How could she have forgotten such a crucial thing? Concubine He trembled and hurriedly admitted her mistake.
"Miss, I know I was wrong. I just... just..."
She stammered for a long time but couldn't finish her words. However, He Hui knew exactly what she meant.
"There won't be anyone else in this world who will help you besides me. You'd better put away all your petty thoughts. If there's a next time, I won't be so easy - going."
Concubine He was usually high - and - mighty and seemed easy - going to everyone. But in front of He Hui, she was humble and submissive.
"Miss, rest assured. I've already realized my mistake. I'll never have such thoughts again and will never betray you."
"Alright. Since you know your mistake, let's talk about the matter I've called you here for tonight."
All the grievances Concubine He suffered today had to be swallowed. Her figure was hidden in the darkness, and her face was already distorted, but her words were still soft.
"Miss, just give your orders."
"Um, I want to be the Noble Consort."
Concubine He was stunned for a moment and almost thought she had misheard.
She widened her eyes. Thinking of the status of the He family, she thought it was unlikely.
"The positions of the Empress and the Noble Consort are surely reserved for the daughters of officials. Miss, perhaps you should just give it up."
Hearing this, He Hui's eyes immediately turned cold.
"Do you think I'm unworthy?"
"I definitely don't mean that. I'm just doing this for your own good. The He family has been in business for generations and has never even had contact with the officials in the capital. If you become the Noble Consort, you may not be able to convince the public or soothe the hearts of the people. Moreover, I'm just a powerless imperial concubine in the harem. How can I help you get the position of the Noble Consort?"
He Hui knew she was unreliable. She rolled her eyes and her tone was tinged with mockery.
"I've already prepared something for you. Take a look."
She unfolded her silk handkerchief, and there was a small box inside, which caught Concubine He's attention.
"What's this?"
She asked while opening it.
When she saw the constantly wriggling figure in the box, her face turned deathly pale. Almost instinctively, she wanted to throw the thing away. Fortunately, He Hui reacted quickly and retrieved it in time.
After confirming that the thing in the box was still there, He Hui heaved a sigh of relief, but her face was not looking good.
"What do you mean? This is the trump - card I've given you. Do you have any objections?"
The frightened woman still hadn't recovered. She took two steps back.
"What... what is this? Miss, why do you carry such a disgusting thing with you?"
Thanks to the cover of the night, she didn't notice that the person in front of her had changed expression after she said this.
"Are you saying the thing I gave you is disgusting?"
"Ah, I... I know I was wrong. Miss, please forgive me. I didn't mean that."
He Hui was too lazy to keep up these false pretenses with her. Thinking about how the young emperor had suddenly changed his attitude towards her, she decided to take the initiative.
"This is a Gu worm. I've personally cultivated it for many years. With it, we can make the Empress Dowager obey us obediently. By then, I can even become the Empress."
Looking at the Gu worm and listening to her words, there was a glint in Concubine He's eyes.
If this worm was really that useful, could she do the same?
Just as she was thinking this, all her thoughts were seen through.
"There's actually another Gu worm. Only that one can control this one. So put away your petty thoughts. They're useless."
"Of course I know. Miss, rest assured. I'll definitely handle this matter well."
"This is the last chance I'm giving you. Since I came here, you haven't been of much use. If you mess up again, don't blame the He family for not keeping you."
Seeing that she had taken the matter so seriously, Concubine He knew that she was really angry and quickly agreed.
"Miss, rest assured. I definitely won't make any mistakes."
After they had discussed everything, they left separately while it was quiet all around.
Ji Heng looked at their gradually disappearing backs with a gloomy face.
He didn't expect that they were finally going to target the Empress Dowager. And He Hui was really ambitious, asking for the position of the Noble Consort right away.
No, he had to visit the Empress Dowager tomorrow. He couldn't let them succeed.
With this in mind, he left the court early the next morning. However, he encountered an obstacle on the way.
He looked at the person blocking his way impatiently. He suddenly found it ridiculous that he hadn't seen He Hui's ambition earlier.
The reason why He Hui showed up suddenly today was that she was worried about his attitude towards her.
She had thought about it for a long time after she got back but still didn't know what had gone wrong. Why had he suddenly changed his attitude towards her?
"Your Majesty, you haven't come to see Hui'er for a long time. Is it because Hui'er made you unhappy that day?"
These ambiguous words were heard by everyone.
It was just after the court had adjourned, and the place He Hui chose was on the way that everyone had to pass to leave the palace. Almost everyone looked over curiously when they heard these words.
It was Cui Qizhou who stepped forward to scold them.
"Are you all too idle or have there been too few things to do recently? His Majesty is handling affairs here. When did it become your turn to watch?"
"Your Excellency the National Teacher is right. We'll leave right away."
Cui Qizhou looked at He Hui with a complicated look in his eyes. After the other officials left the palace one after another, he also left.
But before he left, he left a cryptic remark.
"The draft is approaching. Some people should pay attention to their conduct."
These words made He Hui blush. She lowered her head as if she had suffered a great deal of injustice.
"I don't mean anything else, Your Majesty. If Hui'er has done anything wrong, you can just tell me directly. But leaving Hui'er alone like this, have you already found someone more suitable than Hui'er?"
The young emperor estimated the time. It was very likely that Concubine He had already arrived at the Shoukang Palace. He had to get there as soon as possible.
Ji Heng impatiently withdrew his hand and took two steps back.
"Miss He, as a candidate in the draft, you shouldn't show up at this time. Moreover, this is the place for the imperial court to discuss affairs. I don't want to see such an ill - behaved person intruding again. Fulu, find out who was on guard today and drag them out for a flogging."
After saying that, the young emperor didn't hesitate to take a step forward and didn't look back at the person behind him.
He Hui's face was a bit pale. All the eunuchs and guards passing by looked at her curiously.
Fulu didn't give her any face at all.
"Miss, please leave quickly. Don't stay here any longer. I still have to do what His Majesty just ordered."