Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 37

Take the eldest prince to Jingren Palace.

“Tell me, why didn’t you agree?”

Su Ling looked at him with burning eyes, as if asking:

Why did you reject Imperial Mother’s suggestion? Why not accept the side consorts?

Xiao Yu looked at the stubborn girl in his arms and finally told the truth: “Ah Ling, I want the children birthed by you.”

A warm palm rested on her stomach and stroked it twice.

Su Ling looked at the deep eyebrows, her eyes were inexplicably red. The rotten emotions she had been feeling for a long time had a tendency to collapse in an instant.

Xiao Yu wrapped his arms around her waist, leaned on her shoulder in the most loving posture and bit her earlobe softly, then slowly went down to her slender and fair neck.

Itchy and unbearable. Su Ling’s breathing became disordered, accompanied by the gentle flickering of the candle light.

They had had countless times of uncontrollable love affairs, but doing it until Su Ling became confused, this night was the only time.

She hugged him with some yearning.

Later, Xiao Yu got up and went to the study.

Yang Di and Lu Ze were there.

Yang Di said slowly: “The Mu family has given up their hard-earned capital this time, even the copper mine has been handed over. If this goes on, His Majesty will truly establish the crown prince.”

Lu Ze: “Just wait. Prince Yan surely won’t sit back and ignore it.”

Yang Di hesitated for a while before saying: “Right. After a while, surely there will be good news from Yan Palace.”

Speaking of this, Lu Ze said in a low voice: “Has the empress mentioned the matter of taking in side concubines to Your Highness?”

“Yes.” Xiao Yu’s Adam’s apple moved slightly: “But I refused.”

Lu Ze couldn’t help teasing: “Princess Consort is truly worthy to be called Su Jingbei’s daughter. The daughter from a general’s family, how could she be defeated ah?”

Lu Ze was truly just teasing when he said this.

Unlike Lu Ze, Yang Di considered for a moment, then said seriously: “This subordinate knows that Your Highness is thinking about the General’s Estate, but you must not underestimate the weight of the imperial grandson…”

Xiao Yu suddenly felt irritated and couldn’t help clenching his fist and said solemnly: “You don’t need to mention this in the future. Before the princess gets pregnant, this prince will not take a concubine.”

At that moment, Xiao Yu only thought that even the lord of an ordinary noble family would not take a concubine before the main lady of the house gets pregnant, so why should he wronged his wife? If he took in a concubine and that concubine birthed him the eldest son, how should he handle the aftermath?

Furthermore, even if he seized power, sought profit, and schemed for the land under the heavens, he would not calculate his own wife.

Yang Di continued to speak boldly, but Xiao Yu turned a deaf ear and looked out the window.

The window was wide open, the sun was shining above, making the sight extremely dazzling. He subconsciously raised his hand and blocked his eyes—

And woke up.

When Qin Ling opened her eyes, she recalled the dream, and raised the corner of her lips.

Waking up from a big dream. Truly waking up from a big dream.

Apparently, she had been mistaken all this time.

But even so, it did not affect Qin Ling’s annoyance towards the hands around her at this moment.

She turned her body around and freed herself from the shackles.

When Xiao Yu’s hands touched the thin air, he looked for her again, and when he hugged her body once more, he asked in a loving voice: “You’re awake?”

Qin Ling pretended to be asleep and didn’t answer.

Xiao Yu carefully touched her ear. 

Xiao Yu’s fingertips slid back and forth on her ear, and she naturally did not continue to pretend to be asleep.

As a concubine in the harem, aside from not having temper, you also have to be knowledgeable.

Qin Ling shrank with his movements, then she moved towards his side and was met with a tight embrace.

Xiao Yu’s eyes lightened. He smiled softly and said slowly: “Are you awake now?”

“Mm.” Qin Ling answered in a small voice: “This concubine is awake.”

The two pressed closely together. As the man’s breathing became heavier and the gaze hotter, added with the vigorous heartbeat in her ear, Qin Ling’s face reddened.

Xiao Yu looked down at her.

The light in his eyes had always been cold. But once those eyes were dyed with tenderness, coupled with two or three points of desire, it would be like a vortex in the sea, making people immersed in it unconsciously.

Qin Ling was fortunate that her heart would no longer be as flustered as before.

“Are you still dizzy?” He asked.

“It’s much better.” She replied.

“In a while, Physician Ning will come to take a look.”

