Chapter 97: Gaining Palace Power
Quan Minghe held her slender ankle, not with much force but enough for her to not break free easily.
With focused eyes, he applied the ointment to her injured knee.
Shen Yuning bit her teeth lightly, trying her best to endure the pain from her knee and not let herself make any sound.
She had fair skin to begin with, and the bruises on her knees were particularly eye-catching, even scary.
Kwon Myung Hyuk stared at his bruises, unable to tell the emotion.
But he didn't want to see her become arrogant and lose her original intention in the harem, nor could he tolerate anyone bullying her blatantly.
Thinking of this, his eyes darkened and the strength in his hands unconsciously increased a bit.
"Hmm..."
Shen Yuning couldn't help but let out a low moan, instantly pulling Quan Minghe back from his thoughts.
Loosen the strength on your hands.
"Are there any bruises anywhere else on your body? I remember that several palace servants were unruly and wanted to arrest you by force."
"No, Bai Hua has been protecting me and I haven't been hurt anywhere else."
Shen Yuning shook her head.
After Quan Minghe evenly rubbed the ointment on her knees, he let down her rolled-up trouser legs.
"Why did your majesty come back so suddenly?"
Quan Minghe raised his eyes and stared at her.
"Liu Zhaoyi punished you to kneel, why didn't you tell me?"
"Back then in the Prince's Mansion, you were bullied by Liu Jingyi, yet you knew to come to the palace to find me and throw yourself into my arms to complain about your grievances."
"Why, after suffering such a great injustice today, you are like a mute and don't say a word?"
Shen Yuning withdrew her legs from Quan Minghe's legs, and subconsciously pinched the quilt in front of her chest with her hands.
"Your Majesty once said that you don't care about the right or wrong of the matter itself. No matter who is right or wrong between me and Liu Jingyi, Your Majesty will stand on my side."
"But now, whether it is Liu Zhaoyi or Yan Jieyu, their positions in your majesty's heart are more important than mine. How dare I humiliate myself and complain about my grievances?"
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito, she lowered her head, and didn't even dare to look Quan Minghe in the eye.
Quan Minghe stared at her with his dark eyes, as if he wanted to see through her soul.
"When did I ever say they were more important than you?"
"Your Majesty warned me not to argue with Liu Zhaoyi before I entered the palace. On the night I entered the palace, Your Majesty also abandoned me for Concubine Yan."
"They have served Your Majesty in the palace for many years. It is reasonable that Your Majesty cares more about them. I will not take advantage of their favor and become arrogant, putting Your Majesty in a dilemma."
Shen Yuning still kept her head down.
The hair in front of her forehead fell, covering her face.
Quan Minghe was silent for a while.
But his gaze seemed to be fixed on her.
After a moment, he slowly raised his hand and tried to move the messy hair beside her cheek behind her ear.
Shen Yuning subconsciously shrank back into the bed, and even turned her head away with a little fear, avoiding his hand.
"Are you afraid of me?"
Shen Yuning seemed to realize instantly that her reaction just now was an overreaction.
He held Quan Minghe's hand, which was still hanging in the air, with both hands, and his voice had a hint of unnatural haste.
“No…no.”
In order to prove that what she said was true, she plucked up the courage and leaned on Quan Minghe.
His posture was a little stiff, as if his whole body was stretched to the limit.
Quan Minghe suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart.
He didn't like her cautious and distant attitude, which made him inexplicably irritated.
He stretched out his long arms, hugged the person in his arms, and leaned his back against the head of the bed.
Shen Yuning's body was still leaning against him somewhat stiffly.
Kwon Myung Hyuk stroked her ink-like long hair.
Over and over again, trying to make her relax in this way.
a long time.
When he finally felt the person in his arms gradually soften and his tense nerves seemed to relax a lot, he was ready to speak to test her inner thoughts.
Li Ming walked in.
"His Majesty."
Quan Minghe tilted his head unhappily, his eyes full of impatience: "What's the matter?"
"The injury on Concubine Yan's face has become more serious and more difficult to deal with than before. Several imperial doctors are helpless. I have come to report this to Your Majesty."
As soon as Li Ming finished speaking, Quan Minghe noticed that the body in his arms became stiff again.
