(The beginning of the previous chapter explains the reasons why Emperor Jun and Ling Ling disappeared. You can go back and read it.)
Not long after, Sheng Xiyan arrived at the gate of Cining Palace, but did not see the imperial carriage.
A palace servant came running over and said, "My Lady, the Emperor said it's cold, so he wants you to go in first and he'll be right back."
"I understand."
Inside the Cining Palace, sandalwood incense is slowly wafting.
Supported by Hua Xia and Mei Xiang, Sheng Xiyan walked in slowly with her hand on her nine-month pregnant belly. The hem of her skirt embroidered with peonies in gold thread swept across the shiny gold bricks.
She saw her brother and sister-in-law kneeling in the hall at a glance - Sheng Jingheng had his back straight, while Ruan Niang's face was as pale as paper.
Sitting opposite were Concubine Jia and the mother and daughter of the Su family. Su Yunfu was wiping her tears with a handkerchief.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
Madam Su and Su Yunfu stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Imperial Concubine."
"Your humble servant pays homage to the Imperial Concubine."
The Queen Mother twirled her Buddhist beads and said, "Show me a seat for the Imperial Concubine."
Sheng Xiyan sat on the soft chair and glanced at Concubine Jia, "Oh, Concubine Jia is here too? If you hadn't said anything, I really wouldn't have seen you."
You haven't even saluted me yet. Have you forgotten the palace rules?
Concubine Jia had no choice but to stand up and perfunctorily salute, saying, "Good luck to the noble concubine."
"Sister, please sit down. I haven't seen Concubine Jia for a while. You look more and more beautiful." Sheng Xiyan said as she looked at Madam Su and Su Yunfu.
Madam Su nodded and looked at Sheng Xiyan. She always felt something indescribable about her and wondered if she was intimidated by the imperial concubine's aura.
The Queen Mother said coldly, "Noble Consort, your brother has done something foolish. Now Yun Fu is pregnant with the Sheng family's bloodline. Please persuade Ruan Shi to give up the position of principal wife."
Sheng Xiyan was shocked and looked at Sheng Jingheng.
"Don't worry, Queen Mother. We still don't know if there's a misunderstanding."
"Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine makes it sound as if we are deliberately pestering your brother." Madam Su said sarcastically.
Sheng Xiyan looked at her with a cold smile on her face.
"That's what Madam Su said herself. I can't understand how an unmarried woman could get pregnant with a married man's child!"
He was just short of saying the word "shameless".
Su Yunfu burst into tears upon hearing this, kneeling down and grabbing the empress dowager's phoenix robe, "Aunt, Fu'er doesn't want this either. If it weren't for the situation, how could Fu'er let everyone in the capital know that I was pregnant out of wedlock? Wuuwuwu!"
Sheng Xiyan glared at her, what a bitch, your methods are despicable.
"I know what kind of character my elder brother is. Could it be that Miss Su wrote, directed, and performed this play herself?"
Madam Su and Su Yunfu were so choked that they were speechless and could only stare.
Concubine Jia said, "Noble Concubine, what do you mean? The facts are before us, and Lord Sheng still wants to deny it! Divorce your wife and marry our Yun Fu!"
The Queen Mother said sternly, "Noble Consort, there is no need to discuss this matter further. I called you here today to persuade Ruan to willingly give up her position as principal wife. Please stop being so arrogant and unreasonable."
Sheng Xiyan grumbled aggrievedly, "How could I be so arrogant and unreasonable? Shouldn't we investigate everything thoroughly before making a decision? Besides, my elder brother and sister-in-law haven't said anything!"
"You, outrageous!"
The Queen Mother was so angry that she wanted to throw the jade Buddhist beads in her hand at Sheng Xiyan's face.
Sheng Xiyan immediately puffed out her round pregnant belly and frowned, saying, "Ouch, the baby is moving. Maybe... it was frightened..."
The empress dowager was so angry that she rubbed her temples. "You damn girl, you've become even more infuriating after not seeing you for a few days. Isn't she just relying on the emperor's favor?"
"Noble Concubine, how could you anger the Empress Dowager like this? Aunt, are you okay?"
Concubine Jia and Su Yunfu each massaged the empress dowager's legs and back with concern.
The Queen Mother said, "Noble Concubine, let the Emperor see how you contradict me! Kneel down!"
Sheng Xiyan was frightened. How could this beautiful old lady have such a bad temper?
She stood up slowly. Why hasn't Xuanlang come yet? Does she really have to kneel?
Mingyue knelt down and begged for mercy, "Empress Dowager, the Imperial Concubine is nine months pregnant and this is her third child. You can't kneel. What if the fetus gets disturbed..."
Madam Su sarcastically said, "Don't make pregnant women sound so fragile. Look at the people in the countryside. If a daughter-in-law talks back to her mother-in-law, let alone when she's pregnant, even if she's just given birth, she's expected to serve her wholeheartedly. That's filial piety."
The sound of footsteps like drumbeats was heard, and Xuan Ling, dressed in a dragon robe, strode in. There was a coldness in his eyes, as if someone had touched his reverse scale.
"Your Majesty..." Sheng Xiyan stood beside the soft chair and stretched out her hand to him softly.
Xuan Ling quickly supported her, "My Lady, are you okay?"
Sheng Xiyan leaned against his side, frowned, and said, "It's okay. I said a few words that I shouldn't have said, and made my mother angry."
The Queen Mother curled her lips and sneered, "You silly girl, you're filing a complaint right now!"
Concubine Jia came up and said, "Your Majesty, it was the Imperial Concubine who contradicted the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager was so angry that she had a headache!"
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live the emperor." Madam Su knelt down and said.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live the emperor." Su Yunfu said.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live the emperor." Ruan Niang said.
"Your humble servant greets the emperor. Long live the emperor." Sheng Jingheng said.
Xuan Ling glanced coldly at the Su family mother and daughter and asked, "I just heard a bunch of nonsense. Who said that my concubine should kneel down and serve me while she is pregnant?"
Madam Su was so frightened that she trembled with fear. She put her hands on the ground, her forehead almost touching the floor. "Your Highness, your Highness did not mean that..."
The Queen Mother just opened her mouth, "The Emperor..."
Xuan Ling said, "Come here, Su is disrespectful to the Imperial Concubine. Drag her out and give her twenty strokes of the cane."
"Mother! Your Majesty, please don't!"
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