cold clothes

Chapter 321

“I…” Hong’e’s smile suddenly froze. She didn’t know why Zhao Qun was suddenly so angry, and looked to the Empress for help in a daze.

The Empress received a look from Hong'e and spoke up for her: "Why is Qun'er so angry? Hong'e is not an outsider. Since you are staying in the palace, isn't it perfect for her to come in?"

Zhao Qun's tone remained cold and hard: "Leaving without my permission, isn't this maid a bit too audacious? Does she even respect me?"

Hong'e's face turned deathly pale. The Empress frowned deeply, slammed her hand on the table in anger, and shouted, "Hong'e specially stayed with you when she learned that you were going to live outside the palace. Now that you've returned, what is she still doing outside the palace? I don't know what Hong'e did to upset you, or are you taking your anger out on me?"

"Your subject dares not," Zhao Qun immediately lowered his head.

"I dare you to do this!"

Despite the Empress's anger, Zhao Qun showed no remorse. Instead, he said something exactly what he wanted to hear. He raised his eyes slightly and said, "Mother, please calm down. You know that I value my rule and cannot tolerate servants acting on their own. Since you value Miss Hong'e so much, there's no need for her to be my maid. Let her serve you instead."

“Even if Hong’e doesn’t become your maid, she can still be your concubine.” The Empress relaxed her brows. “Hong’e has been in the palace for so many years, you should be able to sense her feelings for you.”

When Hong'e heard the Empress reveal her daughter's thoughts, her jade-like face flushed with shyness, revealing a bashful, girlish demeanor. She was secretly delighted; the Empress had spoken up for her, which was practically the same as personally arranging a marriage. She automatically ignored the word "concubine," knowing that with her talent, becoming a concubine after the Third Prince ascended the throne would be no problem.

Zhao Qun's eyes were cold and indifferent as he said indifferently, "I have disappointed the Empress Dowager. Your son has no intention of taking Hong'e as a concubine."

A single, gentle word sent the red calyx spinning in a daze.

"Why?" The Empress frowned again. "Hong'e has been in the palace for many years and knows everything about me. What do you not like about her?"

"Your subject has no romantic feelings for Hong'e, only regards her as a younger sister. Furthermore, Hong'e is not the woman you desire."

The Empress sneered: "Then who will do as you wish? That courtesan?"

“She does everything I want,” Zhao Qun said firmly.

The Empress's expression gradually turned serious, her eyes darkening, and she said with certainty, "Qun'er, you have been bewitched by that vixen."

Zhao Qun smiled gently, "Perhaps. She is the most beautiful and obedient woman I have ever seen. I am very satisfied."

Hong'e's face was already deathly pale, and her hands were clenched into fists, her nails almost piercing her skin.

Zhao Qun's words made the Empress slightly puzzled, but after a moment's thought, she understood and then laughed in anger.

Hong'e's hands trembled as she couldn't help but say, "Where is Ningbi, that woman, obedient and docile? Your Highness, don't be deceived. That woman is two-faced!"

Zhao Qun lowered his eyebrows slightly and glanced at Hong E sideways.

"Where is her two-faced nature?"

Hong'e was about to speak when the Empress stopped her.

"Hong'e, stop talking. You're so restless, Qun'er won't listen to anything you say," the Empress said sarcastically, her anger evident on her face. "He thinks we're all disobedient to him, huh."

"Your subject dares not disobey Your Majesty, but when it comes to wives and concubines, obedient women are less troublesome."

The Empress looked at him with icy eyes. Zhao Qun's implication was clear enough: he was rebelling against her planting spies around her, probably not mainly referring to Hong'e, but to Wang Yuqing, the principal wife she had arranged for him.

Although he was her adopted son, he still had the emperor's blood in him and was becoming more and more like the emperor.

But how can one person truly be allowed to act arbitrarily and tyrannically?