Concubine Jiang Guifei and Zheng Ji had discussed what Emperor Yongning would do after knowing Zhou Meiren's request.
Facts have proved that the emperor's approach is similar to what they suspected.
Except, he went to see Queen Xue first.
Zhou Meiren is a concubine in the harem and is pregnant, but the emperor ordered the four guards in the palace, Chen, to guard Chunren Palace. According to logic and rules, Empress Xue should be informed of this matter.
After all, Queen Xue is the master of the harem.
Although the Emperor and Empress Xue have no relationship as husband and wife, the Emperor respects the position of "Queen", and matters related to the concubines in the harem usually go through Empress Xue.
However, because of the matter involving the third prince, Queen Xue would definitely not be able to tolerate Zhou Meiren. According to the emperor's actions, the matter would bypass Queen Xue.
The actual situation was that the emperor went to Kunning Palace early in the morning.
What will the Emperor and Queen Xue say? Mostly for the fetus in Zhou Meiren's house, right?
Even so, with the Queen's restraint, Zhou Meiren was even more afraid to move.
He also let the prince and his family know that there are many other forces in this palace. Can he eradicate them one by one?
However, for some reason, Concubine Jiang always felt like there was something in her heart.
She thought for a while and told Qian Gu: "We should find a way to find out what's going on in Kunning Palace."
She has never forgotten that the person the Prince and Queen Xue really want to deal with is her Xiao Jiu.
At this moment, in the Kunning Palace, Emperor Yongning was furious and said sternly: "If you do good deeds, you are called Shu, and if you consider good things and do what is appropriate, you are called Shu. Fortunately, she was once a concubine Shu! She can kill her own children with such cruelty! Poisonous woman, I can't wait to see you immediately Kill her!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Maybe Zhou Meiren is just saying it, and she won't be so cruel." Empress Xue hurriedly comforted her, "Your Majesty, don't you know what kind of person she is?"
If Concubine Jiang Guifei and Zheng Ji heard this, they would definitely feel strange: Queen Xue would actually say good things for Zhou Meiren? Empress Xue should take advantage of the situation and let Mei Zhou die!
After hearing this, Emperor Yongning was still puzzled: "I don't know! Otherwise, I wouldn't have made her a concubine in the first place! But the queen..."
He smiled and said, "The queen actually said something nice for that poisonous woman. I really admire her for being so generous."
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Queen Xue's face changed slightly, she looked at the Emperor with grievance and embarrassment, and said, "Why does Your Majesty think so lightly of this concubine? Isn't the reason why I say this is because of the royal heirs?"
She mentioned the fetus in Zhou Meiren's belly: "Although I don't know why Zhou Meiren said that, a pregnant person naturally has a loving heart, and she has spent more than 20 years to raise it. Why did she want to kill her own son? I am not saying good things for her, but I think it is impossible based on common sense."
"The queen is saying that Concubine Jiang cheated on me?" Emperor Yongning narrowed his eyes and his tone sounded oppressive.
Queen Xue shook her head and denied, "Your Majesty, I did not mean this. There is no need for Concubine Jiang to make up such words to deceive the Emperor."
Emperor Yongning twitched his lips: "It's not this, it's not that, but what does the queen mean?"
"Your Majesty, I think...the reason why Beauty Zhou said this is because she is either unconscious or instigated by others." Queen Xue said, still looking dignified as before.
Emperor Yongning was silent for a moment and then said: "Unconscious? Are you saying... Miss Zhou is crazy?"
"Whether you are crazy or not will be clear as soon as the imperial doctor diagnoses you. This is still easy to diagnose by the imperial doctor's office." Queen Xue replied.
At this time, Emperor Yongning understood clearly: "The queen is saying that Beauty Zhou was instigated by others? Who could instigate her? And successfully persuaded her to kill her own son? Can someone from the Zhou family be so stupid?"
Empress Xue lowered her eyes and said: "Your Majesty, I don't know. But I know that Zhou Meiren has lost her third prince, and she still has the fetus in her belly, as well as the Zhou family and so many scholars affected by the Zhou family."
Emperor Yongning stared deeply at Queen Xue for a long time and then said: "Queen, I said you were magnanimous before, but I was wrong."
Queen Xue's intention is to uproot all the people Zhou Meiren relies on, the Zhou family and the scholars behind the Zhou family. This is Queen Xue's purpose!
How is it enough to just deal with Zhou Meiren?
Queen Xue sighed and looked up at Emperor Yongning. Her dignified expression turned helpless: "Otherwise, Your Majesty, what do you think we should do? Although the third prince has been imprisoned, the Zhou family has not given up. Do we still have to watch them? Are you going to cultivate another force with the help of Shilin's influence? These scholars were supposed to be disciples of the emperor and were to be used by the emperor, but they listened to the Zhou family..."
She stood up, knelt in front of Emperor Yongning, and asked: "Your Majesty, you have always been unwilling to do anything that offends scholars, for fear of being criticized by these scholars. However, now is the most appropriate time. With the help of the Third Prince, When the Zhou family comes to question these scholars, no official will have any objections."
Emperor Yongning frowned but did not speak.
Empress Xue said again: "Your Majesty, next year is the year of the imperial examination. If Zhou Meiren didn't know something, how could she dare to mention the imperial examination questions? The scholars selected from the imperial examination are the scholars the emperor really wants!"
She gritted her teeth, and a look of determination appeared on her dignified face, as if she was risking her life and said: "Your Majesty, if you still have concerns, leave this matter to my concubine. The prince... Anyway, there are rumors that the third prince is in trouble. With such handiwork, my concubine and the prince don’t care about the extra basin of sewage.”
She raised her head to look at Emperor Yongning, her always solemn expression tinged with a hint of shyness, her eyes full of affection as if she had countless words to say, her voice was so low that it was almost inaudible: "Your Majesty, as long as the world's literary arts are in the hands of the Emperor, I, my concubine, I am willing to do anything. The prince... can also understand."
Emperor Yongning looked down at Queen Xue, opened his mouth, but finally said nothing.
He knew in his heart that what Queen Xue said was the truth.
The Zhou family has nothing to worry about. What is really difficult to deal with is the Zhou family and the scholars.
Queen Xue said all this with her whole heart in mind. .br>
He and Queen Xue have been married for so many years, and he has never doubted this.
Over the years since he came to the throne, he has been kind enough to officials and scholars, but scholars are inherently mixed, and the Zhou family, relying on its long history of being a scholarly family, has great influence among scholars, which makes him even more dissatisfied.
He has always wanted to get rid of the weeds among the scholars and keep those scholars who can really be used by him. Now is indeed the right time.
Finally, Emperor Yongning stepped forward to help Queen Xue up and said, "Get up. Why do we, husband and wife, have to kneel so often? Let me think about this again."
He had to think about whether he should do this, and if so, how to do it.
Empress Xue stood up and took Emperor Yongning's hand. She lowered her head slightly. From the emperor's point of view, there was no glint in her eyes at all.
