Selling wife for fame? Kick out the scumbag and marry the new emperor to enjoy the harem of favors

Chapter 54: Not Easy to Deal With

Concubine Wei stood up, her eyes moved, she looked at Xie Jiu, then at Concubine Zhuang, and then answered.

"Just now, Concubine Zhuang pressed forward and tried to hit someone. Concubine Xie couldn't retreat in time and fell to the ground."

She wasn't lying, from her perspective, it was indeed the case.

Because just now when Xie Jiu made that provocative gesture towards Concubine Zhuang, which represented a slap, his hand was not raised high and his movement was small, and it was blocked by her body. Since he was not facing Xie Jiu, he could not be seen.

So when Concubine Zhuang heard what Concubine Wei said, she immediately became anxious.

"What nonsense are you talking about? It was clearly her who provoked me first. She was disrespectful to her superiors and committed insubordination. I just wanted to teach her a lesson, but who knew she would fall!"

"I won't lie." Concubine Wei frowned and glanced at Concubine Zhuang. "Although I don't like Concubine Xie, I won't distort the truth."

"You! You stupid idiot!"

Concubine Zhuang stamped her feet in anger and pointed at Concubine Wei's nose and cursed.

After being scolded, Concubine Wei showed some annoyance on her face, but before she could say anything, she heard Zhao Xingjin's low and cold shout.

"That's enough, shut up!"

He scolded her, and Concubine Zhuang immediately retracted her head, and Concubine Wei also swallowed back the words on her lips.

"Empress Zhuang, you are too unreasonable. How can you hit people in public? I think you are too impetuous. From now on, go back and copy Buddhist scriptures for half a month, cultivate yourself well, and change your temper!" Zhao Xingjin scolded in a deep voice.

Although she was resentful, seeing Zhao Xingjin's gloomy face, Concubine Zhuang did not dare to make a fuss anymore. She curled her lips and replied "yes".

It was at this moment that the queen finally came out.

When he saw Zhao Xingjin, he bowed first. Then he saw Zhao Xingjin supporting Xie Jiu. There seemed to be tears on Xie Jiu's face, so he asked blankly.

"What's going on? Concubine Xie seems to have been wronged?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I'm fine." Xie Jiu immediately stood up and saluted.

Zhao Xingjin looked at Xie Jiu with a look of concern on his face, "Are you hurt from the fall just now? Do you want to call a doctor to come and take a look?"

"It's okay." Xie Jiu shook his head and immediately looked at Sun Baolin behind him. "Your Majesty, please let the sisters sit down first. Sun Baolin is pregnant and I'm afraid she won't be able to stand."

Hearing this, Zhao Xingjin waved to everyone and said, "Okay, everyone, take a seat."

It seemed as if Xie Jiu was the only one in his heart.

The concubines all had different thoughts, but they didn't dare to show them and sat down quietly.

This includes Concubine Yi.

Concubine Yi arrived a little late, and when she arrived, she just saw Zhao Xingjin helping Xie Jiu up after he fell.

She didn't dare to say a word, for fear that the war would spread to her. Now she sat down, and Xie Jiu happened to be sitting next to her, so she couldn't help but look at Xie Jiu.

He is so brave. It would have been fine if he just confronted her yesterday, but today he plotted against Concubine Zhuang in public.

It's indeed not an easy one to deal with.

Retracting her gaze, Concubine Yi lowered her eyes to hide her thoughts.

At the same time, at the top, the queen had already waited for Zhao Xingjin to sit down.

"Why did the emperor suddenly come here today?"

In fact, the Queen knew about what happened outside just now. She wanted to see Concubine Zhuang teach Xie Jiu a lesson, but she didn't expect Zhao Xingjin to show up halfway. Xie Jiu seized the opportunity and turned the tables, putting Concubine Zhuang at a disadvantage again.

"The Empress Dowager has returned to the palace for two days. I want to go to Fukang Palace with all the concubines to pay respects. In addition, the Empress Dowager wants to meet Sun Baolin." Zhao Xingjin said.

However, Xie Jiu actually knew this news yesterday.

Yesterday morning, she was serving pens and ink in Chengming Palace when someone from the empress dowager's side came and said they wanted to see Sun Baolin. There were not many people in the harem, so Zhao Xingjin said that she would take the concubines with her tomorrow.

