Chapter 69 After the forced marriage (5)
Fusheng then recounted what had happened in the Empress Dowager's palace that day, even mimicking the exact words spoken by Consort Shun and Consort Shu.
Chu Chengqian scoffed, "They've had enough of the good life, they're just looking for trouble!"
"Someone come here!"
A man in black jumped down from the roof beam. After landing, he bowed respectfully and said, "Your subject is here."
"I want evidence of the crimes committed by the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Works."
The rank of the imperial concubines was closely related to the court. Since Consort Shu and Consort Shun had a good life to live, they might as well go and experience a hard life.
He is the emperor, and the emperor possesses the whole world. In the past, he had to compromise himself for the sake of his offspring, but now he doesn't want to compromise anymore. So no one should complain to him. Otherwise, he might as well quit being the emperor!
The man in black immediately bowed and withdrew.
Chu Chengqian reached out to Ning Yan, "Come, I'll accompany you to see the Empress Dowager."
Ning Yan grabbed the man's hand tightly. "Thank you for protecting me, Your Majesty."
Chu Chengqian couldn't help but smile. Ten years into his reign, the twenty-nine-year-old man didn't look old at all. On the contrary, he had a calm and noble air about him. He was already handsome, and his smile made him even more captivating!
Ning Yan couldn't resist and kissed him on the cheek again. The two of them had been inseparable these days and couldn't get enough of each other; on the contrary, they were becoming more and more clingy.
Chu Chengqian, in particular, doted on Ning Yan and treated her like a precious treasure.
Therefore, Ning Yan became increasingly bold, and would deliberately tease the Emperor from time to time, doing things like kissing and hugging every day.
"Just a kiss? Forget it, I'll ask my beloved concubine for a reward myself tonight."
Ning Yan: ...Looks like I won't be able to get a good night's sleep again tonight.
Inside the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager's displeasure was even more pronounced when she saw the Emperor and Ningyan enter together.
The two men bowed to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager wanted to leave Ning Yan there, making her squat indefinitely.
However, the Emperor refused to allow it. He reached out and pulled Ning Yan up. "Mother, do you have something to tell Yan Yan?"
The Empress Dowager took a deep breath. "I've heard that you've been favoring Consort Ning these days. I'd like to see her. Is that not allowed?"
The Emperor laughed and said, "How could that be? Of course it will work!"
"Yanyan is well-behaved and sensible. It would be nice if you could call her over for a chat sometime." "Yeah, right."
Just now, his mother looked at Yan Yan with such a murderous gaze that he didn't feel comfortable letting Yan Yan accompany his mother.
Ning Yan sat to the side with her eyes downcast and said nothing, letting the mother and son fight it out.
The Empress Dowager took a deep breath, then another, and finally sent Ning Yan away.
After she left, the Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table. "Emperor, I didn't believe the concubines when they said you favored Consort Ning too much. Now it seems you've truly been bewitched by her!"
Do you even remember your responsibilities?
You have been on the throne for ten years, yet you have not even produced half an imperial heir. Now you favor Consort Ning alone. Tell me, who will inherit this Liang dynasty?
Do you really want to adopt a child from the clan?
This dragon throne was something that the mother and son had worked incredibly hard to obtain. How could she be willing to just hand it over to someone else?
"Mother, I know what you are thinking! But, I just can't have a child!"
Ten years have passed, and I have favored my concubines quite a bit, but not a single child has been born in the harem. Not to mention giving birth, not a single one has even conceived. I have given up.
Before Yan Yan entered the palace, to tell you the truth, I didn't like any of the women in the harem. If I wasn't afraid of upsetting you, I wouldn't have favored any of them.
Now I've come to terms with it. Since I possess the entire world, there's no question of me being wronged. If I love a woman like this, and I have to cower and hide it, then I might as well abdicate in favor of my brothers!
The Empress Dowager glanced at her son and thought he was so confused from sleeping with women that he didn't even have an heir. What makes you think you like women?
"I don't care who you favor, but you have to give me a grandson first!"
When the Emperor realized that he couldn't reason with the Empress Dowager, he simply stopped talking.
Regarding having children, he had tried before, but he just couldn't get pregnant. What could he do?
Since he has no offspring anyway, he'll do as he pleases. Even if Ning Yan can't have children, he won't lose out!
At least I feel better about myself.
In the end, the mother and son parted on bad terms.
After the Emperor left, the Empress Dowager smashed a lot of porcelain, wishing she could tear Ning Yan to pieces to prevent her from bewitching her son.
Unfortunately, the Emperor was with Ning Yan every day, so she couldn't find an opportunity.
Frustrated and angry, the Empress Dowager inadvertently fell ill.
After the imperial physician examined the patient and prescribed a medicine, the emperor personally served him the medicine. The empress dowager refused, so she had the concubines take turns serving him. Ning Yan was the first one scheduled.
Chun Tao was so worried she was about to cry, but Ning Yan glared at her and told her to shut up. What kind of place is the palace?
That's when you can't even control whether you cry or laugh.
If Chun Tao were to cry out loud here today, not only would she be punished, but her mistress would also be punished!
The Empress Dowager is ill and you're here shedding tears? Are you perhaps cursing her?!
Ning Yan obediently stepped forward to serve, bringing medicine, handing over handkerchiefs, and massaging the Empress Dowager's head to relieve her discomfort. In short, she was kept running around by the Empress Dowager, but she showed no reluctance on her face. After a day, even the Empress Dowager couldn't say anything about her.
The Emperor, having been busy all day, thought of Ning Yan. Upon learning that she was attending to the sick in Cining Palace, he was furious. But since he had already done it, going to her now would only make the Empress Dowager dislike Ning Yan even more. So he simply pretended not to know what had happened during the day and went directly to the Empress's palace.
Upon hearing that the Emperor had arrived, the Empress immediately ran to the door with a joyful expression to greet him.
May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace.
Unfortunately, Chu Chengqian didn't even give her a glance, leaving her squatting there.
The smile on the Queen's face vanished as she racked her brain, trying to recall what she had done that day and where she had offended this master.
Before long, her forehead was covered in sweat. As time passed and the Empress began to sway, the Emperor finally spoke: "Why are you still standing there? Rise."
The Empress originally wanted to curry favor with the Emperor, but even a fool could see that the Emperor had come to pick a fight with her today, so she didn't dare to move forward anymore and just stood obediently to the side.
Unfortunately, the Emperor wouldn't stop just because she was obedient. When it was time for dinner, the palace servants brought the food.
Chu Chengqian dismissed the eunuchs who were serving him and had the Empress serve him directly.
After the meal, he had the Empress serve him by washing his feet and giving him a massage. Yes, only washing his feet. She wouldn't even let him take a bath, since that would expose too much skin. The Emperor was afraid that the Empress would take advantage of him, so he only let her wash his feet.
This terrified the palace servants in Kunning Palace. The Emperor and Empress were the most honored couple in the land, yet today the Emperor was treating the Empress like a servant.
This is outrageous!
But that's not all. Shouldn't you rest now that you've washed your feet?
The Emperor tossed a copy of the Book of Songs to the Empress: “Empress, I am tired today, so please read it to me. You are not allowed to stop until I tell you to.”
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(End of this chapter)
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