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

Chapter 241

These words are both reasonable and persuasive.

In the candlelight, Zhao Xingjin lowered his eyes, his emotions unreadable.

The Empress was filled with apprehension, but finally received Zhao Xingjin's reply.

"Alright, then so be it. Let Liang Meiren continue to take care of her."

Upon receiving these words, the Empress breathed a sigh of relief and then smiled, saying, "On behalf of Consort Liang, I thank Your Majesty."

"Hmm, go to sleep." Zhao Xingjin responded, and just as he was about to lie down, he suddenly mentioned, "The autumn examination will begin in three days. The autumn hunt was originally scheduled for September, but now there is a conflict. However, it is not good to not hold it. My idea is that after the autumn examination, we should go to the hunting grounds in the suburbs of the capital for half a month."

The Empress became more serious. "According to past customs, the autumn hunt takes a long time, sometimes more than a month, but half a month is not short either. Since Your Majesty has this intention, I will make the arrangements. All matters outside should be handled by the Ministry of Rites. As for the palace, I wonder if the Empress Dowager would be willing to go. Among the remaining concubines, Your Majesty, which ones would you like to bring along to serve you?"

That's a rather pointless question.

Consort Zhuang, Xie Jiu, and Consort Wei are definitely on the list of candidates to be considered. The Empress will naturally have to go as well. Consort Liang has to take care of the young Fifth Prince, and Consort Chen is pregnant and should have just given birth at that time, so she definitely can't go either. That leaves Consort Liu and a few new ladies to choose from.

It's all very obvious.

However, it's not easy to bring too many people on the autumn hunt, since it's only for half a month. So, there will inevitably be some dilemmas and conflicts in choosing the right people.

Zhao Xingjin naturally understood the reasoning behind this. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Princess Jin, take this. As for the others, you can pick two more."

This means that quotas are set; apart from the Empress, each concubine can only bring three people.

The Empress responded, and began to make plans in her mind.

There's still some time before the trip, so releasing the news now will surely entice interested parties to compete.

The next day, the Empress told everyone about it during the morning greetings.

"His Majesty's intention is that since the autumn hunt will be short this year, he will not take many people with him. Consort Jin has always served the best, so she will naturally go. In addition, he will choose two more people. I think it would be better to let the newcomers go. Consort Guo and Consort Jiang, you two will go with Consort Jin, is that alright?"

"Your Majesty, it's not right for you to make such a unilateral decision. When you go out to accompany the Emperor, it has to be something that pleases him." Consort Zhuang immediately objected. "How could the Emperor not want to take me with him? In the past, when we were in the Prince's residence, he always took me with him when he went hunting."

Her interruption made it difficult for both Guo Cai Ren and Jiang Cai Ren to stand up and express their gratitude.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat tense.

The Empress looked at her, seemingly a little embarrassed. "That's true, but Consort Zhuang, you've served the Emperor for quite some years now. Why would you want to compete with newcomers for such an opportunity?"

"Then Consort Jin can't be considered a newcomer, can she?" Consort Zhuang sneered.

Unexpectedly, the Empress said, "His Majesty specifically instructed that Consort Jin is to go."

These words immediately made Consort Zhuang turn pale, and she glared fiercely at Xie Jiu.

Xie Jiu found it amusing. The Empress was deliberately using her as a pawn and making her the target of hatred. She could have clearly stated from the beginning that Zhao Xingjin had already decided that she would go, but instead, she praised her for serving the best and said that she should be taken along. Only when Consort Zhuang asked did she reveal this, which only made people hate her more.

"Her Majesty the Empress dotes on the newcomers, and she's even considering the two remaining spots for the new girls. Naturally, Your Majesty should also take care of us. Otherwise, wouldn't it make people think that Your Majesty is fickle and heartless?" Xie Jiu said slowly, raising her eyes to look at the Empress with a hint of a smile in them.

