Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 632 The Queen Mother's Request

Zhao Mu looked at the little palace maid and said, "Forget it, get up. Since the Queen Mother invites you, I will go with you."

Hearing that Zhao Mu agreed, the little palace maid kowtowed to express her gratitude.

Then she stood up, wiped her tears, and planned to lead Zhao Mu there.

Zhezong had previously ordered that Zhao Mu be allowed to enter and leave the imperial palace of the Song Dynasty freely, let alone the Queen Mother's bedroom. Even the Queen's bedroom, Zhao Mu could go there whenever he wanted. Even if he stayed overnight in the Queen's palace, Zhezong would not think that he had done anything wrong. This was Zhezong's absolute trust in Zhao Mu.

Soon, Zhao Mu arrived outside the Cining Palace.

The Cining Palace was guarded by the Dragon Guards. Except for the Empress Dowager Xiang who was under house arrest, everyone else could enter and leave freely.

When Zhao Mu came closer, all the Dragon Guards saluted him. Zhao Mu also waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for courtesy.

After entering the Cining Palace and walking through a few corridors, we arrived at the side hall of Empress Dowager Xiang's bedroom.

At this time, Empress Dowager Xiang was kneeling on a cushion, twisting a string of Buddhist beads in her hand, and speaking very confidently. Although her words were very unclear, Zhao Mu could vaguely hear that she was reciting scriptures.

Seeing the Queen Mother worshipping Buddha and chanting scriptures, the little maid did not dare to disturb her. But she also did not dare to tell Zhao Mu to wait for the Queen Mother.

Then he looked at Zhao Mu pitifully again.

Seeing this, Zhao Mu asked Queen Mother Xiang, "I wonder what you want me to do, Queen Mother?"

Hearing Zhao Mu's voice, Empress Dowager Xiang couldn't help but shudder, and then hurriedly looked at him.

Seeing that Zhao Mu had really come, Empress Dowager Xiang stopped worshipping Buddha and chanting sutras. She then hurried to Zhao Mu's side and said, "Your Majesty has finally come. It is worth my reciting sutras and worshipping Buddha. I think it is the Buddha's blessing."

Zhao Mu was in no mood to pay attention to the old woman's crazy talk. He said, "What on earth did the Queen Mother ask me to come here for? I just returned to Bianjing today and have to attend a court meeting tomorrow. If there is nothing important, then I will go back to the East Palace to rest first."

At this time, Queen Mother Xiang knelt before Zhao Mu and cried, "Your Majesty, I really know I was wrong. I beg Your Majesty, Emperor Zhong, to ask for mercy for me and let me go."

Seeing Empress Dowager Xiang kneeling like this, Zhao Mu couldn't help but shudder.

Although Zhao Mu disliked Empress Dowager Xiang, she was the empress of the previous emperor after all, so he still had to show her the necessary respect.

Moreover, although Queen Mother Xiang was not the biological mother of Emperor Cheoljong, since Emperor Cheoljong respected her as the Queen Mother, she was also her son. Now that she was kneeling in front of him like this, it was not disrespectful to her, but to Emperor Cheoljong and the late emperor.

Zhao Mu wanted to step forward to help her, but stopped because of etiquette. He said to the maids beside him: "What are you still standing there for? Why don't you help the Queen Mother up!"

After receiving Zhao Mu's order, the two palace maids serving on the side hurriedly helped Empress Dowager Xiang up.

Zhao Mu saw Empress Dowager Xiang like this, and then said: "Your Majesty, your health is delicate, please sit down and talk."

Empress Dowager Xiang came to a side hall with the help of her maids, crying. She came to a chair nearby with the help of a dragon-headed cane and sat down.

Then she asked Zhao Mu to sit down quickly. Empress Dowager Xiang looked at Zhao Mu and said, "Your Majesty, I beg you to plead with Your Majesty. Now that Prince Duan is dead, I know I was wrong. I will never interfere in the affairs of the previous dynasty again. Now that my child and I are imprisoned separately, the concubines in the palace have never come to visit me. These days are really hard to bear."

Zhao Mu said, "What are you talking about, Queen Mother? Although His Majesty has forbidden you to go out, he also wants you to rest assured in the palace and worship Buddha and cultivate your mind. Besides, you are not deprived of food and clothing here, so why are you saying it's hard to endure?"

Upon hearing what Zhao Mu said, Empress Dowager Xiang was speechless for a moment.

But now that Zhao Mu is willing to come, this is her only chance.

So he said to the Queen Mother: "Your Majesty, although I have no worries about food and clothing, I am really depressed staying in this palace all day. And my Wei girl is the same. Now she has lost her husband and is living in seclusion in the Zongzheng Mansion. I am fine, but she is still young."

When Zhao Mu heard Queen Dowager Xiang mention the Princess of Wei, he remembered her.

She was the favorite sister of Emperor Zhezong. She was about the same age as Queen Wang and others. Although she was not a great beauty, she was not bad looking.

If it weren't for the fact that Zhao Mu and she were from the same clan and Zhao Mu was not her elder, Zhao Mu would really like to taste what this princess of the Song Dynasty tasted like.

Zhao Mu said at this time: "Don't worry, Queen Mother. His Majesty is just giving the princess a small lesson. When a new prince consort is found for her, he will let her out. As for you, Queen Mother, you should just stay in this palace and enjoy your remaining years. If there is nothing else, I will return to the East Palace! Goodbye!"

Having said that, Zhao Mu was about to get up and leave.

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother hurriedly tried to stop him, saying, "Your Majesty, please stay. I, I..." But now the Queen Mother didn't know how to beg Zhao Mu.

Seeing her like this, Zhao Mu thought for a moment.

"Our Song Dynasty ruled the country with filial piety. Now that the Queen Mother has been imprisoned, all officials know the truth, but they can't help but criticize it. Although Your Majesty doesn't say it, he may be a little afraid in his heart. Forget it! This old witch must have known she was wrong. If she doesn't make trouble in the court in the future, there is no need to keep making things difficult for her and leave Your Majesty with the stigma of 'disobedience and unfilial'."

Zhao Mu looked at Queen Mother Xiang again, and he thought, "But I can't let her off so easily. If I plead with His Majesty, His Majesty will definitely give in and release Queen Mother Xiang and the Princess of Wei to save my face. Even if it's a favor, I have to get some benefit from it."

Thinking of this, Zhao Mu stopped and turned around and said, "Okay. But let's not beat around the bush. If you want me to help the Queen Mother, it's not difficult, but what does the Queen Mother want to promise me? After all, my face is in front of Your Majesty, and it will be a little thinner if I use it a little."

When he heard that Zhao Mu agreed to help him, he said to the Queen Mother: "As long as Your Majesty Zhongdi is willing to help me escape from prison, I will give you a gift."

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager winked at the little palace maid beside her. The little palace maid nodded, then turned and left.

Although Zhao Mu didn't know what she wanted to do, he still waited patiently. He wanted to see what gift Queen Mother Xiang could give him.

Soon, a row of pretty little girls came out.

The twelve of them were arranged in three rows and four columns, each wearing the palace dress.

Zhao Mu looked at everyone carefully. Each of these palace maids was very pretty and pretty. They all looked to be in their twenties, and the oldest should not be more than eighteen years old. They were in their prime.

(End of this chapter)