Chapter 836 Consort Song Comes to Invite Favor
In the imperial study, Xie Shang sat motionless at his desk, surrounded by wall lamps. His figure was enveloped in a layer of golden light, exuding majesty, nobility, and domineering presence.
What did Ruan Ruan go to Zhang Yurou for? What did Zhang Yurou tell her? Now that Zhang Yurou is dead, if he asks her, will she tell him the truth?
A seed of doubt was planted in Xie Shang's heart.
Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the door.
Xie Shang's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and he said coldly, "Who is making a fuss outside the door?"
"Your Majesty, it is Consort Shu and the Second Prince outside the door."
Xie Shang originally wanted to ignore it, but Xie Hongrui's soft and sweet voice came in: "Rui'er kowtowed to Father Emperor. Rui'er brought Father Emperor a midnight snack, which is longevity noodles made by Mother Consort herself."
Xie Shang pondered to himself, "Whose birthday is this longevity noodle?"
He stood up from his seat and walked towards the door, where he saw a small body curled up and kneeling on the ground.
He opened the door and saw Consort Song kneeling beside him, holding her son's hand.
When Song Qing saw the emperor come out, she slowly raised her head, and her delicate face came into Xie Shang's view.
Song Qing said, "Your Majesty, I am paying my respects to you. It was Rui'er who insisted on it..."
Xie Shang had always been lenient towards the imperial heirs, and he said, "Get up!"
He turned and went into the Imperial Study without closing the door. Song Qing boldly took her son's hand and slowly walked in.
Xie Shang, sitting in the main seat, glanced at her and then said to Xie Hongrui, "Come here."
Xie Hongrui was a little timid; he had practiced those words from outside the door countless times.
Song Qing gave her son a push, and Xie Hongrui walked cautiously to Xie Shang. He was tall and strong.
Xie Shang took his hand and her tone softened considerably, "Why did you come to deliver a midnight snack to Father Emperor?"
Xie Hongrui glanced at his mother before saying, "Today is my mother's birthday. I would also like to invite Father Emperor to eat a bowl of longevity noodles, wishing Father Emperor and Mother Emperor a long and healthy life."
Song Qing stepped forward and quickly covered her son's mouth, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, the Second Prince means..."
Xie Shang stared at Consort Song's face as she suddenly approached. "It's alright. Since the Second Prince is so kind, and Father is also hungry, let's try your mother's cooking."
The second prince clapped his hands happily, "Great! Father has agreed to let us eat longevity noodles!"
Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed across Xie Shang's face. Was he afraid that I wouldn't agree to eat noodles?
Seeing the smile on the child's face, Xie Shang didn't think much of it.
With a smile on her lips, Song Jing quickly placed the food box on the table and opened it, releasing a refreshing aroma.
He asked, "Did you make this?"
Song Qing said, "Your Majesty, I don't usually have any hobbies, but I do like to eat. Please try it and see if it suits your taste."
Xie Shang picked up his chopsticks and started eating. Perhaps because he hadn't eaten much today, this seemingly simple bowl of noodles stimulated his taste buds, and he found it particularly delicious.
In no time, he finished the noodles and even drank all the soup.
Song Qing asked, "Isn't that enough for His Majesty to eat?"
Xie Shang said, "That's enough. Consort Shu's cooking skills are indeed superb."
Having filled his stomach, he suddenly felt much better, and the gloom from before was completely swept away. He took the initiative to ask, "Is today Consort Shu's birthday?"
Song Qing nodded shyly, "I am nineteen years old today."
"I'll give you a birthday gift. What would you like?" Xie Shang said calmly.
Song Qing quickly waved her hand, "No need, no need, Your Majesty, I didn't come here for a gift. You've misunderstood."
Xie Shang was always very generous to women. The women who married into the palace were all useful to the royal family, and he could not possibly mistreat them.
He called out, "Wuxin."
Wu Xin glanced at Consort Song and said respectfully, "This servant is here."
"Go to the small storeroom and pick out a few pieces of jewelry to celebrate Consort Shu's birthday," Xie Shang said in a deep voice.
Wuxin respectfully withdrew. When she arrived at the small storeroom, she selected and selected several fine items sent from outside the palace. Previously, Chief Eunuch Cheng had been in charge of the selection, but now that he had been expelled from the palace, Wuxin had temporarily taken over.
He thought to himself, "If the Emperor wants to give Consort Shu a gift as a birthday present, he can't choose something too stingy, otherwise it would be a slap in the Emperor's face."
The Emperor personally gave the order, so Wuxin dared not choose a bad gift. Consort Song, however, knew how to find opportunities. No wonder she had been intentionally or unintentionally hanging around the Emperor during the day; it turned out she had this in mind.
The Empress was leaving the palace to take care of some business, but unexpectedly, Consort Shu found an opportunity.
What can we do to prevent Consort Shu from staying overnight?
When Wuxin returned, he saw the Emperor teaching the Second Prince to write. He also selected a few decent pieces of jewelry and presented them to Consort Shu, hoping to send her away as soon as possible.
Wu Xin said, "Your Majesty, the jewelry has been brought."
Xie Shang put down his pen and glanced at the jewelry. It was quite decent, with seven or eight pieces on a plate. He said, "Give them all to Consort Shu. They all look quite suitable."
Song Qing had never received a gift from the Emperor before. In previous years, the Empress would select one item to send to the palace for festivals or the birthdays of the concubines. She never expected that the Emperor would send her so many gifts this year.
Wuxin's mouth gaped open in a circle. "Give it all away! I should have taken two fewer items."
Consort Song said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for the gift."
Her face beamed with undisguised joy, making her even more charming and alluring.
Xie Shang said calmly, "I am very satisfied with Consort Song's upbringing of the Second Prince. I will urge the Second Prince to work hard so that he can share my burdens when he grows up."
The second prince was also very happy to be praised. He had always watched his father praise the eldest prince and the eldest princess, and he never expected that he would be praised by his father.
Consort Song's eyes reddened, realizing her efforts had not been in vain. She quickly said, "Second Prince, why don't you thank your father, the Emperor?"
"Your son thanks Your Majesty. I will study hard from now on." These were the words Xie Hongrui had been taught by Consort Song, and he never expected they would actually come in handy.
Xie Shang made him stand up again, "Besides studying hard, you also need to practice your swordsmanship well in the future. The children of the royal family will all become truly useful geniuses."
Whether the Second Prince remembered Xie Shang's words or not is unknown, but Consort Song certainly kept them in mind.
She thought to herself: This path was indeed the right one. As long as she nurtured the Second Prince well, the Emperor would eventually see her worth.
Even if the emperor only needs an heir when he marries a concubine, it doesn't matter, at least she has a son.
The Emperor likes her cooking, so try something different next time. The saying "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" is indeed true.
Even if the emperor only loves the empress, it doesn't matter. All she needs is a tiny place in the emperor's heart, and she's willing to accept it even if she gets it through her uncle's connections.
She also heard from her uncle that the emperor was training troops, preparing to build an elite force to protect the Great Zhou Dynasty. Her uncle was the leader, and as long as the emperor continued to rely on him, her position would not fall.
After Xie Shang dismissed Consort Song, he tidied himself up and quietly left the palace.
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