"How can Your Majesty only favor Consort Guo and Consort Jiang? Consort Hu, Consort Xu, and Consort Lu have not yet served the Emperor. We don't know who is more to His Majesty's liking. Isn't it a bit too early for Your Majesty to make a decision now?"

She wouldn't obediently be used as a pawn by the Emperor. If he wanted to cause trouble, then she'd add fuel to the fire and make things bigger. She'd see if the concubines in the harem would fight over this little matter of accompanying the Emperor, causing them to be restless and making Zhao Xingjin feel that the Empress was incompetent.

Sure enough, upon hearing her words, Consort Zhuang and the others who wanted to go all brightened up.

Yes, why should it be decided now? It's not time yet. The Empress's words don't necessarily count; the Emperor has to agree.

Originally, the Empress wanted to stir up hatred for Xie Jiu, Consort Guo, and Consort Jiang, but Xie Jiu's words made all her efforts futile.

Xie Jiu and the others wouldn't dare to provoke them, but Guo Cai Ren and Jiang Cai Ren are newcomers with unstable foundations. Could they take their positions?
But with things disrupted like this, the concubines, instead of eyeing Guo Cairen and Jiang Cairen with covetous intent, were all secretly determined to make a good impression on Zhao Xingjin and try to gain the qualification to accompany him.

The Empress naturally noticed the changes in the concubines' minds, but if she were to forcefully state that she would send Consort Guo and Consort Jiang, she would offend not Guo and Jiang, but herself.

Therefore, the Empress had no choice but to grit her teeth and force a smile, saying, "Consort Jin's words make sense. Let's wait until all the new brides have served the Emperor, and after some time, I will ask the Emperor for his opinion before making a final decision."

Xie Jiu smiled slightly and said nothing more.

Then, the Empress announced that Consort Liang could raise the Fifth Prince until he was one year old. Consort Liang was overjoyed and thanked the Empress profusely with tears in her eyes. This made Consort Chen feel a little envious.

It's uncertain whether the Empress will be willing to help her and keep the child by her side to raise.

After all, she is now the daughter of a disgraced official, and her rank is not high enough. It would be much more difficult for her to keep her child by her side than for a concubine.

Good morning and everyone disperse.

Guo Cai Ren and Jiang Cai Ren were unusually seen traveling together for a period of time.

"Does Sister want to go on the autumn hunt?" Consort Jiang asked. "The Empress Dowager mentioned before that she is feeling unwell and does not want to travel outside the palace. I do not intend to go. I would like to stay in the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager."

Consort Guo smiled and said, "My sister is so filial. No wonder the Empress Dowager loves her so much. Whether I go or not is not important. After all, it's only half a month before the Emperor returns to the palace. Besides, the list of those accompanying the Emperor is decided by the Emperor and the Empress. My opinion doesn't count."

Upon hearing this, Consort Jiang smiled and lowered her eyes.

"Yes, no matter how much we discuss it, it doesn't count. I do envy Consort Jin. The Emperor favors her so much that he specifically requested her to accompany him."

As she said this, Consort Jiang secretly observed Consort Guo's expression, but unfortunately, she did not catch the information she wanted.

Consort Guo remained calm and composed. “Your Highness Consort Jin has served His Majesty for a long time, so His Majesty is naturally more familiar and affectionate towards you. My sister is His Majesty’s cousin, and this relationship is something we cannot compare to. In the future, His Majesty will surely love my sister in the same way. My sister really has no need to be envious.”

After speaking, he made the excuse that it was hot and he should go back early, and then he stopped chatting with Consort Jiang and they parted ways at the crossroads.

Jiang Cai Ren glanced at her back and couldn't quite tell whether Guo Cai Ren was genuinely indifferent, not competing, and deliberately putting on an aloof and detached act, or just putting on an act.

“Let’s go see Consort Hu. We haven’t had a chance to meet and speak with her privately since she entered the palace,” Consort Jiang said softly after a moment’s thought.