Demoted from wife to concubine? Reborn, the mistress of a noble family plots another high-status mar

Chapter 398

"General Zeng, I hope you can distinguish between public and private matters."

Zeng Rou's expression changed slightly. Only after his cold warning did she regain a sliver of reason and gradually calm down. Then she cupped her hands and knelt down, saying, "This humble general has been impolite."

"This will never happen again!"

Murong Yu, with a cold expression, pulled Yun Xiyue away.

Yun Xiyue turned around and saw Zeng Rou standing up, staring at her with a cold gaze.

"Ah Yue, are you angry?"

She looked up and met the man's somewhat worried gaze.

Yun Xiyue wasn't exactly angry, but she felt uncomfortable when she heard Zeng Rou call him "Royal Brother." "No, the Emperor and General Zeng are only in a relationship of ruler and subject. Even if the Emperor wanted to take her as a concubine, it would be for the sake of state affairs. I understand."

Murong Yu's lips curved slightly. "A-Yue really doesn't mind?"

"do not mind."

Murong Yu's eyes darkened, and he took her hand, saying, "Let's go to Funing Palace first."

His tone was normal, and there was no sign of dissatisfaction in his voice.

Yun Xiyue knew he was angry, and she felt very depressed. Was what she said wrong?

Funing Palace.

The Empress Dowager already knew what had happened in the Imperial Garden. When she saw Zeng Rou, she beckoned to her, "General Zeng, come here quickly and sit beside me."

After General Zeng stepped forward and bowed, he paused and said, “Your Majesty, this is not appropriate. The future Empress, Miss Yun, should be sitting next to you. It would be against the rules for me to sit there.”

The Empress Dowager glanced at Yun Xiyue and smiled at Zeng Rou, saying, "General Zeng grew up on the frontier and has a free and easy nature. Everyone says that you are used to doing whatever you want on the frontier and are not very familiar with the rules of the palace. Today, it seems that people have a prejudice against you."

"General Zeng is very sensible."

Yunxiyue frowned slightly and remained silent.

Zeng Rou found her place and sat down.

Then everyone looked at Yun Xiyue.

"Your Majesty, is Miss Yun alone today?"

The Empress Dowager said, "No, I specially invited some young ladies from prominent families to accompany her. This way, the comparison can be made. The future Empress cannot be inferior to these young ladies from prominent families."

"Yunxi Yue, you'd better perform well today, or I'll say you weren't given a chance."

Yun Xiyue clenched her fists and glanced at the young ladies from prominent families present, including unmarried girls from the Zhou, Pei, Xiao, Chu, Qin, and Zhao families.

They were all stunningly beautiful, well-educated, and from good backgrounds; all of them were younger than her.

This isn't a test for her; it's clearly a selection process for Murong Yu to become a concubine.

"Let's begin!" Murong Yu said.

Several girls quickly took their places, each glancing at him before quickly lowering their eyes, their shy expressions revealing their undisguised feelings of infatuation.

"Your Majesty, I think everyone follows these rules pretty much the same way."

“They are all daughters of distinguished families, so their skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting are naturally excellent. This competition seems meaningless,” Zeng Rou said.

The Empress Dowager asked, "Then how can we make the competition more interesting?"

"Let's see who knows more about the palace rules!"

Pei Fang said, "Your Majesty, I think General Zeng's words make sense."

“If the future empress doesn’t understand the rules of the palace, she’ll be a laughing stock.”

Murong Yu glanced at the group and said, "Does Mother mean that A-Yue can enter the palace immediately? A-Yue hasn't learned the palace rules yet. I will remind her of anything she doesn't understand after she enters the palace."

"I think A-Yue did a better job than these people. There's no need to compare anymore; she's already passed the test."

The Empress Dowager's expression remained calm. "This is a matter for the inner palace; the Emperor should not interfere."

"Then why did you summon me here?" Murong Yu's expression remained unchanged.