"Ah Yuan, you agreed?"
Helian Jue sat cross-legged, his elbows resting on the armrest, enjoying a rare moment of leisure as he drank tea and chatted with Xie Yuan.
While brewing tea, Xie Yuan told Helian Jue about what had happened during the day.
Helian Jue raised one eyebrow, looking at Xie Yuan with a slightly mocking expression.
He refused to believe that, given A Yuan's intelligence, she wouldn't be able to see through the Empress Dowager's little scheme.
"certainly!"
Having been married for several years, the two had long since reached a deep understanding of each other.
With just a small gesture, Xie Yuan could understand his meaning.
Xie Yuan knew that Helian Jue wasn't questioning her intelligence, but rather curious about why she had agreed.
Xie Yuan put down the teapot in his hand, picked up the freshly brewed tea, and handed it to Helian Jue.
Helian Jue was a native of the Great Zhou Dynasty, so he didn't find the tea soup with its many seasonings and strange taste too uncomfortable.
Of course, Helian Jue also did not refuse Xie Yuan's favorite light tea.
Although he had a bad temper and many rules, he was still very "cooperative" in front of Xie Yuan.
Helian Jue took the teacup and gently smelled it. Hmm, it was spicy, fishy, and bitter from the tea powder—almost all five flavors were present.
Just by smelling the aroma, one can tell that Xie Yuan's tea-making skills come from a "very prestigious family".
He blew away the foam on the surface of the tea, took a small sip, and the complex flavor directly stimulated his taste buds.
Helian Jue felt his whole body instantly become more energetic.
Xie Yuan watched Helian Jue sipping his tea, and continued, "Actually, what they did was a calculated move."
There was no deliberate attempt to force Princess Nanling into Helian Jue's hands; rather, a perfectly legitimate reason was used to allow Princess Nanling to enter the palace.
The female attendant, the empress's female official, naturally had to attend to the empress.
In this way, there were many opportunities to meet Emperor Helian Jue.
If feelings truly develop over time, then it's a matter between Helian Jue and Nanling, and Nanling's allure cannot be blamed.
If Helian Jue remains unmoved and treats Nanling only as an ordinary relative, or even just a female attendant, then there is nothing to lose.
After all, the Empress had more than one female attendant by her side, and there was nothing wrong with the position of female attendant itself.
Perhaps, by becoming a female attendant, Nanling has gained some prestige.
It can also increase your bargaining power when it comes to marriage proposals.
The Empress Dowager was very clever; she wanted to make things happen, but she wasn't as rough and direct as Empress Dowager Ashina.
They simply created an opportunity in a reasonable way; how it unfolds depends on each person's own fate!
"A calculated scheme? Heh, you have a very high opinion of the Great Mother!"
"Da Mu" means grandmother. It is used to show respect or in formal occasions. If you want to be more intimate or in private, you can call her "A Po".
The corresponding figures are my grandfather and grandfather!
Helian Jue's beautiful peach blossom eyes shimmered with light as he jokingly said to Xie Yuan, "Even if it's an open scheme, it's still a 'scheme'! Aren't you afraid I'll really fall for it?"
Xie Yuan smiled, her beautiful face as radiant as blooming flowers.
She winked at Helian Jue, her eyes seemingly hooked, "I believe in A-Xi, and I believe in myself even more!"
She believed that her husband loved no other woman but her, and that she was charming enough to make him completely infatuated.
Helian Jue: ...That alluring little look in my eyes, I absolutely can't resist it.
When the atmosphere is right, things will naturally fall into place.
After their intimate moment, Xie Yuan nestled in Helian Jue's arms.
The couple continued their conversation from where they left off—
"I truly admire the Empress Dowager!"
Xie Yuan grabbed a strand of Helian Jue's long hair and twirled it around his fingers.
"Just as you said, even an open conspiracy is still a 'conspiracy'."
"The Empress Dowager has schemed against me, but I am not angry at all; in fact, I am somewhat grateful!"
Upon hearing this, Helian Jue suddenly asked, "Why?"
His son, A-Yuan, is not the kind of fool who would be grateful to someone after being scammed.
However, the Empress Dowager's methods were not so sophisticated as to reach that level.
Xie Yuan raised his head and rested his chin on Helian Jue's chest. "Because she reminded me!"
"Hmm?" Helian Jue's voice rose slightly at the end, clearly indicating that he was asking a question.
Xie Yuan looked into Helian Jue's eyes and said softly, "His Majesty treats me with deep affection, and my husband and I are very loving. We simply cannot tolerate anyone else."
Helian Jue nodded.
He truly had no intention of wanting other women.
Firstly, he valued A-Yuan;
Secondly, he doesn't find other women attractive;
Thirdly, it's also because they find it troublesome.
The inner palace and the outer court, though seemingly distinct, were actually always intricately connected.
Why did the late emperor marry so many concubines from noble and aristocratic families?
Isn't it all for the purpose of appeasing and winning over those families?
Those families, willing to send their daughters to the palace, did so to forge closer ties with the imperial family and secure their own interests.
When emperors took concubines, it was often not because of lust or the desire for offspring, but more often because of an exchange of benefits!
Why did so many court officials suggest that Helian Jue expand his harem after he ascended the throne?
Of course, it's not because I'm bored and have nothing better to do than meddle in the emperor's trivial matters.
They're mostly acting in the best interests of their own families.
Sending one's daughter to the palace and having her give birth to a prince with their own bloodline would ensure the family's wealth and status for one or two generations.
If one is even luckier, their own grandson becomes emperor. Although the reputation of being a maternal relative is not good, it brings plenty of benefits.
The Wei family, the Lü family... countless families that achieved upward social mobility through their daughters are the best examples!
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
