Arc 2: Part 55
If one were to ask who was the most annoying individual in this winter hunt, all the ministers would unanimously agree. It was not the girl from the Xiao family being inducted into the palace, nor was it the mischievous Prince He Lian, or even the raucous Emperor Xuanyi demanding to rule on his own.
It was Xiao Lingchen!
Yes, indeed, it was him — our Regent, Xiao Lingchen.
Every day, he wore a mysteriously serious expression. After finishing discussions about official matters, he would lure people into sideway conversations, imparting lessons on household teachings to others, and subtly flaunting his blessed state.
It drove everyone insane!
"What's the big deal about being enamored with somebody?" people would secretly grumble behind his back. “He's already 26 years old. Somebody his age should already have a son enrolled in school. He's nowhere to getting married yet; what's there to be proud of?"
They glanced at each other, snorted dismissively, and could only comment, "Forget it. The colder a man is, the harder he falls in love, but once he does, he becomes even more fiercely passionate. Given the fact that the man is still unmarried at the age of 26, let's grit our teeth and tolerate him.”
Here, Xiao Lingchen, who had confessed his feelings, was getting closer to Tong Su day by day. Meanwhile, on the other end, Emperor Xuanyi, who was about to marry, was becoming more discontented.
The end of the twelfth lunar month was swiftly approaching, and the New Year was just around the corner. Xiao Qingwan was sent into the palace before the festive season — not as the empress.
She was only bestowed the title of a concubine, failing to secure even a place as a consort. However, given that Emperor Xuanyi's harem was bare, she who was granted the status of a concubine was already the highest-ranking woman. Xiao Qingwan was extremely indignant and resentful, but she could only suppress her feelings helplessly.
However, she soon realized that she was enduring this predicament too soon.
It had been half a month since she entered the palace, yet Emperor Xuanyi did not even summon her!
Such an outrageous humiliation!
Why is it that when Xiao Bai Zhu entered the palace in her past life, she was made the Empress, but when it came to her turn, she ended up as a concubine? Why wouldn't the Emperor Xuanyi, whom she was so deeply fixated on, summon her? Why wouldn't he cherish her?
Xiao Qingwan was so consumed by rage that her vision turned dim. She became unusually paranoid, assuming that every whisper behind her back by the maidservants was an act of mockery towards her, and she would storm over to slap them.
She smashed half the palace's vases in anger and frustration, and she would find excuses to take out her rage on the serving maids, beating them half to death.
Finally, at the end of her rope, she forced a smile and prepared a bowl of soup. Holding it carefully, she took the initiative to visit Emperor Xuanyi.
If Xiao Bai Zhu could become the Empress in the past, then she absolutely had to reach that position too!
Eventually, she will trample over Xiao Bai Zhu, making everyone kneel before her. Only then will everyone realise that she, Xiao Qingwan, was the truly important one!
However, just as Xiao Qingwan gracefully approached the entrance to Emperor Xuanyi's sleeping quarters, she heard the sound of women laughing and having a great time from within, followed by Emperor Xuan Yi's inebriated voice.
"My beautiful lady, I wish to promote you to the status of a consort, to be my beloved consort!"
"Your Majesty, you must keep your promise... If you promote me, what will happen to Concubine Xiao?"
"My word is gold," Emperor Xuan Yi proclaimed. "Of course, it goes without saying! As for Concubine Xiao? Humph, that despicable wretch. I don't even want to see her, no matter what she does!"
Infuriated, Xiao Qingwan forced her way in, brushing past the chambermaids who were trying to stop her. She slammed the food container next to Emperor Xuanyi, exclaiming, "Your Majesty, how dare you humiliate me like this?!"
Emperor Xuanyi, inebriated and in the midst of revelry with a maidservant, was taken aback by the food container being slammed next to him. He hastily stood up, his voice filled with rage, "Xiao Qingwan, what are you doing?!"
Security allowed people to change their names in the pedigree, asserting that it was indeed Xiao Bai Zhu who entered the palace. However, who doesn't know that she was actually that Xiao Qingwan who bullied her sister?
The maidservant added fuel to the fire, and Emperor Xuanyi lost his patience, shouting, "Look at yourself, you don't possess a shred of the grace fitting of a concubine! Do you really think I don't have any other concubines except you? Next year, I will hold a selection process. What do you think you are? Get out!"
"Your Majesty, how dare you?" With a shocked expression, Xiao Qingwan looked at him with teary eyes in disbelief. Turning around to the maidservant, she clenched her teeth and lunged at her to claw at her face, "Is it because this wretched woman has bewitched you? I will kill her!"
"Xiao Qingwan, leave immediately!" Emperor Xuanyi bellowed.
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