Chapter 247 - Close to the Heart (1/2)

As soon as Zhao Lan arrived at her family manor, she was instructed that her father was waiting in his story and her suspicions were immediately confirmed. Her mother was not ill. She had simply come here to be scolded.

Zhao Lan inwardly sighed as she walked into the study to see her father's disapproving glare. She braced herself and respectfully bowed in greeting, ”Father.”

Prime minister Zhao ignored her greeting, instead, he sternly asked, ”Are you aware of what you have done wrong?”

Zhao Lan let out an irritated breath and straightened up, ”It's not my fault th-”

”How is it not your fault?!” Prime minister Zhao cut her off, ”Not only have you allowed someone else to climb over your head, I even learned that you have not even managed to even get one night after all this time! After all this time, what did you think you're in the palace for?!” Prime minister Zhao raged.

Zhao Lan frowned and defended, ”I have tried but it's not like I can force him. I even took the initiative to go to his palace to present myself and he bluntly dismissed me. He never bothered to see anyone except that Lei Xing and now he has simply moved in with her. I already told you he-”

”Nonsense! Are you not a woman?! What does that Lei daughter have that you don't?! You have simply not tried hard enough!” Prime minister Zhao banged his fist on the table and then continued, ”You are a disappointment to your aunt! All those years of grooming have proven to be for nothing. You idly sat by and watched someone else take your position!”

”Well, auntie was not the first Empress either so- ” Zhao Lan mumbled under her breath. Just because Lei Xing came Empress first did not mean that she was a failure.

”You, you!” Prime minister Zhao barked and then took a deep breath to calm his raging nerves, ”Your aunt did not have the opportunity to be amongst the Emperor's first wives. If she had, she would have naturally been the Empress from the start!”

Zhao Lan's frown deepened and she lowered her head and did not say anything. What her father was blatantly ignoring was the fact that the late Emperor was a womanizer, while her Emperor seemed to be allergic to women...All except one annoyingly.

Zhao Lan had grown up and been groomed by her aunt to be the Emperor's wife. But just like as it had been when they were children, he ignored her very presence and she in her childish mind had always admired him. Even now, she still had admired him and up to a few months ago, she had always believed he would be hers. She had worked hard all her life to ensure that she was worthy of him, but he clearly paid no mind to her.

If her aunt had not died, she would have probably directly married into the position of Empress. But now she had to struggle for it and she had tried. She even uncomfortably went to his palace scantily clad, but then he turned her away without even sparing her a second glance.

She had put in all her effort and might into him while Lei Xing did nothing but yet had the Emperor chasing after her. During the competition, Lei Xing put out glorified nonsense, yet she seemed to steal all the attention. She also behaved in a self-righteous manner and had a dismissive attitude along with a demeaning character that made everyone around her feel like they bothering her by simply alive.

But somehow, despite Lei Xing's bad character, the Emperor still fell in love with her. It had to be love, there was no other way to explain the current chain of events. It was made all too clear when he had moved into her palace to better look after her while she was sick with a potentially contagious ailment.

Most men would not have done that for their one wife, much less an Emperor with multiple women.

The Emperor has made it all too clear where his interests lay and Zhao Lan had no idea how to chase someone that did not want to be chased. Especially one that seemed to dislike her mere presence around him.

Prime minister Zhao looked at his daughter and then sighed, ”It's good that you have acknowledged your wrongs...But it is not too late. With the way things stand now, getting her out of the way will not be difficult...”

Zhao Lan glanced at her father and then asked something that happened on her mind all day, ”Aren't you worried the Emperor would discover your hand with the incompatibility result? With his reaction to the news, it would be troublesome.”

Prime minister Zhao snorted, ”Those are just rumors probably started by the Emperor himself to sway public opinion in his favor. That was the heavens being against him, not me. But that is still fine, let him have his Empress. The Emperor has been behaving too pompously since ascending the throne, he will learn in the future that some advice must be adhered to...” Prime minister Zhao said with a smirk.

”For now, you just get close to that Lei girl. The more time you spend with her, the better the Emperor will view you. That way when she goes down, you will be an understanding shoulder~ Be smart and play your part properly, don't waste my efforts.” Prime minister warned narrowing his eyes at Zhao Lan

Zhao Lan knit her brows, feeling conflicted, but then she mustered up her courage and said, ”Father, she's not an easy person to get along with, why mus -”

”How can you be so rigid?!” Prime Minister Zhao barked and Zhao Lan flinched, ”You must be able to adapt. The palace is not a place where you can remain inflexible. When things fail one way, you turn around and try a different method. Find a way.”Prime minister Zhao ordered.