Chapter 121.3: A Generous Hand

Since her own mother already came looking for her, the Empress naturally can't clench her teeth and not let go. Besides, because of that hidden ambition of hers, in reality, her son in the future didn't really need an outstanding Empress. One that would be able to obediently listen to her was the best. That's why, because she needed Sun Yi Lin, why would she not grant Sun Yi Lin's wish?

"Mother, this empress naturally doesn't have a problem here, but you should also know, this matter isn't something this empress has a say in alone."

Sun Old Madam naturally had an understanding inside, "This subject will request to meet with his Majesty later. Your Highness can just let everyone of the inner palace know about this subject's purpose in coming here, that'll be enough."

The Empress was slightly startled inside. As a titled madam, wanting to meet with the Emperor wasn't that easy of a task. But judging from her mother's attitude, this seemingly wasn't that big of a deal. It was like as if, as long as she requested an audience, his Majesty will definitely meet with her. Could it be that between her mother and the Emperor, there was something that even she didn't know about? Thus, the Empress just very candidly nodded her head, "This is a trivial matter."

"Since that's the case, this subject will take one's leave first."

The Empress although was a strong and extremely ambitious woman, but her relationship with her own mother was estranged. This more or less was a knot in her heart. "Since it's so rare for mother to enter the palace, why don't you sit a little longer."

"No need. Your Highness, as the master of the inner palace, is busy with palace affairs, it is inappropriate for this subject to disturb you for too long."

The Empress was also very helpless. This mother of hers, aside from palace banquets, if not for important matters, afraid, in this lifetime, all won't enter the palace. For the mother-daughter relationship to have become estranged like this, when did it all start? When her father wanted to have her betrothed to Le Cheng Emperor, who at the time was still the crown prince, her mother originally firmly opposed, and the two of them even because of this fought for a period of time. Afterwards, she voluntarily put forward that for the sake of the Ding Duke Manor, she was willing to marry. From then on, her mother's attitude towards her completely changed. It has already been decades since then. She's now honored as the Empress, mother of the world, yet her mother's attitude towards her has never changed. "Since that's the case, this empress won't force you to stay. Just, this empress resides deep within the palace, and can't leave the palace to visit you either, so mother should take care of oneself."

"Many thanks your Highness, this subject bids farewell."

At the same time, Le Cheng Emperor had already finished attending morning court and was currently in the imperial study looking over memorandums. Sun Old Madam wasn't someone without propriety either, and only after confirming that there weren't any court officials in the imperial study did she finally propose her request to meet.

This kind of thing for the close servants by Le Cheng Emperor's side, even if this was their first time encountering, they still wouldn't dare slight her, quickly reporting to Le Cheng Emperor.

After the Empress learned of the news, she quietly muttered to herself, "Really meeting just like that?" She slightly furrowed her brows. It was true that her mother was Le Cheng Emperor's legitimate mother-in-law, but when her father was still alive, she didn't see Le Cheng Emperor liking him all that much. Looking at it like so, afraid her mother and his Majesty's relationship isn't normal. But all these years, there wasn't the slightest hint or clue. In the past, her mother had never requested to meet with his Majesty before. This time, if not for Sun Yi Lin's matter, afraid, once her mother enters the earth, no one will ever be able to learn of this.

Perhaps her mother was actually that ultimate chess piece, but this chess piece was hidden too deeply, only exposing a tiny little sprout now. Even so, from the looks of it, this chess piece completely can't be controlled, and further unwilling to be used by them. This kind of 'clearly having a good piece at hand yet unable to use' feeling really was extremely suffocating.

Not long after Sun Old Madam entered the imperial study, everyone of the inner palace all learned of the news. Many people perhaps were just affected, but there were a small subset of people that were indefinitely bewildered. They probably never thought that such an individual would charge out at such a time.

"Go, quickly investigate clearly exactly for what reason did Sun Old Madam enter the palace for."

Since these people had the mind, and the Empress also had the intention, Sun Old Madam's purpose for entering the palace naturally became known very quickly.

