The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 673 - 635: Showing His Highness the Picture Album (2nd Update)

Chapter 673: Chapter 635: Showing His Highness the Picture Album (2nd Update)

Meanwhile, in the Warm Pavilion of Kunning Palace.

After returning, Empress Qi felt increasingly uneasy, so she summoned Zhao Xi.

"Mother." Zhao Xi entered the room and respectfully bowed.

Empress Qi pointed to the redwood round stone-backed armchair beside her, signaling him to sit.

Zhao Xi complied and sat down, raising his eyes to look.

Empress Qi held her forehead, leaning sideways on the purple sandalwood enamel throne, her chest heaving up and down, clearly agitated.

"At the banquet earlier, why didn’t you refuse the marriage proposal with the Yang Family?"

The so-called Grand Secretary’s granddaughter, it’s just a pleasing name, who knows what the Yang Family is plotting? If that Miss Yang is unruly, won’t she ruin the Crown Prince eventually?

After waiting so many years, managing to have Xixi enter the Eastern Palace, Empress Qi absolutely wouldn’t allow anyone to obstruct her son’s promising future.

As she thought, her gaze turned cold and fierce.

Zhao Xi noticed his birth mother’s concern and didn’t hide it, "Mother, it was I who suggested to Father the idea of making the Yang Family’s daughter the Crown Princess Consort."

"What?" Empress Qi was taken aback, "You proposed it yourself? Xixi, have you lost your mind?"

Zhao Xi replied, "I’ve considered this matter for several days, it wasn’t impulsive."

Empress Qi, furious, straightened up, "Have you taken a liking to Yang Xueru?"

All along, Zhao Xi appeared indifferent and unattached, if he truly fell for a girl, it would indeed be remarkable.

Empress Qi was so anxious she could only glare silently.

"Where is Mother’s mind wandering to?"

Compared to Empress Qi’s anxiety, Zhao Xi seemed very composed, "I acted for two reasons: first, to help Song Shaoqing out of a predicament, and second, to divide Chief Minister Yang’s power, making it difficult for him to openly oppose me."

The latter part, Empress Qi understood, but the first was puzzling, "Help Song Wei out of a predicament? What do you mean?"

"Does Mother still remember Chief Xue?"

Empress Qi nodded, "I remember, Xue Yinhuan’s birth father."

Zhao Xi nodded, "Chief Xue died shielding me from an arrow, and the person involved in his death was Liang Family’s member. When the case occurred, it was delayed and unresolved until Song Shaoqing said something to Father, who then, in a rage, had Liang Ying sentenced.

Song Shaoqing offended the Liang Family to give me justice, but with Elder Liang retired, someone from their family approached Chief Minister Yang, who secretly arranged for someone to act against Song Shaoqing.

After all, this matter began because of me, I can’t just stand by and watch Song Shaoqing get into trouble."

Empress Qi furrowed her brows, "But if you want to protect Song Wei, there must be other ways, why must you marry Yang Xueru? You know if she harbors ill intentions toward the Eastern Palace, it will harm you in the end."

"I have my own discretion." Zhao Xi’s face was calm and steady.

Empress Qi looked at him, both angry and helpless.

"Is there anything else Mother wishes to say?" Zhao Xi stood up, "There is still a family banquet in the evening, I must hurry and handle some trivial matters in the Eastern Palace, so I shall take my leave first."

Empress Qi sighed deeply and waved her hand, "You may go."

After Zhao Xi left, Gu Yu and Jingzhe entered from outside, Gu Yu placed a soft pillow behind Empress Qi’s waist for her comfort, while Jingzhe used a Beauty Hammer to massage her legs.

Empress Qi, with half-closed eyes, was still thinking about Yang Xueru, expressing her indignation, "What kind of situation is this?"

Gu Yu’s eyes flickered, "Is Your Majesty worried about the future Crown Princess Consort?"

"Isn’t that the case?" Empress Qi gritted her teeth, "Princess Consort Duan is a seductive vixen, how could her family be decent? The Emperor arranged such a troublesome figure for the Crown Prince, causing him unnecessary disgust."

Gu Yu looked at Empress Qi, hesitant to speak.

Empress Qi noticed and looked at her, "You’ve always been eloquent in front of me, how come you’re acting awkward today?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yu’s face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, "I have thought of a solution, but I’m afraid Your Majesty will not agree."

"Speak freely of your ideas." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The two chief palace maids beside Empress Qi, Gu Yu and Jingzhe, have been with her since she first entered the palace. Jingzhe is quiet and speaks little, her actions more prudent, whereas Gu Yu is rather chatty and fiery, with many clever ideas.

This is also the main reason Empress Qi keeps her in service.

Gu Yu said, "Perhaps Your Majesty could let this servant attend to the Crown Prince, so that in the future, should everyone find this new lady lacking in decorum, I could supervise on behalf of Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Jingzhe paused in her leg massaging.

