In the Cining Palace.

Queen Mother Xue rubbed her brows, looking helpless, "Brother, why are you so impulsive? Why did you order those ministers to submit memorials?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down. His Majesty only favors Ning, and Concubine Xue has not yet been favored. The Duke is also anxious!" Liu Zhen consoled.

"Ning is nothing, she is just a tool used by the emperor." Empress Dowager Xue's face darkened:

"Brother was too impulsive. He forced the emperor to promote her instead, which made our Xue family even more embarrassed. We can't delay any longer..."

She couldn't make up her mind to give up power.

But the emperor made it clear with facts that if she did not back down, he would support Ning Wanyin in her promotion step by step.

"The emperor has left some room for me, and I will quit while I am ahead." Empress Dowager Xue made up her mind and sighed dejectedly.

Liu Zhen was puzzled and said, "Madam, the emperor is so aggressive. Giving Ning a promotion is clearly a slap in the face of you and the Duke! There is no room for maneuver."

"The emperor didn't promote her to the rank of imperial concubine, and didn't let this lowly maid suppress Yan'er's position. This has saved enough face for our Xue family. If we continue..."

If the stalemate continues, it will be hard to say.

"Please ask the emperor to come and tell him that I am not feeling well and I am determined to rest." After Empress Dowager Xue made up her mind, she acted decisively.

…

The Empress Dowager was not feeling well, so the Emperor went to visit her as soon as possible.

Filial piety is a virtue, but sometimes it is also a shackle. Even an emperor cannot be unfilial.

"This afternoon, I felt unwell. Perhaps it's because I'm old and lack energy. From now on, I'll ask your concubines not to disturb me every day." Queen Mother Xue looked weak.

Helian Qi was waiting for this sentence, and immediately responded, "The Queen Mother's health is the most important. But your son's concubines should serve you. Please allow me to come and pay my respects to you on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month."

A complicated look flashed across Empress Dowager Xue's eyes.

If the concubines completely ignored the empress dowager, the emperor would definitely be charged with being unfilial.

He took the initiative to propose a visit on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month. He was really very careful and left no room for criticism.

If her son could be as calm and composed as Helian Qi, the throne would never have been given to an outsider.

"I am deeply gratified by your filial piety." Empress Dowager Xue looked at the emperor and said, "But there are still two things I cannot let go of. One is a personal matter. Yan'er is my niece. I am sick and cannot take care of her much. I hope the emperor will take good care of her..."

"I understand, mother, don't worry." Helian Qi agreed. This was what he expected.

"The other thing is official business. I heard that you only favor Ning, but the most important thing for an emperor is to treat everyone equally. How can you neglect the harem because of her? This woman is a seductress who deceives the emperor and is guilty of a heinous crime! You should not have such a woman in your harem." A cold look flashed in Empress Dowager Xue's eyes.

Helian Qi's face showed no expression at all, and he said calmly, "Mother, please calm down. I lost my temper for a moment. Ning is timid and weak, and she just obeyed me."

Empress Dowager Xue was furious that even she was looked down upon. Ning was extremely bold, so how could she be timid?

The emperor actually wanted to protect a mere Ning Wanyin?

"Does the Emperor want to make me sick because of such a lowly woman?" Empress Dowager Xue asked.

Helian Qi was calm and composed, "Your Majesty, your words are too serious. Ning is not worth mentioning, and I will let you deal with her. But please, Your Majesty, tell me her faults."

If the Queen Mother wants someone to die, isn't it easy for her to fabricate a crime?

The emperor obviously didn't want to hear a reason.

This is a displacement.

You want to kill Ning Wanyin.

Can.

Then what do you want in exchange?

The deal between him and the Queen Mother was that she would give up her power, and he would promote the Xue family, but that did not include giving Ning Wanyin an extra life.

"Ning is very much in my heart, and I am very reluctant to let her go. But as long as her guilt is proven, I will never tolerate her." Helian Qi continued with a sad face.

The implication is: Ning is my treasure!

Kill her? You have to pay more!

Queen Mother Xue was almost pissed off by him. What the hell was Ning? She just disgusted her.

There are many ways to take Ning's life.

How could she deserve the Xue family to give up some of their interests for her?

"Since the emperor is reluctant, then forget it." Empress Dowager Xue quickly turned the page and returned to her motherly demeanor:

"I will entrust Yan'er to you..."

Helian Qi agreed in a gentle voice. He knew that the Queen Mother would not add chips for Ning Wanyin, but in fact, even if the Queen Mother added money, he would not kill Ning Wanyin.

If you give the chess piece that worked so hard for you to the enemy, who will be loyal to you in the future?

But of course he couldn't tell the Queen Mother the truth. How could he let the Queen Mother know what he was thinking?

…

Wang Degui was guarding outside the gate of the Cining Palace.

Seeing the emperor coming out, he immediately went to greet him. He felt that although His Majesty looked sad, he was in a very good mood.

"The Empress Dowager is not feeling well and needs to rest. Pass on the Empress Dowager's oral order. From now on, the concubines are not to be disturbed except on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month." The emperor ordered.

Wang Degui was startled and quickly accepted the order, "Yes! I will immediately inform the six palaces!"

The emperor returned to the Ganxin Hall to review the memorials.

At dusk, the eunuch from the Imperial Bedchamber came forward with the list of concubines and said, "Your Majesty, please read it."

Helian Qi's eyes habitually fell on Lady Ning's jade token. He went to Lingxue Pavilion every day and was used to looking at the place where her jade token was placed.

But his gaze only stayed for a brief moment, and Helian Qi casually picked up another jade token - Concubine Xue.

Concubine Xue?

Wang Degui was shocked and hurried to Qionghua Garden to announce the decree in person.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!