When Chu Chi saw Zhao Jie's back, she was filled with panic. She went to find a jade token that allowed her to enter and leave the palace, and went out of the palace to Princess Pingrou's mansion.
Qi Yuning and Lu Ze were about to rest when she heard Cui Liu's message from the side. She stood up and asked, "Why are you here at this hour?"
It was early November and the weather was very cold. Qi Yuning was always afraid of the cold, so she wrapped herself in a thick fur cloak before going outside to meet Chu Chi.
Seeing the panicked Chu Chi, Qi Yuning asked, "What happened in the palace?"
Chu Chi has been in the palace for so many years and is now in charge of various affairs in the harem. If it were not a big deal, he would not be so panicked.
Chu Chi whispered, "His Majesty has discovered that I was helping Miss Qin curry favor with him, and he's very angry now... Princess, I'm sorry, it's all my fault, but I'm afraid His Majesty will hold a grudge against you for this, and it's also ruined Miss Qin's future."
Qi Yuning frowned slightly. Their relationship with Zhao Jie was really delicate. They were loyal to Zhao Jie from the bottom of their hearts, but they also had to be on guard against the possibility that Zhao Jie was wary of them.
For this selection, Qi Yuning could have let Princess Pingrou and Zhao Shu work together with the royal family to directly decide on the queen.
But in the final analysis, Qi Yuning was afraid that the forced melon would not be sweet, and even more afraid of ruining the little queen's life, so she let Zhao Jie choose for himself.
Now that Zhao Jie knows that she manipulated the talent show behind the scenes, she wonders what Zhao Jie will think of her...
Qi Yuning frowned and asked, "Why is Your Majesty so angry?"
To be honest, even if she interfered with Zhao Jie's marriage, given Zhao Jie's personality, he shouldn't get angry in front of her people.
Chu Chi knelt on the ground, looked up at Qi Yuning and said, "Princess, I'm sorry, there's something I've been hiding from you. Five months ago, His Majesty visited me..."
Qi Yuning placed the hot water bottle in her hand heavily on the coffee table beside her, "The palace maid that His Majesty favored turned out to be you."
Qi Yuning didn't guess Chu Chi no matter how hard he tried. After all, Chu Chi was three years older than His Majesty... But when he thought about it, it was really possible. After all, in terms of appearance, Chu Chi's face was quite good.
Chu Chi whispered, "Princess, I have betrayed your trust in me. I am truly sorry. Your Majesty is very fond of the guqin piece 'Peony Fairy'. I didn't know that the piece was composed by Your Majesty, so I gave it to Miss Qin to practice. I never thought that Your Majesty would see through it. I..."
Qi Yuning saw Chu Chi trembling all over, thinking he was extremely scared. Seeing Chu Chi wearing thin clothes, Qi Yuning took off his own cloak and put it on Chu Chi, saying: "It's so late, you should go to your mother's room to sleep for a night. There is no need to worry too much."
Chu Chi bit his lip and said, "I have never seen His Majesty so angry. I am really afraid that it will implicate you and Miss Qin... I..."
Qi Yuning listened to Chu Chi's trembling voice, patted her shoulder and said, "It's not a big deal, I'll take care of everything, go get some sleep."
"Yes, Princess."
After seeing Chu Chi leave, Qi Yuning rubbed his temples.
Back in the room, Qi Yuning told Lu Ze about Chu Chi. Lu Ze frowned slightly and said, "How could it be her? I thought she was an honest person."
Qi Yuning said: "Chu Chi is honest by nature. It's your little cousin who is dishonest. I think Chu Chi is scared."
Lu Ze looked at Qi Yuning and said, "You shouldn't have asked Chu Chi to help Qin Feng's niece."
Qi Yuning was unconvinced and said, "If Chu Liuli really became the queen among these twenty beauties, who knows what will happen to the court in the future. How can it be considered my fault?"
Lu Zelian said, "You are right. Let's see what Zhao Jie says tomorrow."
…
After the morning court session.
Zhao Jie called Lu Ze into the Purple Palace alone and said, "Cousin, I don't even want to participate in the selection."
Lu Ze looked at Zhao Jie and said, "Your Majesty, you are now seventeen years old. It is time for you to rule the country."
"Can't I rule the country without getting married?" Zhao Jie said, touching the majestic dragon pattern carved on the dragon throne.
Lu Ze said, "Also, you can wait until Your Majesty turns twenty to rule the country. But you also know that Lingling often complains that I don't have time to accompany her to play. I have said several times that I want to take her to North City, but I have not been able to do so due to state affairs. Your Majesty can marry sooner so that he can rule the country sooner..."
Zhao Jie said: "I already have a candidate for the Empress, there is no need to hold a selection. I will not keep any of the concubines in the Chuxiu Palace."
Lu Ze asked, "Who is it?"
Zhao Jie looked at Lu Ze and said, "Chu Chi."
Lu Ze frowned slightly and said, "Your Majesty, please don't act silly."
"I'm not kidding. As the emperor, if I can't marry the one I love, how can I hold the power and manage state affairs?"
"Chu Chi is the daughter of a commoner. Her parents were both born slaves of the Qi family, but were later freed from slavery. She is still a palace slave. Your Majesty, please reconsider."
Zhao Jie looked at Lu Ze and said, "I have made up my mind. Cousin, there is no need to persuade me."
Lu Ze frowned slightly, stopped trying to persuade her, and said nothing more. He just chatted with Zhao Jie about court affairs.
As soon as Chu Chifang returned to the palace, he heard that all the concubines in Chuxiu Palace had been sent out of the palace and returned home.
Chu Chilian asked Wu Shanggong: "The selection is imminent, why would His Majesty..."
Wu Shang Gong looked at Chu Chi and said, "Your Majesty is not planning to hold a beauty pageant anymore."
Chu Chi held the hem of her skirt tightly in her hands. She was absent-minded all day until the evening when Chu Qing came to call her to go to Taiji Hall. Chu Chi's pace was extremely slow. For the first time, she felt that the palace was extremely small.
Chu Chi entered the Taiji Hall and saw Zhao Jie playing the guqin with a dark face. She knelt down and said, "Your Majesty."
Zhao Jie was playing the piano by himself. Chu Chi knelt on the ground for a long time and felt severe pain in her knees. After she entered the palace, she seldom knelt for so long. Although Queen Mother Zhou was not familiar with the court affairs, she was very kind to the palace maids.
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