Chapter 1341: Sister Qingmei, Is the Emperor Taking a Concubine?
Bai Zhi’er quickly shook her head, dismissing the somewhat embarrassing thought from her mind.
They hadn’t even made any progress, and yet she was already thinking about what life after marriage with him would be like!
The carriage entered the imperial palace, and Bai Xilie held his daughter’s hand in his left, while holding his wife’s hand in his right, heading straight for Ruizhu Palace.
Along the way, the palace attendants who saw them began to speculate on whether the woman wearing the veiled hat might become the Emperor’s new favorite.
Not only that, but the ever-wise Princess Cuicuo surprisingly showed no sign of displeasure on her face.
On the contrary, the three of them were talking and laughing, appearing just like a family!
The most infuriated was Qingmei.
After Bai Xilie and his family of three returned to Ruizhu Palace.
He ordered the eunuch to move all his memorials here for review.
Seeing his wife and daughter before him, Bai Xilie truly had no desire to go anywhere.
Bai Zhi’er naturally clung to her mother’s side.
Jing Jia, seeing her hair now grown dark and thick, let her lie on her lap.
The mother and daughter sat by the window basking in the sun, with Jing Jia gently combing Bai Zhi’er’s dark hair with a jade comb.
Watching their harmonious family scene, Qingmei set the pastries and tea down and quietly left.
Outside, she was so angry she was grinding her teeth.
"I don’t even know where this person comes from, to be so trusted by the Princess. If this continues, and the Empress finds out, won’t she be heartbroken!"
Qingmei heaved a heavy sigh.
A few years back, there were palace servants who tried to seduce the Emperor, all of whom were executed by him openly or secretly.
There was even one, Su Yinling, who recklessly attempted to become a concubine but wasn’t she dealt with by Bai Zhi’er.
Afterward, Bai Xilie became more and more self-restrained, and those palace servants naturally realized they had no chance and dared not throw their lives away.
Qingmei thought the Emperor was deeply devoted to the Empress.
But unexpectedly, the Emperor ultimately couldn’t resist!
"Bringing such a beautiful woman to Ruizhu Palace, a place reserved exclusively for the Empress!" Qingmei shook her head in regret.
She mused inwardly, men are so fickle, not to mention one as powerful as the Emperor?
As a fellow woman, she truly felt sorry for the Empress.
Just then, the little palace servants who were familiar with Qingmei gathered around her in Ruizhu Palace.
They whispered softly—
"Sister Qingmei, is the Emperor taking in a new concubine!"
"Yes, yes, so many people saw, the Emperor was holding hands with a palace servant just on the way here!"
"I found out, this female officer was suddenly brought back from outside the palace by the Emperor, and they stayed behind closed doors in the bedroom for two days and nights! He even skipped morning court!"
"What? The Emperor and she are truly like a fire set ablaze."
"Not only that, I heard she’s already been titled as the Imperial Concubine; the Emperor must have been taken with her."
After they finished speaking, they looked at Qingmei: "Sister Qingmei, you’re closest to the Princess, please tell us, what is Princess’s attitude!"
Qingmei motioned to shoo them away: "What concern is this of yours! How dare you snoop on the Emperor’s affairs, the Princess treats us leniently, don’t lose your manners because of this!"
"Don’t spread rumors outside, or else, if I find out, I’ll punish whoever does!"
The little palace servants shrank their necks immediately: "Understood, Sister Qingmei, we’re going to work now."
After they left, Qingmei sighed again.
"Old hearts change easily, new ones replace the old, alas!"
Just then, Prince Kang’s voice came from the doorway—
"Imperial Brother! Something’s wrong, Imperial Brother! Oh, Qingmei, it’s good you’re here. Is the Imperial Brother in the hall?"