When the Empress Dowager heard that he had already agreed to her proposal but still couldn't help bringing up Concubine Shun again, her disgust for Concubine Shun deepened. However, since it was she who had suddenly intervened in this matter, she didn't think it appropriate to say more.
Thinking of this, she said to the man in front of her, "Just do as the Emperor says. Only by maintaining fairness in the harem can it be harmonious. The Emperor should understand this principle."
Between the lines of her words, she was admonishing the Emperor not to dote on one concubine too much. He should bestow his favors equally on other concubines; otherwise, chaos would ensue in the harem.
Hearing her words, Helian Qi let out a soft laugh, patted his mother's shoulder, and said, "I understand, Mother. You don't need to worry too much."
After hearing this, the Empress Dowager's expression softened. After all, this was her son and the current Emperor. Looking past his figure at the piles of official documents on the desk behind him, she suddenly felt a pang of pity and said, "The Emperor should also take good care of his health. The official documents can never be fully read."
Helian Qi just nodded and said some words to reassure her.
"Then I'll leave. When the Emperor has time, come to Cining Palace for a meal." After saying that, the Empress Dowager turned around, supported by Nanny Li beside her, and left the Qianqing Palace.
Helian Qi, who remained where he was, had a tangle of unclear emotions in his eyes. After watching his mother completely disappear from his sight, he turned around and walked back to the desk full of official documents.
In front of him was the petition submitted by Prime Minister Dongfang. The bright red cross on it was still extremely eye - catching. Helian Qi impatiently closed it and threw it aside. Then he thought of the woman who was sometimes as radiant as a flower and sometimes as furious as a thunderbolt.
Was it her? He had always thought that she was reluctant to handle such troublesome matters, but unexpectedly, she had gone to the Empress Dowager just to compete for the right to organize the Mid - Autumn banquet.
Thinking of this, Helian Qi felt a surge of annoyance. He thought he had known her extremely well, but it turned out that he had only known a small part of her. Frowning slightly, he raised his hand to rub his temples, his eyes filled with exhaustion.
There had really been too many and too complicated things recently. He also felt tired.
That afternoon, Helian Qi sent Chief Eunuch Li to the Queen's palace with the message, "The Emperor has permitted the Queen to organize the Mid - Autumn banquet a month later."
After receiving the imperial edict, Dongfang Yi's lips twitched into an almost imperceptible smile. She had already guessed this outcome, so she wasn't very surprised. After all, she had full confidence in the Empress Dowager's ability. As long as the Empress Dowager was convinced, this matter would be settled.
Then Chief Eunuch Li went to Concubine Shun's palace to announce the imperial edict. Concubine Shun looked at Eunuch Li holding the imperial edict and already knew what the edict might be.
But when Eunuch Li said, "For the Mid - Autumn national banquet a month later, the Emperor has decided that the Queen shall be fully responsible, and Concubine Shun shall assist. So it is ordered."
Hearing this edict, Concubine Shun's eyes widened in astonishment. She was in a daze for a long time before being reminded by Eunuch Li to receive the edict.
"Your Highness, the world is unpredictable. Please be at ease," Eunuch Li said in his shrill voice with his eyes half - closed.
Then he waved his whisk and turned to leave Concubine Shun's palace.
Concubine Shun, who remained in place, stared at the bright yellow imperial edict in her hand. Unclear emotions were churning in her heart.
She had never really cared whether the Emperor truly loved her. As long as she loved, respected, and accompanied him whole - heartedly, she would always be content. So when she noticed his different feelings towards the Queen, her first reaction wasn't jealousy but a desire to protect him.
However, now she only felt a wave of humiliation wash over her. It wasn't about organizing the Mid - Autumn banquet, but the fact that this matter was forced on her by the Emperor in the first place, yet now it seemed as if she was being shameless and trying to snatch it from the Queen, only to end up in a sorry state.
She bit her lip so hard that it was almost bleeding, and tears welled up in her eyes. At this moment, she couldn't be the woman who always thought about the Emperor. Instead, she wanted to fight for everything for herself.
Thinking of this, she decided to meet the Queen again. She still remembered the furious look on the Queen's face when she heard that she was going to organize the Mid - Autumn banquet. She knew that the Queen must also have feelings for the Emperor.
But they clearly had feelings for each other but couldn't be together. She wanted to find out what the twists and turns were.
On the other side, in Concubine Chu's palace.
Since Helian Qi had sent Eunuch Li to announce the imperial edicts in the Queen's and Concubine Shun's palaces, the news spread like wildfire in the palace soon. The most restless place was undoubtedly Concubine Chu's palace.
Since Helian Qi ascended the throne, Concubine Chu had organized the Mid - Autumn banquet for two consecutive years. But this year, not only was she not in charge, but even the assistant was Concubine Shun, who had just entered the palace this year.
"What do they take me for?!" Concubine Chu stood in the middle of the bedroom and swept a tea set to the ground with one hand.
Her outburst was not without reason. After all, she was a woman with extremely strong self - esteem. She had organized the Mid - Autumn banquet for two years. Even if she shouldn't be the main organizer, there should at least be a place for her instead of just the Queen and Concubine Shun.
Thinking of this, she walked even more angrily to the cabinet beside her and swept it down with one hand.
The maids and eunuchs standing still in every corner of the bedroom didn't dare to move an inch. They knew how cruel the woman in front of them was, especially when she was furious.
Last time, a maid accidentally knocked over a tea cup and was punished to kneel on broken porcelain pieces. Blood flowed all over the place, but Concubine Chu didn't show the slightest bit of compassion. How cruel a person must she be to do such a thing!
Moreover, now that she was in a rage, the palace servants were afraid of making the slightest mistake and ending up in a terrible situation.
Soon, they heard someone outside the palace announce, "Lady Lian is here!"
Then they saw a woman in a goose - yellow long dress stride in. Her eyes were still full of tenderness. When she saw the mess on the floor of the bedroom, a hint of disgust flashed in her eyes, but then she still smiled and bowed, saying, "Your servant pays respects to Your Highness."
"Smash!"
Lady Lian suddenly felt a teacup shatter beside her foot. It missed hitting the top of her foot by just an inch. Her smile instantly froze on her face.
The disgust in her heart deepened, but she couldn't show it at all. She could only continue to ask the woman in front of her stiffly, "Your Highness, what are you so angry about?"
When the palace servants saw Lady Lian come, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Every time Lady Lian came, most of Concubine Chu's anger would be vented on her. Although it was not very moral to think so, the palace servants still felt a little relieved.