Chapter 388 – The Qin King Returns to the Capital

Chapter 388 - The Qin King Returns to the Capital

However, due to its intended purpose as a pain reliever, the medicine proved highly effective.

Within three days of the Empress's use, her condition visibly improved.

As a result, Doctor Zhuang received a generous reward.

Doctor Zhuang accepted it with a clear conscience.

Thus, everyone observed the Empress's spirits gradually lifting day by day.

No longer in pain, she was able to eat and sleep well. However, the state of her health remained a concern for the time being.

On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, the Qin King returned to the palace.

He had been summoned back by He Jinli earlier.

After more than a year's absence, the Qin King returned to his own estate, which He Jinli had already arranged to be renovated beforehand.

It was the former residence of Prince Lu, which, after his family moved out, had been restored by He Jinli and then bestowed upon Prince Qin.

Of course, there were accommodations within the palace as well. He Jinli ordered Guangxin Palace to be prepared for him to stay temporarily during the New Year celebrations.

When Prince Qin returned, all the other princes went to greet him.

Not for any other reason, but since they currently held no titles, they were all inferior to Prince Qin, whether they were elder or younger brothers.

Prince Qin appeared to be in better condition than when they last saw him in the south. He had grown taller, though he was still rather slender compared to his siblings.

Nonetheless, he looked vastly different from when he left the capital.

His complexion had also improved significantly.

He now looked like a healthy young man, unlike when he departed, resembling a scrawny, malnourished child.

Rushing to Zhengyang Palace to pay his respects, He Jinli looked at him and smiled. "Your father should have sent someone to fetch you earlier. It must be freezing now."

"Your Majesty is very busy, and there was nothing urgent for your son. My health has improved greatly, so I'm not as afraid of the cold as before," replied Prince Qin.

Still susceptible to the cold, but it's a significant improvement from before.

After the customary father-son exchange, He Jinli asked him to go and pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.

As for the Empress, He Jinli didn't mention her. It was up to him; he could go if he wished, and stay away if he didn't.

King Qin rose to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.

In the Cining Palace, the Empress was unexpectedly present.

Upon seeing the Qin Prince, she was momentarily taken aback as well. She hadn't expected this child to have changed so much.

The Qin Prince knelt and said, "Grandson pays his respects to Empress Grandmother, and to Mother Empress."

"Quickly help him up, let him come closer," the Empress Dowager said, surprised.

She had initially assumed that the Fourth Prince, exiled to the southern region, wouldn't look too appealing. Yet, he had grown more robust than before.

"The boy has grown up, much taller now. That's wonderful. It seems the southern lands have nurtured him well," the Empress Dowager chuckled.

"Many thanks to Grand Empress Dowager," the Qin King said with a sheepish smile.

"The family is finally complete now that you're back. Last year, the New Year's celebrations felt empty without you. This year, we'll have a proper reunion," the Empress Dowager chuckled.

The Qin King responded with a polite smile, agreeing with her.

After some conversation, the Empress Dowager said, "I won't keep you two from your business. Go spend time with your mother. But do take it easy since you've just returned. There will be plenty to do during the New Year festivities."

"Yes, grandson understands. Thank you for your concern, Grand Empress Dowager," the Qin King bowed, then bid farewell along with the Empress.

At this point, it would be inappropriate for him not to leave with the Empress.

"I'll tell you on our way back. It's cold outside," the Empress said.

The Qin King pursed his lips and replied, "Mm."

Their journey back was quiet, both feeling a bit awkward. Once they reached the Empress's palace, the Qin King asked, "How has Mother been?"

The Empress sighed. "I thought you wouldn't acknowledge me anymore."

A tense silence followed the statement.

This was because the Qin King did not respond.

He merely remained silent.

Unease stirred in the Queen's heart. "You... Could it be that you truly don't want to acknowledge me?"

The Qin King cast a glance at the Queen and said, "In this world, there cannot be a son who does not recognize his mother."

The Empress was taken aback. Did he mean that if possible, he would deny their relationship?

Her excitement from the day was instantly doused with a bucket of cold water. "How temperamental has Prince Qin become? Even if I, as your mother, have made a mistake, isn't there any gratitude for carrying you in my womb for ten months and giving birth to you? Even if I did one thing wrong, does it warrant such treatment from you?"

Prince Qin knelt but remained silent.

The Empress was frustrated. Her intention to reconnect on familial grounds had vanished.

Ruyi quickly intervened, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Our Prince is frail and must be exhausted from his recent journey back to the capital. You should ask him to rise. It wouldn't be good if he catches a cold and falls ill."

In truth, the floor wasn't cold; there were heating pipes beneath it.

But such words had to be said, for the Empress needed her dignity.

"Never mind, you may rise. Your sister thinks of you too. Even if you've done wrong, can she really not care for you anymore? Not even a single letter?" The Empress sighed. "Forget it, it's been so long since we last met. Stay for a meal here."

However, the Qin King replied, "Mother, your son is feeling unwell at the moment. I wish to return and rest. I'll accompany you tomorrow."

The Empress was exasperated. "You really are... Forget it, go then."

The Qin King bowed in farewell, showing no hint of reluctance.

Exiting the Phoenix Palace, the Qin King let out a soft breath. He knew that his behavior was inappropriate.

But he just didn't want to face the Empress.

He didn't want to face this biological mother of his. In the year and a half he'd been away, he genuinely felt lighter and happier.

Since childhood, he had been strictly disciplined by his mother. She constantly reminded him that as a legitimate son, he was destined to become the Crown Prince.

You must not do this, nor that.

That would be tolerable. He also held a spirit of resilience, for himself, and for his mother and elder sister.

Yet, his health was frail, constantly reminding him of physical suffering.

But what about Mother? All she could say was that if only he had a stronger constitution.

Is it my fault that I'm not strong enough?

He often asked himself this question.

He also felt deeply inferior, unlike his brothers. He was inferior in every aspect.

Even his father didn't favor him.

But he accepted all of this, wasn't it enough? Wasn't it enough?

His mother was actually planning to drug him.

Even with his sluggish perception, he was aware that he possessed unusual traits compared to others.

The gazes of those maidens were enough to make him die of shame.

Yet, his mother insisted on taking that medicine herself, disregarding the state of his body.

All for the sake of conceiving an heir.

Recalling those events, he couldn't tell if it was his mother or himself who had lost their mind.

Regardless of who had been mad, he felt a profound despair.

An overwhelming despair, disgust, an unbearable disgust.

She was his own biological mother, how could she bear to do such a thing?

Thus, once he left the capital, he felt like a bird set free. Even if he thought then that it wouldn't matter if his father imprisoned him in the south forever.

As long as he left her, left this harem, everything would be fine.

Now that he's returned, he also misses the people and everything here, but that doesn't include the Empress. None of it includes the Fengyi Palace.

He detests this palace, as it only suffocates him, reminding him of those days.

Those dark, sticky, and utterly unbearable thoughts.

After the New Year celebrations, he'll beg his father the Emperor to let him return to Jiangnan, not to reside in the capital.

After all, he has no particular skills or abilities to make a difference.

He must keep a safe distance from his mother, the Empress.