Perhaps it was because she had just recovered from her illness, Lou Huan had been sleeping a lot these days. Qi Mu had never cared about her and allowed her to be presumptuous. As soon as he got up and washed up, he saw the handsome Seventh Prince leisurely step in.
Qi Mu saw that she looked like she was about to wake up and pretended to sigh helplessly." You're getting more and more lazy.”
Lou Huan blinked her eyes playfully." It's a steal. Who wouldn't be happy to take the opportunity to slack off?"”
"I'm afraid you have no time to steal. Imperial Father and Imperial Mother want us to go to Phoenix Palace for lunch.”
"It seems that's the case." Lou Huan picked out a jade gargle hairpin from the jewelry box and inserted it. Seeing that she was not rude, she stood up and said," It's almost time. Let's go."”
"You're always so plain." He seemed to have never seen her bun with complicated gold pearls and jade. Even her clothes were mostly light-colored.
"Too plain?" Lou Huan looked at herself in the mirror. She had always been used to dressing up like this, even though she knew that the people in the palace always liked to dress themselves up with pearls and jade to make them look extraordinary, especially the concubines and women. They wished they could wear all the precious jewelry on their bodies.
"You're a little plain, but fortunately, you have a face that can topple cities. You look good no matter how you dress up.”Qi Mu teased. However, his words were true. Everyone knew that the Seventh Princess Consort was as beautiful as the number one beauty of the Qi Dynasty, Yang Xianwan.
Lou Huan had heard a lot of praises for her looks and was already used to it. However, when it came from Qi Mu's mouth today, she felt a little sweet in her heart. However, she said angrily," When did Your Highness lose his sense of propriety?"”
Qi Mu smiled nonchalantly." I'm just telling the truth.”
The Phoenix Palace was the residence of the Qi Dynasty's successive empresses. When Emperor Mingxi rebuilt the Zhou Palace, he renamed this place the Phoenix Palace to show the world that the Empress Feng Qingqian was a woman who lived in the Phoenix Palace and was on par with him. It could be said that she had put in a lot of effort and love.
However, after the Qi Dynasty experienced hundreds of years of vicissitudes, there were few emperors who were as affectionate as Emperor Mingxi and Empress Qingqian to fulfill the meaning of the Phoenix Palace. The Phoenix Palace gradually became a noble symbol of the Empress 'status.
She stepped into the Phoenix Palace with Qi Mu hand in hand. The palace was beautiful, elegant, and exquisite. There was nothing that was not exquisite and imposing. However, Lou Huan only felt that the palace was cold and did not feel the deep love between Emperor Mingxi and Empress Qingqian.
The two people sitting on the main seat were also very well-matched, but they could not find any harmony. They were only Celestial Empress and not husband and wife.
"Your son greets father and mother."
"Get up. Has Huan 'er recovered?”When Emperor Zhao saw his son and daughter-in-law, he was in high spirits. He was especially gratified to see that his daughter-in-law had not looked haggard after her illness and instead looked more beautiful.
"Thank you for your love, Imperial Father.”
"That's good. Sit down and come and serve the food.”After Emperor Zhao gave his orders, he said," Today, the Empress has put in a lot of effort. Every dish was personally selected.”
"Chenqie is just feeling sorry for Huan 'er. Chenqie doesn't know anything about medicine, but I asked the imperial physician to help prepare a few medicinal dishes to nourish Huan' er's body.”Empress Zhao's words were extremely gentle and caring. If others heard it, they would definitely think that she was her biological mother.
"Mother has put in so much effort for Huan 'er that Huan' er is flattered.”Lou Huan also put on a filial and grateful look. If she didn't know Empress Zhao well, she would really think that Empress Zhao's concern for her was genuine. However, who didn't know how to act like a loving mother and filial son?
"Huan 'er is lucky. Why did she go after you that day? You're a weak woman.”Empress Zhao continued to smile gently and show her concern.
Zhao Houhou was really unforgiving. His words were clearly full of concern for her, but they were secretly directed at her. Lou Huan's lips curled into a faint smile and she replied unhurriedly," There must be some shock. As Mother said, Huan 'er is a weak woman. How could she attract the attention of an assassin? I'm afraid that the situation was chaotic at that time and Huan' er was unlucky."”
"Is that so?" Empress Zhao scoffed. She clearly did not believe her words. Perhaps she realized that her tone was a little overboard, so she slowly said," For safety's sake, I'll let Mu 'er accompany you to An Guo Temple to pray for blessings and get rid of bad luck in a few days.”
"Mother is right, your son also has this intention.”Qi Mu continued.
"Empress, Huan 'er is a blessed person. As the saying goes, one will be blessed after surviving a great disaster. Mu' er, you've married a good wife.”Emperor Zhao was a very intelligent person. How could he not understand the meaning behind Empress Zhao's words? He was very satisfied with Lou Huan's answer, but he stopped Empress Zhao from speaking. Then, he gave Empress Zhao face and said," But what the Empress said is reasonable. It's good to go to Anguo Temple to pray for blessings and rest in peace."”
"When Huan 'er's health is better, I'll immediately make arrangements. Today, apart from having a meal with Father and Mother, I have something to say. It is not reasonable for me and Huan 'er to stay in the palace. It was a special situation a few days ago. Now that Huan' er has recovered, we will leave the palace and return to Wang Fu today.”
