Selling wife for fame? Kick out the scumbag and marry the new emperor to enjoy the harem of favors

Chapter 143 got the focus wrong.

"What Your Majesty says is true. That's what I think too. There was already a lot of talk about Consort Xie entering the palace. Now that things have finally calmed down, we should be even more careful. Especially now that the envoy from Xichi Kingdom is about to come to the capital to pay homage, how can we let gossip spread at this time?"

Seeing that the Empress Dowager agreed with her opinion, the Empress immediately pressed her advantage and exaggerated the 'seriousness' of the matter.

The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes. "Tan Hui, go to Chengming Hall and tell the Emperor what I mean. This is for the Emperor's own good, and I think he can tell what's important."

"Yes," Tan Hui bowed in response.

Seeing this, the Empress's eyes flickered slightly, clearly showing her satisfaction.

After Tan Hui left, the Empress Dowager turned her attention back to the Empress.

“Wei Jieyu is pure of heart and knows the rules, unlike Xie Shi, who is deep-thinking and hard to fathom. You don’t really need to regard them as the same. Chen Meiren is too slick and may not be easy to control. You should promote Wei Jieyu more, so that she can help you keep the Xie family in check.”

The Empress was completely taken aback when she heard the Empress Dowager say these things to her.

The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes and said, "You are the daughter-in-law I personally chose, so I naturally love you. Besides, the discord between the Emperor and Empress is detrimental to the country and the government, so I also hope that you and the Emperor can live in harmony."

Previously, the Empress had always felt that the Empress Dowager was being hypocritical by speaking indirectly, but this time she spoke directly, and the Empress was genuinely moved.

Perhaps it was because I had been feeling too depressed and wronged lately, but my eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

"Alright, I know you're feeling wronged and worried. Don't worry, the Xie family can't surpass you. Your most important task now is to firmly grasp this power in the palace, and to properly organize the year-end palace banquet and the state banquet for the envoys from Xichi Kingdom. At that time, naturally no one will dare to underestimate you," the Empress Dowager comforted her in a deep voice.

The Empress nodded, "Don't worry, Mother, your daughter-in-law will definitely take good care of things."

After leaving Fukang Palace, the Empress felt much better.

“Your Majesty, you see, the Empress Dowager still loves you. You are her true daughter-in-law. Those other women are no match for her. With the Empress Dowager around, she will never allow the Emperor to indulge his concubines’ misbehavior,” Tingyun said with a smile.

The Empress curled her lips into a smile. "After all, wives and concubines are different. The Empress Dowager and I have been mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for many years and have always been on good terms. The Empress Dowager does not like Xie Shi. I suppose if it weren't for Xie Shi's different family background and the Emperor's insistence on taking her in, how could someone of Xie Shi's status have entered the palace?"

“Exactly,” Tingyun nodded. “But the Empress Dowager probably wants Your Highness to win over Consort Wei, but what about Consort Wei herself?”

It's not like we haven't tried before; Wei simply won't listen to reason.

"Let's talk about that later. Right now, the more important thing is to deal with Xie. Look at how much the Emperor favors her. If this continues, won't he be able to step on my head?" The Empress narrowed her eyes. "Although the Empress Dowager loves me, I'm afraid that the Emperor will become too opinionated in the future and won't listen to the Empress Dowager anymore."

Ninghua Palace.

Inside Anqing Hall, Xie Jiu was having tea with Consort Liu.

Consort Liu came today with news: her brother has found the nephew of the Xie family steward.

"We have news, but unfortunately he got there first and we didn't catch him. We're chasing him now, and he's running fast. He's already in Xuzhou territory and has even changed his name. We even made a new travel permit. If it weren't for Jieyu reminding us that he might have changed his name, we might not have recognized him."

The steward was a servant born into the Xie family and was also given the surname Xie. This nephew was probably a cousin, surnamed Wang, named Wang Gui, but now he has changed his name to Li Rong.

