C171 (1/2)
Why does life exist? To see through the heart of the mortal world;
The king pressed on in panic, begging for relief.
In the empress dowager's palace of mercy, the empress dowager, empress dowager, and others came to pay their respects. The empress dowager looked at everyone strangely and frowned slightly. ”Why haven't we seen any concubines or concubines?” Consort, concubine, concubine … these people didn't know the reason. The Emperor's prohibition of concubines and concubines was actually quite low-key. The empress concubines of the Six Palaces didn't know about it, and those who didn't like to ask about it didn't know either. also knew. She looked up to see Imperial Concubine Yi only to see that after a moment of hesitation, she raised her head and said softly, ”Reporting to the Empress Dowager, I don't know if I should speak of this matter properly.”
”What's wrong with that? You must know that you're in charge of the harem. Speak!” The empress dowager said softly.
”Yes, Old Ancestor. The Emperor has banned the two of them from taking on concubines.” The Imperial Concubine Yi said softly.
”What?” The empress dowager cried out in alarm. At the same time, a few of the imperial concubines seated below couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air. Why was another person grounded? The empress dowager asked sternly, ”Why?”
”Chenqie really doesn't know. Chenqie only knows that her foot is banned.” She had heard this from her concubine yesterday, so she had no idea what was going on. She then thought, ”Old Ancestor, the emperor hasn't told you or anyone else. Does he not want everyone to know that his concubine is being too talkative?”
”Didn't the emperor tell you? ”Then how do you know?” The Empress Dowager looked at the Imperial Concubine Yi in confusion.
Seeing the empress dowager ask, the concubine hurriedly stood up and said, ”Old ancestor, it was chenqie who told Imperial Concubine Yi that you knew that chenqie was living with a concubine or concubine before she was bestowed the title of concubine. That's why you've always been on good terms with them.
”Oh!” The empress dowager nodded and thought deeply for a moment. ”The emperor didn't mention it. It might not be anything out of the ordinary, it might just be a minor punishment due to angering the emperor. You guys pay more attention to your words and actions, don't make the emperor angry.”
”Yes sir!” Everyone acknowledged, but the empress dowager's expression was solemn as she replied, ”For this matter, all of you should refrain from discussing and making wild guesses. This Dowager will personally interrogate the emperor.”
To tell the truth, the empress dowager was truly surprised. What surprised her was not that Xuan Ye had banned both of her concubines' feet, but that he had actually punished Rong'er. She told the latter that this was a small matter, but she knew in her heart that it definitely wasn't a small matter …
In the evening, Xuan Ye paced back and forth in front of the Yinkun Palace. ”Consultant, are you not here to see me, your concubine or concubine?”
”Reporting to the Emperor, I haven't heard any message.” ”Yes, Your Highness,” the counselor replied respectfully. He secretly thought that this concubine and the concubine wanted to offend the emperor. The emperor had been confined for three days already, and his mood hadn't improved in the past three days.
Xuan Ye heaved a heavy sigh. He still couldn't force Rong'er. He didn't know how to force her, but in his heart, he still couldn't bear to do so. ”I'm a consultant. I'm going to the Changchun Palace.”
Yesterday afternoon, the empress dowager had called him over to ask him about Rong'er and Zhi Zhi, and he remembered her asking in a very strange tone, ”Your majesty, how did I hear that you had banned your concubine and concubine?”
”Yes.” Xuan Ye nodded and said in a low voice, but there was no trace of joy on his face.
”Why?” The empress dowager frowned slightly.
”Royal Grandmother, the two of them hid something from me …” He didn't want to alarm the empress dowager. He wanted to minimize the impact, but it was clear that in this crowded imperial harem, he and his imperial concubines were the focus of attention. Everyone was paying attention to their every move.
”Can I know what it is?” The empress dowager raised her head to look into Xuan Ye's eyes. Xuan Ye subconsciously avoided his grandma's searching gaze. ”Grandmother, it's nothing major. Grandson is also investigating. When grandson finishes, I'll tell Grandmother, what do you think?”
The empress dowager nodded. ”Yes, grandson. This one doesn't care what you do, but right now, Empress Xiao Zhao has just passed away for less than a year. This one doesn't want anything bad to happen to this empress dowager, do you understand?”
”Royal Grandmother, your grandson doesn't want to either!” He could no longer pretend that he did not know and ignore this matter. At this point, he had to find out the truth.