11 steps
◎For you◎
"The engagement ceremony was brought forward, why?" After not going to the palace to do business for a few days, the palace seemed to be a completely different place. So many things happened in the few days I haven't been here.
Qingyun put down the teacup in his hand and explained, "Your Excellency hasn't been to the palace these days, so you might not know that the Crown Prince had sex with a palace maid a few days ago."
"He visited a palace maid," Xue Ji was confused. "So what? He wants to get engaged to that palace maid?"
It was really difficult for Qingyun to say this. As a young boy, he didn't know how to start. "Just... just say that the Crown Prince and the Princess had a quarrel, got drunk, and took the maid... or that the Empress caught them in bed herself."
"The Queen herself caught the adulterer in bed!" Xue Ji's originally deep eyes widened into a circle, and his originally beautiful phoenix eyes turned into deer eyes.
"yes."
Hearing Qingyun's affirmative answer, Xue Ji was stunned and could hardly believe his ears. The Queen herself caught the adulterers in bed. It was really funny that a mother caught her own son in an affair.
"What a bizarre story! A mother caught her son having sex in bed. Even operas wouldn't dare write about it. It's truly eye-opening. How could I not be in the palace when such an interesting thing happened?"
Xue Ji's reaction in the past year was not as big as today's. It was as if he released all his usually calm emotions at this moment. Although the whole palace knew about this matter, he smiled as if he had discovered some important secret.
Qingyun had been with him for many years, and had never seen him so gloating and restless as he was today. He felt particularly disgusted, "Sir, please speak softly. The walls have ears."
Xue Ji didn't care. He laughed so hard that he fell backwards. He coughed for a long time before stopping. "This matter has spread throughout the palace. Are you afraid that I am the only one who knows about it? Quick, go prepare some wine, meat, fruits and so on, and tell me the details!"
"Sir..." Qingyun was very embarrassed.
"Go!"
Qingyun had no choice but to recount the beautiful scenery of that day in detail, vividly and emotionally. While talking about the prince, he recalled the scene of that day over and over in his mind, and his face turned red as he spoke.
"It's said that the Crown Prince and the Princess were always at odds, and the Empress wanted the Crown Prince to go and try to make peace, but somehow, the two parted ways on bad terms. The Crown Prince went back to the palace to drink, and then he had sex with a tea-serving maid from the Eastern Palace. Coincidentally, Tan Liangdi brought the Princess and asked the Empress to let them see the Crown Prince. So the Empress went along, and when she entered the room, there was... clothes all over the floor. The Empress ran into them, and they were hugging each other... sweating profusely."
“Hahahahahahahahahahahaha…”
Xue Ji listened to the explicit words and looked at Qingyun's shy face. A picture of the two of them suddenly appearing in his mind. He didn't expect Fu Hua to be so powerful. He drank too much and was caught in an affair by his own mother. "What a ghost story! It's so interesting!"
But Qingyun was embarrassed to say, "Sir, please don't interrupt me. I have something important to discuss. The engagement has been brought forward, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has given another order."
"No!" Bai Yi refused outright. She would never give in and let that lowly woman be her future concubine.
"Why? Mother!"
Fu Hua actually had a special liking for Cui Rumei, and didn't care about the gossip in the palace last time.
"If I said no, then no. Why did you get engaged in advance? Don't you know that? It's just you who's not serious. Now it's only been a few days and you're making a fuss again. If word gets out to Rong Country about the eternal prosperity of the two countries, will you listen to it?"
"Mother, please calm down!" Fu Hua apologized honestly.
Bai Yi looked at how big he was and recalled his expression in the East Palace that day. He felt so disappointed in him that he picked up something nearby and threw it at him.
"Calm down? Tell me how to calm down, how to calm down!"
She had always been lenient with Fu Hua, but the recent incidents had truly made her unable to calm down. Ultimately, it was because she had spoiled her son too much, leading to such an embarrassing situation today, and it was also her fault as a mother.
"Qianyu, then you have to apologize to me sincerely. It was your fault in the first place. Stop using those gossips to smear others' innocence. What kind of drug did that little bitch give you? Can't you tell the difference between the serious and the minor?"
"Then the Queen Mother, Cui..."
"Stop talking about it and get out of here!" Bai Yi had a terrible headache. There were already so many things going on in the harem, and she also had to worry about her son's affairs.
