bestfiction Chapter 78 The Wife-Killing, Childless Emperor and His Beloved Concubine 13
Chapter 78 The Wife-Killing, Childless Emperor and His Beloved Concubine 13
The next day, when the emperor left, Chu Yue was still asleep. The emperor looked at her for a while before leaving.
The emperor came to the main hall to deal with the memorials, but he stopped writing as soon as he picked up his pen.
Xiao Xizi quickly asked, "Your Majesty, is there something wrong?"
"Go and convey the imperial decree: promote Consort Chu to the rank of Consort Chu." Consort Chu had been in the palace for two months and had never been arrogant or presumptuous because of the emperor's favor.
Seeing how weak she looked last night, I felt sorry for her. Anyway, she's the only one in the harem, so a promotion isn't a big deal.
"Yes, this servant will go right away." Xiao Xizi secretly clicked his tongue in amazement. Consort Chu was truly blessed; she had become a concubine so quickly.
Inside the Jade Jade Palace, Xiao Tao got up and stayed by Chu Yue's side. After a night, her leg was much better and she could walk normally. The medicine in the palace was really effective.
"Consort Zhao..." Xiao Tao saw Chu Yue's eyelashes tremble and called her softly.
Chu Yue opened her eyes, her voice slightly hoarse: "Xiao Tao, are you feeling better?"
"I'm all better now, Consort Zhao. Would you like to get up?"
Chu Yue nodded.
"The imperial edict has arrived..."
Xiao Xizi's loud shouts came from outside.
Chu Yue and Xiao Tao were startled and quickly tidied themselves up before going outside.
Then Xiao Xizi stepped forward with a smile and bowed: "This servant greets Consort Chu..."
"This is……"
"Consort Chu, receive the imperial decree..."
Chu Yue and Xiao Tao quickly knelt down. Xiao Tao let out a soft cry, and Chu Yue's movements were somewhat stiff.
Xiao Xizi was puzzled. What's wrong?
"This concubine receives the imperial decree..."
"...Consort Chu is deeply favored by me, and is hereby promoted to the rank of Consort, becoming Consort Chu..."
After Xiao Xizi finished reading, she stepped forward with a smile and said, "Congratulations, Consort Chu! His Majesty has even more rewards for you."
The eunuch behind him immediately stepped forward, carrying a pearl necklace and various gemstones.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace. I am grateful for your errand." Chu Yue was also somewhat surprised that she had been promoted so suddenly.
"It is my duty, Your Majesty. I will take my leave now."
"it is good……"
After Xiao Xizi walked away, Xiao Tao helped Chu Yue inside. Looking at the gifts, Xiao Tao was very excited: "This servant congratulates Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness..."
Chu Yue gave her a reproachful look: "Naughty..."
"Your Majesty, His Majesty loves you the most," Xiao Tao said playfully.
"Pack your things and go to His Majesty. Thank you."
"Your Majesty, your leg?" Xiao Tao asked with some concern. Her mistress was naturally not as tough as her and could withstand any hardship.
"It's okay, I'll be careful." As long as I walk slowly, it's fine.
"it is good……"
Chu Yue then asked 001, "How much favorability do you have?"
001: "I'm seventy."
Chu Yue exclaimed in surprise, "So fast? I thought this was easy to win over!"
"..."
Just as Chu Yue was promoted to the rank of concubine, the Empress Dowager received the news. She was so angry that she swept away the jewelry on her dressing table, her chest heaving with rage.
Jinxiu quickly tried to soothe her: "Empress Dowager, please don't be angry. Your health cannot be affected by anger..."
"The emperor dared to bypass me and promote Consort Chu to the rank of Imperial Concubine. He is going against me!"
"Empress Dowager, His Majesty's harem has been in turmoil for so many years and it is rare to have a concubine. Since His Majesty likes her, let him be."
Jinxiu offered her advice cautiously and nervously.
"It's not that I don't want him to like her, but how can she be worthy of the title of concubine?"
If Chu Yue is a concubine, then where should Yu'er be? The Empress Dowager is thinking of having the Emperor grant Yu'er the title of concubine first, and then gradually elevating her until she becomes Empress.
Clearly, the Empress Dowager knew that the Emperor would not agree to be made Empress from the start, so she planned to proceed step by step.
