As the lights came on, the sky grew darker.
Inside the side hall of the harem, the lights were brightly lit. The Empress Dowager reclined on a small couch, her eyes closed, resting as several palace maids massaged her shoulders and legs.
"Aunt, you have to make the decision for your nephew!"
Xuan Qi knelt on the ground, crying with tears and snot all over his face. His face was swollen and purple, and there were only two slits left in his eyes.
The Queen Mother looked at him coldly and asked, "How did it become like this?"
The Queen Mother's tone was flat, but there was an innate majesty in it, which was the coldness and indifference displayed by someone who had held a high position for a long time.
Xuan Qi shuddered unconsciously and cried, "Aunt, my nephew was beaten. It was Jiang Yuzhu who did it!"
As the empress dowager's maternal family, the Xuan family receives numerous rewards every year.
Xuan Qi is the eldest son of the Xuan family. He started to learn at the age of three. He is very knowledgeable and is placed with high hopes.
Xuan Qi always addressed the Queen Mother as Aunt to bring them closer together.
The Queen Mother had already received the news in the palace. Her tone was unremarkable, and she said with a rising tone, "Oh?"
Xuan Qi knelt and crawled before the Queen Mother, looking listless and aggrieved. "Jiang Yuzhu ordered the maid to beat my nephew. She doesn't care about the Xuan family or you, the Queen Mother, at all!"
"Um."
The Queen Mother's expression remained unchanged, but her voice was frighteningly cold.
Beicui was standing by. She knew that the Queen Mother was holding back her anger. She brought the teacup and respectfully held it with both hands: "Queen Mother, please moisten your throat."
The Queen Mother didn't answer. Instead, she suddenly opened her eyes, a flash of hostility in them: "So, you were bullied by a mere woman?"
"Being bullied is fine, but you don't know how to resist. You even have the nerve to go to the palace to complain. How did the Xuan family produce a useless person like you?"
The Queen Mother stood up, swept the teacup out of Bicui's hand, and spoke in a low and majestic voice.
Xuan Qi was so frightened that he didn't dare to look up. He didn't know what to do for a moment. It wasn't that he didn't resist, but Jiang Yuzhu's maid had a background in martial arts and was extremely fast!
There was complete silence in the side hall.
After about a cup of tea, the Queen Mother waved her hand.
The palace maids and nannies left, and only the aunt and niece were left in the side hall.
After everyone left, Xuan Qi stood up, the grievance and fear on his face completely gone. A flash of violence flashed in his eyes, and he chuckled softly, "Aunt, it's just as you said. Jiang Fulu is a slippery old fox. Jiang Yuzhu cheated on him, and his brother and sister-in-law took their nephew to keep watch. There's not a single normal person in the entire family."
The Queen Mother glanced at him and asked, "You knew that, but you still provoked a madman?"
The Su family has just fallen, and the emperor is determined to redress the Su family. At this critical juncture, the Xuan family should conserve their strength.
"If I punish Jiang Yuzhu, the entire Jiang family will go crazy. If I let her go, what about the Xuan family's reputation? Qi'er, you really know how to give me a hard time."
The Queen Mother blew on the teacup and spoke in a calm tone.
Facing the rebuke, Xuan Qi no longer looked afraid. Instead, he slowly explained, "I heard that Jiang Yuzhu came to Qingzhu Academy with gifts, so I wanted to test her."
The result of the test was not good.
"Aunt, Jiang Yuzhu was clearly infatuated with Feng Qing, why did she suddenly change her ways?"
According to their original plan, Jiang Yuzhu's affair would become known to everyone, and Xie Zhao would be cheated on. The Xie family would be unable to bear the news, and the two families would definitely have a big fight.
The Jiang family is determined to protect Jiang Yuzhu and has completely broken with the Xie family, so they can be used by the Xuan family.
Unexpectedly, things went against their wishes. Instead of quarreling, the Jiang and Xie families became even closer.
"If Jiang Fulu and Xie Zhao join forces and are loyal to Xiao She, it will be detrimental to our Xuan family!"
Xuan Qi rubbed his face, which was as swollen as a pig's head, and fell into deep thought. He had to think of a way to alienate the relationship between the two.
The Jiang family only cares about Jiang Yuzhu, and this can be better utilized.
The Queen Mother lowered her eyes and said calmly, "Qi'er, I will make the decisions regarding matters in the harem."
The Queen Mother was very good at alienating the relationship between husband and wife, but she also had to be prepared to destroy both the Jiang and Xie families.
"This throne has been given to that bastard for too long."
After more than twenty years of deep mother-son love, the Empress Dowager could no longer pretend.
That year, she delayed Mudan's conception by half a month, and according to the rules, she was destined not to give birth to a legitimate son.
In order to give birth to the eldest son, on the day of Mudan's delivery, she forced herself to take strong and powerful drugs to induce labor.
Unexpectedly, because the drug was too strong, her own child died in the womb, but Mudan gave birth to a son.
Fortunately, the Xuan family bribed the midwife in advance and tricked Mudan into dying of hemorrhage, finally getting rid of the thorn in their side.
"I traded my stillborn baby for that bitch Mudan's child to take my place. I've been disgusted for over twenty years in vain."
Xuan Yao entered the palace for selection. Even if she was made queen, the children she gave birth to with Xiao She still had Mudan's blood and were not worthy of the throne.
Ever since taking the poisonous drugs, the Queen Mother has had difficulty getting pregnant. Finally, she chose Xuan Qi, who was good at disguise, from her parents' home.
Sooner or later, this world will belong to the Xuan family!
"Qi'er, Xiao She is focused on eliminating the nobles, and he has to divide his energy to redress the Su family. Now is a good time for the Xuan family to build up its power!"
Most of the scholars in the Imperial College came from noble families, and most of them did not take sides. In comparison, the Qingzhu Academy was much more relaxed.
Stupidity is the best disguise, it can confuse the enemy and make them let down their guard.
"It's not harmless for you to test me. If I don't punish Jiang Yuzhu, then the Jiang family will owe me a favor."
After waiting for more than twenty years, it's time to take action.
If they remain timid, once Xiao She grows stronger, the Xuan family will surely have its wings clipped.
"Aunt, my nephew is very optimistic about Xie Xuan, but the Xie family is destined to be the Xuan family's mortal enemy. What a pity."
Xuan Qi had a smile on his lips from beginning to end, but with such a swollen face, it was unsightly.
The Queen Mother sighed and said, "Qi'er, you are good in every way except your appearance. You take after your mother."
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