Chapter 421 Imperial Concubine
The emperor pondered for a moment, his eyes became deep and firm, as if he had finally made a decision after a fierce struggle in his heart. He understood that he had to weigh various factors, both to ensure the safety and stability of the palace and to take care of Concubine An's feelings.
In the end, the emperor made up his mind to let An Yuesheng live with the guards. This would not only ensure An Yuesheng's safety, with the protection of the guards, he should not be in any danger; at the same time, it would avoid unnecessary gossip in the harem and maintain the reputation and stability of the palace. After all, the harem is the residence of the concubines. As an outsider, it is indeed inappropriate for An Yuesheng to stay here for a long time, which is easy to arouse suspicion and criticism from others.
"From now on, An Yuesheng will move out of the harem and live with the guards. As an outsider, he cannot live in the harem for a long time." The emperor's voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.
Seeing this, An Yueya was a little dissatisfied in her heart, but she immediately pretended to be very sensible. She walked lightly to Concubine An's side, stretched out her hand and gently held Concubine An's hand, and said softly to comfort her.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. Moving out does not mean that we will be away from you. My brother and I will come back to visit you often." Her voice was gentle and considerate, as if a spring breeze blew through people's hearts, making Concubine An feel a little comforted.
Then, An Yueya turned around and took the initiative to ask the emperor to move out of the palace with An Yuesheng. She bowed deeply and spoke humbly and sincerely.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to move out of the palace with my brother to reduce the disputes and suspicions in the palace." Her words were sincere and made people feel her sincerity and understanding.
After hearing this, the emperor showed a satisfied smile on his face. He nodded slightly and praised.
"Yue Ya is still sensible and can understand my difficulties." The emperor's words were full of praise and affirmation for Anyue Ya. In his opinion, Anyue Ya is not only smart and clever, but also has a deep understanding of justice. She is a rare good woman.
Anyue Ya's move not only made the emperor feel relieved, but also helped Concubine An out of trouble. The emperor secretly sighed in his heart, if everyone could be as sensible, considerate, and reasonable as Anyue Ya, how much less worry it would be! He was satisfied with the decision he made, and he also deeply admired Anyueya's understanding and thoughtfulness.
Anyuesheng's problem has been largely solved under the emperor's weighing and decision-making, but Zhao Shuoer is still anxiously waiting for the emperor's further instructions. Her affairs have not been properly handled, and the stone in her heart is still hanging unresolved.
The emperor sat on the throne with a frown, obviously thinking deeply. After a moment, he finally broke the silence and gave an order.
"Shuoer," the emperor's voice echoed in the empty hall, "you go to Qin Qixuan and ask him to help you investigate this matter."
The emperor's words not only revealed unquestionable majesty, but also implied pity and sympathy for Zhao Shuoer's experience. He knew that this incident was a severe test for Zhao Shuo'er, and also an opportunity for her to prove her innocence and ability.
However, while giving Zhao Shuo'er this order, the emperor solemnly added one more sentence.
"Only on the premise that you must not delay other important matters that Qin Qixuan is carrying out during the investigation."
The emperor's eyes became very firm at this moment, and he continued to speak seriously.
"If you find the person who drugged you, no matter who you find out, you can deal with it as you wish. You don't need to ask me for instructions on this matter."
When Zhao Shuo'er heard this, a warm current suddenly surged in her heart. She understood that this was not only the emperor's trust in her, but also his recognition of her ability. As long as there is solid evidence, she will have the emperor's unconditional support and protection. This is undoubtedly the best response and guarantee for her.
She knelt down excitedly and responded respectfully.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will do my best to live up to Your Majesty's high expectations. Thank you, Your Majesty!" Her voice was full of determination and gratitude. She knew that this time she would do her best to find out the truth and take revenge with her own hands.
The three of them left the palace together. Zhao Shuoer, the eldest princess and Qin Xixi walked side by side on the bustling streets of the capital. There were bustling people and traffic around them, but little Xixi's heart was not here. She frowned, thinking about something, and was obviously troubled by a series of recent changes in the palace.
Xiao Xixi always felt that the palace was completely different from the past, and there seemed to be an indescribable strange atmosphere in the air. In particular, the emperor's attitude towards Concubine An puzzled her. She clearly remembered that in the past, the emperor always tried to maintain a balance in the harem and avoid over-favoring any concubine to prevent disputes in the harem. However, now, Concubine An has emerged as a rising star and is favored by the emperor alone. This change surprised and confused her.
Not only Xiao Xixi felt this way, Zhao Shuoer also noticed this change. After a brief silence, she finally couldn't help but ask the eldest princess.
"Your Highness, Princess, why does it feel like Concubine An is so favored now? In the past, the emperor always showed favor to all concubines in the harem, but now Concubine An seems to have become the emperor's exclusive favorite. Why is that?"
When the princess heard this question, her expression changed slightly. She didn't expect that even Zhao Shuo'er could see it. She sighed softly, as if she felt quite heavy about this topic. She raised her head and looked into the distance, with complex emotions in her eyes, as if she was weighing how to answer.
"You are very observant," the princess said slowly, "indeed, the emperor's favor for Concubine An is now extraordinary. In fact, I have learned that the emperor intends to promote Concubine An to the rank of Imperial Noble Concubine."
Zhao Shuo'er and Xiao Xixi were stunned when they heard this. The status of the Imperial Concubine is second only to that of the Empress. This promotion means that Concubine An will be above everyone else in the harem. This sudden news shocked them, and at the same time, they were full of worry and curiosity about the future of the harem.
Especially now that there is no Empress in the palace. Since the position of Empress is vacant, Concubine An will be infinitely close to the status of the Empress, and she will become the actual ruler of the harem!
But Concubine An's attitude is very intriguing.
She supported Anyueya and Anyuesheng, showed obvious hostility to the Qin family, and now tried to collude with Jinnan Palace but failed...
Xixi and Zhao Shuoer's expressions were not very good, but the eldest princess seemed to have never mentioned this matter. She nodded at Zhao Shuoer and praised her.
"You are very smart. You didn't blindly bite the An brothers and sisters at that time. You watched the changes and kept your composure. You have a good character."