Weng Yu thanked Nianzu for enlightening him and went inside his chamber as his mother was waiting for him. Nianzu turned back to his chamber. The tiny smile on his lips never disappeared. "Finally, the Palace seems so lively," he murmured when a servant from the Empress Dowager's Quarters came to him.
"Greetings to the Prince. The Empress Dowager wants to see the Prince," the servant informed Nianzu.
"Why does she want to see me?" Nianzu asked the servant.
"I do not know, Your Highness," the servant replied humbly. Nianzu hummed and left to meet his mother. Though he did not want to meet her, but he could not either refuse the order of the Empress Dowager.
Reaching outside the chamber of the Empress Dowager, he halted for a while before stepping in. The servants left the chamber as they saw the Fourth Prince.
Nianzu bowed before her mother, who was seated on the chaise. "The servant told me that the Empress Dowager wants to see me," he said.
"Why don't you call me Mother?" Deng Hui asked with teary eyes.
"If the Mother has nothing to say, then I shall leave," Nianzu stated.
"Have a seat, first," Deng Hui said.
Nianzu sat down on another chaise and rested his hands on his thighs. He found that Deng Hui wanted to say many things to him, but was hesitating. One reason could be his cold attitude towards her. Since everything has turned out well, he also thought to mend their relationship.
"Mother, it's tough to forget the mistakes that people make, especially those which can bring disasters to one's life," Nianzu proclaimed. Deng Hui agreed with her son.
"I even ask the Emperor to forgive me, but he isn't ready for that. I hurt him badly. I regret agreeing to Gu Zhenya," Deng Hui asserted. "Son, I was the daughter of a low-rank official. However, Gu Zhenya helped me and told me when the time would come, I had to repay him. I had lost my mind," she lowered her head as the tears poured down her cheeks.
Nianzu recalled how much his mother suffered because of her concubine status. She became greedy just for the reason of her son. "Mother is well aware of my nature. I am a man with limited desires. Why did you not think of the consequences earlier? If anything would have happened to Chuntao, then how do you think I would be able to return? She held my hand when everyone opposed my decision," Nianzu explained to his mother.
"I was blinded by greed. However, the Emperor stopped me from doing anything stupid," Deng Hui said as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"I saw the former Empress Weng Wei in you at that time. I hate that woman from the core of my heart. After Huo Jin told me about you, I was devastated," Nianzu unknowingly revealed Huo Jin's name to Deng Hui, who was bewildered to hear that.
"Did the Emperor not tell you about this?" Deng Hui asked him to confirm.
Nianzu shook his head. "Brother Sheng did not tell me because he thought our relationship would no longer remain healthy," Nianzu affirmed.
Deng Hui was shocked to learn the truth. She cursed Sheng Li for separating Nianzu from her. She regretted doing that and was ready to apologize to Sheng Li, but would he ever forgive her?! This question troubled her.
"Who's Huo Jin?" Deng Hui, after a few minutes, asked Nianzu.
"He's a close friend of mine," Nianzu answered. He did not give many details to his mother as he got doubtful of her.
"Why did Mother ask about him?" He skeptically glanced at her.
"I was curious," Deng Hui answered. "Did Prince Nianzu forgive his mother?" She then questioned him.
"Nothing good will come if I stay angry with you. As a son, I cannot remain angry at you for long. I know how much you have suffered all these years. Also, things have turned out well in the Palace. I forgive my mother," Nianzu said and passed a smile to her. In the most unexpected way, their conversation went. It delighted his heart because he was also missing his mother all this time.
Deng Hui walked to her son and embraced him. "I am so happy, Nianzu. Thank you for forgiving me." She stepped back while Nianzu stood up.
"I heard that you were not having a good meal and also were not actively participating in the Palace's affairs. However, now everything has turned out well, so I believe that mother will not neglect her duties and also not her sons. Brother Sheng has been hurt by you lately, so I want you to talk to him as well."
Sheng Li hardly used to speak on such matters, but the last time he spoke to him regarding Deng Hui, he found how hurt he was! Though he didn't complain, the sadness was visible in his eyes. He could feel Sheng Li.
"I will talk to the Emperor. Lately, he has been busy with the Empress. I have prepared a dish for the Empress which will warm her body. Hopefully, the Emperor allows me to feed it to the Empress," Deng Hui said. Nianzu could see the genuineness in his mother's eyes.
"Brother Sheng surely will. He has the heart of a child, which needs to be pampered. Mother knows this better than me," Nianzu asserted.
Deng Hui agreed with her son's words. She had to show Sheng Li that she was sincere towards him as a mother and would always be.
"There is a dress which I have ordered for Chuntao from the far west. It arrived today evening. Since you are here, you should take it for her. She will be happy," Deng Hui said and called inside the Court Lady, who handed the dress to the Empress.
Deng Hui placed it in Nianzu's hands, who thanked his mother.. "Chuntao will surely love it," he affirmed.
