Chapter 217 The Emperor's Heart Favors Concubine Xi
On the second day, he paid his respects to the Weiyang Palace.
On the phoenix throne, the queen, dressed in a crimson brocade dress with floral patterns, sat down and looked at Liu Yuetang warmly.
"Princess Xi, the Emperor has already told me about yesterday's incident. Don't overthink it. Both I and the Emperor think you are very sensible."
Seeing the Queen mention her, Liu Yuetang slowly stood up, covering her eyes with a white handkerchief, and a sob escaped from her throat: "Since I have entered the palace, I should always put the Emperor first. Even if I love my family, I cannot break the palace rules because of personal feelings. It's just that I feel guilty towards my mother..."
When mentioning Qi, she choked up and felt very sad.
The Queen advised gently, "If Qi had cared about your relationship as mother and daughter, she wouldn't have bribed the court officials. Concubine Xi, you are pregnant now, so don't worry or grieve. She deserves this."
Liu Yuetang straightened her expression, concealing the emotions in her eyes, and nodded, "Yes, thank you, Her Majesty, for your enlightenment."
The Queen spoke softly, "While your mother and elder sister may have had their share of bad conduct, both father and daughter have always been upright. You, in particular, did not protect your closest relatives, but instead urged His Majesty to handle the matter impartially. Your adherence to palace rules and consideration for the greater good are truly exemplary for the other six concubines."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at everyone with a meaningful look in her eyes: "You should all take Concubine Xi as an example. Since you have entered the palace, you should put the emperor's will first. Don't let personal interests override public interests and neglect your duties!"
Upon hearing this, everyone quickly stood up and knelt in agreement, but they were very dissatisfied in their hearts.
If it were someone else, I'm afraid their family would have been implicated long ago.
The Minister of Rites and Concubine Xi even gained a good reputation for sacrificing their own relatives for the sake of justice.
How ridiculous!
Qi was not Concubine Xi's mother, and she must have been hoping for her death for a long time.
After the court session, Xiao Heng went to Yaohua Palace.
At that time, Concubine Zhao was playing the piano. When she saw Xiao Heng coming, she still lowered her eyes and gently stroked the strings, as if she didn't see him.
Xiao Heng knew that she was dissatisfied again.
His face immediately turned cold. It was Nanny Kong who started the trouble first, and Liu Zheng was also slapped.
What is she dissatisfied with?
Xiao Heng stood quietly for a long time. Seeing that Concubine Zhao kept her head down playing the piano, he turned around and left.
Just after taking two steps, the music of the zither stopped abruptly, and the cold voice of Concubine Zhao came from behind: "Your Majesty..."
Xiao Heng paused and turned around, only to see Concubine Zhao standing up. A hint of stubborn coldness condensed in her red eyes. She was about to speak when she was interrupted by Xiao Heng:
"Princess Zhao, please don't say anything I don't like to hear."
Concubine Zhao's lips froze. "It seems the Emperor heard something he liked from Concubine Xi."
She walked towards Xiao Heng step by step, "Did Concubine Xi show weakness to the Emperor, causing him to feel distressed and soften his heart?"
Xiao Heng's lips tightened. "Empress Zhao, they are just two palace maids. Let's just leave this matter at that. I don't want to mention it again."
Concubine Zhao said coldly, "Palace maid?"
"Your Majesty, you clearly know that Madam Kong is not just a maid to me, she is more like a half-mother to me. Concubine Xi slapped Madam Kong in front of so many people, which was like slapping me in the face!"
"What about Concubine Xi?" Xiao Heng turned to look at her, and the jade beads hanging from her hair crown swayed, emitting a cold luster.
"Madame Kong is no ordinary maid to you, and the same is true for Concubine Xi, isn't Liu Zheng?"
No one understands better than him how important it is to have someone by your side when you are at your lowest point.
When Liu Yuetang returned to the Liu Mansion, no one liked her. She lived under someone else's roof and lived a life of walking on thin ice. Only Liu Zheng stayed by her side and never left her side.
"How can it be the same?" Concubine Zhao's lips trembled sadly.
"Since when did Your Majesty's heart lean towards Concubine Xi?"
Seeing the sadness in Concubine Zhao's eyes, Xiao Heng's heart was shocked.
Is his heart leaning towards Concubine Xi?
"Your Majesty, you said that no one can surpass my position in your heart." Concubine Zhao looked at him deeply.
Xiao Heng frowned tightly and rubbed the jade ring on his thumb.
Seeing Concubine Zhao pondering for a moment, he finally spoke: "Concubine Zhao, Concubine Xi did not surpass you."
"But she is pregnant now, so I will inevitably give her some preferential treatment."
Xiao Heng thought that the reason she could put Liu Yuetang in a position comparable to Concubine Zhao was probably because she was pregnant with her own child.
This child was hard-earned, so while he valued him, he naturally valued Liu Yuetang more.
"Really... is it just because of the child?" Concubine Zhao looked at him doubtfully.
"Yeah." Xiao Heng nodded.
"Your Majesty, if I were pregnant, would you be very happy?" This thought suddenly came to Concubine Zhao's mind.
She always knew that the emperor loved children very much.
So he didn't like Concubine Chu very much, but for the sake of the child, he would go to Concubine Chu's palace every month.
"Of course." Xiao Heng answered without hesitation.
She had been with him for many years, so she was naturally happy to have a child with him.
Concubine Zhao's frown finally relaxed, and she reached out to hug Xiao Heng: "Your Majesty, since you can't promise me the position of your principal wife, then that's fine. I've let this matter go..."
"But you have to promise Jiaojiao..."
Concubine Zhao raised her hand and placed it on his chest. "This place... can only be left to me."
Hearing this, Xiao Heng couldn't help but think of what Liu Yuetang had said in his arms.
She said: She only needs one point of her love for him. Let her give the remaining nine points of love and sincerity to Xiao Heng.
While he was stunned, a cold hairpin touched his neck, bringing Xiao Heng back to his senses.
He raised his hand and stroked Concubine Zhao's back, answering her gently.
That night, at Fu Mansion.
The night was gloomy, and the candlelight hanging high under the eaves flickered in the wind.
In the hall, Fu Ze'an slammed a piece of rice paper in front of Fu Zhixing and said, "Draft the divorce letter."
Fu Zhixing's face darkened. "Father, are you asking me to divorce Yueyao?"
Seeing Fu Zhixing still asking such a stupid question, Dai suddenly stood up and said, "It's come to this, and you still don't divorce your wife? Are you waiting for Liu Yueyao to bring disaster to our family?"
Dai was so angry that she was stunned. If her husband had not been highly valued by the emperor, their Fu family would have been implicated by Liu Yueyao long ago.
Fu Ze'an's eyes suddenly slanted out, staring at Dai fiercely: "How dare you say that!"
"That's the stupid thing you did!"
That year, he was away on a flood control mission, and when he returned home, Dai told him that her son was in love with the eldest daughter of the Liu family and had already accepted the dowry from the mistress of the Liu family.
When he heard this, he was extremely angry.
This marriage was arranged by his mother when she was alive. Now he wants to change it without any hesitation. Where does he put his mother's words?
However, Dai said that Liu Yuetang had been in poor health since childhood and it was unlikely that she would be able to have children for the Fu family. Moreover, she was a concubine's daughter and did not have the dignity of Liu Yueyao, a legitimate daughter.
He also said that Liu Yueyao and his son were in love with each other and would not marry each other, so he had no choice but to agree to the marriage.
If he were given another chance, he would definitely not agree to let Fu Zhixing marry Liu Yueyao, the disaster star, into the mansion.
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