Zhang Jixiang didn't understand Xiao Ce's intention, but this scene seemed familiar. The emperor had also grabbed the wrist of Concubine Xian before, and by the way, the emperor first grabbed the wrist of Concubine Xian!
Could it be the sequelae caused by the emperor grabbing the concubine's wrist?
Thinking of this, he summoned up the courage to ask: "Does the emperor want to find a noble concubine to sleep with him?!"
Xiao Ce was about to rest when he heard this and looked at Zhang Jixiang, his eyes as sharp as a blade.
Zhang Jixiang's legs suddenly weakened and he fell to his knees in fear: "Slave, I talk too much, I deserve to be punished!"
He slapped himself hard on the face a few times until Xiao Ce's cold voice sounded above his head: "Don't mention the imperial concubine in front of me from now on, stand down!"
"Yes, I obey the order!" Zhang Jixiang crawled and exited the dormitory.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and felt lingering fear. The emperor now was not as gentle as before, and he must not make his own decisions in front of the emperor again.
The entire harem knew that the emperor did not like his concubine. How could he make such a stupid mistake again?
The next few days were quiet in the harem. Except for the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Xiao Ce stayed in the Hall of Yangxin to discuss matters with the courtiers or deal with memorials.
The person who is having the most difficult time these days is Zhao Yu.
Because every time he goes to court, he will be watched closely by Xiao Ce. Xiao Ce seems to dislike him and asks his name every day. If he answers poorly, he will be scolded.
This made even Master Zhao feel uneasy.
Returning to the Zhao Mansion, Mrs. Zhao specially called Zhao Yu to the study to ask what was going on.
"The emperor has repeatedly found fault with you these days, do you know why?" Zhao Taifu asked in a deep voice.
"My grandson doesn't know." Zhao Yu lowered his head and replied.
"Is it because the stand-in incident that was reported last time made the emperor dissatisfied with you?" Taifu Zhao said thoughtfully.
When this rumor first came out, he asked Zhao Yu about it, and Zhao Yu replied categorically that there was no similarity between Yue Qing and Qin Guifei.
Of course, he also knew that there was no similarity between the two women, and he thought that the matter had been revealed. Later, Qin Zhao was sent to the cold palace, and the time of being sent to the cold palace was too close, and he felt uneasy.
But later, Concubine Qin left the cold palace, and the incident seemed to have passed. I didn't want the emperor to keep an eye on Yu'er again. This matter was unusual.
"Yueqing is not a substitute for the imperial concubine at all. I have explained it many times..." Zhao Yu became a little excited when he mentioned this matter.
Taifu Zhao looked at Zhao Yu coldly: "Why are you so excited?"
"I am the one who was wronged. How could I not be excited? If there is nothing else, I will leave first." After Zhao Yu finished speaking, he walked away quickly.
Taifu Zhao looked at Zhao Yu's back with a heavy heart.
If the emperor really dislikes Yu'er, Yu'er's future may be affected in the future. Yu'er is the hope of the Zhao family and must not be ruined by a woman.
If the rumor of a real substitute makes the emperor unhappy, he will send Yue Qing away when necessary, or...
In the Shoukang Palace, Qin Zhao also moved his official affairs there.
The Dragon Boat Festival is a big festival. Since she is in charge of the affairs of the Sixth Palace, this matter must be handled properly. In addition, the Empress Dowager’s birthday is also in May. No matter how low-key the Empress Dowager is, the Empress Dowager’s birthday is
Festivals cannot be ignored.
She was busy that day when she heard Xiao Ce's footsteps approaching.
Xiao Ce came specifically to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, but the Empress Dowager was thinking in her mind that she had to find a way to reconcile Xiao Ce and Qin Zhao.
She whispered to Grandma Li and she left.
It was a pity that Nanny Li came back alone. She shook her head at the Empress Dowager. Qin Zhao was busy and did not want to come over to see the saint.
When Xiao Ce saw the quarrel between the Empress Dowager and Grandma Li, he asked, "Is there something wrong with the Empress Dowager?"
"The Ai family wants Zhao Yatou to come over, but she doesn't want to. The Ai family remembers that the two of you were very good friends before, but now why is it that Zhao Yatou doesn't want to see you anymore? Did you kid do something to offend Zhao Yatou?
Unhappy?" The Queen Mother said bluntly.
Xiao Ce thought that he didn't want to see Qin Zhao, but Qin Zhao's move should be to advance before retreating. He was used to this kind of woman's moves.
"I don't want to see her." Xiao Ce opened his lips indifferently.
He has no likes or dislikes for any woman, but he is indescribably repelled by Qin Zhao.
"Don't let girl Zhao hear what you said, otherwise she will hold a grudge and will never be with you again." The Empress Dowager said nervously.
Xiao Ce didn't like hearing the Empress Dowager mention Qin Zhao again, so he simply stood up and said: "I came to pay my respects to the Imperial Grandmother. I feel relieved when I see that the Imperial Grandmother is well..."
"The Ai family's birthday is coming soon, and Zhao Ya is busy with this matter. Don't you care about how to organize the Ai family's birthday banquet?" The Queen Mother quickly thought of a way to reconcile the two of them.
Xiao Ce was speechless for a moment.
If the Empress Dowager hadn't reminded him, he would have forgotten that the Empress Dowager's birthday was in May, which was very close to the Dragon Boat Festival.
"Ace, go see how Zhao Yatou is planning. It's not long before the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Ai family is afraid that she will be too busy. Go and see if there are any omissions." The Empress Dowager patted the back of Xiao Ce's hand.
: "Don't be too harsh on Miss Zhao. She was indeed impulsive that time and hurt you, but she definitely didn't mean it..."
Afraid that the Empress Dowager would talk about it again, Xiao Ce answered, "I'll go take a look."
Qin Zhao, who was eavesdropping in the other room, knew that Xiao Ce was coming to find him, and he immediately woke up.
She was sure that Xiao Ce would find fault with her, which was not good.
When Xiao Ce came over, Qin Zhao had returned to normal.
According to her idea, if soldiers come to block it and water comes to cover it, there is nothing to be afraid of.
Seeing Xiao Ce coming, she stepped forward to say hello.
Xiao Ce wanted to find something wrong with her salute, but she learned the palace rules very well, better than anyone else in the harem. In particular, her salute posture was not only dignified, but also graceful. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was pleasing to the eye.
Xiao Ce could not find fault with Qin Zhao, but he was not in a hurry to avoid Qin Zhao's courtesy.
Qin Zhao maintained his saluting posture, motionless as a mountain, and his lower body was very stable without any sway.
This is also thanks to her past life, in order to please Xiao Ce, she practiced the palace rules and etiquette day and night, just because Xiao Ce said that she had no rules and regulations, and did not behave like a noble concubine.
Yes, thanks to the training in her previous life, even when Xiao Ce made things difficult for her, she was as stable as a mountain.
When Zhang Jixiang saw that a quarter of an hour had passed and the emperor was still not exempt from the imperial concubine's gift, he immediately forgot the lesson he learned last night and couldn't help but remind him: "The emperor is still not exempt from the imperial concubine's gift..."
Xiao Ce glanced at Zhang Jixiang, who immediately lowered his head and felt a chill down his spine.
At this time, Xiao Ce finally showed mercy and said: "No courtesy."
He also had to admit that Qin Zhao had indeed learned the rules well, this was undeniable. Even when he deliberately made things difficult, he seemed very steady, as a noble concubine should be.
This chapter has been completed!