The emperor said slowly, "Since you left, my mother has sent many people to my side, but I have sent them all away."
Jian Yang understood; the emperor was fighting against the empress dowager's controlling nature.
This is the inevitable path every boy must take to become a man.
Wait a minute, the emperor is such a decisive and independent person, he's long past the age where he can be controlled by his parents. Could it be that he's doing this for her...?
Jian Yang shook her head, quickly banishing the narcissistic thought from her mind.
Meanwhile, after returning to Fuxi Palace, the Empress Dowager began to sigh and lament.
"Granny Qin," the Empress Dowager said, "what do you think the Emperor saw in that palace maid?"
Putting aside everything else, that palace maid was far inferior to Empress Wende, also known as Jian Yang.
If the emperor had chosen a woman similar to Empress Wende, he could have understood, but she turned out to be a lowly palace maid who was neither talented nor beautiful.
It's infuriating.
Granny Qin smiled and comforted her, "Don't worry, as the saying goes, children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Perhaps that palace maid has some extraordinary qualities that you don't know about."
The Empress Dowager sighed and said, "I really can't see any merit in her."
Qin Mama smiled and said, "I heard that ever since that palace maid entered Wanshou Palace, the Emperor has been smiling much more and eating more than usual."
"really?"
"Absolutely true."
The Empress Dowager accepted the bird's nest offered by Granny Qin and said helplessly, "Fine, since he likes it, I won't interfere any further. It's better for him to have a woman to take care of him than none at all."
"The Empress Dowager is right."
Since the news of the emperor keeping a mistress in the palace had reached the Empress Dowager's ears, the other concubines naturally heard about it as well.
Although there are very few concubines left in the harem, these few truly love the emperor; otherwise, they wouldn't have given up such a good opportunity to leave the palace and chosen to spend their remaining years there.
Ultimately, it all stemmed from their lingering illusions about the emperor, hoping that one day he would set his sights on them.
But after they waited and waited, a woman who suddenly appeared beat them to it. Anyone would be angry in that situation.
Some, unable to sit still, planned to use the pretext of visiting the emperor to investigate the woman's true nature.
Consort Ning was the first person to visit.
At this moment, Jian Yang is grilling lamb skewers.
The juicy lamb grilled over charcoal released an enticing aroma, and when sprinkled with her secret barbecue seasoning, the fragrance was simply irresistible.
Jian Yang not only ate by herself, but also became friends with the palace maids and eunuchs around her, and everyone got a share.
Consort Ning was stunned when she saw this scene.
His eyes immediately filled with anger.
Normally, the emperor does not allow any of them to enter the Wanshou Palace without permission, nor does he allow these concubines to linger.
But this palace maid in front of her not only stayed here every day, but also gathered a group of people to grill lamb skewers. She was so jealous!
When she saw Jian Yang's appearance again, her jealousy instantly turned into contempt.
With such an ugly appearance, how dare she compete for the emperor's favor with these beautiful concubines?!
Honestly, Jian Yang's mask is not ugly at all; it's just an ordinary face.
Consort Ning stepped forward aggressively and said, "I heard that the late Empress used to enjoy making food in the palace and sharing it with the servants. Now these nobodies want to imitate the late Empress, but they are just making a fool of themselves and becoming a laughing stock!"
Jian Yang: "???"
She put the lamb skewers she was about to eat back on the grill and then looked Ning Pin up and down.
"Hey sis, you look a bit unfamiliar."
How come she doesn't remember having such a person in the harem?
It seems that after her "death," another woman was placed in her possession by some unknown official.
Consort Ning immediately flew into a rage and said, "Sister? How dare you, a lowly maid, call yourself my sister?"
Jian Yang: I was careless.
So engrossed in eating meat, he forgot he had disguised himself.
She quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "This servant misspoke; please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Consort Ning sneered, "Why are you bowing? Didn't you just claim to be my sister? Continue!"
Jian Yang silently rolled her eyes.
This woman is relentless.
Seeing that Jian Yang remained silent, Consort Ning became even more enthusiastic.
"Don't think that the Emperor keeps you by his side because he values you. If he really valued you, he would have given you a title long ago. Why would he let you stay as a palace maid forever?"
Jian Yang suddenly felt extremely irritated.
This is why she hates the harem; a bunch of women who are always bored and causing trouble, with nothing but palace intrigue on their minds.
It's utterly pointless to fight and struggle over a man.
Can't we all sit down and have some lamb skewers together?
Consort Ning was furious when she saw that Jian Yang remained unmoved.
She is now a concubine, how could she be neglected by a mere palace maid?
But since this palace maid was one of the emperor's most favored women, Consort Ning didn't dare to confront her directly.
So she vented all her anger on the lamb skewers that Jian Yang had just grilled.
Consort Ning shouted, "How dare you, a mere palace maid, act so arrogantly in front of me! I will teach you a lesson today!"
After saying that, she kicked over the grill.
Jian Yang originally thought that she could go crazy as she pleased, and that she would leave on her own after she was done.
But to her utter surprise, this woman kicked over the lamb skewers she had painstakingly grilled!
This is intolerable!
The air pressure around Jian Yang suddenly dropped.
She immediately stood up straight, staring coldly at the woman in front of her, looking as if she wanted to devour her.
Consort Ning was terrified.
The palace maid, who had always been humble and subservient, suddenly exuded such a powerful aura, which inexplicably frightened her.
But she tried to appear calm.
Consort Ning retorted, "Don't think you can act recklessly just because the Emperor dotes on you. There are rules and regulations in this palace. Do you know who my father is? You, you, you, don't come any closer!"
With nowhere left to retreat, and seeing the fierce-looking palace maid getting closer and closer, Consort Ning finally screamed, "Guards..."
Before she could finish speaking, she smelled a strange fragrance, her eyes rolled back, and she lost consciousness.
Looking at the woman lying on the ground, Jian Yang felt a surge of irritation.
Damn it, she can't stand being in this place for even a day longer!
From the moment Consort Ning entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a clever palace maid went to inform the Emperor.
Upon hearing the news, the emperor rushed over.
Upon entering the palace, one sees Consort Ning lying on the ground and Jian Yang packing her luggage.
Without a second thought, he stepped over Consort Ning and walked straight to Jian Yang's side.
"Calm down. This was my oversight. I assure you, this will never happen again."
Jian Yang's patience had completely run out.
"Don't make any more promises, just let me go. That way, everyone's happy."
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