After a master of metaphysics severed ties with his family, the whole family was filled with regret!

Chapter 40 The Empress Dowager Makes Things Difficult for Consort Jiang

Upon hearing this, Xiao Beiming raised an eyebrow, seemingly not entirely surprised by what Xiao Jinglin said.

After all, Luo Chujiu was immediately attracted to his looks when they first met.

Occasionally, Xiao Beiming would feel fortunate to have such a face, otherwise how would he ever be able to captivate the princess?

"Speaking of which, Consort Jiang and Luo Chujiu are related by blood, so it's only natural that they can get along well." Xiao Bei thought about the relationship between Consort Jiang and Luo Jiangshi, and it didn't seem strange to him.

“My Consort Jiang and Lady Luo Jiang don’t get along well. At least I’ve never heard her mention Lady Luo Jiang. Do you know what that proves?” Xiao Jinglin asked with a smile.

"Prove what?"

"This proves that Luo Chujiu and Luo Jiangshi are not of the same ilk. It's a good decision to sever their ties."

Xiao Beiming smiled, his brows and eyes relaxing.
"Since Luo Chujiu severed ties with his family, life has been difficult for the Luo family."

Xiao Jinglin naturally knew that the Luo family was having a hard time. He had given Luo Wanping a chance before, but Luo Wanping himself did not cherish it. So he should not blame him for disregarding his mentor's reputation and taking back all the privileges of the Luo family!
Seeing Xiao Jinglin's confident demeanor, Xiao Beiming said no more.

The next morning, Luo Chujiu secretly slipped out of the Imperial Preceptor's residence and headed to Luoheng Palace.

Consort Jiang had just finished serving His Majesty and was about to have breakfast after seeing him go to the morning court session when she unexpectedly saw Luo Chujiu again.

"Cousin Kui Kui! Xiao Jiu came to your place for a free meal!"

Hearing Luo Chujiu's cheerful voice, Consort Jiang's smile widened even more.

"Why did you come alone? Didn't the Imperial Advisor come with you?"

Consort Jiang pulled Luo Chujiu to sit down, and then asked her.

"Since Fourth Senior Brother is a man, it's inconvenient for him to come and go in the inner palace. I sneaked out, and he doesn't even know I came to see Cousin Kui Kui yet," Luo Chujiu said with a grin.

Consort Jiang also looked helpless, and then ordered people to bring more food.

Caiwei was delighted to see that her mistress liked Miss Luo so much, and brought over a lot of pastries.

"These are pastries made by Caiwei. You can't find them anywhere else. Try them."

Consort Jiang picked up two pieces with her chopsticks and placed them in Luo Chujiu's bowl and plate.

"Thank you, Cousin Kui Kui! You can have some too!"

Luo Chujiu followed suit and put two pieces on her plate as well, which made Consort Jiang very happy.

After finishing breakfast, Luo Chujiu began to probe.

"Cousin Kui Kui, how many years have you been in the palace?"

"This is my second year. When I first entered the palace, I had just turned seventeen."

"Cousin Kui Kui entered the palace at such a young age? After entering the palace, was you the one His Majesty favored the most?"

"No, I only served the emperor this year. After that, I was made a concubine and then a noble consort."

Consort Jiang did not hide anything from Luo Chujiu and told her everything.

"I see. So, with so many concubines in His Majesty's harem, are any of them pregnant?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Jiang was taken aback, and then dismissed the palace servants.

"Why is Xiao Jiu asking this?"

"I'm just curious, is it something I can't ask?" Luo Chujiu tilted her head, looking at Consort Jiang with great curiosity.

Consort Jiang smiled faintly, "It's not that we can't ask, it's just that His Majesty has favored concubines for many years but none of them have borne children, so everyone avoids talking about it."

