Chapter 202: Imperial Concubine Xi

After the New Year, things start to get busy.

Because of the Spring Imperial Examination, Hawking Chi has been busy since the early morning court session was resumed.

The harem, however, was far from peaceful.

Mainly because the Empress Dowager had been urging the Emperor to select beauties, and Huo Jinchi did not refuse, but only said to wait until after the Spring Examination.

The Queen Mother thought she had received a promise, so she asked the palace to make preparations early.

She was in charge of the repair and cleaning of the palace, the selection by the maids, and she also looked through the lists of beauties sent in from all over the country.

It was only after the Spring Imperial Examination that she went to find Hawking Chi.

However, Huo Jinchi changed his tune, "The West is still unstable and needs a lot of money and food aid. In addition, there is the Spring Examination, so there is no need to waste people's time and money on a talent show."

The Queen Mother was holding the list and was stunned by his words. Then she became furious: "As the Emperor, how can you change your orders every day?"

In response to her anger, Huo Jinchi held the teacup in his hand steadily, with his usual nonchalant expression, "I just said that we won't select any more beauties, but I didn't say that we won't accept any newcomers into the palace."

As he spoke, he reached out and took the list from the Queen Mother's hand, "Since the Queen Mother has taken so much pains, I will select a few people from them and let them enter the palace."

The reason why the Queen Mother was in a hurry to select beauties was simply because the Queen was alone and unpopular.

She wanted to find some help for the Queen and some support for the Fang family.

Even if Huo Jinchi didn't look at it, he knew that half of the people on the list should be related to the Fang family, the in-laws. If it was a selection, the empress dowager would definitely interfere. In that case, why bother wasting time and money and going through all the formalities?

As expected, after hearing her say this, the Queen Mother's expression softened a bit. "What can I say about you? As the Emperor, you are too casual about what happens."

"I put state affairs first, and the ministers only praised me for being a wise ruler. Only my mother said that I followed my heart."

Huo Jinchi lowered his eyes and casually fiddled with the book in his hand. His tone was still casual, but the words he said choked the empress dowager.

After a while, the Queen Mother sighed and said, "I can't control you anymore."

Hawking's ears were almost ringing after hearing these words, but he said nothing.

The Queen Mother spoke again, "These were all carefully selected by me, and they are all of first-class character and appearance." Her voice was softer than before.

"I am doing this for your own good. The Queen is in poor health, Shen Danying is pregnant, and Concubine De and Xu Danying are getting older. The Emperor is a little lonely around him, so he should thank more people for serving him."

Huo Jinchi responded calmly, "Let Mother Lao worry about it."

Seeing his indifferent reaction, the Queen Mother's expression became even paler.

How could she not want to live in harmony with her son? However, she asked the harem and the court, and in the summer she went to the temple to escape the heat, and in the winter she played with her grandchildren by the charcoal fire.

But he pushed too hard, and officials from the west died one after another.

Now, apart from him, no one knows what the situation is in the West, nor does anyone know what evidence he has in his hands.

Her greatest wish was indeed for him to soar into the sky, but he could not fly too fast or too high and escape from her control.

We must not put the Fang family to death!

Thinking in her heart, the Queen Mother smiled again, "Why didn't I see the little princess today?"

Hearing her words, Huo Jinchi's lowered eyes also turned slightly cold.

"The weather is getting warmer, so we should take the princess out for a walk more often." The Queen Mother said with a smile, "This child really changes every day. She was like a cat before, but now she has become a delicate little doll."

When the little princess was just one month old, the Queen Mother came to urge her once, but Huo Jinchi blocked her request by saying that the weather was cold. But this time it was difficult for him to find an excuse.

He lowered his eyes and said calmly, "Let the Queen take the little princess to Fengyi Palace some other day."

The Queen Mother glanced at Huo Jinchi and did not press him any further. She just said calmly, "I have been very concerned about the selection of the concubines. My son, please do not let me down."

"nature."

——

A few days later, what the empress dowager waited for was not someone's daughter entering the palace, but two imperial edicts for promotion.

Shen Daying, who was pregnant in Jangbok Palace, was promoted to Concubine Shen, while Xi Daying, who was pregnant in Yeoning Palace, was promoted to Concubine Xi.

The imperial edict had already been drafted, but due to the incident at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet and the death of Concubine Liu, it was repeatedly postponed.

But when it is brought up again, the situation is no longer the same as it was before.

When the eunuch was ordered to come to Yanning Palace, Yun Qin was discussing with the palace servants how to prune the two ginkgo trees in the courtyard.

Although the trees had been pruned once in early spring, in April many new branches had grown out, blocking most of the sunlight that entered the hall.

When the imperial edict came, Yun Qin had no time to change her clothes and had to receive it in the courtyard.

When Yun Qin heard the four words "Jin Wei Xipin", her mind went blank.

She had expected that she would be promoted before the selection, but she had anticipated that the difference between her and Shen Daying would be just a title. She had never expected that she would be promoted directly to the position of concubine.

"Empress Xi, please accept my order?"

Yun Qin then reacted, "Thank you, Your Majesty, and Your Majesty, for your grace." Then she reached out to take the imperial edict.

Rong Xin also came back to her senses from the shock, quickly handed over the purse, and asked Xiao Shunzi to take everyone to the back for tea.

"Congratulations, Madam! Congratulations, Madam!"

However, the palace servants in the courtyard were all beaming with joy and gathered around to congratulate Yunqin.

"Rewards, everyone gets rewards!"

Yun Qin gave bonuses to the palace servants before holding Rong Xin's hand and walking into the hall.

As soon as she entered the hall, the joy on her face faded a little, and Rong Xin's worry was revealed in her eyes.

"This, this is too high." Rong Xin put the imperial edict on the shelf, feeling worried and a little dazed.

Seeing her like this, Yun Qin smiled again and patted Rong Xin's hand, "Isn't this a good thing? I, no, the only difference between me and Concubine De is one Zhaoyi. Shouldn't I be happy about this?"

"But..." Rong Xin held her hand back.

Yun Qin's eyes widened a little more and she smiled, "Sister, you really don't have to worry. If she was just a beauty, we might have to live with our heads down. Now that she's been made a concubine, there's nothing to be afraid of."

"Newcomers who enter the palace cannot pass me even if they enter with the Queen Mother. They still have to live their lives according to my mood."

She looked at Rong Xin with a cold look in her eyes, "I really want to see the Queen Mother's expression at this moment."