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

Chapter 44 Xie Jieyu

"Why is she here?" Zhao Xingjin raised his eyes.

I never thought someone would come to disturb me at this time.

The young palace maid lowered her head and said timidly, "Empress Zhuang said that she brought the Fourth Prince here to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager."

After saying this, he glanced at the Queen Mother with a questioning look on his face.

The Queen Mother was also somewhat unhappy with this sudden incident.

This Concubine Zhuang always appears at inappropriate times.

But one should not give face to others, but to the Buddha. Although the empress dowager was too lazy to see Concubine Zhuang, the fourth prince was her own grandson, and the only boy born to Zhao Xingjin. The empress dowager still loved the fourth prince.

Then he said, "Let the mother and son come in."

Since the Empress Dowager had spoken, Zhao Xingjin naturally didn't say anything. Anyway, the thing had to be done today, so whether Concubine Zhuang came or not would not have much impact.

A moment later, Concubine Zhuang came in happily, holding the fourth prince's hand.

He had just come in and had not yet saluted the Queen Mother and Zhao Xingjin when he saw Xie Jiu. He immediately opened his eyes wide and questioned loudly.

"Why are you here?"

"Greetings, Madam Zhuang." Xie Jiu saluted calmly, neither humble nor arrogant. "I am here with the Emperor to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

When she mentioned the two of them, Concubine Zhuang remembered her important business. She quickly put Xie Jiu aside and took the child to pay her respects.

"I pay my respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. When the child saw the Empress Dowager return to the palace yesterday, he clamored to come to Fukang Palace. I couldn't persuade him, so I had no choice but to bring him here now. Shen'er, quickly pay your respects to the Empress Dowager."

"Grandson pays his respects to the Empress Dowager!" the Fourth Prince stepped forward and said.

The fourth prince looks like Concubine Zhuang, with delicate facial features. He has some feminine looks but is not feminine. He is a very good-looking child.

The Queen Mother's face was full of love, "How good of you! Come to the Imperial Grandmother for some snacks."

"Grandson also brought some snacks for the Empress Dowager, please eat them too!" The Fourth Prince took the food box from the palace maid.

He walked quickly to the Queen Mother and handed it forward.

The Queen Mother quickly had someone take it, open it, and take out the two plates of snacks inside.

"Okay, Grandmother, try some too." The Queen Mother ate a piece out of courtesy, then wiped her hands with a handkerchief and patted the Fourth Prince's head. "Shen'er, be obedient. Go out and play with your mother for a while. Grandmother has something to tell your father. I'll see you later, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Concubine Zhuang understood what the Queen Mother meant and immediately called the Fourth Prince back to her side.

Just as she was about to leave with the child, she saw Xie Jiu standing there without moving, so she rolled her eyes in disgust and said to her.

"Didn't you hear the Queen Mother say she wanted to discuss matters with the Emperor? Why are you still standing here? Why aren't you leaving?"

Xie Jiu said nothing, just glanced at her lightly.

Zhao Xingjin felt helpless and could only speak, "You and the Fourth Prince go out first, she wants to stay."

These words made Concubine Zhuang's face change color immediately. She felt embarrassed, confused, and a little resentful.

She wanted to ask why, why she had to leave while Xie Jiu could stay, but unfortunately she saw that Zhao Xingjin did not smile, so she did not dare to ask.

I could only respond sullenly with a "yes" and left with the child.

Silence finally returned to the hall, and the empress dowager looked at Xie Jiu again.

"Think carefully about what I just said. Are you willing?"

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, being able to serve the Emperor is a blessing earned through several lifetimes, and I am willing to do so." Xie Jiu bowed in response.

The Queen Mother nodded, then turned her gaze to Zhao Xingjin, "What does the Emperor think?"

This is just a formality.

Zhao Xingjin had a filial look on his face, "I will follow my mother's arrangements."

"What else can I arrange? I just see that your harem is indeed a little short, so I want to add one or two more to your harem."

The Queen Mother waved her hand, then a gentle smile appeared on her face. "Then pass on my imperial decree to confer the title of Fifth Rank Beauty upon Mrs. Xie."

