Chapter 42: Taking advantage of the situation
The meals in the imperial dining room were prepared quickly and were still hot when delivered.
Concubine Shu volunteered to prepare dishes for Emperor Qing Ling and kept putting them in his bowl.
"Your Majesty, I remember that you don't like sour food. Why has your taste changed now? It seems that I will always have vinegar in my kitchen from now on. Not only do I want to eat it, but you, Your Majesty, also like it."
When she said this, her tone was filled with annoyance and coquettishness.
In the past, she would never talk like this.
Emperor Qing Ling looked at her sideways, with the sound of rain outside in his ears, and beside him was his beloved concubine with rosy cheeks and shyness. It should have been a beautiful scene, but at this moment, it made him feel a little sad. Very lonely.
"What's wrong with my beloved concubine? You're so good, why are you jealous? You're already a mother-in-law and you're not ashamed."
Emperor Qingling had deep meaning in his eyes, but his face was playful and teasing. He even raised his hand to scratch the tip of Concubine Shu's nose, his movements were loving and gentle.
Concubine Shu pouted, put down her chopsticks, leaned in front of Emperor Qingling and whispered: "Your Majesty, how can I be jealous? I am shy. Your Majesty just got a princess. How come you are so jealous of me now?" It’s been a long time, so I asked the imperial kitchen to prepare sour food so that I can give birth to a little prince for the emperor?”
When she spoke, she shook her head twice symbolically.
These two shakes made Emperor Qing Ling's heart tremble up and down.
As a result, Emperor Qing Ling's eyes became eager when he looked at her.
At this moment, Concubine Shu let go of Emperor Qingling's hand, stood up and knelt in front of Emperor Qingling, lowered her eyes and said: "I am so bold, I want to replace the little prince in my belly for who knows how long." Sister Yao asks for a favor.”
Mentioning the concubines, Emperor Qingling's expression became stern again.
The charming expression just now completely disappeared, but there was a bit more relief in his eyes.
It was difficult for him to disobey the Queen Mother's decree.
As long as he finds a reason, he can turn this matter into a trivial matter, but he hasn't thought of a perfect way yet.
At this time, Concubine Shu spoke, which relieved his urgent need and depression in his heart.
He stopped what he was doing and looked at her calmly.
"What do you want to ask for?"
Concubine Shu nodded and said piously: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is doing this to vent her anger for Ying'an and also for my concubine. If this concubine comes forward to ask for forgiveness from the Queen Mother, I believe the Queen Mother will not disobey her."
"There is no reason to take back the Queen Mother's decree."
Concubine Shu raised her eyes and said softly: "Of course I won't take it back, but if I can make sister Zhiyao a blessing in disguise, it can be regarded as paying off this punishment."
Emperor Qingling frowned: "What blessing?"
Concubine Shu said solemnly: "The Hua family has been married for generations. Although sister Zhiyao's father is an official, he is in a nearby county and is still quite far away from the capital. Why doesn't the emperor use the excuse of the Queen Mother to severely punish sister Yao? , giving rewards to the Hua family, first of all, it shows the royal style, upright and upright, but also leaves something to be desired. There are rewards and punishments. Secondly, for the sake of sister Zhiyao, she definitely hopes that her family can be with her. Your Majesty, although I know that sister Zhiyao has robbed my husband, your Majesty, you are not a concubine in the first place. For one person, I am willing to consider and share the emperor’s worries.”
Emperor Qingling suddenly looked at Concubine Shu, with appreciation hidden in his eyes.
In the past, he only knew that Concubine Shu was beautiful, and he felt relaxed and happy just by looking at her.
Today I find her even more charming, gentle and pleasant. "What my beloved concubine means is that you go and ask the Queen Mother to forgive Concubine Xian, and I will reward the Hua family. The Queen Mother has forgiven Concubine Xian. After knowing the reward from the Hua family, she will not feel that I have violated the Queen Mother's decree, and this matter will be settled. Let it go? ”
Concubine Shu continued to speak: "Your Majesty, I am a concubine in the harem, and what I think about is just a woman's opinion. All I can do is talk about the good things and difficulties of sister Ziyao in front of the Queen Mother. As for other things, Yes, it still needs to be considered by the emperor.”
Emperor Qingling opened his lips and said quietly: "Don't you hate Zhiyao for taking Ying'an away like this?"
Concubine Shu shook her head and raised her eyes to look at Emperor Qingling: "Your Majesty, do you really think that sister Zhiyao did this? Sister Zhiyao has just entered the palace as a concubine, how could she do such an irreparable thing at this juncture? , Furthermore, sister Zhiyao has a docile, easy-going and tender temperament. When she was in Chengqian Palace, she loved teasing Ying'an the most. How could she do such a thing? What the concubine just said What she did was just to cover up others' eyes. The person behind the scenes, who dared to frame Sister Yao like this, must have wanted me to turn against Sister Yao. She would reap the benefits. The more the other party wanted to do this, the more I would do. The more you have to use the trick to find out the person who framed Ying'an, Your Majesty, do you think I am very scheming? "
She said with tears in her eyes, looking up at Emperor Qing Ling, her watery eyes blinking.
Emperor Qingling stood up and helped her up, and said warmly: "It's hard for you. I know that you just want to avenge Ying'an. How can I blame you for my loving mother's heart?"
Concubine Shu stood up and collapsed in his arms. She clung to his chest with one hand and said warmly: "Your Majesty, I am in the harem, and I have no control over everything. I can ask for nothing from him. As long as the emperor can understand me." That’s good.”
Emperor Qingling stroked her back and said softly: "I understand you."
Concubine Shu suddenly withdrew from Emperor Qing Ling's arms, bent her knees and smiled, with tears still hanging from the corners of her eyes and water drops on her eyelashes, she was so cute.
"In this case, I will go to the Longevity Palace now. If I can save the Queen Mother from the punishment tonight, sister Zhiyao will be able to escape this heavy rain."
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Emperor Qingling said: "It's so late? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Concubine Shu raised her eyes and said tenderly: "Your Majesty, I would like to welcome you."
As soon as these words came out, Emperor Qingling's doubts were all dispelled.
He originally thought that what Concubine Shu did today was quite strange. One moment she wanted him to punish the concubine Xian, and the next she wanted to save the concubine Xian. But now, he actually felt that her temperament was quite cute and out-of-the-box, and she was thoughtful. He does his job according to his position, and there is no flaw in his work.
The room was full of people just now. What she did could really put Master Jiang at ease, as he felt that he had provoked a dispute between Concubine Shu and Concubine Xian.
Originally, if she said she wanted to save Concubine Xian so late, he would suspect that she had ulterior motives this time, but now it seemed that she was a little more sincere.
"Your Majesty, my concubine's wish to welcome An is not in conflict with saving sister Zhiyao, right?"
When she said this, she smiled slyly and her eyes were full of mischief.
When Ying'an is involved, her false feelings will be wrapped up in his eyes with a layer of sincerity.
At least in Concubine Shu's eyes, Emperor Qing Ling was completely satisfied with her at this time.
Emperor Qingling waved his hand and called to Nanny Chen who was standing aside: "You, follow your mother-in-law and take the fox fur cloak that I gave you a few years ago. Be careful of catching a cold."
Grandma Chen bent her knees: "Yes."
Emperor Qing Ling glanced around and didn't see any maids, so he frowned.
"Why are there so few people serving you in your palace?"
(End of chapter)