Chapter 85: The Gathering of the Harem Part II
With the Empress’ orders, the attendant was about to get up while supporting Murong Xuanhe. Although Murong Xuanhe was intoxicated, he was still somewhat conscious. As the attendant supported him, he pushed away in dissatisfaction. Although his eyes were closed shut, he still had a lot of strength. In a moment of carelessness, the attendant let him break free and he unsteadily crashed to the floor. Fortunately, Sang Zixin, who had been sitting next to him, lent a hand and Murong Xuanhe was able to avoid a tragic tumble.The attendant was a little frightened and immediately helped Murong Xuanhe up. With the help of a palace attendant, the two of them escorted Murong Xuanhe back to his quarters.
After such a commotion, in addition to the three glasses of wine just now, everyone’s faces blushed rosily and after a few more bites of food, they already began to feel half full.
“Don’t just look. After drinking so much wine, have some of the dishes.” Luo Weiqing, as the King Consort, naturally had the right to preside over the situation. Seeing how everyone had barely even eaten anything and was already drunk, although he did not know what the Empress’ intentions were, he still encouraged everyone to eat two more mouthfuls of food to avoid getting drunk by the Empress’ machinations. If one drank too much, it would not be very good if such news was spread tomorrow morning.
Everyone nodded and picked up their chopsticks to eat the dishes. Liyou raised her eyebrows and observed the scene in front of her. There was a smirk lurking on the corner of her mouth. She also took a bite of a dish but the taste in her mouth was not ideal. It was like chewing wax. The smell of blood was more stimulating to her and Liyou’s eyes swept over the crowd again, wandering from person to person, but there seemed to be a trace of bloodthirsty evil in it.
Feeling her wicked gaze, the consorts lowered their heads unnaturally, not daring to meet her gaze. That gaze seemed to be all-consuming, giving them the feeling that they were merely sheep in front of a bloodthirsty wolf.
“Since everyone has gathered here today, Zhen just has one thing to announce. I have decided to confer Anhui as Imperial Consort Ying (shadow). You will all be a family from now on, Zhen hopes that you all can get along well.”
Anhui had not expected that the Empress would announce such a thing at such an occasion. Everyone’s gazes fell on him and it made him feel at a loss. He did not know how to respond, so he could only stand up blankly, looking at the Empress eyes, seeming to be pleading for help.
“Anhui, do you have anything to say to everyone?” She did not expect the man to be extremely eloquent or tactful, but on such an occasion, Anhui had to say something rather than her saying something in his place.
“Yes….” WIth the Empress’ orders, he had no choice but to assent. He thought for a while and said, “Empress and the various niangniangs, Anhui knows he comes from humble status and is not worthy of the Empress’ favor. The Empress does not disdain Anhui and even permitted Anhui to dine here with all the niangniangs. It is a blessing that Anhui must have received after several generations’ cultivation. I only hope that I can serve the Empress well in the future.”
It was not uncommon for the Empress to confer a title to someone. But, this consort was a bit special and was actually just a bodyguard. But, the Empress’ order was an Imperial decree and no one could disobey. Furthermore, no matter how unwilling someone was in their hearts, what was the use? What’s more, it was not that they were completely unwilling, but the complicated feelings in their hearts could not be clearly explained in just a few words.
The consorts were silent, but they tried their best to adjust their expressions to show that they had calmly accepted the development. The Empress and her consorts already had some conjectures in their hearts. This time, it was Anhui. It was estimated that next time, it would either be the little prince of the Sang Kingdom or Feng Xue.
The King Consort was the ruler of the harem, so naturally, it was Luo Weiqing’s turn to speak at this time: “Anhui, the Empress’ consorts are no better than ordinary people. Fortunately, you are already very familiar with the palace. But, if there is anything you do not understand, just come talk to me.”
Since Luo Weiqing had invited all these people here today, he naturally approved and agreed to their existence. Although it seemed that Anhui’s status was not suitable for entering the harem, this was simply a trivial matter for the Empress. Luo Weiqing was astute and would not say anything to make the Empress unhappy.
“Yes, thanking the King Consort.” The people in the harem admired Luo Weiqing’s character very much and so did Anhui. In the past, when the Enchanting guifei had run rampant, the King Consort had protected everyone at every turn. Now that the Enchanting guifei had been banished to the Cold Palace, the King Consort now presided over the harem. The harem was very peaceful and no one suffered any injustices. This was all thanks to the King Consort.
“You’re welcome, this is what bengong should do. Your Majesty, would it be good if Imperial Consort Ying took over the Canghe Palace? The environment there is graceful and unique. It is a pity that it has been empty all this time. If Imperial Consort Ying likes it, then it should be conferred to Imperial Consort Ying.”
