Hearing this, Queen Xu just stared at the patterns on the teacup and said, "After all, she weighs more in the Emperor's heart than I do!"
Seeing the dazed Queen sitting there, Nanny Gui advised, "Your Majesty still has feelings for you, Your Highness!"
"Hehe! It's not about this!" Queen Xu didn't find much comfort in Nanny Gui's words, but she still shifted her attention.
"Why didn't Father discuss it with me? He suddenly proposed in the court today to arrange marriages for the three princes! Now I don't even have the slightest preparation to plead with the Emperor. I don't know how to start!"
"His Lordship may have other plans! Your Highness need not worry. Everything His Lordship does is for the Second Prince and Your Highness!"
"For my own good?" Queen Xu angrily slapped the table. "Father's sudden action will only put me in a disadvantageous position! The marriages of the Fourth, Seventh, and Tenth Princes should be the concerns of Concubine Chen, Concubine Guo, and the Emperor himself! Why does Father have to force the Emperor in front of all the court officials?"
"What good will it do? The Emperor is a man who values his face very much. Now that his face has been lost in public, I don't know how much he resents me! He may think that I'm a person who values interests and will stop at nothing!"
"This..." Nanny Gui looked at the furious Queen and didn't know how to console her. She also knew that what Marquis Xuanping did today was indeed inappropriate.
"Your Highness! The most urgent thing now is to deal with the Emperor. How to dispel his misunderstanding is the top priority!"
"Sigh!"
Hearing this, Queen Xu just sighed and shook her head. "Forget it. This matter should be handled as soon as possible. Let's go to the Imperial Study now!"
In the Imperial Study, Emperor Xiao Huaishi softened his heart. He also felt that he owed Concubine Chen and her son a great deal, so he wanted to make up for it as much as he could.
"I've already agreed to arrange a marriage for the Fourth Prince. But after all, you're his mother. You should choose a wife who suits his heart yourself!"
"How to choose? Whom to choose? You can just make the arrangements. I won't interfere this time!"
Concubine Chen nestled in his arms. Hearing his words, she happily got up to thank him. "Your servant thanks Your Majesty for the grace!"
Xiao Huaishi pulled her up. "This matter also concerns the Seventh and Tenth Princes. I'm not worried about the Tenth Prince. You've always taken good care of him. I'm sure you won't treat him badly this time! But for the Seventh Prince's marriage, I'll let Concubine Guo assist you. You'll have someone to discuss with!"
"Thank Your Majesty for considering your servant so carefully!"
At this time, a little eunuch suddenly ran in from outside and reported, "Your Majesty, Queen Xu requests an audience!"
"Um!" The Emperor nodded but didn't say whether to see her or not.
Concubine Chen saw the sudden disappearance of the joy on the Emperor's face. Although she felt secretly happy in her heart, she still advised on the surface, "Since Queen Xu is here, she must have something important to discuss! Your Majesty might as well see her!"
Hearing this, Xiao Huaishi glanced at the door and nodded.
"Then your servant will take her leave first!" Concubine Chen bowed and said.
Outside, Queen Xu was dressed in a bright red palace dress. She stood upright under the steps of the Imperial Study.
"Greetings to Your Highness the Queen! His Majesty is waiting for Your Highness inside. Your Highness might as well go in quickly!" After Concubine Chen finished speaking, she led a large group of people away in a grand manner.
Queen Xu still held her back straight and stepped onto the steps.
"Your servant pays homage to Your Majesty!"
As soon as she entered and saw the Emperor, Queen Xu bowed and said.
"Get up!" Xiao Huaishi didn't stop flipping through the memorials in his hand and didn't even look at Queen Xu on the ground.
"Your servant is here today to seek punishment!"
Queen Xu bowed again and knocked her head tightly on the ground.
"Marquis Xuanping has overstepped his bounds and meddled in the marriages of the three princes, going against Your Majesty's will. He has really committed a serious mistake! I hope Your Majesty will punish him severely!"
"Oh? Queen Xu won't plead for Marquis Xuanping?" Xiao Huaishi asked with great interest.
Hearing this, Queen Xu raised her head, straightened her back, and said word by word, "Your servant is the Queen and should set an example for the world! There are national laws and family rules. Now that Marquis Xuanping has made a mistake, there's no reason for him not to be punished! As the Queen of the country, I should restrain my relatives well. Now that I've failed to do so, I should ask Your Majesty to punish me!"
Seeing such a reasonable Queen Xu, Xiao Huaishi's suspicion and misgivings about her were reduced by two points. "Queen Xu, there's no need to do this!"
"What Marquis Xuanping said today is also reasonable! I've always been busy with state affairs and neglected the marriages of the Fourth Prince and the others! Now Marquis Xuanping has given me a wake - up call!"
Hearing the Emperor's words, Queen Xu not only didn't feel relieved but became even more worried. "Your Majesty! My father is old. Sometimes he lacks consideration in doing things, but he is absolutely loyal to Your Majesty."
"Queen Xu, you're over - worrying. After all, Marquis Xuanping is my father - in - law. I naturally trust him! Moreover, Marquis Xuanping is still in his prime. I still need his advice!"
After that, Xiao Huaishi didn't say anything to blame Marquis Xuanping or Queen Xu. He just comforted the Queen to manage the harem well and then let her leave.
On the way back to the palace, Queen Xu frowned tightly all the time.
Nanny Gui couldn't help but feel worried when she saw this, but since they were on the way and it wasn't the right time to talk, she had to endure it until they returned to the Palace of Gathered Elegance.
After returning to the palace, Queen Xu dismissed all the maids and eunuchs.
"Your Highness, did His Majesty blame His Lordship?"
Queen Xu shook her head, sat on the couch in the room, and frowned tightly with her head down. "His Majesty didn't say a single word of blame! Instead, he praised Father!"
Nanny Gui didn't understand the Emperor's intention. She turned to Queen Xu and asked, "Did Concubine Chen say something for His Majesty to act like this today?"
Hearing this, Queen Xu shook her head again. Based on her understanding of the Emperor over the years, even if the Emperor didn't make a big fuss and blame the Marquis Xuanping's Mansion, he should at least be resentful and dissatisfied with her father.
It was the first time she had seen the Emperor so gentle and amiable!
She didn't know what the Emperor was planning!
"Go and send a message! Ask Father to restrain the people in the mansion recently. They should keep a low profile during this period!" No matter what, Queen Xu decided to act cautiously.
"Also, send a message to Yu Jin. Ask him if he knew about today's matter. Anyway, he should restrain his temper recently and don't make the Emperor dissatisfied!"
In the Palace of Gathered Elegance, the smile on Concubine Chen's face that had lasted all the way finally disappeared as soon as she entered the bedroom.
Concubine Chen directly swept the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones off the desk. Gritting her teeth, she said hatefully, "That damned old bastard, Xu Yuantao! How dare he meddle in my son's marriage!"