Xie Jiu was about to express his gratitude when he suddenly heard Zhao Xingjin speak again, "Mother, the Xie family is a prestigious family after all, and her father is the chief minister of the cabinet. Why not confer the title of Fourth Rank Concubine on her like the Wei family?"

After pulling it up another level, the Queen Mother frowned slightly, but in the end she said nothing and nodded.

"Well, since you have made up your mind, I'll follow your lead."

Soon, Concubine Zhuang, who was playing with the Fourth Prince in the courtyard, saw Tan Hui, the head maid beside the Queen Mother, coming out holding an imperial decree.

"Aunt Hui, where are you going?" Concubine Zhuang couldn't help but stop her.

Tan Hui smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager has just issued an imperial decree, appointing Miss Xie as a fourth-rank imperial concubine. Starting today, she will enter the palace to serve the Emperor. I was just about to go and announce the decree."

These words were like thunder from a clear sky, and they immediately exploded in Concubine Zhuang's ears.

By the time she reacted and wanted to catch the person and question him, he had already walked away.

Concubine Zhuang was so angry that she couldn't contain herself. She wanted to rush into the main hall right now and ask the emperor and the empress dowager why they appointed Xie Jiu as a concubine. Fortunately, the palace maid Peizhu beside her persuaded them to stop.

The imperial decree has been issued, what can she say to change it?

If he said anything inappropriate, it would displease the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and he would completely offend Xie Jiu and make another enemy.

After hearing Peizhu's words, Concubine Zhuang had no choice but to endure it, but she felt very unhappy.

After thinking for a moment, he went back into the hall.

"Congratulations, sister Xie." When she came in, Concubine Zhuang smiled at Xie Jiu.

Xie Jiu had no idea what she was up to, so he just bowed politely and said, "Thank you, Empress Zhuang."

The Queen Mother watched them interact and smiled, "You have sharp ears. You know it right away."

This was said to Concubine Zhuang, who was still smiling at the moment. "I just saw Aunt Tan Hui go out and asked her about it, and then I found out about this happy event."

As he spoke, he sat down and turned to Xie Jiu with a concerned look.

"Thank you, sister, for coming to the palace. Have you decided where to live? Your current residence is no longer suitable. You should move in with your sisters."

"Just listen to the emperor and the empress dowager in everything. I don't understand these things." Xie Jiu acted obediently.

When she said this, Zhao Xingjin said, "The imperial decree has been issued, let the queen make the arrangements."

Indeed, he didn't care about these trivial matters, and it was impossible for him to let the empress dowager worry about them.

Concubine Zhuang was waiting for this sentence, so she hurriedly said it.

"The Empress is very busy. This morning, when I went to pay my respects to her in Weiyang Palace, I noticed that she didn't seem to have had enough rest. It's too much trouble for her to worry about such a trivial matter. I have an idea. Why not let Sister Xie live in Ninghua Palace?"

"What about Concubine Yi?" Zhao Xingjin seemed dissatisfied.

Concubine Zhuang continued to act considerate. "Ninghua Palace is closest to Princess Wenxi's Changle Palace. It would be more convenient for Sister Xie to teach the princess. Also, since you're new to the palace, I think you'll adapt better if someone takes care of you."

Before Zhao Xingjin could respond, the Queen Mother spoke first.

"Yes, Concubine Yi is also an old man in the Qiandi Palace. She has always been calm and steady. Following her, I think Concubine Xie can also learn to be more steady."

This means that it has been finalized.

Zhao Xingjin glanced at the empress dowager and finally said nothing more.

Xie Jiu frowned slightly, lowered his eyes to hide the doubt in his eyes, and also thanked him first.

Of course, she didn't think that Concubine Zhuang was so kind as to arrange a good place for her to live, but she didn't know what the problem was.

Looking at the empress dowager, she seemed unhappy since Zhao Xingjin promoted her from beauty to concubine, otherwise she would not have listened to Concubine Zhuang's opinion.

After all, Concubine Zhuang couldn't stand seeing her good intentions, and her hatred was written all over her face.

But no matter what, the matter has been decided, and Xie Jiu can only accept the arrangement temporarily, prepare to pack up, and move to Ninghua Palace today.

(End of this chapter)