"Nonsense! How could she give this to you?" Si Junlin held the fan tightly in his hand and stared intently at the servant.
"Before the Empress left, she said she couldn't take all these things with her. Then she summoned us familiar servants and bestowed all the things in the room one by one. If Your Majesty likes it, this servant..."
"What a joke! I bestowed these things on her in the first place. How dare you accept them?"
"Ah? Your Majesty, this servant had no idea!"
"Get out! All of you get out! I need to be alone for a while." After Si Junlin slowly sat back on the dragon throne, it seemed as if he had released all the pent - up anger in his chest these days. He swept all the things on the table to the ground.
Fang Xi was so scared out of his wits that he quickly winked at the other servants and maids. They all withdrew one by one and closed the door behind them. Si Junlin sat alone inside and refused to go out for a full two hours.
Not taking anything. Very well, Su Wan'er, you're really something.
In fact, these days, since Su Wan'er left, Si Junlin had ordered the imperial physicians to treat his wounds properly. Since the spectator had left, there was no need for him to continue his act.
Moreover, in the past two days, he had forced himself to eat well and rest well. He carefully reviewed the memorials and listened attentively to every minister's speech. For the first time, he showed no impatience at all.
In case Su Wan'er never came back, he couldn't miss her and pine for her for the rest of his life. According to Su Wan'er's character, she probably had already thrown him out of her mind.
Since she could leave him here without hesitation, why couldn't he forget her too? Why couldn't he eat well, rest well and have no thoughts of her at all?
"Fang Xi! Isn't it time to pay respects to the Empress Dowager? Why didn't you remind me?"
The door of the imperial study suddenly slammed open from the inside. Fang Xi, who was trembling outside, was so frightened that he fell to his knees again.
"Yes... This servant is guilty. If Your Majesty wants to go, then let's go now."
Although he had to swallow his grievances, it was clearly Si Junlin who had driven everyone out and locked himself inside. Who would dare to disturb him in that state?
But Fang Xi still felt relieved. At least Si Junlin was willing to move. Otherwise, if he always stayed indoors like this, anyone would be suffocated.
Si Junlin, as was his habit and according to the etiquette, greeted the Empress Dowager with a smile on his face. The Empress Dowager thought he was really happy. These days, she had always heard from the ministers outside that the Emperor seemed to be much more diligent in government affairs, so she was also very pleased.
"Your Majesty seems to have been very busy with state affairs these days. But no matter how busy you are with government affairs, you can't neglect the harem. Continuing the royal lineage is also a matter of national importance." The Empress Dowager thought that since Su Wan'er was gone, one of her heart - aches was relieved. Naturally, she wanted Concubine Xi to ascend to the position of Empress. Then she could fulfill her wish and devote herself to chanting Buddhist scriptures in peace.
"Yes, Your Majesty will follow Mother's teachings." Si Junlin replied mechanically, seemingly very obedient.
The Empress Dowager was very gratified, so she further persuaded him, "It's not that I'm partial. Among all the concubines in the harem, Concubine Xi is the most filial. Even though she is pregnant, she still comes to pay respects to me three times a day. When I see her, I feel that there is hope for the future. Since she has such filial piety, Your Majesty can't neglect her."
"Yes, Your Majesty knows. Your Majesty will visit her palace tonight."
Although this answer was very much to the Empress Dowager's liking and Si Junlin was very obedient tonight, he was perhaps too obedient. The Empress Dowager looked at him suspiciously but finally found nothing unusual. She just asked if he didn't rest well last night because he looked listless.
Si Junlin naturally evaded the question by saying it was due to state affairs and then calmly left. He really did go to Concubine Xi's palace.
"Your Majesty, since Concubine Xi is pregnant, how about this servant preparing some things and sending them to her so that the Lady can feel at ease during her pregnancy?" Fang Xi felt something was wrong. The Empress Dowager said he should go to Concubine Xi's place, and the Emperor just went out and turned towards Concubine Xi's palace. But on the way, he was as silent as a wooden man. Who would believe that he really wanted to go to Concubine Xi's palace?
"What things to send? What's there to send?" Si Junlin felt extremely irritable today.
"But since Concubine Xi became pregnant, Your Majesty hasn't bestowed anything on her yet."
This was really improper. Usually, a concubine's pregnancy was a major event. The Empress Dowager had already sent a lot of things, and it was only reasonable for the Emperor to bestow something.
"Then ask the imperial hospital and the imperial kitchen to make arrangements. See what things are good for the pregnancy and send them all to her." Thinking of his drunkenness that time, perhaps this child was an accident, but since it had come, it couldn't be a bad thing. Concubine Xi was not a good person, but since she was pregnant, he should be lenient towards her in the future.
"Sure! This servant will give the order right away to make Concubine Xi happy." Fang Xi was as happy as if he had received a reward himself.
"Your Majesty, Consort Mei requests an audience." Before Si Junlin reached Concubine Xi's palace, a little maid suddenly rushed out from a palace gate and knelt in front of him.
Si Junlin looked up and vaguely recognized the place. After thinking for a while, he realized it was Consort Mei's palace. The maid who ran out was Lusha, Consort Mei's personal maid. But Si Junlin really had no mood to see her now, so he waved his hand to let her go.
Unexpectedly, the little maid started kowtowing to him, as if she would keep kowtowing until her head was broken or she died if he didn't see Consort Mei. Si Junlin was very irritated but still followed her in.
"Where is your Lady?" Si Junlin was led to the main hall and sat down. When the maid came to serve tea, he had no interest in taking a sip and impatiently asked them.
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment. The Lady knows she is guilty. She is now taking off her hairpins in the back as a sign of penance. She said she would bathe and burn incense, and then come out clean to talk to Your Majesty." Lusha made her Lady sound very pitiful.
"No need. Ask her to come out quickly." Si Junlin was full of thoughts about what tricks Consort Mei was up to and was extremely impatient.
Unexpectedly, after a while, Consort Mei really came out in plain white clothes, without a single hairpin. She also wore a veil.
"My Lady knows that Your Majesty has long been tired of me, so I can only cover my face to see Your Majesty." Consort Mei looked pitiful again. Si Junlin rubbed his temples and impatiently asked her, "What on earth do you want?"
Consort Mei burst into tears after being shouted at.
"My Lady knows that no matter what I say now, Your Majesty won't believe me. But this matter concerns the foundation of our Great Jin. Your Majesty can't ignore it!"
"Fine, then speak. I'll listen for the time being."
"Your Majesty, my Lady knows that you are very happy to finally have a child, and the Empress Dowager is also very happy about Concubine Xi's pregnancy. But the child of Concubine Xi is not yours!"