Since her brother has come to the palace demanding money, she might as well give it to him. This would also do Xu Yuehuai a favor and help her win her over.
Even if we can't get rid of Consort Min, it would be good to completely win over the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
"Xu Yuehuai, since that's the case, then I'll reward him with some money, what do you think?" The Empress smiled knowingly after she finished speaking. "If you feel that you're short of money, I can have someone send money over every month on the eighteenth. I can't let your family suffer any injustice."
"No need, Your Majesty," Xu Yuehuai refused coldly.
She originally thought the Empress would be a sensible person, but she never expected that the other party would also be a fool. If Xu Mingzhi really got a taste of success, he would definitely become even more unscrupulous in the future.
She didn't want to get involved in these matters, and the best solution was to leave the palace.
Her expression was grim: "Your Majesty, I haven't been feeling well these past few days and would like to return to Tianxiang Tower to rest for a few days."
Upon hearing this, the Empress's face immediately turned ugly.
She kept Xu Yuehuai living in the palace to win him over; if he left, it would be much harder for her to win him over in the future.
However, even though she was dissatisfied, she could only manage a bitter smile.
"Ah Yue, you can recuperate here in the palace. You have accommodations at the Crown Prince's place and here at mine," the Empress advised. "Besides, if you are unwell, it will be more convenient for you to stay at the Imperial Hospital."
Xu Yuehuai was already suffering from a splitting headache from the events of the past few days. Moreover, as long as Xu Mingzhi remained in the palace, she did not want to stay there any longer.
She shook her head and continued to refuse: "Your Majesty, I'd better go back to Tianxiang Tower. I won't trouble you any further. Besides, if my godfather and godmother find out that I'm not feeling well, they will definitely be worried. They will feel more at ease if I stay by their side."
The Empress was not angry at this, after all, she was still thinking of winning over Xu Yuehuai, but she was very anxious.
But if you try to keep them here, you'll only push them further away.
"Since that's the case, then I won't force you to stay in the palace." The Empress sighed, as if it were a great pity.
Xu Yuehuai immediately expressed her gratitude, giving no one a chance to back out: "Thank you for your permission, Your Majesty."
"Then you must rest for today. Tomorrow I will send someone to escort you out of the palace." Seeing this, the Empress had no choice but to keep one person behind again, and she did not forget to smile and say, "If I ask you to leave the palace today, the Duke and Duchess of Zhenguo will definitely blame me."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." She said, bowed, and went back to pack her things.
Xu Yuehuai thought that Xu Mingzhi would not have come to the palace for no reason. He must have met with Cui Rou. In that case, Tianxiang Tower must be in turmoil. She had to go out and check before she could feel at ease.
...
After she left, the Empress's face immediately turned ugly, and she threw the bowl of tonic medicine beside her on the ground.
Seeing this, Amber quickly stepped forward to advise, "Your Majesty, walls have ears. That person is just waiting to see you make a fool of yourself."
"Why would she need to laugh at me? I've already lost all face!" The Empress was furious, and even took the opportunity to criticize Xu Yuehuai, "I wanted to promote her, and I was even willing to raise her unfortunate younger brother for her sake, but she is so ungrateful. I have truly wasted my love for her!"
Upon hearing this, Amber quickly stepped forward and massaged the woman's shoulders: "Why are you in such a hurry? Princess Heyue has already offended Consort Min. If she doesn't rely on you, how can she cope? As for the Duke of Zhenguo, he is certainly reasonable. We just need to wait patiently."
Upon hearing this, the Empress indeed agreed.
But deep down she was still worried.
"But I just can't calm my mind." She sighed. "Amber, we have to find a way to keep them here."
Amber's eyebrows twitched slightly, and she immediately smiled: "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant already has a plan."
As she spoke, she immediately leaned over and whispered in her ear.
...
In the middle of the night, Xu Yuehuai tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. She didn't know what the outside world would be like when she went out tomorrow.
Just as she was getting a headache from thinking, the chief eunuch of the emperor came to deliver an imperial decree, saying that the emperor wanted to see her.
Xu Yuehuai was both shocked and curious as she followed the chief eunuch to the emperor's main hall.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Xu Yuehuai bowed and then stood aside to wait, not knowing what the Emperor wanted to see her about.
The Emperor nodded, then began with pleasantries: "I heard you're leaving the palace tomorrow. Is it because you're not used to staying here?"
"I am not a member of the palace, so it is naturally difficult for me to get used to it. I am very grateful for the care Your Majesty and the Empress have given me these past few days," Xu Yuehuai said, bowing her head and speaking in a high-sounding manner.
"Hmph." The Emperor clearly didn't want to hear these words, and his displeasure was already showing on his face. He put down the memorial in his hand and simply said, "Xu Yuehuai, I heard that you went to the Mingyue Kingdom with the Regent. I suppose you must know very well what he did in the Mingyue Kingdom."
Although he had doubts because of what others said, after thinking about it carefully, he still felt that Qi Guze was not that kind of person.
Since that's the case, he naturally needs to find out the details.
Xu Yuehuai's heart skipped a beat. So it was about Qi Guze. It seemed that the Emperor was indeed curious about Qi Guze.
“Your Majesty, the Regent has been diligently working on the alliance between the two countries in the Kingdom of Mingyue, and has never harbored any disloyal intentions,” she said immediately.
However, these words were immediately spoken in defense of Qi Guze.
The Emperor, displeased with such overly polite words, snorted coldly: "Anything else?"
“Your Majesty, the Regent is truly only acting in the best interests of the people of both countries.” Upon seeing this, Xu Yuehuai quickly knelt down. “Your Majesty, as the saying goes, ‘If you employ someone, don’t doubt them; if you doubt someone, don’t employ them.’ If you truly have any doubts about the Regent, you don’t need to rely on him in the future. If you do employ him, it means Your Majesty trusts him.”
The Emperor never expected that Xu Yuehuai, such a young woman, would say such things.
“That’s very good,” he said, and Xu Yuehuai was immediately confused about what he meant.
Then the Emperor added, "If the Regent truly prioritizes the overall situation, I am relieved."
"Now, in order to establish alliances with other countries, we need to arrange marriages. The other side will send a princess to marry him, and then our capital will be able to welcome a joyous occasion." After the emperor finished speaking, he tried to observe Xu Yuehuai's emotions.
Xu Yuehuai was stunned when she heard those words. Qi Guze was going to marry the princess. She was heartbroken.
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