The performance above wasn't over yet, but there were only two or three left.
Xu Lingyi was furious. She hadn't expected the Emperor to leave during her performance, only to return now. If she had known, she would have bought tickets for the later performances.
Su Xiaoman was delighted. She was the last one, and she couldn't wait to go out and prepare. She was determined to leave a very good impression on the Emperor. Perhaps one day the Emperor would bring her to the palace. After all, there was only one Empress in the entire palace at present.
The harem was left vacant.
The emperor of Xiyao Kingdom and Xi Wujue were also sitting on the edge.
When they first witnessed the assassination attempt, the two women were overjoyed that the perpetrator would succeed. Unfortunately, they were just two weak women, and couldn't recall much of the trials and tribulations they had faced.
It's a bit of a shame; it would have been better if it had been one of their own.
The performance continued, and soon it was the last one.
Su Xiaoman was in excellent condition, and Han Luoxue was completely captivated by her.
"Your Majesty, it's a pity I can't dance!"
Han Luoxue had always been tone-deaf, and she didn't want to embarrass herself by going up there.
"But you know things that they don't! Xue'er, in my heart you are the best!"
These words made Han Luoxue's cheeks flush slightly. Even though they were an old married couple, she would still occasionally blush and feel her heart race when Ouyang Zhen flirted with her.
I don't know where this man learned it from, but he speaks in such a seductive way.
Han Luoxue saw Yunniang turn her head and look over from not far away, a smile still playing on her lips. Her cheeks flushed even more: "You, watch your words!"
"I was just telling the truth. Xue'er, this show is really boring."
The two spoke softly, but that didn't stop everyone from looking in their direction, especially the noble ladies from aristocratic families who were eagerly waiting for the Emperor to glance at them, wishing they could pull Han Luoxue aside and come over themselves.
Unfortunately, no matter how much they hoped, the emperor didn't even glance at them.
Xu Lingyi almost cried from anger, but Madam Xu comforted her, saying, "Alright, you're just unlucky!"
When Madam Xu first learned that the palace was going to auction off performance slots for the banquet, she thought that it would be better to have a slot near the front or back of the table. Unfortunately, her husband disagreed.
That middle spot, I even paid out of my own pocket to get it for my daughter.
However, the family is currently short of money. Last time, in order to get their daughter into the palace, they donated quite a lot of money.
Otherwise, if someone is first or last, where will others get a share?
At first, she comforted her daughter, saying that the previous ones were just appetizers, and as long as she performed well when it was her turn, she could also capture the emperor's heart.
After all, the fifth and sixth positions are also quite good.
But who could have imagined that an assassination attempt would suddenly occur, and that the Emperor and Empress would both leave?
Not only the two of them, but even the Empress Dowager and the Emperor Emeritus left.
What was her daughter performing for? For these ministers? She felt her daughter had wasted her time. She was angry, but she still had to comfort her daughter.
"But, Mother, why is my luck so bad?"
Xu Lingyi thought bitterly, even if the Emperor never comes back after leaving, it would be better.
But before they could finish their performance, the Emperor and Empress returned.
Xu Lingyi was so angry she almost vomited blood.
Looking at the smug Su Xiaoman on the other side, she wished she could slap her twice.
They often got together, but the Emperor saw all of Li Qingluan and Su Xiaoman's performances, leaving Li Qingluan to perform for nothing!
"Alright, don't worry, there will be other opportunities in the future!"
That was all Madam Xu could do to comfort her daughter. What else could she do? She couldn't very well go up to the Emperor and Empress and question them about why she had to go out for a while.
And just now, I wonder how those two assassins are doing? I guess they've already taken care of them.
Xu Lingyi stared hatefully, her eyes finally settling on the woman sitting next to Han Luoxue.
This woman… At first, she didn't notice her, but upon closer inspection, Xu Lingyi's expression changed drastically. Her hand was gripping Madam Xu's arm tightly, causing Madam Xu to frown slightly in pain: "Daughter?"
"Mother, look at that woman beside the Empress..."
Madam Xu also looked up and felt that the face was slightly familiar. But after thinking about it carefully, she couldn't believe she had never seen him before!
"He looks somewhat familiar, daughter. This person is... do you know him?"
"Hehe, I just realized that she looks a bit like the Empress. She must be the Empress's mother!"
Madam Xu glanced at Yunniang a few more times and thought the woman was too young.
"So it was her!"
Xu Lingyi wanted to slap herself twice. She never expected that the woman in Sixiu Pavilion was actually the Empress's biological mother.
Suddenly I remembered that when we met that day, the woman said that she already had three children, and her eldest daughter was already married and had children of her own!
The Empress is married, isn't she? She already has two children!
But she never imagined that an ordinary woman in the embroidery room would actually be the Empress's biological mother!
And she's so beautiful!
Xu Lingyi almost wanted to go up to her and ask why she didn't just tell her back then.
"Daughter, do you know the Empress's biological mother?"
Madam Xu's face lit up with joy. Although the Empress did not like the Emperor taking concubines, it was impossible for the Empress to be the only woman in the palace.
In their eyes, the Empress's actions were nothing more than a desperate struggle.
She might be able to stop the Emperor once, but could she stop him a second or third time, or even in the future? The Emperor is still young. Even if he favors the Empress, he can't possibly be at odds with all the ministers.
Although the Empress tricked them last time, they didn't believe they could be tricked again.
However, what Madam Xu did not expect was that the Empress had tricked them again this time.
Each family spent money to buy their daughters the opportunity to perform on stage, seeing it as a chance to soar to great heights. However, the emperor had absolutely no interest in it.
Isn't this just another waste of money to fill the national treasury?
"She's the manager of Sixiu Pavilion!"
Xu Lingyi said through gritted teeth. Madam Xu's expression changed. Sixiu Pavilion was once the best embroidery pavilion in the capital, without exception.
It used to have a great reputation, but later, due to the influence of Madam Chi, the shop was handed over to her eldest daughter to manage. However, her eldest daughter was not cut out to manage an embroidery workshop, and the business of Sixiu Pavilion gradually declined.
Later, the eldest daughter took the contents of the shop, and even the son sold it. This became a major laughing stock in the capital.
However, the shop was later bought back and the original name was used.
At that time, she had sent someone to inquire, and it turned out that Madam Chi still went to the shop. She knew that the person who bought the shop was Madam Chi's youngest daughter.
Could it be that Her Majesty the Empress is from the Chi family?
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