Chen Xiaoru stared blankly at the man before her, a strange feeling welling up in her heart. Xuanyuan Che, the dignified ruler of a nation, had already made her his consort, yet he still humbled himself to seek her forgiveness. Especially after she had hit him in anger, not only did he not lose his temper, but he showed unprecedented patience and sincerity.
A gentle breeze blew through the courtyard, bringing with it the fragrance of flowers. Chen Xiaoru pursed her lips, the ice in her heart gradually melting. She secretly thought that as the target of a task assigned by the system, perhaps she really shouldn't have been hostile to him. Women are naturally sensitive, and she was no exception at this moment.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Xiaoru raised her head, her eyes hesitant. "Won't you regret it?"
She asked softly, twisting her fingers together unconsciously, "After all, I don't know anything. I can't write, I can't read, I can't do anything!"
Xuanyuan Che's voice was gentle but firm, with an unquestionable promise: "Don't be afraid, Xiaoru, I can teach you all these things, as long as you are by my side."
There was sincerity in his words, which made the last trace of resistance in Chen Xiaoru's heart quietly dissipate.
After careful consideration, she finally decided to accept the man's kindness for the time being. After all, in this strange world, perhaps changing strategy would be the wisest choice.
As the morning light began to break, Eunuch Li gently knocked on the door of the Qianqing Palace.
"Your Majesty, it's time for the morning court session." Eunuch Li reported respectfully.
"Come in and serve." Xuanyuan Che responded and got up from the bed.
Watching Xuanyuan Che preparing to go to court, Chen Xiaoru suddenly remembered something. After hesitating for a moment, she asked, "Your Majesty, I am now your concubine. Do I need to pay my respects to the Queen?"
Xuanyuan Che, who was adjusting his court robes, turned around after hearing this. His tone was gentle but unquestionable, "No need. You're pregnant now, so you should stay in the Palace of Heavenly Purity for the time being. The harem is too dangerous, so we'll talk about it later."
Chen Xiaoru nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to you."
She knew Xuanyuan Che was thinking about her.
Xuanyuan Che tidied his clothes, walked to the bedside, and said softly, "Sleep a little longer. I'll come and have breakfast with you after court."
"Okay, go ahead." Chen Xiaoru yawned and lay back on the bed.
Chen Xiaoru was wrapped in a soft quilt, and the soft voice of the system rang in her mind: "Host, you accepted Xuanyuan Che so quickly. I thought it would take you some time to accept him!"
“Hmm…”
Chen Xiaoru half-closed her eyes, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, "If you want to accept it, just accept it. There's nothing strange about it. By the way, what about those rumors about me in the palace? What's the situation now?" She nonchalantly played with the hair hanging on her chest, with a lazy smile in her tone.
"It's all been taken care of."
The system replied succinctly, "Xuanyuan Che is quite quick. He's already dealt a heavy blow to all those gossipy concubines in the harem."
"Hehe, you are worthy of being my man."
Chen Xiaoru raised her eyebrows proudly, a hint of boasting in her tone, "This efficiency is amazing! I love this feeling of winning without having to worry about anything. It's great!"
As she spoke, she rubbed comfortably in the quilt like a lazy kitten.
The system seemed to be choked by her matter-of-fact tone. After a moment of silence, it said dully:
"...I knew you were so proud."
Chen Xiaoru smiled, not caring about the system's complaints. Instead, she eagerly pressed on, "Tell me more specifically, how did he handle it? Was he overbearing? Did he scare the hell out of those women?"
"Well..."
The system deliberately kept the details a secret. "In short, it's a swift and decisive move to make an example of someone. Now the entire harem knows that Consort Chen is the emperor's most beloved woman, and no one dares to gossip about her anymore."
"That's good."
Chen Xiaoru nodded in satisfaction, but she was a little curious about what methods Xuanyuan Che had used to make those arrogant concubines so fearful. However, she didn't delve into it. Anyway, the result was good.
She closed her eyes and fell asleep. Pregnant women need rest.
Inside the Golden Throne Hall, the morning light filtered through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the ground like the movement of golden fish scales. The scent of ambergris rose in the air, like a fine aged wine, rich yet with a subtle pungent tang, filling the air and making one breathe cautiously. Xuanyuan Che sat upright on the dragon throne, his face as cold as ice, his deep eyes as still as an ancient well, devoid of any emotion. Below, the civil and military officials stood like two rows of silent sculptures, the patterns on their court robes like frozen waves. The oppressive atmosphere was suffocating, like the calm before a rainstorm, foreshadowing the coming storm.
"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to report!"
The Minister of Revenue, Lord Liu, was the first to step forward. His voice was like a huge bell, making the hall buzz and breaking the suffocating silence.
"Permitted."
Xuanyuan Che's voice was low and cold, like ice chips in the cold winter, hitting people's hearts and making them shudder.
"Your Majesty!" Lord Liu spoke again, his voice suddenly rising, like a taut bowstring, with a hint of determination.
"The recent appointment of the Consort Chen in the imperial harem has caused a great uproar throughout the court and the country! I believe that Consort Chen is of humble origin and unknown background, like a weed in the mountains, and is unfit to handle this important responsibility. This is an insult to the royal family and may lead to disputes within the harem, which will be detrimental to the continuation of the royal family's lineage! Your Majesty, please reconsider and revoke your decision!"
His words were sincere, but with an unquestionable toughness, like a hard rock, hitting Xuanyuan Che's bottom line.
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