nycdaug Chapter 322: Recognition of Relatives (1)
Chapter 322: Recognition of Relatives (1)
"Father, Mother, what are you all doing standing here? I've sent some refreshments over. You can enjoy yourselves while you eat and chat. I have something else to do, so I have to leave first."
Murong Yuan left first. What happened next had little to do with her, so she was too lazy to pay attention to it. She might as well go find the little uncle. She heard that the little uncle had left the palace again. It was really too much. He didn't even take her with him!
Murong Shiling sat down. Queen Li reached out and picked up a grape, placing it to Murong Shiling's lips. "Your Majesty, this was just delivered today. I've tasted it and it's very sweet. How about Your Majesty try some too?"
Murong Shiling did not refuse. Today, Queen Li made him feel like he was back in his youth. He missed her very much and felt particularly warm.
Queen Li looked at Murong Shiling's expression and felt proud in her heart. These days, she deliberately allowed Murong Shiling and Concubine Yu to be together all day long. People always get tired of the old and love the new. Although Concubine Yu is deeply loved by the emperor, he will definitely feel bored after a long time. This is exactly the opportunity the queen has been waiting for.
With a smile on her lips, Queen Li spoke tenderly, "Your Majesty, how do these grapes taste?"
Murong Shiling narrowed his eyes slightly, taking in Queen Li's tenderness. "Sweet, so sweet!"
"As long as your Majesty likes it, I'm glad. I've also had someone stew some sweet soup. Your Majesty may want to try it."
"Your Majesty is so thoughtful. I actually didn't have breakfast today..."
"Your Majesty, no matter how busy the court affairs are, Your Majesty should remember to eat!"
Queen Li's words made Murong Shileng feel more guilty. In fact, he missed breakfast today because he spent too much time with Concubine Yu. Now that he thinks about it, he has really been a bit too much these days.
"What the Queen said is true. I will remember it in the future."
Queen Li did not say anything more, but considerately had breakfast brought over. After the emperor had eaten and drunk his fill, Queen Li took advantage of the emperor's inattention and winked at the palace maid behind her. The palace maid nodded slightly and retreated.
A moment later, a palace maid came running in from outside the palace. "Your Majesty, something bad has happened. Lai Xi is fighting with someone outside the palace."
Empress Li heard this and said, "What's going on? Why are you reporting such a trivial matter to me? Have the rules of the harem disappeared?"
The young maid looked aggrieved, but she continued, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong, but the man who fought with Lai Xi claimed to be a member of Concubine Yu's family!"
"what?"
Now, even Murong Shileng was surprised. Concubine Yu's origins have always been very mysterious, and even she herself couldn't find out. How could someone suddenly claim to be her family?
Murong Shiling turned his head to look at Queen Li, and was surprised to see that she was also looking at him. He couldn't help but feel even more puzzled. Could it be that these people were not arranged by Queen Li?
Empress Li and Murong Shiling exchanged a glance, then turned to the palace maid and said, "Why don't you explain clearly? What's going on?"
"Your Majesty, this is what happened. Today it was Lai Xi's turn to be on duty outside the palace. Then a few people came and broke in. Lai Xi stopped them and questioned them. They said they were the family of Concubine Yu and had been ordered to visit the palace. Lai Xi said this was Your Majesty's palace, but they didn't believe him and insisted on coming in to take a look. That's when the fight started!"
Empress Li's face was somewhat grim. She turned her head and glanced at the emperor. "Your Majesty, how do you think we should deal with this matter?"
Murong Shiling pondered, "How about this, since they claim to be Concubine Yu's family, why not let Concubine Yu identify them herself? If what they say is true, it will be a good opportunity to reunite Concubine Yu's family."
Empress Li's expression changed, and then she forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty is right. Come, invite Concubine Yu! Also, bring in those who claim to be Concubine Yu's family members!"
At this point, the emperor really believed that these people were not arranged by Queen Li.
Concubine Yu was watering flowers in the palace at this time. The emperor specially asked someone to send her a pot of daffodils. There were a few small white flowers blooming on the green stems and leaves. It was fresh and lovely, and she liked it very much.
Ever since she was injured that day, the emperor had been with her almost every day, whispering in her ear, but she no longer had the same fantasy she had at the beginning. In the imperial family, how could there be any real feelings?
Moreover, in the past few days, the emperor seemed to be tired of her. Even when he spoke, he no longer looked at her. Concubine Yu laughed at herself. It turned out that what the young lady said was right. It seemed that she should change her strategy.
"Your Majesty, the Queen has ordered you to come over."
