The Divine Doctor and Adorable Consort: The Demonic Emperor is Too Cunning

It wasn't because of the exquisite fence surrounding the osmanthus tree, but because she recognized that the osmanthus tree was an extremely rare golden osmanthus.

This osmanthus tree produces golden-yellow flowers with a rich fragrance.

With such a large osmanthus tree, the entire chrysanthemum garden will probably be filled with the fragrance of osmanthus.

When the osmanthus flowers fade, the leaves of the osmanthus tree will not turn into ordinary yellow leaves, but will gradually turn golden yellow.

From a distance, the whole tree looks like a money tree. When the sunlight shines on it, the whole tree is golden and shimmering, which is very beautiful.

Moreover, this golden color will last until the coldest part of winter.

There are probably no more than ten of these osmanthus trees in the whole world, making them extremely rare.

Now, seeing the changed expressions on everyone's faces, especially the Empress Dowager's gloomy expression, Fang Qingyou knew she had guessed correctly.

It seems that the person who cherished this osmanthus tree was indeed the Empress Dowager.

A faint smile involuntarily curved Fang Qingyou's lips.

Although she performed voluntarily, Empress Qin and Qin Nihong forced her to this point. Shouldn't she receive some interest?

Since Empress Qin had just promised her that she was innocent, the question was whether Empress Qin should pick the osmanthus leaves or not.

Should they consider the Empress Dowager's wishes, or should they uphold their authority as the head of the six palaces, whose word is law?

Empress Qin's heart was even more conflicted than Fang Qingyou had imagined.

Because she understood the Empress Dowager so well, she dared not provoke her anger. But since she had already said it, should she change her mind or take it back?

Empress Qin was unwilling to accept any of these things.

Therefore, Empress Qin repeatedly hinted to Fang Qingyou to change the leaves. This chrysanthemum garden is full of trees, so why must she use the leaves from this osmanthus tree?

Of course she wanted it; Fang Qingyou insisted on having the leaves of the osmanthus tree.

It wasn't because she wanted leaves from a cassia tree, but because she knew that this cassia tree was the Empress Dowager's favorite.

She didn't want the osmanthus leaves; how could she let the Empress Dowager resent Empress Qin?

Therefore, Fang Qingyou deliberately ignored Empress Qin's hint and pretended that she was asking her a question, so she said, "Your Majesty, I only need one leaf from the osmanthus tree, just one leaf! But that leaf must be absolutely intact, without any wormholes or withered leaves."

Empress Qin's face immediately darkened. This brat not only deliberately ignored her hints, but also insisted that she wanted the leaves of the osmanthus tree, and not the withered leaves from the wormholes.

This is clearly inflaming the Empress Dowager's anger!

Empress Qin naturally dared not touch the leaves of the osmanthus tree on her own, but she also dared not ask the Empress Dowager for her opinion. She could only look to Emperor Mingde for help.

Emperor Mingde knew Empress Qin's thoughts, but did not speak immediately. Instead, he glanced at Luo Qianmo below the stage and saw that all his attention was on Fang Qingyou. His gaze was turbulent, but became increasingly dark and unpredictable.

Throughout the process, the Empress Dowager maintained a gloomy expression, resembling an angry Buddha.

After a long silence, Emperor Mingde said in a deep voice, "Empress, order someone to pick a cassia leaf."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager's hand, covered in openwork gold armor, trembled, but she did not utter a single word.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Empress Qin lowered her eyes, not daring to look at the Empress Dowager's expression, and silently gave a look to her two most trusted eunuchs.

Then, the two eunuchs went to pick osmanthus leaves with trepidation.

Even though Empress Qin kept looking ahead, she could still feel the Empress Dowager's gloomy gaze upon her.

She smiled bitterly to herself; she didn't want to pick that leaf either, but she was already in a bind.

She had assumed that Fang Qingyou wanted something precious, such as a musical instrument, paper and pen, or a dance costume, which is why she agreed so readily!

To everyone's surprise, she only asked for a single leaf.

However, this single leaf was more precious than anything she had ever imagined.

That area was touching the Empress Dowager's authority, and the Empress Dowager was precisely the powerful backer that secured her position in the palace.

Despite the difficulty, Empress Qin had already made up her mind: to defy the Empress Dowager's authority.

If she didn't do this, then she, as the head of the six palaces, would lose all her authority, and how would she manage the concubines in the harem in the future, especially those concubines whose strength was not much different from hers?

Choose the lesser of two options. At worst, you can endure the Empress Dowager's wrath later, and then try your best to win back her favor.

The Empress Dowager became even angrier because she knew what Empress Qin was planning.

All my efforts in supporting her to become empress have been in vain. This girl has become so independent and doesn't even respect this old woman anymore.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became oppressive.

No one dared to breathe loudly, for fear of bringing disaster upon themselves.

She Yuyan secretly stuck out her tongue at Fang Qingyou, indicating that she had made a big mistake this time.

However, her eyes were sparkling, clearly showing that she was very happy that Fang Qingyou would do this.

The only ones whose expressions remained unchanged were Luo Qianmo and Gu Jinyi, the two great figures.

Luo Qianmo had an unchanging, expressionless, icy face, while Gu Jinyi had a gentle, handsome face that always smiled.

Oh, I forgot to mention Fang Qingyou, the protagonist of this incident.

Fang Qingyou had a slight smile on her lips, her delicate eyebrows arched. Her smile wasn't radiant, but it was clear that she was in a very good mood.

Just when everyone felt like they were about to suffocate, the two eunuchs opened the exquisite fences and finally reached the osmanthus tree. They then nervously picked a leaf from the bottom of the tree, placed it on a golden tray, and presented the tray to Empress Qin.

The process itself wasn't very long, but everyone felt like it had lasted a very long time; it was so agonizing!

When the two eunuchs brought the tray back, both of them were drenched in sweat, as if they had run several kilometers under the scorching sun.

Empress Qin glanced at the vibrant green leaf and found it extremely irritating. After a long while, she waved to the two eunuchs, signaling them to take the leaf to Fang Qingyou.

Empress Qin's hands trembled slightly, as if the leaf was her own heart, which she was about to send to Fang Qingyou to be tormented and abused.

The Empress Dowager's face turned ashen, and she was trembling slightly, clearly showing that she was suppressing her anger.

In contrast, Fang Qingyou smiled gently, carefully picked up the leaves from the tray, and then smiled sweetly at Empress Qin: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty has gone to great lengths!"

Seeing the conspicuous smile on Fang Qingyou's lips, Empress Qin gritted her teeth, her hand clenched into a fist hidden in her sleeve, her knuckles turning a ghastly white.