CHAPTER 255: CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-SEVEN

In the side hall of Zhao Yang Palace, Empress Xie was speaking with Qin Xiulian.

"What was the purpose of your brother arranging for you to enter the palace?" At this moment, Empress Xie did not have the gentle and approachable demeanor she had in the hunting grounds. Her gaze was sharp as she looked at Qin Xiulian, her tone cold and severe, "What are you and your brother plotting?"

Qin Xiulian lay on the bed, her face pale without a hint of color, a weak appearance that made her look pitiable. Seeing her like this, whether man or woman, would involuntarily feel compassion for her.

"Your Majesty, I do not understand what you are talking about."

Seeing Qin Xiulian feign ignorance, Empress Xie sneered coldly, "Stop pretending in front of me. Without your brother’s arrangement, how could a mere daughter of Doctor Zhong San appear so conveniently before His Majesty and even save him? Speak, what are you and your brother scheming?"

Qin Xiulian seemed frightened by Empress Xie’s stern appearance, a trace of fear and unease crossed her eyes. She hesitated a moment before speaking, "Your Majesty, the Duke arranged for me to enter the palace to compete for favor with Noble Princess Consort Rong."

Empress Xie snorted coldly, "So that is the case."

Qin Xiulian continued, "The Duke also wanted me to assist you."

These words were nothing short of an insult to Empress Xie. Her face turned dark with anger in an instant, her tone somewhat sharp, "He wants you to help me, help me compete for favor?"

Qin Xiulian seemed terrified by Empress Xie’s outrage, a hint of fear appeared on her pale face. She cautiously spoke, "The Duke said if you want to overthrow Noble Princess Consort Rong, you need my cooperation..."

Before she could finish her words, Empress Xie shouted in anger, "What do you think you are, daring to speak such nonsense about helping me?!"

Frightened, Qin Xiulian shrank back, speaking timidly, "That’s what the Duke said."

Empress Xie looked at Qin Xiulian with a sinister gaze. Qin Xiulian felt as though she was about to be swallowed whole.

Jiang Chuan hurried over to console Empress Xie, "Your Majesty, please calm down."

Empress Xie shot a cold glare at Qin Xiulian and then turned and left the side hall.

Before leaving, Jiang Chuan spoke to Qin Xiulian, "Miss Qin, you should rest well first." After finishing, she hurried to follow Empress Xie.

After Empress Xie left, the fear on Qin Xiulian’s face turned to disdain. She sneered inwardly: It seems Her Majesty is not a wise person.

Empress Xie returned to the main hall and angrily grabbed a teacup, smashing it violently on the floor.

Jiang Chuan nearly got hit by the shards when she entered.

"Your Majesty, why are you so angry?"

The Seventh Prince heard the commotion and rushed over.

"Mother, what happened, who made you angry?"

"Your dear uncle." Empress Xie’s face twisted with anger, she gritted her teeth and said, "Good! Very good indeed!"

The Seventh Prince didn’t understand what Empress Xie meant and looked puzzled at Jiang Chuan beside him.

Jiang Chuan recounted what Qin Xiulian had just said in detail to the Seventh Prince. The Seventh Prince, after hearing, did not see anything wrong and didn’t understand why Empress Xie was so angry.

"Mother, there’s nothing wrong with Uncle arranging for Qin Xiulian to enter the palace to compete for favor."

"He wants Qin Xiulian to help me compete for favor!" Empress Xie said through gritted teeth, "He’s humiliating me!" Empress Xie could not accept others saying she was inferior to Noble Princess Consort Rong. Even if Noble Princess Consort Rong was more favored, she also would not allow others to say so, for it was her dignity as Empress.

"Mother, you’re overthinking it, how could Uncle possibly want to humiliate you?" The Seventh Prince sometimes couldn’t understand Empress Xie’s thoughts, soothing her, "Uncle arranging for Qin Xiulian to enter the palace to compete for favor is a good thing for us, why are you upset?"

Empress Xie exclaimed in rage, "He thinks I am less favored than Noble Princess Consort Rong, so he arranges for an outsider to enter the palace to help me compete for favor. If this isn’t humiliation, then what is?"

"Mother, isn’t that the truth?" The Seventh Prince didn’t understand why Empress Xie, knowing she was less favored than Noble Princess Consort Rong, was still unwilling to accept this fact. Admitting and accepting this fact was not disgraceful, but refusing to accept it was somewhat embarrassing.

Hearing her son say this, Empress Xie looked at him with icy eyes.

"What did you say?"

"Mother, Noble Princess Consort Rong has always been deeply loved by Father, favored in the six palaces for many years, unmatched. Isn’t this the truth?" The Seventh Prince said earnestly, "You not being as favored as Noble Princess Consort Rong is not disgraceful, I don’t understand why it matters so much to you?"