Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

The Seventh Prince and the Seventh Princess could only stand up and walk out obediently. Emperor Shenwu touched the Seventh Princess's little face and said, "Father will play with you later. Go and rest for a while."

The Seventh Princess nodded obediently, and the Seventh Prince took the Seventh Princess' hand and left the Qianzheng Hall.

The Crown Prince personally took the teacup from Li Xiang and handed it to Emperor Shenwu. "Father, please test the temperature. Perhaps the charcoal fire in this hall is too strong. The corners of your mouth are a little chapped!"

The Emperor's expression brightened slightly, and he took the teacup. This time, he finally stopped saying the tea was hot or cold! Li Xiang also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If the master is not feeling well, then the servants will have no chance of getting along!

Emperor Shenwu thought the Crown Prince would plead for his mother's release from confinement, but the Crown Prince directly pulled out a scroll about the royal family and said, "Father, I've been enjoying reading this scroll lately. The fantastical world within it is truly astonishing!"

Emperor Shenwu picked it up and flipped through it, recognizing that this was Lan Qingwu's favorite book. She always held this book in her hands and read the story of Empress Zhaoyan over and over again.

"Which character does Huang'er like?"

The Crown Prince said with a slightly more serious expression, "If I were to say who I admire and love the most, it would definitely be the Human Emperor. However, I am most curious about Empress Zhaoyan. Some of her thoughts and actions are often unexpected, yet they also contain certain patterns. Moreover, the description of the "No Sun" disaster in the book has made me very curious about Empress Zhaoyan's origins! There are countless rumors speculating about Empress Zhaoyan's identity. Even more outrageous are rumors that Empress Zhaoyan is a remarkable woman from another world, respected and honored by the Human Emperor, and the two have been deeply in love throughout their lives!"

The book that records the eventful life of Emperor Zhaoyan has been passed down from generation to generation to this day.

The page that Emperor Shenwu flipped through happened to be the moment when the two were about to break up. Empress Zhaoyan learned that the Emperor Renhuang had been secretly betrothed by his mother, and she uttered her own vow: "If you change your mind, I will divorce you!"

Emperor Shenwu's fingers couldn't help but tighten. He seldom read these unofficial histories, so he hadn't read the entire book.

"Leave this book behind!"

The prince said no more, stood up and bowed to take his leave.

The next day, Emperor Shenwu came to the Cining Palace to pay his respects. He had no patience for Empress Dowager Li and said directly, "Mother, why are you bringing new people into the palace? I already have many children, the foundation of the country is solid, and the crown prince has been decided. There haven't even been any imperial selections in recent years. Adding more unfamiliar forces to the palace will only muddy the waters!"

Empress Dowager Li was even angrier than Emperor Shenwu: "Emperor, do you still know that there hasn't been a selection of concubines in all these years? Look at which emperor is like you! In the first few years after ascending the throne, you didn't even hold a selection, and you almost wanted to become a monk. Now, as soon as you had a few heirs, you and the Empress have been in love for so many years! No one else can get involved! In all these years, there was only that one selection! That would have been fine, but now you're even ignoring your own wife for the Empress!"

"The harem is now empty. It's not as if there were no ministers advising you in the past, but you, the Emperor, have always turned a blind eye and a deaf ear! As the Empress Dowager, your biological mother, I will decide today to keep those court ladies! Those women are all from prominent families, daughters of ministers in your court, and some are outstanding legitimate daughters. Your Majesty, you cannot treat them unfairly!"

Emperor Shenwu frowned, "To be frank, my mother is doing this for the Li family and Empress Duanhui! Have you forgotten that after my father was established as the crown prince, he gradually turned his back on the harem and showed more favor to you! I don't need to explain how this benefited the stability of the harem in the previous dynasty!"

Empress Dowager Li refused to accept her suggestion. "You don't need to say more! Even if your father stayed in Fengju Palace more often, he would still favor other concubines every month! Otherwise, where would your successor princes come from? Emperor, you could emulate your father. That way, the court and the harem will be more stable! Someone, come! I'm thirsty, bring some tea!"

Emperor Shenwu was extremely annoyed, but he shut his mouth when he saw the palace maid coming over. There was no need to show the rift between the royal mother and son to others.

Unexpectedly, when Emperor Shenwu raised his eyes, he saw a woman in a water-red palace dress approaching gracefully. Her apricot-yellow waist belt made her slender waist look so slim that it could be held in one hand. You Cainu had a sweet and dignified look, her face blushing like a rosy cloud. She held up a glass teacup, her eyes like a pool of spring water, and her voice like honey: "Your Majesty, your majesty, I, You, pay my respects to you! May your majesty be blessed with good health!"

