The Daily Life of a Concubine

Chapter 22 - The Empress

"Please, Your Majesty, show mercy and spare Fourth Miss for the sake of past connections. Miss Ke has said that from now on, she will keep Fourth Miss in the Buddhist hall and never let her leave."

The last four words were pronounced heavily by Zhang Momo, causing Emperor Rui's heart to tremble.

"She—she truly said she would never leave?" Emperor Rui took two steps back in disbelief. "Why is Ke-er so harsh? Why does she treat me like this?"

Seeing the Emperor's distressed state, the Empress couldn't bear to look.

She felt that she had become indifferent to feelings; such a husband was unworthy of her true heart.

Looking down, the Empress's eyes flashed with sorrow, but after a while, she lifted her gaze, her eyes clear and resolute.

He does not deserve it.

"Please, Your Majesty, fulfill her request and spare Fourth Miss."

Emperor Rui closed his eyes in grief, and after a long pause, he finally opened them. "I agree."

The person who was to be enslaved was thus lightly spared, with the condition of never leaving the Buddhist hall, but who could say what would happen afterward?

As long as that person was there, whether she stayed or left was still up to her word.

After Zhang Momo left with her people, the Empress, looking at the still grieving Emperor, had to speak up, "Your Majesty, it's getting late."

When Emperor Rui looked up again, the pain in his eyes was completely gone, his fury dispersed.

The Empress saw his coldness; even the favored and virtuous Consort in his heart was no match for that person's words.

How truly...

Despicable.

"I still have matters to attend to. Empress, please return quickly." After saying this, he strode out of the Jinxiu Pavilion.

The Empress was not in a hurry, taking her time to leave the main hall.

However, when she saw the servants around her, her heart still felt heavy.

"Your Highness, it's late. Please go back," Zhang Momo said, feeling distressed for her mistress, especially after witnessing  Zhang Liangyuan being forcefully taken away. She felt more pained for her mistress.

"Go to the Lanyue Pavilion and see He Liangdi. She has suffered this time." With the new favorites, the palace could get lively again.

Walking along the dark path, with the attendants keeping their distance, the only people close to the Empress were a few of her personal maids and Zhang Momo.

"Was everything smooth over there?"

"Your Majesty needn't worry. They said everything went smoothly. If it weren't for this calamity, we would have had good news soon."

"That's good. The Emperor's offspring are still few. No matter what, this consort cannot comply with that vile woman's family."

"You are still young, Your Majesty. You will conceive sooner or later. There's no need to promote the people below too early." Zhang Momo was somewhat puzzled as to why her mistress was so focused on that person.

"Momo, you saw what happened today. You remember who the Third Prince's mother is, don't you? If it weren't for her poor health, she would have long..." The Empress did not finish her sentence, but those who knew understood.

Zhang Momo was one of those who knew.

"Your Highness." Zhang Momo's voice choked with emotion, "This old servant still feels it would be better for you to conceive sooner."