"My Beloved Teacher's Wife (Walking with Love)" - Chapter 78: Welcoming the Empress Dowager

Ling Feng had been hoping to spend the night in Kunning Palace with the Empress, but Consort Zhen sent a messenger to say that Consort Xuan was plotting with Empress Dowager Liang of the Eastern Palace. At the same time, the Embroidered Uniform Guard sent a secret message that Mo Guixiong and Grand Tutor Sun had gathered at the Third Prince's residence to plot.
Ling Feng immediately took a bold step, ordering Xu Dacheng to lead 10,000 Imperial Guards and three Divine Martial Cannons to cooperate with Li Cheng's Embroidered Uniform Guards to capture Mo Guixiong.
Unexpectedly, instead of capturing the culprit, evidence of the Third Prince's plot to rebel was found at his residence. Grand Tutor Sun was also arrested. Based on the evidence, Ling Feng ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Imperial Guard to arrest all of the Third Prince's associates in the capital. He also ordered Yang Hui to lead the Imperial Guards to the Nine Gates Commander's Office to take command of the city's garrison. Simultaneously, the nine gates were closed, and messengers were dispatched to assemble the capital's reserve forces. Any general who disobeyed orders could be executed without prior notification.
In an instant, panic gripped the capital. Everyone knew the Ming Dynasty was about to change. For the common people living in the capital, this was a common occurrence; every time an emperor ascended the throne, fratricide and bloodshed would ensue. At this time, the best course of action was to protect oneself, stay inside, ask nothing, and not let anyone into one's home, lest one risk the extermination of one's entire family. As for whether someone next door had been arrested, ignore it; pretend nothing had happened—that was the wisest choice.
Ling Feng knew that the operation to capture Mo Guixiong was hasty and even somewhat dangerous, and could easily provoke the other party into a desperate rebellion. Fortunately, the Crown Prince's faction had collapsed, and although the Third Prince's faction had a numerical advantage, the Imperial Guards, the Imperial Bodyguards, and the Embroidered Uniform Guards were enough to firmly control the entire capital.
Ling Feng's worries have now shifted from inside the city to outside, because everyone knows that there are 120,000 Imperial Guards within ten miles of the capital. Ling Feng's men must reach the camp before Mo Guixiong to deliver his imperial decree. Otherwise, if the 120,000 Imperial Guards are allowed to rebel under Mo Guixiong's command and besiege the capital, the entire city will become a ghost town.
Ling Feng's biggest fear was widespread bloodshed and endless war.
We must take control of the Imperial Guards; only by controlling them can the capital be spared from the ravages of war.
Just at this critical moment, Xiao Liangzi ran up breathlessly to report: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager... the Empress Dowager has returned to the palace!"
"ah!"
Ling Feng was overjoyed and said, "You've come at the perfect time. Come, immediately set up the carriage to welcome the Empress Dowager back to the palace."
"Your Majesty, are you... are you really going to go like this?"
Seeing Ling Feng dressed casually, Xiao Liangzi reminded him.
"Someone come here, quickly help me change my clothes!"
As Ling Feng spoke, the eight women, including Yuan Yao and Yuan Shan, came forward to help him dress properly. Since he was going to greet the Empress Dowager, his attire was not casual. Ling Feng donned a dragon robe, cloud-dragon shoes, and a crown, a formal court dress.
However, time did not permit it, and it was impossible to arrange for all officials to welcome the Empress Dowager together. Moreover, at this critical moment, it was really not appropriate to put on a grand show. Everything that was originally planned was reduced to a simple ceremony. At the same time, Ling Feng sent people to inform the Empress, Consort Shu, and Consort Chun, requesting them to go together to welcome the Empress Dowager back to the palace.
Ling Feng led a large group of eunuchs, palace maids, and imperial guards, and was surrounded by ten thousand brightly armored imperial guards as he left Shenwu Gate and marched along the official road in a grand procession.
Before they had gone more than two miles from the Forbidden City, a long procession came into view, led by imperial guards, followed by palace maids in colorful robes and eunuchs carrying whisks. In the center, a magnificent imperial palanquin, shimmering under the lamplight, was particularly eye-catching. Drums and gongs were played, and people on both sides of the street made way or knelt down to give way.
It must be the Empress Dowager. Ling Feng immediately stood up and quickly went to greet her.
At this moment, the imperial carriage stopped, and a beautiful woman in elaborate attire, supported by palace maids, slowly stepped down. She was elegant and graceful, with phoenix eyes and a jade-like face, possessing a captivating charm. Her figure was full yet not cumbersome, and she appeared to be only in her early twenties. She was none other than Empress Dowager Zhou Shanxiang, the lover of Ling Feng's Empress Dowager.
After not seeing her for a few days, Ling Feng felt a surge of emotion. He never expected that the Empress Dowager would look even younger and more beautiful. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, no one would have believed that this was the Empress Dowager who ruled the world.
