"You said that I have been with you for so many years, and that you believed in me. But now, with the appearance of Concubine Chen, everything has changed. Has my position as the legitimate wife in the Emperor's heart also changed?"
"My father is still ill, and I have returned the tiger talisman to you. The Ye family has been loyal for three generations. Could it be that you still doubt me?"
Zhou Beichen sneered as he ruthlessly took away the Queen's hand that was clinging to him.
"Empress, your ancestors are not your life-saving talismans. Besides, your ancestors have been loyal for three generations. What does it have to do with you?"
Queen: “…”
Seeing her stunned look, Zhou Beichen reached out and ruffled her hair with tenderness, but the next moment, there was murderous intent in his eyes.
"If you hadn't repeatedly stopped me from appointing a concubine today, this matter would have been over. However, you insisted on treating me like a fool and letting that girl imitate Nuannuan, but you actually wanted to stop me. I think you are courting death!"
There was no transition at all, he went from being tender and affectionate to being furious.
The queen knelt down with a plop, and once again grabbed his robe with her hands, as if this would make her feel more secure. The queen looked directly into Zhou Beichen's eyes, and a chill spread from her heels to the top of her head.
"I don't have any, Your Majesty. Could it be that the affection I've had for you over the years is not as good as that for those two children and that woman?"
Zhou Beichen sneered, took a step back, and distanced himself from the queen. He pointed at her.
"Empress, oh Empress, I have given you many chances, but you have always been so unreasonable, talking nonsense to me and treating me like a fool. My patience is limited."
Zhou Beichen walked outside and said, "Send the imperial physician to Fengyi Palace. The queen is ill. She should rest well in Fengyi Palace until she recovers."
He talked as he walked, without looking back and without any nostalgia.
"Come, bring the queen back."
Soon the guards came to pull the queen. No matter how unwilling she was, the guards lifted her onto the sedan chair. The queen was the queen, and no matter what, she had to be given face.
Coming out of the Xuanzheng Hall and on the way to the Jiaofang Hall from the Imperial Garden, Zhou Beichen felt very depressed for some reason.
In just a short while, the news of her enthronement as a concubine had spread throughout the harem.
"My Lady, My Lady, good news, good news!"
Aunt Xu ran in with eyes full of joy, and Shen Nian'an was stunned, obviously not knowing what had happened.
"What's wrong?"
Nanny Xu was so excited that she almost flew up. "The Emperor just issued an edict to confer the title of Princess Chang'an on the eldest princess, and the title of Prince Yan on the eldest prince. Even you, Madam, have now become a concubine and been granted the title of Hui. I believe that although the Emperor may not care about you on the surface, he still cherishes you very much in his heart."
The corners of his lips curled up slightly. This was indeed a good thing. However, when he thought of his daughter who had obviously gone out happily but came back with snot and tears, Shen Nian'an felt a little unhappy.
When asked, the girl didn't say anything. She went back to her little room and buried herself in the quilt, not moving a muscle. This made her feel helpless.
"Mother, is my sister having a quarrel with Father?"
At this time, Zhou Zeyun, who came out of Zhou Zhaonuan's room, walked to Shen Nian'an, his big eyes like grapes full of questions.
"What could possibly be causing her trouble with the Emperor? He almost beat her up last time, but Nuannuan didn't get angry with him. Was she bullied by someone, or did she lose her two little gold ingots?"
Shen Nian'an couldn't deny it, Zhou Zeyun sat down and took a sip of tea.
"No, my sister is very happy in the Shangshufang today. I asked around and found out that my sister just went to the Shangshufang and ran out crying."
Could it really be the emperor? Shen Nian'an's eyes were full of disbelief. She could never have imagined that Zhou Beichen, who always treated his daughter as a treasure, would make her cry like that.
Aunt Xu took over at the right time.
"Your Majesty, I have also heard that the Empress was ill in Fengyi Palace. The princess ran out crying first, and not long after, the Empress was sent back to Fengyi Palace by the Emperor."
Could it be that Zhou Beichen knew that the infertility of the concubines in the harem was related to the queen? That's impossible. If he knew, it wouldn't be so calm now. I'm afraid the harem would be in turmoil at this moment.
The queen is not a good person, Shen Nian'an knows that, but she doesn't know whether the queen is hopelessly bad or not. However, if the queen dares to have bad thoughts about her daughter, she, Shen Nian'an, will never let her go.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
A shrill voice broke the silence of the Pepper Room. Seeing Zhou Beichen striding over, Shen Nian'an's eyes moved and her eyes immediately turned red. She walked forward quickly, squatted slightly, and saluted Zhou Beichen.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
Zhou Beichen was still surprised, but Shen Nian'an didn't give him a chance to think about it. He grabbed Zhou Beichen's sleeve and dragged him inside.
His tone was so urgent that he sounded like he was about to cry.
"Your Majesty, please come and see Nuannuan. Ever since she came back from outside, she has locked herself in the room, covered herself with the quilt, and cried. No matter how hard I try to comfort her, it won't stop."
The sharp eyes like an eagle suddenly shot towards Shen Nian'an. The woman was not afraid, and did not even dodge her eyes. Her eyes were very clear, and there was only worry for her daughter.
Zhou Beichen was deflated for a moment. This woman was different from all the concubines in his harem.
He shouldn't think too much about it. Perhaps, it would be good for the children if they stayed with their biological mothers.
The "wooooo" sound kept rising and falling, and a bulge appeared in the embroidered pink quilt. Zhou Beichen frowned and looked at his daughter, thinking that his daughter was both cute and pitiful.
He patted Shen Nian'an's hand for once, signaling her not to be so nervous.
"Nuannuan..."
He was about to say something comforting, but suddenly got stuck. He glared at Shen Nian'an several times, and seeing that the person was still standing there motionless, Zhou Beichen rubbed his brows angrily.
"Deshun, Concubine Hui has been instrumental in giving birth to the Emperor and accompanying him. I have granted her special permission to leave the palace to visit her family. Concubine Hui and the eldest prince will go first. I will then call Concubine Xian. I will also be there shortly."
Deshun received a commanding look from Zhou Beichen, stepped forward quickly, and knelt down in front of Shen Nian'an.
"Empress Huifei, this is a great honor to be allowed out of the palace to visit relatives. Please follow me and get the palace token. Let the servants pack up and we can leave."
As he spoke, Deshun began to cry, "Poor Concubine Hui, you've been searching for so many years before finally finding your biological father. We'll be back at the Minister of Rites' residence soon. You'll have to stay a few more days. Come, let this old servant support you."
I saw Zhou Beichen give Deshun a satisfied look.
Shen Nian’an: “…”
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