After saying that, Xiao Yu sat up. Qin Ling was about to get up to serve him in changing clothes when she heard him say: “You’ll be exempted from the morning and evening greetings to the empress dowager these two days. Just recuperate well.”

She immediately responded: “This concubine understands.”

Before getting up the sedan chair, Xiao Yu turned his head and asked Gonggong Sheng: “What did Consort Xue say yesterday?”

Gonggong Sheng leaned over and whispered in a low voice.

Hearing the words “Qin Suizhi”, Xiao Yu’s eyes froze.

As soon as the morning court was over, Xiao Yu went to the Cining Palace.

The sound of footsteps echoed, then Xiao Yu paid his respect that has been the same for ten years: “This son pays respect to Imperial Mother.” 

The entirety of Cining Palace was filled with the smell of medicine. The empress dowager asked directly: “Is the emperor here today because of Consort Xue’s assistance in the affairs of the Six Palaces?”

Xiao Yu saat down, took the tea handed over by Gonggong Zhang, and said: “Yes.”

Empress Dowager Chu sat up straight and said: “Consort Xue has a temper. It is true that she is a bit willful and domineering, but in the past few years, she has also restrained herself a lot. Aijia is not in good health, and it is hard to continue to manage the harem for the emperor. Considering the Xue family’s assistance to you in the imperial court, just leave the management of the Six Palaces to her. Consort Xue has been in the palace all these years without an heir, and she has not been promoted even once. Now that some newcomers have entered the palace again, aijia is afraid that the Xue family will harbor bad thoughts.”

“This son knows Imperial Mother’s thoughts.” Xiao Yu put down the untouched tea cup and added: “However, We don’t think the imperial court should be related to the harem. We will reward the Xue family for their merits, but that reward won’t fall to Consort Xue.”

Empress Dowager Chu smiled and said directly: “The harem should not be involved in politics. This is the rule of the ancestors, and it should be so. However, no matter how clear Your Majesty wants to be, there still ought to be some unclear relationships inside. Just like no matter how Your Majesty pampers Jieyu Qin, she won’t be able to carry this responsibility.”

“This is natural.” Xiao Yu said: “Jieyu Qin’s temperament is reserved, surely she won’t be able to lead the harem.”

Empress Dowager Chu: “Since Your Majesty has said this, you must have a preferred candidate in mind.”

“When it comes to a preferred person, of course anyone can’t be compared to Imperial Mother.” Xiao Yu continued: “However, Imperial Mother is not in good health, so We cannot burden you further with this. After some thought, We think Consort Liu has good qualifications.”

“Then let’s do it as Your Majesty says.” Empress Dowager Chu smiled and said: “These things are just trivial matters in the end. The real problem is hopefully Your Majesty will spread branches as soon as possible.”

[Spread branches: Have children]

Xiao Yu smiled and said: “Yes, this son knows.”

After Xiao Yu left, Empress Dowager Chu’s face sank immediately. She looked at the direction of the porch and smiled: “If only aijia saw his wolf-like nature sooner, aijia wouldn’t have chosen him back then.”

Gonggong Zhang knelt down, not daring to answer.

***

On the same day, the management of the Six Palaces was transferred from Xianfu Palace to Yikun Palace.

Yikun Palace was in a joyous mood.

Zhi Yuan, the maid of Yikun Palace, smiled and said: “Congratulations to Your Highness. This servant heard that His Majesty personally went to Cining Palace for Your Highness.”

Consort Liu said with a smile: “Fighting here and there for the right, in the end it still falls into our Yikun Palace. Has Xue Lanyi destroyed Xianfu Palace?”

Zhi Yuan laughed: “This servant heard that several palace servants in Xianfu Palace got punished.”

“She must be unwilling. She is proud of her noble birth and somewhat good-look. She always thinks that His Majesty will treat her differently, but if she’s truly favored, why does she have to wait until now after so many years? Those few who have just entered the palace, which one of them is not jade-like beauty?” Consort Liu paused before she continued: “Actually stupid enough to went and made things difficult for Jieyu Qin. Having good intentions and doing all those good things, in the end no one appreciated it.”

In Consort Liu’s eyes, fighting for favor is a separate issue from fighting for power. If Xue Lanyi didn’t fail to see this, she wouldn’t end up like this today.

“Just now, Someone from Shanggong Bureau came to inform that Jieyu Qin will move palace in two days. It was His Majesty’s verbal decree.” Zhi Yuan continued: “Consort Xue’s effort is truly wasted this time.”

