The queen is sober in the world, and she is winning every step of the palace fight.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid there's some misunderstanding..."

"The injury to Concubine Zhao that day was an accident. The brocade stool has been in disrepair for a long time. I have already punished the people who repaired it at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and asked the nanny to retrain the several palace maids who served on that day."

“We strive to prevent this from happening again.”

The Queen explained in a tone more gentle than usual.

At the same time, he looked at the empress dowager, as if testing her and asking for help.

Seeing that the Queen Mother had a dull expression and seemed to have no intention of speaking for her, the Queen was disappointed and could not help but add another sentence to excuse herself.

"I sent some medicine and supplements to Consort Zhao, and I also asked the imperial physician about her condition.

The imperial physician said that she had a serious old injury and had not yet fully recovered when she accidentally bumped into something, so she needed to rest for a few more days.

I know that Your Majesty is worried about Concubine Zhao. I will send someone to remind her again, asking her to go back and walk around as little as possible and rest at home.

If Your Majesty is concerned about her, just go to Guanlan Courtyard to see her, as you did this afternoon. Let her chat with Your Majesty, and then find someone to sing and dance for the fun. This will also help Your Majesty relax and avoid being too exhausted by the constant work of state affairs.

Your Majesty works so hard day and night, I feel very sorry for you."

The more the queen spoke, the softer her tone became.

By the end of her speech, her fear had faded away and her face was filled with a virtuous and considerate smile.

She really is like a good wife who always considers her husband.

But it's just a resemblance.

The emperor and the empress dowager could hear the resistance and sharpness in her last words.

The implication was clearly that Consort Zhao's injury had nothing to do with me. It was clearly an old injury she hadn't healed yet, so she went to Fengyi Palace to try to provoke trouble. Couldn't she have just stayed in her room and not gone out? If she hadn't come out, Your Majesty wouldn't have missed out on meeting her. Before the Empress Dowager returned to the palace, he rushed to her place to entertain her, summoning the concubines to sing and dance, wasting his time on this. And when the Empress Dowager finally returned, he was too busy handling government affairs to greet her. If he was so busy, what had he been doing before?

The empress dowager looked at the emperor's smile which grew deeper and deeper, and thought to herself that the queen was stupid.

No wonder the authority was divided.

Why is she still angry with the emperor at this time? She is the queen, not the empress dowager. How can she rely on others to suppress the emperor!

The Queen Mother really hopes for peace in the harem.

Naturally, we hope that the relationship between the emperor and the empress is harmonious.

If it were an ordinary day, in this situation, the empress dowager would have changed the subject and just let it go.

But today is different.

The disturbances caused by Concubine Zhao in the harem have caused criticism in the court. This is no longer just a matter of the harem and cannot be ignored.

So even though she thought the queen was stupid, the empress dowager still followed the queen's words and continued speaking.

"Does the Emperor often visit Consort Zhao? Since she's injured, I'm afraid it'll be difficult for her to have children. I have to say a few words. It would be better for the Emperor to treat everyone equally. When the late Emperor was your age, he already had seven sons and even more daughters. But the Emperor now has only two princesses, and they're so young. Every time I think of them, I feel worried."

The Queen Mother sighed as she spoke.

"You two are my only sons. You are calmer and more reassuring than Prince Rui in every way. But when it comes to offspring, Prince Rui already has several children, regardless of whether they are legitimate or illegitimate. Now that Princess Rui is pregnant again, it is also a happy event. Emperor, you must pay attention to the royal heir."

The Queen was puzzled by the Queen's earnest words.

I don't know how the topic suddenly turned from Concubine Zhao to the royal heir and even Prince Rui.

But she was glad that the empress dowager changed the subject and diverted the emperor's attention from the conflict between her and Concubine Zhao, which made her feel relieved.

"Queen Dowager, it's all my fault. I failed to bear Your Majesty a legitimate son."

The queen was happy to take all the blame to show her virtue.

Unexpectedly, the emperor, who was listening to the empress dowager's instructions with a warm smile, suddenly responded.

"The Queen has been busy with trivial matters in the harem all day long, which has worn down her health and naturally made it difficult for her to have children. I have asked the virtuous concubine to help you with some chores, firstly to help you recover from your illness, and secondly to consider the possibility of having children."

The Emperor asked the Empress Dowager, "Now that you've returned to the palace, are you feeling comfortable living in Ciyun Palace?"

The Queen Mother said it was not bad.

The emperor then said, "This was all cleaned and renovated by the Imperial Household Department under the command of Consort Xian. The purchase of some of the items was also her idea. I think she is quite capable.

But she is young after all, and any omissions would be inappropriate.

I will ask Concubine Qing to help her take care of all matters tomorrow. After the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, the daily affairs of the palace will be handed over to them from now on. The Empress can just take good care of her health.

Otherwise, vomiting blood at this age really worries me."

The queen was shocked.

"Your Majesty, I am actually fine. I was just in a state of panic that day..."

She had come today to flatter the Empress Dowager, hoping to ask her to say a few words for her and restore her power. However, she did not expect that not only did she fail to defeat Concubine Xian, but the Emperor also brought out Concubine Qing.

"Besides, Imperial Concubine Qing has always been weak and needs rest more than I do..."

"Then let Concubine Hui help Concubine Xian," said the emperor.

Among the four virtuous and kind concubines, although Concubine Hui ranked fourth, she still held a high position.

Moreover, the palace has not yet canonized Defei and Shufei, which means that Huifei is now second only to Xianfei and is qualified to assist.

The Queen hurriedly said, "Concubine Hui has a bad temper, I'm afraid..."

"Then Concubine Shun is also fine. She is in good health, gentle, and considerate. I have long wanted to promote her. Otherwise, there is Concubine Kang."

These two were palace concubines with titles, below the four concubines.

In short, the emperor had to find an assistant for the virtuous concubine so that the queen could rest assured and "recuperate".

The Queen was speechless.

I don't know how to refute it.

If I continue talking, I will only bring shame upon myself.

"The Emperor asked you to raise her, so you should do so. If she recovers quickly and gives birth to a child, I will be relieved."

The Queen Mother spoke.

But he did not support the queen.

The queen was very desperate.

"Yes." She lowered her head, her posture submissive, not daring to show the slightest sign of grievance. "I thank the Queen Mother for her compassion, and thank Your Majesty for your concern."

But my heart is bleeding.

"Emperor, leave the affairs of the harem to the concubines; they are not worth your concern. Your diligence is a blessing to the country. I have heard some of the recent criticisms in the court, but they are not a big deal.

Remember, sit facing south, prioritize benevolence and virtue, listen to good advice, and correct mistakes. This is the demeanor and bearing of wise and virtuous monarchs throughout history."

The Queen Mother sat upright and gave earnest instructions.

The emperor listened attentively, then bowed and said, "My son, I will teach you."

"Okay, I've been traveling for most of the day and I'm tired. You all should go back."

The Queen Mother chased people away.

The emperor and empress respectfully greeted him and left.

As soon as he left Ciyu Palace, the emperor got on the sedan chair without saying another word to the empress.

The queen stood outside the gate of Ciyu Palace and looked at the emperor's cold and heartless back. After watching for a while, she finally lowered her eyes and sat on the phoenix sedan with an expressionless face.

"Go back to the palace."

The night is dark.

The queen's expression gradually became colder than the emperor's receding back.

Xianfei, Zhao Guiren...

Don't blame me for being cruel.

It is Your Majesty who is cruel.

It is him who makes it impossible for this palace to tolerate you.