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Marquis Xuanping cupped his hands and saluted, "This official greets Your Majesty the Empress."
Empress Xiao hesitated to speak and glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs inside the hall before saying in a low voice, "You all may leave. This Empress needs to have a private conversation with Marquis Xuanping."
"Yes!" The palace servants then left one by one.
Empress Xiao stood up with a smile and walked towards Marquis Xuanping, saying, "Brother!"
Marquis Xuanping looked at her with disdain and said, "Why are you dressed like a bird today?"
Empress Xiao who felt like a bucket of cold water was poured on her: “...”
She took a deep breath.
Her brother's sharp tongue had never changed over the years.
Empress Xiao and Marquis Xuanping sat down on the chairs. Instead of sitting on the main seat, she sat next to Marquis Xuanping.
Empress Xiao asked, "How have you been recently, brother?"
Marquis Xuanping replied, "I'm doing fine. And you, Your Majesty?"
Empress Xiao smiled and said, "I'm doing well too."
Marquis Xuanping looked at her delicate makeup and heavy jewelry and asked, "Do you regret entering the palace?"
“How can that be?” She doesn't regret it at all. Who wouldn't want to be the mother of all under heaven? Besides, even if His Majesty had three thousand beauties in the imperial harem, he had never truly neglected her, the Empress.
In the beginning, it was her own decision to marry the Emperor; it was her who had cut off the possibility of Imperial Consort Zhuang becoming the Empress.
Imperial Consort Zhuang was originally the Emperor's main consort, however after he ascended the throne, he only conferred her the rank of a second-rank imperial consort and decreed to marry her instead as the Empress.
As a result, she and the Xiao family had suffered a lot of difficulties from Imperial Consort Zhuang’s faction, and it was all thanks to her brother that they were able to endure it.
Therefore, she was grateful to her brother and admired her brother a lot.
She smiled and asked, "How come you have time to come and see me today, brother?"
"I have a favor to ask of you." Marquis Xuanping said.
"What is it?" Empress Xiao asked.
"An old friend entrusted me with something very precious to give to Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing. He insisted that I personally deliver it to her." Marquis Xuanping replied.
Empress Xiao smilingly said, "What's the big deal? It's nothing difficult. I am actually going to visit Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing at Huaqing Palace today. Why don't you come with me, brother?"
"Alright." Marquis Xuanping nodded his head.
The siblings went to Huaqing Palace.
Since Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing moved there, the palace had become livelier. All the eligible concubines who could pay respects to her came to curry favor with her, at the same time they were hoping to encounter the Emperor.
Empress Xiao did not need to encounter the Emperor, but the Emperor regarded Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing as his birth mother, so Empress Xiao naturally respected her as a mother-in-law.
However, Empress Xiao never expected that Imperial Consort Zhuang would also be there.
The two most powerful figures of the harem met at the entrance of Huaqing Palace, each with their own eunuchs and palace maids. The atmosphere seemed to freeze in an instant.
The two women were evenly matched in the palace, but with Marquis Xuanping by Empress Xiao's side, her aura was particularly strong today.
"Marquis Xuanping." Imperial Consort Zhuang greeted him with a smile.
"Your Highness." Marquis Xuanping responded perfunctorily with cupped hands.
He behaved the same way in front of the Emperor. Imperial Consort Zhuang did not mind his attitude and smiled at Empress Xiao, "Is the Empress here to pay respects to imperial concubine dowager?"
"Isn't that why imperial consort is here?" Empress Xiao asked lightly.
Imperial Consort Zhuang smiled, "Ning Wang recently suppressed a group of bandits. The villagers were grateful for His Majesty's kindness and specially made some tea cakes for Ning Wang to bring to His Majesty as an expression of gratitude. Since Ning Wang is still dealing with the aftermath in the mountains, he can only send his attendants to deliver them back. This consort offered to do it for him."
Ning Wang, Ning Wang.
Clearly, her son was the Crown Prince, but His Majesty always had him studying in the study hall. Ning Wang, on the other hand, was often entrusted with important tasks, helping His Majesty govern the country!
