"Did you really look carefully?"
"Really! I was in a hurry to get some cakes and happened to see this scene!" Qian Dai knelt on the ground and replied, "Your Majesty, tell me, why did the young general and Xi Changzai, who were strangers to each other, leave the table one after another to reminisce about the past?"
Concubine Jin leaned against the stove to keep warm. "They all say that the young general is a man of few words. Even in front of the emperor, he only speaks in a proper manner. He refuses to say a single word to others. Perhaps, all warriors are alike! As for why he would chat privately with Xi Changzai, I can't figure it out for now. I'll have to send someone to find out."
Qian Dai seemed to be waiting for this opportunity: "My Lady, if you trust me, please let me investigate for you!"
"madness!"
The inappropriate courtesy caused her displeasure.
Qiandai was so scared that she dared not say a word and could only lower her head and wait for the scolding.
"Xi Changzai is about to give birth. Right now, the most important thing is the eldest prince! As for other matters, they must be postponed."
"I don't think so." Concubine Wen walked in, still without letting anyone know, "Eldest sister, it's not your turn to take the position of foster mother. You might as well choose another target and find something to do."
"Why are you here?"
"Father said that we two sisters should be of one mind and one heart. How could I not come to visit my elder sister more often?" Noble Lady Wen helped Qiandai up. "My elder sister has been quite irritable lately. It's not good to always take it out on the head maid! What if one day she disappoints someone and gets tricked? Who will she turn to for justice?"
"I dare not! I am only doing this for the Majesty!"
"I just mentioned it casually, why are you so nervous? This is no joke, get out!"
In the main hall of Chengqian Palace, the two sisters who were just sisters in name only were left again.
Imperial Concubine Jin was too lazy to look at her: "Tell me, what is it that you are looking for me for?"
"During the banquet, I saw that girl leave in the middle of the meal, and then she came back and whispered something to my eldest sister. I'm far away and don't have the right to sit in a high position, but I want to hear what she said."
"It's just a palace matter, and I need to make the final decision. Do you want to hear it?"
Noble Lady Wen didn't believe it. "I'm still young, not old and blind. Qiandai's face is filled with astonishment and excitement. How could this be some boring palace business?"
"There are dishes prepared by famous chefs at the family dinner. Why are you staring at me instead of enjoying your dinner?"
"After all, my eldest sister is the honorable Imperial Concubine!" Noble Lady Wen stared at Imperial Concubine Jin with a smile. "If I want to see the Emperor, I always have to look over my eldest sister's shoulder. Isn't that just a passing glimpse?"
"I still say the same thing, it's just an insignificant matter."
"Then... that's boring." Noble Lady Wen immediately stood up and made to leave. "There's something I need to remind my elder sister. Father has some informants in the palace, and only I know about them. If my elder sister wants to investigate someone, please let me know, to prevent your limited ability from leaving you with nothing!"
"Don't worry! I don't have to rely on father for everything!"
"That would be best."
It was not until Noble Lady Wen slowly walked down the steps outside the main hall that Noble Lady Jin suddenly lost her strength, leaned dejectedly on the chair, and looked worried.
"My lady, you are tired."
"Thankfully, you're here, and I can rest assured. The Queen wants to take away my position, and then let her do as she wishes!"
——
The second time Meng Ruhui visited Fengluan Palace late at night, he took the opportunity to discuss state affairs with the emperor and deliberately delayed his return home so that he could stay in the palace.
"Father, why are you here?!"
The queen was already preparing to go to sleep with the help of her palace maids. When she saw him coming, she quickly waved everyone away.
"How are you doing during this time?"
"My daughter is doing well. Thank you for your concern, father."
"What I'm really thinking about is the one in the side hall!" Meng Ruhui stated his thoughts directly. "She's about to give birth. What arrangements will Your Majesty make?"
When this matter was mentioned, the queen felt a headache.
In her imagination, having both mother and child alive was not a bad thing. Zuoyou Xichangzai decided to give the child to her to raise, as it was also good to have the biological mother alive.
"Father, Concubine Xi will never amount to anything. Now that the Qu family has sent in another vixen, it will be even harder for her to rise to the top. Why do you always care about her?" The Queen thought for a while and decided to persuade Meng Ruhui, "In the future, I will definitely treat the eldest prince well. She will see this and will definitely be devoted to me. If you insist on killing her... the bloody collision is not a good sign."
"It wasn't you who gave birth, so I don't care if it was auspicious or not! You're just too straightforward and never know how to adapt! She was born a maid, yet she entered the harem and was lucky enough to give birth to a child! Not only that, she's survived so many plots against her before. Do you really think she was just lucky?"
The Queen glared at him: "What else?"
"Silly child! She's not as simple as she seems! Who knows, those things, and her meddling in them, might just be to gain the emperor's sympathy and pity!"
"This is something that Concubine Jin is good at. It's not her turn to do it." The Queen still didn't take it seriously, but instead felt that her father was cruel. "Have you ever thought about how painful it would be for a child to be born without a mother and learn the truth when he grows up?"
"Since the eldest prince is destined to be raised by you, Your Majesty, you are his only mother! The grace of raising a child far outweighs the grace of giving birth. What are you afraid of?!"
"I'm afraid that when my child grows up, he'll know that I'm the one who murdered his mother. How can that be true?!"
Meng Ruhui almost fainted!
The daughters of other families all think about how to unite with their relatives, consolidate their status, and then win the emperor's heart to seek more benefits.
Why did the daughter he had single-handedly helped to establish the throne of Empress Dowager have such a stubborn temper?! She had to go against him?!
"Alright, if you want to be an upright queen and not get involved in dirty business, I don't blame you." Meng Ruhui stood up and said goodbye. "As I mentioned before, someone will naturally do it for you!"
The queen watched him leave, feeling very depressed.
Why can't the biological mother and the royal heir coexist?
The emperors of the Great Zhou Dynasty also had concubines who gave birth to the eldest son of the emperor, but none of them rose to the throne overnight and were directly canonized as the vice queen!
For children in the palace, surviving the birth process is the first hurdle. Raising them is the second. When they grow up, whether they can stand out among their brothers and win the favor of the Emperor and Empress Dowager is yet another.
Few people can survive until they have a son and become the Holy Mother Empress Dowager, so what is he afraid of?
Jin Han walked in carefully: "My Lady, the Master was very unhappy just now. Did you have a quarrel?"
"Father is old, and he says some ridiculous things from time to time. After I said a few words to him, he turned gloomy and walked away. Don't pay attention to him! His temper comes and goes quickly, it's okay."
"That's good……"
"By the way, it is estimated that the Concubine Xichang will launch an attack soon. You should arrange for more people to keep an eye on it. They must know everything about it, including the imperial physician! Anyone found acting suspiciously must be driven out and not allowed to enter the inner room!"
Jin Han misunderstood: "Yes, this servant will be alert and will not let the Imperial Concubine's people get close to Concubine Xi."
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