An adult prince had to move out of the palace when he became a queen. This was a rule set by the ancestors of the Qi Dynasty. Firstly, it was to avoid suspicion with the women in the harem, and secondly, it was to raise the status of the crown prince.
At this moment, even if Emperor Zhao wanted to persuade them to stay, he couldn't go against the ancestral rules. He could only helplessly say," That's fine too. You two can go back to the Prince's mansion and live a good life."”
Empress Zhao revealed a smug smile. How could others covet her son's position? Only the Crown Prince, only her son, could stay in the palace rightfully. This was an honor.
"Oh right, a few days ago, that child Yuehe said that she wanted to move to Mu 'er's place for a few days. Zhen wanted to ask for your opinion.”Emperor Zhao seemed to have suddenly thought of something. He stopped eating and said slowly.
"Emperor, how can this be? Yuehe is about to reach adulthood. She should be properly studying in the palace and preparing to marry out. How can she leave the palace so casually and still stay in the Seventh Prince's mansion?”When Empress Zhao heard this, she hurriedly stopped her. One had to know that Yue He was Consort Shu's daughter. Usually, she relied on the Emperor's favor and did not put her in her eyes. Now that Consort Shu had lost her power, she could use this opportunity to properly punish that girl.
Lou Huan looked on coldly. Her aunt's prediction was right. No wonder she entrusted the princess to her. If she really fell into the hands of Empress Zhao, she would probably be broken.
"If Yuehe wants to stay in the wangfu for a few days, your son does not have any objections. Huan 'er has just recovered from her illness, and Yuehe has a lively personality. The two of them are cousins, so it is good to accompany Huan' er. However, mother's words are somewhat reasonable.”Qi Mu spoke lazily, his words casual, making it difficult for others to understand the meaning behind them.
"Yue He is Zhen's most beloved daughter. Her similar appearance to Empress Qing Qian is a blessing bestowed upon Zhen. Zhen does not want to restrict her too much. It is human nature for her to want to go to the palace to relax because of her mother. Huan 'er, you are now the mistress of the Seventh Prince's mansion.”Emperor Zhao displayed the image of a loving father, which moved those who heard it.
Lou Huan was stunned. This pair of father and son were really cunning, especially the Emperor. He pushed away all responsibility with just a few words. It was obvious that he wanted her to ask Empress Zhao for him. Anyway, even if she did nothing to Empress Zhao, she would still offend her. She might as well owe the Emperor a favor.
After thinking it through, she slowly opened her mouth and said," Huan 'er is naturally happy that Princess Yuehe can come to the Prince's mansion to accompany her. It's good to talk and relieve boredom. As for what Mother said about the Princess reaching adulthood, she needs to learn etiquette. When Huan' er first entered the capital, she received a few pointers from Consort Shu. Huan 'er has always remembered this kindness and doesn't know how to repay it. Now that the Princess has come to the Prince's mansion, Huan' er is also willing to help Mother discipline the Princess to learn the rules.”
"The Seventh Princess Consort has just been seriously ill, I'm afraid she can't work too hard.”Empress Zhao snorted coldly. If she wasn't an elder and the mother of a country, she would have mercilessly reprimanded Lou Huan, a daughter of a merchant who couldn't enter the elegant hall. She had no right to discipline the princess of the Tian family.
"Mother, don't worry. Huan 'er is in good health. I'm just afraid that Mother will be overworked. I heard that the Crown Princess is pregnant and there are many things in the Palace that Mother has to worry about. Huan' er is the Princess 'cousin and the Royal Family's daughter-in-law. It is only right for her to share Mother's worries. Mother, what do you think?”Lou Huan's words were flawless. She was certain that Empress Zhao would not fall out with her over a princess because of her status.
"Empress, if you continue, you will lose your status.”
Empress Zhao wanted to argue a little more, but when she heard the Emperor's words, she could not flare up anymore. Suppressing her anger, she said," Since Princess Consort is so sincere, it would be insensible for BenGong to stop you.”
"Mother is wise." Lou Huan looked respectful on the surface, but in her heart, she had a new evaluation of the Emperor. Was this really an Emperor who was restrained by Empress Zhao in every way? No, it was absolutely impossible. How could Empress Zhao be his match with his ability to shift a thousand pounds with just a few taels of silver? What kind of conspiracy was hidden in this?
After having a friendly lunch with the Empress, Qi Mu and Lou Huan bid farewell to the Empress. The people from Yuan Yi Palace had already packed their luggage and left the palace in a carriage.
Lou Huan let out a long sigh. However, after staying in the palace for a few months, she had completely escaped from the gates of hell. In the palace, things were confusing and there were too many things that could not be explained. Everything was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.
"What's wrong?" Qi Mu asked when he saw Lou Huan sighing.
Lou Huan's lips twitched and she said," Nothing. I just thought that it's not easy to live peacefully in the palace.”
A strange look flashed across Qi Mu's eyes, but he didn't say anything. Indeed, that was a place that ate people without spitting out their bones. There were only two kinds of people who could survive. One was those who kept their place and pretended to be deaf and mute, and the other was those who were extremely intelligent and knew how to judge the situation.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。