Consort Wan, Xu Wanzhi?
What is she doing here?
When imperial concubines traveled, they would be accompanied by many attendants.
However, when they came in, they didn't see anyone outside...
Yuan Yao winked at Danqing and whispered, "Put your clothes away and go find a place to wait for me. Come back in after half an incense stick has burned."
Danqing said worriedly, "This servant cannot leave the princess."
Yuan Yao frowned: "If someone comes, I'm small, I can easily hide. If you stay, you'll be more easily discovered. Besides, I have bodyguards..."
Danqing had no choice but to give some quiet instructions, pick up her clothes, and quietly leave.
Yuan Yao soaked in the water, comfortably squinting her eyes and perking up her ears.
Then, from behind the artificial hill, voices could be heard again—
The voice, which was somewhat sarcastic, said: "Wanzhi, you just spent the night with the Emperor last night, didn't you whisper sweet nothings in his ear?"
What kind of older sister are you? Your younger sister is about to jump into a fire pit, and you still have the mind to soak in a hot spring!
Xu Wanzhi said softly, "His Majesty does not like concubines to bring up other matters in bed. I have already done my best."
Madam Xu said, "Trying her best? I'm afraid she's busy trying her best to please the Emperor!"
“Mother…” Xu Wanzhi said, “The Emperor only summons me to serve him once every year or two. I only managed to get to come to the palace this time because I used some tricks to get it.”
If his daughter displeases him, does she not care about her own future?
Although His Majesty has just passed thirty, his health is already failing. Mother, you are also a woman, and Father has many concubines. You should understand my difficulties..."
Behind the artificial hill.
Yuan Yao wiped the goosebumps off her skin and sank into the water.
The emperor... is he being rejected?
Tsk tsk!
The harem was filled with women, but there was only one man, and as a result, the emperor's health was also compromised...
Yuan Yao pondered, "Why not, for the sake of the Ninth Prince, help the Emperor recuperate and regain his manly prowess?"
puff……
I was thinking, how could this be so funny?
From behind the artificial hill, Madam Xu said earnestly, "You've been in the palace for several years now, and it's only with great difficulty that you've finally gained the Emperor's favor..."
You must find a way to bind the Emperor and have another prince, otherwise, our Xu family may truly be finished!
"Mother!" Xu Wanzhi said with barely concealed anger, "In the past two years, have you heard of any new princes or princesses being born in the palace?"
I told you, His Majesty's health is not what it used to be! My daughter has been in the palace for so long, and last night was only the third time she had served the Emperor!
If your family insists on having a prince, your daughter will have no choice but to find another man. Are you sure you'd want a prince born that way?
"You...you..." Madam Xu's voice trembled with anger: "How could you say such treasonous things that would lead to the extermination of your entire family?"
A splash of water—it was Xu Wanzhi scooping hot spring water and pouring it over her body.
Xu Wanzhi said softly, "Mother, I have no hope for the Xu family in this life, but my sister has not yet married into the family, so there is still hope."
"What do you mean?" Madam Xu hesitated.
Xu Wanzhi stirred the water and chuckled softly, "If Li Changruo were to die suddenly before my sister gets married, wouldn't my sister not have to get married?"
"You mean..." Madam Xu raised her voice, "But if Li Chang dies, Yunzhi will be branded as a jinx. How will she ever remarry into a good family?"
"Shh..." Xu Wanzhi lowered her voice: "Mother, my sister is beautiful and young. What if we could find a way to let her enter the palace as well?"
Madam Xu remained silent.
Xu Wanzhi continued, "Father's position as Minister of Revenue is already quite unstable. It's only a matter of time before he changes his post."
But if my sister can enter the palace and gain favor, we sisters can support each other, and if we both have a little prince...
"In the future, will the Xu family still fear being suppressed by other families?"
Madam Xu said, "I need to think about this matter carefully!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Wanzhi chuckled and said, "That Li Chang is just a member of the Imperial Guard; he must be a stupid and uncouth man."
If you want him dead, it's just a matter of a plate of meat and a bowl of wine.
He held a low-ranking official position, so even if he died, no one would care much.
After Mother goes back, she can discuss it with Father and Sister to see which method is appropriate.
Madam Xu sighed, "You really have a way with things. All your brothers, sisters, and cousins are good-for-nothings."
Xu Wanzhi smiled and changed the subject: "Mother, this royal hot spring is usually deserted. I was thinking that since it's summer, no one would bother us at noon, so I invited you here."
This might be the last time I'll soak here, so let me soak a little longer before I leave...
Although the Emperor isn't very good in that area, he certainly has many ways to torment people. Fortunately, there's this hot spring to relieve my fatigue.
Madam Xu sighed, "I'm sorry to have wronged you..."
Upon hearing this, Xu Wanzhi responded lazily.
Madam Xu hesitated for a moment before asking, "Did you ever have any dealings with people from Qianhua Palace while you were in the palace?"
Qianhua Palace?
Yuan Yao's small body sank a little deeper into the water.
Every time I gossip, I always seem to end up eating my own kind of gossip?
What kind of fate is this?
Xu Wanzhi said, "Qianhua Palace is inhabited by the Ninth Prince. With my status, how could I possibly have any dealings with him? Besides, there's no mistress there..."
"Then, what about the young princess of Qianhua Palace?" Madam Xu asked.
"Yuan Yao?" Xu Wanzhi chuckled lightly. "She's just a three-year-old girl who was only weaned a few days ago. I'm too lazy to bother with her."
Yuan Yao: "..."
Why do these self-proclaimed adults always bring up the issue of her drinking milk whenever they mention her?
Madam Xu said, "Don't underestimate Yuan Yao. After all, her father is the Ninth Prince."
You must have tasted the desserts at yesterday's banquet. A three-year-old child managed to prepare desserts for a banquet of a hundred people, and did so so well! Don't you think she's amazing?
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao nodded in agreement.
She also felt that she was incredibly capable!
At this moment, Xu Wanzhi laughed and said, "Mother, haven't you been fighting with your concubines too much over the years?"
Anyone with a brain knows that this dessert could not possibly have been prepared by Yuan Yao.
The Ninth Prince only gave Yuan Yao a pretext to ask for a reward because he doted on her.
"And what about this morning?" Madam Xu was still unwilling to give up.
this morning?
Xu Wanzhi's smile faded: "Mother, only someone like you, who has been fighting wits with a bunch of concubines all year round, would magnify a child's crying."
Yuan Yao was only three years old. When her daughter was that age, her father also took many concubines. Didn't her daughter cry and make a fuss just as fiercely as her? What's so surprising about that?
Your daughter advises you and your father not to provoke the Ninth Prince, and even more so, not to provoke Princess Yuan Yao.
The Ruan family serves as a cautionary tale!
Upon hearing this, Madam Xu remained silent for a long time.
After a long while, the sound of water was heard from the other side, followed by the sound of clothes rubbing together.
After getting dressed, Madam Xu said, "I'll go find your father and think of a way to get rid of Li Chang on the way back to the capital. By then, with so many people around, even if they investigate, they won't be able to find our family."
"Mother, please walk slowly," Xu Wanzhi said with a gentle smile.
Listen, the sound of footsteps hurried over here.
Yuan Yao was startled and quickly dived into the water.
Madam Xu left in a hurry, bypassing the artificial hill and arriving here.
She had only taken two steps forward when her expression hardened. She suddenly stopped and looked towards the pool where Yuan Yao was, asking in confusion, "Wanzhi, why are there watermarks here?"
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