Chapter 57 Jealousy

Cui Sheng immediately glared at the little palace maid who was biting her and said, "Nonsense, it's obviously you..."

"Shut up! I'm asking you a question, why are you butting in? You have no manners at all! Someone, drag her out and give her twenty slaps in the face!"

Cuisheng was held captive by someone.

Concubine Shen said, "It was I who ruined the Concubine's coming-of-age ceremony. If the Concubine wants to punish me, I am willing to accept the punishment."

Su Qingrong looked at Chen Zhuxin and said in a strange voice, "It's just a coming-of-age ceremony. I didn't intend to punish you. But since you said so, I'll just give you a small punishment and a big warning. Go kneel outside the hall and reflect on your mistakes. Don't be so careless in the future. If something is broken, you can't even afford to lose your life."

What was supposed to come finally came. Chen Zhuxin breathed a sigh of relief and left the hall with Cuisheng.

Cui Sheng knelt behind Shen Zhuxin on the right and said anxiously, "My lady, Concubine Xin is clearly a scoundrel. She is just looking for an excuse to take her anger out on you!"

"You know it, we can't fight her. If we anger her, maybe Father will be embarrassed by Minister Su. We have to endure it."

Cui Sheng pursed her lips in frustration.

An hour later, Chen Zhuxin's body swayed and he fell to one side.

Cui Sheng quickly supported her and said distressedly, "My lady's face has turned pale. The sun is too scorching. My lady is so delicate and precious. How can she bear it if she continues to kneel down? If Concubine Xin won't let us go back, I will go to His Majesty to complain!"

Chen Zhuxin straightened herself and grabbed Cuisheng's sleeve.

"No! You are not allowed to go."

Everything should be done in moderation.

Since she chose to be a subject last night, she could not complain about her grievances when interacting with His Majesty, otherwise she would be overstepping the boundaries.

Those who are neither ministers nor concubines cannot find their place and will sooner or later bring about their own destruction.

Besides, as a minister, managing relationships with colleagues is a matter of course, and this applies even in the harem. If you bring a small disagreement to His Majesty, it will only annoy His Majesty.

Moreover, she hasn't even finished her first task yet, but she's already started causing trouble for His Majesty. I'm afraid it will be difficult for her to get ahead in the future.

Cuisheng knelt down feeling aggrieved.

"My lady..."

"Be obedient, Concubine Xin will always let you go."

Cuisheng had no choice but to give up.

Chen Zhuxin didn't plan to complain, but Xiao Chenglan, who was sitting in Changqing Palace, had known about this for a long time.

After Xuan Mo finished his report, he disappeared quickly as usual, leaving Fu Wanquan alone to face the suddenly cold aura of His Majesty.

Fu Wanquan glanced at Xiao Chenglan cautiously.

His expression was normal, but the coldness deep in his eyes made people shudder.

This Xin Jieyu is really courting death.

If she behaves herself for now, His Majesty may leave some room for her when he settles accounts with her in the future. This is destroying her own way of survival.

"Your Majesty, shall I take care of Noble Lady Shen's affairs?"

Xiao Chenglan put down his pen and said, "I'll go there myself. It's just right. I have something to say to Concubine Xin."

About a quarter of an hour later, Chen Zhuxin suddenly heard the sound of His Majesty arriving.

Cuisheng was so happy that she wanted to rush forward and complain immediately.

"Noble Lady Shen, what are you doing here?" Xiao Chenglan lowered his eyes and looked indifferently at Shen Zhuxin who was kneeling in front of the hall.

Su Qingrong had already heard the announcement of His Majesty's arrival, and left the hall with joy but also a bit of guilt.

She looked at Chen Zhuxin, clenched her handkerchief, and glared at her secretly.

Chen Zhuxin bowed in the direction of Xiao Chenglan and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Xin invited me to drink tea, but I accidentally broke Concubine Xin's coming-of-age gift, so I am here to reflect on myself."

Su Qingrong breathed a sigh of relief when she heard her say that.

He was quite sensible and didn't attack her randomly.

Xiao Chenglan said nothing more and walked past her as if he was not interested in these trivial matters.

Seeing this, Su Qingrong hurried down the stairs: "Sister, what a fool! I told her not to blame her, but she is so hard on herself and insists on self-reflection. Hurry up and get up, don't kneel. Lan Xiang, go get some ointment for Concubine Shen to take back to the palace."

