After saying that, she turned around and left Zhongcui Palace without looking back.
Concubine Shu watched Xue Qiong leave coldly, and felt relieved in her heart, as she had finally completed the task assigned by Emperor Xuanwu.
She didn't dare to ask the reason. How could she guess the emperor's thoughts?
For two days, Xue Qiong locked herself in the palace and refused to go out.
She knew in her heart that when she came to marry, the only person she could rely on in the Central Plains was Emperor Xuanwu.
However, Emperor Xuanwu is not an easy person to deal with. Even if he is controlled by the love poison, love alone seems unable to change the cruel reality that Concubine Shu mentioned.
Her goal was not just to be a favorite concubine, but to reach a higher position.
But how can she get Emperor Xuanwu to overcome all difficulties for her?
At noon that day, at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, sunlight shone on the bluestone slabs, casting mottled light and shadows.
Xue Qiong was wearing a purple palace dress with delicate silver thread patterns embroidered on the hem, which made her look elegant and graceful.
She raised her head slightly, her eyes filled with anticipation and anxiety.
Eunuch Fu stood aside, bowing, a respectful smile on his face, but his tone was a little distant: "Empress Qiong, the Emperor is busy, I'm afraid it's inconvenient for him to see you."
Xue Qiong frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing across her face, but her voice remained gentle: "Eunuch Fu, you said the same thing when I came yesterday. Are you still saying the same thing today? I just came to see the emperor and say a few words. Please go in and inform him."
Eunuch Fu looked embarrassed, hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked into the palace.
Xue Qiong stood where she was, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the silk handkerchief in her hand, a feeling of loss and panic welling up in her heart.
Her mind was filled with the sarcasm and ridicule from the concubines in Zhongcui Palace yesterday, and she felt even more uneasy.
Did she fall from favor so quickly?
She raised her wrist and gently stroked the cinnabar mole. The love insect was still intact. Emperor Xuanwu would never stop loving her.
But why did he avoid seeing her?
After a long while, Eunuch Fu finally walked out of the hall and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor said he is really busy today. Please go back first."
Xue Qiong's heart sank when she heard this, but she forced a smile on her face: "In that case, I won't bother you anymore."
She turned and left, her steps steady but her heart as if she were sinking into an icy cave.
Along the way, she felt that the scenery in the palace had lost the brightness of the previous day, and even the blooming flowers seemed to be mocking her frustration.
The next day, in Yupeng Palace, Xueqiong leaned against the window, staring blankly at a red plum tree in the courtyard.
The maids didn't dare to disturb her and just stood far away.
"Princess, don't worry too much. Perhaps the Emperor is really busy."
Suddenly, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the palace. A palace attendant hurried into the palace and bowed respectfully, "Empress Qiong, the Emperor has sent a message. Please come to Yujingxuan to have dinner with us in half an hour."
When Xue Qiong heard this, her eyes suddenly lit up and the gloom on her face disappeared.
She hurriedly got up and ordered the palace maids to dress her up.
After bathing and changing her clothes, she put on a crimson palace dress with peonies embroidered with gold thread on the hem and a jeweled gold hairpin in her hair. She looked charming and attractive, like a blooming peony.
After a cup of tea, the arbor stopped on the bluestone road outside Yujingxuan.
Xue Qiong got out of the sedan chair and looked up. She saw the afterglow of the setting sun shining on the glazed tiles of Chonghua Palace, casting a golden glow.
"This palace is so huge! It's even more magnificent than Jingren Palace." The palace attendant beside him replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, this is Chonghua Palace. The Emperor specially chose this place to have dinner with you."
Xue Qiong smiled slightly, her heart full of anticipation.
She walked slowly into the hall, went up to the second floor, pushed open the door of Yujingxuan, and a faint scent of ambergris hit her face.
The gilded charcoal stove was burning brightly, bringing warmth.
Xuan Ling was sitting at the table by the window, holding a memorial in his hand with a focused expression.
Today he was wearing a black brocade robe with dark golden dragon patterns embroidered on it, which made his figure stand tall and straight and his face look handsome as a picture.
The afterglow of the setting sun shines on the emperor's profile, outlining a deep contour that makes people unable to look away.
Xue Qiong felt a surge of admiration in her heart, but she also felt sad because of the neglect she had received in the past few days.
Yingying bowed, her voice gentle and graceful: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
Xuan Ling put down the memorial, raised his eyes to look at her, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his lips: "My beloved is here? You look so cold that your face is red. Are you dressed warmly?"
The concern in his tone warmed Xueqiong's heart and tears welled up in her eyes.
Ever since her father ordered her to marry into the Central Plains, she had never felt such genuine care, not to mention that this care came from the emperor who ruled over the nine provinces.
She whispered, "I am a little cold."
As she spoke, she walked over to sit beside him, tears quietly sliding down her cheeks.
Xuan Ling wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief and said gently, "My beloved, are you feeling sad because you haven't seen me for a few days?"
Xue Qiong raised her eyes, tears glistening in them: "Your Majesty, are you tired of me?"
As she spoke, she reached out and took Xuan Ling's hand, gently rubbing the back of his hand with her wrist.
A hint of coldness flashed in Xuan Ling's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
Damn woman, you're using the love poison to control me again.
Disgusting? I want to slap you!
He calmly withdrew his hand, picked up a memorial from the table and handed it to her: "My beloved, in fact, I haven't seen you these past few days because of a troubling matter. I was afraid that if I saw you, I would feel pity for you, but..."
Xue Qiong took the memorial, opened it, and saw a proposal to confer the title of Imperial Noble Consort on her.
Her heart was shocked, her eyes full of surprise and disbelief: "Your Majesty, you are so kind to me!"
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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