Zhou Zhaonuan hadn't attended a proper court session for a long time, and she spent even less time in Xuanzheng Hall. Therefore, today, after coming out of Jiaofang Hall, the first thing she planned to do was to go to Xuanzheng Hall to help read memorials. She had to please her father no matter what.
Thinking of this, Zhou Zhaonuan took brisk steps and skipped towards the Xuan Zheng Hall.
Suddenly, I heard a sentence from Concubine Xiu who was following behind me.
"Princess Chang'an, the Emperor and Concubine Hui had a son in their old age. In common folk, parents always favor their youngest son. Now..."
Lady Xiu stopped talking halfway and said that in common people, especially when parents have many children, they usually favor their youngest son. As for daughters, they are almost useless in common people.
She didn't dare to be sure what Zhou Beichen was thinking, but from her point of view, the reason why Zhou Beichen trained Zhou Zhaonuan in this way was simply to cultivate a strong daughter to enhance the prestige of the country, and in addition, she could serve as a spy if there was a marriage alliance in the future.
She found it hard to believe that Zhou Beichen was really good to Zhou Zhaonuan, just a princess.
Zhou Zhaonuan trembled. Hearing this, she pursed her lips and walked a few steps to the side of Concubine Xiu, who looked like she was thinking about her.
"What did you say?"
The aura of intimidation without anger was so natural that it made Concubine Xiu feel a little reserved and afraid for a moment. She endured it and kept mentally preparing herself. The more Princess Chang'an behaved like this, the more she cared about her parents' love. At this time, if she added more fuel to the fire, she might be able to break down Princess Chang'an's defenses. Then, haha...
Concubine Xiu lowered her head, and when she looked up again, she looked at Zhou Zhaonuan with a face full of sympathy and pity. She bowed slightly to Zhou Zhaonuan.
"Princess Chang'an, I know that my words carry little weight, but seeing your admiration for His Majesty and Noble Consort Hui, I am pleased, yet also a little sad. Princess, do you know that since ancient times, most princesses have been destined to marry foreign princes, but it's different for princes? I feel that although His Majesty and Noble Consort Hui dote on the princess, as soon as the Thirteenth Prince was born, His Majesty happily pardoned the entire country, which shows how much His Majesty values him. As for you, although you are a princess of the first rank, I heard from Consort Liang in the palace that when you were young, you had a dispute with Li Shuren from the cold palace, and the one the His Majesty favored was Noble Consort Li at that time."
Having said this, Concubine Xiu said nothing more, implying that all the kindness the emperor showed you was fake.
Zhou Zhaonuan's smile became more and more obvious. She nodded and slowly leaned towards Concubine Xiu. Concubine Xiu was a little confused. She didn't understand why she said that. Princess Chang'an was neither sad nor angry, and she didn't go to the emperor to make trouble. If she went to the emperor to make trouble, and the emperor hated her because of it, wouldn't it be better?
If she works harder and finds an opportunity to give birth to a pair of a boy and a girl, she will be honored as a mother because of her sons.
Concubine Xiu was born in a small county town, and at this moment she was truly dreaming of climbing up the social ladder to become a wealthy and powerful woman.
However, before her sweet dream was over, she was slapped hard in the face, causing her hair to fly everywhere.
Subconsciously, Concubine Xiu covered half of her face, feeling angry and upset, and she wished she could tear Zhou Zhaonuan to pieces.
When she was about to pretend to be weak and go to Zhou Beichen to complain, she lowered her head and suddenly saw a person rushing towards her from a distance.
Concubine Xiu covered her face and sobbed softly.
Zhou Zhaonuan: “…”
With her hands on her hips, she questioned Concubine Xiu, "Hey~ It was you who wanted to mislead me, but when your misleading failed, you actually started crying. Do you still have any shame? If you don't want this face, just keep crying here."
Seeing that she was very upset, Zhou Zhaonuan turned around and wanted to leave. Xiu Guiren didn't want to waste this great opportunity, so she grabbed Zhou Zhaonuan's clothes and knelt down.
She guessed that Zhou Beichen was not there just now and had no idea what she was saying.
"Princess, Princess, I know that what I did was wrong and what I said was not good, but I was really thinking about you. It doesn't matter if you hit me, but I am really sincere to you."
What Concubine Xiu said was extremely miserable. Zhou Zhaonuan pulled the hem of her skirt and showed a look of disgust. If possible, she really wanted to tear off the clothes. Very well, she just didn't understand. She was just a little princess. Even if she was favored, what did it have to do with them? Why did they try to alienate the relationship between her and her father every day?
Zhou Zhaonuan raised his head and said, "Look up!"
The voice was cold and hard. Concubine Xiu was stunned for a moment, then raised her head as she was told. Seeing Zhou Beichen getting closer and closer to them, she raised her head and deliberately made her slapped face more conspicuous.
Zhou Zhaonuan didn't want to care about what was going on in Concubine Xiu's mind. He stared at her timid eyes with a cold gaze and said with a forced smile.
"Whether you are sincere or not is not important to me. I don't know how my father and mother treat me. For what you just said, I can punish you for treason. Come, take Concubine Xiu back and put her under house arrest. Do not let her out without my permission."
The princess does not care about the concubines in the harem. The concubines in the harem have low ranks, so she can ignore them, but she cannot imprison them at will.
As soon as Zhou Zhaonuan finished speaking, Concubine Xiu's eyes widened like bells. She had never thought that a little princess would dare to imprison her stepmother. It was unreasonable, absolutely unreasonable.
Seeing the guards around Zhou Zhaonuan coming forward to pull her away, Concubine Xiu was horrified and kept shaking her head as she backed away. "No, no, Princess Chang'an, no matter how low my rank is, I am still your stepmother. How can you restrain me? This is treasonous. Aren't you afraid of angering the Emperor?"
Concubine Xiu had a premonition in her heart that since Princess Chang'an had caused such a big incident today, the emperor would probably side with her and teach Princess Chang'an a lesson. After all, since the founding of the country, emperors of all dynasties have attached the most importance to filial piety.
Concubine Xiu was struggling, her face was distorted. Just at this moment, Concubine Xiu saw that Zhou Beichen was about to arrive. Her eyes suddenly lit up and she shouted loudly as if she had seen a life-saving straw.
"Your Majesty, please save me. Princess Chang'an wants to put me under house arrest."
It was because of the impatience that appeared on Concubine Xiu's face after she saw Zhou Beichen glance at Zhou Zhaonuan when he came over that she spoke out in a venomous manner.
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