"yes."

Su Qingrong hurried forward and welcomed Xiao Chenglan into the hall.

"Your Majesty, why are you here in the daytime? Isn't your government busy today?"

Xiao Chenglan looked at her and smiled, "Busy, but I thought I'd come see you anyway. After all, you solved a big problem for me."

Su Qingrong pouted after hearing this, "Your Majesty, since you know that it was me who solved the problem for you, then why didn't you come to accompany me last night, but went to someone else's place?"

The smile in Xiao Chenglan's eyes faded and his face turned cold.

Su Qingrong was suddenly frightened.

Did she say something wrong?

When she felt cold behind her and was about to apologize, she heard Xiao Chenglan say quietly:

"My dear, are you jealous?"

These words were quite flirtatious. In just two moments, Su Qingrong's mind went from the bottom to the peak, and she almost couldn't catch her breath.

She asked tentatively, "What if I say I'm jealous? How will Your Majesty comfort me? Will Your Majesty not go to other women's palaces for my sake?"

Lan Xiang broke out in a cold sweat after hearing what Su Qingrong said.

This is too much!

Su Qingrong knew very well that this was inappropriate, but she couldn't help but test it.

The fact that His Majesty always indulged her in her behavior, which clearly crossed the line, made her feel the emperor's favor for her, and her heart became extremely filled.

As she wished, Xiao Chenglan did not get angry with her this time, but sighed softly.

"My beloved concubine, I am the emperor, and I have no choice but to favor the three palaces and six courtyards."

Although His Majesty did not agree with her, Su Qingrong was even happier.

His Majesty expressed his helplessness to her, which means that she is special.

Besides, isn't this also a hint?

I had to go to other people's places, but only with her was I sincere.

Su Qingrong thought she had received the emperor's implicit confession and looked at Xiao Chenglan with sweet eyes.

Unexpectedly, when Xiao Chenglan looked back at her, his eyes became disappointed again.

"My beloved, I think you are different from others."

Su Qingrong suddenly became uneasy, "What does your Majesty mean by this?"

Xiao Chenglan said calmly, "You helped me solve the money problem. I thought you were considerate and concerned about my concerns, and that you were virtuous and gentle. I didn't expect that you, like most concubines, would still engage in meaningless jealousy."

Su Qingrong hurriedly said: "But I am jealous because I care about Your Majesty! Of course, people who don't care about Your Majesty won't be jealous either..."

Xiao Chenglan paused for a rare moment.

He looked into Su Qingrong's eyes, but his mind drifted elsewhere.

Because we care, we get jealous...

So, what about Jiang Yingli?

Why aren't you jealous? Don't you care about him enough?

No, that wouldn't happen. It's just because of her personality and family background that she abides by the rules and doesn't dare to be jealous.

Isn’t it.

Definitely.

Xiao Chenglan quickly pulled his thoughts back and said leisurely:

"I know, but the one who can stand by my side must be like my beloved concubine who helped me solve difficult problems. She must be gentle and virtuous. Only then can she be a role model. To stand in a high position, one must give up many things."

These words left Su Qingrong confused. While she was stunned, Xiao Chenglan had already stood up.

"Your Majesty! Why are you leaving just after arriving? Did I make Your Majesty unhappy?" Su Qingrong hurriedly chased after him.

Xiao Chenglan said nothing more and walked straight out of the hall.

Fu Wanquan looked at the worried Su Qingrong, and couldn't bear to fall behind and whispered:

"Don't worry, my lady. His Majesty is not angry with you. He is simply troubled. Today, memorials urging His Majesty to appoint a queen have piled up like a mountain, and many ministers are making bitter appeals in Changqing Palace. His Majesty is so annoyed that he went out for a walk and ended up here, my lady."

After saying this, Fu Wanquan hurried away to follow Xiao Chenglan, leaving Su Qingrong alone in a daze.

Lan Xiang looked a little stunned, and suddenly felt that the box of gold ingots was worth spending. The eunuch in front of the emperor actually revealed such great news today.

The previous dynasty was actually urging the establishment of a queen!

Then what His Majesty said to the young master just now, isn't it...

Su Qingrong was also ecstatic in her heart.

After knowing that His Majesty was worried about choosing a queen, Xiao Chenglan's words that had sounded confusing just now became clearer than ever.

What about being gentle and virtuous, what about being a role model, these are all hints from His Majesty that he wants to make her the queen.