Anhui looked at the Empress. Although the Empress had told him that she wanted to marry him and confer him a title earlier in the afternoon, he didn’t know, due to his special status, whether he was really to let go of everything and enter the palace as a consort. Or did he want to live as the Empress suggested, he could simply be a nominal consort and he did not need to live in the harem like a normal consort would. Anhui did not know and had no chance to ask anymore. With the King Consort speaking, he could only see how the Empress would respond.
“Tomorrow, you can bring Anhui to take a look. If Anhui likes it, then he can live there. One must always have their own palace to preside over and you can live in the Imperial palace from now on. Anhui originally had a residence in the palace, but that was arranged for the Anbu Black Ops, not really a so-called home. It was good for Anhui to have a place to call his own, so that it could foster a sense of belonging.
“Yes, Anhui obeys.” It was just a place to live, it did not matter whether one liked it or not. But, what did having a family mean? Could he really regard this large harem as family?
“Anhui, what Zhen said to you that day still holds true. You can still do what you are doing now and Zhen did not confer the title with the intent to restrain you. Just wanting you to….” ALiyou glanced at everyone in the front and very seriously continued, “And all of you here, this harem is not a prison. I have no need to keep a bunch of unhappy men hostage. Just tell Zhen what it is you want to do, but think carefully, just exactly what it is that you want.
The expressions among the crowd at present were quite varied and these varied expressions were all taken by Liyou, who did not miss a single one. She did not say anything more and picked up her wine glass to drink another glass, the wicked intentions in her abyss-like eyes growing stronger.
“Why does the Empress say this, how could this consort and the others see this palace as a prison. Hehe, the treatment here is much better than a prison.” Qin Ning really amazed the world with a single brilliant feat, in one word, everyone’s complexions transformed greatly. Even Liyou’s expression turned cold.
Luo Weiqing looked at Qin Ning with some concern. Why did Noble Consort Ning always do something worrying every time? It was not like he didn’t know the Empress’ temper, so what was the benefit of angering the Empress?
“Better than prison treatment, it seems that you are quite satisfied?” Qin Ning ah, Qin Ning, why could you not learn to behave well? Every time, he just haid to say something to provoke her. Maybe he would be unhappy if he did not provoke her? As for Qin Ning’s provocation, Liyou did not politely reply. Apart from being a little unhappy, Liyou was somewhat intrigued. After all, only a few people here dared to speak to her like this. Qin Ning was also different. She still remembered the first time she saw Qin Ning, the man had stood in front of her and wanted to protect her. In fact, Qin Ning actually had a genuine and pure temperament, but he was not good at expressing himself and was too aloof.
Qin Ning was stunned by LIyou’s light yet serious question and his eyes filled with anger! He was satisfied? How could he be satisfied! The reason he had been willing to enter the palace was merely because he had wanted to live a peaceful life and did not want to deal with the worldly disputes in the world. He no longer wanted to be a bargaining chip and everything had been going so well. But then, somehow, it changed. The Empress no longer admired and respected his life before, but instead, seemed to be making things difficult for him at every turn. It made him feel a little helpless, disrupting his life and complicating his heart. He could no longer look at her indifferently and he could no longer lead an alienated life in the palace like before. He had changed and this change surprised himself.
“This consort wants to go outside the Imperial palace to walk around, is that okay?” He knew that his request would never be granted, but he still asked. And he didn’t really want to leave the palace, he merely wanted to provoke the Empress’ again and again. He really wanted to see what the Empress would do to him. Hadn’t his experience of being thrown into the pond and off the cliff in the past not been thrilling enough? Would he actually be killed?
Qin Ning decided that since the Empress did not like him and now had new people and would forget the old ones, he no longer wanted to endure it any longer. Although the previous two encounters had been seared into his mind, he was such a person who refused to admit defeat. He would never give up, he would never bow his head to the Empress.
“Really just want to go out for a walk?” Liyou sighed in her heart, feeling a little helpless. She did not know what Qin Ning was thinking, but felt like Qin Ning was just being impulsive and this was the result of not carefully considering things. She was very puzzled as to what made Qin Ning act so recklessly.
“Yes.” Qin Ning also felt that he was being too impulsive, but in the face of such a development, he could not calm down.
“That is good. Since Zhen has said so, it will be effective immediately. If you want to leave the palace, you can leave at any time. This palace is not a cage and I do not want to trap you all!” If there was anyone unwilling to stay in the palace, she would naturally not force it, she disdained having to keep a man by force!
Everyone noticed Qin Ning’s shocked expression. Maybe everyone else’s expression was just as shocked. The palace was immeasurable as the sea, no one had ever entertained the thought that they might go out one day. But, the Empress had actually granted Qin Ning’s request, what did this mean?
“Although you can leave, Zhen has only granted you such grace. If you want to come back, you can come back at any time.” She had gained some experience this time and didn’t want to have to hear the news that Qin Ning committed suicide outside the gates. She did not have the time to go and save people every time.
“Can still come back?” Qin Ning was a little confused, what did it mean to let him leave the palace then?
“Certainly!”
TN: New chapter! Stay safe and happy everyone! ❤
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