Chapter 300
Despite this, a resolute look still lingered in Xia Qianjun's eyes.
She kowtowed to Shen Qingnian and said resolutely, "Please forgive my incompetence. I am a citizen of Chongmeng and would never betray Chongmeng."
She thought that the Imperial Concubine's words were an attempt to lure her into switching sides with the Great Xuan.
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingnian chuckled and said, "I did not ask you to betray the country."
Xia Qianjun was surprised, and she couldn't help but look at Shen Qingnian sitting above her.
"The struggle for the throne is fierce, but there is no suitable prince. I think a hostage would be a good choice. What do you think, Goddess?" Shen Qingnian casually dropped this bombshell.
Xia Qianjun's eyes widened involuntarily.
The Imperial Concubine means...
Shen Qingnian didn't give Xia Qianjun any time to recover. She waved to Xiao Ju and said, "I'm tired. You may leave."
Xiaoju stepped forward and helped Xia Qianjun, who was still in shock, out of the hall.
Looking at Xia Qianjun's somewhat dazed back, Shen Qingnian curled her lips into a smile.
If Shen Zheng could secretly associate with the eldest prince, then she could also win over the goddess and Meng Yun within the palace.
Then, Shen Qingnian instructed Zhu Lan, who was standing beside her.
"I remember there's an empty palace next to the Imperial Garden?"
Zhu Lan said in a low voice, "Your Highness, there is indeed an empty palace next to the Imperial Garden. That palace is very close to the hostage's palace."
"Move the goddess over there," Shen Qingnian instructed.
"Yes," Zhu Lan bowed and then left.
On that day, Xia Qianjun's palace was changed from the relatively remote Lotus Pavilion to a palace next to the Imperial Garden.
Xia Qianjun felt a mix of emotions, a mixture of joy and resistance.
But she also understood that she was powerless to change the current situation, and that the Imperial Concubine's methods towards her were already quite lenient.
If it were anyone else, they might have dealt with her and the Third Prince on the spot...
----------
at night.
Shen Qingnian had dinner with the two little ones and Liu Yurou. Song Xuan was still dealing with government affairs. He sent Fu Hai to deliver a message that he would not be having dinner tonight, but would return in the evening.
"Mother, eat shrimp," Xiao Yanqing said, placing the peeled shrimp into Shen Qingnian's bowl.
Little Shen Xi was extremely envious when she saw it: "Xiao Qing, I also want to eat the shrimp you peeled. The shrimp you peeled yourself are sweet!"
The little girl's words are always sweet.
"I'll peel them for you, and for your grandmother too!" Little Yanqing was so pleased with herself that she immediately started peeling shrimp.
Shen Qingnian put the shrimp meat in her mouth and praised with a smile, "The shrimp meat that Xiaoqing peeled herself is really sweeter and fresher than ordinary shrimp meat."
Xiao Yanqing felt like he was floating. He barely ate a few bites of food as his little hands kept peeling shrimp until Liu Yurou told him to stop. He had peeled almost half of the shrimp off the plate. If Liu Yurou hadn't told him to stop, he could have continued peeling!
Everyone enjoyed the meal.
After dinner, as the night deepened, Shen Qingnian asked Xiaoju to take the food box and led the people towards the Imperial Study.
At the entrance of the Imperial Study, Xia Zi immediately greeted her upon seeing her arrival: "Your Highness is truly thoughtful, bringing a food box knowing that His Majesty has not yet had his evening meal."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com