Chapter 108 Sowing Discord
Shen Qingci's pupils contracted. If she didn't know about the scheme between the emperor, Huo Yunzhan, and Prime Minister Liu, Shen Qingci might have thought that Emperor Yongming was really absurd to say such things to her, Chu Jichen's newlywed regent.
But after learning about the schemes of Emperor Yongming, the Prime Minister, and Huo Yunzhan, Shen Qingci couldn't help but overthink when he heard him say such things again.
Shen Qingci felt that Emperor Yongming did it on purpose.
He must have known that the maids around her were all Chu Jichen's people, and that Chu Jichen's spies were everywhere in the palace, so he said that on purpose.
The purpose... is probably to sow discord between her and Chu Jichen.
Thinking of this, Shen Qingci lowered her head and chuckled, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. It's just a pity that things should be done in a first-come, first-served manner. Your Highness should propose to me first."
"But I feel that no matter what Your Majesty may have been planning in the past, I am now married to the Prince. According to seniority, Your Majesty should address me as Your Majesty's Aunt. Since some things have already passed, Your Majesty should not bring them up again."
"So as not to...damage the...uncle-nephew relationship between His Majesty and the Prince."
Emperor Yongming's face immediately darkened. That vile woman! What is she saying? What is she saying that is so offensive?
Emperor Yongming's face turned cold, his eyes fixed on Shen Qingci with a gloomy gaze. He merely chuckled and said, "Do you think that because of you, I can still have my relationship with the Regent strained?"
"You probably don't know why the Regent married you, do you?"
"You don't actually think the Regent likes you, do you?"
He laughed out loud: "You? A widow who's been married and had a miscarriage? You really think you can become a heartthrob just because you have a face like that?"
He curled the corners of his lips into a smirk, his eyes like those of a venomous snake, as he looked Shen Qingci up and down: "However, the Regent probably won't tell you his true purpose in marrying you."
He stood up, walked straight down from the main seat, circled Shen Qingci once, and then lowered his voice: "But I can tell you in secret..."
"The Regent married you for the sake of the power your father, Shen Jingxuan, secretly established."
"Rumor has it that your father established a private army... He married you in order to obtain that private army."
"Believe it or not, the Regent will soon be asking you about that private army?"
"I advise you not to tell him. Otherwise, once he gets what he wants, he will quickly kick you to the curb."
Emperor Yongming tilted his head, a hint of madness in his eyes: "Oh, it might not just be that he kicks you away; he might just take your life."
Emperor Yongming took two steps back, chuckled, and then raised his voice again: "But I really don't understand, are you in such a hurry to get married? Are you not picky at all?"
"The Regent... he's no good! If you marry him, wouldn't it be like living as a widow? What are you after?"
"He couldn't even satisfy you in bed. Did you marry him just because he's the regent? Just for his status?"
Shen Qingci nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty, it's because he's the Regent that I'm attracted to him."
Shen Qingci looked aggrieved and said, "How could Your Majesty know what kind of life I lived in the Huo family before?"
"I hate everyone in the Huo family. That's why I thought that if I were to remarry, I would marry someone of high status and power, someone who would be superior to the Huo family in terms of status. Only in this way could I suppress the Huo family and prevent them from bullying me again."
The emperor's lips curled up slightly, and his eyes gleamed with excitement.
The excitement only intensified Shen Qingci's suspicions.
"If it's for status and position, to marry someone of high rank and power, then...wouldn't you choose me instead?"
"I am the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
"Since the Regent is also impotent, why don't you... abandon him and marry me? I'll give you the rank of concubine, how about that?"
Shen Qingci smiled enigmatically: "Your Majesty's idea is brilliant, but I wonder if the Regent agrees?"
She suddenly raised her voice and shouted, "Your Highness, do you agree?"
Seeing Emperor Yongming's expression change drastically when she shouted, Shen Qingci knew that she had guessed correctly.
Sure enough, Chu Jichen's voice rang out from the back hall: "Of course I disagree."
Soon, the sound of a wheelchair was heard, and Chu Jichen emerged from the back hall: "How can I just give up the Regent's Consort, whom I went to great lengths to marry?"
Emperor Yongming's face was extremely ugly, and he stared intently at Shen Qingci.
That wretched woman...did she guess?
How did she guess?
Emperor Yongming gritted his teeth: "Uncle, you clearly heard it just now. Your princess said it herself, that she married you only for your power and status, only because you are the regent."
"If you weren't the regent, she wouldn't even give you a second glance. A woman so greedy for power, she would abandon you the moment something happens to you."
Chu Jichen and Shen Qingci exchanged a glance, and the corners of their mouths turned up: "I heard you."
“I know that my queen married me only because I am the regent, but I… am happy to accept it.”
"That's fine too, at least the position of Regent's Consort can still attract her."
"Then I can only try my best to stay in the position of regent for a long time, so that the queen will not abandon me."
Shen Qingci smiled and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, as long as Your Highness remains the Regent, I will never abandon you."
Emperor Yongming's face grew increasingly grim. What a pair of madmen!
Everyone says he's crazy, but Chu Jichen is even crazier than him!
He just didn't understand. Shen Qingci was a slut, so why was Chu Jichen being so humble?
And he was so humble in front of Shen Qingci!
He didn't believe that Chu Jichen truly liked Shen Qingci!
These two lunatics are definitely putting on a show for him!
Yes, that must be it!
How could someone as mad as Chu Jichen tolerate Shen Qingci saying such things about him?
Chu Jichen was probably just being considerate of Shen Qingci's presence and didn't want to lash out at him!
After they returned to the Regent's Palace...
Thinking of this, Emperor Yongming's expression softened slightly: "The Regent and the Regent's Consort are truly a perfect match! Today, I only wanted to test the Regent's new consort's loyalty."
"Since the Regent doesn't care, then I have nothing more to say."
"Then I will not keep the Regent and Regent's Consort."
Chu Jichen glanced at Emperor Yongming casually and smiled: "Alright, then this humble subject will take my leave with my princess consort."
After Shen Qingci pushed Chu Jichen out of the main hall of Cining Palace, Emperor Yongming slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair: "Madman! I don't believe that Chu Jichen can really be so tolerant!"
"Guards, have our people stationed in the Regent's Palace keep a close eye on them! Monitor their every move today, and report back everything they said and did!"
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