Chapter 60 The Queen Mother's Attitude

Peaceful palace.

Sandalwood is burning in the hall, and the scent is long-lasting and peaceful, making people calm down as soon as they step in.

When Huo Jinchi came in, he saw the empress dowager sitting on the couch by the window. The incense burner on the low table in front of her was emitting wisps of green smoke, which enveloped her figure.

The Queen Mother is approaching fifty years old, but she has taken good care of herself. She looks no more than forty years old, though her expression reveals a hint of old age.

At this time, she was sitting cross-legged on the couch, with a Buddhist scripture at her side, chanting softly, and occasionally turning the red sandalwood Buddhist beads hanging on her right hand.

"Your son, I pay my respects to your mother."

The empress dowager raised her head when she heard the voice. Her face was a little thin, with long eyebrows and eyes, somewhat similar to the empress, but not as cold as the empress. Instead, she was warm and gentle, which made people feel good when they looked at her.

"The prince is here." The Queen Mother immediately put away her Buddhist beads and scriptures, and said to the palace maid beside her, "Quickly bring me a bowl of the loquat and lily syrup I made today."

"No need to trouble you." Huo Jinchi also sat on the couch opposite her. Facing the empress dowager, he was even more casual than in front of others and leaned directly on the pillow.

The Queen Mother was not surprised by his behavior and just said, "It's dry in spring, so it's perfect for eating something sweet and nourishing. How can it be a problem?"

Huo Jinchi did not comment, but just lowered his eyes and played with the white jade bracelet in his hand, thinking about Yun Qin's weak appearance just now.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Nanny Sun said to the Queen Mother, "Reporting to the Queen Mother, the person has been sent to Concubine Hui Su's palace."

"Concubine Su?" The Queen Mother frowned and asked, "What's going on?"

Madam Sun then recounted what she had seen and heard in the palace. "It was truly pitiful. When the young palace maid was hung up, I saw that her clothes on the back were soaked with blood. She had been severely beaten."

As she spoke, although there was no change on Hawking Chi's face, he clenched the white jade bracelet a little bit tighter in his hand.

After listening to Nanny Sun's story, the Queen Mother was also very angry.

She patted the dwarf and said, "It's ridiculous. Lady Su comes from a scholarly family, how could she be so vicious? The maid saved her life, how could she have the heart to do that!"

"Tell Ting He and Ting Shuang to teach Lady Su a lesson and not let her act recklessly any longer!"

"As you command," Nanny Sun agreed immediately.

The Queen Mother breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Huo Jinchi and said, "She lost her child, so she may be too heartbroken. She should be punished, but she should also be comforted. Don't let the Su family feel cold."

Although Concubine Su was not a good person, she had a good father who was now an important official in the Ministry of Personnel, so she had to consider his face.

She wasn't the only one who was sad.

Huo Jinchi did not say this, but just sneered and said nonchalantly: "Leave these to the Queen."

"You know that Qingxue is not in good health, but you still throw everything to her!" The Queen Mother glanced at him, "Don't even think about it. How long has it been since you last visited her? She is the Queen. How can she maintain her authority in the harem if you ignore her like this? And you still want her to help you with these trivial matters!"

"Doesn't she like it?" Huo Jinchi looked at the Queen Mother and said coldly, "Since you know that she is not in good health, why do you insist on making her the Queen of your son?"

The Queen Mother's expression froze for a moment, and then sadness appeared in her eyes, "The prince is still blaming me."

Facing such a queen mother, Huo Jinchi was also used to it. He just looked up at her and said, "That's not what I meant. I just want to govern according to my position. Since she is sitting on the throne of the queen, it is her job to take care of all the trivial matters. If I really gave the power to assist in managing the six palaces to others, your mother would have a different opinion today, right?"

The Queen Mother's face froze for a moment, and she avoided answering: "My Queen Mother just hopes that you can be more considerate of her."

"Mother, please be more considerate of her." Huo Jinchi didn't want to continue this topic, so he asked, "Is this what you asked me to come here to talk about?"

The Queen Mother also knew that the topic just now could not be continued. If she continued, it would be the same as before, with the mother and son arguing and parting on bad terms.

She adjusted her expression and returned to her indifferent look. She then said, "You know better than me what is going on in the palace. What are you going to do with that little palace maid?"

"What should I do?" Huo Jinchi raised his eyebrows and looked at her. "When did your majesty start to control who your son favors?"

"Do you think I want to control you?" The Queen Mother glared at him. "What's worrying is not the lack of wealth, but the inequality. The most important thing in the harem is to treat everyone equally. Even if you really like her, you shouldn't give her your clothes in front of everyone. What will the other concubines think? You will only make the harem resent you."

"Your father's favorite Zhao Zhaoyi is an example." The Queen Mother said sternly, "Don't learn from him and favor Zhao Zhaoyi, causing trouble for the six palaces."

Huo Jinchi looked at the sharpness in the Queen Mother's eyes and thought of the pitiful appearance of the little palace maid, and suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

"You haven't checked, mother. She is different from Zhao Zhaoyi. She has no relatives and her family background is so humble. You are worrying too much."

The Queen Mother did not respond to his words, but said, "It seems that you really like her."

Huo Jinchi's eyes turned cold for a moment, and he lifted his clothes and stood up.

"I understand your meaning, mother. If it's nothing important, I have to go back to take care of government affairs, so I won't chat with you about these trivial matters here."

"Your son will take his leave!" After saying that, he led Xu An away.

The maid who had gone to serve the loquat and lily syrup had just returned and saw him leaving. She couldn't help but shout, "Your Majesty, why are you leaving?"

However, Huo Jinchi didn't even look at her, but walked straight past her and out of the hall.

"Empress Dowager, what is the Emperor doing..." The palace maid was about to ask again, but was stopped by Nanny Sun's eyes. She immediately changed her mind and retreated with the tray.

After everyone left, the Queen Mother snorted heavily and said to Nanny Sun: "Look at his temper. I don't know who he resembles. He acts recklessly all day long. In his eyes, the rules of this palace are nothing but decorations!"

Nanny Sun naturally didn't dare to respond to her question and answered irrelevantly: "The Emperor is still very filial to the Empress."

"I'll thank heaven and earth if he's filial and doesn't make me angry to death!" The Queen Mother clasped her hands together and prayed to the air.

She sighed lightly, then looked at Madam Sun again, "What do you think of that palace maid?"

"Of course, there's no need to say much about her appearance. She also seems to have a calm temperament. She was beaten like that, but she didn't cry or make a fuss even when the emperor passed away. Compared to that Concubine Su, she is much better."

After listening to Nanny Sun's words, the Queen Mother nodded slightly, "She looks good, has a mild temper, and is so affectionate and righteous. I like her a little. No wonder the Emperor likes her too."

"Then you see, how does the emperor treat her?"

Nanny Sun lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "Of course I am concerned about this, but Your Majesty also knows that the Emperor's mind is really hard to predict. I don't see anything special about it. Maybe the Emperor is just new to it for the time being."