Chapter 1177 How much do you know about the Imperial Concubine?
She said hurriedly, "It's Ning--Madam Qin."
"Qin... Ruolan..."
Mentioning this woman again made Zhu Feng feel a little lost for a moment.
Xin Qing said softly, "Of course, that was many years ago. Half a year later, I was assigned to serve the Emperor, and I have been doing so ever since."
“…”
Zhu Feng looked at her, speechless for a moment.
He found that it was really hard for people to notice Xinqing, a woman, because she had no sense of existence. Even when asked about what happened in the past, she would talk about others and rarely mentioned herself.
In the harem, such a woman, who does not fight or compete, has no background, and no extraordinary talent or beauty, is indeed difficult to attract people's attention.
But, it is precisely because of this that she gives people a very comfortable feeling.
Just like a gentle relative.
After all, people experience too much fighting and scheming in their lives, and even he would feel tired. Being with Xinqing, where one doesn't have to use his brain or be wary of calculations, is indeed a place to rest.
No wonder, no matter how busy I was, I would come to her every month.
Now, even though I have only talked to her like this once, I feel so relaxed and can trust her completely.
Zhu Feng looked at her for a while and said, "Would you like some tea?"
"ah?"
Xinqing was indeed a little thirsty after talking so much, but she was also a little surprised that the emperor could be so considerate.
What frightened her even more was that Zhu Feng actually went to pour her a cup of tea.
Xin Qing was so frightened that she almost fell off the bed. She hurriedly held the teacup with both hands and said, "Your Majesty, how can I be worthy of your kindness?"
Zhu Feng said softly, "You are sick, so don't talk about this."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xinqing felt a surge of warmth in her heart, and the corners of her eyes turned slightly red.
She held the teacup and took a sip. It was just ordinary tea, but it tasted sweet.
Zhu Feng looked at her for a while, then said, "Well, how much do you know about the Imperial Concubine?"
"ah?"
This time, Xinqing was stunned again.
She looked up at Zhu Feng in surprise, but saw a faint glint in his eyes. He said in a deep voice, "What kind of person is she?"
“…”
Xin Qing hesitated for a moment before softly saying, "Your Majesty, haven't you heard about it from the Empress and the others? Moreover, this time, when Prince Ning rebelled, it was the Imperial Concubine who accompanied Your Majesty back from Changqing City."
Zhu Feng said: "However, there are some things about her that I haven't figured out yet."
“…”
"I also know that some of them are unwilling to tell me, while some of them tell me things with ulterior motives."
Xin Qing was startled by his words and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, please calm down. The Empress and the others are not unfaithful to you. They are just, just -"
Seeing her like this, Zhu Feng's tone calmed down a bit and he said, "I know they have other considerations, but it is precisely because of this that there are very few people I can completely trust."
“…”
"I believe you, and I want to hear what you have to say."
“…”
This time, Xinqing was also a little hesitant.
Although she did not fight or compete in the palace, her status was special because she had accompanied Zhu Feng for the longest time. There were many things that even the queen might not dare to say. In fact, she dared to say them, but was unwilling to do so because she did not want to be involved in any right or wrong.
She just wanted to stay quietly in the harem, meet the emperor once a month and accompany him. That was enough.
Now, it was Zhu Feng himself who asked.
Seeing Xinqing's hesitation, Zhu Feng continued, "When we were in Changqing City, Qin Ruolan and the people around her told me that the imperial concubine openly admitted that she had an affair with another man, and that even Princess Xinping was not my biological child."
Xinqing frowned.
He murmured, "Why would they say that?"
Zhu Feng asked, "Are these things true?"
“…”
Xin Qing hesitated for a moment, looked at Zhu Feng, and said softly, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine—she did admit this herself."
Zhu Feng's breath suddenly became heavier.
"So this is true?"
“…”
Xin Qing said softly, "Your Majesty, I rarely interact with others in the palace, and I almost never ask about state affairs or other people's affairs. I only know that the situation was complicated at the time, and the concubine was not in the territory of Yan during her pregnancy, so this has given people room for speculation and doubt."
"Guess? Doubt?" Zhu Feng said, "From what you said, it seems like you think this isn't true."
"Your Majesty, I truly do not know the truth, so no matter what, I cannot give Your Majesty an answer that leaves a clear conscience. If I were to say anything, I would be deceiving Your Majesty."
“…”
"However, I believe in the emperor."
"You, believe me?"
"Yes, I have always believed in the emperor and his judgment."
“…”
"I believe the Emperor has already seen through the Imperial Concubine's character after spending some time with her. Originally, the Imperial Concubine was chosen by Emperor Wen as his concubine. Later, because she offended the Emperor, she was kept by his side as a female official in the Imperial Treasures Department. Although she was deprived of her status as a slave, she always served the Emperor wholeheartedly. Therefore, even though he knew that she was of the royal family of the Neng Kingdom, the Emperor still defied all odds and appointed her as the Imperial Concubine."
"She—she has Dian blood in her?"
"What exactly happened? Perhaps the truth is beyond my reach. However, I believe in the emperor's judgment. He has always been discerning. A person who can capture his heart and soul is definitely not a mediocre woman, let alone a woman of bad character."
Zhu Feng looked at her quietly for a while, and said with a half-smile, "Maybe, yeah."
Xinqing's face turned a little red.
Zhu Feng sighed, then said, "Well, I've troubled you for so long, it's time for you to have a good rest."
After saying that, he reached out and patted the back of her hand, then stood up and prepared to leave.
Just as he was about to turn around and walk out, Xin Qing frowned, as if she had thought it over again, and finally spoke carefully: "Your Majesty, I have one more thing I want to tell you."
"oh?"
Zhu Feng stopped and looked back at her: "What's the matter?"
Xin Qing hesitated for a long time and said, "The weather has been quite cold these days. Madam Qin, the Emperor should have some more charcoal sent over."
“……!”
Zhu Feng frowned.
He didn't know what had happened at first, but after hearing Xinqing's words, he immediately understood.
Xin Qing hurriedly added, "Your Majesty, I don't mean anything else. I just feel a little sorry for her."
“…”
Zhu Feng looked at her silently for a while and said, "Don't worry."
"yes."
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