When Yuan Rui was young, he wasn't close to his mother.
Although the then-queen seemed kind and amiable to outsiders, she was extremely strict with him. Maybe she had placed great hopes on him, he thought.
He could only find the joy and warmth of childhood with his imperial grandmother, the then-empress dowager.
Later, when he became the emperor and his imperial grandmother became the grand empress dowager, due to his busy state affairs, he visited her less and less often.
Eventually, his imperial grandmother passed away.
However, now, he unexpectedly felt the long-lost warmth from this imperial aunt.
But... why did he catch a fleeting look of disappointment in this imperial aunt's eyes?
Chu Qing squinted her eyes and smiled as she took the initiative to speak, "Your Majesty, what do you command?"
To everyone's surprise, the emperor actually blushed. Chu Qing just silently watched him, waiting for his next move.
"Um... it's just..." The emperor's stuttering made Chu Qing's expression turn colder.
"Just... can I call you sister?"
"???" Chu Qing managed to hold back the punch she was about to throw, but her expression was extremely complicated!
She regarded him as her grandson, but he wanted to recognize her as his sister?
The problem was, she was still his uncle's wife! If she agreed, the family relationship would be so messed up that even Emperor Gaozu might want to crawl out of his mausoleum to strangle them!
Chu Qing took a few steps back and waved her hands hurriedly, "Your Majesty, please don't mess up the generations."
This little rascal, don't even think about calling his imperial grandmother sister! He was so disrespectful!
The emperor pouted and said, "I always feel that you're so young. Calling you imperial aunt makes you sound old. And for my uncle, I also think it makes him sound old. How about I call you sister and him... brother-in-law?"
Chu Qing tried her best to control her right hand that was itching to move. What kind of nonsense was going on in this little rascal's head?
And he even wanted to call Wei Ying brother-in-law like her?
What on earth was this?
Was this kid on some kind of mind - numbing drug?
But thinking carefully, maybe this kid's jumping thoughts came from her?
Chu Qing sighed softly and patiently explained to the emperor, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Ning is your uncle, and I'm the Princess of Ning. It's inappropriate for you to call me... sister... both emotionally and rationally."
If the emperor still didn't understand, Chu Qing even thought about telling him the truth.
Little rascal, I'm your imperial grandmother!
Just thinking about it was exciting!
Moreover, the emperor would probably recognize her from her tone.
After all, except for the people from the Shangguan family, only this great - grandson knew her true appearance.
The emperor drooped his eyebrows and looked extremely aggrieved.
Since Chu Qing didn't agree, the emperor naturally couldn't force her, but he felt a bit disappointed. That warmth wasn't suitable for an imperial aunt to give. And... he really didn't want to call Wei Ying uncle. Wei Ying wasn't much older than him, but always acted like an old - fashioned elder in front of him!
He was really annoyed by it!
However... the family hierarchy was there, and he had no choice. Even though he had just said he wanted to call Chu Qing sister, it was just talk. He wasn't really that stupid.
"Your Majesty... if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." Seeing that the emperor seemed to be deep in thought, Chu Qing tentatively spoke.
The emperor gave her a somewhat aggrieved look and then waved his hand, indicating that she could leave.
Letting out a long sigh of relief, Chu Qing could finally leave the court hall.
On her way to Weiyang Palace, Chu Qing unexpectedly met a familiar person.
It was Concubine Xuan who had tried every means to make her look bad in Changle Palace before.
At that time, she didn't know who had instigated her, but she had targeted Chu Qing everywhere. Unexpectedly, she had been completely humiliated by Chu Qing.
Now...
Chu Qing looked up at her and then her gaze fell on the woman's belly...
Was she... pregnant?
It seemed that she was just starting to show.
She had been so out of control in Changle Palace before. How could she still gain the emperor's favor afterwards?
Chu Qing squinted her eyes and sized her up carefully.
Judging from her clothes, she was still the same as before. Maybe she hadn't been promoted because of the child. But seeing the arrogant look in her eyes, Chu Qing began to doubt her previous judgment.
"Yo, isn't this the Princess of Ning! How was your prison life?" Before Chu Qing could say anything, Concubine Xuan walked forward and sneered at her again.
Chu Qing lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, replying casually, "I can't compare to Concubine Xuan. You seem to be living a comfortable life. After not seeing you for a long time, you've really gained weight. And have you forgotten your manners again?"
Even though she knew the woman was pregnant, Chu Qing still pretended not to notice.
However, anyone could tell that she was doing it on purpose to annoy the other woman.
Sure enough, Concubine Xuan couldn't hold her temper as usual. She glared angrily and said, "I'm now pregnant with the emperor's child! The emperor has specifically granted me exemption from these etiquettes!"
Thinking carefully, this woman in front of her seemed to be the first pregnant concubine in the harem?
Hiss, could it be that the emperor, her great - grandson, was impotent?
Chu Qing continued to smile faintly, "You're actually pregnant with the imperial heir? Concubine Xuan is really blessed."
"Of course." Concubine Xuan snorted.
"If Concubine Xuan has nothing else to say, I'll take my leave." Chu Qing was in a relatively good mood at the moment, so she didn't want to argue too much with a woman who couldn't cause much trouble.
However... the other woman didn't seem to think so.
Before Chu Qing could walk past her, she suddenly let out a scream and fell to the ground.
Chu Qing's expression immediately turned cold. This trick was so familiar!
"Your Highness!" The little maid who had been following Concubine Xuan panicked and immediately threw herself beside her when she saw her fall.
"What are you crying for! Hurry up and call the imperial physician!" Seeing the maid's helpless look, Chu Qing immediately scolded her in a deep voice.
The little maid stammered, "But... but Your Highness..."
"I'm here! If you delay for a moment, can you bear the responsibility?" After saying that, Chu Qing immediately squatted down to check Concubine Xuan's condition.
Only then did the little maid run away crying to call the imperial physician.
At this moment, Chu Qing's heart sank.
Even though the woman was at odds with her, the life in her womb was innocent, especially since it was the emperor's child.
For the time being... it was also her junior.
Seeing the blood flowing under Concubine Xuan, Chu Qing frowned.
The pregnancy was so early, and now there was so much blood. It seemed that the child couldn't be saved.
Knowing the result, Chu Qing calmed down.
Thinking carefully, this fall was really strange.
She felt that this was a familiar trick because in her previous life, similar things had happened many times.
All of them were for... framing others.
But... now she wasn't a person in the harem. If the woman resorted to this scheme out of jealousy towards her, it was really unwise.
It was simply a lose - lose situation!
After all, the child in her womb was the emperor's first child!
If she could give birth to it, her status in the harem would surely rise!
But using this to frame a princess was really a bad move. Any sensible person wouldn't do this.
Chu Qing's mind was full of thoughts, but she always felt that something was wrong. It just didn't make sense.
Maybe she had experienced too much in her previous life, and now she was led to think the worst.
Maybe... she really just slipped.
It wasn't until the imperial physician, the emperor, and the queen came together that Concubine Xuan, who had seemed lifeless before, suddenly grabbed the emperor's arm. Pointing at Chu Qing in horror, she said, "Your Majesty, why did the Princess of Ning harm our child!"
Chu Qing remained expressionless.
Was she slapping herself in the face?
There were no such things as accidental slips in the harem!