The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 718 - 718 334 Exposure (Two more updates)_3

Chapter 718: 334 Exposure (Two more updates)_3 Chapter 718: 334 Exposure (Two more updates)_3 Empress Xiao wished to speak but held back. She shot a glance at the palace maid and the eunuch in the room and solemnly commanded, “All of you, leave. I wish to have a private conversation with Lord Xuanping.”

“Yes!”

The palace maids withdrew in turn.

Only then did Empress Xiao rise smilingly and move towards Lord Xuanping, “Brother!”

Lord Xuanping looked at her with disdain, “Why are you dressed like a bird today?”

Empress Xiao, who was poured cold water on, remained silent.

She took a deep breath.

Her brother’s sharp tongue really hadn’t changed over the years!

Empress Xiao and Lord Xuanping sat down together on the chairs. She didn’t take the main seat on the platform, but sat beside him.

Empress Xiao asked, “How have you been lately, brother?”

Lord Xuanping replied, “Pretty good, what about you, Empress?”

Empress Xiao smiled, “Of course, I’m fine too.”

Looking at her exquisite makeup and cumbersome jewelry, Lord Xuanping questioned, “Do you regret entering the palace?”

“Why would I?” she retorted. She had no regrets. What could be better than overseeing the world as its mother? Moreover, although the Emperor had three thousand beauties in his harem, he had never actually neglected her as his Empress.

Marrying the Emperor was her choice; she was the one who thwarted Madam Zhuang’s plans.

Madam Zhuang was the Emperor’s original wife. But after the Emperor ascended the throne, he only granted Madam Zhuang the status of second-grade Zhuang Madam, while issuing an edict to marry her as Empress.

Because of this, she and the Xiao family suffered many hardships from Empress Dowager Zhuang’s side. Her brother bore all these burdens alone.

Therefore, she felt both gratitude and admiration for her brother.

She smiled and asked, “Brother, what brings you here today to see me?”

“I have a favor to ask,” replied Lord Xuanping.

“What is it?” Empress Xiao asked.

Lord Xuanping stated, “An old acquaintance entrusted me to deliver something precious to Consort Jing. They insisted that I personally give it to her.”

Empress Xiao laughed, saying, “I thought it was something serious. Why would this be difficult? I am about to pay my respects to Consort Jing in Huaqing Palace. Why don’t you accompany me, brother?”

“OK,” Lord Xuanping nodded.

The siblings headed to Huaqing Palace together.

Ever since Consort Jing moved here, Huaqing Palace had become much livelier. All the concubines eligible to visit Consort Jing in the harem came to curry favor. They truthfully wanted to please Consort Jing, but they also hoped to meet the Emperor.

Empress Xiao didn’t need to ‘accidentally’ meet the Emperor, but since the Emperor regarded Consort Jing as his birth mother, Empress Xiao naturally paid her respects as well.

However, Empress Xiao was completely unprepared to meet Zhuang Madam, who was also there.

The two most powerful women in the harem encountered each other at the gate of Huaqing Palace, each with their own eunuchs and palace maids. The atmosphere froze instantly.

Normally, the two women were on equal footing in the harem. But today, with Lord Xuanping supporting Empress Xiao, her aura felt more powerful than usual.

“Lord Xuanping,” Madam Zhuang greeted him with a smile.

“Honorable Madam,” Lord Xuanping responded courteously with a slight bow of his hand.

Since he acted the same even in front of the Emperor, Madam Zhuang chose not to mind his attitude. She smiled at Empress Xiao and said, “Is the Empress here to pay her respects to Consort Jing?”

“Is the Honorable Madam not here for the same reason?” Empress Xiao asked indifferently.

Madam Zhuang gave a smile, “Prince Ning just subdued a group of mountain bandits a few days ago. The villagers are grateful for the Emperor’s benevolence and specially made some tea cakes to offer to the Emperor through Prince Ning. Since Prince Ning is still dealing with affairs in the mountains, he had his guards bring them back and I am doing him the favor of delivering them.”

Prince Ning, Prince Ning.

Her son was the Crown Prince, but the Emperor always had him studying in the royal study room, while Prince Ning was often entrusted with important tasks to help the Emperor govern the country!

By now, Prince Ning’s prestige among the common people almost surpassed that of the Crown Prince!

