196 Are She Still My Daughter?
“There have been some problems at the border these days. I wanted to let Zhao Ruifeng rest for a while after getting married and then go suppress it, but now it seems that he has to go early.” The emperor wondered if something had gone wrong at the border, “Also, the palace has the Zhao family’s Zhao Panpan as the Pure Consort, and Zheng Tong’er as Lady of Bright Deportment. These two are both pure young ladies, so there won’t be any problems, but…” The emperor paused for a moment, looking a little embarrassed. “The Pure Consort has been complaining about being dizzy ever since she entered the palace, so she hasn’t been in the mood. The imperial physician has said that she is already a month pregnant. Now that her pregnancy is showing, I’m afraid that it would be bad for Panpan’s reputation if we announce it, so I haven’t been publicizing it.”
In fact, during the selection of concubines, Zhao Panpan climbed into the emperor’s bed. They had not even been officially conferred the title of husband and wife and had already done it. It was indeed not good to tell others about this. The imperial preceptor frowned. The emperor had been working conscientiously for the country and the people all these years and had rarely overstepped his boundaries. This matter was already very against the rules for him.
“I was wrong,” the imperial preceptor said slowly. This Zhao Panpan did have some tricks up her sleeve. “During this period of time, I hope that Your Majesty will be more alert. I’m afraid that the Northern Border is plotting something. After all…” Before the imperial preceptor could finish his words, the emperor’s face darkened, as if with a murderous aura. The history between their country and the Northern Border could not be finished even if they talked about it for three days and three nights. Both of them wanted to kill each other.
The imperial preceptor and the emperor discussed this for a long time. Both of them believed that the divination of the change of ownership of the country was because there was some new movement on the Northern Border. Not long after, an imperial edict entered the Zhao mansion, asking Zhao Ruifeng to set off three days later to guard the border and be alert of the Northern Border. When he heard that Zhao Ruifeng smashed two sets of tables and chairs after receiving the imperial edict, the eunuch who was delivering the edict was so scared that he peed his pants.
At this moment, the Imperial Palace was not peaceful. The Empress was grounded by the Emperor and was only released after Zhao Panpan entered the palace. The moment she was released, the Empress summoned Xiao Meili for an audience. The Empress’s Palace was not lit, and the atmosphere was dark. Xiao Meili sat calmly below, her eyes cold.
“Aren’t you afraid of the heavens blaming you for doing this? You clearly know that Panpan and the Emperor are… are… How could they get married? Xiao Meili, don’t you have any sincerity towards Panpan?” The empress dismissed the crowd. She had aged a lot in the past few days. Xiao Meili felt a strange pleasure when she saw the empress like this.
Xiao Meili sat up straight, and her expression could not be seen in the dark. “Why can’t they get married? Panpan has admired His Majesty the Emperor for many years and has been waiting to enter the palace to serve His Majesty after the selection of concubines. Panpan has been waiting for this opportunity for many years. This is all thanks to the empress for giving her this opportunity. If the empress did not often let Panpan enter the palace, how could she enter His Majesty’s eyes?” Xiao Meili chuckled as she looked at the empress with a cold gaze.
Hearing her words, the Empress could not catch her breath. She only felt dizzy and almost could not sit still.
“Your Majesty the Empress, if I say that Panpan and His Majesty the Emperor can be together, then they can be together. What do you say? For so many years, you’ve always been the one in charge. Isn’t it time for me to make the decision?” Xiao Meili looked at the empress with a smile.
The empress was about to say something when a thought suddenly flashed through her mind. She felt as if she had been struck by lightning and almost lost her balance. She had to hold onto the chair to stabilize herself. She felt a sharp pain in her heart, and the sudden thought in her mind sent a chill down her spine. She felt as if she was in a cold kiln.
“You … you… Is Zhao Panpan still my daughter?!” The empress gritted her teeth. Her face was pale as she stared at Xiao Meili. Her face was pale and bloodless, and the hand holding the chair was full of blue veins and was still trembling slightly. Her heart was in great pain, and her body could not help but go soft.
“What do you think, Your Majesty? If you think so, then so be it. If you think not, then not. After all, you were the one who gave up on her first. Why are you looking at me with such eyes now? As for the daughter you mentioned, she died of illness when she was one year old in the winter. Didn’t I give you a painting as a memento then?” Xiao Meili chuckled. She had never said that Zhao Panpan was the empress’s daughter.
The empress’ mind went blank and she fell into her chair. She felt weak and powerless as if she had been thrown into a deep abyss. She was dead? Her daughter was dead? Her daughter had died of illness when she was one year old?