Empress Dowager Xiao didn't even lift her eyelids.
She silently put away her prayer beads, sighing inwardly: Xie must have been shocked.
Even if you're startled, it's nothing.
After all, a clever person like Empress Xie might have anticipated many palace intrigue tactics, but she could never have imagined that Empress Dowager Ashina would be such a "direct" person.
In fact, it was Empress Xiao herself who, after spending more than 20 years with Empress Ashina and witnessing and experiencing many things firsthand, became thoroughly familiar with Empress Ashina's temperament.
To put it nicely, it's called being genuine, straightforward, and open-minded.
To put it bluntly, they don't know how to hide their true feelings; they are reckless and impulsive.
The fact that Empress Ashina developed such a personality is related to her background and experiences.
The Turkic princess married into the Helian royal family after reaching marriageable age and became the mistress of the harem.
Although there was a more esteemed Empress Dowager in the harem, the Great Zhou Dynasty needed the Turks as an ally, and even the late emperor had yielded and tolerated Empress Dowager Ashina, so the Empress Dowager would not deliberately cause trouble.
The Empress Dowager was a smart woman who could distinguish between what was important and what was not.
As long as things are outwardly acceptable, she won't hold a grudge against Empress Dowager Ashina.
With the late emperor and his son indulging in such a way, Empress Dowager Ashina's harem could be described as having no scruples and acting recklessly.
She doesn't need to worry about anyone's opinion at all.
If he felt dissatisfied with a particular concubine, he would speak up directly or even punish her.
If it weren't for the defeat of the Turks a few years ago, and the late emperor's deposition of Helian Jue, Empress Dowager Ashina would probably still be acting willfully.
Her adopted son was deposed, her imperial seal was taken away, and even though she wasn't deposed, she became a nobody in the palace.
After suffering a series of setbacks, Empress Dowager Ashina gradually learned her lesson.
She began to keep a low profile and secretly plotted!
But old habits die hard.
After the late emperor's death, Helian Jue ascended the throne. If he were truly intelligent and prudent, he would not have acted recklessly like Empress Dowager Ashina.
Unable to force Helian Jue to marry the Turkic princess, and realizing that her adopted son had grown too powerful to control, Empress Dowager Ashina became afraid.
She hurriedly sent someone to negotiate peace with Xie Yuan.
It would be good if she could maintain her goodwill towards Xie Yuan.
As a result, as soon as Empress Xie entered the palace, she started acting like a mother-in-law, trying to force women into the young couple's room...
"Our Empress Dowager Ashina is just so straightforward and unpredictable in her actions!"
Empress Dowager Xiao silently complained.
She had already begun to suspect that Xie Yuan would launch such a "counterattack".
Well, Empress Xie is a smart woman; she wouldn't directly refuse a beautiful woman bestowed upon her by her elders.
She could have many ways—
First, directly push Helian Jue out.
The young couple must have had a good relationship; at least Helian Jue loved Xie Shi as his wife.
Whether for the sake of their marital relationship, for Xie Yuan's dignity as Empress, or to prevent Empress Dowager Ashina from interfering in his private affairs, Helian Jue would refuse.
Second, they outwardly comply but inwardly defy.
On the surface, they happily accepted the person.
Back in his palace, he treated her like royalty, providing her with the best food and drink, but forbade her from getting close to Helian Jue.
In this way, he would neither offend the Empress Dowager nor create a rival for her affections.
There is a third way, which is actually the wisest approach.
If handled well, it could even turn the tables on Empress Dowager Ashina.
Empress Dowager Xiao remained calm, as if she were only focused on her own dining table.
But she had already devised several ways to deal with it.
"I wonder how the Xie family will respond? Will they take the third approach? This approach is useful, but it has a 'side effect'."
While Empress Dowager Xiao was still pondering, Xie Yuan had already made a decision.
She raised her head and looked at Empress Dowager Ashina with some disbelief.
Seeing her surprised and troubled expression, Empress Dowager Ashina secretly felt a little smug.
She knew it all: no woman is immune to jealousy!
Xie Yuan and Helian Jue had a good relationship.
A good relationship between husband and wife has little to do with whether the husband takes a concubine or not.
After being rebuffed by Helian Jue, Empress Dowager Ashina turned her attention to Xie Yuan.
She adopted the role of a mother-in-law, and Xie Yuan, as a daughter-in-law, was bound by rules and etiquette and dared not disobey.
If Xie Yuan refuses, Empress Dowager Ashina can reprimand her for being jealous.
He was disobedient to his mother-in-law and jealous; he met two of the seven grounds for divorce.
Even if she couldn't divorce her, Empress Dowager Ashina had at least found fault with Xie Yuan.
How could an empress like this maintain her position in the harem and stand tall before her, the Empress Dowager?
If Xie Yuan obediently led those palace maids back, Empress Dowager Ashina would be happy.
Helian Jue has grown up and become independent, no longer obeying his mother.
Sending a few women over and whispering sweet nothings in their ears might give the mother and son a chance to salvage their relationship.
Even if we take a step back and assume that Helian Jue is not influenced by women and remains willful and disobedient, it doesn't matter.
The presence of women would inevitably affect the relationship between Helian Jue and Xie Shi.
It is possible for the emperor and empress to fall out, or even become enemies.
Helian Jue disliked Xie Shi and even deposed her. Only then did Empress Dowager Ashina have the opportunity to arrange a new empress who suited her taste for Helian Jue.
For example, her niece, or even her grandniece!
In this era, marriage alliances between prominent families only considered whether the conditions were suitable, and did not take into account seniority at all.
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