As Ling Feng's thoughts raced, he didn't stop for a moment. He walked up to Empress Dowager Zhou, bowed deeply to the ground, and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be blessed with good fortune and peace, and may your happiness be as boundless as a mountain!"
As the saying goes, one should only kneel to heaven, earth, and one's parents. As the emperor, under the vast sky, there was no one else to kneel to except for the empress dowager.
"My son!"
Empress Dowager Zhou cried out and rushed forward, pulling Ling Feng into her arms. That embrace was filled with affection, and Ling Feng knew that this affection was built on the sincerity between the two of them on Mount Hua.
Ling Feng felt a fragrant breeze waft towards him, and his upper body nestled into a soft, yielding embrace. The Empress Dowager's mature arms stirred his desire. He couldn't help but hold her tightly, thinking to himself that if they weren't in public, he would have loved to kiss her passionately…
"My son, get up quickly."
The Empress Dowager helped him up, her voice choked with emotion, and said, "Let your mother take a good look and see if my son has lost weight."
The love a mother has for her child is innate. But what shone in the Empress Dowager's eyes was clearly a deep, tender affection, the joy of separation making the honeymoon feel even better.
Seeing the tears glistening in the Empress Dowager's phoenix eyes, Ling Feng's heart warmed, and he said sorrowfully, "Mother, I miss you every day!"
This sentence also expressed Ling Feng's thoughts. During this period, he really hoped that someone who could help him could accompany him in the palace.
The Empress Dowager felt gratified by Ling Feng's dependence on her and said with a smile, "My son, stand up straight. How old are you? Don't act like a child and make the servants laugh at you."
At this moment, three elegantly dressed women behind the Emperor bowed gracefully and said in sweet voices, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to the Empress Dowager!"
The people following behind also knelt down in worship.
"Rise."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, and only then did Ling Feng notice the three women behind him: the Empress, Consort Shu, and the last one, who should be Consort Chun, whom he had not yet favored. She was shy and demure, dressed in simple, light silk, elegant and refined, with a noble air about her. Her skin was as white as frost and snow, and her beautiful eyes were misty and alluring, glancing at him with a hint of shyness before turning away timidly, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Brother Emperor, can you tell who I am?"
At this moment, a beautiful woman ran out from beside the Empress Dowager; it was Princess Zhaoyang.
"You little rascal, you've finally decided to come back!"
Ling Feng stepped forward and pinched her little nose. This charming little princess was truly adorable. He really wanted to kiss her passionately, then rip off her clothes and fiercely... "I'm not a naughty girl anymore!"
Princess Zhaoyang murmured, "Mother, have you noticed that His Majesty looks much better today?" The Empress Dowager held Ling Feng's hand, looking him up and down with obvious affection, and nodded repeatedly, saying, "His complexion is much better, and he even seems more energetic. Thank God, our ancestors have blessed us!"
Consort Shu, seizing the opportunity, chimed in, "It must be that the Empress Dowager's sincere prayers moved Buddha and Heaven, and the Buddha manifested his blessings upon our Emperor. Hehe!"
The auspicious words were perfectly timed, and the Empress Dowager, holding Ling Feng's hand, grew happier and happier, unable to stop smiling.
Seeing Consort Shu's captivating eyes, radiant smile, and melodious voice, Ling Feng was instantly smitten and about to make a teasing remark. The Empress Dowager smiled and asked, "My son, what have you been doing in the palace these past few days since my trip to Mount Hua?"
Ling Feng took the Empress Dowager's hand and said, "Mother, this is not the place to talk. Why don't we go back to the palace and discuss this further?"
The Empress Dowager looked at Ling Feng, a surge of joy welling up within her. Although she knew this emperor was no longer her son, Zhu Wenchong, she felt no sadness, but rather a touch of excitement and anticipation. Perhaps in her heart, she thought that Ling Feng had already repaid what she owed the late emperor, and what Xiaoyaozi owed her.
What the late emperor wanted was a peaceful and prosperous Ming Dynasty. As for who ruled the country, what did it matter? Moreover, Zhu Wenchong was not originally the late emperor's son. This was the Empress Dowager's greatest guilt. However, Ling Feng's appearance made the Empress Dowager's guilt disappear.
For the Empress Dowager, Ling Feng and Zhu Wenchong were just names. What truly made people remember this period of history was the glory of that era and the wise choice of the late emperor. From this perspective, replacing Zhu Wenchong with Ling Feng was undoubtedly the best choice.
The Empress Dowager knew that as long as Ling Feng sat firmly on the throne of the Ming Dynasty, peace would prevail and a prosperous era would be just a matter of time.

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"My Beloved Teacher's Wife (Walking with Love)" - Chapter 78: Welcoming the Empress Dowager

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