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

"Her Majesty the Queen Mother, be safe and sound."

Ciyun Palace.

The imperial eunuch Cao Bin knelt down and paid great respects to the empress dowager.

He smiled and said, "Ever since His Majesty knew the exact time of your return to the palace, he instructed us servants a few days ago to remember the time so that we could remind His Majesty to greet the Empress Dowager at the palace gate. However, we were temporarily delayed this afternoon when the Prime Minister and several of his ministers came to the palace to discuss important matters of state. His Majesty specially sent us servants to come to you and ensure that the Empress Dowager is properly settled. Please rest first, Your Majesty will come as soon as he is done with his work."

The empress dowager had changed into her casual clothes and was leaning against the rosewood-edged Arhat bed, letting the palace maid massage her legs.

He took the red date tea handed to him by Nanny Shixiang, drank a few sips slowly, and then asked Cao Bin to stand up.

I smiled slightly and said, "It's hard for Your Majesty to be so concerned about me, but state affairs are more important. He can put state affairs first and then me. This is true filial piety. You can go back. Everything is fine here. I don't need you."

"Yes." Cao Bin bowed and smiled. "I am a clumsy servant and dare not get in the way in front of the Empress Dowager. Since you said you don't want me, I sincerely take it seriously."

The Queen Mother snorted and laughed, "You slick creature! Go back and serve the Emperor well. No matter how busy he is with government affairs, you must remind him to take care of his health. If the Emperor doesn't eat and rest well, I will hold you responsible."

"Yes, I will follow the Queen Mother's instructions."

He was about to leave when the palace maid arrived to report, "Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Prince Rui has arrived with his princess."

The faint and empty smile on the Queen Mother's face suddenly became real.

Turning to Madam Shixiang beside her, she said, "Look at this troublesome person. He's never calm down. He rode his horse all the way from the Qingyi Garden to the palace. I'm afraid he didn't even have a sip of tea after returning home, and he's already riding off again."

Shixiang smiled and said, "This is Prince Rui's filial piety. You know, Prince Rui has been inseparable from you since he was a child. He would come to you whether he had something to do or not."

Cao Bin bowed and stepped aside, listening to these words with his head down and no words spoken.

Suddenly, Prince Rui walked into the hall at a brisk pace, and Cao Bin knelt down in greeting.

Prince Rui didn't even look at him and went straight to the Queen Mother's seat.

Get down on one knee.

"Greetings to the Queen Mother!"

"Get up quickly, where's your wife? You left her alone and walked away so quickly again."

The Queen Mother straightened up and held Prince Rui's arm to help him up.

Prince Rui looked up, a bright smile on his young and handsome face, "Isn't it because my son is busy meeting his mother?"

"We've only been apart for less than an hour, what are you busy with?" The Queen Mother smiled from ear to ear.

The palace maid lifted the pearl curtain, and a beautiful woman with exquisite makeup and graceful steps walked in, bowed and greeted the empress dowager.

"Hurry up and help your wife sit down. Don't tire her out."

The Queen Mother glanced at Princess Rui's slightly bulging belly, her face full of kindness.

"Queen mother is blaming her son again! You love your daughter-in-law and your unborn grandson now, but you put your son behind." Prince Rui grumbled dissatisfiedly.

The Queen Mother laughed and scolded him, then asked someone to bring tea and fruits.

Prince Rui and his wife sat down together.

Prince Rui was full of witty remarks, the princess was beautiful and dignified, and they were chatting and laughing with the Queen Mother. The family was in great joy.

No one paid any attention to Cao Bin anymore.

Cao Bin bowed silently and left.

As soon as he walked out of the gate of Ciyu Palace, the humble smile on Cao Bin's face disappeared.

"Father, Prince Rui really doesn't take His Majesty seriously..."

"Shut up! Is this something you can discuss?"

As soon as the adopted son Cui Liang opened his mouth to complain, he was interrupted by Cao Bin's stern voice.

Cui Liang supported his adoptive father and took a few quick steps to distance himself from the other eunuchs who were following him.

He whispered, "I'm not saying anything about the prince, but seeing Prince Rui's expression, I can't help but think of Xiao Linzi. That bastard climbed up the social ladder, and the way he looked at me before leaving was damn similar to the way Prince Rui sometimes secretly looks at Your Majesty! I wonder what evil plans he's up to, what perverse intentions he's harboring."

Cao Bin swung his hand and slapped Cui Liang on the head.

