Although Empress Dowager Tian had always wanted to win over Xiao Heng after he was recognized, she had never really relied on or trusted him.
She might not believe other things, but Xiao Heng's ability to judge cases was well-known since he was a member of the Imperial Guard. She repeatedly asked Xiao Heng, "I know you have resentment towards me. I did let your father and mother down in the past. If you can explain this to me, I will personally persuade the emperor to restore your father and mother's status, so that you can legitimately become your crown prince."
Although there is only one character difference between the eldest grandson of the emperor and the crown prince, the difference between them is huge.
Before, how could Empress Dowager Tian make such a promise? She was a person who would not release the eagle until she saw the rabbit. Even if she wanted to win over Xiao Heng, she needed to see the benefits - for example, let Xiao Heng marry Tian Xun and become the son-in-law of the Tian family. With the relationship of marriage, she could rest assured to help Xiao Heng fight for his due position.
But now it’s different. Empress Dowager Tian can’t care about so many things anymore.
After she gave Xiao Heng her instructions, she fell seriously ill and was in a coma for several days, with intermittent fever.
Doctor Shen was summoned into the palace to treat the empress dowager. He finally concluded that the empress dowager was too emotionally agitated, with extreme joy and sorrow, and her mood swings were so great that she could not bear it. Once a person's energy is lost, it will be difficult to recover.
Even Doctor Shen said this, and the atmosphere in the palace became even more solemn, as if a storm was about to come.
Tian Xun served by the side without taking off his clothes, doing everything himself and never leaving the empress dowager's bedside.
It was half a month later when Empress Dowager Tian got better. She had lost a lot of weight, and even wearing the empress dowager's phoenix robe, she looked a little emaciated. When she saw Tian Xun, she was a little overwhelmed - Tian Xun had been through more than half a month and looked much more haggard, with a pale face and dark circles under his eyes, and he looked like he had suffered a serious illness.
When she found out that Tian Xun was taking care of her, she couldn't help but feel touched and patted the back of Tian Xun's hand: "Thank you for your hard work."
"What are you saying, Queen Mother?" Tian Xun shook his head and said in a very light voice, "The Queen Mother treats me like a real grandson. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to repay the Queen Mother. How can I say it is hard work?"
Queen Mother Tian nodded absentmindedly and smiled perfunctorily: "What a good child. Well, I am fine now. You have worked hard for so many days. Go back and have a good rest for a few days."
Tian Xun wanted to say something else, but Queen Mother Tian waved her hand and said, "Go."
She had no choice but to withdraw. By the time she left the Queen Mother's bedroom, the smile on her face had completely disappeared, and her face was filled with gloom.
Qing He, the maid who had been serving her, came up to her cautiously. Seeing that she was in a bad mood, she hurriedly asked her, "What's wrong, young lady?"
Tian Xun knew how to behave, was generous and tried to win people over. In the Empress Dowager's palace, the young palace maids were willing to talk to her about anything. Qinghe was like her own person because she was responsible for her daily life.
Hearing Qing He's question, Tian Xun put on his usual smile and shook his head slightly. Then, after returning to his room, he asked Qing He, "When did you come to work at the Cining Palace?"
Qing He quickly took down the peach blossoms by the window and replaced them with a pot of camellia that had just been delivered from the greenhouse. After hearing this, she thought for a moment and said, "It's been three or four years."
After three or four years, Tian Xun couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
Seeing that she didn't say anything, Qing He thought that she had done something wrong, and couldn't help but feel a little anxious: "Miss, did I do something wrong?"
"No." Tian Xun smiled at her gently, but he was very annoyed in his heart.
She didn't know that the Queen Mother had a daughter, and the elders in her family never mentioned it.
Princess Jingming had already died, so there was no need to know it.
But now it seems that things are different-----the blood ties are much deeper than she had imagined. Queen Mother Tian is now focusing all her attention on Princess Jingming's affairs, so she can't take care of her at all. She has been so thoughtful and meticulous in Queen Mother Tian's care these days, but in Queen Mother Tian's eyes, she can't see her good at all.
It was still unknown how long the impact of Princess Jingming's incident would last. She could not wait for Queen Mother Tian's grief over the loss of her daughter to pass slowly. She had to think of a way to draw Queen Mother Tian's attention back to herself.
"Qinghe, are you familiar with Madam Tian?" She looked at Qinghe with a smile: "Palace maids are released after they turn 25, so why is Madam Tian still staying in the palace?"
Qing He didn't think there was anything wrong, and replied with a smile: "Mother Tian was indeed married. She was originally in the Shangfu Bureau, and was later released from the palace and returned home to work as an embroiderer. But after she got married, her husband was not ambitious and gambled and drank, and he always beat her. She couldn't stand it, so she divorced her husband and returned to her parents' home. It was the Queen who recalled their old relationship and called her back to the palace to work again."
Tian Xun seemed to be thinking about something.
After she had found out every detail about Mother Tian's affairs, when she went to the main hall, she happened to meet Xiao Heng coming out of the Empress Dowager's palace.
She was stunned for a moment, then she was filled with joy and excitement. She bowed to Xiao Heng with a smile on her face, "Your Highness has been busy trying cases these days. You have worked so hard."
Xiao Heng had always been indifferent to her. He nodded coldly and walked past her without hesitation.
Tian Xun bit her lip, turned her head suddenly, and saw Xiao Heng walking down the stairs and out, so she couldn't help but clench her fists.
It's like this again, it's always like this, when will Xiao Heng be able to see her, to take her seriously? What is it about her that is inferior to Su Yao? !
Mother Tian just came out and saw her standing in the corridor. She couldn't help but wonder, "Young lady, why are you standing here in the wind? Didn't the Queen Mother ask you to go back and rest first? Why are you here again?"
Hearing that it was Mother Tian's voice, Tian Xun immediately put on a smiling face, turned around and looked at Mother Tian with a smile, and shook his head kindly: "I'm not here to see the Queen Mother, I'm here to see you, Mother."
"Looking for me?" Mother Tian was at a loss. Although she and Tian Xun had a good relationship, they didn't have much friendship in private, let alone the fact that he would come to look for her. So she asked in astonishment, "What do you want from me, young lady?"
Tian Xun glanced around and said, "It's not very convenient to talk here. Please move away. I have something I want to ask you for help."
After all, Tian Xun was the great-grandniece of Empress Dowager Tian. Mother Tian looked at her and nodded, agreeing to follow her.