Chapter 674 - 677: Concession

Chapter 674: Chapter 677: Concession

The two Prime Ministers wished to offend neither the Crown Prince nor the Empress Dowager.

So, they simply pretended not to understand the Empress Dowager’s intentions. Kneeling in unison, they shouted, "Crown Prince, you must take care of your health!"

The Empress Dowager waited a long while for them to continue, but they said nothing more. She couldn’t help but grow annoyed.

"Aren’t you usually quite talkative? Why are you not speaking up now?"

The two Prime Ministers bowed their heads, looking as if they were obediently admitting their fault.

"The Empress Dowager is right to scold us. We were mistaken."

Though they paid lip service to their mistake, they had no intention of changing their ways.

The Empress Dowager was so furious her expression darkened.

She seethed with resentment for the two old men.

’They’re just playing dumb! The sly old foxes!’

’They’d better hope I never get the chance. If I do, I’ll teach them a lesson they won’t forget!’

With no one willing to support her and unable to win the argument against the Crown Prince, the Empress Dowager had no choice but to back down.

"Crown Prince, whatever you are thinking, you can tell me calmly. As long as it does not violate palace rules or the laws of the land, I can agree to it. Please, don’t do anything foolish."

The Empress Dowager had considered deposing the Crown Prince before, but that was when the Emperor was still alive.

With the Emperor on the throne, she could have replaced the Crown Prince with legitimate cause and far less trouble.

But now the Emperor was dead and had left an edict ordering the Crown Prince to take the throne.

All the civil and military officials were already aware of this.

If something were to happen to the Crown Prince now, the court and the country would surely descend into chaos.

The Regent King was still a fugitive. What if he seized the opportunity to storm back and usurp the throne?

The Empress Dowager dared not take that risk.

Li Qiong’s voice came from behind the door.

"Grand Empress Dowager, are you serious?"

Seeing there was still room for negotiation, the Empress Dowager hastily seized the chance and replied.

"The two Prime Ministers are here as witnesses. I will certainly keep my word!"

A moment later, the door was pushed open, and Li Qiong stepped out, dressed in plain white robes.

His hair was unbound, and he held a treasure sword.

The blade was dazzlingly bright, its glint striking fear into the hearts of all present.

"Grand Empress Dowager, the sages say our bodies, hair, and skin are gifts from our parents. I can neither stand by and watch my mother die, nor can I defy my Imperial Father’s dying wish. The only option is to cut my hair to spare my mother’s life. I beg for your permission."

Having said this, Li Qiong grabbed a lock of his hair and raised the sword to cut it.

The sight horrified everyone present.

The Empress Dowager cried out in alarm, "You mustn’t!"

Princess Consort Zhen lunged forward heedlessly and grabbed the blade with both hands, stopping it from falling.

The sharp edge sliced through her palms. Blood welled up and dripped down her wrists. DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.

Li Qiong frantically let go of the treasure sword. "Mother, what are you doing?"

Princess Consort Zhen let go as well, allowing the treasure sword to clatter to the floor.

She opened her hands. Her once delicate, fair palms were now a mangled, bloody mess.

She choked out, her voice thick with emotion.

"My dear child, I know you are being filial.

But you are the Crown Prince, the future emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Since ancient times, what emperor has ever cut his hair?

You must not break with tradition and damage the dignity of an emperor."

Li Qiong said urgently.

"How can tradition and dignity be more important than your life, Mother?

As long as you can live, I am willing to do anything.

But let’s not talk about that now. Please, go inside and sit down. I’ll send for the Imperial Physician at once."

But Princess Consort Zhen, enduring the pain, forcefully pushed her son away and bent down to pick up the treasure sword.

She ripped the pearl hairpins from her head, and her long, dark hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

The Empress Dowager snapped, "What do you think you’re doing? Put down that sword!"

With tears in her eyes, Princess Consort Zhen looked at the Empress Dowager and spoke, enunciating each word.

"The Saint wished for me to be buried with him, and I dare not disobey. But Qiong’er is still so young; I cannot leave him with a peaceful heart.

Empress Dowager, you are a mother as well. Surely you can understand how I feel.

This matter began because of me. If hair must be cut, it should be mine."

With that, before the stunned crowd, she swung the treasure sword and severed her long black hair at the shoulder.

Strands of dark hair drifted to the ground.

The Empress Dowager was so shocked she stammered.

"You... you actually did it?"

For a woman, her hair represented both her beauty and her dignity.

For Princess Consort Zhen to cut her hair in public was an utter loss of face. How could she possibly continue to live in the palace after this?

Li Qiong burst into tears. "Mother! Mother, how could you!"

The palace maids and eunuchs all dropped to their knees in unison, heads bowed, not daring to even breathe.

The two Prime Ministers exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in the other’s eyes.

They truly had not expected Princess Consort Zhen to be so decisive.

All that beautiful, long black hair, which must have taken countless hours of care to grow.

Yet she had cut it off just like that. The swift, unhesitating fall of the blade was truly impressive!

With things having escalated this far, the Empress Dowager knew she had to compromise, but she was still reluctant.

She didn’t want to let Princess Consort Zhen off the hook so easily.

The Empress Dowager said with a cold expression.

"I do not wish to force Princess Consort Zhen to her death, but it was the Emperor’s final edict that she be buried with him. If merely cutting one’s hair can atone for a life, how could I ever face the Emperor in the afterlife?"

She turned to the two Prime Ministers again, demanding an answer.

"And what do you think?"

This time, they did not feign ignorance, answering obediently.

"What the Empress Dowager says is absolutely correct."

At this, Princess Consort Zhen knelt before the Empress Dowager.

"Now that my hair is cut, it signifies that I have severed my ties to the mortal world.

After the seventh day of mourning for the Saint, I will move to Shuiyun Temple.

From now on, I will live a life of monastic devotion, chanting sutras and praying for the Saint and for you, Empress Dowager. I will never again meddle in worldly affairs."

The Empress Dowager was tempted.

If Princess Consort Zhen truly left the palace to become a nun, then the Empress Dowager would retain absolute control over the inner court.

She would no longer have to worry about her status being threatened.

The Empress Dowager asked, "Life in the nunnery is exceedingly hard. Are you certain you can endure it?"

Princess Consort Zhen replied, "As long as I can pray for you and the Saint, I can endure any hardship."

Since she had put it that way, the Empress Dowager cast aside her reservations and agreed to the request.

Princess Consort Zhen shed tears of gratitude.

"Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your grace."

Princess Consort Zhen departed with her attendants. Soon after, an Imperial Physician rushed in to treat her wounds.

Once her wounds were treated, Li Qiong dismissed everyone.

He looked at Princess Consort Zhen’s bandaged hands, then at her new, shoulder-length hair, and his eyes reddened once more.

"It is my fault for being so useless. I could only resort to such a clumsy method, and I have made you suffer, Mother."

Princess Consort Zhen soothed him in a gentle voice, "It is but a small injury. The sacrifice was worth it."

Li Qiong made a solemn promise.

"Rest assured, Mother. In the future, once I have secured my position on the throne, I will find a way to bring you back."

Princess Consort Zhen used the back of her hand to wipe the tears from his face, saying softly.

"As long as you are well, I would willingly spend the rest of my life in that nunnery."