He Xue was quite troubled. Even if An Lingrong were to leave the palace now, she would probably become a laughing stock. Given An Lingrong's sensitive and insecure nature, who knew what kind of person she would become?
"Let me ask An Lingrong first! We can't just think about ourselves; we also need to consider An Lingrong's feelings!"
"Alright, whatever you say! Why are you so interested in this An Lingrong?" Emperor Jingning asked curiously.
He Xue then told Emperor Jingning about how Xia Dongchun had bullied An Lingrong.
"This Xia Dongchun is far too arrogant!" Emperor Jingning said. "Let Xia Wei take her back to his residence and discipline her properly! I don't have time to teach her daughter!"
"Alright!" He Xue felt that no matter which relative Xia Dongchun was betrothed to, the outcome would probably not be good. With Xia Wei's status, although Xia Dongchun could not marry into a high-ranking family, she could at least live a peaceful life.
Emperor Jingning spoke with Hexue for a while before returning to the Qianqing Palace.
After Emperor Jingning left, He Xue pondered An Lingrong's situation. An Lingrong's mother's circumstances were not good either, so she wondered whether An Lingrong wanted her father to be promoted or to rescue her mother.
"Xia Bing, pick out a few things and send them to Yanxi Palace. Also, have Consort An come to Kunning Palace!"
"Yes, this servant will go right away!" Xia Bing replied.
When An Lingrong learned that He Xue wanted her to go to Kunning Palace, her heart skipped a beat. [Would the Empress think I'm going to enter the palace to compete for the Emperor's favor?]
"Consort An, may you come with me to Kunning Palace now?" Xia Bing asked, noticing An Lingrong's distressed expression and wondering what she was thinking.
“Okay, this is it!” An Lingrong said immediately after regaining her senses.
An Lingrong arrived at Kunning Palace with a heavy heart, repeatedly telling herself, "The Empress isn't difficult to get along with. I'll explain things clearly! She'll understand!"
When An Lingrong arrived at Kunning Palace, she happened to run into Imperial Physician Wang, who was examining He Xue's pulse. An Lingrong was made to wait for a while, but this short time made her even more uneasy, as she thought it was He Xue trying to intimidate her.
When she heard He Xue tell her to go in, she was so scared that she didn't know which leg to step with first.
After An Lingrong bowed, He Xue helped her up.
While Xue pondered how to bring it up, An Lingrong was so nervous that she didn't dare to breathe.
"Lingrong, His Majesty has already told me about your investiture!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I have absolutely no improper thoughts. Please investigate thoroughly!" An Lingrong hurriedly got down from her seat and knelt before He Xue to make her promise.
He Xue was taken aback at first, but then she understood what was going on. An Lingrong probably thought that she had been summoned here on purpose to cause her trouble.
"Get up quickly, you must have misunderstood what I meant!" Then she gestured for Xia Bing to help An Lingrong up.
"I summoned you here to ask for your opinion. The Emperor is being far too frivolous in this matter!"
An Lingrong was inwardly astonished. [The Empress dared to say the Emperor was being too frivolous?]
"The Emperor shouldn't let you waste your best years in the palace so easily. Even if you leave the palace later, you'll probably have a hard time marrying into a good family."
You need to think this through carefully. If you have any thoughts, you can speak up directly.
"If you are unwilling, I can go and refuse the Emperor on your behalf!" He Xue tried to keep her tone gentle so as not to frighten the already frightened An Lingrong.
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