When Xie Qiao heard what the palace maid said, she thought it was unbelievable.
The Emperor was heartless. After all, a tiger would not eat its own cub. Even if the sons were to fight each other, few fathers could make such a decisive decision.
If Zhao Xuanjing was the son of the imperial concubine of the harem, with this degree of favoritism, the imperial concubine must be beautiful to have caused this to happen.
Thinking about it, with what happened with these two brothers, the Fourth Prince behind him should also be cautious and not dare to cross the line, right?
"Do you know why the Crown Prince is so favored?" Xie Qiao asked again.
"His Highness has been intelligent since young. Regardless of appearance or talent, he's the best among all the princes. The Crown Prince is the son of the Empress. The Empress and His Majesty have a deep relationship and are childhood sweethearts. Her child is naturally the most valued by His Majesty. In addition, the Empress is not in good health. His Majesty is considered to have taken care of His Highness personally. The father-son relationship is stronger. Furthermore, His Highness even used his body to block the tiger for His Majesty..."
Xie Qiao understood now.
First, it was orthodox. Second, he was the child of the woman he loved. Third, the Emperor brought him up personally. Fourth, he saved the Emperor's life.
Who else would His Majesty dote on if not him?
However, to the Crown Prince, the doting would probably be a killer weapon as well?
Xie Qiao was almost done strolling, so she walked back.
When she arrived, she discovered that everyone had already sat down properly.
There were a few women dressed in palace attire on the throne. They looked dignified and majestic.
"Has the Empress decided what kind of Princess Consort to choose for the Crown Prince this time? His Highness has already passed the best year of his life. If he still doesn't get married, His Majesty will be worried," Imperial Concubine Meng said.
Beside her, Concubine Ruan smiled, "I think that there will definitely be a result this time. Before I came, I heard that His Highness personally sent an invitation to a woman!"
The Empress, who was sitting in the middle, frowned slightly when she heard these words.
"Are you talking about that lady from the Xie family?" The Empress smiled lightly, "My son is filial. I heard that the lady is very good at writing Sanskrit, so she copied a scripture book and sent a gift over. I've gotten someone to look at her work. Moreover, her father is also a fourth-rank official. Even if my son didn't personally send an invitation, she's still qualified to come."
Concubine Ruan was stunned.
Then, she quickly said, "So that's what happened. I'm rash to have actually believed in the rumors."
The Empress' voice was neither loud nor soft. Everyone present could hear it.
The young ladies knew who the Empress was talking about. They could not help but look at Xie Qiao.
"This gift was sent to the Empress? It was clearly her brother who personally told the Crown Prince. Someone from my family works at the criminal division. He heard her brother say that!" Xia Yayun muttered.
She wanted to pry into Xie Qiao's business, so she was also concerned about the other members of the Xie family.
She did not expect the Empress to explain in front of so many people!
Xie Qiao was stunned when she heard the Empress's words.
How could she have the time to deliver scriptures?
Lately, she had to inscribe talismans and translate books. She was so busy that her feet could not touch the ground and her hands were occupied!
Beside Xia Yayun, Dong Shiyun heard her muttering and almost snapped at her.
"Sister Xia, be careful what you say. Don't drag others down with you!"
Xia Yayun shifted her body awkwardly and then remained silent.
With so many ladies gathered together, they could not just eat, drink, and chat. The Empress did not like to talk and her health was lacking. The matters were handled by the other two concubines next to her.
The Emperor did not have many concubines today. He was one of the Emperors who did not like talent shows. The concubines in the harem were mostly old.
There were not many heirs. There were a total of five princes and three princesses.
The concubines in the palace who had the right to speak had children.