Chapter 103 Not worthy of being his wife
The Queen Mother's words were like a stone thrown into Meng Yan's heart.
She was stunned for a moment, then shook her head and replied, "Your Majesty, I don't know."
Empress Dowager Jiang saw Meng Yan's reaction and was quite satisfied. She nodded slightly and said, "I can see that you are unaware of the situation. Yan girl, come walk with me." As she said that, she took the lead and walked down the stairs.
Meng Yan had no choice but to give a few instructions to the palace maid and follow.
The two most noble women in the palace walked in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, one in front and one behind.
The Queen Mother raised her head and stared at the flock of birds flying across the azure sky. She seemed quite interested. After a long pause, she spoke again, "Yan'er, what are you thinking?"
Meng Yan's heart tightened slightly as she carefully considered her words, "Your Majesty is so kind to me. I believe my virtue is not up to par, and I am not worthy of being the mother of the country. I dare not assume the position of empress."
Empress Dowager Jiang looked back at her, the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes slightly wrinkled. She smiled kindly and said, "Girl, you have grown up and are no longer reckless. I thought you would be overjoyed after hearing this news. Now it seems that you have become much more stable."
When Meng Yan first heard the news, she was truly shocked.
She was well aware of the queen's power and glory. This phoenix crown would surely become the wings that pulled the Yiyang Marquisate to soar.
However, apart from the fact that the timing was not right and the Meng family might not be able to handle it, she also had some resistance in her heart.
The Empress of the Central Palace is the monarch's legal wife.
But in her heart, she had already drawn a clear line between herself and Lu Haozhi from the moment she opened her eyes.
She is standing here now because she cannot leave this palace, and the Meng clan also needs her as a concubine.
Lu Haozhi is the king and she is the minister. They are only king and minister, not husband and wife.
But now, Lu Haozhi actually had the idea of making her the queen.
In his previous life, he had never thought of this!
Meng Yan always thought that she was just a pet in his eyes and was not worthy of being his wife.
She lowered her head for a moment, her mind turning over and over, before finally raising it and looking directly into the Empress Dowager's eyes. "I dare not speculate on Your Majesty's intentions, but I cannot bear the Emperor's favor. I have served the Emperor for many years and have no children. This is already a lack of virtue, so how dare I take the position of Empress?"
After speaking in a clear and loud voice, Meng Yan bowed solemnly to Mrs. Jiang.
Looking at Meng Yan who was bowing her head on the ground, Empress Dowager Jiang frowned, sensing something strange in her words.
Her words were humble and respectful, but also cold and boring. There was no trace of the little girl's romantic feelings in her voice. This was very different from the Meng Yan of the past.
I have only been away from the palace for a few months, how could she become like this!
Empress Dowager Jiang couldn't help but think of what Zang Xiu had said just now. She couldn't bring it up in front of Meng Yan. She just smiled and helped her up, adjusting the hairpin on her bun. "Silly child, we are just talking peacefully, why do we have to exchange greetings? It seems that during my absence, you and I have become estranged."
After saying this, he took Meng Yan's hand and walked around the Palace of Heavenly Purity, telling her some gossip about what he had seen and heard on the way. He then said, "On the way back, we passed through a town and heard from the people there that the local pine flower candy was very good. I bought a lot and thought of bringing some back to Yan to sweeten her mouth. I'll ask the palace maid to deliver it to her later."
Meng Yan was about to thank her when Empress Dowager Jiang stopped her. She whispered, "Yan'er, don't worry. No matter what happens in the future, I will definitely protect you. If Hao'er dares to establish someone else, I will not forgive him."
These words weighed heavily on Meng Yan's heart.
Empress Dowager Jiang truly loved her. In her previous life, when things got so bad, she had spoken up for the Meng family. Otherwise, given that heinous crime, not many members of the Meng family would have survived.
After chatting for a few more words, Empress Dowager Jiang returned to Shoukang Palace.
Meng Yan went to the Yangxin Palace again to guard Lu Haozhi.
Returning to Shoukang Palace, Empress Dowager Jiang rested briefly, changed her clothes, and sat down in the main hall. She raised her voice and ordered, "Go to the Yangxin Palace and bring this thief Rong'an to me."
After the palace maid left, Rong An ran into Shoukang Palace in a short while and prostrated himself on the ground to pay his respects to the empress dowager.
"Your servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress live a long and healthy life!"
Empress Dowager Jiang snorted, "With such a mess in the palace, I'll be so angry that I'll die of anger tomorrow. How can we live in peace? Rong'an, what did I tell you before I left? How did you serve the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine? How did they end up in this mess?"
Rong An was complaining in his heart, knowing that the Empress Dowager would definitely ask about this matter as soon as she came back, but it was not his fault.
"Empress Dowager, I am truly wronged! Ever since Concubine Lin entered the palace, the Imperial Concubine has been at loggerheads with the Emperor, and even now she refuses to speak to him. I am at my wit's end."
The Emperor disliked Consort Lin anyway, so he simply bit her out. Seeing that the Empress Dowager had nowhere to vent her anger, she wanted to find someone to punish her. It was a fight between gods, and a little devil like him couldn't get involved.
Empress Dowager Jiang slammed her hand on the table. "You're quibbling! How many years have you served the Emperor? You were here when the Imperial Concubine entered the palace. Don't you know what their tempers are like? They just had a little quarrel, and you tried to persuade them. What's the big deal? Why, from what I've heard, they refused to see each other, and the Imperial Concubine even avoided the bedchamber several times?!"
Rong An kowtowed, "Empress Dowager, I am incompetent and cannot mediate between the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine. I secretly think that the Imperial Concubine is really angry this time, and no matter how the Emperor tries to coax her, it's useless. The Empress doesn't even care about the Emperor's face, so what can I do for her!"
Empress Dowager Jiang felt a headache and questioned him a few more times before sending him out. She leaned against her soft pillow and sulked.
Zang Xiu brought a plate of fresh fruit and placed it on the kang table, saying, "Don't be upset, Your Majesty. Rong An has been serving you wholeheartedly. Young people are bound to have a hot temper."
Empress Dowager Jiang said angrily, "They are truly two sworn enemies. When I close my eyes one day, I won't have to watch them make such a fuss!"
Zang Xiu knew that she was just saying this in anger, so she smiled and said, "Your Majesty will be blessed with long-lasting blessings. You will live to a ripe old age, and you will have grandchildren in your arms."
Empress Dowager Jiang sighed heavily, "With them being like this, how can I hold on to my grandson? In the end, I, an old woman, will have to do it!"
Zang Xiu pursed her lips and smiled, "It would be great if the Empress Dowager is willing to come forward. If the Empress Dowager can mediate a few things, the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine will definitely be fine."
Although Meng Yan had been childless for seven years and Empress Dowager Jiang no longer held out any hope, seeing that the two of them had gotten to this point, Lu Haozhi had no intention of doing anything else. He had to calm the matter down first and then slowly persuade them.
Empress Dowager Jiang held her forehead and whispered, "Over the years, Miss Yan has spoiled Hao'er."
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