However, these hypocrites who value appearances need someone shameless to pierce their hearts and awaken their remaining sense of shame.

The emperor's face was gloomy, but he was secretly overjoyed.

He cleared his throat and said seriously, "My dear ministers, regarding the matter of establishing an empress, the Third Princess was a bit rude, but it is the truth. I really cannot bring myself to do it to your daughters. They are all girls in their teens, about the same age as Zhaoqing. I am not a beast, how can I bear to do it?"

He swept his gaze coldly over everyone present and then said, "My harem is managed by the Imperial Concubine, and she is doing a very good job. I am very satisfied with her, and she is of noble birth. She could have been made Empress."

But…I…um…”

He paused, glanced at Rong Ning kneeling beside him, and sighed, "But when Empress Xiaozhao passed away, I promised her that I would never take a second wife."

ah?

Would a mother say something like that?

Even if his mother said at the time that if he wanted to remarry, who could say anything?

The mother even became a shield, thus gaining a good reputation.

Anyway, my mother has been gone for so many years, and there's no way to pull her out of her grave to confront her.

Rong Ning found it boring.

The initial enthusiasm vanished, and he listlessly played with his hair again.

Because of Rong Ning's intervention, the emperor once again glossed over the matter of establishing an empress. Furthermore, because Rong Ning had laid bare their filthy intentions, the ministers no longer had the face to press the matter further.

Finally, the emperor gave an order, and they all dispersed.

Marquis Chengen lingered behind, looking at Rong Ning with a hesitant expression, but with the emperor present, Rong Ning showed no intention of getting up and could only leave.

After a while, the people in the hall were all cleared out.

Seeing that Rong Ning, who was kneeling, showed no sign of getting up, the emperor raised an eyebrow, stepped down from his high seat, and reached out to help Rong Ning up himself. “Your mouth isn’t entirely useless. Why don’t you sit on a small stool like you did today, and if I don’t like someone, you can scold them for me?”

You wish!

Rong Ning snorted inwardly, but did not rise with his help. She remained kneeling steadily and said, "I beg Father to punish me for my recklessness."

"Alright..." The emperor frowned and pulled her up forcefully. "Stop pretending. Judging from your posture just now, you were clearly here to watch the show, not to apologize."

“Father, you can’t say that. I knelt all morning, and the beating you gave me yesterday still hurts.”

As Rong Ning spoke, she stretched her legs, which had gone numb from kneeling, and her stomach growled inappropriately.

She wasn't embarrassed at all, and looked up to say directly, "Father...I'm hungry!"

He was truly capricious; looking across the entire imperial court and harem, only this daughter dared to act so boldly in front of him.

He waved his hand, signaling his men to prepare the meal.

"Does the spanking you did yesterday still hurt?" he asked again.

"pain!"

Rong Ning replied, "But I deserve to be beaten, and I will accept it no matter how much it hurts."

The emperor, hands behind his back, looked her up and down, his doubts still lingering. "You really agree to let your elder sister go for a political marriage?"

“Hmm…” Rong Ning lowered his head, “My elder sister persuaded me all night, and I have figured it out.”

Upon hearing this, the emperor breathed a sigh of relief, "It's good that you've figured it out."

Whether what she said is true or false, she just needs to calm down for a while.

The meal was still being arranged, and Rong Ning followed the emperor to the back hall, where the two chatted leisurely.

"You've never gotten along well with the Imperial Concubine since you were little. Why are you speaking up for her today? A-Ning, do you agree to make the Imperial Concubine Empress?"

What nonsense are you spouting?

"disagree."

Rong Ning didn't mince words, "But compared to disagreeing with making the Consort Empress and choosing a new noble lady to enter the palace, I can't accept it even more. Just thinking about having to call a girl my age 'Empress' in the future makes me feel uncomfortable."

"Is it that simple?" the emperor asked casually. "I heard that you sisters went to the Imperial Concubine's place last night. I thought she had said something to you."

As expected, nothing can be hidden from the emperor. He observes everything from a high vantage point, and then becomes paranoid, believing he has everything under control.

Rong Ning hated their pretense of ignorance and their constant suspicion. She sneered and spoke up again, "What can the Imperial Concubine say? Aren't all matters under the Emperor's control?"

Father...you are a man, you should give the woman who is devoted to you the respect she deserves.

The Imperial Concubine has served you for so many years and given you two sons and a daughter. She has made great contributions. You should understand her as you would understand the ministers of the previous dynasty.

It's like a minister who has worked diligently in one position for many years, and there's nothing wrong with him in any aspect; he can be described as perfect.

Even so, when it came time for promotion, her immediate supervisor wouldn't even glance at her, and even wanted to find someone who hadn't even grown up yet to ride on her head. Who could tolerate that?

If it were me, I would have quit long ago. Why would I still be helping Father Emperor manage the harem?

Father...you..."

"Alright, alright!" the emperor quickly raised his hand to stop him. "Stop talking, it's awful."

Rong Ning's eyebrows twitched, and she obediently shut her mouth.

After a while, the emperor dismissed the servants around him, pondered for a moment, and said slowly, "I have never thought about establishing an empress. It doesn't matter if there is no empress in the harem. I can't stand those civil officials, and I will deal with them sooner or later. So why should I bring in one of their girls to hinder me?"

Furthermore… if a new empress is established, the crown prince's position will become awkward. Even though the Consort and your mother both came from the Marquis of Cheng'en's residence, I don't want to gamble.”

The crown prince was his eldest son, and he had been carefully raised since childhood, to which he was very satisfied.

The emperor sighed and turned to look at Rong Ning. "I've told you all this. Whether you believe it or not, I'm keeping my promise to your mother and protecting you three children so that you can live a peaceful life."

Hmm... that sounds very touching.

Ke Rongning smiled and asked, "What about my elder sister?"