Cining Palace

  "What did you say, what does the Emperor mean?" The Empress Dowager lay on the couch, her eyes still closed, her voice extremely soft.

  Liu Mu stood aside, bowing his head respectfully. After a few moments of thought, he said, "The Empress Dowager has her own thoughts, and she must have guessed it already. This old slave is foolish and doesn't know the Emperor's mind."

  The empress slightly hooked the corner of her mouth and shook her head, "What's the point of this? You've been following me for so many years, can't you see what kind of person I am?"

  Liu Moumou knelt on the ground, "This old slave dare not rashly discuss Empress Dowager's affairs, and hopes that Empress Dowager will make a clear judgment."

  The empress waved her hand, indicating that she should rise to her feet. "Among the people who followed me into the palace, there were two of you. I've been in the palace for many years, and there have been quite a few servants serving me, but in the end, only you were able to stay by my side. Even if you don't say anything, I know that you are clever."

  "Your Majesty, this servant..." Liu Mu's heart felt a sense of foreboding, she couldn't guess what the Empress Dowager meant. Clearly they were discussing the Emperor, but now it had shifted to her.

  The empress let out a cold laugh, "Don't worry, I know you're clever, that's why I'll keep you around. But if you become not so clever... heh."

  Liu Momo wanted to kneel down and admit his mistake, but under the gaze of the empress dowager, he couldn't kneel down. With a bitter face, "This servant is already old, perhaps sometimes my brain is indeed not useful, I hope the empress dowager will forgive me."

  "I was just saying, look at you, so tense." The Empress Dowager stood up, "Don't be afraid, I won't live for many more years either, and you won't have to attend to me for much longer."

  Liu Moumou repeated this sentence in her mind several times, secretly guessing the meaning of the Empress Dowager. "The Empress Dowager is still young and will surely live to be a hundred years old."

  "Hehe," the Empress Dowager stood up, "I won't live that long, and the Emperor won't let me live that long."

  Liu was shocked, and she could vaguely guess the reason behind Empress's words. However, it was a matter of the imperial family, not something that a lowly servant like her could comment on or discuss. So she didn't dare to respond, and could only lower her head in silence.

  The Empress Dowager did not expect her to come up with a reason, this was what she said was her cleverness, "But now I don't know how to let Mei'er gain the Emperor's favor, nor do I know what kind of mood the Emperor is in regarding Guan Yu Palace."

  Like the queen, the empress dowager also couldn't fathom the emperor's thoughts. If it was said that she didn't take it to heart, however, since entering the inner palace these days, apart from Chonghua Palace and Guanbin Palace, no one else had gone anywhere else.

  It's all right to say that it's placed in the heart, but the Empress Dowager doesn't believe that the Emperor is unclear. He favors her so much and puts her in the position of Ronghua, which is at the center of attention and criticism, enough to make those women in the harem resentful for a lifetime.

  "The blessings of Master Zai are yet to come, with the protection of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, it is bound to happen"

  "Mother, when did you learn to use these words to deceive me?" The empress dowager cut her off before she could finish speaking, "Let's just wait and see, it's not certain who will have good fortune in the end."

  "Yes."

  However, the queen and Ah Jia are also at odds with each other, perhaps they won't live long either.

  Kunning Palace

  "Is it that you think I have done something wrong?" The empress picked up a nearby teacup and took a sip.

  Jin Momo sank into thought for a few moments, then shook her head honestly, "I don't know."

  The queen gazed blankly at the distant white smoke rising from the intertwined peony and cypress leaf incense burner, shaking her head slightly. "This palace also doesn't know."

  "Then what about his wife?"

  "This palace is just taking a gamble," the queen sneered, "If we win, Ya'er will have something to rely on in the future, and this palace can die with her eyes closed."

  Lost in gambling, it's naturally irretrievable.

  "Why must you put all your bets on one person? Maybe if you spread it out among a few people, the chances of success would be higher."

  The queen did not agree with this. She was in a high position and had seen countless people over the years, so she could naturally see what kind of person the other women in the harem were. They were all like her, ambitious, ***, and even more greedy.

  Only Su Jingxian, perhaps because of her young age, or perhaps because she had not experienced much of the world, or perhaps because she was hiding it too well, in any case, after a long time of observation, she knew that she was different from others.

  Perhaps it was because of this difference that the emperor would be willing to dote on her.

  But it is precisely because of this difference that she can rest assured and entrust her children to her.

  "If Her Majesty's sincerity is not enough, how can she truly help me?" Sometimes taking a risk and betting everything on one throw can be dangerous, but once successful, the gains are the greatest.

  "The empress is wise and bright, while I am foolish and ignorant," Jin Mu Mu bowed and suddenly understood the reason behind it, fully approving of the empress's actions.

  "When the time comes, no matter what happens, I will definitely ask the emperor to forgive you, Momo. If it's successful, I hope you'll take good care of Ya'er for me, that's my only concern, Momo must" The empress suddenly grasped Jin Momo's hand and said solemnly.

