“Xiao Lizi, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you attending to the Emperor?”
When the Empress Dowager saw Eunuch Li, the smile on her face faded.
Eunuch Li’s back bent a little farther.
“Your Majesty, I have come on the Emperor’s orders to escort Princess Changle to see him.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression darkened.
“What exactly has Changle done wrong? Why is the Emperor keeping her locked up?”
“She’s only a child. How could she possibly understand those harmful schemes?”
“Has the Emperor lost his mind?”
Eunuch Li didn’t dare answer any of her complaints.
The Empress Dowager also knew there was no point arguing with a eunuch like Eunuch Li.
She rose to her feet. “I’ll go with you to see the Emperor!”
With that, the Empress Dowager took Duoduo’s hand and walked out.
Eunuch Li didn’t dare say a word to stop her.
He could only follow the two of them back to the Hall of Supreme Polarity.
Inside, the Emperor was reclining in a chair, reading a book.
Ever since he had announced that Prince Ling would become Crown Prince, he had ordered Eunuch Li to hand most of the memorials over to Prince Ling.
The Emperor only personally reviewed the particularly important ones.
It had taken him merely half a day to finish them all.
For once, he had some free time to read a leisurely book.
Once the Emperor had time on his hands, he thought of Duoduo.
What he had not expected was that the Empress Dowager would come with her.
The Emperor put down his book and made as if to rise and pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.
“Your Majesty, there’s no need for formalities!”
Although the Empress Dowager had been complaining about the Emperor in the prison just moments ago, the moment she saw him, her first concern was still his health.
“Your Majesty, how are you feeling?”
“Xiao Lizi, has Imperial Physician Li examined him?”
“And although the weather is hot, Your Majesty, you mustn’t indulge in the cool air.”
“The Hall of Supreme Polarity is already cool. There’s no need to put out so much ice, lest you catch a chill.”
The Empress Dowager launched into a long stream of instructions as soon as she entered.
Eunuch Li hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Li comes every day to take His Majesty’s pulse and make sure he is well.”
“As the Hall of Supreme Polarity is cool enough, we have only placed ice in a few spots. Please rest assured, Your Majesty. This servant is keeping a close eye on everything.”
The Emperor smiled warmly. “Mother, please sit down before you continue.”
The Empress Dowager led Duoduo to a seat below the Emperor.
Eunuch Li personally brought over a teacup and placed it on the side table beside the Empress Dowager.
After helping the Empress Dowager sit down, Duoduo finally turned and properly bowed to the Emperor.
“Changle pays her respects to Grandfather. May Grandfather live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!”
The Emperor’s expression was gentle. “Rise.”
Seeing Duoduo reminded the Empress Dowager of why she had come.
“Your Majesty, Changle is only four years old. How could she possibly know anything about witchcraft?”
“Someone must have framed her! You shouldn’t have locked her up without distinguishing right from wrong.”
“Such a vicious scheme, and you couldn’t even see through it? You’ve truly disappointed me, Your Majesty!”
The Empress Dowager had been extremely worried because she had not seen the Emperor.
But now that she saw he was fine, she turned her attention to defending Duoduo.
Duoduo gently tugged at the Empress Dowager’s sleeve.
“Great-Grandmother, that isn’t what happened.”
The Empress Dowager lightly stroked Duoduo’s head.
“You mustn’t be afraid of your grandfather!”
“If he has done something wrong, Great-Grandmother should point it out to him.”
“He is the ruler of an entire country. If he starts arresting people on a whim without evidence, won’t the whole realm descend into chaos?”
“If I know he is wrong and fail to point it out, I would be letting down our ancestors!”
The smile vanished from the Emperor’s face.
“Mother, your reprimand is justified.”
The Empress Dowager had intended to scold him a little more, but when she heard him readily admit his mistake, she could hardly continue.
“Since you know you were wrong, then release Changle and send her home.”
“She’s only a child. How frightened she must be, locked away in that dark prison!”
“What if this leaves her traumatized? What will Prince of Pingyang do then?”
“Changle is his only child!”
The Empress Dowager’s words seemed to carry a hidden warning.
The Emperor fell silent for a moment. “Mother, I was already planning to release Changle.”
The Empress Dowager looked unconvinced. “Then why didn’t Xiao Lizi say so just now?”
Eunuch Li immediately felt terribly wronged.
The Emperor had only told him to fetch someone. He had never said that Princess Changle was to be sent home.
“Mother, I wanted Changle to come here so I could give her a few instructions,” the Emperor explained on Xiao Lizi’s behalf.
The Empress Dowager happened to notice the joy on Duoduo’s face and swallowed the words she had been about to say.
“Then I wronged you, Your Majesty.” She quickly admitted her mistake.
“In that case, I’ll send someone to the Department of Justice at once to help Changle pack her things.”
After saying this, the Empress Dowager ordered one of the palace maids behind her to go to the Department of Justice.
Seeing the Empress Dowager behave as though she was afraid he might change his mind, the Emperor couldn’t help curving his lips into a smile.
“Mother, there are a few things I wish to tell Changle.”
The Empress Dowager understood what he meant and rose to her feet.
“Very well. I’m tired as well, so you two talk.”
“Oh, and Changle, Great-Grandmother will have someone escort you out of the palace later.” Before leaving, the Empress Dowager made a point of reminding Duoduo.
Duoduo bent her knees in a curtsy. “Changle thanks Great-Grandmother for taking care of her.”
The Empress Dowager waved her hand and left with her attendants.
The Emperor smiled helplessly.
The Empress Dowager still didn’t believe what he had just said.
He was the Emperor, and his word was law!
How could he possibly go back on it?
He really had planned to send Changle home.
The Emperor beckoned to Duoduo. “Come here.”
Duoduo trotted over to him, and the Emperor extended a hand.
“Come, take Grandfather’s pulse.”
Without hesitation, Duoduo placed her fingers on the Emperor’s wrist.
She pulled a serious little face, her expression solemn.
The Emperor found it quite amusing.
Such a tiny person, trying to look so stern—she looked just like a little adult.
It was truly adorable!
Duoduo withdrew her hand, her brows furrowing, but she did not let go.
The Emperor found it amusing. “What is it? Has Grandfather’s health improved too quickly?”
“I’ve been taking all those medicines exactly as prescribed.”
Duoduo did not answer him. Instead, she glanced at Eunuch Li and asked the Emperor, “Grandfather, can he be trusted?”
The Emperor’s heart jolted.
He looked at Eunuch Li, whose legs gave way and who immediately fell to his knees.
“Your Majesty, this servant has been loyal to you and you alone all his life!”
“Your Majesty, if you live, then I live! I will never betray you!”
The Emperor waved impatiently. “What a useless fellow! Get up already!”
Eunuch Li hurriedly rose to his feet.
“Have everyone else leave,” the Emperor ordered when he saw how serious Duoduo looked.
Eunuch Li quickly waved his hands, and everyone in the hall withdrew.
Only then did the Emperor turn his gaze to Duoduo.
“Speak. What exactly is wrong?”
