The queen has four sons and six daughters, and she can call the wind and rain

"stop!"

Just as the guards were about to drag Yun Zhining out, Empress Dowager Xiaoci stopped them sternly.

Qi Yejing's brows frowned instantly.

"Mother, what do you mean?"

"I should be asking you this."

"De Fei's father did play a big role in the disaster relief process. If you want to reward De Fei, I have no objection, but you can't reward De Fei with someone else's things. This is very unfair to Ming Wanyi!"

"But that's the palace rule. I'm just following it."

Empress Dowager Xiaoci snorted coldly.

"Come on, you're my own son, how can I not know what you're thinking?"

"Anyway, I only have one thing to say. Little Grape will always be Ming Wanyi's biological daughter. No one can take her away from Ming Wanyi, not even her biological father."

"What about Concubine De?"

"This is something you need to consider. It has nothing to do with me."

"Mother, you..."

Qi Yejing originally thought that he had a sure win, but who would have thought that a Cheng Yaojin would suddenly appear in the middle. What's more, this person turned out to be his biological mother. He couldn't beat her or scold her. It was really too difficult.

Seeing that he could not convince Empress Dowager Xiaoci, he had to ask Empress Dowager Xiaoyan for help.

"Mother, how do you think this matter should be handled?"

"From the perspective of palace rules, Ming Wanyi is indeed not qualified to raise Little Grape, so the emperor is not wrong in what he did."

Qi Yejing took a look.

"I know that my mother is the most reasonable. Concubine De, she..."

Empress Dowager Xiaoyan raised her hand to stop him from speaking.

"I haven't finished what I want to say yet."

"Although Concubine De is qualified to raise Little Grape, above her are Concubine Xian, Concubine Shu, Madam Yin, and Concubine Qi, none of whom have children. If you really think Ming Wanyi is not qualified to raise Little Grape, and want to improve Little Grape's status as much as possible, you can register Little Grape under Concubine Qi's name."

"Don't forget, you owe her this."

Three years ago, Prince Hao rebelled, bribed the eunuchs in the Imperial Study, and drugged Qi Yejing's food and drink, hoping to take his life while he was unable to resist and ascend the throne to become emperor himself.

Concubine Qi happened to come to the imperial study to ask for an audience, so she blocked a sword for him and dragged her injured body to buy him some time, until the Imperial Guards arrived. The sword injured her uterus, and the imperial physician said it would be difficult for her to get pregnant again.

The people of the Qi family were loyal to him and even sent their most beloved daughter into the palace, but in the end they ended up like this. Qi Yejing felt very guilty, so when Empress Dowager Xiaoyan mentioned her, Qi Yejing calmed down.

"Your Majesty is right. It was I who was impulsive."

"De Fei has served the emperor for so many years and has made great contributions. Her father has also made great contributions this time. I can understand that the emperor wants to reward her, but Ming Wanyi has safely given birth to a princess, which is a great achievement. You can't let her down!"

Hearing the voice, Qi Yejing turned around and looked at Yun Zhining, but found that the eyes that were full of admiration in the past now seemed to be frozen, without a trace of warmth. Her pretty face had lost its usual smile. She stood there looking at him quietly, as if she was looking at a stranger.

His heart suddenly ached, as if he had lost the most precious thing.

The sound also became vague.

"I know I was wrong, thank you for your teachings."

The matter was soon concluded. Zhou Baozhu and Yun Fulan fought in public and behaved inappropriately in front of the palace. Each of them was fined half a year's salary, confined to their homes for a month, and required to copy 100 copies of the Diamond Sutra. If they dared to do it again, they would be demoted.

In the end, Concubine De did not get Little Grape. In order to compensate her, Qi Yejing added a "wen" before the name of Concubine De. From then on, Concubine De became Concubine Wen De. In addition, he also rewarded her with many things.

Yun Zhining didn't react much, but Zhou Baozhu was almost mad with anger.

"De Fei didn't get Little Grape, but became Wen De Fei instead, and got so many rewards. The emperor is really too partial."

"It can't be helped. Defei's father made such a great contribution during the disaster relief. If Defei didn't have a son, she would have been promoted to a lady this time."

"It seems that God still has eyes. People like Concubine De are not worthy of having children. Even if she does have one, it will probably die at a young age."

Died young?

Yun Zhining's expression moved slightly.

Zhou Baozhu didn't notice the coldness that flashed across her eyes, and thought she was upset about what had just happened, so she hurriedly tried to persuade her.

"Sister, don't be sad. The emperor is ruthless. It's a good thing that you can see his true face in advance, so that you won't fall deeper and get hurt more deeply in the future."

Yun Zhining was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help laughing.

"Baozhu, you don't think I'm in love with the emperor?"

"Is not it?"

"Of course not. I have long understood the truth that the emperor is ruthless. However, understanding is one thing, and experiencing it personally is another."

"Are you frightened?"

"Yes, I was scared, but I also became more sober and knew what to do."

"That's good."

Zhou Baozhu finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Yun Zhining had no feelings for Qi Yejing at all.

She had finally found someone in the palace whom she could trust and rely on, and she didn't want to die in vain because of her feelings for the emperor.

Wouldn't she die alone?

This time, she was able to keep Little Putao by her side, thanks to the two empresses dowagers. Yun Zhining also returned the favor by making their favorite cakes every day and adding some spiritual spring water to the cakes to help them live longer. Every few days, she would take Little Putao to the Xiaohe Palace to pay her respects to them.

However, ever since that unpleasant parting in Fengyi Palace, she had never seen Qi Yejing again. Even if she occasionally met him in Xiaohe Palace, she would only fulfill her duties as a concubine, and she would never see the beautiful smile like before again.

Yun Zhining held her breath and refused to admit defeat. As the emperor, Qi Yejing also had his own dignity. Seeing that Yun Zhining disliked him, he also started to argue with her. He spoiled Yun Fulan for a whole month. Yun Fulan walked with a breeze and put on an arrogant look when she met everyone, for fear that others didn't know that she was very favored recently.

The weather was rare to be good today, so Yun Zhining brought Little Putao out to play. An Zhaorong and He Guirong also brought the third prince and the second princess out to play. The gathering of the three groups made the scene even more lively.

"I have met An Zhaorong and He Guirong."

"We are all sisters, no need to be polite."

An Zhaorong sat down, pinched Xiao Pu Tao's little face and said with a smile.

"Little Grape is half a year old, right?"

"In three days he will be six months old."

"She's doing fine. When winter is over and spring comes, she'll almost start talking and walking."

"By this time next year, the third prince and the second princess will be able to talk and walk."

He Guirong nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, the three of them are about the same age, so they have to help each other in the future."

"Don't worry, sister. Little Grape is so well-behaved. She will definitely get along well with her brothers and sisters."

"I don't think so!"

A voice came from behind, and the three of them quickly turned around and saw Yun Fulan coming out from a small path.

"As the saying goes, like mother, like daughter. Ming Wanyi is stubborn and refused to give up her child to Concubine Wende. Little Grape must have inherited her selfish nature and will definitely bully the Third Prince and the Second Princess in the future. If you feel sorry for your children, it's best not to play with her."