“Well, just see, sooner or later, the eldest prince will be sent to her to be raised as well.” Consort Liu smiled: “I’m afraid there’s one more person whose hopes and efforts will come to nothing.”

***

Two days later, Qin Ling moved from Jingyang Palace to Jingren Palace.

The eunuch supervisor Wang Fu came to greet Qin Ling again.

In just a few months after entering the palace, this Jieyu Qin had changed three residences. Wang Fu’s smile had become brighter and brighter.

He said: “Jieyu, don’t worry. Us servants have investigated this Jingren Palace upside down. There will be no more accidents like last time.”

Qin Ling smiled: “Thank you, Gonggong Wang.”

Wang Fu said his old line again: “If Jieyu needs anything, just say it. This servant will immediately take care of it.”

Qin Ling thought for a moment and said: “Speaking of which, there really is something that I need to trouble Gonggong with.”

Wang Fuyi immediately bowed and smiled: “Jieyu, please tell.”

A pampered concubine said there was something troublesome, which was what Wang Fu wanted. After all, it could be said that the emperor at least had some affection towards this palace.

Qin Ling said in a low voice: “Could Gonggong head to the Shanggong Bureau and ask for two capable maids? Preferably those who can take care of children.”

As an experienced person, of course Wang Fu immediately understood when he heard the word “children”.

Gonggong Wang replied: “This servant will do it immediately.”

Qin Ling looked at the back of Gonggong Wang and suddenly felt that life in the harem was really difficult. If there is no backer, it is really all down to the emperor’s face.

If the emperor is happy and spoils you, you are the person at the apex of the Six Bureaus and One Division. Otherwise, the opposite works the same way.

In less than a shichen, Wang Fu returned to Jingren Palace with four palace maids.

The master asked for two, but as a servant, how could he only bring two.

Gonggong Wang smiled and said: “These four were picked by Shanggong Ning and this servant himself. All of them are efficient in their work and have tight-lips. Which ones is Jieyu interested in?”

Qin Ling thought for a while and said: “I think everyone’s good.”

Gonggong Wang exclaimed “aiyah” and happily said: “Then it is the fortune of these four people.”

As a result, the four palace maids: Qiu Wen, Yu Bi, Fei Cui, and Hu Po, were left for Qin Ling.

When the time arrived to light the lights, Chang Ge and Ling Que served Qin Ling to bathe as usual.

As soon as Chang Ge put down the cow-horn comb, she heard Qin Ling say: “You two have worked hard these days.”

Chang Ge and Ling Que naturally knew that there were newcomers today. There was a thump in their hearts, but they couldn’t do anything but bow: “This is what this servant should do.”

Qin Ling smiled and said: “There are not many people in Jingyang Palace, so I really feel at ease with you two. However, after moving palace today, Gonggong Wang personally went to Shanggong Bureau and sent four maids over. I couldn’t refuse and ended up accepting them.”

Ling Que understood the meaning of Qin Ling’s words. Her eyes turned red, and she said: “Could it be that jieyu dislikes us servants?”

“What are you talking about?” Qin Ling smiled and said: “You two are originally serving in Xianfu Palace, and you have always been liked by Consort Xue. Now that there is no shortage of people here, so naturally I should let you go back. Lest they will say I don’t understand the rules.”

Chang Ge and Ling Que did not expect that Jieyu Qin, who had always been submissive, would give them a blow straight to the head.

In fact, Qin Ling didn’t care that Consort Xue put some eyes next to her. But Xiao Yu was about to come, so she didn’t want to plant the root cause of trouble. Therefore, she sent these people away.

As soon as Chang Ge and Ling Que left, Zhu Lan and Zhu Xin went back to the inner courtyard to serve. The two’s faces instantly glowed radiantly.

Early in the morning, after checking the eldest prince’s pulse, Physician Ning stopped by to check Jieyu Qin’s pulse.

Seeing that Jieyu Qin had red lips and white teeth, and her complexion was good, he said: “Jieyu’s symptoms have been cured.”

Qin Ling said: “Thank you, Imperial Physician Ning.”

Imperial Physician Ning sent a meaningful glance so this news would be sent into Gonggong Sheng’s ears.

When it spread to Gonggong Sheng, it was equivalent to spreading it to the emperor’s ears.

Xiao Yu lowered his head and smiled and said to Gonggong Sheng: “Go to Shou’an Palace and pass my words. The eldest prince will move to Jingren Palace from now on, and he will be taken care of by Jieyu Qin.”