Chapter 232 I am fortunate to meet you, the queen

When Pei Tingyue came in, there was no palace maid guarding the inner chamber.

Only Queen Cui was alone, half-sitting on the bed.

When she saw her, Empress Cui smiled and held out her hand, "Is the Imperial Concubine here?"

Pei Tingyue suppressed the tears in her eyes, sat down beside the couch, held her hand, and said softly, "I am here."

Empress Cui looked at her with a smile and said with emotion, "Time flies by so fast. I can still vividly remember the time when you were Baolin and were bullied by Consort Shunzhen and the others. Time flies, and now you have become a first-rank imperial concubine with unlimited glory. Time really is unforgiving."

Pei Tingyue lowered her eyelashes to hide her tears. "I have encountered many hardships and difficulties along the way. Your Majesty has taken good care of me. I will always remember this and am deeply grateful."

Empress Cui patted the back of her hand and said soothingly, "I haven't done anything particularly well. I've only fulfilled my duties as empress. Your Highness, you are too kind."

Pei Tingyue immediately denied it and said sternly, "No, Your Majesty has done a great job. Throughout the dynasties, there has never been another queen as good as you. You are a virtuous queen that only appears once in a century."

He is not jealous, does not plot things on his own initiative, takes care of the concubines and palace ladies, and manages the harem in an orderly manner.

Such a queen is very rare.

Not to mention a hundred years, it would be difficult to produce a queen with such character in a single generation.

Moreover, Queen Cui is not hypocritical, she really has a kind heart.

Empress Cui smiled gently, her whole body relaxed. "With the Imperial Concubine's praise, I have no regrets."

The queen and the concubine looked at each other and smiled.

Empress Cui turned sideways, took out a document that looked like a memorial, and handed it over, "Please have a look, Concubine."

Pei Tingyue took it and unfolded it to read.

I was shocked after reading it.

The content here is to recommend her as the successor.

"Empress, you..."

Empress Cui said in a serious tone, "This memorial recommending the successor to the throne carries considerable weight in both the imperial court and the harem. Even if the Pei family is not prominent, it can help you ascend to the throne smoothly."

Pei Tingyue read it again and was so surprised that he didn't say anything.

Queen Cui said straight to the point: "I want to make a deal with you."

Pei Tingyue shook her head, put the memorial down, and said sincerely, "There's no need for this, and no need for any deal. If the Queen has any instructions, just tell me, and I'll do it."

Empress Cui said sternly, "I know that position will be yours sooner or later. This memorial only makes it easier for you to take it, and it doesn't do much. If you don't accept it, I'm too embarrassed to ask for it. Let's just leave it at that."

Pei Tingyue took a deep breath, thought it over again and again in his heart, and decided to appease Queen Cui.

She took the letter again, no longer refusing, "If it can reassure your majesty, I will keep it."

Empress Cui finally smiled. After a long sigh, she slowly said, "I have two things I would like your help with."

Pei Tingyue said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, please feel free to speak. As long as I can do it, I will definitely do it."

Empress Cui's eyes were empty. "The first one is about Zhiwu. This girl Zhiwu has been loyal and devoted to me for many years. Before I leave, I will naturally make plans for her. After I leave, if she still wants to be a lady-in-waiting in the palace, for my sake, you will find her a good place to live and take care of her. If she wants to leave the palace and marry, you will find her a good family. I don't ask for wealth, but only for someone who will treat her well. In addition, you will take out a portion of my private treasury as a dowry for her, so that she can marry with confidence. The rest will be used for the national treasury."

Pei Tingyue solemnly agreed: "This first one, I will remember it."

Empress Cui continued, "This second item is my final destination."

Pei Tingyue was surprised and asked, "What does the Queen mean by this?"

The woman's gentle and firm voice was heard again in the hall. Perhaps because she was not in good spirits, she spoke intermittently for a long time.

Finally, Pei Tingyue asked doubtfully with red eyes, "If Your Majesty wants this, why don't you tell the Emperor? Knowing that this is Your Majesty's wish, the Emperor will surely agree."

Empress Cui smiled bitterly and said, "I have been his Crown Princess for two years, and Empress for over five years. My every word and action has strictly adhered to palace rules, and I have never done anything out of line. These words are truly against the rules. I… I simply cannot bring myself to tell the Emperor this, so I can only ask the Imperial Concubine to convey them on my behalf."

Pei Tingyue's heart was filled with complex emotions. "I will definitely live up to the Queen's trust."

Empress Cui smiled and said, "In that case, I have nothing to worry about."

After talking for a while, she could no longer hide the fatigue on her face.

With Pei Tingyue's support, she lay back down, closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Pei Tingyue took the memorial and quietly left the hall.

She asked Yunshu to take the memorial back to Chengning Palace and put it away, and asked Yunzheng to go to Chengming Palace to report the news that Queen Cui had woken up.

After giving the instructions, she went back to the side hall and began to deal with the accumulated palace affairs.

*

When Queen Cui opened her eyes again, the palace was very quiet.

All I could hear was the sound of the wick popping.

She turned her head with great effort and saw a handsome face.

"The Emperor is here?"

Xie Chen's eyes were dark blue, obviously he hadn't rested well in the past few nights. He pinched the bridge of his nose and said in a serious tone, "I'm here."

Queen Cui started laughing.

Xie Chen looked at her for a moment, his tone heavy, "You've been ill for so long, why didn't you tell me? Why did you hide it from me?"

Empress Cui suppressed her laughter and said softly, "This concubine's illness will not heal. Telling His Majesty will only cause him more trouble. Why bother?"

Xie Chen frowned, clearly disagreeing with this, "You can't bear it all alone, it's too hard."

Tears welled up in Empress Cui's eyes. "It's not hard. I did it voluntarily. Your Majesty, please don't vent your anger on the imperial physician."

Xie Chen nodded slowly.

The hall was silent for a long time before a voice of "I'm sorry" was heard.

Xie Chen said that.

His eyes were slightly red, and he said in a deep voice, "Queen, I'm sorry."

A very incoherent sentence.

Sorry for what?

Why would an emperor suddenly apologize?

But Queen Cui understood.

Crystal tears flowed down the corners of her eyes and sank into the soft pillow.

"How can you blame the emperor for this?"

Queen Cui said in a trembling voice,

"Love is a matter of the heart, and it's not Your Majesty's fault that you don't like me. Your Majesty, please don't feel guilty.

Moreover, apart from his love, the Emperor has never wronged me in the slightest. He has given me great trust and never doubted me. I am truly satisfied."

Xie Chen raised his eyes to look at her, "In my heart, I am very glad to have met you, the queen."

Queen Cui cried even harder, smiled and nodded,

"This sentence from you is enough."

"I have never regretted marrying the Emperor."