Chapter 226 The Last Time
Six days passed like this, and it was time to pay respects again.
Chen Qing asked Chunhua to put on a sickly makeup and go to pay respects. When the queen saw Chen Qing's appearance, she sighed and said, "If you are not feeling well, Concubine Xi, you should go and rest. You don't have to come to pay respects."
Shen Qing looked very respectful, now more respectful than before.
The queen also noticed the change in Shen Qing's status. At first, when Shen Qing did not have a high position, she was respectful. Later, when she was promoted to a concubine, Shen Qing behaved a little straighter. This was because Shen Zhizhuo entered the Hanlin Academy and was favored. Now that Shen Zhizhuo has been sent away, Shen Qing is favored on the surface, but in fact, she will have a hard time in the future and relying solely on favor is always weak. Therefore, Shen Qing has regained the respect she had when she was a noble lady.
The queen knew that Chen Qing also knew that in her harem, not everything can be achieved by being favored, and she was very satisfied with her current appearance.
No matter how envious the other people in the harem were at the beginning, they no longer feel envious now, but they don’t dare to look at them for too long.
After the greetings were over, Shen Qing went to the imperial study.
When the Queen heard the news, she was stunned for a moment: "Did he really go to the Imperial Study?"
Jinzhi said, "That's true. Many people saw it. I think Concubine Xi was frightened. She must have panicked when her own brother was sent away. Now she must be clinging to the favor even more, right?"
She has been ill for several days, and the emperor has not even mentioned going to see her. Without her brother's help, if she loses favor again, her newly-appointed title of concubine will become a joke.
The Queen raised her eyebrows and said, "The Emperor hates concubines going to the Imperial Study to seek favor." How did Concubine Ru fall out of favor? Wasn't it because she went to the Imperial Study to show her affection?
At first, I didn't realize that the emperor was so taboo. Later, when Concubine Ru gradually fell out of favor, I got used to it. Unlike the previous emperor, Xuanyuan Ling was very concerned about the harem interfering in politics. Even going to the imperial study, he didn't like it.
Jinzhi said, "The newly promoted concubine is now being demoted by the emperor."
The Queen smiled and shook her head: "That's going to be lively."
Chen Qing did go to the Imperial Study, and Chunhua couldn't understand it either. It was impossible for her own queen not to know that the emperor didn't like people to go to the Imperial Study.
On the way, she had to say: "Shall I go and tell Manager Zhao about this?"
Shen Qing smiled and said, “It won’t work if you don’t go there in person.”
Chunhua didn't understand the meaning of these words, but seeing that Chen Qing obviously had his own plans, she didn't say anything.
After a while, Shen Qing arrived at the door of the imperial study.
Zhao Hai was on guard when he saw Shen Qing coming. He was stunned for a moment. Oh, the emperor hadn't been to the harem for a long time, and this person came. He had to think twice before other people came to the imperial study, but this person was different. He went to greet her and asked, "What's the matter with you, Madam?"
Shen Qing said: "Just walking around casually."
Don't just walk around casually, Zhao Hai hurriedly said with a smile: "The Emperor asked the Empress yesterday whether her meals were delicious or not, it's obvious that he's thinking about her."
Shen Qing listened and laughed: "Really?"
“Of course not.” Zhao Hai looked at her and smiled, thinking, “Okay, there’s a chance.” “Slave, should I go and inform them?”
Shen Qing said: "The emperor is handling government affairs, I'm afraid it's not appropriate."
Zhao Hai listened, isn't this just giving the emperor a way out? Is this inappropriate?
But he had already said this, and if it were any other concubine, she might have agreed. But since she didn't agree, he couldn't report it and didn't want to cause any trouble.
"Your Highness is right."
After Shen Qing had a chat with Zhao Hai, he also went back.
It only took a short while for the Queen to know about it. What should she say? "She wants to win favor, but she knows her limits." She paused and said, "After all, she's not that brave." It's better to be less brave. It's not that she doesn't know that Shen Qing is not that stupid, but it's good that she doesn't have the courage.
