Beloved Empress

After the hunt, everyone returned to the palace.

The event today could be considered a success; no one was hurt or injured.

Mo Qi Qi returned to Feng Yang Palace and collapsed into her phoenix seat to rest.

Ban Xiang carried a cup of tea over, “Drink some tea, Your Ladyship.”

Mo Qi Qi laughed, “You are so considerate. I wish I would give birth to a daughter. Everyone says that a daughter is a mother’s greatest treasure.”

Ban Xiang frowned, “Your Ladyship, you must give birth to a boy. He would be the Crown Prince!”

Mo Qi Qi patted her stomach and smiled. Honestly, it didn’t matter what the gender of the baby was. The most important thing was for the baby to be healthy. As for the line of succession and what-not, that all depended on Jun Qian Che. She’d rather prefer for her son to not be the Crown Prince. That position was too lofty and lonely, so many people would be vying for it. Even if he somehow managed to ascend to the throne, he would be completely alone; isolated from the rest of the people in the world. That would be so unfortunate. That’s why she’d rather it be a daughter. There’d be less problem that way.

“I’m tired to death today. Lucky I managed to come back alive,” sighed Mo Qi Qi as she handed the cup to Ban Xiang.

Ban Xiang looked at her in confusion, “But you didn’t even do anything, Your Ladyship. How could you be tired?”

Mo Qi Qi looked at her bitterly, “It is my heart that is tired, ah!” She had been so worried about Jun Qian Che’s injury being discovered that she spent the entire time fretting over it. Her heart almost leapt out of her chest when the Grand Empress Dowager asked the Emperor to participate in archery. Lucky Jun Qian Che had high endurance. He was able to put on a perfect performance even though the wound re-opened. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to protect her own life!

Jun Qian Che, on the other hand, had just returned to Yu Jing Palace and changed into fresh clothing when a Momo from the Empress Dowager’s palace arrived.

“This old servant greets Your Majesty.”

“Why are you here, Lu Momo?” asked Jun Qian Che coldly.

The Momo respectfully replied him, “Your Majesty, this servant has been sent by the Empress Dowager, who wishes to invite you to Ci Yue Palace.”

“Imperial mother wishes to see zhen?” An uneasy feeling rose in his heart. However, since his imperial mother had already sent people to call him in, he had no other choice but to go.

“Let’s go, then,” said Jun Qian Che calmly as he walked out of Yu Jing Palace.

Lu Momo immediately followed him.

As they walked to Ci Yue Palace, Jun Qian Che could not put his worry to rest. He asked Lu Momo, “Do you know why imperial mother wishes to see zhen?”

Lu Momo shook her head, “This servant does not know why.”

Jun Qian Che stopped asking questions and simply continued walking to Ci Yue Palace.

Lu Momo approached him a little closer and whispered, “Your Majesty, Her Ladyship the Empress Dowager seems to be in a terrible mood after returning from the hunting ground. This servant advises you to tread carefully.”

His steps slowed down a little as his heart was weighed over by worry.

He bowed when he reached the sitting room of Ci Yue Palace, “Imperial son greets imperial mother.”

“Sit,” the Empress Dowager’s tone was very light.

Yang Shi Han was also there. He looked at her, wanting to know if she knew why they were there.

She shook her head at him, mirroring his confusion.

He turned to his mother respectfully, “Imperial son would like to inquire as to why imperial mother called both of us here.”

“If imperial mother stopped caring about you, there might come a day when imperial mother wouldn’t even know you were harmed by others,” the Empress Dowager’s tone was displeased.

He smiled lightly, “Why would imperial mother say that?”

The Empress Dowager turned him, no longer bothering with protocol, “Then open your robes and let imperial mother see your body!”

He froze momentarily before smiling awkwardly, “Imperial mother, that would be a bit inappropriate.”

“What is so inappropriate with that? I am your birth mother and Shi Han is your Guifei. No one would laugh or gossip about you!” said the Empress Dowager firmly.

Jun Qian Che was a bit embarrassed as he said, “Imperial mother, I am a grown up now, no longer a child.”

(TN: lmaoooo, why am I living for this interaction??)

The Empress Dowager nodded, “Alright, there is no need to take off your robe. Just open it enough to reveal your shoulders.”

By now, Jun Qian Che’s speculation as to why he was called over was as good as confirmed. He had wished that there was a different reason and that his imperial mother hadn’t found out, but it appeared that she had.

“Imperial mother, did someone say something to you?” Jun Qian Che’s voice was a lot colder now.

The Empress Dowager was furious as she said, “No one said anything to me! You are my son, the child that I gave birth to! Imperial mother would know if you got even a little bit injured. My heart would hurt! Imperial mother could see your arms trembling while doing archery earlier. Imperial mother could see that something was wrong. Hurry and let us check your shoulders.”

Yang Shi Han walked over to him and sniffed his shoulder, “Smells like medicine. You really are injured, Your Majesty.”