When Chu Chi saw Zhao Jie's back, she was filled with panic. She went to find a jade token that could allow her to enter and leave the palace, and then went out of the palace to Princess Pingrou's mansion.
Qi Yuning and Lu Ze were just about to rest when she heard Cui Liu coming to tell Chu Chi that she wanted to see her. She stood up and asked, "Why are you here at this time?"
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.
Qi Yuning saw the panicked Chu Chi and asked, "But 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 is not a big deal, he will definitely not be so flustered.
Chu Chi whispered, "His Majesty has discovered that I was helping Miss Qin to please him, and he is very angry now... Princess, I'm sorry, it's all my fault, but I'm afraid His Majesty will hate you for this, and it will also ruin 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 candidate for the queen.
But in the final analysis, Qi Yuning was afraid that a forced melon would not be sweet, and was even more afraid of ruining the little queen's life, so she let Zhao Jie choose by himself.
Now that Zhao Jie knows that she manipulated the talent show behind the scenes, she doesn't know what Zhao Jie will think of her...
Qi Yuning frowned and asked, "Why is your majesty so angry?"
In fact, even if she interfered in Zhao Jie's marriage, according to 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 is something I have been hiding from you. Five months ago, His Majesty favored me..."
Qi Yuning put 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."
No matter how Qi Yuning guessed, he would not guess Chu Chi, because 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 failed your trust in me. I am really sorry for you. Your Majesty loves the ancient zither 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 find out. I..."
Qi Yuning saw Chu Chi trembling all over, and he must be extremely scared. Seeing that Chu Chi was wearing thin clothes, Qi Yuning took off his 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, don't 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 and have a good 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, 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 becomes the queen, who knows what will happen to the court in the future? How can it be 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 be selected."
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 is 20 years old 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 get married sooner so that he can rule the country sooner..."
Zhao Jie said: "I already have a candidate for the queen, 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 mess around."
"I am not kidding. As the emperor, if I cannot marry the one I love, how can I hold great power and manage state affairs?"
Lu Ze felt helpless: "Chu Chi is the daughter of a commoner family. Her parents were born slaves of the Qi family and were later exterminated from slavery. She is still a slave in the palace. Your Majesty, please think twice."
Zhao Jie looked at Lu Ze and said, "I have made up my mind. Cousin, there is no need to persuade me anymore."
Lu Ze frowned slightly, and stopped trying to persuade him or say anything more. He just chatted with Zhao Jie about court affairs.
As soon as Chu Chifang returned to the palace, he heard that all the beauties 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 Shanggong looked at Chu Chi and said, "Your Majesty is not going to hold a beauty pageant anymore."
Chu Chi held the hem of her skirt tightly with 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 steps were extremely slow. It was the first time she felt that this 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 entering 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.
Zhao Jie had never made her kneel for so long before.
The wooden board that should have been burning the floor heating gave off a bone-chilling coldness.
After a long while, Chu Chi finally heard Zhao Jie say, "Do you know you are wrong?"
Chu Chilian lowered her head and said, "I know I was wrong. I should never interfere in the selection of concubines in the harem. I will be loyal to Your Majesty in the future. But Your Majesty, Princess Qi and I did not have any bad intentions before, nor did we want to manipulate anything. It's just..."
Zhao Jie heard Chu Chi's words and frowned, "You still don't know where you are wrong."
Zhao Jie looked at Chu Chi and felt annoyed. "Go away."
When Chu Chi stood up, her knees hurt so much that she staggered and almost fell to the ground. Zhao Jie stepped forward to support Chu Chi and carried her horizontally on the small couch.
Zhao Jie lifted up Chu Chi's skirt, rolled up her trouser legs and saw her red knees. His brows furrowed even more.
"I am not angry that Princess Qi attempted to interfere in the selection."
Zhao Jie looked at Chu Chi and said, "I got the throne because of her. If the Qi family wanted to rebel, they would have done it long ago. In order to assist me over the years, my cousin has treated Lingling badly. Lingling often complains that my cousin has no time to accompany her to play, unlike my cousin Yun who can often accompany the children.
I never doubted the loyalty of the Lu and Qi families. I was just annoyed that you chose Princess Qi over me and trampled on my sincerity towards you."
Chu Chi looked into Zhao Jie's eyes, her heart ached. She pinched the hem of her skirt and said, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty."
Zhao Jie held Chu Chi's shoulders with both hands and asked in a hoarse voice: "Do you like me?"
Chu Chi whispered, "I like it."
"You're lying. If I liked you, would you be so diligent in helping me with the selection?"
"That's what a servant should do. I can't just take the salary and not work."
"Chu Chi, I have decided to make you my queen."
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