Chapter 1272: Chapter 1272
The Emperor resolved the matter with the Ducal Residence family and was overjoyed, feeling as though a great mountain pressing on him had finally been moved.
For him, it was an urgent matter to name the son born of his beloved woman as the Crown Prince. He had already gleefully drafted the imperial edict, only waiting to announce it at court the next morning.
Yet, unexpectedly, Zijin did not attend the morning court at all.
When someone inquired about it, they discovered that he had already left at dawn.
It was said he had received important news and found traces of the Heavenly Master.
The timing of Zijin’s departure was exquisitely calculated, enraging the Emperor to the point he almost fainted from fury.
Returning to Qianqing Palace, the Emperor rambled incessantly, like an ordinary person unable to contain their frustrations.
"He still refuses, doesn’t he? He’s clearly doing it on purpose. Wan Decheng, what do you think should be done?"
What else could Wan Decheng say? Naturally, he offered words of comfort.
He said, "Your Majesty, perhaps you are overthinking this. The Crown Prince was personally raised by the Heavenly Master, so their bond runs deep. Ever since that incident, the Heavenly Master and the State Preceptor have been missing for so long—how could the Crown Prince not be anxious? Now that there’s a lead on the Heavenly Master, of course, he would rush off at the first moment. Otherwise, wouldn’t that disappoint the Heavenly Master?"
"No, no, he resents me..." the Emperor shook his head and said.
Wan Decheng sighed as well and replied, "The Crown Prince will understand eventually. Back then, Your Majesty had no other choice, it was just that..."
"Just that Qinqin still died!"
He had swapped heaven for earth, using a daughter to take his place...
Recalling the events of the past, the Emperor rose and retrieved a Brocade Book from a small cabinet. He gazed at it for a moment with lowered eyes, then closed the book again.
He handed the Brocade Book to Wan Decheng and said, "Zijin was right; the fault wasn’t hers. Take this to her. Falling leaves return to their roots, and she, too, wishes to find hers."
Wan Decheng was utterly astonished. He hurriedly accepted the Brocade Book handed over by the Emperor.
Only after reading its contents did he finally understand who the "her" mentioned by the Emperor referred to.
It was the Princess who had once been the most favored in the palace. Back then, he didn’t know that this Princess wasn’t the Emperor’s biological child, and he had treated her as if worshiping an ancestor.
Now, that person had long faded from everyone’s view. Thinking of her again now felt unexpectedly distant.
"This old servant will bring the Brocade Book to the Princess... to..." He suddenly didn’t know how to address Jin Fengzhao.
It was said that Jin Fengzhao had been demoted by General Xiao to the status of a lowly concubine, and even an ordinary maid in General Xiao’s household lived better than she did now.
Reflecting on her current situation, not only did Wan Decheng feel a pang of sorrow, but even the Emperor, who was known for his cold heart, felt a deep ache.
Even though she wasn’t his biological child, and even though he had harbored ulterior motives from the moment he brought her back, always regarding her as a mere tool...
Even the coldest of hearts isn’t entirely devoid of feeling.
Having been called "Father Emperor" for so many years, and having personally raised her for the sake of maintaining the facade, how could there truly be no emotion at all?
The Emperor sighed and said, "Send her some things. I’ve heard she hasn’t been living well. Arrange for her to properly search for her parents. It is I who wronged her."
Wan Decheng, the Emperor’s attendant, arrived at General Xiao’s residence seeking an audience with Jin Fengzhao. He brought along many items, which threw the women of the household into a state of panic.
"What does the Emperor mean by this? Didn’t he already remove Jin Fengzhao’s name from the Imperial Family?"
"That’s right! And yet it’s Eunuch Wan who’s come, and he’s brought so many things. I took a peek—Eunuch Wan seemed extremely respectful toward that woman, laughing and chatting as the two entered her room together."