Fu Hua proposed to give Cui Rumei a legitimate status more than once, but Bai Yi always held on to it. Even when Tan Lu gave birth to a child last year, it was a good opportunity to clear the name of Fu Hua, her confidante, but she just refused to give in.
She and Fu Kang were a young couple who started their business together from scratch, but her son was not at all like her. He was blind and did not know how to choose the right people for the right positions, and he was always throwing tantrums.
"Yes, mother, please don't be angry. I will take my leave now."
"How will the princess cope with this?" Xue Ji asked.
Qingyun said, "The princess is proud and arrogant, so naturally she can't stand this grievance."
He fiddled with the sachet in his hand, and his thoughts kept turning to Rong Qianyu's innocent big eyes, which looked like she had a scheming mind but was still sunny.
Xue Ji didn't like sunlight; it was glaring and too bright. He always kept people at a distance and had never been so devoted to someone before. "Can't stand it? You have to endure it. If you can't stand this, how are you going to endure it in the future?"
"These matters still need to be discussed with the princess by the adults." Qingyun's words hit the mark. Naturally, he needed to step in to deal with these matters. The princess had a simple mind and there were always unexpected things.
With the arrival of winter, the ground is covered in snow. While all other flowers have withered, only the plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden are full of life. Facing the fluttering snow, they stand proudly in the biting cold wind. Though the wind bites, they are filled with fragrance.
"The bright fairy figure is full of tender feelings, and the crimson fairy petals are wrapped around the jade flowers."
Rong Qianyu turned around, dressed in red, and rushed into Xue Ji's sight enthusiastically, "What are you talking about, sir?"
"You guys leave." Xue Ji ordered the palace servants around him to leave.
"Step back." No one dared to move without Rong Qianyu's nod.
"Flowers are beautiful, and people are even more beautiful."
"Your Excellency is here to persuade me too?"
"Yes." Xue Ji nodded in agreement.
"Then who is your Excellency lobbying for?"
"For you." He said firmly with a firm look in his eyes.
I thought Xue Ji would give an impassioned speech, but unexpectedly he only said two words.
For you.
Rong Qianyu didn't look at him, still fiddling with the plum blossom in her hand, "For me, what is your position to persuade me?"
"Princess, don't say that. Isn't it time to ask for your help?"
She finally stopped and asked, "What do you want to say, my lord?"
"Others have come to persuade the princess to accept Cui, so I want to explain why the princess should accept and how to accept it."
Rong Qianyu remained silent. She didn't want to share her husband with anyone, but she couldn't stop his heart from being elsewhere.
In a place where she couldn't reach it, and perhaps she would never be able to reach it.
Xue Ji continued, "The princess should go to the Queen and ask her to tell her that you agree to marry Cui."
"What!?" She didn't expect that Xue Ji would actually let her speak. Because of this matter, the mother and son had been at odds for many days. Why should she get involved in this mess?
"This matter will be agreed to sooner or later. If you take the initiative to earn this status for Cui, the Crown Prince will think you are broad-minded and will not hold grudges. Secondly, it was you who asked for the status for Cui. No matter how crazy she is, she will remember your kindness. Why bother to do a favor when you can just do it? Thirdly, the Empress values you. She will not disagree if you bring it up. A mother and son quarrel, so why would they insist on holding on to it? If the Crown Prince really succeeds, you will be in a more passive position."
Every word he said made sense and was impossible to refute. "Of course I know all this."
She lowered her eyebrows, like a wronged kitten, wishing someone would come and touch her.
"You don't understand," Xue Ji walked over and brushed the remaining snow off her robe, "you only know how to dwell on trivial matters."
His words didn't sound like those of a eunuch speaking to his master, but rather contained a strange sense of doting.
"I don't!"
"The princess is proud and unwilling to yield, but sometimes, you have to be soft."
Rong Qianyu's sophistry was so pale and powerless in front of Xue Ji. She understood all these principles, but she just didn't want to admit it. She was just stuck in a dead end, trying to convince herself with the so-called etiquette and rules, "I, I am the legal wife, why does he insult me so much?"
"The Crown Prince is being a bit absurd. You should be more magnanimous. If I were to ask you, I'd better take in the maid you favored, not just Cui. This would show that you are magnanimous and have let bygones be bygones."
