inspire-indiana Chapter 194 You can take the child to guard the imperial tomb
Chapter 194 You can take the child to guard the imperial tomb
"Your Majesty, if I could truly take my two children with me and leave, even if it meant facing some hardships, I would be willing. However, I wonder how Your Majesty intends to help me escape this palace?" Su Nuannuan asked the Empress Dowager with reddened eyes and teary vision, her voice filled with expectation and urgency.
The Empress Dowager gently took Su Nuannuan's hands and replied earnestly, "It is indeed difficult for me to leave this palace forever and completely, but I can arrange for you and your two children to leave the palace temporarily for ten years."
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, a hint of surprise flashed in Su Nuannuan's eyes, and she quickly replied, "Ten years? Ten years is fine too! By then, both children will be sixteen years old. According to the rules of our Canglan Kingdom, whether they are princes or princesses, once they reach the age of sixteen, they can leave the palace to open their own offices and establish their own households."
In fact, Su Nuannuan had another unspoken thought in her heart—if the current emperor does not live a long life, then in ten years, His Highness the Crown Prince will surely have ascended the throne and ruled the world.
At that time, as a concubine of the late emperor, she would be able to leave the palace peacefully and live out her remaining years.
In the past two years, two more princes and two more princesses have been added to the palace. Now, the emperor has seven princes and three princesses under his care.
After the two princes were born, their mothers were greatly favored for giving birth to imperial sons. The Emperor was overjoyed and immediately promoted them to the rank of Consort. The mother of the Seventh Prince was the gentle, virtuous, and dignified Consort Jing; while the mother of the Eighth Prince was the beautiful and graceful Consort Yue. At the same time, the mothers of the two princesses were also deeply favored by the Emperor and were both promoted to the rank of Consort. The mother of the Second Princess was the gentle and refined Consort Yun, and the mother of the Third Princess was the charming and lovely Consort Ying.
At this moment, the kind-faced Empress Dowager was gazing intently at Su Nuannuan before her, and said slowly, "After I pass away, you can take the child to guard the imperial mausoleum. What do you think of this arrangement?"
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but look puzzled and murmured softly, "Guard the imperial tombs?" She was clearly quite surprised by the Empress Dowager's sudden suggestion.
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly and replied, "That's right. This is the only foolproof plan I can come up with. Our Azure Kingdom has a long-standing tradition that whether the Emperor passes away or I die, a prince must be selected to guard the imperial mausoleum. The last person to guard the imperial mausoleum was Prince Qi, who guarded it for three years."
Now that I am about to pass away, it is only right to follow the old custom and have a prince go to guard the mausoleum. At that time, I will speak to the Emperor and earnestly request that Cheng'er be given this important task. After all, Cheng'er is still young and needs his mother's care. Then you can take both children with you to the imperial mausoleum and leave this cage.
Fortunately, I have acquired an estate near the imperial mausoleum, which I now bestow upon you. You and your child may reside there in the future. Although life may be somewhat austere, you will ultimately be free and unburdened by the many formalities of the court.
“Very well, if that day ever comes, I will certainly take my two children to the Imperial Mausoleum to guard the tomb for the Empress Dowager.” Su Nuannuan stood up, bowed respectfully to the Empress Dowager, and said firmly.
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, a hint of helplessness and regret on her face. She reached out and gently tugged at Su Nuannuan's sleeve, sighing softly, "Alas, this is all I can do for you."
Su Nuannuan quickly shook her head, her eyes filled with gratitude, and sincerely replied, "Your Majesty, I have always remembered your care and concern for me, and I feel I have no way to repay you. Everything you have given me is a great blessing."
At this moment, Granny Song carefully carried in a bowl of steaming hot medicinal soup. Su Nuannuan hurriedly went to greet her, took the bowl of soup with its strong medicinal smell, and went to the Empress Dowager's side. She first gently stirred it a few times with a spoon, and after it reached a suitable temperature, she fed it to the Empress Dowager spoonful by spoonful. Watching the Empress Dowager finish the bitter and hard-to-swallow soup, Su Nuannuan quickly poured a cup of water and handed it to the Empress Dowager, helping her rinse her mouth. After doing all this, seeing that the Empress Dowager looked tired, she gently helped her lie down to rest. She then quietly went to the small couch in the outer room and sat down to rest for a while.
Time flew by, and it was already afternoon. Perhaps mindful that Su Nuannuan still had two children to care for, the Empress Dowager instructed her to return to the palace to rest early. Su Nuannuan naturally dared not disobey the Empress Dowager's decree, and after thanking her, she rose and left Cining Palace.
Around 4 PM, the sun was still shining brightly as the siblings Canglan Jingcheng and Canglan Jingyao returned to the palace from the Imperial Academy in high spirits. As soon as they stepped into their sleeping quarters, they rushed to Su Nuannuan, their faces full of anticipation, and asked in unison, "Mother, when can we finally go to the imperial palace to play?"
Su Nuannuan was a little confused by the children's sudden question and asked in return, "Why did you all suddenly decide to go to the palace?"
"Mother, the Imperial Academy is utterly boring. All day long it's just those tedious articles and etiquette rules, it's utterly tedious."
It's the same here in the palace, full of rules and constraints. I find it so boring, and I miss the carefree days I spent in the imperial palace even more." Cang Lan Jingcheng's delicate face was now scrunched up like a bun, and he muttered a complaint.
"Moreover, Mother, do you know that all the knowledge taught by the tutor was already taught to me by you? Not only that, but even the teaching methods are not as vivid and interesting as yours." Canglan Jingcheng became more and more indignant as he spoke, as if he had suffered a great injustice.
Hearing this, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but smile slightly. She turned her gaze to Cang Lan Jingyao, who remained silent, her eyes filled with a question.
Canglan Jingyao nodded slightly, agreeing with her brother, and then said softly, "Yes, Mother, the teacher is always so rigid when he teaches, without any flexibility. Sometimes I have some new ideas, but the teacher scolds me for talking back. Sigh..." As she spoke, the little girl sighed softly, revealing a hint of helplessness and dissatisfaction.
Seeing this, Su Nuannuan pondered for a moment before asking, "If that's the case, don't you miss your father, the Emperor?"
Unexpectedly, the two children shook their heads simultaneously, as if they had planned it beforehand, and replied in unison, "We don't want to. Father is very busy with state affairs these days and has no time to spend with us. Even if we can see him occasionally, he only gives us a few hurried words of advice before leaving again. So we don't miss Father very much."
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan suddenly changed the subject, looking at the two of them with a serious expression, and slowly said, "If—and this is just a hypothetical—we had the opportunity to leave this palace for ten years. However, during this time, living conditions might not be as comfortable as they are now, and might even be quite difficult. But in return, we would gain more freedom and be able to do whatever we want. So, would you be willing to go with me?"