Chapter 110 Childhood Sweethearts
The Queen Mother cast a seeking look at Xie Junyao.
Xie Junyao casually lifted his eyelids, his deep eyes revealing no emotion, "Yes."
His dismissive attitude aroused the Queen Mother's anger. She suppressed her voice and said, "This time it's Ling Zhaoyuan who is asking you to take her out of the palace again."
"Mother." Xie Junyao looked at her coldly.
The Queen Mother looked straight at him.
Xie Junyao turned his gaze away calmly, his voice flat: "She didn't ask me to take her out of the palace. Both times, it was me who did it."
Seeing him defend her so much, she actually wanted to take the responsibility on herself. The Queen Mother knocked over the teacup and said, "Fox Charm."
"What on earth do you want to do by keeping a woman like this in the palace?"
His face seemed to be covered with a light frost, "Mother, you are the Queen Mother."
The Queen Mother realized belatedly that she had uttered the word "fox charmer" out of anger and averted her eyes.
"Royal brother, mother, there must be a misunderstanding here... It's all my fault. I shouldn't have mentioned this matter. I spoke too hastily..." Xie Junxun said with a self-blaming look.
The Queen Mother patted his hand and said, "Qian'er, how can I blame you for this? If you hadn't told me, I would have been kept in the dark my whole life."
Then, her voice tinged with anger, she stared at Xie Junyao and said sternly, "Concubine Zheng and Concubine Yang became arrogant and overbearing precisely because of your favor. I suspect Ling Zhaoyuan will follow in their footsteps."
The Queen Mother's last words have two meanings. The first is to warn Xie Junyao that Ling Zhaoyuan will be as arrogant and spoiled as Concubine Zheng Yang; the second meaning is actually a "curse", she can't bear to see Wen Wanyu do well.
She wished that Wen Wanyu would follow the same path as Concubine Zheng and the other two - fall out of favor.
Xie Junyao calmly took a sip of tea and said, "Empress Dowager, does Ling Zhaoyuan seem to be arrogant because of her favor? She just slacks off the whole day." His tone was rather doting.
The Queen Mother frowned, her eyes filled with coldness.
Xie Junyao's expression was barely perceptible, and he was secretly arguing with the Queen Mother: "I believe Ling Zhaoyuan will not follow the same path as Concubine Zheng and Concubine Zheng. At the same time, I will not let Ling Zhaoyuan follow their path."
The Queen Mother's forehead was bulging with blue veins, and her hands were shaking as she pointed at Xie Junyao. She was breathing heavily, "You..."
Xie Junqian helped the Queen Mother sit down, then stood up with a frown and said, "Royal brother, the Queen Mother is not in good health. If you are angry, please take it out on me."
The Queen Mother naturally wouldn't allow Xie Junyao to embarrass her own son. Dragging her frail body, she protected Xie Junyao behind her and said sternly, "I forbid you to touch your brother."
The scenes in which the mother and son acted out their "deep mother-son love" made it seem as if Xie Junyao was an unreasonable person.
Xie Junyao looked calm, he had become numb to the scenes of their "deep mother-son love".
"Seventh brother, it's getting late. You should leave the palace first. I have something to discuss with the Queen Mother."
Xie Junxun did not hesitate and no longer performed the scene of "mother and child reluctant to part".
Only Xie Junyao, the Queen Mother, and Madam Liu were left in the room.
Xie Junyao smiled faintly: "I am not the Queen Mother's child."
The Queen Mother and Aunt Liu both showed surprised expressions. After a long pause, the Queen Mother looked at Aunt Liu. As long as Aunt Liu and the few servants who had been dealt with knew about this,
Aunt Liu shook her head.
Xie Junyao's expression remained unchanged. "It doesn't matter how I know this. Queen Mother, I finally understand why you are partial and why you hate Ling Zhaoyuan."
The Queen Mother remained silent, feeling guilty.
She was indeed biased because the emperor was not her own son.
"The Empress Dowager is the daughter of the Imperial Tutor. She comes from a distinguished family with a rich and powerful heritage. However, Empress Dowager Minzhuang [the aforementioned Consort Chen] is only the daughter of an Imperial Minister. In terms of family background and talent, Empress Dowager Minzhuang is far inferior to you. It took only one year for Empress Dowager Minzhuang to become your equal. You feel resentful but helpless."
Having her secret exposed, the Queen Mother blushed and looked embarrassed: "Emperor...you..."
Xie Junyao ignored her and continued, "Ling Zhaoyuan's background and experiences are so similar to those of Empress Dowager Minzhuang! You simply can't stand people of low status. You're afraid that another 'Empress Dowager Minzhuang' will appear in the harem, so you make things difficult for her."
"Rebellious son." The Queen Mother was guilty and embarrassed. She covered her chest with one hand, supported her arm, and slowly took a breath.
"Your Majesty, you are not the Empress Dowager's son, but the Empress Dowager has never favored one over the other. You... shouldn't say these things." Nanny Liu advised.
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the emperor smiling sarcastically at her and saying, "Never favoring one over the other? Madam Liu, I always thought you were a rare fair person. But after seeing you today, you're nothing special."
After saying these words, Xie Junyao felt much better. He didn't stay in Shoukang Palace for another second and turned around and left.
…………
Xie Junqian did not leave the palace directly, but deliberately walked along the red wall.
A person approached from afar. It was Concubine An.
"Empress An." Xie Junxuan leaned forward slightly.
Concubine An nodded in return and asked with a smile, "Seventh Prince, are you visiting the Empress Dowager today?"
Xie Jun smiled hesitantly and said, "Yes, I just came out of Shoukang Palace."
Concubine An was not familiar with him, and she knew that the Emperor and the Seventh Prince did not have a good relationship. She thought to herself: She should stay away from the Seventh Prince. After asking for his permission, she planned to leave.
But just as she took a step, she heard the Seventh Prince calling her.
Concubine An asked in confusion, "What else does the Seventh Prince want?"
Xie Jun hesitated and said, "I learned something a few days ago. I'm sure Concubine Zheng would be interested. Would Concubine An be willing to pass it on for me?"
Concubine An rolled her eyes and said, "Seventh Prince, you have to define a certain area."
Xie Junxuan whispered, "About Ling Zhaoyuan."
"Really?" Concubine An's face changed.
Xie Jun glanced at the servants behind her. Concubine An regained her composure and said to the servants behind her, "All of you leave first."
The servants retreated a few feet away.
Xie Junxuan finally spoke, "As far as I know, Ling Zhaoyuan has a childhood sweetheart."
"Childhood sweethearts?" Concubine An asked in confusion. How come she had never heard of it?
Xie Jun nodded hesitantly. "Ling Zhaoyuan's childhood sweetheart was called Song Qingxu. Unfortunately, he died saving Ling Zhaoyuan three years ago. If he hadn't died, he might have become a legend."
Concubine An opened her mouth slightly in surprise.
"Ling Zhaoyuan goes to pay homage to Song Qingxu every year, no, every three months. They are childhood sweethearts and love each other..." Xie Jun said hesitantly.
Concubine An was delighted but didn't show it on the surface. She asked cautiously, "Why did the Seventh Prince tell me this?"
Xie Jun smiled hesitantly and said, "I'm not afraid of you knowing that I really hate Ling Zhaoyuan. I'm even more afraid that she will betray my royal brother's sincerity."
Concubine An lowered her eyes, but could not hide her excitement. What a childhood sweetheart, two people who were inseparable.
"I will tell Concubine Zheng. I hope the Seventh Prince won't tell anyone else about what happened today."
"Of course."
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