The Empress originally was even thinking of letting out some seemingly true but actually false news that would further benefit her side, but recalling her mother's temper, she could only give up. For her to be able to not turn her attitude around towards her own daughter for decades, it can be seen just how resolute her temperament was. If she really wanted to help them do a little something, then she wouldn't have gone as far as to not reveal anything, thus it can be seen, she genuinely didn't want to help. In that case, if by chance they were to anger her, don't know what she will do. If even the sentiments on the surface are all gone, then she as the Empress will probably be pinned with a title of being unfilial, just waiting for the memorandums to impeach her. And if Le Cheng Emperor has the intention, borrowing this opportunity to forcibly seize her Empress position was all possible.

"For the sake of Sun Yi Lin seeking to marry Luo third miss? The Empress can't make the decision, so she just directly looked for the Emperor?"

Once this outcome came out, everyone just knew, the others didn't have a chance anymore. As long as Le Cheng Emperor didn't interfere, they can still secretly fight and scheme, but once Le Cheng Emperor interfered, even if he doesn't issue a decree, by just expressing his stance, they all can only give up.

When Li Hong Yuan learned of this news, even he was slightly surprised. In his past life, he didn't know anything about Sun Old Madam having any kind of relation with his imperial father. It was fine for Sun Yi Lin to get engaged with Wan Wan, this originally was a part of his plan to begin with. But, he didn't wish for his imperial father to issue a decree to bestow the marriage. Once this marriage is bestowed, then it won't be that easy to retract, unless when the time comes, something similar to what happened to Sun Yi Jia happens to Wan Wan, else regardless of what happens to Sun Yi Lin, it will all be of no use. But, how could Li Hong Yuan allow that kind of thing to happen on Jing Wan. Even if when time comes, the one to save her is him, he still won't allow it.

"This prince needs to know what Sun Old Madam said to imperial father in the imperial study."

From the looks of it, he has no choice but to utilize the chess piece by Le Cheng Emperor's side. One has to know, don't look at how Le Cheng Emperor's ability is only mediocre, but in reality, towards the people by his side, he had them all under very tight watch. When Li Hong Yuan inserted people by his side, he originally didn't plan on doing anything, purely for the sake of guarding against the unexpected. Once he utilized them, there will be the possibility of being found out by Le Cheng Emperor and eliminated. However, Li Hong Yuan never worried that Le Cheng Emperor would find out that was his person.

Because the matter involved Jing Wan, even if he had to dispose of an important chess piece, he all won't hesitate.

Sun Old Madam didn't stay in the imperial study for too long before leaving.

Thus Li Hong Yuan was able to receive the news very quickly. In reality, they didn't talk about anything important. Sun Old Madam just said she was coming to visit Le Cheng Emperor, not mentioning a single word on Sun Yi Lin and Jing Wan's matter, and Le Cheng Emperor also similarly expressed a few words of concern about her health. Although the time was short, the dialogue between the two was rather intimate, and more importantly, Le Cheng Emperor's address towards Sun Old Madam wasn't mother-in-law, nor Sun Old Madam, but rather '(maternal) aunt'.

This address was especially thought-provoking.

"Go investigate, what relations does Sun Old Madam have with imperial grandmother, or perhaps, prior to imperial father ascending the throne, was there any special interactions with Sun Old Madam."

'One word from the master, and the subordinates needed to break their legs from running.' This line really wasn't a joke. Just imagine, the shortest amount of time would still be twenty to thirty years ago. Then, to also investigate Sun Old Madam's relation with the previous Emperor's Empress, they naturally needed to trace back to the time before the previous Empress became the Empress. How long ago that was further didn't need to be mentioned. Nine times out of ten, they all won't be able to figure out anything in the end.

Li Hong Yuan had the before and after of this matter of Sun Old Madam meeting with Le Cheng Emperor linked together and pondered over it. The possibility of directly asking Le Cheng Emperor to issue a decree to bestow a marriage wasn't very probable. Since Le Cheng Emperor ascended the throne, she has never come to request of anything before, including last time, when Sun Yi Jia was bestowed to him in marriage. It can be seen, she very much had propriety and won't let Le Cheng Emperor be troubled, not letting Le Cheng Emperor's imperial prestige sweep the floor, so naturally she won't request for him to bestow a marriage either. She just needed to let others know Le Cheng Emperor's attitude towards her. Even if Le Cheng Emperor knows her aim, and can't deny the 'truth' of her genuinely just going to visit him, he probably would just dismiss it with a laugh. Even the sentiments between the two of them all won't be damaged.