Phoenix Hairpin

Chapter 110

In this world, the only thing that can make Emperor Yongjia angry and helpless was his own mother, Empress Dowager Zhao.

The Empress Dowager Zhao was the eldest daughter of the Zhao family's concubine, and she was good-looking and talented in everything. But since she was a shu daughter (1), she married the head of the Li family, who was ten years older than herself, to fill in the house. (2)

Empress Dowager Zhao gave birth to a legitimate son in one fell swoop, and quickly gained a firm foothold in Li's inner house. Li Yuan was intelligent since he was young, with a strong and resolute personality And he was also very filial to his mother.

After Li Yuan sat on the Dragon throne, his mother became Queen Mother Zhao. Zhao Shi, who became Empress Dowager, quickly revealed the flaws brought about by her background and vision.

Empress Dowager Zhao didn't reach out to interfere with the court, she just favored her mother's family, favored Concubine Qin's mother and son, to the point of being overly biased.

Emperor Yongjia was annoyed by his mother's stupidity and punished Concubine Qin and her son angrily. When Empress Dowager Zhao came to her senses, the Fourth Prince and Concubine Qin were grounded. Queen Mother Zhao was also angry and scolded her son.

No matter how capable and powerful Emperor Yongjia was, he couldn't argue with his mother. He was angry all night and went to court in a very aggrieved mood.

Lu Mingyu glanced at Li Jing with a half-smile: "The Emperor is in a bad mood. As a son, you should go to accompany and comfort him. Why did you come to Lu's house?" 

The direction of courtship was wrong!

Li Jing smiled helplessly: "You know the relationship between me and the Emperor best. Why do you say such things to stab me."

Lu Mingyu had a temper that takes the soft rather than the hard. (3) If Li Jing was angry and unhappy, she would have definitely confronted him. At this time, Li Jing showed a helpless and indulgent smile, and Lu Mingyu felt a little embarrassed.

"I'm sorry," Lu Mingyu opened her mouth to apologize: "I made a slip of the tongue just now, don't take it to heart."

A smile flashed in Li Jing's black eyes: "I'm not angry. What you said is true. We are five brothers, The Emperor's favorite is the Eldest brother, the Fourth brother has the support of our Imperial grandmother, and so Imperial Father is also good to him. The Third brother is talented in both civil and military, with a tough temperament, and so Father also have him in his heart."

"Father, he does value me and I cannot deny that. But is just a value and another more."

Nowadays, everyone values ​​their legitimate sons. No matter how partial Emperor Yongjia was to his Eldest son, he never neglected his legitimate son. It's just that valuing and liking were two different things.

It was a fact that Li Jing was not liked by Emperor Yongjia.

For example, today the Eldest Prince entered the Wenhua Palace early in the morning. The rest of the princes couldn't step through the door of Wenhua Palace at all.

In his past life, Li Jing would have felt gloomy about it and unable to let go of this fact.

In this life, he has been able to accept this fact frankly.

Lu Mingyu stared at Li Jing with a calm expression: "Li Jing, what kind of person are you?"

She could see through everyone around her, except Li Jing. He was like a deep pool of water. The surface was beautiful and bright, but in reality, it was deep and unpredictable.

Li Jing smiled slightly, stretched out his hand again, and held his fiancée's hand: "What kind of person am I, you will know when you look at it slowly." 

.............

Li Jing spent half a day in Lu's residence and had a cheeky lunch before returning palace.

He went to the Jiaofang Hall first.

Empress Qiao hadn't had a good night's sleep, and even the makeup could not cover up the dark shadows in front of her eyes, her complexion was inevitably haggard. Seeing her radiant son, Empress Qiao smiled: "I thought you would stay in Lu's residence until the evening before coming back." 

There was a bit of teasing in her words.

Li Jing smiled: "I want to stay at Lu's house, but Xiaoyu insisted on driving me back to the palace, so I had no choice but to come back." 

The intimacy and joy in the words were clearly visible.