Concubine Yu put down the kettle in her hand, her pretty brows furrowed tightly. Queen? It seemed like nothing good could happen if she was associated with her.
"Did the Queen say what it was?"
"That's not the case, but I heard that someone just broke into the Chaofeng Palace and got into a fight with the eunuchs on duty, and..."
The young palace maid paused, glanced at Imperial Concubine Yu, and seeing that she wasn't upset, she continued, "And I heard that those who trespassed into the Chaofeng Palace were your family members."
When Concubine Yu heard this, her heart skipped a beat and uneasiness surged from the bottom of her heart. As expected, the queen would never look for her without a reason.
The first reaction in her mind was to ask Yu Qingli for help. In this harem, if there was anyone who could save her, it would be no one else except Yu Qingli.
Thinking of this, Concubine Yu pointed at the little palace maid and said, "You, go to Ju'an Palace immediately and inform the prince's wife of this matter..."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I was sent by the Crown Princess. She also instructed you to remain calm and leave the rest to her!"
Concubine Yu was stunned, obviously not expecting the current situation. However, from what the palace maid said, she knew that Yu Qingli had already received the news, and even the palace maid next to her was hers. She couldn't help but feel a chill.
This Yu Qingli is really scary. Who is she and what does she want to do?
But now, she obviously has no time to care about these things. Instead, after knowing this matter, her heart is at peace.
After tidying up her clothes a little, Concubine Yu followed the palace maid who brought her with her and walked towards Chaofeng Palace.
In the Chaofeng Palace, Murong Shiling sat on a carved sandalwood chair in the middle, and next to him sat the noble-dressed Queen Li.
In the marble-paved hall, a group of three people knelt there trembling with fear, not daring to move.
The man in the middle was in his forties or fifties, with a fat build. He looked very smart and claimed to be Concubine Yu's father.
The woman kneeling next to him was about the same age as him. She wore a simple headdress and a brand new double-breasted long dress. Even the folds of the clothes were clearly visible. It was obviously a treasured item. At this moment, she almost fell to the ground and didn't even dare to raise her head. Looking closely, she was shaking all over, like a leaf in the wind.
There was another man who was younger, stronger, and had a rather ruffian air. He did not look like a good person. It was this man who had just had a conflict with Lai Xi, the eunuch from Chaofeng Palace.
"All of you raise your heads!"
The three people slowly raised their heads, but quickly lowered them after meeting the emperor's gaze, looking very nervous.
"You said you were Imperial Concubine Yu's family, is that true?"
"Well, of course! My sister wrote to us specifically to ask us to come to the palace this time. She said that she has become a royal concubine and is doing well in the palace, so she asked us to come to the capital." The young man mustered up the courage to speak. The greed in his eyes made Murong Shiling very dissatisfied and disgusted.
"You...speak less!" The woman beside him tugged at the young man's clothes and looked at the emperor with some fear. She always felt that although he was her son-in-law, the person in front of her was definitely not someone they could afford to provoke.
"Mother, why should I say less? This is the truth. My sister is now a noble concubine. Maybe I can get an official position, and father doesn't have to be a small county magistrate anymore. Maybe he can even get a promotion!"
Now, even the old man changed his expression, and looked up at the emperor secretly with some fear and trepidation. This little beast of his family was used to bullying others, and he didn't even look at where he was. He was so shameless. I really don't know how his mother educated him. It's true that a loving mother often spoils her son!
"Your Majesty, please calm down. My son is not very talented and well-educated, and he is spoiled by his mother. It is inevitable that he may use some inappropriate words. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me!"
Murong Shiling looked coldly at the family of three in front of him. It was inexplicably annoying. Could these people really be Concubine Yu's family? At this moment, he was really worried. If it was true, it meant that Concubine Yu had been lying to him before, because he had just asked these people and they said that their daughter was called Chen Xiu'er!
If it's fake, it would be a relief.
"You should get up first!" Murong Shiling was silent for a long time, then said to Shi En who was kneeling on the ground, "Since you are the concubine's family, you are also my family. It is not a good idea to keep kneeling like this. You should get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
A few of them knew how to express their gratitude, stood up from the ground, and then stood still, waiting for the emperor's decision.
Murong Shileng looked at these people coldly, and his mood became increasingly bad. Queen Li next to him had a sneer on her face. Murong Shileng felt that she probably also found these people annoying.
Not long after, a notice was heard from the door, saying that the imperial concubine had arrived. Upon hearing this, several people looked towards the door. The middle-aged woman was especially surprised, with a look of mother and daughter meeting each other. Lord Chen was a little calmer, but he kept looking outside the hall, and his urgency was beyond words.