Two days later, on what was supposed to be the day for the emperor to select candidates for the imperial concubine selection, all the women who were supposed to enter the palace were sent home because the emperor was unwell.
Empress Xiao sat in the Qianqing Palace, her face clouded with worry.
She knew perfectly well that Jin'er wasn't actually feeling unwell; she simply didn't want to participate in the talent show.
The palace maids stood trembling to the side, not daring to move, except for Aunt Cui, who was by Xiao's side, who dared to step forward and persuade, "Empress Dowager, please don't be angry. Perhaps His Majesty is really ill."
"Hmph! If you were really sick, how come you had time to go out yesterday?" Madam Xiao snorted coldly, gripping her teacup and sitting angrily on the phoenix chair, her dark eyes filled with rage.
She is now quite old, and after all the hard work and effort she has put into this matter, she has grown countless white hairs from running around so much. But her beloved grandson, on the other hand, says he won't participate in the talent show and even uses illness as an excuse to brush her off.
This is absolutely outrageous and willful!
The more Xiao thought about it, the angrier she became, and she smashed the teacup on the ground.
Xiao Huaijin, who had just stepped into the inner gate of the Qianqing Palace, changed his expression upon hearing the sound of a teacup shattering.
He quickened his pace and hurried into the hall.
"Grandmother." Xiao Huaijin walked up to Madam Xiao, carefully avoiding the shards of the teacup, and knelt down, grasping Madam Xiao's hand. "Grandmother, please calm down. It's all my fault."
"Xiao Huaijin, I never knew you'd learned to deceive people like that." Madam Xiao forcefully flung Xiao Huaijin's hand away, turned her body to the side, and didn't even want to look at him.
"Grandmother, please don't be angry." Xiao Huaijin lowered his eyes and said slowly, "Grandson did not mean to deceive you. If I had not used this excuse, my abrupt cancellation of the selection would have caused an uproar in the court."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xiao turned around and smacked him, angrily saying, "I knew you were faking illness!"
Xiao Huaijin quickly smiled and said, "Grandson wouldn't dare to lie to his grandmother."
Even before Xiao Huaijin arrived, Madam Xiao had already guessed what was going on. "Tell me, were you making fun of the selection of concubines because of that Shen Yunjiao?"
Xiao Huaijin's eyes flickered slightly, then he lowered his head and respectfully replied, "Yes."
Madam Xiao was startled and hurriedly asked, "Jin'er, have you regained your memories?"
Xiao Huaijin shook his head, "No."
"Then why are you still so obsessed with Lady Shen? She's been married before. Do you want to get involved with a woman like that and bring shame to our royal family?" Lady Xiao raised her voice, her emotions becoming somewhat agitated.
Previously, Xiao Huaijin would have agreed with the Xiao family's views.
He knew that Lady Xiao was not satisfied with Shen Yunjiao, and tacitly allowed Lady Xiao to choose a suitable empress for him.
But his thoughts are different today; he is now more willing to choose Shen Yunjiao.
Yes, she had been married before and attracted the attention of many men, but that was not her fault.
Xiao Huaijin knew that even though he had lost his memory, he still couldn't let go of Shen Yunjiao, especially when she said she was leaving. He felt as if he was being torn apart, and every part of his body ached.
How could someone like him possibly give up on Shen Yunjiao?
Seeing that Xiao Huaijin remained silent, Madam Xiao knew that she had lost her gamble again.
She forced a smile and said slowly, "It seems that Shen was right, she really has you completely infatuated."
Xiao Huaijin replied calmly, "Grandmother, although Madam Shen has been married before, I don't care."
"What if she really can't have children, as the rumors say? Don't you even consider having an heir? Would you just abandon the empire you've worked so hard to protect?" Madam Xiao stared directly at Xiao Huaijin and questioned him.
After giving a bitter smile, Xiao Huaijin slowly stood up and said, "Grandmother, I have never thought that my bloodline or my father's bloodline is particularly noble. Moreover, I became emperor not just for the Xiao family, but for the common people. If no one can inherit the throne, then we should choose a capable person from among the millions of people in Dayong and entrust the country to him."
After saying these words, Xiao Huaijin knelt down again. "Grandmother, I have always regarded you as my own grandmother. Please let go this time and let your grandson make his own decision, okay?"
Madam Xiao's expression changed again. After a pause, she slowly replied, "Jin'er, Grandmother agrees."
Xiao Huaijin is not a three-year-old child. Since he has made a decision, he must take responsibility for it. If he is scolded or criticized in the future, that is his business.
As his grandmother, she had already interfered too much.
If we continue to interfere, and he does regain his memory in time, wouldn't he blame himself even more?
After a long sigh, Xiao finally made up her mind to let go completely.
Xiao Huaijin only dared to get up after he knew that his grandmother had compromised.
He looked at Madam Xiao and said solemnly, "Grandmother, I have another matter to report today."
"Among the women you selected, there is one named Qin Youran, who previously stayed at Qingxin Pavilion."
Qin Youran?
Xiao narrowed her eyes and immediately thought of her good friend, General Qin, the founding female general.
Madam Xiao asked, "What happened to her? Wasn't she already released from Qingxin Pavilion?"
“Grandmother, this woman is cruel by nature. In the middle of the night, she released a lynx into Shen Yunjiao’s room with the intention of harming her. Fortunately, I arrived in time, otherwise Shen Yunjiao would not have escaped disaster,” Xiao Huaijin said coldly.
Madam Xiao was greatly surprised. "She's actually that kind of person?"
"What does Grandmother think she went to Qingxin Pavilion for?" Xiao Huaijin asked.
“But General Qin said that all of this is a misunderstanding,” Xiao replied hesitantly.
"If the Qin family dared to tell the truth, would Grandmother still allow them to place people around me?" Xiao Huaijin asked slowly, exchanging glances with Madam Xiao.
Xiao was speechless for a moment.
If she had known that Qin Youran was so wicked, she would never have allowed her to enter the palace for the imperial concubine selection.
"Jin'er, I'm sorry." A pang of guilt rose in Madam Xiao's eyes as she softly said, "It's all my fault. I trusted my old friends too much."
“Grandmother, I will definitely get rid of this person, but I would like to tell you before I do so,” Xiao Huaijin replied respectfully.
Madam Xiao nodded. "Your Majesty, it's your decision. The Qin family's ambitions are too great; it's time to teach them a lesson."
Xiao Huaijin sat down next to Madam Xiao and said in a deep voice, "Grandson understands."
After the grandfather and grandson spoke for a while, Xiao Linzi came over and reported, "Your Majesty, Miss Shen has arrived at Feihua Palace."
Xiao rolled her eyes at him, "You're quite bold, inviting people directly into the palace."
“Grandmother, Shen Yunjiao is a highly skilled physician. She has come to join forces with Imperial Physician Jiang to treat my amnesia,” Xiao Huaijin said with a faint smile, but his eyes clearly lit up immediately, filled with anticipation.
Madam Xiao gave a light snort. She couldn't deny Shen Yunjiao's medical skills, after all, she had saved the princess from the brink of death twice.
However, it's unlikely that she'll accept this girl right now.
Madam Xiao waved her hand and said listlessly, "You should go now, I need to rest."
Xiao Huaijin stood up and said, "Grandson takes his leave."
After he had taken a few steps, he turned back to Aunt Cui and instructed her, "Aunt, the weather has been dry lately. Please cook some pear soup for Grandmother."
Seeing that he still cared about her, Madam Xiao finally smiled a little. "Go ahead, don't delay."
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