"I don't dare!"
Wei Li shrugged, showing no fear of his anger, and said with a cynical smile: "Why should the emperor get angry? Too much anger will harm your health."
He was actually still laughing.
At this moment, the king is no longer a king, and the minister is no longer a minister!
Zhu Xuxing's eyes became darker and darker when he looked at Wei Li. In an instant, he made a decision, opened his thin lips, and said in a calm tone: "Actually, there is no rush. You finally came back. It's time to rest. It just so happens that the palace is here. It’s a happy event, please stay and help me celebrate.”
Wei Li raised his eyebrows with a hint of curiosity on his face: "Why is the Emperor so happy?"
"I want to establish a queen."
"Great joy!"
Wei Li thought he was talking about Xu Zhihuai, and his eyes suddenly became extremely dark. He cupped his hands with a smile but said, "I sincerely wish your Highness a great joy! I wish the Imperial Concubine your Majesty all your wishes!"
However, the imperial edict issued a few days later surprised everyone and caused an uproar.
The Turkic princess that the emperor wants to establish is not the concubine Rong who monopolizes favor.
The good talk that the two had once spread among the people has become a passing joke.
Everyone in the world knows that Concubine Rong has fallen out of favor!
When Xu Zhihuai first heard the shocking news, she was still with her daughter. She froze for a moment, and then calmly ordered: "Tell the people in the palace to keep their mouths shut. Anyone who dares to talk nonsense in front of the princess will be punished by me." Don’t be lenient.”
For a moment, everyone became cautious, and no one dared to upset the empress at this time.
Xu Zhihuai looked normal, but he was less talkative than usual.
She thought, no wonder the emperor has been staying in the study these days, clearly avoiding her intentionally.
He avoids her because he feels guilty?
It's really hard for him. With such a gentle temperament, it's rare for him to be ruthless enough to do something big.
Mu Xiuwan came over to comfort her. She thought about what she wanted to say all night, but when it came to her lips, she couldn't say it anymore.
"Sister, don't worry, the emperor must have his own reasons."
Xu Zhihuai pursed his lips and smiled, and suddenly said: "Wan'er, come have a drink with me."
"Ah? Sister, I don't know how to drink."
"Just staying with me, you don't need to drink."
Xu Zhihuai smiled slightly and ordered the palace maid to prepare wine.
Green plum wine is sweet in the mouth, with a bit of sourness, without burning your heart or head.
Mu Xiuwan felt even more distressed when she saw her thinking about herself alone. After hesitating for a long time, she stood up and said, "Sister, don't be so bored by yourself. You can only speak out if you have any grievances. I'll go find the emperor right now." …”
Xu Zhihuai grabbed her sleeve and said, "Don't go."
"elder sister!"
Xu Zhihuai smiled bitterly: "He is even more uncomfortable than me now."
When Mu Xiuwan heard this, she stayed where she was, her eyes red silently.
It's late at night and people are drunk.
The candlelight flickered, Xu Zhihuai sat alone in front of the window, waiting quietly.
He will definitely not be able to bear it for three days at most.
Zhu Xuxing knew that he had hurt her heart. After thinking hard for many days, he could not think of a perfect excuse to explain his impulsiveness.
Because it was not an impulse at all, but a decision he made after careful consideration.
"Huai'er."
Zhu Xuxing knelt down on one knee and called her name in the gentlest tone: "Huai'er, I'm sorry."
Xu Zhihuai's face was flushed with a drunken blush, and his brows were filled with spring. When their eyes met, she saw the mist filling his eyes.
He looked sadder than she did.
"The Emperor is not wrong."
Xu Zhihuai's eyes were bright, but he was a little puzzled: "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
What saddened her the most was not that Zhu Xuxing had broken his original promise, but that she had to find out about it from someone else's mouth.
"Is my concubine the last to know?"
Xu Zhihuai came close to his face and patted his heart hard: "I'm in a panic here."
Zhu Xuxing's eyes were full of heartache: "I can't speak."
"The Emperor has his own reasons, right?"
"Yes, I have difficulties."
Zhu Xuxing held her shoulders with both hands and looked up at her face that was holding back sadness: "I obviously promised you, but I can't do it because I not only have difficulties, but I am also very incompetent. It took me a year to do this. It proves that Wei Li is the most powerful."
Xu Zhihuai expected this.
In order to contain Wei Li, he had to recruit forces, which was exactly what the eldest princess wanted.
This is a solution that satisfies everyone.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to explain. I understand. I understand how terrifying Wei Li is even better than the Emperor."
Xu Zhihuai's eyes slowly filled with mist, he bit his lower lip and said, "Your Majesty, just let it go. No matter what your Majesty decides, I believe in you."
Zhu Xuxing couldn't bear to see her cry, so he held her face with both hands, wiped the tears from her eyes with his fingertips, touched his forehead with his forehead, and begged, "Huai'er, forgive me, just this time, forgive me."
Thousands of thoughts ran through Xu Zhihuai's heart, but in the end they only turned into this one word.
"good."
In the next few days, Xu Zhihuai complained of illness and stayed in the palace with his daughter all day.
The Queen's Ceremony was being held everywhere in the palace, and she didn't want to join in the fun. Out of sight, out of mind.
Mu Xiuwan comes to accompany her every day, fearing that she will feel bored and have random thoughts alone.
"Sister, look at how beautiful this material is. It can be used to make An'er's spring clothes."
"Sister, An'er has practiced the word An'er well and has made great progress."
Xu Zhihuai listened quietly, but he didn't like the lack of response, which made her worried.
"Sister, you should be more open-minded about everything."
Xu Zhihuai smiled: "I'm fine."
"My sister and the emperor have a deep relationship, which cannot be easily shaken by others. And I heard that the Turkic princess has a unruly temperament and grew up on the grassland. The emperor's brother will not like her."
Xu Zhihuai smiled again: "It's hard for you to think of so many good words to persuade me. You are so thoughtful."
"I will always look after my sister."
"Good sister."
Everyone thought that Xu Zhihuai was discouraged and frustrated, so the Empress Dowager rewarded her with jewelry for three days in a row, and even asked An'er for a longevity lock from the temple.
Zhu Weizhen showed up after several days and spoke frankly to her: "You have always understood the general situation. The emperor established the queen for the sake of the court and the country, not for the personal love of his children. You know how arrogant Wei Li is. If the emperor does not use external force, , if he tries to contain her, he will only get worse."
Xu Zhihuai had a gentle face and a soft tone: "I understand, I am truly happy that the emperor has appointed a queen."
Zhu Weizhen said with helplessness: "How can you be happy? But the overall situation has been decided. Even if you are unhappy, you must be generous and decent in your actions."
Xu Zhihuai smiled silently.
She is naturally generous and decent, and also gentle and meticulous. No one can find anything wrong with her.
Because he felt guilty, Zhu Xuxing came back early every day and did his best to accompany her and An'er. He often took An'er to morning court meetings, as if to tell the world in a low-key manner that Concubine Rong and the eldest princess were still the ones he cared about most. people.
In the evening, the Imperial Hospital sent Nuangong Soup again.
Xu Zhihuai looked at the slowly steaming medicine bowl, pursed his lips and said nothing, but did not move for a long time.