“Working for the Xie family, one has some connections. Getting things done by spending money is very easy.” Xie Jiu took a sip of tea and then sighed. “My father trusts the steward very much. Without concrete evidence, he probably won’t believe that my mother’s death is related to the steward. I ask your brother to do his best to find a witness.”

She naturally wouldn't tell Liu Cairen that her father was the one who killed her mother; such a secret was not something to be revealed casually.

Consort Liu nodded, "This kind of wicked servant must have been in the manor for too long and developed some ulterior motives. Perhaps your aunt has inadvertently discovered some unspeakable secret, which is why he has the intention to harm others. He is truly audacious and unforgivable."

After speaking, she gave a wink to the person beside her. The palace maid Amber understood and immediately stepped forward, revealing a small box.

"This is a small token of my appreciation; please accept it, Consort Liu," Consort Liu said softly.

Xie Jiu looked puzzled. "What is it?"

"These past few days, I've noticed that Consort Jieyu seems restless, probably because she's been too grief-stricken and it's hurting her health. I made a small box of honey pills according to a recipe in a medicinal diet book. They have a calming effect and taste like pastries, without any medicinal flavor. I had the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital take a look, and they said they were quite good. Taking two or three pills a day can soothe the mind."

Liu Cairen's gentle explanation.

Xie Jiu took the box and opened it. Inside, there was a box of purple pills about the size of broad beans, which smelled pleasant and had no medicinal smell.

"You're so kind. I haven't been sleeping well these past few days. The imperial physician prescribed a calming soup, but it's bitter, and I can't drink it. I also find incense too stuffy," Xie Jiu said.

That's the truth, I've been in really bad shape lately.

With concern in her eyes, Consort Liu said, "There's nothing else I can do, this is just a small token of my appreciation. I only hope that you, Consort, will recover soon. You still need to investigate your aunt's matter carefully."

Xie Jiu nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.

Just then, Chunrong came in from outside, her face looking rather unpleasant.

"What's wrong?" Xie Jiu noticed something and spoke first.

Chunrong pursed her lips. "Aunt Tanhui, who serves the Empress Dowager, went to Chengming Hall. She said she was conveying the Empress Dowager's message that since your mother has recently passed away, even though you are in the palace, you should still show filial piety. It would be more appropriate for you not to serve the Emperor during this period."

Upon hearing this, Xie Jiu couldn't help but sneer.

“In commoners, married women don’t have to observe mourning for their parents. But now that I’ve entered the palace and become the emperor’s concubine, putting aside the mother-daughter relationship, I’m of high status. Yet I still have to observe mourning. This probably wasn’t the Empress Dowager’s idea. Who went to Fukang Palace today?”

Although she was grieving her mother's passing, she had no intention of vying for favor or affection at this time. Without anyone saying a word, she had no interest in currying favor with Zhao Xingjin.

But these people just have to emphasize it and disgust her, which is really annoying.

Does that mean if they don't say anything, they'll disregard their deceased mother and continue to live a carefree and happy life?

"Your Majesty, the Empress went to Fukang Palace today," Chunrong said immediately.

Xie Jiu lowered her eyes. "That's it. It's probably Chen Meiren pushing things from behind again."

"Isn't this disgusting? Jieyu is so worried about her aunt's matter that she can't eat or sleep, and they still pull this stunt!" Consort Liu frowned angrily.

"Let them be." Xie Jiu seemed unconcerned. "Even with the Empress Dowager's decree, as long as the Emperor is determined, no one can stop him."

What's the use of simply stopping her? The real root of the problem lies with Zhao Xingjin.

As long as Zhao Xingjin remembers her, he will come to see her no matter what.

The Empress still didn't understand these intricacies and missed the point.

In particular, Xie Jiu and Zhao Xingjin's relationship was based on mutual benefit, which was much more solid than that of those based on love and affection.