Seeing her son so happy, Empress Qiao's gloomy mood eased a lot, and said with a smile: "Anyway, the engagement gifts have been sent, so it's okay if you go to the future in-law's house if you have nothing to do." 

Unmarried couples can meet each other from time to time.

Empress Qiao was not happy about this marriage at first, but she couldn't help her son. Now that a marriage has been made, Empress Qiao was also happy to see her son getting close to his in-law family.

With the help of King Xingyang in the court, Li Jing's future journey will be smoother.

Thinking of this, Empress Qiao felt better again.

Until Li Jing opened his mouth to ask: "Mother, it's been half a day, is there any news from Father?"

Empress Qiao smiled and said lightly: "The Eldest Prince entered the Wenhua Palace, I don't know how he persuaded your father. Your father went to Yanxi Palace at noon. Thinking about it, he is already in a good mood." 

The Eldest son whom he favored coaxed him, and he was accompanied by his beloved woman. Emperor Yongjia's anger probably subsided long ago.

In the harem, only Concubine Meng, mother and son could comfort Emperor Yongjia when he was furious.

There was nothing fair about this.

Li Jing had no way of comforting Queen Qiao, so he just said in a low voice: "Mother, don't be a fool."

Queen Qiao smiled bitterly: "After so many years, if I become a fool, I will die. Ah Jing, your father, I am not counting on him anymore. Now I just hope that you will have a safe and smooth life.”

Safe and smooth, these four words are simple, and easy to say, but extremely difficult to achieve.

Li Jing remembered something, and his eyes dimmed slightly.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little tense.

Empress Qiao said again in a low voice: "I'm afraid your imperial grandmother will become ill in the next few days."

With Queen Mother Zhao's temper, it was impossible not to make a fuss.

...

Empress Qiao was right in her predictions.

Emperor Yongjia's anger subsided, but Empress Dowager Zhao fell ill.

Emperor Yongjia immediately put down his government affairs and went to Shouning Palace to take care of his mother. Zhou Yuanshi, who had the best medical skills in the imperial hospital, was also called into the Shouning Palace to see Queen Mother Zhao.

Emperor Yongjia looked at the bleak and powerless Queen Mother Zhao, feeling distressed and anxious: "Zhou Yuanshi, what happened to the Queen Mother? She was fine yesterday, why is she suddenly sick today?"

Zhou Yuanshi cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is feeling depressed and frustrated. I will prescribe a few medicines, and the Empress Dowager should drink them for a few days, and it should be relieved." 

Depressed, this is a euphemism. In reality, she was suffering from 'qi sickness'.

Emperor Yongjia let out a long sigh, and sat down on the side of the bed helplessly: "If the mother is angry again, she can't toss her body." 

The Empress Dowager Zhao snorted, turned over, and turned to the inside, ignoring her son.

Emperor Yongjia's head really hurts!

He reached out and rubbed his temples, calmed down, slowed down his voice, and coaxed Queen Mother Zhao for a long time. Empress Dowager Zhao just ignored him in anger. Until Emperor Yongjia backed down: "Queen Mother, don't be upset. In ten days at most, I will remove the house arrest of Concubine Qin and the Fourth Prince."

Empress Dowager Zhao held her heart in her hands and said, "Hey!" "Hey".

Emperor Yongjia twitched the corner of his mouth and gave in again: "Five days! No less!"

The Queen Mother Zhao gave up.

Regarding Queen Mother Zhao's illness, everyone in the harem had different reactions.

Empress Qiao: The way the mother-in-law manipulates her son has been consistent for twenty years!

Concubine Meng: Bah! Damn old godmother!

Su Zhaorong: This is my dream life!

Concubine Qin, who was in self-reflection, was so moved that her eyes filled with tears: "It's fortunate that my aunt is willing to support me, otherwise, I don't know how long I will be grounded this time."

T/N The ML is such a poor baby!!! 

1. Daughter born to a concubine

2. That is she married after the main wife passed away. Which means she was the second wife. 

3. It means that she didn't show temper to those who were soft and reasonable with her instead of being aggressive.