C45 (1/2)
With Zhou Lean entering the palace to participate in the election, the Minister of Rites couldn't make up his mind. Due to the relationship between the empress and Zhou Leping, he didn't dare to ask the empress about it.
Zhao Shiqian was naturally happy to see that happen, so he tacitly added Zhou Lean's name to the list of participants.
When the Queen found out, she was angry, but did not say anything.
Minister of Rites braced himself to receive the empress's scolding, but it was only a scolding. The empress did not dare to complain to the emperor, so she left this matter at the end.
The empress dowager didn't even want to take part in her own son's consort selection, but the empress still had to send the names of the maidservants selected for the primary selection to the empress dowager for inspection, in accordance with the old etiquette of the empress dowager.
When she saw Zhou Lean's name, she paused for a moment and asked in a daze, ”Is it Zhou Xuan's third daughter?”
Qiu Rong replied, ”I'm seventeen this year.”
”Didn't This Dowager remember that Zhou Family's daughter doesn't need to participate in talent shows?”
”So that's the case, but …” Qiu Rong's face was a mixture of helplessness and unwillingness, ”Zhou Lean was the one who reported the name to the Ministry of Rites, the Emperor has also agreed to it, chenqie also advised the Emperor, after all, the late emperor gave the Zhou Family an exemption, if he does this, people will inevitably criticize him, but since the Emperor says it's alright, chenqie naturally doesn't dare to say anything.”
The empress dowager's kind face fell for a moment as she let out a long sigh. ”We should have married Zi Xi, what a pity … As long as the emperor likes her, the daughters of the Zhou Family s will not be inferior to her.
Qiu Rong originally wanted to say something, but after hearing what the empress dowager said, he could only smile and agree.
The empress dowager didn't seem to care about anything, but she was not confused. She clearly knew what Zhou Lean entering the palace meant.
She was born into a family of generals and had a big sister who worked as a Chief General. Just these few points were enough for her to pass through all the trials and tribulations as if she had entered an uninhabited land. Finally, she stood together with Lin Xiafu in front of the Little Demon Empress.
Lin Xiafu had thought that he would be able to shake off Zhou Lean after entering the palace, even if he couldn't see her, he wouldn't be annoyed at all. If he could just seal a Noble Consort or something, he would be able to show off his might in front of her from now on.
Zhao Shiqian didn't even look at Lin Xiafu, but continued to stare at Zhou Lean instead. Zhou Lean looked very similar to Zhou Leping in the past, but she no longer had the heroic air around him, as if she was born to be a general.
Zhou Lean was even more gentle, her every action and gesture was the posture of a little girl, with her beautiful eyes flowing, making people want to pamper her even more.
Lin Xiafu winked at the Emperor, but the Emperor turned a blind eye.
The empress saw him and reminded him, ”Your majesty, that is the daughter of the president of the Supreme Court.”
Zhao Shiqian thought, I'm not an idiot, it's not like I don't know your cousin, I'm just too lazy to watch.
”Yes.”
Although he thought this in his heart, it was still alright for him to maintain his dignity. The emperor humphed indifferently and stood up while shaking his robe. ”Leave him be.”
and Lin Xiafu were the only ones in front of him, the two of them had stayed behind.
The empress looked pale as she stood up to see the emperor off.
After the emperor had left, Lin Xiafu no longer had the upright look he had just now. He went up and hugged the empress's arm as he acted like a spoiled child, ”Cousin ~ ~”
”Impudent! This is the palace, not home! In the future, you'll be someone who serves the emperor by his side. You have to know when to advance, when to retreat, and when to address yourself accordingly to the palace.”