"Whatever the emperor says, we'll do." The Empress Dowager, angered by the emperor's words, could no longer maintain her composure.
The emperor grasped Qiao Qiu's hand and said casually, "Why don't we exempt my beloved concubine from the morning and evening greetings?"
These words struck the Empress Dowager like a bolt from the blue. She nearly lost her balance, but the old nanny behind her supported her before she said, "Alright, as you say."
Qiao Dong's face turned pale. Not only did the Emperor know about what happened this morning, but he also openly protected Qiao Qiu and made the matter public.
No amount of shock could describe Qiao Dong's current feelings. This was different from what she had originally imagined; it shouldn't be like this.
Yes, that's not how it ended. There's still a chance, there definitely is.
Qiao Qiu was also surprised, but she thought about it more deeply. The emperor was very likely to use her to deal with the empress dowager. After all, the empress dowager had caused him more than just a little harm. Not to mention anything else, his own mother was killed by the empress dowager. Even if he only wanted to avenge his mother, he would not let the empress dowager go.
"What do you think, my beloved consort?" the emperor asked Qiao Qiu gently.
Qiao Qiu smiled slightly, "Your Majesty is so devoted to me, I am so grateful, how could I possibly have any other thoughts?"
The emperor laughed along, without even looking up, and said, "Search."
Seeing the Empress Dowager nod, the nanny beside her turned to the Imperial Guards and said, "Search!"
"yes!"
The Imperial Guards ran into Ronghua Hall from both sides; there were about a hundred of them.
"Hey, you're not allowed to mess up my wardrobe! If you want to search my room, send a woman to search!" Even though Qiao Qiu was usually very composed, she was still a girl. She had already tolerated these men searching her room, but she really couldn't stand them searching her wardrobe.
The Empress Dowager gave the old nanny a wink, and the old nanny led several other nannies inside.
"Naughty."
The emperor chuckled softly, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe. The scent was all ambergris. Qiao Qiu's heart pounded wildly. She blinked, trying to calm this sudden and inexplicable palpitation.
"Go inside and sit down to wait. Don't all stand outside waiting." After saying this, the emperor put his arm around Qiao Qiu and turned to walk into the palace.
This was clearly because they were afraid Qiao Qiu would get cold, so they called everyone inside. Seeing this, the Empress Dowager's eyes turned cold, but she still followed them inside.
Qiao Dong and the other concubines followed behind and went inside. Even though her heart was burning with jealousy, she still maintained a calm expression.
After Qiao Qiu entered the room, she stepped out of the emperor's arms and personally took off his cloak, but didn't take off her own, since she was wearing undergarments and it was better to have some cover-up.
The emperor laughed for a long time when he saw that she hadn't taken off her cloak.
Qiao Qiu gritted her teeth inwardly, feeling an urge to bite the emperor to death. Damn it, couldn't he at least give her some face? Why did he have to smile so awfully?
After a while, the Imperial Guards and the old nannies returned to the palace.
The leader of the Imperial Guards and the old nanny knelt in the center and reported, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, there is nothing inside."
"No?!" Qiao Dong's voice rose eight octaves in surprise. Everyone looked at her. Qiao Dong hurriedly changed her expression and forced a dry laugh, "Your Majesty, I was just worried about you. If we don't find the thief, how can your safety be..."
Before she could finish speaking, an Imperial Guard rushed in and knelt before the Emperor and Empress Dowager. "Your Majesty," he said, "we have captured an assassin dressed in black in the Imperial Garden. We dare not presume to decide how to deal with him."
The emperor glanced at the empress dowager and said, "Lock the man in the imperial prison. I will interrogate him again tomorrow. You may leave."
"As you command."
The Imperial Guards all left in a flash, leaving the entrance to the main hall much emptier.
The Empress Dowager glanced at Qiao Dong, who trembled in fear and lowered his head even further. A feeling of unease settled in her chest. She stood up and said, "Now that we've caught the person, Ronghua Palace is safe. I should be leaving."
"Empress Dowager, don't forget what you promised," the Emperor reminded her.
"I know, starting tomorrow, Qiao Ronghua need not come to Yangfu Palace to pay her respects morning and evening." After saying this, the Empress Dowager left Ronghua Palace with the help of the old nanny.
Qiao Qiu saw her to the door, curtsied, and said, "Respectfully seeing off the Empress Dowager."
Upon hearing her voice, many concubines turned around and gave her a look of envy, jealousy, and hatred.
The emperor walked to Qiao Qiu's side, glanced at the departing procession, put his arm around her shoulder, and said, "Xiao Shunzi, put down the zither and take the men out."
"yes."
Xiao Shunzi placed the zither on the table and led Honglan and the other palace maids and eunuchs out in an orderly fashion. With a creak, the door closed.
"My beloved concubine, what trick did you use to get him out of here?"
The emperor's voice was intimate and gentle, but his words were like a venomous snake flicking its tongue; if she said one wrong word, he would bite her and poison her to death.
Qiao Qiu innocently replied, "What ability does Your Majesty believe I have to get rid of someone?"
The emperor said sadly, "I risked falling out with the Empress Dowager for your sake, and you won't even tell me a single truth?"
Qiao Qiu had seen shameless people before, but never anyone this shameless. She almost rolled her eyes. They had already broken ties with the Empress Dowager long ago, so what face did they have left to turn to?
The emperor leaned close to her ear and chuckled, "I heard you thinking that I'm shameless."
Qiao Qiu's pupils contracted slightly. She didn't show any expression at all, and she didn't make eye contact with the emperor. How could he know what she was thinking?
Without waiting for her to speak, the emperor continued, "My beloved consort, can I trust you?"
Trust...her? Qiao Qiu felt that either the emperor hadn't taken his 'medicine' today, or she hadn't taken hers today.
"You might find it ridiculous that I should have countless beauties instead of just one, but I just want the happiness of an ordinary couple. I think I can do it because I have never touched another woman except you. I want to take a gamble. If you are willing, you can manage the country with me. I will not hide what you want to do, and you should not hide what you want to do from me."
Qiao Qiu was horrified. These were not words that an ancient emperor could say. Could this emperor have traveled through time?
No, that's not right either. Men all have inherent flaws, and even in modern times, many men still envy the life of having multiple wives and concubines in ancient times. How could they possibly be content to live a monogamous life? Qiao Qiu really couldn't understand it.
"Qiao Qiu, you are my wife, the one I will spend my life with. Perhaps you think it's not like an emperor to say such things, but I am different from emperors in history. So I don't expect you to believe me now. I will prove my words with time. Qiao Qiu, you must not let me down, otherwise I don't know what I will do." The emperor originally planned to cultivate his relationship with Qiao Qiu for a while before saying this, but after what happened tonight, he had no choice but to speak.
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