The blow didn't hurt much, but the tone was extremely harsh:

"Put all those stupid ideas away! If you do it again, you'll be in trouble in Xinzheku! Also, don't call me father in front of others anymore. At most, you can call me Master. Do you understand?"

"I heard."

Cui Liang was reluctant.

He touched his head and whispered, "Master, do you think Miss Zhao will be dealt with by the Queen Mother? If she continues to ascend like this, and Xiao Linzi follows her, she might even come after me."

"Do your job well before the Emperor. With us here, who dares to mess with you?" Cao Bin sternly warned, holding his whisk. "Don't have any evil thoughts. Young Master Zhao is not someone you can touch. The next time they start a fight and you help Fengyi Palace again, whether it's sending flower arrangements or snacks, I will be the first to forgive you."

Cui Liang blinked and replied obediently, "I understand, son."

As for whether he is convinced or not, only he himself knows.

Back in the imperial court, the emperor and his ministers had not yet finished their meeting.

Seeing Cao Bin enter, the emperor asked him, "Is the Empress Dowager in good spirits? Why didn't you stay over there to serve her?"

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is a little tired, but in good spirits. She said everything is in order and sent this servant back."

"Hmm." The emperor was silent for a moment, not knowing what he was thinking. Then he asked, "What was the empress dowager doing when you left?"

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is talking to Prince Rui and Princess Rui."

The emperor felt a hint of anger rising between his brows, but he suppressed it.

He simply said, "Prince Rui has entered the palace again?"

"Yes. Prince Rui accompanied the Empress Dowager out of the Qingyi Garden in the Western Hills early this morning and sent her to the outer palace gate. He returned to the palace less than an hour later and came to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager. He said he was worried about whether Ciyu Palace was tidied up, so he hurried over to check." Cao Bin answered truthfully.

This is what Prince Rui said in front of the Queen Mother just now.

The emperor smiled.

He said slowly, "Sixth brother has been filial since he was young."

Changing the subject, "Lord Zhao, where were we just now?"

Cao Bin stepped aside silently.

I know that Your Majesty has made Prince Rui hate you again.

Prince Rui and His Majesty were both illegitimate princes raised by the Empress Dowager. His Majesty was eight years older than Prince Rui, but before he ascended the throne, he also went through a lot of trouble to confirm his succession.

Just because Prince Rui was the son of the Queen Mother's concubine's sister and had a real blood relationship with the Queen Mother, a group of court officials supported Prince Rui, who was only thirteen years old at the time.

Now that His Majesty has firmly established himself on the throne, Prince Rui still does not know how to avoid suspicion and hangs around the Queen Mother all day long. I wonder what he is thinking.

The meeting in the imperial study lasted from the afternoon until dusk, and it was not over yet.

Cao Bin wasn't sure. He was afraid that the emperor was annoyed that the empress dowager was close to Prince Rui, so he deliberately delayed going to Ciyu Palace to pay his respects?

However, he didn't dare to guess or think about this matter.

It was not until dinner was approaching that the Prime Minister and others tactfully said goodbye and left.

When the meal was served in the kitchen, people from the Jingshifang also brought the names of the concubines in each palace and waited for the emperor to make his choice according to custom.

Because there were so many concubines, the card box was made into several layers, and when all the layers were opened, it was quite dazzling.

Some concubines whose names were placed in the wrong place would find it difficult to be noticed by the emperor.

"There's no sign saying Qiu Changzai?"

The emperor took a casual glance and asked.

Eunuch Cui Liang's heart skipped a beat.

He deliberately asked the people in the Jingshifang to hide the name of Qiu Changzai in a hard-to-see place inside. He didn't expect that the emperor still wanted to ask about it privately.

Is Concubine Zhao really that powerful?

Even the person she promoted could make His Majesty worry?

Qiu Chang's dancing style is obviously ordinary, so it's really inexplicable that she is favored!

"Miss Qiu is here."

Cui Liang had no choice but to push aside the other signs and find Qiu Changzai.

"Ah."

The emperor nodded faintly.

It was decided that Qiu Chang would sleep with him tonight.

"Your Majesty, when will you go to Ciyu Palace?" Cui Liang asked carefully.

He hoped that the Queen Mother would speak out about Fei Wan's inappropriate behavior in front of the Emperor, so that the Emperor would cool down his favor for Fei Wan.

Because that day Fei Wan stopped him from beating Xiao Linzi and took Xiao Linzi away.

He always felt that Xiao Linzi would say bad things about him in front of Fei Wan.

Instead of waiting for Fei Wan to help Xiao Linzi deal with him, it is better to strike first and suppress Fei Wan first!