Everyone in the audience held their breath. The food in Qiao Yu's bowl instantly became tasteless. He deliberately avoided looking at Yan Fu's expression.
Under the table, Yan Fu's big hand rested on the back of the girl's hand, applying a little force, as if to comfort her and tell her that he was there.
"What the Empress Dowager said is quite true, but the war is pressing right now and I have no intention of staying in the harem. Besides, it's not the day for the selection yet. I'm afraid that bringing Miss Xue into the palace for no reason would be unfair to her."
Now Qiao Yu understood why Yan Fu held her hand tightly. He said this simply because he was afraid that she would misunderstand him.
When Hua Yunlan entered the palace, Yan Fu had just ascended the throne and had no right to resist. His foundation was unstable at that time and he could only follow Empress Dowager Xue. Fortunately, he met the right person.
But that damn Miss Xue is different. Yan Fu is no longer as easy to control as before, and he has people he needs to love and protect.
Thinking of this, Yan Fu's gaze gradually turned gentle towards the girl.
Empress Dowager Xue saw this scene and her eyes were filled with dread. She had no choice but to turn her attention to Qiao Yu.
"It's not really unfair to be a wife or concubine of the royal family, don't you think, Lan'er?"
Facing the Empress Dowager Xue who had raised her since she was a child, the woman was afraid and wanted to retreat, wanting to pull her hand back from the man's hand:
"That's what my aunt said."
Although Yan Fu was angry that Qiao Yu backed out like this, as he also grew up under the care of Queen Mother Xue, he could deeply understand Qiao Yu's thoughts.
So we can only blame Queen Mother Xue for putting pressure on Qiao Yu. After all, fear cannot be overcome in a day or two:
"I am fond of Yu Lan'er. Taking Miss Xue into the palace will undoubtedly delay my cousin. If the Empress Dowager is willing, I can find a suitable family."
Calling her cousin not only raised Miss Xue's status, but also showed that he wanted to completely dissuade the Queen Mother from doing so.
Empress Dowager Xue knew that the emperor was no longer as easy to control as before. The fact that he had been reluctant to hand over the position of commander-in-chief of the war to his brother showed that the emperor was intending to alienate himself from the Xue family.
That's why she wants to bring in useful newcomers:
"I know the emperor is busy, and I and Lan'er are all alone in the palace, without the blessing of having children and grandchildren around us. So just bring her here to keep Lan'er and me company!"
Empress Dowager Xue's voice became increasingly louder, and she cast an unhappy look at Qiao Yu, once again pointing out the fact that she had no children.
Qiao Yu was already not fully recovered and after hearing what Queen Mother Xue said, her face immediately turned pale and she said bitterly:
"Auntie is also doing this for the emperor's good. Lan'er also knows the emperor's intentions. I think Sister Xue is also a lovely person. Your Majesty, please invite Sister Xue in to accompany me, okay?"
It was so magnanimous and virtuous of her to take a concubine for her husband, but Yan Fu was so angry that he couldn't help but want to eat her, and his blood was surging.
But Yan Fu didn't want to make Qiao Yu embarrassed and sad, so he held back his temper. After all, it was just an empty title, so after thinking about it, he compromised:
"Then let's do as the Empress Dowager says."
"Okay, okay, that's right."
Queen Mother Xue was pleased to hear this, and the woman beside her also breathed a sigh of relief, but why was this sigh of relief so annoying?
It would be a lie for Yan Fu to say that he was not sad, and he took back the girl's hand.
In the end, only Queen Mother Xue enjoyed the meal happily. She got what she wanted, so she let the two of them leave.
After leaving the Cining Palace, Yan Fu walked quickly in front, unlike before when he would hold the girl's hand and walk slowly to accommodate her.
Although Yan Fu was walking in front, his five senses were always paying attention to the people behind him. Finally, he stopped when he heard the girl's breathing becoming heavier and unstable.
Qiao Yu's body was really different from before, so she was really tired chasing Yan Fu, but she could only run in small steps to catch up.
Unexpectedly, the person in front suddenly stopped and I just crashed into him.
Yan Fu has been practicing martial arts for many years, and his back is as hard as a rock. Qiao Yu was hit in the nose, but she couldn't help but shed tears.
"But it hit that place, it's too..."
Yan Fu turned around and saw that the girl's eyes and nose were red. He held the girl's face with heartache and examined it carefully. Seeing that Qiao Yu was crying in pain, he subconsciously called the imperial physician immediately.
He also forgot that he was still angry with the other person.
"No, no...it doesn't hurt that much, no need to call the doctor."
It's such a small matter that the imperial physician has to be called. Qiao Yu doesn't want to see Imperial Physician Jiang being called back and forth all day long at his age. His old bones will fall apart soon.
"Really?"
Yan Fu saw that she had only hit her nose and was not injured elsewhere, so he gently rubbed the tip of Qiao Yu's nose. Seeing that she was getting better, he turned cold and let her go.
Thinking of how generous she was just now, she said sourly:
"That's right, the Imperial Concubine doesn't need my care. It's enough for her to have the Empress Dowager and Miss Xue to care for her."
Seeing Yan Fu like this, Qiao Yu wanted to give him a Japanese name: Small-eyed.
Don't think that men don't need to be coaxed. In love, men are just as stingy as women. So Qiao Yu had no choice but to hold his hand again pitifully:
"Huai Wu, it's Lan'er's fault. Lan'er just doesn't want to embarrass Huai Wu and the Queen Mother, so..."
"So you don't care at all and find other women for me?"
It was precisely because Qiao Yu agreed too quickly that Yan Fu's suspicious heart couldn't help but get upset again. What he feared most was that Qiao Yu had not completely forgotten Prince An.
That's why he doesn't care about having a few concubines.
But in fact, his suspicion was not wrong, he just didn't care who Qiao Yu was.
Qiao Yu had been around men for years, and was already very familiar with dealing with men's jealousy and suspicion. So she took Yan Fu's hand and placed it on her cheek, her eyes affectionate and gentle:
"It's not that Lan'er doesn't care, it's just that I believe Huai Wu only has Lan'er in his heart, so I'm not afraid."
When talking about fear, Qiao Yu deliberately sounded weak, full of hope but also uneasy. Only in this way will a man pity you more.
Seeing her like this, Yan Fu felt distressed and helpless. He sighed deeply and held the girl's face as if it were a treasure.
"Just now, the discussion about postponing the selection date was made by me and the Queen Mother. I didn't mean to stab you in the heart. When things calm down, Lan'er, I am happy with you."
Yan Fu looked at Qiao Yu with deep affection. For a moment, Qiao Yu was so attracted by him that she lost her mind, but she quickly came back to her senses.
"Lan'er also likes Huaiwu."
A pair of lovers were standing in the garden. A brave little maid secretly raised her head and saw their emperor kissing their imperial concubine affectionately.
How could an unmarried girl not feel shy seeing this? She quickly lowered her head in panic. Their emperor really loved the queen, which was really enviable.
Xue Chenglan entered the palace in this small carriage. Unlike the day Hua Yunlan entered the palace, Prince An gave her enough face as an apology, and the carriage she rode was more simple.
"We have arrived at the palace, my lady. You can get off now."
Xue Chenglan got out of the car. The magnificence of the palace attracted her eyes, but every part of it was full of temptation, making her look around.
When Xue Chenglan came back to her senses, she met the nanny's displeased gaze and looked away awkwardly:
"Thank you, Mammy."
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