Scent Of Time

Chapter 11

Watching the Empress Dowager handling the relationship between the concubines with ease, I suddenly admired this old lady from the bottom of my heart. It may not be that difficult to be an empress dowager, but to be the one who could differentiate between right and wrong and unbiased must require a great deal of wisdom and endurance.

“Empress Dowager, Old Lady He has sent some fruits from the south.” Aunt Su, the head of the household, came over carrying a box.

The He Clan was the Empress Dowager’s maternal clan, while Old Lady He was the Empress Dowager’s mother. The He family moved to Jiangnan to avoid the power of foreign relatives, only sending some specialties every year but rarely appearing. She was like the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, humble and knew how to advance and retreat.

The Empress Dowager opened the box and looked at the lychees inside. The ice was still bubbling with cold air. It was not the season of lychee, but they still managed to send it thousands of miles. The He family had money on one hand and love for the Empress Dowager on the other.

The Empress Dowager smiled and shook her head, closing the box: “How many times have I told her? Mother still won’t change. Sending things to the capital is time-consuming and laborious, ah.”

Immediately, one of the concubines opened her mouth cleverly: “That is because Old Lady He loves the Empress Dowager. How can there be too much trouble?”

The Empress Dowager was in a good mood and answered, “How is she love this old woman? It’s His Majesty who likes to eat this. Go and send it over to His Majesty.”

The instruction was for Aunt Su, but a concubine rushed out and spoke: “Aunt Su was busy without touching the ground. Why don’t this concubine go to the Emperor to send it over?”

She said while reaching out to pick up the box. But another beauty said sarcastically: “Li Meiren really can see through the needle hole. You still shamefully grab the Empress Dowager’s intentions.”

Li Meiren’s hand froze in mid-air. Her face flushed between red and white for a while. She gritted her teeth and said: “Sister Wei, these words have wronged me. I am just sharing the Empress Dowager’s concerns.”

During this observation period, I learned that Li Meiren and Wei Meiren were the most incompatible. With the fair amount of favor given by the Emperor and their father’s similar rank, they were always ready to fight.

Noble Consort Qi, on the other hand, was alone in her high position and did not see eye to eye with them. As for the other concubines, they were only gloating and watching the fun.

Every time, the one who got the most headaches was the Empress Dowager. Well, the two beauties argued and let the Empress Dowager decide. There was an “if you let her go, I will not give up” posture.

My heart silently sympathized with the Empress Dowager. Suddenly, I heard the Empress Dowager say: “Qian girl has nothing to do here. Why don’t you help me to send this lychee to the Emperor?”

…… Am I being shot?

The two beauties saw that this errand fell on me, an outsider, suddenly also stopped quarreling and felt that the other party had not taken advantage of it, so both agreed that I should go.

The Empress Dowager was indeed worthy of being a palace fighting champion. Her one sentence unraveled their conflict.

“Yes, Empress Mother.”

I stood up and bowed, then took the box and prepared to leave. During this time, Zhong Xiwu had always been gentle and unlike an emperor, so I wasn’t afraid of him anymore.

When I turned around, Noble Consort Qi suddenly smiled at me. Although I was confused, I returned the smile.

I followed the servant to the imperial study. After reporting, I went in. I lowered my eyebrows and eyes, not daring to look around, and I explained my intention in a disciplined manner.

A voice came from above my head: “Bring it over.”

I waited for half a day, but I did not see the servant take over the box in my hand. I had to walk up myself and put the box on the table. Only then did I realize that the desk was full of documents. Just looking at the amount of work makes people think it was so hard to be an Emperor, ah.

“Do you know how to read documents?”

“Ah?” The sudden words made me fail to react, and I subconsciously looked up into Zhong Xiwu’s clear eyes.

Zhong Xiwu did not mind. Instead, he spoke, “Take a look at this.” The long and slender fingers held a yellow scroll. I hesitated for a moment but still took it over.

In the end, what is this all about? As a royal sister-in-law, I shouldn’t be allowed to read the report, no? But he has opened his mouth. How can I not read it? That is disobedience to the Emperor’s orders.

