This kind of thing should not be hidden from Emperor Mian, but now that the Empress Dowager has returned to the palace, let's wait and see.
Who knows, it might even surprise and delight others.
On the ninth day of June, the sky is clear and the air is fresh.
In order to welcome the Empress Dowager back to the palace, Emperor Mian brought his ministers and concubines to the palace gate early in the morning to wait for her.
Of course, this does not include the Queen Mother.
Two days before the Empress Dowager returned, she accidentally caught a cold and has been unwell for the past two days.
After waiting for about half an hour, the Empress Dowager finally arrived slowly in the royal carriage.
Along the way, the Empress Dowager kept her eyes closed and rested.
After the carriage stopped, he was helped down as everyone knelt down and bowed loudly.
Although she is old, she still maintains her dignity and elegance, and exudes a noble grace in her every move.
Emperor Mian and the Empress paid their respects to the Grand Empress Dowager in a proper manner.
"Respectfully welcome the Empress Dowager back to the palace. Your grandson is unfilial and was unable to greet you in person."
"It's alright, the Emperor is busy with government affairs. It's all you need to be kind. I can't always cause you trouble."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand with a kind attitude.
After saying this, she looked at the imperial crown carefully again.
After not seeing him for three years, the emperor seemed to have become more mature, stronger, and his facial features more angular.
However, there are still some differences.
His temperament seemed to be softer. This child was not like this before. He always had a cold face when meeting everyone.
The evil spirit on the person is so strong that children will be scared and cry when they see him.
But today he seemed to be much more restrained, and his whole person became much gentler.
It seems that he has really changed.
"How has the Emperor been these past few years?"
Emperor Mian smiled and said, "Thank you, Grandmother, for your concern. Everything is fine."
"In that case, I am relieved."
The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction, "Let's go, let's go back and reminisce about the past."
Then, the group returned to the palace in a grand procession.
The palace of the Empress Dowager is Shoukang Palace. The palace is magnificent and the decoration is low-key yet luxurious.
As he walked along, he saw that the palace maids and eunuchs around him were standing respectfully with their hands hanging down, not daring to make a sound.
The status of the Empress Dowager is really too high.
Even though he has retreated to the second line in recent years, his majesty remains as great as ever.
Gu Xiaoqiao followed the concubines obediently all the way to the gate of Shoukang Palace.
"Grandmother, please come in!"
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, stepped in first, and looked around briefly after entering.
The layout is still the same as it was three years ago, except that some things have been replaced with new ones.
"We're all family, so please come in and sit for a while."
The Empress Dowager greeted everyone.
"promise."
So, a group of concubines entered the palace one after another.
There is a row of chairs on both sides of the long table, each with a set of tea sets, and the aroma of tea is fragrant.
The Grand Empress Dowager gestured for everyone to take a seat, and then asked the nanny beside her to instruct the palace maids to serve tea and cakes.
They hadn't been able to talk outside just now, but when they arrived at Shoukang Palace, the Queen started to chat and exchange pleasantries.
"I'm afraid your Royal Grandmother has lived a very hard life in Guangzhao Temple these past few years. It's great that she's back now. This will finally allow us, your concubines, to be by your side and fulfill our filial duties."
"I hope you can always be by my side."
The Empress Dowager smiled kindly.
Seeing that the Queen had spoken, Concubine Ning naturally couldn't be left behind, so she immediately spoke up, "Yes, Grand Empress Dowager, your concubines have been looking forward to your return for the past few years. Now that you have finally come, we are truly delighted."
"So do I!"
Seeing that both the Queen and Concubine Ning had spoken, Concubine Rong couldn't let them steal the limelight.
…
For a time, many concubines expressed their longing for the emperor, and the atmosphere was rare and harmonious.
The Empress Dowager listened with a smile, but her deep eyes kept scanning everyone. Her seemingly calm eyes concealed turbulent waves.
She is not a fool.
How could she not know the changes in the harem over the years?
The queen is a sickly person and a mere show-off.
Concubine Ning was ambitious and the most favored. Moreover, she had left her palace, so her favor was also beneficial to her.
It’s a pity that I’m a little older now, and even after so many years, there’s still no sign of pregnancy.
Rong Fei, she has a good family background, but she is not very smart.
He often offends people with his words, and the emperor doesn't like his mouth either.
As for the others, well, there’s no need to say more.
That is one that is worse than the other.
Thinking of some recent rumors in the palace, she turned her attention to the new concubines who had entered the palace.
"Which ones have just entered the palace this year? Come, let me take a good look."
After hearing what the Grand Empress Dowager said, the Queen asked Gu Xiaoqiao and the others to stand up and greet the Grand Empress Dowager.
"Your humble servant (concubine) greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be blessed with good health and happiness!"
Concubine Rong, Gu Xiaoqiao and six others bowed repeatedly, their attitudes respectful and humble.
The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction.
These girls all have good family backgrounds, and it’s time for the emperor to add more new people to his harem.
When it was Gu Xiaoqiao's turn, the Empress Dowager unconsciously looked at her twice more.
In fact, this girl saw it when she just got off the car. Even though she was not wearing very conspicuous clothes today, it was hard to ignore her face.
She is a real beauty.
Moreover, she has the unique aura of a Jiangnan woman, which is indeed different from others. No wonder the emperor is so fond of her.
But, the more I look at this girl's eyes, the more they look like...
The Empress Dowager frowned and her heart skipped a beat.
His initial scrutiny suddenly turned into trance, then into anger and disgust, and then returned to normal in an instant, but all these reactions were seen by Concubine Ning who was standing by.
She thought that the Empress Dowager hated this vixen as much as she did, and was naturally overjoyed.
"Are you Gu Jinqiao, the daughter of the Jiangzhou prefect?"
"To the Empress Dowager, it is indeed me."
Gu Xiaoqiao was respectful.
"Where is your mother from?"
"My mother is from Yangzhou."
"You've been in Yangzhou since you were born? Where's your maternal grandfather's family?"
The Empress Dowager's tone suddenly became anxious and she asked repeatedly.
Her appearance made Gu Xiaoqiao a little unsure of what she was going to do.
Moreover, the way she looked at her just now was clearly not like looking at a junior, but more like the shock as if she saw an old friend.
Gu Xiaoqiao did not hide it, "I heard from my mother that my grandfather's family seemed to be in business, but later on they fell into poverty and my parents died early, so my mother was fostered in a local relative's home, and later she married my father after she came of age.
As for the rest, I have never heard mother mention it.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
