Chapter 90: Tricks and Joining Hands

"I understand," Xu Lanshan said with a smile, "When we form an alliance, we naturally have to share the benefits. Lady Mo wants me to mention you more in front of the Emperor, but?"

To put it bluntly, it means making her act as a pimp in front of the emperor.

Xu Lanshan felt a chill.

She would never be able to do such a thing in her life.

Her eyes lit up, "Sister, you're really smart! That's exactly what I was thinking! If you monopolize the emperor's favor, there are countless people in the harem who hate you and want to plot against you! It's hard to fight four people with just two hands, isn't it? If someone can share some of the burden, you'll be more comfortable. It's good for both of us, isn't it?"

Xu Lanshan smiled and said, "Noble Lady Mo is ambitious, but I don't. As long as I enjoy the Emperor's favor, I'll be fine. Who can predict what will happen in the future? Besides, in this palace, the Emperor and Empress are the ones who make the decisions on everything. I'm a nobody and don't have that much power. I dare not offer any advice in front of the Emperor. I'm truly sorry, Noble Lady Mo."

Concubine Mo's face was a little grim, and she sneered slightly, "Sister, perhaps you're still thinking that motherhood depends on having a son, and that you'll have a long-term supporter, right? But children in this palace are not easy to give birth to, and raising them is even more difficult! There are only two children in the palace now, the eldest prince and the eldest princess. Do you think that no concubines have become pregnant in recent years? What was the result?"

Xu Lanshan shook her head. "Mrs. Mo has misunderstood. I have never thought that a mother's status depends on her son. Mrs. Mo has great ambitions. I am timid and not very smart. I really don't dare to have any ideas. I just go with the flow. It saves me a lot of trouble and effort."

She smiled good-naturedly: "I'm so sorry, Mr. Mo, you should find someone else to discuss this with."

Concubine Mo looked at her with disdain, secretly cursing her for being useless and having no future!

If it weren't for the fact that she was in favor and didn't come from a high-class family, making her easy to control without having to worry about anything, she wouldn't have come looking for her.

Who knew that mud cannot be propped up against a wall?

What's the point of having beautiful looks? Inside you're just a bunch of straw!

"Sister, you should think about it again. Think carefully about what I said. If you change your mind, you can always come to me. I am considering this for myself as well as for you!"

"Thank you, Mr. Mo!"

"I'm leaving now. Think about it carefully, sister."

"good."

Xu Lanshan naturally wouldn't consider it. This person would probably not come to her place for no reason anymore, right? That would be a good thing.

She is such a person who is keen on scheming for personal gain that she probably has no bottom line in her actions. She needs to be more careful in the future.

Two days later, Emperor Yuan Yong went to Cuiyinxuan and Xu Lanshan accompanied him for dinner.

The day was long, and it was still early after the two of them had dinner. Emperor Yuan Yong felt like taking a walk by the Taiye Lake, and Xu Lanshan naturally accompanied him.

Who could have known such a coincidence? Not long after, Concubine Mo also arrived. She was surprised and delighted and came forward to see the emperor: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you! Who could have known such a coincidence that I would run into you and Miss Xu!"

Xu Lanshan smiled and said, "Just act, she will watch."

Emperor Yuan Yong also smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes. "Noble Lady Mo, please get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Lady Mo walked forward leisurely, fanning herself lightly with a silk fan and smiling sweetly, "It's much cooler now, and the scenery of Taiye Lake is also very beautiful, very pleasing to the eyes."

Xu Lanshan couldn't help but say, "The Taiye Lake is so vast, and the water looks so clean. I wonder how many fish there are! Let's go fishing tomorrow. I'm sure we'll have a big catch and send it to the imperial kitchen. We won't have to buy fish for a while!"

Lady Mo opened her eyes wide with a look of astonishment. This guy... is so boring!

Emperor Yuan Yong laughed heartily and glanced at Xu Lanshan, teasing her: "You even think of food, Lan'er really spoils the mood."

Noble Lady Mo laughed and said, "Sister Xu's ideas are indeed different from others. Who would have thought she would be so greedy for food?"

Xu Lanshan was even more annoyed, with a fake smile on her face: "This is all I really think. It would be a shame not to raise fish in such a big lake. It would be even more of a shame not to send the fish to the imperial kitchen."

Just as Lady Mo was about to speak, Emperor Yuan Yong burst into laughter. "That sounds reasonable. I'll have the Imperial Kitchen send someone over to cast the nets someday so I can taste the fish from the Taiye Pond."

Seeing Xu Lanshan looking at him eagerly, he couldn't help but glare at her and said with a smile: "You are indispensable, what a promising future!"

Xu Lanshan laughed, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! I won't be polite!"

Lady Mo smiled too, but her smile was a little stiff. She seemed out of place.

As they were talking and laughing, Meipin suddenly appeared on a path not far away.

She was obviously stunned for a moment. The lush flowers and trees obscured her view, so she probably really didn't see anyone here.

But since she had seen it, she naturally had to step forward and pay her respects.

"Greetings to the Emperor."

"Get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xu Lanshan and Mo Guiren also knelt down: "Empress Mei!"

Xu Lanshan clearly noticed a subtle change in the emperor's mood, and suddenly felt a little sour in her heart.

She swore, it was really just a little bit.

You're taking a walk, enjoying the scenery, chatting and being affectionate with yourself, but you're interrupted one after another. You're definitely not in a good mood - that's normal, right?

Concubine Mei didn't speak, Xu Lanshan didn't speak, and Concubine Mo wanted to speak, but she opened her mouth, hesitated, and finally closed it.

The air suddenly became quiet, filled with an emotion called awkwardness.

"Okay, it's time for me and Noble Lady Chen to leave. You all should go back."

Emperor Yuan Yong finally spoke.

Meipin knelt down and lowered her eyes: "Yes, I will take my leave."

Noble Lady Mo was unwilling to accept this, but since Concubine Mei, who was above her in rank, had said so, what else could she do? She had no choice but to kneel and agree.

Emperor Yuan Yong took Xu Lanshan's hand and said, "Let's go!"

Xu Lanshan turned her head to look at Emperor Yuan Yong, then obediently followed him.

After a while, she breathed a sigh of relief and joked, "I thought the emperor wouldn't go to Cuiyinxuan, but I was so nervous!"

Listening to her playful and flirtatious tone, Emperor Yuan Yong was very pleased and said with a smile: "You are so suspicious. When have I ever broken my promise to you?"

Xu Lanshan thought about it and it seemed that there really wasn't one. "Well, Your Majesty's words are as good as gold and as firm as gold. I am sincerely convinced!"

The two smiled at each other, and Emperor Yuan Yong simply picked her up horizontally and said, "How can I bear to make Lan'er sad? Hmm?"

Xu Lanshan was a little overwhelmed by his seemingly affectionate gaze. Her pretty face turned red, her heart was slightly moved, and she giggled and buried her head in his chest.

Emperor Yuan Yong laughed heartily and carried her all the way back to Cuiyinxuan, straight into the inner chamber...

As soon as the two of them left, Meipin turned around and left without hesitation.

Concubine Mo was stunned for a moment, then she caught up with Concubine Mei and said, "Sister Mei!"

Meipin stopped and asked, "Is there anything wrong?"

Lady Mo smiled and said, "Sister and I have been through thick and thin together. Why are you so distant from me now?"

Meipin's expression softened. "I'm not targeting you. I've always been like this."