffered for a few months, Noble Dowager Consort Xie harbored a deep grudge against Empress Dowager He.

Now, Empress Dowager He was driven out of the Imperial Palace by her own son and moved to an outer palace in the city... haha, just thinking about it made Noble Dowager Consort Xie want to laugh heartily.

The entire Capital City had varied reactions due to He Tiantian’s departure.

Some were worried, some puzzled, and others secretly delighted.

Emperor Yongcheng, however, had a complex range of emotions, feeling guilt, self-blame, and an inexplicable unease.

"Mother, is she really angry with me? Would she rather go to the Daming Palace outside the city than stay under the same roof with me?"

The impact of He Tiantian’s departure on Emperor Yongcheng was even more profound than the last incident concerning the Empress’s title.

Previously, "Empress Dowager He" always said, "Do as you wish," but she still resided in the palace.

Should Emperor Yongcheng cause trouble in the previous dynasty, "Empress Dowager He" would offer her assistance at critical moments.

But now, she directly moved out of the Imperial Palace, signifying a break with the Emperor’s stance; Emperor Yongcheng, though reluctant to admit it, felt a sense of helplessness and panic, like a child whose support had collapsed.

"Erlang, the Empress Dowager is acting this way for your own good!"

Zheng Nianer, clever and perceptive, with the aid of the Palace Fighting System, intuitively sensed Emperor Yongcheng’s unease and gently encouraged him.

Lady Hu also persuaded from the side, "Indeed, with the matter of the ’Empress Dowager Xiao Zhen,’ the Empress Dowager would feel uncomfortable staying in the palace. It’s better to temporarily avoid the situation, and once the storm passes, Erlang can go to the Daming Palace and bring the Empress Dowager back!"

"Is what you’re saying true?"

Emperor Yongcheng felt very confused, with an underlying uncertainty.

But, at that moment, hearing Zheng Nianer and her mother’s persuasion, he seemed to be swayed.

"Of course it’s true. Actually, the mystery of your birth and its actual truth isn’t important anymore!"

"What’s important now is to quickly take control of the court and break free from the shackles of the Empress Dowager and the Three Great Ministers!"

Zheng Nianer understood Emperor Yongcheng very well.

This king, who appeared capricious on the surface, was, in fact, even more willful.

He was selfish and indifferent; he only cared about his own power.

Empress Dowager He’s repeated retreats, now directly moving to the Daming Palace, seemed pitiful and downcast.

Emperor Yongcheng then showed signs of reluctance and regret.

Like a misbehaving child full of guilt towards his own mother.

In reality, once his power was involved, he would revert to being a cold and capricious Emperor!

Indeed, hearing Zheng Nianer speak, Emperor Yongcheng’s eyes gleamed.