Chapter 78

"Mother, I understand everything." Zhou Jinyan knew it all. Ever since he could remember, he had known that the Empress was not his biological mother. His real mother would only hide in some remote corner, watching him with tear-filled eyes. At first, he had merely found it strange. Later, he began to see the heartache, the forced restraint, and the careful, tentative way she behaved whenever he was around—especially whenever she was in the presence of the Empress. The Empress had a daughter and two sons of her own, and she would often murmur into his ear, wondering aloud why she was so lenient with him while being so strict with her own children. He had once worked hard at his studies, and the Empress would look at him with pained eyes, telling him his constitution was weak, that he didn't need to labor so hard, and that he should just aim for a safe and happy life.