Chapter 475: A harem full of flowers? Former Princess
The eldest sister Ji Qingrong was also among them. Ji Qingwu walked down the steps to help her, and the two sisters smiled and talked to each other for a few words.
Finally, it was the concubines in the palace. As the emperor's concubines, they had to perform the ceremony to the empress according to etiquette. Not only did they have to kowtow to the ground respectfully, they also had to present carefully prepared gifts.
Ji Qingwu had no intention of making things difficult for them or threatening them.
No matter whether the gifts presented were precious golden ruyi red coral, or hand-embroidered handkerchiefs or handwritten Heart Sutras, Ji Qingwu treated them all equally. He responded with a faint smile and asked them to stand up.
Those who had expected to see the open and covert struggles between the new queen and the favorite concubine were disappointed.
Because the queen did not pay much attention to Wei Liru, she always had a faint smile on her face, and had the demeanor of the mistress of the imperial palace.
Everyone talked politely for a while and then left the hall one after another.
Only one person stayed.
Ji Qingwu raised his eyes and looked at the person on his lower left, the curve of his mouth remained unchanged.
"Princess Wei, you look much thinner."
The last time the two met was during the palace coup.
Wei Liru had indeed lost a lot of weight, and the dark circles under her eyes could not be concealed even with heavy makeup.
"I am not as beautiful as the Empress, because these days, I have been worried about the Emperor's safety at the border day and night. I have lost my appetite and cannot sleep at night." Wei Liru responded.
Ji Qingwu nodded slightly and said nonchalantly: "Then go back to the palace to have some snacks and have a good sleep. I am also very sleepy."
However, Wei Liru smiled and asked, "Didn't the Queen sleep well last night? I heard on the way here that the Emperor left at 3 a.m. and didn't spend the whole night with the Queen."
Everyone in the palace knew about this.
Normally speaking, after the emperor and empress’ wedding, there would be three days of rest and rest, and they should be in love with each other.
But the emperor left Chenning Palace before dawn, and everyone was wondering whether the queen, who seemed to be very favored, had angered the emperor.
Ji Qingwu said calmly: "Oh? Did the emperor spend a whole night in Concubine Wei's palace?"
Wei Liru's lips stiffened slightly, and then she replied, "Of course I have."
Ji Qingwu chuckled and shook his head.
She knew clearly in her mind that most of Emperor Wu Su's harem were just for show, and the concubines would never treat the emperor as a powerful enemy when they saw him.
Ji Qingwu originally thought that Wei Liru would be an exception among all the people in the palace.
However, she had read the daily records submitted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the morning. There was no record of the emperor spending the night in the harem, but there were three full books with records of him staying alone in Zhaoyang Palace.
Li Yuzong even sent someone to deliver a plate of green-headed signs. The painted square signs were all rusted.
Ji Qingwu knew clearly that Li Yuzong had sent these to her before she summoned the emperor's concubines and ladies in the court. Who instructed this and what was the intention?
The problems between her and Emperor Wu Su were just their internal problems and had nothing to do with these women.
Ji Qingwu stood up and straightened the wrinkles on his phoenix robe.
Because she was the queen, according to status, Wei Liru could not sit down and had to stand up with her.
Ji Qingwu said: "Concubine Wei, please leave the palace."
She walked towards the side door, not wanting to talk to her any more.
"Empress!"
Before leaving, Ji Qingwu's helpless look instantly exposed Wei Liru's disguise.
Wei Liru said loudly: "Your Majesty, please stay!"
Ji Qingwu didn't want to offend Wei Liru in front of all the palace people. After all, it would not be good for anyone if rumors of their discord spread on the first day.
She ordered, "Aunt Fanghua, take someone to guard the door."
When there were only the two of them left in the palace, Wei Liru asked, "Your Majesty, do you think that you can be the only favorite in the harem just because you beat me?"
Ji Qingwu looked at her in confusion.
Wei Liru continued, "I know that the emperor's heart is not in Guanju Palace."
She has always been clear about this, and even every concubine who entered the palace was aware of this.
As early as the night before entering the palace, Eunuch Li beside the emperor told them that within the palace gates, there was no love affair but only the fate of the family.
To the emperor, they are decorations; to the family, they are tools for fighting for fame and fortune.
Wei Liru accepted all of this.
But who could completely restrain their heart from being moved when sitting next to an emperor of extraordinary talent and beauty? Wei Liru wished she could be that exception.
But now, no matter how unwilling I am, it's useless.
Wei Liru asserted: "Perhaps the Emperor's heart is partly with the Empress, but not all of it."
Ji Qingwu asked: "What exactly do you want to say?"
Wei Liru took a deep breath and said, "The one in Anhua Palace is the woman that the emperor loves but cannot have. The emperor always has her in his heart."
Anhua Palace?
Ji Qingwu's eyes flashed with confusion, as if something was familiar.
Seeing her frowning and thinking about something, Wei Liru asked, "Does your Majesty know who the woman living in Anhua Palace is?"
Ji Qingwu remembered.
Last time, she and Yuan Heng got lost at the gate of Anhua Palace, and it was the maid of Anhua Palace who sent them out. But she really didn't know who lived inside.
Ji Qingwu shook his head: "I don't know."
Wei Liru wrinkled her handkerchief, carefully glanced at the door, and said in a low voice, "It's Liang Muhui."
This name seems not to be mentioned in front of everyone.
Ji Qingwu had never heard of this name before and asked, "Who is she?"
Wei Liru's voice lowered a little: "She is the former princess who had an engagement with the emperor."
Is this still happening? The emperor has an old lover?
Ji Qingwu was surprised in her heart but did not show it on her face. It was obvious what Wei Liru was thinking when she told her all this.
She looked at him and said, "So?"
Wei Liru saw that she still had a smile on her face and didn't look unhappy at all, so she continued, "The royal family of the previous dynasty was killed, but she was the only one left alive and is still hidden in the harem. This is enough to show how important she is in the emperor's heart."
"Moreover, it is Liang Muhui who is unwilling to be close to the emperor. If she ever comes to her senses and wants to reconcile with the emperor, Your Majesty must be prepared."
Wei Liru's subsequent words were very meaningful.
Ji Qingwu's eyes turned.
Emperor Wu Su was a man who acted decisively and would not leave any way out for others.
The orphans of the previous dynasty are definitely a big threat to the current emperor. The fact that the people of Anhua Palace are still alive today is obviously very important to him.
Ji Qingwu nodded and said, "Okay, I understand."
Seeing her so calm and not achieving her goal, Wei Liru couldn't help but feel anxious: "Do you really understand what I said?"
Ji Qingwu said: "I understand."
Then, she frowned and admonished: "So what? Princess Wei, please don't mention these past events again, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."
Wei Liru was speechless for a long time.
When I first discovered this secret, I was depressed and sick for a month. But why did Ji Qingwu not care at all, as if it was just some insignificant thing he had heard?
Wei Liru said: "In fact, the Queen doesn't have any true feelings for the Emperor, so she is so generous."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
