Later, Xiao Zhaolin was so numb that he could not move, and was pulled up by the rope.
He breathed a sigh of relief, but didn't dare to delay any longer, so he left.
Su Lijin looked at his disheveled figure, and the smile on her lips deepened a little.
The next morning, Su Lijin dressed up and went to the Yanx Palace. This was because she was summoned by the Empress Dowager after she came out of the cold palace. She must have been gossiped about by someone, so she had to be careful.
"Your Highness pays homage to the Empress Dowager."
She bowed politely to the Queen Mother in front of her.
"Get up."
The Empress Dowager has never been satisfied with Su Lijin. After all, there has been no child in the harem since the Emperor ascended the throne. As the Queen, Su Lijin should set an example.
Thinking of this, she got straight to the point and said, "Empress, you have been serving the Emperor since you left the cold palace. How come you haven't been pregnant for so long? I am old and I hope to have a grandson soon."
The Empress Dowager had always attached great importance to the issue of offspring. In her previous life, she even demanded that she abdicate and let her niece take the throne when she saw that she and Xiao Shengxing were not on good terms.
"As for matters like pregnancy, it's not up to me to decide. I'll just do my best and leave the rest to fate." Su Lijin said perfunctorily.
The Queen Mother frowned in dissatisfaction. She had expected Su Lijin to readily agree, but she hadn't expected her to be so perfunctory. She began to lecture her, "Hmph, if you're not feeling well, go see the imperial physician and ask him to prescribe a pregnancy-maintaining medicine so you can take good care of yourself. As the Queen of a dynasty, how can you not even have a child of your own?"
"Really? If I remember correctly, Your Majesty is not your heir, right? Aren't you sitting peacefully on this throne now?"
"you!"
The Queen Mother was touched in a sore spot and was about to scold Su Lijin angrily.
At this time, the eunuch's voice was heard outside.
"Your Majesty the Queen Mother, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has come to pay his respects."
When the empress dowager heard that it was Xiao Zhaolin who came, she calmed down a little and nodded to let the eunuch let him in.
A man in dark black robes walked in and bowed to the empress dowager who was sitting in front of him.
"Her Majesty the Queen Mother."
"Zhao Lin is here? Sit down."
The Queen Mother was naturally happy about this grandson, and a kind smile appeared on her face again, as if the person who had just spoken harshly to her was not her at all.
After Xiao Zhaolin sat down, the empress dowager looked him over and spoke with a smile.
"Zhao Lin is not young anymore. It's time for you to find a wife worthy of you. However, I don't have anyone to choose from right now."
Xiao Zhaolin subconsciously glanced at Su Lijin, who was sitting across from him. Although Su Lijin didn't react, he still explained, "Grandma, I already have someone I like, and I'd like to wait for a while before getting married. I have to ask the girl's opinion before making a decision."
The Queen Mother's face lit up when she heard this, and she asked in surprise.
"Zhao Lin, do you already have someone you like? Which family is it? If you really like her, then ask the emperor to grant you a marriage."
Xiao Zhaolin's eyes moved, and he did not answer the empress dowager's question immediately. It seemed that he was thinking seriously, but also seemed to find it difficult to speak.
He was actually hinting at Su Lijin.
As the woman Xiao Zhaolin liked, Su Lijin was not happy at all, and there was even a hint of coldness in her eyes.
In my previous life, I was deceived by this man's sweet words and ended up being cheated so badly.
She finally had a chance to start over, how could she not hear such falsehood?
Now, instead of feeling moved at all, she felt disgusted.
"Why is Zhao Lin silent? What's there to be embarrassed about?"
The Queen Mother was slightly helpless and spoke again.
"Grandmother, please don't ask me anymore. If possible, I will come and ask the Queen Mother to grant the marriage."
The empress dowager's expression changed slightly, and after thinking for a moment, she chuckled and agreed.
"In that case, I won't ask any more questions. Just make up your mind."
“Thank you, Grandma!”
Inside the hall, several people were still talking when Concubine Shu hurriedly appeared in front of everyone.
"Your Highness, I am late. Please forgive me."
She didn't care about etiquette and knelt directly in front of the empress dowager.
"I specifically told you yesterday to come early. I have something to tell you. But you, even the Queen came early, yet you came so late. Don't you think you care about me?"
The empress dowager's tone became increasingly cold. She was clearly indifferent to Concubine Shu's actions and instead became even angrier.
Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty the Queen Mother, please forgive me. I was feeling a little unwell today, so I got up late. Please forgive me, Your Majesty the Queen Mother."
She knew that what happened today was ultimately her fault, but if it weren't for...
I wouldn't come so late, so I can only apologize directly and ask for the Queen Mother's forgiveness.
Seeing Concubine Shu in such a state, the Empress Dowager couldn't let her kneel all the time, so she wanted her to stand up.
But at this time, Su Lijin spoke.
"Empress Dowager, why not punish Concubine Shu to clean the courtyard in the back garden? If there are no rules in the harem, no one will have to come to pay homage in the future."
Having said this, Su Lijin paused for a moment.
"Cleaning the yard isn't a very tiring task, so just consider it a minor punishment, right?"
Concubine Shu knelt on the ground, and although she didn't say anything, she clenched her fists in anger.
The Queen Mother thought about it and felt that it made sense, so she nodded in agreement.
"Well, in that case, I will obey the Queen's orders and punish you to clean the courtyard."
"Okay, I'm tired, you all can leave."
After the Queen Mother finished speaking, she stood up and went back to the inner courtyard to rest.
Seeing the Queen Mother leave, Su Lijin had a faint smile on her face and her eyes fell on Concubine Shu.
Concubine Shu gritted her teeth and no matter how angry she was, she had to endure it.
"The sunshine is really nice today, why not take a walk?"
After Su Lijin left the Queen Mother's bedroom, she smiled and spoke to the eunuch beside her.
Then he strolled around for a while and walked straight towards the back garden.
Before she had walked far, she saw from afar a maid who was diligently sweeping the floor with her head down, and the concubine Shu who was sitting beside her with an angry face.
She smiled as she approached, then spoke to Concubine Shu.
"Shouldn't Concubine Shu be cleaning the courtyard? Why are you sitting here? Are you feeling unwell?"
The maid who was still sweeping the floor was probably brought by Wei Shu from home. Seeing Su Lijin approaching her on her own initiative, she obviously wanted to vent her anger for her master, so she raised the broom.
"If it weren't for...our queen wouldn't have been punished! It's all your fault! Don't come near our queen!"
Looking at the broom approaching her, Su Lijin's face changed and she stepped back in fear.
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