"Your Highness, Her Highness Changning is the princess of Dayong. No matter how cruel the Northern Barbarian Chanyu is, how dare he take the princess' life?"
Seeing that the virtuous concubine seemed to be able to listen to her advice, Nanny Cui continued, "Besides, the Northern Barbarians have just been defeated, and there are still a thousand prisoners of war in the hands of Dayong. At this critical moment, how dare we let our princess get into trouble?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, unless they don't want to exchange back the one thousand prisoners of war!" The palace maid beside her also advised.
"Is Changning really alright?" Concubine Xian still had a look of deep sorrow in her eyes. "Then why haven't I received her letter yet..."
"Perhaps something has delayed you. Please wait a little longer. Maybe there will be news about His Highness Changning in a few days." Nanny Cui brought the medicine bowl forward again. "Please drink this medicine first. Otherwise, His Highness Changning will be worried when he finds out that you are sick even though he is fine."
After hearing what she said, Concubine Xian finally took the medicine bowl and drank the bitter medicine.
It was daytime, and even after drinking a tranquilizer, I still couldn't fall asleep for a while.
Worried that she would continue to worry about what happened if she stayed confined in Yongfu Palace, Nanny Cui and the palace maid suggested taking a walk in the Imperial Garden.
But not long after entering the Imperial Garden, they met Concubine Dong, Concubine Xue and Concubine Zhao who were drinking tea and chatting at a pavilion at a corner.
These three were all old people who had followed Emperor Xiaoming before he ascended the throne. Their maiden families were not prominent and they had no children. Therefore, after Emperor Xiaoming ascended the throne, they were only given the titles of Jieyushi and Meiren.
With no children, no favor, and no maternal family to rely on, there was naturally nothing to fight for, so the elderly people around Emperor Xiaoming always got along well with each other.
When Concubine Xian came over, they were talking about Emperor Xiaoming's recent opening of his private treasury and the jewels he bestowed on the concubines in the harem.
"Although what we have in our hands are what the one in Qionghua Palace picked out, it's better than nothing." Concubine Dong stretched out her fingers, and on her fingers was the ring that she had just been awarded two days ago.
The ruby ring inlaid on it sparkles brightly in the sun.
"This color is so bright." There was a hint of envy in the eyes of Concubine Xue and Concubine Zhao. Their status was lower, and the gems they were allocated were far from being of such good quality.
"Don't look at it like that. In two days, you will definitely have a gem of better quality than this one." Concubine Dong said with a smile.
Concubine Xue asked in confusion, "Sister, what are you talking about?"
"Don't you know that in this victory, General Shi captured a thousand Northern Barbarian prisoners?" Concubine Dong asked back.
"Of course we know! It is said that the news has spread all over the streets and alleys of the capital." Concubine Xue and Concubine Zhao said in unison.
"That's it."
"In order to redeem these prisoners of war, the Northern Barbarians have to compensate us with a lot of treasures. I heard that the court has been discussing what compensation to ask the Northern Barbarians to make these days."
"It's hard to say about other things, but gems and horses are definitely indispensable. The Northern Barbarians are rich in gems. Do you think our gems can be used when the time comes?"
After Concubine Dong finished speaking, she saw the two people sitting opposite her looking behind her.
Turning back, he saw Consort Xian coming over, and immediately stood up and saluted, saying, "Greetings, Consort Xian."
They were all elderly people who had been in the Prince's Mansion before Emperor Xiaoming ascended the throne. They were also old acquaintances of Concubine Xian. Although they did not have much contact on a daily basis, they were still on good terms with each other.
"My lady, I just got some high-quality Longjing tea. How about..."
The weather was clear and sunny today. Concubine Dong was just about to invite Concubine Xian to sit down and drink tea together, but she saw Concubine Xian looked dazed for a moment, then turned around with an anxious look on her face and walked out of the imperial garden.
"What happened to Concubine Xian?" Concubine Dong looked puzzled.
Concubine Xue and Concubine Zhao looked at each other in bewilderment.
Logically speaking, since Dayong had won the battle, Princess Changning's status in the Northern Barbarians would also rise, so it was a time for her to be happy.
Why doesn't the virtuous concubine have any joy on her face, but instead looks worried?
"Your Majesty, where are you going?" Nanny Cui quickly followed Concubine Xian's footsteps.
Seeing that he was walking towards the direction of Qionghua Palace, he quickly stopped him and asked, "Madam, why are you walking here?"
"I want to see Your Majesty!" After Emperor Xiaoming left court every day, he would spend most of his time either in the imperial study or in the Qionghua Palace.
It's almost evening now, so the possibility of him being in Qionghua Palace is greater.
"Mammy, please don't stop me..."
As soon as Concubine Xian finished her words, footsteps sounded behind her, followed by a somewhat vicissitudes of life voice, "Concubine Xian, do you have something to ask me?"
"His Majesty."
Seeing Emperor Xiaoming coming, everyone knelt down on the road leading to the Qionghua Palace.
"Xianfei?" Emperor Xiaoming sat on the jade sedan chair, looked down at Xianfei, and asked, "Why are you looking for me?"
This was the first time the two had met alone since the last time Concubine Xian pleaded for Wei Maolin.
Thinking of the recent victories and Changning's marriage to the Northern Barbarians, Emperor Xiaoming's expression softened a bit, "No need to be polite, stand up and answer."
"Yes." Concubine Xian stood up and walked towards the jade sedan chair under the worried gazes of Nanny Cui and a group of palace maids.
She looked up at His Majesty, with a pleading look in her eyes, "Your Majesty, Changning has been married to the Northern Barbarians for four years. She has had two miscarriages and is getting weaker. Now... there is no news from her. I am worried that something bad has happened to her in the Northern Barbarians."
Before Concubine Xian finished her words, Emperor Xiaoming had already frowned, "What do you want to do?"
"I'm wondering... since Your Majesty wants to demand compensation from the Northern Barbarians, can you take this opportunity to let Changning return to the capital to visit her relatives? That will also allow me to take another look at Changning and ask the imperial physician to take care of Changning's body." Concubine Xian originally wanted to take this opportunity to ask Changning to return to Dayong. After all, the two countries were constantly at war, and Changning would not have a good life in the Northern Barbarians.
But it was obvious that Emperor Xiao Ming would not agree to such a request, so he changed it to "visiting relatives".
But after hearing this, Emperor Xiaoming's face turned gloomy again, and he shouted, "Nonsense!"
"Your Majesty..." Concubine Xian knelt down again.
Emperor Xiaoming did not give her a chance to speak again, "How can such a big thing as compensation for defeat be delayed because of Changning?"
If Changning were to return to Beijing to visit her family, it would be necessary to make concessions in other areas, which Emperor Xiaoming would never allow. It was just a daughter, and he didn't need a daughter like that.
Besides, a daughter who is married off is like water spilled.
Even princesses are no exception!
Looking at Concubine Xian kneeling on the ground and crying, Emperor Xiaoming said coldly: "In the past, I was too indulgent to you and even allowed you to communicate with Changning through letters."
"Pass on my oral order that Concubine Xian has failed in her moral conduct and she shall be confined to Yongfu Palace for a month to reflect on her actions."
"From now on, you are not allowed to send any more letters to Changning of the Northern Barbarians!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