I opened the document, and my back immediately produced a layer of cold sweat. The scroll wrote Hua Shen, that son of a bitch, has done all kinds of good things, bullying men and women. It also mentioned that Hua Xiang did not teach his son and even directly pointed to Hua Xiang himself having a problem, which led to the following effects.

My fingers involuntarily tightened. I thought, why would the Empress Dowager suddenly let me come to deliver something? Logically, it was inappropriate. If they had conspired to make a good deal of it, it would make sense. But what is their purpose? Test my reaction, or suppress the Hua family starting from me?

After watching almost a month of palace fighting dramas, I also began to have more thoughts. Immediately, I made a shameful appearance and knelt, “Replying to the Emperor, my elder brother’s mind is damaged. That’s why my father indulged him and neglected to discipline him. I want to ask the Emperor to punish him severely.”

“Oh?” Zhong Xiwu raised his eyebrows and said, “You are sensible. Then, according to you, how should I punish Hua Shen?”

I tried to pinch myself, to let myself produce some tears. I raised my head and said, “Hua Shen is my brother, my family. Although I know that he has many faults, based on the order of elders and children, I am only a woman. I don’t know how to deal with it. Your Majesty is righteous, I do not dare to point out.”

Zhong Xiwu listened to this, seemingly smiling, and said: “I heard Hua Xiang boasted his unrivaled daughter. Why are you so formal in front of me?”

“Parents always think their children are the best, so they will inevitably exaggerate.” I bowed my head and said back.

A moment later, I heard the sound of footsteps, and a pair of black feet embroidered with gold thread stopped in front of me, casting a shadow over me.

Noticing him bending down towards me, I subconsciously wanted to run. It was the first time I felt the oppression of a superior and also the first time he displayed his sovereign authority in front of me.

Sure enough, the second male’s tenderness was all for the female lead. I have nothing.

Forcing myself to remain motionless, he attached himself, lifted my arm with one hand, pulling me up, and with the other hand, he took the scroll in my hand and placed it on the table.

“Princess Consort Jin doesn’t need to be so nervous. I’m not raising an accusation. I’m just asking for your opinion.” Zhong Xiwu resumed his usual warm and courteous manner.

It’s just that his palm that held onto my arm was still sending out a burst of pressure, and I feel myself squeezing out a smile that’s harder to see than crying.

Suddenly, I heard the eunuch’s shrill voice outside: “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager sent a message over, saying that King Jin has come and is looking for Princess Consort Jin.”

For the first time, I felt intimate hearing Zhong Yelan’s name. I couldn’t wait to fly towards him and breathed a sigh of relief.

However, I heard Zhong Xiwu laugh. I realized that I was too grateful and subconsciously let out a noticeable exhale.

Zhong Xiwu, however, did not say anything but released my arm and said, “Let’s go, let’s go to the Empress Dowager’s palace.”

I walked speechlessly behind him. When we arrived at the Empress Dowager’s palace, the moment I saw Zhong Yelan’s face, I wanted to cry.

I’m wrong. I’m wrong. I shouldn’t have thrown myself into this dragon pit inside the palace to hide from him instead. The Emperor in the novel is not that hostile to the Hua Family. How come everything has changed once I came? Also, it’s getting worse.

After seeing my watery eyes, Zhong Yelan’s eyes could not help but give birth to a lot of confusion, but he did not open his mouth rashly.

After I walked to his side and tightly tugged on his sleeve, I finally rested my floating heart.

“King Jin and Princess Consort have such a good relationship. It’s enviable.” Noble Consort Qi’s laughter rang out.

Given the goodwill I’ve cultivated over this period, the other concubines also followed suit and laughed.

Zhong Xiwu’s gaze seemed to glance over Zhong Yelan’s sleeve inadvertently. He paused before shifting his gaze and speaking, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my royal brother in the palace. I wonder what he’s been busy with during this period?”

Zhong Yelan replied with a smile while silently holding my hand under his sleeve. His large palm wrapped my entire hand in it, and he seemed aware of my uneasiness, giving me comfort even though he wasn’t sure why.