If he hadn't been holding her waist, she would have gotten up and run away at this moment.
"Your Majesty, please go see Concubine Yan. I am fine now."
Quan Minghe looked at her pretending to be strong, and even though he was furious, he couldn't vent it.
With nowhere to vent his anger, he could only glare at Li Ming fiercely: "Get lost!"
Li Ming was so frightened that his whole body trembled.
Your Majesty has always cared the most about Concubine Yan's appearance, but now the situation...
He didn't dare to think any more and quickly retreated.
Shen Yuning quietly studied his expression.
"Your Majesty, are you angry?"
"No."
He had just calmed the tense mood of the person in his arms.
But Li Ming's sudden report broke her mood and made her even more nervous.
Quan Minghe restrained his hostility and his stern face softened a little.
Slender fingers lifted Shen Yuning's delicate face.
Without warning, he leaned forward, his thin lips close.
The sudden kiss made Shen Yuning's eyes widen, and she was a little at a loss for a moment.
Kwon Myung Hyuk's kiss this time was different from the previous ones.
It's not so hot and intense, but just a taste.
His lips just lightly pressed against hers, gentle and restrained.
After a moment, he tilted his head, moved his lips to the corner of her lips, and gave her a few gentle kisses like a dragonfly touching the water.
Kiss.
Shen Yuning's eyes flickered.
Quan Minghe remained calm.
The two looked at each other.
He asked calmly, "Is there anything you want?"
"Nothing I want."
Shen Yuning answered subconsciously, but as soon as the words came out, she felt that it was not appropriate.
She added: "Your Majesty has rewarded Yaohua Palace with many treasures, and I don't lack anything."
"Is there really nothing else you want? Not attached to those external things."
Even if she wanted to punish some people, he could agree to her request.
Shen Yuning hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something.
She whispered: "Then...I don't want to be bullied..."
"I'm just afraid of the pain."
Quan Minghe's hand paused, his heart ached, and then he continued to stroke her long hair as if nothing had happened.
Liu Shihan has been in control of the harem for many years, and has indeed become more and more arrogant and domineering, and her appetite has become bigger.
Last time, she punished Concubine Su by making her kneel for two hours. This time, she actually used the same method on her. She wanted to take her to the palace and even allowed those servants to bully her like a prisoner. It was simply lawless.
Thinking of this, his eyes became darker.
Quan Minghe was silent for a moment, then asked again: "Are you scared in Ganquan Palace today?"
Shen Yuning uttered "hmm" softly.
"In the past few years, Concubine Liu has relied on her power to do whatever she wants. She is the one who is arrogant because of her favor, and she is also the one who treats things unfairly. In this case, I have decided to take back some of her power."
"Mianmei is kindhearted. She has both your mother's literary character and your father's strong character. I will give this part of the palace power to you. How do you think?"
Shen Yuning's eyes widened in surprise, and she looked at him in disbelief: "Your Majesty?"
"Why, you don't like it?"
"It's not that I don't like it, but I have only been in the palace for a short time and am not familiar with the affairs of the palace. I am afraid that I will not do well and fail your majesty's trust."
Quan Minghe didn't say anything.
As long as she is familiar with the procedures, she can do a good job in palace affairs. The key is whether she has the intention to do it.
Shen Yuning asked tentatively: "How about your majesty find another imperial concubine to help me manage the palace together? This way we can look after each other."
"Who do you want to help you with?"
Shen Yuning thought for a moment and said, "How about Concubine Su? Last time I saw her, she was also severely punished by Concubine Liu. At that time, I thought it was Concubine Su who made the mistake. Now that I think about it, maybe that's not the case..."
Quan Minghe recalled the person named Su Jieyu.
She is a daughter of the Yunze Su family and comes from a prominent family.
However, after he established the Gan Dynasty, he had been cracking down on the power of aristocratic families. Families like the Yunze Su family, which were good at medicine but not active in politics, gradually declined.
"Since Xixi wants her to help you manage the harem, then I'll do as you say."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Shen Yuning lowered her eyelashes, her eyes turning cold.
Finally, I have gained power in the palace. While Concubine Liu is under house arrest for the past two months, I have to replace the female officials in the harem.
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