Marrying a concubine and swallowing her dowry? The mistress turns around and marries a high-ranking

Chapter 350

Shen Lingjun hadn't been to the palace for several months. The last time she came, the two daughters of the Chu family hadn't entered the palace yet.

Consort Jing shook her head and said, "She is extremely beautiful and also quite shrewd. As soon as she entered the palace, she won the Emperor's favor. The Emperor was originally somewhat wary of the Chu family's daughter, but he couldn't resist her and even let her have a child."

Shen Lingjun shook his head as he listened.

Any wise emperor would not allow a child with the blood of the Chu family to be born at such a time. Wouldn't that be blatantly paving the way for the Chu family's ambition to seize the throne and cause chaos?

This emperor, you could say he was a foolish ruler, but he wasn't exactly an utterly tyrannical one; yet you could also say he was a wise ruler, because he was fond of beautiful women and made such foolish mistakes.

Shen Lingjun and her daughter chatted with Consort Jing for a while. After the Ninth Prince finished his snacks, he skipped out and pulled Shen Lingjun's hand with his little hand.

"Cousin... let's go out and play... let's go out and play..."

Shen Lingjun laughed: "Okay, okay, your cousin will take you to play."

Shen Lingjun led the Ninth Prince out of Changxin Palace and walked towards the lakeside garden. Consort Jing and Lady Wen followed behind, chatting as they went.

The weather outside was lovely, and the Ninth Prince was very happy. He stopped here and there to look around, and even picked a large bunch of golden chrysanthemums to give to Shen Lingjun.

Shen Lingjun teased him, "What about your mother's and aunt's flowers?"

The Ninth Prince then happily went to pick flowers from the bushes in front.

Unexpectedly, a sharp sound suddenly rang out from ahead.

"Ninth Prince, you mustn't pick these flowers!"

Consort Jing, Shen Lingjun, and Madam Wen immediately rushed forward—for the Ninth Prince, the palace was so dangerous that the phrase "fraught with danger" would not be an exaggeration, so they were all on edge, seeing enemies everywhere.

Upon reaching the front, they saw that the one who had reprimanded the Ninth Prince was a palace maid. Shen Lingjun and Madam Wen did not recognize her, but Consort Jing knew that she was a palace maid serving Consort Xue.

Consort Jing shielded the Ninth Prince behind her and said coldly, "What's wrong with picking them? Did you plant these flowers, or does this palace belong to you?"

The palace maid carried a large basket filled with cut chrysanthemums. She had an arrogant expression on her face, her chin held high, showing no fear of Consort Jing.

"This servant dares not accept such an honor, but His Majesty said he wanted Consort Xue to make a chrysanthemum pillow. The chrysanthemums here are in full bloom, and we must use them all. How can we let a child waste them?"

Consort Jing was so angry at her arrogance that she almost laughed.

"Children? To be trampled on at will? I had no idea that a mere palace maid would dare to address the Ninth Prince like that! The Ninth Prince picking a few flowers in this Imperial Garden is none of your business, you lowly servant!"

The palace maid showed no sign of backing down. Just as she was about to retort, her gaze fell on Consort Jing's back, and she suddenly knelt down.

"Your Majesty! Consort Xue!"

Consort Jing and the other two quickly turned around and saw the Emperor emerge from behind a rockery, accompanied by a very beautiful concubine.

Consort Xue was only seventeen or eighteen years old, in the prime of her youth, like a blooming flower. With her arched eyebrows, bright eyes, and white teeth, her skin was especially white as snow. This was probably why the emperor gave her the title "Xue" (Snow).

She must have just finished her postpartum confinement period, as she still looked frail and was wrapped up tightly in a red fox fur cloak and a sable fur hood, her entire body adorned with luxurious furs, which also demonstrated her favor with the emperor.

Despite having a child, her figure hasn't changed at all. Even though she's wearing such thick clothes, you can still tell that she has a slender and shapely figure with a waist that's so small you could wrap your hand around it.

Although Consort Jing became much more beautiful under Shen Lingjun's prescriptions, she was already over thirty years old and could not compare to the youthful and radiant Consort Xue.

Consort Jing and the other two women bowed to the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, greet you."

Consort Xue's maid couldn't wait to complain: "Your Highness Consort Xue, I came out to pick chrysanthemums for you, saying you wanted to make a chrysanthemum pillow for the Emperor, but Consort Jing and the others..."

She glanced meaningfully at Consort Jing and the others. Shen Lingjun was still holding a bunch of chrysanthemums that the Ninth Prince had given her, while the Ninth Prince was also holding a few chrysanthemums that he had plucked into a mess.

Consort Xue immediately took it and said, "Your Highness Consort Jing, His Majesty has been feeling a bit feverish lately and hasn't been sleeping well at night. I was thinking of making a chrysanthemum pillow for His Majesty, and the chrysanthemums in the palace are just right, so let's not waste them. I'm doing this for His Majesty's sake, after all, His Majesty's health is the most important thing, isn't it?"

She immediately put a big hat on Consort Jing's head.

Having been in the palace for so many years, Consort Jing could easily see that Consort Xue wasn't really concerned about those few chrysanthemums; she was just deliberately showing off and displaying her status.

Consort Jing smiled and said, "Sister, you are very kind. Of course, His Majesty's health is the most important thing. But what you said is a bit of an exaggeration. It won't cause any trouble if the Ninth Prince picks a few flowers. If you want chrysanthemums, I can have a few boxes sent in. Our Bei Yi is prosperous and rich in resources. Why do you have to fixate on these few flowers in the palace? And why would you have to compete with a one-year-old child? People outside would think that the concubines in our harem are so poor."

"you!......"

Consort Xue was so angry at being rebuked that she didn't know how to respond.

She dared not change her attitude in front of the emperor and confront Consort Jing, so she could only turn to the emperor and perform in the area she was most comfortable with.

She gently shook the emperor's arm, saying sweetly, "Your Majesty~ I just wanted to start by picking flowers and personally make this chrysanthemum pillow for you~... While it's convenient to have it delivered from outside, if that's the case, why not just buy a chrysanthemum pillow directly from outside? What's the point then? This chrysanthemum pillow is made by me, one flower at a time, stitch by stitch, filled with my heartfelt wishes. I believe Your Majesty will sleep better this way~"