A pair of hands as white as snow steadily placed the glass cup on the table of Emperor Shenwu, "Your Majesty, please have some tea!"

Emperor Shenwu's expression darkened. Looking at the cup of tea before him, some unpleasant memories surfaced. His bony fingers gently lifted the glass cup, his voice low and calm, "Mother, this cup of tea reminds me of the tea that beautiful woman from the Li family gave me! And also the tea that Li, when she was the Crown Princess, offered me!"

Emperor Shenwu's phoenix eyes swept over You Cainv below, and Empress Dowager Li said patiently, "Your Majesty, the one who acted rashly yesterday was Kang Cainv. I think she's unstable, and you don't like her. This is You Cainv, the legitimate daughter of the family. I think she can serve the Emperor well! While the Empress is still under house arrest, the Emperor can favor one or two new people. I think the Empress won't say anything!"

Emperor Shenwu looked at Empress Dowager Li, who was determined not to give up, and tilted his palm slightly, causing the tea in the glass cup to spill all over the floor. Empress Dowager Li frowned tightly.

Emperor Shenwu taunted, "A legitimate daughter of a family? Well-educated? I didn't ask you to stand up just now. You are being disrespectful and offending the emperor. What is your punishment?"

You Cainu was stunned. She knelt on her knees in panic: "Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, the Queen Mother..."

You Cainu always acted according to Empress Dowager Li's expression, and had no idea that doing so would make Emperor Shenwu extremely disgusted.

Empress Dowager Li was furious and waved her hand to let You Cainv leave. You Cainv left with a feeling of uneasiness. She suspected that this most noble mother and son in the world might not be on good terms with each other, and she had to be the one to get involved!

Empress Dowager Li took a deep breath and said slowly, "Your Majesty, it doesn't matter if you don't like this one. There are also Deng Cainu, Wang Cainu, Kang Cainu... In short, these noble ladies have already entered the palace. Your Majesty must consider the hard work of the old ministers of the previous dynasty! Otherwise, it will make the ministers feel disheartened!"

Emperor Shenwu hated being coerced the most. He was known for his dominance and dictatorial nature, so he immediately said coldly, "The harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs! Ministers of the previous dynasty are not allowed to dictate to my harem! This is the rule passed down by our ancestors! Who dares to disobey?"

"you!"

Empress Dowager Li was furious. "Emperor, you are too strong-willed. Can't you please consider my feelings? I have always followed your father's wishes and have never told you what to do. Do you really want to make my life miserable?"

Empress Dowager Li wanted to stand up, but she felt dizzy and fell backwards.

Emperor Shenwu was horrified and rushed forward to catch Empress Dowager Li. Fortunately, the two were sitting side by side and not far away, so no secondary harm was caused to Empress Dowager Li.

"Quick! Doctor Xuan!"

Emperor Shenwu picked up Empress Dowager Li, walked quickly into the bedroom, and placed her steadily on the bed.

After all, she was his biological mother, and Emperor Shenwu rarely felt guilty. The dizziness caused by Empress Dowager Li's excitement had eased, but her face was pale and ugly.

At this moment, Empress Dowager Li was too weak to speak: "Emperor... why on earth are you..."

Emperor Shenwu squatted in front of the bed, looking at his frail mother, feeling very uncomfortable. The corners of his lips moved slightly, and he finally whispered softly: "Mother, I have no interest in other women! They look dull and boring to me!"

This is the truth! Empress Dowager Li could tell, but she still said, "Then you should give in. She cannot be buried with the current queen. You can let her be buried in the left chamber. Your Majesty, this is the most basic respect for your wife!"

"Ahui chose you in the end! She even gave up her life for your bloodline! Isn't that enough to offset her wavering heart? Emperor, you and the Empress are deeply in love! You have favored her over and over again all these years. Is that good for her? In short, think about it again! I know I can't influence you. If you insist on doing so, I will have no choice but to go see your father first!"

Emperor Shenwu did not answer, but urged Li Ma, "Where is the imperial physician? Tell him to hurry up!"

Empress Dowager Li saw Emperor Shenwu's evasion and tremblingly reached out to hold her youngest son's hand. "Emperor, no emperor favors his concubines simply out of love. This is the emperor's fate! You can't always only care about your own feelings!"

Emperor Shenwu had no choice but to perfunctorily say, "Mother, let the imperial physician check your physical condition first! I will consider what you said!"