Chapter 262 Contentment

Emperor Xiao Xuan looked at Consort Wu kneeling on the ground. He originally wanted to reprimand her, thinking that after being a consort for so many years, she still didn't know how to hide her emotions...

But when he saw the Imperial Concubine's face, which bore a striking resemblance to the Empress, he still sighed.

"Get up first, let's talk this out. Don't forget you are a Noble Consort!" Emperor Xiao Xuan sighed.

Consort Wu quickly got up and looked at Emperor Xiao Xuan with teary eyes.

"Your Majesty, do you really... no longer want me?" Consort Wu looked at Emperor Xiao Xuan cautiously.

Emperor Xiao Xuan pointed to the stool on the other side, indicating that Consort Wu should sit down first.

After Consort Wu sat down, Emperor Xiao Xuan looked at her.

"Do you remember how I took you as my concubine?" Emperor Xiao Xuan asked.

Consort Wu was speechless for a moment.

...

That year, she had just been selected as a lady-in-waiting. Because of her excellent painting skills, she was chosen to enter the Empress's palace. At that time, the Empress was in poor health and had only a weak crown prince as her son...

At that time, the positions of imperial concubines were vacant, and there were no other concubines besides the Empress.

His Majesty and the Empress have a very good relationship.

Although Consort Wu was a lady-in-waiting in the Empress's palace, she could not serve her personally and could only watch from afar.

Her strongest impression of the Empress was that... the Empress always stayed in a side hall, a side hall that no one else was allowed to enter. Whether it was cleaning or personal service, there were designated people in charge, and no one else was allowed to get close.

Consort Wu still remembered that a lowly eunuch who was sweeping the outer courtyard suddenly ran to the Empress's side hall for some reason, and later... he was beaten to death on the spot by His Majesty.

Later, when the King of Zhou rebelled, everyone realized that the little eunuch was actually one of the King of Zhou's men.

Consort Wu carried out her duties in the Empress's palace.

She does the same things every day without making a single mistake.

But some people would whisper to her that her face actually looked somewhat similar to the Empress.

Consort Wu dared not think too much about it. She entered the palace as a lady-in-waiting for the sake of her family. Her brothers were not good enough, and she did not want to get married early. It just so happened that the palace was selecting ladies-in-waiting, so she came to participate...

When she had free time, other palace servants would ask her what she planned to do if she had the opportunity to leave the palace in the future.

She said at the time that if she didn't want to leave the palace, she would stay in the palace.

If she absolutely had to leave the palace, she would find a capable man to marry, not wanting her family to use her marriage for profit again...

Then one day, the Palace Attendant suddenly came and asked her if she wanted to stay in the palace indefinitely...

There were four people who were chosen by the Empress along with her. The others were unwilling, but she agreed without hesitation.

Later, she heard from others that His Majesty had only one son and had been reprimanded by the Empress Dowager, which is why he wanted to fill the harem.

She also gained the emperor's favor because of her excellent painting skills.

She first became Ronghua, then Guiren, and then Guipin...

After the Empress passed away, she became a Noble Consort.

People in the capital say that she was the only concubine to receive the emperor's favor after the empress passed away. Because of this, her family rose to prominence, transforming from a poor household in the capital into a newly wealthy one.

She also gave birth to three children for the emperor.

Everyone in the palace knows that His Majesty usually goes to Ronghua Palace whenever he enters the inner palace.

Some people say that the Imperial Concubine was favored because her face resembled the Empress's by about 50%. If it weren't for that face, how could she, a daughter from a poor family, have become the Imperial Concubine?

But she just happened to have such a face, a face that could bring her wealth and glory.

For a period of time, Consort Wu suddenly didn't want to look in the mirror or see her own face.

She secretly altered her appearance to make herself look less like the Empress...

However, after seeing her new makeup, His Majesty did not enter Ronghua Palace for a whole month, but instead went to visit other concubines.

Consort Wu panicked and quickly restored her previous makeup and at a palace banquet, she regained the emperor's favor.

Consort Wu was both happy and worried; she finally understood the importance of this face.

She understood; His Majesty only wanted to see this face!

...

"Your Majesty, I know that you had no choice but to take me as your concubine back then, but all these years... my feelings for you have been sincere!"

"You can't... just abandon me like this!" Consort Wu became more and more heartbroken as she thought about it.

Emperor Xiao Xuan smiled helplessly and gestured for Consort Wu to quickly wipe away her tears.

"What are you saying! I will not abandon you. You are still the Noble Consort in the palace, the most favored Noble Consort in the eyes of others."

You are the mother of both the Prince of Zhao and the Prince of Jin, as well as the mother of Princess Shou Kang.

You will still be a royal consort in the future.

In terms of status and prestige, few can compare to you.

You don't need to worry about the days when I'm not here. The Crown Princess is preoccupied with important matters. She doesn't care about things in the harem.

Isn't your biggest wish to enjoy a lifetime of wealth and luxury?

The night I took you as my concubine, I told you that I could give you all the riches and honors you desired, but you should not covet or touch anything that is not yours.

Consort, I have turned a blind eye to your behavior over the years and tolerated you a great deal.

"If it weren't for the sake of Prince Zhao, Prince Jin, and Lan Qian, would you have been able to hold your position as a Noble Consort in peace?" Emperor Xiao Xuan said slowly.

Consort Wu was unable to utter a single word.

She knew that the most powerful man in Da Yu had only one person in his heart.

"Then Your Majesty... is it going to leave the capital?" Consort Wu asked after a long silence.

"Probably! Prince Xian has never been in good health. I'm taking him out for a walk and to visit some renowned doctors. He's had a tough time all these years," Emperor Xiao Xuan said.

Consort Wu dared not speak again, but carefully served Emperor Xiao Xuan.

Actually, she should be content!

To say how much she loves the man in front of her... well, not really. She's afraid of losing him, but she's afraid of losing everything he can give her.

Now that she has two princely sons, a princess who is somewhat favored, and the status of a noble consort, she should be content!

Isn't this what I've always wanted?

His Majesty also said that even if he is not in the capital, the Crown Princess will not be able to shake her position; she will still be the most noble Consort!

But why is it that my heart feels increasingly empty?

...

Emperor Xiao Xuan gradually stopped attending court assemblies, and even when court officials requested an audience, he would avoid seeing them.

At most, he would meet with Prime Minister Lin and ask him to work a few more years to help the Crown Princess straighten out the government affairs.

Emperor Xiao Xuan held a grand banquet on New Year's Eve.

He sat at the head of the table, looking down at the crowd below.

Ye Yunshu sat to his lower left, while the former crown prince, now the wise prince, sat to his lower right.

Seeing everyone enjoying themselves, Emperor Xiao Xuan thought to himself that he could finally put down this heavy burden...