Chapter 147 The Divorced Heiress of a Noble Family—Exclusive Favor

For several days in a row, the Emperor stayed at Chenxi Palace, and every day he would send someone to Changchun Palace to ask for leave for Yaoyao, which caused a great uproar in the harem.

On the fifteenth day, the Emperor finally did not go to Chenxi Palace, but instead, as was customary, went to the Empress's Changchun Palace.

This gave the people in the harem a slight sense of relief; at least, at least the emperor hadn't disregarded ancestral rules.

The Emperor went to Changchun Palace after having dinner at Yangxin Hall.

The queen, who had prepared a feast, could only enjoy it alone, finding it tasteless and bland.

After arriving at Changchun Palace, Xiao Heng exchanged a few pleasantries with the Empress and then casually picked up a book to read.

The Empress wanted to speak several times, but when she saw the Emperor's focused expression as he read, she didn't want to break the rare moment of peace.

"Go to sleep," Xiao Heng said casually, putting down his book.

"Your Majesty, let me help you undress." The Empress quickly rose and walked to the Emperor's side, saying with a smile.

Xiao Heng deftly dodged the Empress's hand by turning to the side and said calmly, "It's alright, I'll do it myself."

The Empress's hands hung awkwardly in the air as she whispered, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Jealousy had blinded her. In the past, even when her relationship with the emperor wasn't particularly close, at least she could help him undress. Now, she couldn't even do that.

Su Yaoyao is quite capable!

As expected, that night, the two simply lay in bed, with two blankets and a person's distance between them.

The night passed in silence.

The next day, it was time to pay respects again, and this time, Yaoyao finally appeared.

Not too early, not too late, when Yaoyao arrived, the Empress had not yet arrived.

Apart from Consort Zhao, the others all bowed to Yao Yao.

Yao Yao smiled slightly and said, "No need for formalities."

Afterwards, the group got up and sat down in their respective seats, with Yaoyao sitting down opposite Consort Zhao.

"Greetings, Consort Zhao." Yao Yao nodded and greeted Consort Zhao.

Consort Zhao smiled faintly, glanced at her, and said, "I've finally seen Consort Chen up close. She is indeed a rare beauty."

Yao Yao chuckled, her face instantly blossoming into a radiant smile, her eyes curving into crescent moons, radiating endless playfulness and liveliness.

"Thank you for the compliment, Consort Zhao. I also think I am good-looking."

Consort Zhao and the others present: "..."

"Hahaha, my beloved concubine is shameless too!" Xiao Heng laughed heartily, his laughter hearty and unrestrained.

Yao Yao looked towards the doorway, where the Emperor and Empress walked in side by side.

Yao Yao boldly glared at the Emperor. The Empress saw this look and was about to scold him when she turned around and found that the Emperor was not angry at all, but instead happily accepted it!

The Queen felt another tightness in her chest.

The seated people immediately stood up and knelt down, saying, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"

The Emperor sat down in the main seat, his hearty laughter followed by a sigh: "No need for formalities, all of you may rise."

The crowd replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xiao Heng: "Consort Chen has just entered the palace and there are still things she doesn't understand. Empress, you should help her more."

The Empress maintained the composure of a mother of the nation and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I will obey your decree."

At this moment, Yaoyao was like a well-behaved child, with her head down, listening to her parents' instructions.

Xiao Heng looked at the quiet and obedient Yao Yao beside him, his eyes filled with doting affection: "Consort Chen, if you can't find me in the future, just tell the Empress, understand?"

Yao Yao nodded obediently: "Your Majesty, I understand!"

With the Emperor present, everyone present felt uncomfortable, but the Emperor seemed oblivious to their presence.

*

The nightmare of the harem begins again. As night falls, the Emperor goes to Chenxi Palace once more.

For several days in a row, apart from occasionally resting in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Emperor went to the Chenxi Palace at night.

This time, even the Empress Dowager couldn't sit still.

"Your Majesty, according to ancestral etiquette, the emperor's favor should be distributed equally among all women in the harem, and no one should be favored exclusively."

On this day, when the Emperor paid his respects to the Empress Dowager, the two chatted for a long time before the Empress Dowager got to the point.

Xiao Heng's expression remained unchanged, still bearing that faint smile: "Mother, is someone gossiping about you?"

The Empress Dowager's face darkened: "Your Majesty, I have eyes and ears, I can see it myself!"

Xiao Heng's eyes also changed; his gaze became sharp as a sword, piercing straight into the other person, as if he could see through all pretense and lies.

"Mother, in my opinion, wouldn't it be better to live out your days peacefully in the palace? Interfering will only cause more trouble, and I don't want to ruin the relationship between mother and son over trivial matters."

"What do you think, Mother?"

The Empress Dowager's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at the emperor before her—the very emperor she had single-handedly promoted.

He still had that gentle and refined appearance, but his peaceful and warm eyes had turned sharp and piercing; he was threatening me!

When the Empress Dowager realized this, she felt a chill run down her spine. It turned out that she had never truly seen through the Emperor before her.

"Mother, please rest well. I still have memorials to read. I will come to see you again another day."

After saying that, Xiao Heng turned and left without hesitation.

*

With turmoil in the harem, the court is also in turmoil.

Since Yaoyao became the emperor's savior, the Su family has once again returned to the public eye in the capital.

Some are observing, while others have already visited the Su family, attempting to cultivate a good relationship with them.

After Su Yaoyao became Consort Chen, the Su family became extremely popular, and Su's mother received countless invitations to banquets.

Recently, Su Yaoyao has almost become the sole favorite in the imperial harem, much to the regret of those who had severed ties with the Su family!

Su Yaoyao's younger siblings of marriageable age suddenly became highly sought-after in the capital.

Su Huan has always been clear-headed. He did not give up on himself or blame others when the Su family was at its lowest point, nor did he act ostentatiously or recklessly when the Su family was at its peak.

Su Huan knew that everything before him was as illusory and unreal as a fragile bubble, as if it would burst and disappear at the slightest touch.

They are like a dream, elusive and unpredictable.

His idea was confirmed at today's morning court session, as censors and ministers began to offer their advice.

"Your Majesty, I dare to offer this advice: Throughout history, all dynasties have avoided favoring one concubine exclusively. A wise ruler would bestow his favor equally upon all his concubines!"

"Your Majesty, the court and the harem are closely intertwined. Excessive favoritism can lead to the expansion of the power of the empress's relatives, endangering the stability of the court. We urge Your Majesty to reconsider, prioritize the overall situation, and bestow favors widely, so as to ensure harmony in the harem and the lasting stability of the empire!"

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

In the imperial court, many people knelt silently, all advising the emperor not to favor one concubine over another.

Su Huan remained silent, standing tall and straight in his position, as if everything around him was irrelevant.