Chapter 98 The Queen Mother Returns to the Palace
After Liu Yuetang walked away, Xiao Heng said lightly: "Get up."
But Concubine Zhao remained bent over the ground, refusing to get up, as if she was sulking.
Xiao Heng sighed deeply, stepped forward and helped her up personally.
"You know very well that I will not punish you."
Concubine Zhao stared into his eyes, looking disappointed and unwilling. Her usually aloof and cold voice became hoarse:
"I have known the Emperor for twelve years. Am I not as good as a concubine who has been in the palace for only one year?"
Xiao Heng looked at her reddened eyes, his heart softening as he spoke gently, "Jiaojiao, I am the emperor. If you are unhappy, just return to the palace and tell me. You shouldn't have said those words in front of Concubine Xi."
Concubine Zhao's nose felt sore. "Does the Emperor care about his own reputation? Or...does the Emperor not want Concubine Xi to suffer any injustice?"
Xiao Heng lowered his eyes and remained silent.
Concubine Zhao asked again, "Is the Emperor worried about her?"
"I didn't." This time, Xiao Heng answered decisively.
He took Concubine Zhao's hand and said patiently, "Jiaojiao, Concubine Xi is different from the other concubines in the palace. She is kind-hearted and treats me sincerely, but I feel guilty towards her. I don't ask that you two can live in peace, I just hope that you won't make things difficult for her in the future."
Concubine Zhao looked at him with empty and dull eyes.
She had never seen the emperor protect anyone so much.
Even the previous queen did not do that. He once said that as long as he did not embarrass the queen in front of the six palaces, he could turn a blind eye.
But now, the emperor is protecting Concubine Xi so much.
Have a pure heart and treat each other sincerely?
Haha...she doesn't believe it.
"Then Your Majesty... do you like her?" Concubine Zhao stared into his eyes, looking forward to his next words, but also clenched her palms nervously.
Xiao Heng said without hesitation: "I like it."
Concubine Zhao's heart suddenly ached, and she listened to him continue speaking.
"But my love for her is different from yours."
"In the harem, I've liked many women before. This kind of liking is just not disgusting or aversion. It's not like you, who makes me keep you at the top of my heart."
As he finished speaking word by word, Concubine Zhao finally breathed a sigh of relief and slowly smiled.
"Your Majesty, do you remember what you promised me?"
"Remember."
Concubine Zhao's eyebrows were soft, and her eyes were full of tenderness and joy.
"As long as the emperor remembers it, Jiaojiao will never get angry with the emperor again."
After saying that, she stretched out her arms and hugged Xiao Heng's body.
Xiao Heng raised the corners of his mouth slightly, raised his hands and hugged her tightly.
Concubine Zhao clung tightly to his collar, and the sweet scent of orchids lingered on his nose.
She knew that it must be the smell of Concubine Xi.
For the first time, Concubine Zhao felt a sense of crisis and uneasiness.
Therefore, she can no longer be as confident as before.
Just as the nanny said, her behavior might make the emperor feel guilty at first.
Over time, it will push him further and further away.
No one will stand there waiting for you.
His time, his heart, and his being will never be reserved just for you.
She has deeply understood the profound meaning of this sentence.
Ever since our last chat under the moon, we have resolved our differences and started anew.
She then realized that starting over did not mean going back to the past.
It was unknown when it began, but she and the emperor had gradually become estranged and were no longer as close as before.
On the eighteenth day of the winter month, the Queen Mother returned to the palace.
The concubines were all dressed in their best and stood at the palace gate to welcome the emperor.
Suddenly, the palace gate was filled with red flowers, green willows, pearls and jade, and rich fragrance lingered in the air.
As the sedan chair descended, the empress dowager, dressed in a red golden pine brocade skirt, slowly came into everyone's sight, supported by palace servants.
All the concubines knelt down and said, "We respectfully welcome the Empress Dowager back to the palace."
The nanny beside her hurriedly tied the golden cloak embroidered with snow fox and phoenix on the empress dowager, and then held the empress dowager's hand and walked forward calmly.
The Queen Mother looked at the young woman in front of her.
The Queen was at the head, followed by Concubine Yu, Concubine Zhao, Concubine Chu, Concubine Ning, Concubine Ming and others.
And in the back row, there were quite a few unfamiliar faces.
Seeing the Queen Mother surveying the crowd, the Empress quickly said softly, "There's been an unexpected incident at the border, and the Emperor is currently discussing the matter with his court officials, so he can't come to greet Mother."
