Xue Rong smiled faintly. She was not so easy to fool. Since Xiao Ning had already been convicted, it would be difficult for him to mobilize military power unless he was guilty of treason.
However, she still said, "What you said makes sense, but the matter of the general is really not urgent. This time you captured the fourth prince of the Oirat and made great contributions. If the emperor is really willing to hand over all the military power in Shanxi to you, he will promote you to the general on the day of the palace banquet. I have thought about it. When I give birth to a prince, the emperor will be very happy. At that time, I will ask the emperor in the name of sister and brother, and the emperor should be willing to give in."
Ji Wudao could not stay in the capital for too long after returning to report on his duties. He made a fuss about marrying Xu Xueqingshang so that he could have someone to speak for him in front of the emperor when he was far away in Xuanfu in the future. With Xue Rong's promise, his goal was achieved. So he stopped while he was ahead and said respectfully, "My brother will wait for good news from my sister. It is not appropriate for an outsider to stay in the harem for long. My brother will take his leave first."
Xue Rong smiled and instructed the eunuch beside her, "Go and see General Ji off."
After Ji Wudao walked away, Xue Rong stood up holding Yu Shu's hand. Yu Shu said, "This General Ji is really not an easy person to deal with. I see that he only cares about military power. If he really becomes one of the three generals in the future and has hundreds of thousands of soldiers under his control, I'm afraid he may not listen to the Queen's orders obediently."
Xue Rong sneered, "He is indeed not an obedient dog. He went to trouble Shang'er just to force me. But I am not afraid that he will have other intentions in the future. Elder Shen has plenty of ways to deal with him."
"The elder brother treats the queen well and has never changed over the years." Yu Shu said in a low voice.
When talking about Shen Tian, Xue Rong's lips curled up slightly, her mood improved, and she sighed softly: "After all, I owe him a lot."
Yu Shuo helped Xue Rong into the courtyard of Changle Palace. "Don't think like that, Madam. Elder Shen is willing to treat you well, so there is no such thing as an indebtedness. How can the affection between people be calculated clearly? Just like you treat the county lady with all your love and care, how can you expect the county lady to repay you?"
Xue Rong chuckled, lay down on the low couch, looked at the jade comb and said, "Thanks to you for accompanying me in the palace these years, you can always comfort and enlighten me. I thought that after a few years, I would find a good marriage for you and let you leave the palace to live a free life."
Upon hearing this, Yu Shu immediately knelt on the ground and said, "But what did Yu Shu do wrong? Your Majesty wants to chase Yu Shu away?"
Xue Rong went to help her, holding Yu Shu's hand and said, "You have been with me for so many years. Although I am reluctant to let you go, I cannot let you spend your whole life in this palace, guarding me alone, and not even being able to marry. You are the person closest to me in my heart besides Shang'er. I have delayed you for so many years, and you have spent your best years with me. It's just that the hearts of people in this palace are unpredictable. Apart from you, it is difficult for me to trust others, so I have not said I would let you leave the palace."
Yu Shu's eyes were slightly red, "I don't want to get married, nor do I want to leave the palace. I just want to accompany you for the rest of my life."
"Silly child, what's the point of staying in the palace? The world is vast outside. Marrying a man to rely on and having a few children is the destiny of a woman." Xue Rong sighed: "I have no other way to go in this life. I just hope that you and Shang'er can live a happy and comfortable life in the future."
"My queen..." Yu Shu wiped away her tears. She was a servant girl of the Jingyuan Marquis's Mansion and had been serving Xue Rong since she was a child. Over the years, outsiders only saw Xue Rong's glory, but she knew the hardships of her master.
"My lady, Yu Shu wants to stay by your side and serve you forever. When you give birth to a little master, Yu Shu will help you take care of the little master. Please don't chase Yu Shu away."
Xue Rong touched her head, "I have never said anything, but ever since I got pregnant, I have been feeling uneasy, always thinking something bad is going to happen. People say that the emperor dotes on me and wants to make the baby in my belly the crown prince. You know this best since you are by my side. Since I got pregnant, the emperor has never stayed overnight in Changle Palace. The emperor's grace is like the wind, unpredictable. Sometimes I hope that I am pregnant with a girl, but it is even more difficult for a girl to gain a foothold in this world."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Although the Emperor has not stayed overnight since you became pregnant, he often sends people to deliver supplements, which shows that he still cares about you and values you. Besides, Prime Minister Shen is paving the way for you and the baby in your belly in the previous dynasty. Don't let your imagination run wild." Yu Shuo comforted her softly.
Xue Rong nodded, "I've been in the Imperial Garden for so long, I'm a little tired."
"I'll take you to the back hall to rest." Yu Su stood up and helped Xue Rong to the bedroom.
Xue Rong lay on the bed, closed her eyes for a long time but couldn't fall asleep. She opened her eyes and said to Yu Shu, "I am very optimistic about Yu Qizhe now. I heard that when Yang Congwen was executed, there was hardly a piece of good flesh on his body. It was because Yu Qizhe executed him personally. If he is really that cruel, he will definitely achieve great things in the future. Maybe Shang'er is right. Even if he has no children, it doesn't matter. He can just adopt a child from the side branch."
"Your Majesty, do you mean to let the county princess marry Yu Shidu?" Yu Shu asked.
Xue Rong opened her eyes and looked at the top of the gauze tent: "I need to think about it again. Yu Qizhe's temperament is too cold and he doesn't look like someone who would care for others." She sighed softly, "I may be really old. I am always worried that if something happens to me, Shang'er will be left without anyone to protect her. Ji Wudao now dares to make plans for Shang'er. If I leave..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
