Refusing to let love take a back seat, the scumbag emperor actually seeks favor every day

As everyone knows, compared to Zhao Chengyuan, who was her nominal son, Empress Dowager Su cared more about her niece who she had raised like a daughter since childhood.

Su Manman glanced at Zhao Chengyuan, who had an awkward expression, and found it funny.

In front of everyone, she decided to give him some face.

She was very considerate to the Queen Mother Su who was holding her hand, and said in a coquettish tone, "Don't worry, mother. It's my son's health that's not good. Your Majesty is fine."

"Really?"

Empress Dowager Su was fully aware of the dispute between the two in recent days.

She just thought that this was a problem between the young couple and it wasn't that big of a problem. As the queen mother, it wasn't appropriate for her to always interfere in their affairs, so she didn't care.

This happened to happen in front of everyone, and she seemed to be casually concerned about Su Manman, but in fact she was indirectly criticizing Zhao Chengyuan.

"Of course! Knowing that the Queen Mother loves me, I would never dare to say anything nonsense~"

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Su smiled with great satisfaction.

After chatting with Su Manman for a few words, he turned to look at Zhao Chengyuan who was relieved.

"The Queen is no longer the same as she was before. Your Majesty, you must pay more attention to her so that she can give birth to a prince smoothly."

"Your son will listen carefully to your mother's instructions."

After some greetings, Su Manman took advantage of Empress Dowager Su's good mood and had someone deliver the prepared birthday gift.

"I have not been feeling well recently, so I prepared this gift in a hurry. I don't know if you will like it, mother."

As the gift box was opened, a teacup carved from flawless, premium white jade appeared in front of everyone.

At first glance, it seems nothing special compared to other white jade cups in the palace.

"The Queen's gift does seem a bit hasty."

These words came from Concubine Li, who was dressed more like a queen than Su Manman.

Although it was just a short sentence, it was full of ridicule for her perfunctory attitude.

Su Manman, who had just calmed down for a moment, was not happy to be played with, but she was not in a hurry to argue.

She took the white jade cup and introduced it to the empress dowager calmly.

"Although this white jade cup is not very valuable, it is a rare fine product produced in Jiangzhou. I think that your mother always misses her hometown. Although I cannot go back often, having something from home with me can help ease the pain of homesickness."

When Empress Dowager Su heard this, she immediately smiled.

"It's a pity that you, a kid, can find such a good thing in this imperial city. You are so thoughtful! You are so thoughtful!"

As soon as Su Manman saw Empress Dowager Su's reaction, she knew that this gift was the right one.

Seeing that Empress Dowager Su liked it, Su Manman secretly breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Zhao Chengyuan.

He was the one who found the things and she took the credit. As a reward, she decided to be nicer to him.

Li Guifei, who had wanted to find fault with her, was so upset when she saw that she had won the favor of Empress Dowager Su so easily.

But in front of the empress dowager, she did not dare to act strangely and stared at Su Manman fiercely.

Su Manman looked at her green face and just found it funny.

He tried to please Empress Dowager Su because it would be more beneficial for him to have a good relationship with her in the harem, not because he wanted to compete with her for Zhao Chengyuan.

Faced with her unfriendly gaze, Su Manman just smiled and didn't take it seriously.

But it was not difficult to guess from Concubine Li's face, which had turned a little greener, that she regarded Su Manman's unintentional smile as a provocation after she had succeeded.

However, Su Manman's gaze did not stay on her for too long.

As everyone arrived and after some pleasantries, the banquet began quickly.

Although Empress Dowager Su's birthday banquet was not large, there were still many people coming.

In addition to the concubines in the palace, there were also princes and princesses who came from all over the place.

In order to please Empress Dowager Su, everyone showed off their talents, making the party very lively.

Even during the meal, Su Manman always felt that someone was staring at her intently.

It felt like it was coming from Zhao Chengyuan's direction.

But when she turned around, she saw that the man was looking at the guests.

She turned her head several times and found that it was the same every time. She thought it might be her illusion.

But her actions of looking at Zhao Chengyuan from time to time were interpreted as affectionate towards others.

But some people have different opinions.

"I heard that the emperor and the queen had a disagreement a few days ago, and the emperor was beaten up by the queen? Is this true?"

The one who spoke was Prince Mu, who was a half-brother of the late emperor and also the uncle that Zhao Chengyuan respected the most.

Su Manman, who was eating a piece of cake, was so shocked that she almost choked.

She did hit the emperor, but it was just a kick, so it shouldn't be considered a beating, right?

But the place where you kicked cannot be mentioned in public.

She didn't want to answer this question, but when Prince Mu asked this, everyone looked at her intently.

It would be inappropriate not to say something.

"Uncle, where did you hear this rumor? The Queen is gentle and virtuous, how could she do something as vulgar as beating someone up?"

She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Zhao Chengyuan spoke first.

Well, when it comes to talking nonsense, Zhao Chengyuan is no less than her.

But Prince Mu, who couldn't get the melon, did not give up.

"But I heard that you also beat the Imperial Concubine?"

As soon as he said this, everyone looked at Li Yuwan.

Li Yuwan, who suddenly became the focus of everyone, was about to nod truthfully to gain sympathy when she met the empress dowager's warning eyes and Zhao Chengyuan's cold eyes.

Zhao Chengyuan was probably afraid of being embarrassed about Su Manman beating someone, so he ordered that the news should not be spread outside. Now only a few people in the palace who know about it know about it.

Even if people outside heard some rumors, they were still skeptical.

But as soon as Li Yuwan, the person involved, nodded and the banquet was over, her bad reputation as the queen would spread outside.

Knowing that Su Manman held a special position among the two top names, he was afraid that he would not gain any benefit if he said something unfavorable to her.

After weighing the pros and cons, Li Yuwan swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth.

"Prince Mu, you are really joking. The Queen has always been kind to the concubines in the harem. How could she hit me? I just accidentally fell while walking that day, and people spread rumors."

Seeing Li Yuwan, who was obviously gritting her teeth in hatred but still had to say the words against her will without changing her expression, at that moment, Su Manman felt that it was not completely unreasonable for her to please Zhao Chengyuan.

If it were me, I would have been so angry that I would have exposed all the royal scandals I knew about.

If you don't have any, you have to make up some.

Seeing that the atmosphere was almost tense, Empress Dowager Su also spoke up to smooth things over.

"If the Queen really didn't get along with the Imperial Concubine, she wouldn't have felt so young and handed over the power of managing the six palaces to the Imperial Concubine."

"That's right! You really can't believe the rumors out there!"

Everyone was stunned.

Su Manman was speechless in her native language as to why everyone thought the two of them were in harmony.

She didn't care about Liu Guan because she was simply lazy, and Zhao Chengyuan never let her care about it.

This kind of thing is an internal issue and should not be discussed by outsiders.

If others said yes, she would just say yes with a forced smile.

Zhao Chengyuan saw that she didn't smile very well and thought that she might have been stimulated.