Otherwise, Xie Jiu would not have used such a method when facing Concubine Zhuang's difficulties today.

Originally, Xie Jiu thought that the queen or other people would know about Zhao Xingjin's movements, but he didn't expect that they didn't know.

This shows that Chengming Palace is really guarded like an iron barrel, and not a single word of news leaks out. Xie Jiu lowered his eyes, knowing that this was due to Zhao Xingjin's cautiousness.

The more cautious the other party is, the more difficult it is to deal with, which is annoying to think about.

But at least Zhao Xingjin's protection of her today helped her successfully establish an image among the concubines as someone who should not be provoked, which was a good thing.

"Sun Baolin is pregnant. It's indeed time for her to go see the Empress Dowager. I had thought of this, but since it's early in the month, it would be best for her to stay indoors. It would also be the same if she were to meet the Empress Dowager again at the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet. So, I didn't take her to Fukang Palace to pay her respects."

At the top, the queen listened to Zhao Xingjin's words and explained softly.

Zhao Xingjin nodded. "You are very careful, but since the Queen Mother has said so, let's take him to have a look."

"Yes." The queen responded.

The crowd then went to Fukang Palace in a mighty procession.

Originally, Xie Jiu came to pay his respects on foot this morning, feeling a little tired and not having any particular thoughts on his mind. But now, seeing that those above the rank of concubine were given sedan chairs, he sighed inwardly.

No wonder everyone in the palace wants to climb up the ladder. The treatment is really different.

Not to mention anything else, just right now, walking is tiring and hot, it's not as comfortable as riding in a sedan chair.

Of course, Sun Baolin also rode in a sedan chair.

Being pregnant is naturally a privilege.

Fukang Palace.

When everyone arrived, bursts of laughter could be heard from inside.

"With my sister by my side, mother feels better," the queen said with a smile.

Zhao Xingjin's expression also relaxed. "My mother has always liked my elder sister. Sons like me and Prince Heng are ultimately not as attentive as daughters."

As they spoke, Xie Jiu realized that the person accompanying the Queen Mother was Zhao Xingjin's half-sister, the Queen Mother's adopted daughter, Princess Yushu.

It is said that Princess Yushu and Zhao Xingjin had a very close relationship. After Zhao Xingjin ascended the throne, he brought his married sister to the capital and arranged an official position for his brother-in-law in the capital. Now the whole family is under the emperor's feet.

After entering Fukang Palace, Xie Jiu followed everyone in paying respects while he secretly glanced at the eldest princess out of the corner of his eye.

She looked to be about thirty years old, tall, with delicate features, and her every move was very graceful, like someone who had walked out of a painting of a beautiful lady.

Looking closely, he has some similarities with Zhao Xingjin in his features.

After all, they have the same father, so it's normal.

When everyone was seated, the Queen Mother smiled and said, "Where is Sun Baolin? Come up quickly and let me see him."

"I send my regards to the Queen Mother."

Sun Baolin stood up in the crowd.

"Come, come closer." The Queen Mother waved, appearing very kind, as if she were her own elder.

Sun Baolin held the maid's hand and walked forward carefully, looking a little reserved.

"Very good, very good. You look like a blessed girl. Your earlobes are round and full, which is a sign of good fortune. No wonder you got pregnant so soon despite serving the emperor for a short time. I heard that you had a miscarriage not long ago. Are you okay now?" The empress dowager said in a gentle tone.

Sun Baolin nodded slightly. "Thanks to the blessing of Your Majesty, I am now doing well. This morning, the imperial physician came to check my pulse and said the pregnancy is stable."

"Well, I'm relieved then." The Queen Mother nodded and instructed someone beside her, "Tan Hui, bring the supplements I prepared and give them to Sun Baolin."

"Yes." Tan Hui responded and walked away quickly.

While waiting, Princess Yushu smiled and said, "I didn't even know Sun Baolin was pregnant, so I didn't prepare a gift. This bracelet was given to me on my birthday last year. It's of great quality, so I gave it to Sun Baolin as a gift."

After he finished speaking, he took off the bracelet on his wrist and asked someone to take it away.

Sun Baolin was flattered and hurried to express his gratitude.

Princess Yushu waved her hand amiably, then continued casually, "I heard there's a new Concubine Xie in the palace. I've never met her. The Xie family is a well-known family of scholars, so I imagine she must be quite good."

(End of this chapter)