Nowadays, Ning Wang's reputation among the people was almost surpassing that of the Crown Prince!
Empress Xiao's fingers tightened, a cold light flashing in her eyes.
"Let's go inside." Marquis Xuanping said.
Empress Xiao gave Imperial Consort Zhuang a disdainful look and walked into the Huaqing Palace with Marquis Xuanping.
Imperial Consort Zhuang bowed slightly, pretending to be courteous.
It wasn't until Empress Xiao and Marquis Xuanping entered the bedchamber of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing that Imperial Consort Zhuang's expression turned cold.
A court lady beside her snorted, "What's so great about them? If it weren't for the rift between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, the throne would have been in the bag for the Imperial Consort long ago!"
Imperial Consort Zhuang sneered, "What's the use of sitting on the throne? She gave birth to two useless sons who can't handle any responsibility!"
Imperial Consort Zhuang also entered the Huaqing Palace. She was here today to bring tea cakes to the Emperor. Ordinary things from the common people were not exquisite or clean, but the Emperor never actually ate them.
He only needed to know Ning Wang's and the people's opinions.
No matter how many meritorious deeds Ning Wang made outside, he would always tell the people that he was only carrying out the Emperor's orders to protect the people, and it was not him but his imperial father, the Emperor of the State of Zhao, who protected them.
With such a filial son, how could the Emperor not love him?
The Emperor was indeed pleased to see the tea cakes and praised Ning Wang greatly, but he didn't eat them.
"Imperial consort taught her son well." The Emperor said happily. Then he sighed softly, "If the Crown Prince were half as sensible as his older brother, Zhen wouldn't be so worried."
Imperial Consort Zhuang smiled and said, "If the Crown Prince doesn't mind, his eldest brother will be happy to take him out to experience the world."
Without flattering the Crown Prince or belittling her own son, she spoke of the brotherly bond between the two, which greatly pleased the Emperor.
"It's indeed time for them to go out and experience the world. Zhen will find them a task to do together." The Emperor paused and asked, "Zhen haven't seen Yan'er and Xin'er for a while. Arrange for them to come to the palace."
Qin Yan and Qin Xin were the two little princesses of Ning Wang’s prince residence, born to a side consort. One was three years old and the other was two years old.
"Yes." Imperial Consort Zhuang smiled and agreed.
The Emperor put down the documents in his hand, "Since you are here, come with me to see Imperial Concubine Mother Jing."
Imperial Consort Zhuang thought that refusing would be disrespectful.
Inside Qiuhua Hall, Empress Xiao and Marquis Xuanping had already greeted Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing.
Empress Xiao sat next to Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing and saw the Emperor enter with Imperial Consort Zhuang, who had a bright smile on her face.
Empress Xiao's face darkened.
"Paying respects to imperial concubine mother Jing." Imperial Consort Zhuang bowed.
"What are you here for?" The Emperor asked Marquis Xuanping.
"Someone entrusted me with something to deliver to imperial concubine dowager." Marquis Xuanping replied, taking out a small brocade box from his wide sleeves.
Grannie Cai walked over and handed the brocade box to Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing with both hands.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing was still very ill, her complexion didn't look very good. She covered her face with a handkerchief and coughed twice before taking the box.
"Who is this old acquaintance?" Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing asked with a smile.
"That old acquaintance said that if imperial concubine dowager opens the box, she will know." Marquis Xuanping replied.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing nodded and opened the box.
Marquis Xuanping was the Emperor's confidant, someone who could be trusted and would not bring harm to him and his people.
But no one expected for a dart to shoot out as soon as the box opened!
Everyone's expressions changed drastically!
Marquis Xuanping was also shocked. He never expected that the box would contain a hidden weapon, but he was too late to take action.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing was old, weak, and sick. She was done for!
The dart shot straight to Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing’s face.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's eyes flickered, and in the nick of time, she waved her hand and catched the dart in mid-air between her two fingers!
Silence pervaded the great hall as the crowd stared at her in disbelief.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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