Upon hearing this, Luo Chujiu's eyes widened in surprise:
"Huh? No way, does His Majesty have a problem in that area?" "Cough cough cough Xiao Jiu, how can you speak so bluntly when you're a young lady? Even if it is, it's not something to talk about. Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Since you're here, keep me company and chat. I'm bored anyway."

"Okay, Cousin Kui Kui, Xiao Jiu loves being with you the most!"

Luo Chujiu smiled happily on the surface, but her heart was filled with confusion:

Since His Majesty has no children, why is Cousin Kui Kui's misfortune related to having no offspring? How strange!
However, Luo Chujiu soon found out why.

"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager requests your presence—"

Shortly after breakfast, the Empress Dowager sent someone to invite Consort Jiang.

Consort Jiang glanced at the maidservants attending the Empress Dowager, then at Luo Chujiu:

"Xiao Jiu, I have to go to the Empress Dowager's palace, so I won't accompany you for now. Why don't you go back to the Imperial Preceptor's residence first?"

Consort Jiang spoke to Luo Chujiu very gently.

But Luo Chujiu shook her head, "Cousin, I'll go with you."

Luo Chujiu's intuition told her that Consort Jiang's journey was fraught with danger, so she had to stay by her side!
"But."

Consort Jiang hesitated. The Empress Dowager was not easy to get along with. What if the Empress Dowager took her anger out on Xiao Jiu?
"Your Highness, please don't keep the Empress Dowager waiting."

Seeing that Consort Jiang and the little maid beside her were still talking, the nanny couldn't help but urge them on.

After seeing this, Consort Jiang stood up and had Luo Chujiu and Caiwei follow behind her as they headed towards the Empress Dowager's palace.

In about fifteen minutes, they arrived at the Empress Dowager's Cixi Palace.

"Your Majesty, I greet you. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

Caiwei followed suit and knelt in obeisance, while Luo Chujiu stood straight in place without bowing.

The Empress Dowager spotted Luo Chujiu behind Consort Jiang at a glance. "Consort Jiang, how dare your palace servants not kneel before me!"

Consort Jiang glanced at Luo Chujiu, then quickly explained:
"Your Majesty, please calm down. She is not my palace maid, but the Imperial Preceptor's junior sister. When Your Majesty summoned me, Miss Luo happened to be in front of me, so she came with me."

Not wanting to put Consort Jiang in a difficult position, Luo Chujiu bowed slightly to the Empress Dowager and said, "Luo Chujiu greets the Empress Dowager."

After seeing this, the Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows slightly and did not pursue the matter of Luo Chujiu not bowing.

"Jiang, do you know why I have summoned you?"

The Empress Dowager directly confronted Consort Jiang.

"Your Majesty, I am unaware of this. Please enlighten me."

"Your Majesty!"

The Empress Dowager gave a furious rebuke, and Consort Jiang immediately knelt down, not daring to utter a single complaint.

Luo Chujiu frowned and remained silent, sizing up the Empress Dowager:

With a mean and unpleasant look, he's clearly not someone you want to get along with!

"Consort Jiang only knows how to seduce His Majesty all day long, disregarding the rest of the harem and His Majesty's health! Forbidding His Majesty from favoring other consorts is simply audacious! Her crime is unforgivable!"

The Empress Dowager's words filled Consort Jiang with great fear.

"Your Majesty, I dare not presume to investigate further. I would never have dared to seduce His Majesty, much less have I tried to monopolize His Majesty's favor or prevent him from attending to other concubines. I..."

"Shut up! You still dare to argue! I have already investigated thoroughly. His Majesty has been unable to conceive, and it is all your doing behind the scenes! According to the other concubines, you would give them a bowl of bird's nest after they had served you in bed. Some time ago, Consort Chen of Xianghe Palace was unwell and asked the imperial physician to see her. It turned out that the bird's nest you gave her contained contraceptive drugs. Do you plead guilty?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Chujiu suddenly realized the meaning of last night's divination. So, she was waiting for her cousin Jiang Kui here! How vicious!
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(End of this chapter)