The Queen Mother slowly turned the Buddhist beads in her hand and smiled calmly: "It's okay, state affairs are more important."
After she finished speaking, she asked all the concubines to stand up, and then looked around at everyone: "I heard that the emperor has given the title of Bai Jieyu, and she is now four months pregnant. Is she here today?"
The Queen was about to reply when Concubine Yu beat her to the punch, "Replying to the Queen Mother, Concubine Bai's pregnancy seems unstable and should not be moved. She is currently recuperating in the palace."
The Queen Mother nodded slightly: "It has been a long time since I last saw Princess Yu. You look even more beautiful than before."
Concubine Yu smiled sweetly, "The Empress Dowager is returning to the palace today, and I have dressed up beautifully to make you look happy and cheerful."
"Very good. Young people should dress well."
Afterwards, Mingpin stepped forward, took the Queen Mother's arm, and said in a gentle voice, "Let me help you return to the palace, Queen Mother."
So, Mingpin and the Queen held the Queen Mother's hands and walked into the palace.
When her footsteps landed in front of Liu Yuetang, the Queen Mother stopped and looked at her: "If I remember correctly, you are the daughter of the Minister of Rites?"
Liu Yuetang bowed her head respectfully and said slowly, "In reply to the Queen Mother, that's right."
The Queen Mother raised her lips slightly, as if she was smiling: "I remember now. On the day of the selection, you were named a royal concubine. In just one year, you have moved from the back to the front."
This sentence naturally means that Liu Yuetang's position is rising rapidly.
Liu Yuetang also realized from her words that the Queen Mother was dissatisfied with her.
Fortunately, the Queen Mother did not make things difficult for her and she returned to the palace.
After Mingpin left, the Queen personally poured a cup of tea and presented it to the Queen Mother.
"My queen mother has been talking for a long time, so she must be thirsty."
The Queen Mother took the teacup but did not drink it. She just picked up the tea lid and gently stirred the tea.
"Although I am in the Chongfu Division, I cannot hide the affairs of the harem. Queen, you are becoming more and more tolerant towards the concubines in the harem."
The queen's heart suddenly jumped. The queen mother's words naturally meant that she was not managing the harem properly.
She bowed and listened to the Queen Mother continue.
"It would be fine if the Yu family got what they deserved, but I heard that my eldest grandson hasn't seen the emperor for a long time. He's just an innocent child. As a mother, you should treat him as your own. I advise the emperor not to take the Yu family's crimes out on the child."
In fact, the Queen had mentioned this before.
However, Xiao Heng was furious at the time, saying that the eldest prince had been spoiled by the Yu family since childhood, resulting in his arrogant and unreasonable temperament. Therefore, he wanted to cure the evil spirit in him and make him repent in Yihua Palace.
But it's no use saying this now.
"I was not thoughtful enough in this matter. I will take An'er to Chengming Palace tomorrow. The Emperor has always been fond of An'er and will surely be moved upon seeing her."
"Hmm..." The Queen Mother raised her teacup and gazed at the curling steam. "The Queen is virtuous and kind. I believe you can be a good mother and manage the harem well. But when the Queen was checking and balancing the concubines, she forgot your responsibilities as Queen."
"Please give me some advice, mother." The queen tried her best to steady herself.
The Queen Mother took a leisurely sip of tea before looking up and saying, "As the Queen, you should advise the Emperor to treat his concubines equally and maintain a balanced harem."
"That Concubine Xi, it's fine that the Emperor favors her, but she's been promoted four ranks in just one year, causing jealousy in the harem and causing repeated trouble. The Empress should also advise the Emperor to be evenly distributed and not favor one person exclusively."
The Queen bowed her head and said respectfully, "Thank you for your teachings, Mother. I will definitely fulfill my duties in the future."
She paused, then hesitated, "But don't worry, mother... Although the Emperor favors Concubine Xi, he hasn't overdosed. Concubine Xi has always adhered to her duties since entering the palace, never overstepping the boundaries. She even sacrificed her life to save the Emperor half a month ago, so I didn't stop the Emperor from promoting her."
She should be thankful that the emperor listened to her words last time, otherwise if Concubine Xi became Concubine Xi, the empress dowager would probably be even more severe.
The Queen Mother narrowed her cold eyes and said, "It is the duty of the concubines in the palace to abide by their duties. If she continues like this, I am afraid she will become the second Zhao Fei."
The queen responded softly, "Yes, I know what to do."
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