Chapter 59: Becoming a Beauty
Without waiting for the two to express their gratitude, Xiao Yu said solemnly, "But An'er must promise father that from now on, no matter where or when, you must be sincere and kind."
"Words can save people, but they can also kill people. If today's misunderstanding isn't resolved, it will be Concubine Liu who will be sent to the cold palace. In places like the cold palace, people will either die or go insane within two months. If something happens to Concubine Liu, then An'er, you will be the murderer."
Hearing the word "murderer", Xiao Cheng'an's small body trembled violently.
He didn't dare to look directly into his father's serious eyes, and lowered his head: "Your son... Your son only wants to teach Lady Liu a lesson, not to take her life."
"An'er, you are the prince, and also my eldest son. I hope you can understand things, distinguish right from wrong, know good from evil, and have your own thoughts and opinions, rather than just knowing someone through what others say."
Xiao Cheng'an clutched his robe nervously and whispered, "Yes, I know I was wrong. I won't be so reckless in the future."
Seeing that he sincerely admitted his mistake, Xiao Heng's brows gradually relaxed.
"You are wrong, but the person you should apologize to the most is not me, but Concubine Liu."
Xiao Cheng'an immediately understood what Xiao Heng meant. He turned around and slowly walked to Liu Yuetang, bowing and saying, "Mother Liu, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have wronged you."
Liu Yuetang gave him a slight support: "Mother Liu is also at fault. I must have scared you just now in order to get you to tell the truth."
Xiao Cheng'an knew that she was talking about the incident of the moon cutting off its ears, so he raised his hand and touched his warm ears embarrassedly.
Liu Yuetang smiled faintly: "Since you call me Mother Liu, I will not argue with you anymore, but Mother Liu hopes that the eldest prince can always remember what the emperor said to you just now."
Xiao Cheng'an nodded, and when his eyes met Liu Yuetang's hand, he paused slightly and moved his lips softly: "Thank you."
This thank you was not to thank Liu Yuetang for forgiving him.
Instead, he remembered that when he fell, a pair of hands held him firmly.
Concubine Liu's mother wanted to save herself, but she fell down on purpose to frame her.
Thinking of this, Xiao Cheng'an felt even more ashamed.
The Queen looked at Concubine Mi kneeling on the ground and asked Xiao Heng: "Your Majesty, what about Concubine Mi..."
When everyone heard this, they all turned to look at Xiao Heng.
Xiao Heng pondered for a moment, then cast a sharp gaze on Mi Fei's head.
"Mi Fei Yu, you have framed the concubines, are vicious, and unworthy of being a mother. Effective immediately, you will be demoted to Consort Jieyu, stripped of your title, and immediately sent back to the palace under house arrest. You are not allowed to leave without permission, and no one is allowed to visit you."
Jieyushi was not even the master of a palace, and her title was demoted.
Depriving a concubine of her title was a great humiliation, equivalent to taking back all her favor and honor.
But compared to being sent to the cold palace, this is already a great favor.
Concubine Mi quickly leaned forward to express her gratitude: "I thank the Emperor for his grace."
Xiao Heng didn't even look at her. His voice was as cold as ice. "I've only forgiven you for An'er's sake. After you return to the palace, you will be confined to the side hall of Yihua Palace. I'll give you a chance to see An'er once a month. If you don't behave yourself again, I won't let you off easily."
Mi Fei's breathing was stagnant, and she gritted her teeth and endured it: "Yes, your Majesty..."
Her throat felt bitter, and she said slowly, "I obey your command."
Xiao Heng's eyes swept across the faces of each concubine one by one, and finally fell on the quiet and secluded Liu Yuetang, and his expression gradually relaxed.
"Liu Cairen is known for her good manners and gentle character. She is to be promoted to the rank of Beauty."
Liu Yuetang was slightly stunned. She had thought that after this incident, Xiao Heng would compensate her in some way.
But I never thought it would be a promotion.
In just half a year, she was promoted three times.
The Queen looked at Liu Yuetang, who was standing there in astonishment, and smiled brightly: "Lady Liu, why don't you thank me quickly?"
