Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 550: We Have a Son and a Daughter?

Sure enough, the next day Empress Dowager Qi came to Kunning Palace again, and she came when Jun Yuyan was not around.

Moreover, she didn’t come empty-handed but brought a chest of treasures, claiming they were for Zhijin and Zhiyu to play with.

That’s what she said, but when the chest was opened, it was filled with beautiful jewelry and gems that she had received from the late emperor during her time as a Noble Consort, favored as she was.

Giving them to Zhijin and Zhiyu to play with was just a pretext; it was clearly intended as a gift for Murong Jiu. She just couldn’t lower her pride enough to say it was specifically for Murong Jiu.

Moreover, the various little trinkets she sent for Zhijin and Zhiyu always went directly to the two children, never passing through Murong Jiu’s hands.

But Empress Dowager Qi was also quite generous, especially towards Zhijin and Zhiyu, often collecting many small playthings from the folk for them to play with.

Murong Jiu accepted them with a smile.

"These are too precious. I will keep them safe for the Crown Prince and Princess for the time being until they are older," she said.

Empress Dowager Qi had been afraid she might not accept them, so seeing her take them, she relaxed slightly and her face brightened with a smile.

Murong Jiu was drinking tea and made only a few casual remarks, pretending not to notice that the Empress Dowager had something she wanted to say.

Empress Dowager Qi, not one to hide her feelings well and rather impatient, rambled for a bit before she asked everyone else to leave, wanting to speak privately with the Empress.

Hong Yi gave Murong Jiu an extra look, and Murong Jiu signaled with a wave of her hand for Hong Yi to lead the other palace maids away.

"May I know what Mother wants to discuss with me? Could it be about Wang Yingluo’s matter?"

Empress Dowager Qi hadn’t expected her to hit the mark so precisely and nodded, "These past few days, all I have been able to think about are those matters involving Wang Yingluo. It’s truly unbelievable. I even dream of her at night. It’s miraculous that someone could come from the future."

Even now, she found it absolutely incredible.

Murong Jiu’s gaze drifted, "In this world, there are always some things that defy common reasoning."

Just like, she herself was a reborn being.

And Wang Yingluo was a transmigrator.

Empress Dowager Qi nodded, "Indeed, indeed."

She seemed to be reminded of something, her eyes slightly reddening.

Murong Jiu’s brow furrowed slightly, puzzled.

She thought Empress Dowager Qi had come to ask about how she was described in future histories.

Because she had already instructed Fu Rong that there was no need to discuss such future matters with Empress Dowager Qi.

To prevent Empress Dowager Qi from trying to change herself based on the future.

Just like the Empress Dowager Qi described by Wang Yingluo: a devout Buddhist for many years, at peace with the world, who lived to be over a hundred years old, remarkably long-lived.

But in fact, Empress Dowager Qi had little interest in Buddhism and had not even copied a single sutra.

Perhaps her longevity was real, but some information left in unofficial histories might not be accurate.

"I have come to bid you farewell, a farewell to my former, stubborn self," she said.

At this, Murong Jiu’s face was full of astonishment.

"What do you mean by ’farewell’?" she asked.

"I used to not be able to understand the Buddhist scriptures, but these past few days I suddenly can. Perhaps, it means that I am destined to be enlightened by Buddhism. It’s not too late now. This is an enlightenment from Buddha himself," explained the Empress Dowager Qi earnestly and sincerely, not joking in the least.

Murong Jiu was somewhat confused.

"In this world, many things are predestined. Empress, I have been prejudiced against you previously, and that was my fault. Please don’t take it to heart. From now on, I plan to go to the monastery and devoutly pray for blessings for the Royal Family, for you, for Zhijin, for Zhiyu, and for the Emperor."

Murong Jiu could hardly believe it—the Empress Dowager was actually planning to become a nun!

Of course, it couldn’t really be considered taking up the monastic life; she was more like a lay disciple. But the change was too significant, too sudden, and completely unexpected by everyone.

Empress Dowager said once she made up her mind, and Murong Jiu tried to persuade her, but without success. She had truly made up her mind; she wasn’t just testing the waters.

The Buddha said that all is emptiness, and thus, she didn’t bring anything with her, wanting to leave the palace that very day.

There was no other way, Jun Yuyan and Murong Jiu could only personally escort her to the Imperial Monastery, and consider relocating her to another temple built later since, after all, she was the Empress Dowager and needed guards for protection.

The reason for building another temple was that Empress Dowager Qi and the Empress Dowager had a mediocre relationship throughout the years, barely having enough conversations to count on one hand.

To avoid influencing her spiritual cultivation, it would be better to separate them later on.

All along the way, Empress Dowager Qi didn’t speak, remaining silent.

Upon arriving at the Imperial Monastery, Empress Dowager Qi met with the Empress Dowager and the residing abbot, her mood still low.

Just when Murong Jiu and Jun Yuyan began to wonder if she was having regrets, Empress Dowager Qi offered to send them back.

At the temple gate, Empress Dowager Qi, with red eyes, bid farewell to the two of them, especially to Jun Yuyan, in whose gaze seemed to lie a thousand unsaid words mixed with indescribable guilt.

In that moment, Murong Jiu finally understood that Empress Dowager Qi had turned to Buddhism perhaps because of her guilt.

Thus, she had spoken the words "repentance" and "awakening."

She truly regretted her past actions, all those moments of mistreatment, neglect, and even exploiting her own son, which had ultimately shattered her inner peace. So, she wished to use the remainder of her life to pray for her descendants’ blessings and sincerely repent.

Jun Yuyan naturally understood everything as well.

His lips faintly pursed, yet he couldn’t find any words to comfort the Empress Dowager Qi.

The memories of his childhood were like a thorn stuck in his heart.

However, now, this thorn seemed to be softening.

On the way back, Murong Jiu tightly held Jun Yuyan’s hand.

She didn’t offer any comfort. To forgive or not to forgive wasn’t her place to say, as she wasn’t directly involved, and it wasn’t her place to comment.

But of course, this transformation was a good thing.

There’s a big difference between awakening and remaining unaware.

Perhaps one day, he might forgive Empress Dowager Qi.

After all, the blood relation they shared was difficult to sever.

When he had adjusted his emotions somewhat, Murong Jiu half-jokingly said to him,

"It seems the history books weren’t wrong after all; Empress Dowager Qi really did take up Buddhist monastic life and may live a long life. It’s just a shame Wang Yingluo sycophantically brought those scripture books too early."

Previously, Wang Yingluo had specially brought back religious texts from outside the palace to please the Empress Dowager Qi, not expecting that she would genuinely turn to Buddhism only after an incident.

In a way, Wang Yingluo was somewhat of a catalyst.

Life truly is unpredictable.

Suddenly, Jun Yuyan looked at her and said, "Didn’t the history books also say we would have a son and a daughter? Seems that too is true."

Murong Jiu blushed, thinking how typical it was of him to take advantage of her comforting words.

Jun Yuyan embraced her gently and said, "Just kidding, having Zhijin and Zhiyu is enough for us. You suffered a lot giving birth to them; I don’t want you to endure that pain again."

Murong Jiu smiled, lips curling.

With those words from him, she didn’t feel the hardships at all.

As for whether or not to have more children, they would just let nature take its course. If it happened by accident, it wasn’t like they could just do away with it, right?