Chapter 70 The Queen Mother Returns to the Palace
Passersby cast skeptical glances at him, and Xie Junyao said coldly, "Minding your own business. You don't know what you're talking about."
The old man put his hands on his waist. Seeing that he was about to speak again, Wen Wanyu quickly stood between them and said to the old man with a smile:
"We were just joking. He and I are not biological siblings, we are...we are..."
Wen Wanyu paused, unable to think of any appropriate words to describe their relationship.
While she was still racking her brains, someone hugged her shoulders, and then she heard Xie Junyao's unhurried voice: "My wife."
My wife means wife.
Wen Wanyu widened her eyes and turned to look at him.
Feeling her gaze, Xie Junyao also turned to look at her, his thick eyebrows slightly raised, as if asking what was wrong.
The old man finally reacted. He laughed awkwardly and stroked his graying beard. "So this is just some marital fun between you two. Sorry, I'm sorry."
Wen Wanyu also laughed awkwardly.
Xie Junyao held her hand and walked forward, with Li Dexian and Bai Su following behind them.
"Is there anything you want to eat or drink?"
"I want to eat...cakes."
There happened to be a pastry shop just up the street. Xie Junyao took her there. These pastries were not available in the palace, and they looked delicious. Although the food outside the palace was somewhat unhealthy, it was a great relief to finally get out of the palace.
It’s okay to eat it once in a while.
Li Dexian put down a gold ingot. Xie Junyao said to the vendor, "Pack these up for me."
Wen Wanyu tugged at his hand: "Too much!"
"Take it back and eat it slowly."
When the peddler saw the gold ingot, his eyes widened. He thought he had met a wealthy family and said, "Okay. I'll pack it up for you two right away."
"This walnut cake is for you two. I wish you two a happy and sweet life together."
Every time she heard the word "husband and wife," Wen Wanyu's face would reveal an awkward expression. But she always felt like she had stolen someone else's "man."
I wanted to put my hands together and beg them to stop talking.
On the contrary, Xie Junyao was very calm and nodded.
Wen Wanyu said, "It's quite lively outside the palace."
Xie Junyao nodded: "Yes."
Moreover, the streets and alleys are full of the atmosphere of the human world. There is no palace intrigue, but more sincerity that is not found in the palace.
After shopping for about half an hour and buying more than half of the items on the street, Li Dexian and Bai Su were almost unable to carry more.
Only then did Xie Junyao propose to return to the palace.
When it came time to go back, Wen Wanyu was reluctant to leave. She didn't know when she would leave the palace again. It might be soon, or more than a decade later, or maybe she would never leave the palace again.
Seeing that she was disappointed, Xie Junyao promised her that he would take her out of the palace for a walk if he had the chance.
Wen Wanyu was not very happy either, because she knew that the emperor's promise was not worth mentioning.
——
Three days later, Zhengui Fei's mother was stripped of her title of Consort Gaoming.
During this period, Concubine Zhengui was also stripped of her title.
Many people in the palace, including Wen Wanyu, were puzzled. Concubine Wan had committed crimes and abused her power. Yet, the emperor's punishment for her was only house arrest. Even if her title was stripped, it would be restored within a few months.
Over the years, Concubine Zhengui has always been the special one. But this time, the emperor did not protect her.
Even though Concubine Wan was still under house arrest, she secretly celebrated after hearing the news, while Yang Cainu, who had just been demoted, felt uneasy.
It's so abnormal.
In November, the Empress Dowager returned to the palace from Mount Wutai. The sky was as blue as a gem, the sun was bright and soft, and the breeze was gentle. The weather was beautiful and sunny.
On a sunny autumn day, the sky is high and the clouds are light, and the ground is covered with yellow fallen leaves, giving people a sense of tranquil beauty.
The Queen Mother wore a purple orchid robe, her hair tied in a high bun with two golden hairpins. Her face was like a beautiful jade, dignified and elegant. She had a faint smile on her face, and she looked graceful and elegant.
"Your humble concubine pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen Mother."
The Queen Mother waved her hand slightly.
Walking up to the emperor, he said, "My son has lost weight."
Xie Junyao's brows revealed a hint of tenderness: "Mother, you have traveled a long way and must have worked hard."
The Empress Dowager glanced behind him and saw several unfamiliar faces. Concubine Zheng was still the same, lowering her head and not meeting her gaze. Concubine Wan was nowhere to be seen.
She raised her eyebrows: "Why didn't Concubine Wan come?"
The Queen replied, "In reply to your Majesty, Concubine Wan is still under house arrest."
The Queen Mother raised the corner of her mouth.
The Queen was standing beside Xie Junyao and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, you have traveled a long way and must have had a hard time. I will accompany you back to the palace first."
The Queen Mother nodded.
As he still had government affairs to attend to, the emperor did not go to Shoukang Palace but returned to Chengqian Palace.
In Shoukang Palace, the Queen Mother changed into her usual attire.
Nanny Liu helped her sit in the seat of honor, and the concubines bowed to greet her again.
"Get up."
The Queen Mother's gaze first fell on Concubine Zheng, and she said indifferently, "I heard that Concubine Zheng hosted the palace banquet for the first time, and I lost another grandson."
Regarding Fang Wenyi's miscarriage and death at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, the blame couldn't be placed solely on Concubine Zhengui. It was simply the Empress Dowager, who had always disliked Concubine Zheng, and was deliberately using this as an excuse to cause trouble.
The Queen did not speak to explain for Concubine Zheng.
Concubine Zheng slowly stood up from her chair, looking relaxed. "It is indeed my fault. I have acknowledged my mistake."
The implication is, what else do you want?
The Queen Mother smiled coldly and said, "After I have read this, these palace banquets will no longer need to be handed over to Concubine Zheng."
"Queen—"
The Queen looked at the Queen Mother and said, "Your son is here."
"Don't be lazy anymore."
"I understand."
The Queen Mother exuded a subtle dignity when she spoke or looked at someone. Her posture inspired awe in people.
The person the concubines feared most was not Concubine Zheng, nor the Queen, but the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother looked at Poppy, who was holding her belly, with a hint of a smile on her face: "How many months pregnant is she?"
The months of confinement and reflection had deterred Yu Meiren from further unbridled behavior. After a few months of nursing, the pregnancy was stable. Just as the Empress Dowager was returning to the palace, Xie Junyao, to please her, 'released' her.
Yu Meiren said, "In reply to the Queen Mother, it has been five months."
The Queen Mother nodded.
"The Emperor has few children. You must work hard to expand the royal family."
Her eyes were cold and stern: "If you can't get pregnant, then don't monopolize the emperor all day long."
No one knew who the Queen Mother was referring to.
"I heard Yu'er moved out of Fuyao Palace. Where is she now?"
Wen Wanyu was suddenly called out and stood up and replied, "Replying to the Queen Mother, the eldest princess is now in my Changli Pavilion."
"You?" The Queen Mother clearly looked down on her. There was a hint of disdain in her tone.
She gently lifted her eyelids and glanced at Wen Wanyu coldly: "You are just a concubine, and the emperor actually let Yu'er stay with you for two months."
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