Empress Qi was also stunned, looking at Gu Yu, "You wish to attend to the Crown Prince?"

Everyone understood what those words implied.

The Crown Prince, now sixteen years old, was of age and needed guidance. Yet, despite Empress Qi’s previous arrangements of palace maids for Zhao Xi, none had approached the Crown Prince thus far.

Because of this, Empress Qi worried for many days.

Gu Yu hurriedly said, "The selection for the Crown Princess Consort has already been set by the Emperor’s decree and cannot be changed. But seeing how concerned Her Majesty is, I thought I might go to keep an eye on things. Should anything happen, I would report to Her Majesty immediately, ensuring those nefarious little vixens do not ruin His Highness’s grand plans."

Jingzhe pursed her lips and continued to massage Empress Qi’s legs.

Empress Qi thought for a moment and found it feasible, so she nodded, "You may go. Let him be enlightened during the trial marriage before the grand wedding, so he can propagate the imperial lineage."

If Xixi were to soon give birth to the first imperial grandson, the Crown Prince’s position would only be more secure.

Unprepared for Empress Qi’s willingness, Gu Yu’s eyes lit up, and she hurriedly knelt to thank her, "Your servant thanks Your Majesty for your consideration."

Empress Qi warned her, "Do not forget what you just said. Report any situation immediately and do not seek pleasure and forget your purpose in the Eastern Palace."

"Your servant understands."

Gu Yu kowtowed three times to Empress Qi, then got up to pack her things.

Zhao Xi, upon returning to the Eastern Palace shortly thereafter, heard Eunuch Sanbao say someone from Kunning Palace had arrived. He thought it was something urgent and hurried to the main hall to meet them, only to find it was Gu Yu, the Chief Palace Maid beside Empress Qi.

"Aunt Gu Yu," Zhao Xi greeted politely.

Gu Yu smiled warmly at Zhao Xi, "Is Your Highness busy?"

Zhao Xi, noticing the package slung over her shoulder, was a bit puzzled, "Did the Empress send you to deliver something to me?"

"In a sense," Gu Yu smiled and said, "from today onwards, I shall be by Your Highness’s side."

Eunuch Sanbao’s face stiffened slightly.

Zhao Xi asked, "Why did the Empress suddenly send you, Aunt?"

Gu Yu replied, "Isn’t it because both the main wife and concubine for Your Highness have been decided? Her Majesty thought since Your Highness hasn’t gone through a trial marriage, therefore..."

The rest of the words needn’t be said, Zhao Xi understood.

It was still the trial marriage issue he had been avoiding. Before the grand wedding, he had to favor the palace maid.

Eunuch Sanbao eyed his master with a complex expression.

Usually, no Prince could avoid the trial marriage, just like any young master of a grand family had a few bedchamber maids before marriage. However, with this burden falling on Gu Yu, Eunuch Sanbao found it especially awkward, as His Highness had always regarded Gu Yu as an elder.

Zhao Xi remained silent for a while, seemingly sighed softly, "If so, then settle down first."

Eunuch Sanbao’s mouth twitched, "Your Highness..."

Was he truly going to keep her here? Allowing Gu Yu to stay the night was less preferable than summoning any of those lively little maidens from the Eastern Palace!

Zhao Xi instructed him, "Take Aunt to settle in."

Seeing Zhao Xi’s solemn demeanor, Eunuch Sanbao dared not say more and turned to Gu Yu, "Aunt, please follow me."

Gu Yu smiled, "Thank you, Eunuch."

After leaving the main hall, Eunuch Sanbao said, "Aunt, you should have given a heads-up before coming, you really startled me."

Gu Yu raised an eyebrow, "Today, at the grand banquet, weren’t you startled when the Emperor announced the Crown Princess Consort was from the Yang Family?"

"Certainly startled," Eunuch Sanbao admitted honestly.

"Then my sudden appearance shouldn’t be surprising." Having said this, Gu Yu lowered her voice and asked Eunuch Sanbao, "The palace maids arranged by the Empress, none truly gained His Highness’s favor?"

"What are you saying, Aunt!"

Gu Yu nodded, "It’s understandable for His Highness to have reservations about such matters."

Eunuch Sanbao listened, blushing to the roots.

Once they reached her quarters and she was settled in, Eunuch Sanbao turned to leave.

Gu Yu called him back, "Has His Highness ever seen an illustrated album?"

Eunuch Sanbao was puzzled, "What kind of illustrated album?"

It wasn’t his fault for being ignorant; he was just an inexperienced little eunuch.

Gu Yu realized he hadn’t seen it, "Forget it, after the family banquet tonight, I’ll send it to him personally."

Eunuch Sanbao scratched his head, wondering for ages what kind of illustrated album it was.