Liu Yuetang reacted immediately, lifted her skirt, and knelt on the ground, kowtowed, saying: "I thank the Emperor and the Empress for their grace."
The Queen said softly, "Stop the formalities."
"I believe you were frightened today. Go back to the palace and drink a bowl of calming soup and have a good sleep. You don't need to come and pay your respects tomorrow."
After the Queen spoke, Liu Yuetang no longer refused and nodded gratefully, "Yes, thank you, Queen."
So Xiao Heng and the queen got up and returned to the palace.
When he reached Su Yunv, Xiao Heng suddenly stopped, looked at her and said, "I thought you were a quiet and weak woman, but I didn't expect you to have the courage to tell the truth today."
Su Nanqing nodded slightly and smiled: "I am just telling you what I have seen and heard truthfully."
"But some people will never learn to tell the truth in their entire lives."
Upon hearing this, the concubines couldn't help but lower their eyes.
Although the emperor did not mention any names, every word he said was meant to be a warning.
Xiao Heng knew clearly that once something happened, it would be difficult for the concubines in the palace not to take advantage of the opportunity to add insult to injury. So who would stand up and wade into this muddy water?
He spoke solemnly, "Daughter Su is gentle and kind-hearted, and speaks out for justice. She is a role model for the six concubines, and I have specially promoted her to the rank of Baolin."
Su Nanqing's long eyelashes trembled suddenly, and she raised her head in surprise, only to see Xiao Heng looking at her with a gentle expression.
"Lady Liu has always been gentle, virtuous, and kind. You two will definitely get along well. You might as well visit each other more often in the future."
Su Nanqing's dimples were slightly sunken, as graceful and elegant as a water lily. She gently covered her lower body and said, "Yes, I also like Lady Liu."
Xiao Heng nodded, his eyes swept across Liu Yuetang's face, and finally he walked away.
Outside Lingbo Palace, it had already darkened.
The moonlight is as soft as water and falls gently, the breeze blows gently, and the bamboo branches sway.
Liu Yuetang and Su Nanqing strolled under the moonlight, the moonlight and the lights in the palace intertwined like a dream.
"Sister, why do you have to take risks for me? If I don't come up with a plan, I'm afraid you'll be implicated."
Su Nanqing held her hand and said with concern: "Sisters, what's the point of talking about involvement or not."
"I have come this far thanks to my sister's help. Even my advancement today is because of her."
As she spoke, the smile on her face deepened a little, and she raised her eyebrows: "I think my sister might be my lucky star."
Liu Yuetang took her arm and walked slowly forward.
"Sister, your advancement today wasn't because of me. The Emperor said it was because of your gentle and kind nature and your willingness to speak up for justice that you were promoted."
When mentioning the emperor, Su Nanqing's eyebrows and eyes were as gentle as the spring water in the south of the Yangtze River, "Your Majesty..."
She could feel that the emperor looked at her differently today.
She continued, "Although we were good friends before, we couldn't be too obvious due to the many layers of connections within the palace. But after what just happened, everyone knows that you and I are on the same side."
Liu Yuetang fanned herself slowly, "This is something we'll all know sooner or later, and the Emperor also told us to visit each other more often, right? From now on, we can openly support each other."
Su Nanqing nodded and continued, "I now understand what happened today. Concubine Mi's lifeline is the eldest prince. If she wants to gain a firm foothold in the palace, she must have a child. We should also make plans early and try our best to conceive an heir to the throne. A child will bring honor to the mother."
Liu Yuetang glanced around and saw nothing unusual, then she said softly, "Sister, there's no need to rush. Even if you're pregnant now, you won't be able to keep the child by your side after it's born."
"Besides, it's easy to get pregnant in the palace, but it's extremely difficult to give birth. Sister, why don't you wait until you become a beauty or a concubine before making any plans."
Jieyushi is only one step away from the position of concubine, and only by holding the position of concubine can she raise a child.
Otherwise, no matter how many children you have, they will only be raised in Le'an Palace or by other high-ranking concubines.
Su Nanqing thought for a moment and said, "What my sister said makes sense."
"But...this pregnancy is God's will. You and I can't choose the date. If the child comes, we will take good care of it. If not, we will wait for the right time."
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