But now that Chu Yue has been promoted to the rank of Consort, is she going to make Yu'er her equal?
If anyone should be granted the title of imperial concubine, it should be Yu'er.
"Empress Dowager..." Jinxiu hesitated, knowing that the Empress Dowager had been worrying about His Majesty for a long time and had been thinking about him all these years.
I never expected her to become more and more insane. Now that Consort Chu has resolved the predicament, the Empress Dowager can't control herself anymore.
She desperately wanted to add more women to His Majesty's harem so that the imperial line could continue.
His Majesty was clearly resistant, but because the Empress Dowager was his mother, he did not act openly.
Haven't you noticed that he hasn't come to pay his respects for quite some time? This would have been impossible in the past.
"Go and summon Consort Chu." The Empress Dowager was reluctant to acknowledge Chu Yue's identity. She had always been in charge of the harem, and since the Emperor had bypassed her this time, it didn't count.
"Empress Dowager, you..."
"Go and call them."
"Yes……"
Chu Yue had just finished getting ready to go to the Emperor's place when Jinxiu arrived.
"This servant greets Consort Chu. The Empress Dowager requests your presence."
Xiao Tao's expression instantly turned sour as she looked at Chu Yue with concern.
Chu Yue replied softly, "I understand. I'll be right there."
Jinxiu nodded slightly, took two steps back, and walked beside Chuyue.
Throughout the journey, Xiao Tao hesitated to speak, wanting to say something but mindful of Jinxiu's presence beside her.
Chu Yue shook her head slightly, indicating that she shouldn't worry.
Upon arriving at Anning Palace, Chu Yue found that the Empress Dowager was not in the main hall, so she had no choice but to wait there.
The Empress Dowager didn't come out, and even after Jinxiu went in, she didn't see her come out.
Chu Yue had been kneeling for so long yesterday, and now she's been standing the whole time. Her legs are trembling, and her complexion is already bad.
A long time passed before the Empress Dowager, supported by Jinxiu, finally came out and sat down in a chair, completely ignoring Chu Yue.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects..." Chu Yue's trembling legs slightly bent her knees.
"Since Consort Chu is here, please have lunch with me here."
The Empress Dowager said expressionlessly.
“Yes…” Chu Yue agreed.
Before long, the palace maids brought out the lunch one by one.
Liu Yu'er also arrived at Anning Palace at this time. She lived in a side hall and came to dine with the Empress Dowager.
"Yu'er is here! Come quickly, there's something you like to eat today."
The Empress Dowager's expression was completely different from before.
"Yes, Aunt." Liu Yu'er stepped forward and sat down next to the Empress Dowager.
"Since Consort Chu is so good at serving people and has won the Emperor's favor, then you shall serve me the dishes today."
The Empress Dowager looked at Liu Yu'er, but spoke to Chu Yue, not wanting to give her even a glance.
"Yes, Empress Dowager..." Chu Yue usually dined with the Emperor and did things like serving dishes. The Emperor never asked her to do those things.
The Empress Dowager is deliberately making things difficult for her.
Liu Yu'er was slightly surprised. She had become Consort Chu? Her imperial cousin really doted on her.
"Aunt, Consort Chu is of such noble status, how could she possibly do these things? Let Yu'er do them, Yu'er is used to doing them."
Liu Yu'er stood up, served food to the Empress Dowager, and explained softly.
"You're so considerate. She can handle it. Don't worry about it, just sit down."
Chu Yue watched the two of them acting like they were performing a double act, and slightly pursed her lips, not minding how tired they were.
"Your Majesty, please try this." Chu Yue respectfully placed a piece of tender bamboo shoot into the Empress Dowager's bowl.
The Empress Dowager made no move.
Chu Yue picked up another piece of glistening crispy duck with her chopsticks, but the Empress Dowager still didn't touch it.
Chu Yue had no choice but to kneel down and beg for forgiveness: "Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty of service..."
"Auntie, let Yu'er serve you. Please try this."
Liu Yu'er served her some food, and the Empress Dowager ate it with a smile.
Chu Yue remained kneeling beside her until the two finished their meal, at which point the Empress Dowager said in a deep voice, "You may leave."
Chu Yue bit her lip: "Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave..."
With her injuries compounded, Chu Yue was quite weak, and Xiao Tao helped her back to the Jade Jade Palace while she cried all the way.