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Chapter 744 No One Dares to Compete

Although no one knew why Concubine Jing was punished, everyone understood one thing -

As long as you can please the imperial concubine, maybe you can get a chance to climb up.

Su Jieyu is a living example.

This also indirectly shows how much the emperor loves the imperial concubine.

The concubines were naturally envious and jealous of this, but the concubines in high positions were fine, as they were proud of their status and did not want others to look down on them.

But those concubines of lower positions could not sit still.

In order to become the second Concubine Su, they all tried their best to get into the Yunxiu Palace and tried their best to please the imperial concubine.

For a time, Yunxiu Palace was crowded with people.

Xiao Xixi was so troubled that she simply closed the door and refused visitors on the pretext of recuperating from her injuries.

The matter should have ended there, but somehow, the news spread outside the palace. At first, everyone just said that the imperial concubine was deeply favored by the emperor and no one in the harem could compare to her. Later, the news became more and more exaggerated and the rumor gradually changed its nature.

Some people say that the imperial concubine was favored so much that the other concubines could not hold their heads up. It was a pity that the other concubines had to give up their dignity and depend on the imperial concubine in order to survive.

What's more, some people even said that the imperial concubine deliberately framed other concubines. Several concubines had been beaten and demoted for offending the imperial concubine, and their end was miserable.

The harem is now ruled by the imperial concubine, and no one dares to compete with her.

The censors felt that this unhealthy trend should not be encouraged, and they wrote memorials to the emperor, hoping that he would restrain the behavior of the imperial concubine and not let her disrupt the rules of the harem.

A lot of things have been said at length, and finally the topic returned to the issue of enthroning the queen.

The censors thought that the reason why the imperial concubine was able to do whatever she wanted in the harem was because the central palace had no master.

As long as there is a queen, no matter how favored the imperial concubine is, she is still a concubine and can only kneel and kowtow when she sees the queen.

Luo Qinghan threw all the memorials aside, too lazy to even look at them again.

Today, after the court session ended, as soon as he walked out of the council hall, Ms. Kong, who was beside the Grand Empress Dowager, came to invite him.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager hasn't seen you for a while and misses you very much. I would like to invite you over for tea."

Luo Qinghan could probably guess what the Empress Dowager was going to say.

He was a little impatient, but still ordered his carriage to go to Changle Palace.

When they arrived at Changle Palace, the Empress Dowager still had that kind look on her face.

She asked with concern.

"Are there any clues about the assassination of the imperial concubine?"

Luo Qinghan: "Not yet."

The Empress Dowager sighed, "I know you care about the Imperial Concubine and are afraid that she will be wronged, but there is really no need for you to praise her so highly. There are so many people in and outside the palace who wish she would die. If you really like her, you should try to keep a low profile and not let people pay too much attention to her."

Luo Qinghan said calmly, "Thank you for your advice, Grandmother. It is precisely because many people are hostile to the Imperial Concubine that I want to let everyone know how important the Imperial Concubine is to me. Before they touch the Imperial Concubine, they must first think about whether they can bear the revenge from the ruler of a country."

The Empress Dowager was speechless.

Luo Qinghan: "As an emperor, if I have to dote on a concubine secretly, what's the point of being an emperor? What do you think, Grandmother?"

The Empress Dowager frowned: "The Imperial Concubine is not the only concubine in the harem."

Luo Qinghan: "So what? I like the Imperial Concubine and I just want to pamper her. As for the other concubines, they can only blame themselves for not being able to receive my favor."

The Empress Dowager frowned even more tightly.

Luo Qinghan: "Does the Imperial Grandmother think that I should give up my own preferences and take the initiative to accommodate the concubines in the harem?"

The Empress Dowager said: "I don't mean that. I just hope you can treat everyone equally and not just favor the Imperial Concubine. Women's youth is only a few years long. Don't let them waste it in the deep palace."

Luo Qinghan curled his lips and chuckled: "Wasn't it the Empress Dowager who insisted on choosing them to enter the palace? Wasn't it you who really made them waste their youth?"

The Empress Dowager scolded, "What are you talking about? I chose a concubine for you, wasn't it for your own good? Why are you blaming me?!"

Luo Qinghan gently fiddled with the ring-shaped jade pendant worn around his waist and said lightly.

"The Imperial Grandmother is an elder. Whatever the elders say or do is reasonable. I dare not blame her."

The Empress Dowager was so angry at his indifferent attitude that her heart ached.

She pressed her chest and said angrily, "Since you said so, I am too lazy to meddle in your affairs anymore. Do whatever you want. If you get into trouble in the future, don't blame me for not warning you!"

Luo Qinghan: "Grandmother, please don't get angry over such a small matter. It's not worth it if you get sick from anger."

He stood up, looking very respectful.

"You should have a good rest and worry less in the future. I still have government affairs to attend to, so I will not accompany you. Goodbye."

After he left Changle Palace, the Empress Dowager finally couldn't help it and slammed the table.

“He’s really… really…”

She really couldn't find the right adjective, and her breath was stuck in her chest, feeling very suffocated.

Ms. Kong hurried forward, rubbed her back to help her calm down, and advised her in a gentle voice.

"Don't be angry. The emperor is young and hot-tempered. It is inevitable that his words and actions are too sharp. After a few years, he will gradually calm down. Didn't the late emperor also go through this?"

The Empress Dowager sneered, "I used to think he was a calm person, but I didn't expect that after he became the emperor, his temper became more and more erratic. Especially after he was appointed as the Imperial Concubine, he has become more and more indifferent to me. If this continues, I'm afraid there will be no place for me in the palace in the future."

Ms. Kong said hurriedly, "No, you worry too much."

The Empress Dowager suddenly asked, "Is there still no news from Princess Hua'an?"

Ms. Kong: "I heard that they have found a master. I believe they will bring him to the palace soon."

The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and said, "The palace is not safe. It will be easy for the Emperor to find out. I have to leave the palace for a while."

She asked someone to call Gan Fu over.

Since the death of Emperor Sheng Yong, Gan Fu was transferred to Changle Palace to serve the Empress Dowager.

He was extremely familiar with everything in the palace and was both civil and military, a rare talent, and soon gained the favor of the Empress Dowager.

Gan Fu fell to the ground as soon as he entered the door.

"Your servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager: "I will go to Shengguang Temple to pray in two days. Please make arrangements for me."

"Yes."

Two days later, the Empress Dowager left the palace and went to Shengguang Temple with Princess Hua'an to pray for blessings. In the temple, they met a wandering monk.

It was heard that the Empress Dowager was very convinced by the monk and listened to him talk about Buddhism for more than an hour. Before leaving, the monk gave the Empress Dowager a string of red sandalwood Buddhist beads.

It is said that this string of Buddhist beads has been blessed and has the effect of warding off evil spirits, eliminating disasters and ensuring safety.

(End of this chapter)