Empress Xiao’s fingers tightened and a cold light flashed in her eyes.

“Let’s go inside,” the Marquis of Xuanping said.

The Empress Dowager Xiao rolled her eyes at the reigning Concubine, and stepped into the Huaqing Palace with the Marquis of Xuanping.

The reigning Concubine slightly bowed her body, appearing rather perfunctory.

Only after the Empress Dowager Xiao and the Marquis of Xuanping had entered the Sleeping Palace of the quiet royal concubine did the reigning Concubine’s expression turn cold.

The attendant by her side coldly snorted, “What’s so great about her? Had it not been for the emperor’s rupture with the Empress Dowager, the position of Empress would have been yours long ago!”

The reigning Concubine retorted sarcastically, “What’s the point of being the Empress? She has given birth to two doltish sons. They are unfit for important tasks!”

The reigning Concubine also entered the Huaqing Palace. She had come to deliver tea cakes to the Emperor. Such common people’s custom was not delicate, nor was it clean, but it did not matter as the Emperor didn’t really eat it.

He just needed to be aware of Prince Ning’s goodwill and the affection of the common people.

No matter how many merits Prince Ning had achieved outside, he would definitely tell the common people that he was acting on his father’s imperial edict. It was not him, but his father, the Emperor of the Zhan Country who protected the common people.

Would not an Emperor love a son like that?

The Emperor was truly delighted to see the cake, although he didn’t really eat it, he still showered great praises on Prince Ning.

“The reigning Concubine indeed knows how to educate her son well,” the Emperor said happily. Then he sighed quietly, “If the Crown Prince had half of his older brother’s wisdom, I wouldn’t be so worried.”

The reigning Concubine replied with a smile, “If the Crown Prince doesn’t mind, his older brother would be more than happy to take him out for training.”

She did not flatter the Crown Prince, nor did she belittle her own son, but rather imparted fraternal respect. The Emperor appreciated these words.

“It is indeed time for him to go out and gain some practical experience. I will find a task for both brothers to undertake together,” the emperor paused, then asked, “I haven’t seen Yangyang and Xin for a while. Ask them to visit the palace.”

Qin Yang and Qin Xin were the two Little Princesses of Prince Ning’s mansion, both children of his concubines, one was three years old, and the other was two.

“Yes,” the reigning Concubine responded with a smile.

The Emperor put down the file, “Since you are here, accompany me to visit Mother Concubine.”

The reigning Concubine couldn’t decline it and followed the Emperor.

Inside the Qiuhua Pavilion, Empress Dowager Xiao and the Marquis of Xuanping had already paid their respects to the quiet royal concubine.

The Empress Dowager Xiao was sitting next to the quiet royal concubine. Seeing the Emperor, who was beaming, bringing in the reigning Concubine, the Empress Dowager Xiao wore a sulky expression on her face.

“I have come to pay my respects to the Mother Concubine,” the reigning Concubine paid her respects.

“What are you doing here?” the Emperor pointedly asked the Marquis of Xuanping.

The Marquis of Xuanping replied, “I have been entrusted by someone to deliver something to the Mother Concubine.”

As he spoke, he pulled out a small brocade box from his sleeve.

Concubine Cai walked up and presented the brocade box to the quiet royal concubine with both hands.

The quiet royal concubine was still sick and her complexion was not good, she coughed twice behind her handkerchief and took the box.

“Who is this old friend?” the quiet royal concubine asked with a smile.

The Marquis of Xuanping replied, “That old friend said that the Mother Concubine would know once she opens the box.”

The quiet royal concubine nodded her head and opened the box upon hearing this.

The Marquis of Xuanping was the Emperor’s confidant, he could be trusted, he would not harm her.

But nobody expected that the moment the box was opened, a dart was launched from it!

Everyone’s expressions changed dramatically!

The Marquis of Xuanping was also shocked. He had never expected that the box contained a hidden weapon, but it was too late for him to react.

The quiet royal concubine was old and ill, finished. She was done for!

The dart was shot straight at the quiet royal concubine’s face. As slow as a spoken word, and as quickly as the actual occurrence, the quiet royal concubine’s eyes narrowed, she waved her fingers, and caught the dart!

Everyone was stunned, staring at her.

The Grand Hall went silent all at once.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.