"What wife would be willing to take a concubine for her husband?" Rong Qianyu muttered softly.
"A wife has the obligation to take concubines for her husband and to have children. Moreover, if he favors her, he is a husband; if he doesn't, he is a subject to the king."
Rong Qianyu was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say. For so long, she had been telling herself not to get into trouble, but she had been involved in this matter a long time ago and was no longer just watching the fire from the other side of the river.
She and Fu Hua were not only husband and wife, but also monarch and subject, and these were her responsibilities.
Rong Qianyu pondered for a long time, her expression gloomy, "My Lord was right that day, he really doesn't like it."
Xue Ji paid too much attention to her and always unconsciously wanted to help her. "Man proposes, God disposes."
The two were talking as they walked. Rong Qianyu slipped and was helped up by Xue Ji. She felt dizzy looking at the other's delicate yet cold eyes.
Xue Ji held her wrist. Her wrist was very thin and he could clamp it with one hand. She felt a warmth on her wrist and wanted to break free but couldn't.
Xue Ji whispered in her ear, "The road is slippery, Princess, please be careful. If you need me in the future, I will do my best to make your future journey smooth."
Rong Qianyu looked at him, an inexplicable feeling rising and spreading in her heart. Thinking of Tan Lu's words, she had some other ideas.
"Thank you, sir. I will go and ask to see the Queen right away!" After saying that, he threw the branch in his hand to Xue Ji, "Thank you, sir, for your guidance!" He went straight to the Queen's bedroom.
She finally figured out what had been troubling her for a long time: why Tan Lu was so cold, why she had to be so cautious at every step, and why she was still so cautious after giving birth to the eldest princess.
At that time, she didn't understand why Tan Lu had gone to such great lengths to set up a trap and involve her. Now she understood that if they couldn't be husband and wife, they would be monarch and subject, and sharing the monarch's worries was the minister's duty.
If she could solve the emperor's troubles, it would naturally be a good opportunity for the minister to show himself. Why should she insist on whether they were husband and wife? It was the most hopeless thing to rely on a man's favor to live.
She not only lives for the personal interests of her own children, but also lives for Rongguo and for the more than two million people of Rongguo.
Good or bad fortune can happen at any time. If you make a mistake, it will result in millions of corpses floating on the surface. How can you talk about long-lasting love?
"What, you agree with Natri?"
Rong Qianyu nodded, "Yes."
"Why?" Bai Yi held Rong Qianyu's hand and kept asking, fearing that she would be upset.
"Qianyu is the Crown Prince's wife, but she is also a subject. If the Crown Prince truly likes her, Qianyu is willing to let her serve His Highness."
"I'm sorry for wronging you."
Rong Qianyu's smile was so bright and radiant that it seemed to melt the hard icicles on the eaves outside the house. "Don't be wronged. It's my duty to share your worries. Not only that Cui, but also the Crown Prince's favored maid Liu, should be taken in as well."
"Child..." Bai Yi didn't know what was wrong with Rong Qianyu. The more generous she was, the more distressed Bai Yi felt.
"Your Highness, there's no need to say anything. Qianyu was too unreasonable before. Some of her words were too harsh and really shouldn't have been said."
This child had always been a believer, but Bai Yi didn't expect her to say such things. She felt like she owed her too much. "I'm really surprised you could say that. Hua'er has been spoiled by me since she was little, and she's really naughty and willful. Please be patient. If he says that to you again, tell me. I'll support you."
"Thank you, Queen."
"You're always like this, gentle and kind. I like that about you. You're a child who's been through a lot. But don't keep on being like this. You're just afraid of being bullied. In the future, be more aggressive and don't be afraid of anyone."
She thus resolved the troubles between the Queen and the Crown Prince, and her deep understanding of justice made people feel infinite sympathy and love. No matter what Fu Hua thought, in Bai Yi's heart, this daughter-in-law was really the right choice.
【Author’s words】
By the way, I recommend the pre-collection of "The East Palace is Trap". If you are interested, you can click on the collection.
Robbery/Reunion/Tit-for-Tat/Substitute Literature
Pretending to be a pig and eating the tiger, the real black-bellied prince x pretending to be kind, but really crazy and critical of the little beauty
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