Zhao Hai saw Chen Qing leaving and went in while the servants were serving tea. Xuanyuan Ling was taking a rest, so Zhao Hai reported: "Your Majesty, Concubine Xi was here just now."
Xuanyuan Ling raised an eyebrow: "Are you in the imperial study?"
Zhao Hai smiled apologetically: "I see that Concubine Xi is missing the Emperor, and has been away for quite some time."
Xuanyuan Ling glared at him when he heard this: "I see that you are doing a better job on this task. Why didn't you report to me in such a long time?"
Zhao Hai felt so wronged. At the same time, he thought to himself, if he had reported it to the emperor just now, the person might have entered the imperial study by now. The emperor was really indulgent to Concubine Xi. The rules for other people were no longer applicable to Concubine Xi. Well, the memorials were taken to Concubine Xi to read before. So wasn’t the emperor still reading the memorials in the imperial study?
He really couldn't please both sides, it was difficult: "Empress Xi was concerned about the emperor's handling of government affairs, so she didn't ask the servant to report it. The queen was thinking about the emperor."
Xuanyuan Ling's mouth curled up slightly when he heard this: "Well, she has always been well-behaved."
Zhao Hai: “…” You say the rules, so be it.
"It's just that his temper is getting worse and worse, so he should be disciplined."
Zhao Hai: “…”
Are you disciplining him? I didn't see him scolding or showing a bad face. Aren't you asking the imperial physician to watch over him?
Is this the rectification?
Then Zhao Hai heard Xuanyuan Ling say: "Let's go to Zhaohua Palace for dinner today."
It's still under control. Once someone gives you a way out, won't you just come down?
Xuanyuan Ling lowered his head and drank the tea and said: "This tea is good today, enjoy it."
Well, since Concubine Xi came, the tea has become more expensive than usual.
Over there, Chen Qing went to the Imperial Study for a stroll and then returned to Zhaohua Palace. Chunhua really didn't understand. She couldn't be completely unaware of her master's thoughts. She was really confused at this moment: "What is the matter with the Queen today..."
Shen Qing asked, "How many days has the emperor not come?"
"It's been seven days." Although he hadn't been to other palaces, since Chen Qing had obviously gained favor, it had never happened that he hadn't come to Zhaohua Palace for seven consecutive days.
"If you don't come, the emperor will go find someone else."
Chunhua was a little surprised when she heard Shen Qing say this for the first time. Really, this was the first time that Shen Qing said that she didn't want the emperor to find someone else. It's not that she didn't care before, but now it's the first time. Could it be that the queen was really scared by the fact that the emperor sent Master Shen away? But it doesn't look like that?
Shen Qing looked at Chunhua's confused look and smiled.
It was just in time. This incident happened to calm the hearts of those who were prying in the harem and comfort the queen.
As for Xuanyuan Ling, she was just trying to make a fuss. When Xuanyuan Ling left that day, she must have known that she was going to make a fuss. But this time, she really took advantage of his fuss to jump on Xuanyuan Ling's bottom line.
Ever since Shen Qing put the two palace maids forced by the Queen in front of Xuanyuan Ling and she got angry that day, Shen Qing knew that Xuanyuan Ling really didn't like her pushing him away. But even if she didn't like him, she didn't lose her temper now, and she even asked the imperial physician to look after her. She even didn't go to the harem these few days.
Chen Qing now really feels that her bottom line is low enough, and Xuanyuan Ling's bottom line is also low enough. She told herself that this is the last time, and there is really no need to test it again in the future. If she tests it again, it will be over, so unless Xuanyuan Ling's attitude changes drastically, let it be.
————
A unified answer to the question about children: There won't be any for the time being. If Chen Qing has one, then the Queen and Concubine Qin will deal with her together. It's not the right time yet.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
