Tang Zhuyun left Hanxiang behind that night.
Hanxiang looked puzzled, but remained silent.
Tang Zhuyun said calmly, "The Emperor told me about your mother's kidnapping..."
Hanxiang's expression changed instantly, and then she said almost frantically, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My mother has been rescued..."
Tang Zhuyun looked at Hanxiang's expression and instantly understood.
She guessed correctly.
She stopped speaking and just stared intently at Hanxiang.
Hanxiang gradually succumbed to her sharp gaze, slowly kneeling on the ground, kowtowing deeply, and not daring to raise her head.
"Hanxiang, you are a smart girl."
Before she could even speak, Hanxiang had already figured it out herself.
"I can understand youthful affection, especially for you, perhaps because you lost your father at a young age, and the Emperor has arranged for you and your mother to be well taken care of for many years..."
It's not wrong to like Emperor Wen.
"Your Majesty, I am utterly ashamed," Hanxiang sobbed uncontrollably.
She did indeed harbor feelings of love for the Emperor.
She was overjoyed whenever she could see him.
After her mother was kidnapped, she was really, really panicked.
Without a second thought, she went straight to the Emperor.
The emperor did not blame her and even comforted her with a few words; it was with these words of comfort that she managed to get through those days of fear and anxiety.
This led to his second and third separate visits to the Emperor.
But later, she realized that the emperor didn't even look at her, so she gave up on the idea.
She felt a sense of loss mixed with... relief, feeling that she could probably let go of this matter.
But she couldn't stop thinking about it.
Human desires can indeed expand endlessly.
At first, she felt that just seeing him was enough; later, it became a desire to get closer to him; and then it became a desire to have a place in his life, even without any formal title...
She both loved the Emperor and enjoyed the Empress's trust and favor...
I do struggle internally, yet I only sink deeper and deeper into this predicament.
The Emperor has become her inner demon.
Seeing her like this, Tang Zhuyun breathed a sigh of relief.
fine.
It's really okay.
The girl she observed was not such a shameless person.
"Stand up and speak," Tang Zhuyun said.
Hanxiang refused to get up.
She would rather the Empress beat or scold her than have her be so understanding.
Hanxiang felt that she was repulsive and ashamed.
A look of melancholy flashed across Tang Zhuyun's face as she said, "I have never harbored ill intentions towards those close to me; therefore, I have never been aware of your feelings."
"His Majesty is an excellent man, and your liking for him is beyond reproach."
"But you shouldn't have gone past me and coveted someone you shouldn't have."
Liking something and pursuing it are two different things.
"I don't want to say anything more," Tang Zhuyun said. "We were once master and servant, so let's part amicably. I'll give you a month to choose your husband; tell me, and I'll arrange the marriage for you."
"Your mother was frightened; you should go back and stay with her for the next month."
Hanxiang burst into tears. "Your Majesty, I'm so sorry..."
"It's over, Hanxiang," Tang Zhuyun said. "This matter ends here; the Emperor will never know that you will always be a junior in his heart. This was a relationship between master and servant, and I can give you this final dignity."
"Step down."
Hanxiang tears in her eyes, Hanxiang kowtowed three times, then stood up, looking at Tang Zhuyun with teary eyes, and backed away.
Tang Zhuyun slumped over the table, feeling a dull, heavy sadness in her heart.
She knew that many people would throw themselves at Emperor Wen; it was inevitable due to the combined influence of power and male charm.
But when this person is someone close to her, it's especially painful.
"Your Majesty, please don't think about it anymore," Xiu'er comforted Tang Zhuyun. "Wasn't this matter resolved satisfactorily? Has the Emperor asked about her?"
"No."
"Look, isn't this great? Men, sometimes they're so insensitive, you just can't explain it."
She subtly inquired about Song Jingyang's opinion on the matter.
Song Jingyang: "???"
What's wrong?
"Hanxiang didn't commit any heinous crimes, but you still gave her the best arrangement," Xiu'er added. "Do you think others would be as understanding as you? If they had that kind of heart, they would have been killed on the spot."
"I don't feel sorry for her," Tang Zhuyun said, "I just feel uncomfortable about things having come to this point."
"Of course," Xiu'er said. "Let's think of something happy."
For example?
For example, Linlin is getting married.
Tang Zhuyun glared at her. "Are you sure you're not saying this just to upset me?"
Xiu'er laughed and said, "You're not satisfied with Lang Jiu?"
"I'm not entirely satisfied, but I can't say," Tang Zhuyun said. "I think that child isn't good enough for Linlin."
Linlin is destined to be the emperor. Can Lang Jiu shoulder the heavy responsibility of being the empress?
Even she, as Empress, was incredibly exhausted; how much more so would Lang Jiu?
"Your Majesty, please don't look down on people. Perhaps Lang Jiu will do even better than you, haha..."
Tang Zhuyun rolled her eyes at her. "I'd rather it be like that."
"Think of something happy. At least for the next few years, no one will dare to ask the Emperor to expand his harem."
That's true.
"However," Xiu'er changed the subject, "His Majesty never actually made you worry about this matter. For example, the matter of choosing a concubine."
Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but laugh out loud.
When the late emperor was still alive, some censors advised that Emperor Wen had broken the rules.
What kind of imperial harem doesn't select concubines?
Emperor Wen readily agreed, saying, "What you say is absolutely right. The ancestral rules must not be broken. I will make arrangements immediately."
The assembled officials, who were waiting to see what would happen, were caught off guard and completely dumbfounded.
Why is Your Majesty being so agreeable today?
Then, after some time, the court officials inquired whether the Emperor had chosen this person's nameplate.
The news that spread from the palace was: Yes, the Emperor does indeed choose his concubines every day.
Everyone realized they had been tricked.
I've never heard of a new concubine being brought into the palace. Did the emperor just look around and find nothing?
Could it be that there's only one nameplate for the Empress?
Emperor Wen replied: No, no, no, I follow the rules. I can choose any of the twelve plaques each day.
But I always end up with the Empress's name; what can I do?
The ancestors didn't care; the sign probably says Zhang San and Li Si.
The empress's name was written on the plaques, but the ancestors didn't care.
Tang Zhuyun still finds herself overjoyed when she thinks about this.
Xiu'er offered a suggestion. "Actually, I think we could draw a pose on each card to increase the anticipation, right?"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
"Linlin is so lucky," Xiu'er clicked her tongue. "The Emperor has paved the way for him; all he has to do is follow suit. He and Lang Xuan are living a wonderful life!"
Tang Zhuyun asked curiously, "Xiu'er, you're so clever, can you explain to me why you think Linlin and she are a good match?"
"Your Majesty, it's not just my opinion, it's Linlin's that she thinks it's suitable
"Then why does he think it's appropriate?"
"Because--"