The Way of the Empress

“You want to take your mother?” Elder Zhuo frowned and squinted at Zhuo Yang.

Zhuo Yang’s mother, Tan Yuzhi, was a lunatic. She was driven mad by the Zhuo family… Zhuo Yang was still very young at the time, and Mr. Zhuo didn’t know whether Zhuo Yang remembered the events back then. He could only secretly watch him with a scrutinizing gaze.

There was no trace on Zhuo Yang’s face, as if he didn’t know he was being stared at by the patriarch. “Yes, grandfather. Since mother fell ill, the Zhuo family has been taking care of her. Zhuo Yang is very grateful for this. But in the end my father and my mother are already divorced. If I get married, my mother will no longer have anything to do with the Zhuo family.”

“If she continues to stay in the Zhuo family… I think it might not be too appropriate. I hope grandfather will allow me to take my mother away.” Zhuo Yang smiled and looked at Mr. Zhuo, speaking very nicely.

Being able to take his mother away was Zhuo Yang’s heartfelt wish for so many years.

Elder Zhuo touched his tea cup for a long time without making a sound.

Zhuo Yang was not in a hurry, he just looked at the old man with a smile.

On the contrary, Xia Xiuzhi was the first to be anxious and spoke up with ten points of sincerity: “Yes, father, since Zhuo Yang wants to take his mother away, you can let him take his mother away. It’s hard for this child to be filial.”

That crazy woman in the old house has not been pleasing to the eye for a long time.

Zhuo Yang wanting to take her away this time was in line with Xia Xiuzhi’s wishes.

“But, your mother’s illness is a big expense. If you take her away, how will you afford to take care of her daily life?” Mr. Zhuo patted Zhuo Yang’s hand and looked very kind as he held his hand to speak.

He wore a look of complete grandfatherly concern towards his grandson.

It’s a pity that Zhuo Yang couldn’t be more clear what the other party actually thought in his heart.

He gritted his teeth, seemingly frustrated, and said: “This…I think there must be a road to the mountain1, and I can always find a way later.”

Even if there is not enough money, as long as people are alive, he has a way to earn money.

Taking his mother away from the Zhuo family is his dream. Zhuo Yang has been looking forward to such a day since he was five years old.

“Well, grandfather still has some shares of our Zhuo family shops in the capital, two small planets, and several properties on Emperor Star.” Father Zhuo considered for a moment, put down the tea cup in his hand, and spoke. “Today, in front of your father, after you get married, all this will be allocated to you. This way, when you take your mother away in the future, you will have your own private property, and it will also be convenient to take care of her.”

The woman was already crazy. After so many years, it was impossible for her to make waves again.

Elder Zhuo considered it from different angles, and agreed to Zhuo Yang’s decision to take her away.

Xia Xiuzhi immediately yelled in dissatisfaction: “Father-”

She never imagined it. How could a good conversation about Zhuo Yang taking his mother away lead to the old man gifting such a large share of his private property to Zhuo Yang?

Xia Xiuzhi was pained just thinking about it.

“Grandfather, this is absolutely impossible.” Zhuo Yang breathed a sigh of relief and secretly celebrated that he had won the bet. It was not surprising the old man would make such a decision, but he still looked at the old man in astonishment, putting on the appearance of a good grandson who would not accept the kindness of his grandfather.

Having been with Mr. Zhuo for so many years, Zhuo Yang has already seen through the old man thoroughly.

Grandpa Zhuo patted his hand, and said lovingly: “Why not? You are my grandson. Watching you get on well in the future, grandfather can be happy… Besides, you are about to marry into the royal family. Our Zhuo family are noblemen, not commoners. How can we let you marry in with nothing and only rely on the royal family? You are part of the Zhuo family, and you need to keep our Zhuo family’s face. Okay?”

As the head of the Zhuo family, Elder Zhuo was not frugal. Even if the Zhuo family is in decline, he is still an old nobleman, and not short of that little bit of money.

What he wants is to make the best use of everything, and get the best value for money. The crown prince is a national hero, and Zhuo Yang is marrying into the royal family.

He knows that the crown prince is not far from death, but the crown prince’s supporters and reputation still exists. Right now, he must give the crown prince full face, and can’t make Zhuo Yang’s marriage too ugly… Only this way can the Zhuo family gain reputation and the corresponding support. Such things cannot be bought with money. Mr. Zhuo’s considerations are very long-term…

Of course, exchanging for the gratitude of his guide grandson at the same time will be even better.

But his son is far less intelligent…

“Father, how can you give so many things to Xiao Yang? When Deming got married, why didn’t you give Deming so much private property?” Hearing that the old man would give so much private property to Zhuo Yang, Zhuo Hengyuan immediately yelled and brought out Zhuo Deming, his sentinel son.

Not to mention when he himself married, his father never gave so much private property.

