Qi Jingxuan and Xu Yunchuan had the best relationship, and Qi Jingxuan also knew Xu Yunchuan quite well. He only thought of using Xu Yunchuan's identity, since Xu Yunchuan didn't want to expose his own identity.
But to everyone's surprise, Master Lu immediately agreed.
There was only one request: that General Cheng, the commander of the Kyoto city gates, be informed.
This was a trivial matter for Qi Jingxuan.
Kyoto was already in complete chaos, and Qi Jingxuan had no idea what had happened on his way back!
The fact that court officials were discussing having General Fulu temporarily take over government affairs if he didn't return this time only created more distance between Qi Jingxuan and them.
"He's back! The Emperor is back! He said he just passed through the gates of the capital!"
Everyone quickly concealed their thoughts, and Ruan Yu Mu was also glad that she hadn't made a move.
The imperial concubine selection in March was in full swing, and the Emperor's harem was indeed quite empty. Currently, there was only the Empress, Consort Mu (Ruan Yu Mu), Consort Wanrong (Xi Yun), Consort Wanyi (Geng Yu Lin), Consort Shuyi (Qiao Si Yu), Consort Shurong (Fu Lu Si Yue), and Consort Jiang. The Empress was practically a figurehead; Consort Jiang never served the Emperor, Qiao Si Yu was infertile, Geng Yu Lin was too ugly, and Xi Yun's background was too strange. With all this, it was practically empty.
Nowadays, the emperor's favorite place to visit in the palace is Qiao Siyu's.
Ruan and Mu are due to give birth soon.
Qiao Siyu came over and listened to the sounds of the children playing. She was very envious. "Your Highness, please be careful. I see you are about to give birth." She then stepped forward and bowed.
Ruan Yumu was delighted to see someone come to cheer her up. "Alright, there's no one else in the palace, no need to be like this."
"That's true, but to avoid giving anyone cause for gossip, you know how outrageous things can be in the imperial harem!"
Qiao Siyu hugged the eldest young master, and after a while, the eldest young master also liked her, smiling happily at her.
"Your Highness Consort Mu, the harem is about to be filled with some more ladies."
"Yes! Hehe!"
Ruan Yumu sneered. She had already given all these young ladies a medicinal soup when she came in to teach them the rules, just to see who could give birth to a child! In this palace, her methods were the most ruthless. Even Qi Jingxuan probably never imagined that she would come to this.
"Sister, you should stop taking the Xiji Pill and take care of yourself..." Ruan Yu Mu actually knew that Qiao Si Yu used her beauty to win people over, and once she stopped taking the Xiji Pill, she would probably lose the favor, and it had already damaged her foundation, making it impossible to treat.
"Thank you for your concern, sister. I know what happened. If there was no other way, why would I have sent my sister to the palace to suffer? I never thought she would lose her life!" Qiao Siyu's eyes immediately filled with tears when she mentioned Qiao Silin.
"Sister, don't worry. The imperial physician said that this pregnancy looks like a girl. How about I let you raise her? I have my eldest son to rely on!"
Qiao Siyu was incredulous upon hearing this and immediately knelt down! "Your Majesty Consort Mu, I thank you!"
This is exactly what we wanted! Ruan Yumu really went to great lengths to consolidate the power of the governor of Hexi!
Actually, Ruan Yu Mu wanted to ask her some other things, but then she thought better of it, since now wasn't the right time.
"Don't worry too much. What if one of the new ladies-in-waiting is particularly fertile? Then..." The two smiled at each other and didn't say anything more.
"The Emperor doesn't even come to the inner palace anymore. Does it matter whether he's favored or not? The Emperor is very diligent!"
Ruan Yu Mu smiled. It was indeed true. Even the eldest son hadn't been allowed to come and visit these past few days.
The selection of concubines was originally managed by the Empress, but now this lucrative task has fallen into the hands of Geng Yulin, and as a result, the number of people visiting the Geng family has also increased.
This time, there's also the Southern Frontier Princess who's slated to enter the palace, and Yelü Yanyun, the younger sister of Yelü Hongji! These two are important figures in stabilizing the court; the rest are just daughters of ministers.
To make herself appear more capable, Geng Yulin deliberately made a big fuss about this selection of concubines. The first selection alone took three or four days. Those who were too beautiful were kicked out long ago, leaving only those who were similar to her. After all, the emperor had never even been to her palace, and she didn't want so many newcomers to steal her thunder.
Everyone thought the selection was based on appearance and personality, but in reality it was based on Geng Yulin's mood and his relationship with the Geng family. Qi Jingxuan naturally knew this, but he just turned a blind eye and didn't care.
They thought that once the selection was over, they could settle things with the Southern Border Princess and Yelü Yanyun, but then they were told that another concubine, Xu Yunchuan, was to be picked up.
Furthermore, the Emperor directly bestowed upon her the title of Consort Yi and granted her the Yikun Palace.
What kind of place is Yikun Palace? It was a place where only imperial concubines of all dynasties could live. Moreover, this Consort Yi had no background, so how could she be made a consort as soon as she arrived?
Even the princess of the Southern Frontier and Yelü Yanyun did not receive this kind of treatment!
Since none of these three were on the draft list, Geng Yulin had no choice but to arrange for people to clean Yikun Palace.
Before anyone even arrived, countless treasures of gold and silver, along with clothing and jewelry, were already being placed into Yikun Palace! The Emperor even ordered that the work be completed within ten days!
Before the selection process was even over, Ruan Yumu went into labor. Unlike her first pregnancy, Qi Jingxuan had been waiting at Chengen Palace for a long time this time, and everything went very smoothly. However, the difference was that she had given birth to another son, and the promise she had made to Qiao Siyu was probably no longer valid.
"Does it hurt? Being a woman must be unpleasant, right?" Qi Jingxuan came in and looked at Ruan Yumu, who had just given birth. Her face was pale, and she was drenched in sweat despite the early spring weather.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