  Jinmomo wanted to kneel down, but was held back by the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty, perhaps the Emperor will not be so heartless"

  "I have done so many things that go against heaven and reason in the past, and with my father's rebellion to boot. The Emperor will not possibly forgive me, even if I were to beg for mercy. So, I must get an answer from you," the Empress said. These days, she had not been paying attention to the Emperor, nor did she think about competing with others for favor or feel jealous. On the contrary, she saw things more clearly and was more aware of her current position.

  Even if the emperor spares her life, she will still be punished severely, at most she will be banished to a cold palace. The emperor is merciful, but she cannot escape punishment, and in the end, it's all just a matter of time before she dies.

  "Your Ladyship, I, your humble servant, promise you that if it is possible, I will surely protect the young princess with my life until she grows up and gets married."

  "This palace thanks you first," the empress wanted to bow, but was pulled back by Jin Mu Mu, "Your Majesty must not, Your Majesty will hurt your servant."

  Su Jing's long-awaited fourth visit finally arrived amidst her eager anticipation. As a result, last night was the first time Zong Zhengjin had any complaints and was very dissatisfied with "punishing" her, but ultimately did not really blame her and did not cancel this family visit.

  In the harem, only a small number of people can reunite with their loved ones, but this is the royal benevolence. Those concubines who have no chance also dare not show any dissatisfaction, even if they have been longing for it in their hearts for a long time.

  This is also why everyone is desperately trying to climb up.

  There is comparison, there is disparity, there is disparity, there is difference, there is difference, there is **, there is **, there is competition, so in the harem, it can be lively and not lacking in popularity.

  No matter what others thought, even though her body was tired, Su Jinglian still got up very early, calling the servants in Guan Yu Palace to prepare, and also sent Tingyao and others to the palace gate to receive guests.

  The ladies who entered the palace to visit their relatives could only enter at a certain time, and it was not possible for them to go to each of their daughters' palaces immediately after entering. Instead, they had to first go to the Empress's Kunning Palace to pay their respects and express gratitude for the imperial family's kindness.

  The queen did not make things difficult for Su and soon released him. Su Jing stood at the gate of the palace, looking up with hope.

  "Mother" Su Jing saw people coming from afar, restrained her inner excitement, waited for them to get closer, and couldn't help but cry out with a hint of tears.

  The Su family's tears also flowed straight down, but they still insisted on paying their respects, "Your humble servant pays homage to your precious and resplendent countenance."

  "Mother, please get up quickly," Su Jing hurriedly pulled her up. As a child, how could she bear to see her parents bow down? Su's mother insisted on performing an imperfect courtesy in the midst of being half-pulled and half-dragged.

  "Master, madam, why don't you go inside and talk?" Daiman chimed in at the right moment.

  Su Jing nodded and personally escorted Su Shi into the inner chamber of Guan Yu Palace. After hearing that Yao had brought in two cups of tea and some pastries, she retreated and left the space to the mother-daughter duo, while Dai Man and others automatically stood guard at the door.

  "Mother"

  "My child," said Mrs. Su, wiping away tears, "Jian Xiao has grown a lot taller, but is a bit thinner now. Master should eat more nutritious food and not be picky about eating, only then can his body be well-nourished."

  Su Jing helped Su Shi wipe away her tears with a handkerchief, "Mother and daughter haven't seen each other for so long, it's better not to cry, we should be happy instead."

  "Yes, yes, yes, Master said so," Su also stopped her tears and cooperated with him.

  "Then just call me He'er, daughter doesn't want to be distant with mother," Su Jinghe made a gesture of dissatisfaction and said coquettishly. Seeing her nodding, she continued, "Mother, how have Father and two elder brothers been these days?"

  Su nodded, "We're all good, your father was promoted to a higher position the other day and is now a fourth-rank Imperial Academy Scholar."

  Su Jing's happiness comes from the heart, after entering the palace, in order not to bring trouble to herself or the Su family, she never inquired about the Su family's affairs and never sent anyone out of the palace.

  No news is good news.

  "Your elder brother is about to take the imperial examination, and he's been studying at home every day. Your second brother followed someone to do some business as a courier a few days ago, earned some money, and now wants to participate in the martial arts examination," said Mrs. Su, summarizing everything in just a few sentences, but the pride and happiness were evident in her words.

  "That's good, but mother also needs to remind big brother often, everything should prioritize health, studying should be in moderation, and it's essential not to harm his body."

  Su patted her daughter's head, "Don't worry about these things, we're all good at home, you don't have to worry."

  She didn't tell her daughter that her two sons were so diligent and hardworking, just to give her more protection, at least not to let others bully her with their family background.

  To say something irreverent, watching her rise from a lowly position to the current glory in less than a year is certainly not the end, and she will continue to climb higher. The higher she goes, the harder it gets, and the more emphasis is placed on family background. These relatives of hers cannot hold her back.

  She, even as a housewife, knew these principles, so she never thought of stopping them, even when watching her eldest son study late into the night and her second son return with injuries all over his body. Instead, she physically supported them, only secretly shedding tears behind their backs.

  Palace Concubine (Yi) / 33 / 33265

  Gong Shu