To rescue the Empress Dowager, Xuanyuan Sheng sent Yu Hongye to negotiate with the kidnappers.
He had hoped to use this opportunity to capture the mastermind behind the plot, but upon arrival, there were only a few mountain bandits and no one else.
The negotiation results were not as expected, and in the end, Yu Hongye had to accept the price of twenty million taels of gold.
At this time, rumors spread throughout the streets of Shengjing that the current emperor had abandoned his birth mother.
Tianqi was a country that placed great importance on filial piety.
To resolve this matter quickly and salvage his reputation, Xuanyuan Sheng went to great lengths to raise sufficient funds and sent officials to deliver the money to Spirit Channel and bring back the Empress Dowager.
After spending many days in the dungeon, the Empress Dowager no longer had the strength to shout and scream.
Except for seeing a few raggedly dressed men when meals were delivered, she called out to heaven and earth in vain for the rest of the time.
By today, she had been here for five days.
"Come, open the cell."
The Empress Dowager looked warily at the people outside the cell, "What are you going to do?"
"Empress Dowager, you're in luck. Your son has paid a hefty ransom to get you back. Hurry up and get out."
After the cell was opened, the Empress Dowager was pushed out of the dungeon.
"Empress Dowager, it's been a long time!"
The Empress Dowager looked at Xuanyuan Yan in horror, "It's you, it's actually you!"
"It seems the Empress Dowager has been doing quite well these past few days, still having the strength to shout in this prince's presence."
"You're not blind! You're actually not blind!" She should have nipped this in the bud back then. She never imagined he had been faking it all these years.
Xuanyuan Yan said, "With the Empress Dowager alive and well, how could this prince fulfill your wish and remain blind for life?"
"Your son is truly filial, bringing so much money to ransom you back."
"But it's a pity, I'm afraid you won't be leaving Spirit Channel. The fire at Eternal Spring Palace years ago was your handiwork, wasn't it, Empress Dowager?"
"Now, this prince will let you experience the taste of being consumed by raging flames."
The Empress Dowager fell to her knees, her clothes wrinkled and her hair in disarray.
"Xuanyuan Yan, if you dare kill me, Sheng won't let you get away with it!"
"I should have killed you back then!"
Xuanyuan Yan: "The Empress Dowager may not know, but your dear son can barely protect himself now."
"Since you didn't kill me back then, you no longer have the chance now."
"What have you done to Sheng? He's your imperial brother!"
Hearing Xuanyuan Yan mention Xuanyuan Sheng, the Empress Dowager grew worried. He was her only concern.
She had struggled for most of her life, all for the sake of her son.
Now that she had fallen into the hands of this prince she thought was blind, she knew he wouldn't let her off easily, but she hoped her son could live well.
Seeing this, Xuanyuan Yan revealed a wicked smile, "Such deep mother-son affection, but it's a pity you won't have the chance to see him again."
Empress Dowager: "You think you've won? You think your imperial mother's death was really my doing?"
"So what if you're not blind anymore? You still couldn't recognize your true enemy after all these years. How pathetic, haha..."
Ming Jiu prepared to step forward but was stopped by Xuanyuan Yan.
"Hmph, Empress Dowager, you should be clear about what you did back then. It's not so easy to deny your crimes now."
"I understand the events of those years better than you do. There's no need for your pretense, nor to push your own deeds onto others."
"During these years of vegetarian diet and Buddhist prayers, I wonder if you've dreamed of those children you cruelly murdered!"
Originally, the Emperor had many offspring, but only four princes survived.
The others either didn't make it to birth, died shortly after being born, passed away from illness, or even drowned.
Besides him and Xuanyuan Sheng, one of the other two princes was mentally challenged, and the other's birth mother was of low status.
He had personally witnessed this woman push one of his brothers into a lake.
She watched him struggle in the water until there was no more movement, only then leaving satisfied.
"You, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Even the Emperor couldn't uncover the truth about those events back then. So many years have passed, and those who knew about it are all dead. How could he have found out anything?
"Whether this prince is talking nonsense or not doesn't matter anymore. Empress Dowager, enjoy yourself!"
Xuanyuan Yan glanced at Ming Jiu, who understood and immediately had a group of people tie up the Empress Dowager.
The raging fire, mixed with miserable screams, was particularly chilling in the wilderness.
"Master, the Emperor surely won't let this matter rest. What should we do?"
"Erase all traces of our presence here, and quietly return to the capital. Remember, we've been in Shengjing all along, never left."
"Understood, my lord."
In the imperial palace of Tianqi, one bad news after another arrived, making the atmosphere particularly gloomy.
The bandits had vanished without a trace, and there was no word from those sent to negotiate. Only an obituary was received.
Under the persuasion of his ministers, Xuanyuan Sheng held a grand funeral for the Empress Dowager.
Although he hadn't corresponded much with his birth mother in recent years, he never expected to lose the chance to see her one last time.
If it weren't for her back then, he definitely wouldn't be sitting in this position now.
"Your Majesty, it's getting late. You should rest," Qi Tan said from the side.
Seeing it was him, Xuanyuan Sheng said, "You may leave first. I want to be alone for a while."
Qi Tan looked at the exhausted Xuanyuan Sheng and silently withdrew.
Having been by his side for so many years, he understood him to some extent.
This appearance was something he didn't want others to see.
News of the Empress Dowager's grand funeral reached Xuanyuan Xi at Guanyuan Temple.
"My sister-in-law has always been in good health. How could she suddenly pass away?"
Bai Wei: "Princess, it's said that the Empress Dowager was kidnapped by bandits who demanded a ransom. But in the end, the bandits not only didn't return the Empress Dowager but also absconded with the money."
"...Absurd. How could there be bandits in this world daring enough to kidnap the Empress Dowager?" And the Emperor actually paid the ransom.
Bai Wei also found it surprising: "Perhaps they were desperate outlaws, willing to do anything for money."
"Did the Emperor eventually catch them?"
Bai Wei: "It seems they weren't caught. Reportedly, those bandits even killed all the officials the Emperor sent to receive the Empress Dowager, and then vanished without a trace."
"I can't believe such a thing happened!" This doesn't seem right at all.
Bai Wei said: "Princess, life and death are predetermined by fate."
"I've heard that Master Guang'an has returned from his travels. Is this true?" Xuanyuan Xi suddenly recalled something.
Bai Wei nodded, "Master Guang'an has indeed returned, but it seems no one has seen him yet."
"Bai Wei, get ready. We're going to pay the Master a visit," she said, eager to clarify many questions.
Outside Master Guang'an's quarters, Xuanyuan Xi and Bai Wei stood quietly, waiting.
"Please enter, devotee. The Master has been expecting you," came a voice from within.
Bai Wei attempted to follow Xuanyuan Xi inside but was stopped by the young monk who had delivered the message.
"The Master said he will only see one person today," the monk explained.
Bai Wei retorted, "Your Master is always being so mysterious. What's the difference between seeing one person or two?"
