Chapter 195: Emperor Wu Su's Concubines

Because Ji Qingwu slept too soundly and woke up late in the morning, he could only make up for the loss in his stomach now.

While eating the exquisite and delicious snacks, her eyes also fell on the other concubines.

She felt strange.

Because except for Concubine Wei, everyone else said a word or two when paying their respects to the Queen Mother after entering the hall, and then did not speak again, sitting quietly by the side.

Could it be that he was watching the Queen Mother and Concubine Wei speaking in a sarcastic manner and dared not say a word?

There was one more thing that surprised her the most.

Ji Qingwu once thought that the emperor’s Phoenix Palace was filled with stunning women like Concubine Wei.

The harem of the previous Liang Wang was full of beautiful women, but the concubines of Emperor Wu Su...

They can only be described as tall, short, fat and thin, all different.

Judging from their facial features, they are all honest, dignified, and tactful. There are also a few with pretty looks.

Throughout the ages, the criteria for selecting a concubine have always been to have both inner talent and beauty.

Obviously, Emperor Wu Su only cared about the former.

Having collected so many "differences", he is really not picky.

Moreover, these ladies had proper manners, and did not seem like they were coming to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and have tea. Instead, they were more serious and solemn than the courtiers attending the morning meeting.

In contrast, Ji Qingwu, who was eating snacks and drinking tea, seemed a bit casual and different.

She quickly finished the crab meat pastry in her hand. The pastry was so crispy that some crumbs fell onto her dress. She bent down and picked up the crumbs with a handkerchief.

The eunuch's shouting came from the door.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

The Queen Mother was delighted, and all the unhappiness she had felt from arguing with Concubine Wei disappeared completely. She stood up from the throne.

The concubines below also stood up, ready to welcome the emperor.

When Ji Qingwu stood up, the silk handkerchief embroidered with the eight-treasure lotus also slipped down and was blown into the aisle by a gust of wind from the door.

But she could only bow with everyone else.

The sound of brisk footsteps was heard.

When Ji Qingwu saw a pair of black court boots stopping in front of him, his face turned red.

The Queen Mother also saw the handkerchief and looked at Ji Qingwu with a frown.

Whether it was intentional or not, in front of the emperor, she dropped her handkerchief. This was an act of flattering the emperor and tempting him...

How could he do that in front of all the concubines?

You have to do it in private, stupid!

Li Yuzong, who was behind the emperor, picked it up with a tactful look and returned it to Ji Qingwu.

He smiled respectfully and said, "Miss Ji, please keep it."

Ji Qingwu took it and thanked him in a low voice.

When the Queen Mother saw this, she felt something was wrong but couldn't put her finger on it.

Emperor Wu Su stood in front of Ji Qingwu and said, "Get up."

Everyone stood up following the shouting, but the emperor hadn't moved a step.

There was a hint of sarcasm in his words: "Use more breakfast in the future, so that you won't be able to hold the handkerchief."

Ji Qingwu tightened her grip on the handkerchief, raised her eyes to look at him, and found that he had already walked away.

The Queen Mother saw that Emperor Wu Su did not look unhappy, and said, "Your Majesty is busy with state affairs. I went there yesterday and saw that Your Majesty was still busy discussing matters with the ministers. It is a good thing to be diligent in government, but you should also pay more attention to your health."

In the name of concern, she mentioned what she had gone to look for yesterday.

Emperor Wu Su said indifferently: "The Queen Mother should also take care of her health and go to the Imperial Garden and Taiye Lake more often to relax."

The corners of the empress dowager's smiling lips tightened, which meant that she should go to the Qinzheng Palace less often.

She still maintained a respectable smile on her face: "I have received the emperor's care, and my body will be healthy. But the emperor should also move around more in the harem."

Emperor Wu Su raised his eyes and looked at the empress dowager with a smile.

"Just now, Concubine Wei was complaining to me." The Queen Mother seemed to have said something wrong and changed her words: "It's not a complaint, it's a slip of the tongue. Except for the last time when Concubine Wei's brother came back, the Emperor has not been to her palace."

Concubine Wei wanted to make some excuses, but the Queen Mother really hit the nail on the head. She also wanted to know when His Majesty could come to her palace again.

"Don't tease me, Empress Dowager. All the sisters in the harem are looking forward to the emperor coming to sit with them."

As he said this, he looked at everyone.

As a result, not only did none of the concubines respond, but they all sat upright with even more serious expressions than before, not daring to make any eye contact with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager in front of the palace.

Ji Qingwu's eyes rolled back and forth. The reactions of these concubines were very similar to the scene when Jiujiu was in the study room and was called upon by the tutor to answer questions.

Wei Liru seemed to be used to it and didn't feel embarrassed at all, continuing the conversation as she pleased.

"The wine I brewed a while ago is ready to drink. Your Majesty, please come and taste it when you are free."

Emperor Wu Su said, "I remember your brother likes to drink, so give him my share."

Wei Liru said yes dejectedly, and the emperor took the initiative to speak again: "Last night, I discussed matters with your brother."

"It is a blessing for the Wei family that my brother can share the emperor's worries." Wei Liru looked proud.

Emperor Wu Su's gaze fell on the back of the palace: "But I heard that Wei Ting stayed in the palace for half an hour last night."

Ji Qingwu's head immediately straightened up and his body straightened up.

Even though she was sitting far away from the emperor, she inexplicably felt a chill on her back.

Concubine Wei's expression changed, and she explained, "Brother, you came to see me and talked about some family matters. Grandmother has not been feeling well recently."

Emperor Wu Su curled his lips and said coldly, "Tell your brother for me that the old lady at home is not feeling well. He should stay by her side and take care of her wholeheartedly instead of running around."

Concubine Wei lowered her head and said yes, she was extremely surprised. Why didn't Wei Ting obey the palace curfew? Where did he go?

The emperor always likes to say half of what he means and keep the other half.

He may not be unaware of where his brother had gone, but he was just using this incident to threaten the Wei family.

Many people in the palace understood why Madam Wei was unwell.

It was simply because a few days ago, Wei Ting openly proposed to marry the fifth daughter of the Ji family in the court.

Wei Ting was not there, but another party involved, Ji Qingwu, was present.

No matter how properly these concubines sat, they could not suppress their desire to gossip.

Ji Qingwu suddenly attracted a lot of prying eyes.

She looked back at them one by one with great momentum and a firm gaze, until they were too embarrassed to look at her again.

It was rare for Mrs. Qiao to see Xiaowu being so tough. Madam Ji and Madam Wei didn't get along well, so seeing Ji Qingwu being so generous and frank, she nodded slightly.

Ji Qingwu glanced at them one by one and saw a pair of upward-looking, cold black eyes. His aura suddenly dissipated.

She bent her neck, hesitant in her heart, wondering if the emperor knew that Wei Ting had been here last night?

Was the person who came in the second half of the night him?

If he knew that the person Wei Ting was looking for was him, according to Emperor Wu Su's reaction, he should have pinched her neck and shaken her awake.

As I was thinking, I found that the concubines had already started to stand up.

She said respectfully, "I'll take my leave."

Concubine Wei was of the highest rank among the concubines in the palace. She walked in front of everyone and when she passed by Ji Qingwu, she looked at her deeply.

A voice came from the palace...