After Xiao Fubao's life was stolen, he became the favorite of everyone in the capital

Chapter 317: Slip of the tongue
Concubine Li couldn't help but tighten her slender hand that was pressing on the armrest of the chair. If she hadn't been wearing armor, she would have torn a piece of the chair off on the spot.

When she heard the name "Empress Dowager", her expression became extremely ugly, as if the nightmare in her heart was playing out in front of her.

The Queen Mother held Niu Niu in her arms all the time, but the eldest princess was different. Her eyes were mainly focused on the women in the room.

Since Niu Niu entered the palace as a lucky girl who could have a child, she would certainly not live with the Queen Mother forever. She would definitely have to find a foster mother for her in the harem. If she could successfully give birth to a child for the foster mother, it would be a great merit.

Logically speaking, as a high-ranking concubine in the palace, Concubine Li is more suitable than anyone else, but the eldest princess has always disliked the Li family's way of doing things. Even though Concubine Li has never offended her, she doesn't like Concubine Li very much.

The eldest princess saw all the changes in Concubine Li's expression. Although she didn't know what this change meant, she knew that it was not an expression that was friendly to children.

Concubine Li had been serving in the palace for a long time, so no matter how emotional she was, she would calm down in an instant and become like the other concubines, looking at the girls with a kind and peaceful smile.

The Queen Mother's obvious preference for Niu Niu was naturally noticeable to others.

Even though Niu Niu's father, Gu Mingda, is just a minor official of the sixth rank who has just entered the Hanlin Academy, a group of concubines are praising him as if he were free.

"As expected of the daughter of the number one scholar, her temperament is truly extraordinary!"

"When I called you 'Grandma, Empress Dowager', I wonder if I am blurry-eyed. I really think you and Miss Gu are like grandparents and grandchildren, cut from the same mold."

This is complete nonsense. Niu Niu doesn't look much like the Empress Dowager.

But when the empress dowager heard this, she couldn't hide the joy on her face and took Niu Niu in her arms. The old lady thought to herself, now that the little granddaughter in my dream is here, can the little grandson be far behind?
She really wanted to inherit the throne. Although no one would dare to be unfilial to her if she adopted the throne from a side branch, the empress dowager naturally hoped that the throne would be passed on to her own bloodline.

"My dear, look at all the concubines in this room. Is there anyone you like?" The Queen Mother asked Niu Niu in a low voice.

Because the eldest princess helped to eliminate Concubine Li, the empress dowager naturally hoped that Niu Niu could choose a concubine with a higher rank.

The Queen Mother actually already had a candidate in mind, and that was Li Zhaoyi.

If you look closely, it turns out that Li Zhaoyi has some kinship with the empress dowager, but the blood relationship is a bit distant. This person is honest and his family has fallen on hard times, so even if she gives birth to a prince, there is no need to worry about her family causing trouble.

Li Zhaoyi's position was second only to Concubine Li, and the empress dowager also wanted to take this opportunity to promote her.

Concubine Li was the most favored concubine in the harem. Not only was she the only concubine, but all the other concubine positions in the harem were vacant.

Li Zhaoyi was also looking at Niuniu with anticipation at this time.

After the initial panic, Concubine Li had already thought of a countermeasure. She had no idea that she was not on the list. Instead, she smiled and said to the Queen Mother, "Your Majesty, no wonder you like this child so much. When she came in, I felt that the whole room was brightened. I have never seen a child more lovely than her."

After hearing the voice, Niu Niu couldn't help but look at Concubine Li, but after just one glance, she involuntarily hid in the Empress Dowager's arms.

The Queen Mother could naturally notice Niuniu's abnormality, and couldn't help but look at the Imperial Concubine again. The Imperial Concubine didn't realize that her action attracted the Queen Mother's attention, but continued to smile and said: "Queen Mother, such a well-behaved little girl, why don't you follow me back, I will definitely take good care of her."

Hearing this, the other concubines tightened their hands around their handkerchiefs.

The imperial concubine was very popular in front of the emperor and could often coax the emperor into her palace with just a few words. All the concubines in the palace had suffered at her hands.

Now she is just looking for a son through adoptive daughter, and she can only watch as the Imperial Concubine is about to snatch the most outstanding one away. It is obvious that among all the concubines in the palace, the Imperial Concubine is the only one who has raised countless children by her side over the years. If one fails, she will raise another one, and now she wants to continue to take more.

The concubines did not dare to speak to stop the imperial concubine.

Niuniu couldn't help but shrink into the Queen Mother's arms and whispered, "Grandma Queen Mother, I don't want to be with the Imperial Concubine..."

Niu Niu couldn't understand it either. Although Concubine Li looked kind and amiable, as soon as she saw her, she felt a sense of fear and wanted to stay as far away from this person as possible.

Even though the Queen Mother didn't know the reason, she still protected Niuniu firmly. She reached out and gently patted the little girl, and said to Concubine Li casually, "Don't you already have a little girl in your palace? Why are you fighting with others for her?"

When Concubine Li heard this, her eyes froze, but then she acted as if nothing had happened and said coquettishly, "Your Majesty, I asked you that day to bring the lucky doll into the palace, and I am still waiting to get some good fortune."

When the empress dowager heard this, she only felt that the emperor doted on the imperial concubine too much. She had been offering incense and worshipping Buddha for many years, but she had no idea that the imperial concubine dared to be so arrogant in front of her. From beginning to end, the imperial concubine looked like she was determined to get Niu Niu.

"When the list of people entering the palace was drawn up, the Imperial Concubine acted like a spoiled child and insisted on letting the third Miss Li enter the palace as well. Now, as her aunt, you actually look down on your own niece?" The Queen Mother said unintentionally.

The third Miss Li was the one who was disliked by the Queen Mother in the morning and was not allowed to enter Shoukang Palace to pay her respects. When the concubines in the room heard this, some of them couldn't help but let out low laughter.

Concubine Li cast a vicious look on the laughing concubines, frightening them into silence.

The Queen Mother was actually thinking about more at this time. She liked Niu Niu, and after seeing Niu Niu with her own eyes, she felt more and more that Niu Niu was a lucky doll.

The imperial concubine who was rejected by Niu Niu, the lucky doll, now made the empress dowa feel a little strange towards her.

The Empress Dowager did not think that it was the Imperial Concubine who harmed the Emperor's offspring, but she could not help but feel as if she disliked the Third Miss Li and wondered if the Imperial Concubine was also plagued by bad luck.

The imperial concubine didn't even know that she had been labeled like this. She had only one crazy idea in her mind, which was to bring Niu Niu to her palace and never let the emperor see the child.

She smiled and said to the Queen Mother, "You can never have too many children."

The Queen Mother still looked unhurried and said, "Being greedy and greedy has led to a loss of sense of proportion. I didn't know that the harem has now been named Li."

Concubine Li had not realized the seriousness of the problem at first. When she heard this, her face suddenly changed. She was so scared that she stood up on the spot and knelt down to the empress dowager and saluted: "I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me, Your Majesty, and understand my desire for a child."