But now, Zhuo Yang…

Mr. Zhuo hated his son’s stupidity and hated iron for not becoming steel.2 He immediately retorted, fiercely: “Why not? It’s my private property. I’ll give it to whomever I want. Xiao Yang is the one I brought up, and now he is getting married. Why should I not give it to him?”

“Xiao Yang, ignore your father. He is a bastard. Listen to your grandfather. Whatever grandfather gives you, just keep it. In the future, don’t throw away our Zhuo family’s face.” After speaking, he put on the appearance of a loving grandfather again, and patted Zhuo Yang’s hand.

They could only do it like this. Even if the crown prince died, Zhuo Yang would still be a member of the royal family and the widow of the crown prince.

As long as Zhuo Yang does not remarry, with the numerous crown prince followers and supporters, even the new emperor will have to give the former crown prince’s widow some preferential treatment…3 As long as he can control Zhuo Yang’s heart, sacrificing him alone and a little private property, would the future benefits for the Zhuo family be lacking?

The top priority is to keep Zhuo Yang’s heart with Zhuo’s family.

Zhuo Yang knew exactly what Mr. Zhuo was thinking in his heart. Since he should be grateful, he pretended to almost burst into tears. “Grandson thanks grandfather. Zhuo Yang will never forget grandfather’s teachings. And in the future, will definitely not fail to protect the Zhuo family’s face.”

“Okay, good boy.” Mr. Zhuo lovingly patted Zhuo Yang’s hand.

The two of them acted together, putting on a harmonious scene of a loving grandfather and dutiful grandson…

It really made the Zhuo Hengyuan husband and wife pair itch with hatred.

—–

After bidding Mr. Zhuo farewell, Zhuo Yang immediately headed for Tan Yuzhi’s residence to see his mother.

Tan Yuzhi is a rare beauty. Even if she is mad and confused, can’t speak clearly, and has a disheveled hair, just by looking at her eyebrows and facial features, one can still imagine how shocking and awe-inspiring she was once.4

It’s a pity that such a beauty was ultimately ruined by the Zhuo family and Zhuo Hengyuan.

“Master Zhuo Yang, you’re here.” As soon as Zhuo Yang came in, Emily, the maid who had been serving Tan Yuzhi, left. She knew that the mother and son pair must have something private to say.

Zhuo Yang walked up to Tan Yuzhi, stroked the messy hair by around her sides, and whispered softly: “Mom~”

Tan Yuzhi ignored him, and dementedly hugged the pillow in her arms yelling: “Xiao Hang, Xiao Yang, mom’s precious dears, mom loves you!”

Zhuo Hang was Zhuo Yang’s sentinel brother who died when Zhuo Yang was very young.

But Tan Yuzhi selectively forgot this fact.

She didn’t recognize the grown-up son in front of her, and only wishfully thought the two pillows in her arms were her two lovely sons.

“Mom, I’ll be able to take you out of this place soon. Are you happy?” Zhuo Yang knew that he might not get any response from his mother for the rest of his life. He was not sad, though, and only gently hugged her.

Tan Yuzhi allowed him to hold her like a puppet, stupidly looking around, constantly humming unintelligible children’s songs, as if she was coaxing a sleeping child.

Zhuo Yang didn’t care as he held his mother to draw warmth from her, whispering the recent things that happened, regardless whether Tan Yuzhi understood it or not.

After talking for a long time, Zhuo Yang’s eyes sank, and he leaned in his mother’s ear, and uttered severely: “Mom, rest assured. One day, I will make them all pay the price. ”

His voice is too fierce.

Suddenly, Tan Yuzhi was taken aback by surprise, shaking several times as she stared blankly from Zhuo Yang’s speech, as if she was startled by him.

Realizing that he was in a bad mood and scared his mother, Zhuo Yang quickly reduced the cruel look on his face. Tenderly looking at his mother, he apologized: “Sorry, mother, I seem to have scared you.”

“Then, I will share with you a piece of good news.” He said, “I may be getting married soon.”

Tan Yuzhi was anxious all of a sudden, as if she had recognized him, and screamed, “Xiao Yang, Xiao Yang…” It as as if she was asking him who he was arranged to marry.

Zhuo Yang grabbed his mother’s hand, eyes were filled with tenderness and sweetness as he answered in an almost shy voice: “…with… with His Royal Highness.”

“Very soon, I can see him again. Mom.” Zhuo Yang kissed his mother’s forehead. When he thought of the news, he felt a rare peace and stability in his heart.

In fact, he already knew of Zhuo Yu’s elopement before the old man.

If he wanted to, he could even stop Zhuo Yu. Before Zhuo Yu and Lin Xuan’s bonded, he could have stopped them and let the old man take care of Zhuo Yu until the marriage between Zhuo Yu and the royal family was successfully completed.

However, Zhuo Yang chose to sit back and see the results, and even contributed to it.