A few days later, Empress Qiao learned about the “good deed” Empress Dowager Zhao had done. She was so angry that her face changed!

It was the first day of the new month, so Emperor Yongjia came to the Jiofang Hall and stayed overnight.

In a rare moment of leisure, Emperor Yongjia told the whole story. Empress Qiao couldn’t hold back her anger, breaking through her dignified and self-restrained mask: “Your Mother can’t bear to see Ah Jing have a legitimate son?”

This was so heartbreaking!

Emperor Yongjia’s face darkened and he looked at Empress Qiao: “Empress, please be careful with your words!”

Empress Qiao had usually been humble and tolerant out of habit, but when it came to her children’s affairs, she couldn’t tolerate it anymore. She sneered and said, “Yes, I will shut up now. When the day comes that someone bullies us to the point of no return, chénqiè ^[1]a formal way of saying this concubine and Ah Jing, along with his wife, will silently endure it without making a sound. That way, the Emperor won’t be troubled from both sides!”

Empress Dowager Zhao was really unreasonable in this matter.

Emperor Yongjia had to patiently comfort Empress Qiao: “I have already dealt with it properly. If I didn’t tell you, even you wouldn’t know about it.”

“As for the Queen Mother, I have also said it. From today on, the Queen Mother will never interfere in the affairs between the young couple again.”

At least, not before the baby in Lu Mingyu’s belly was born, Empress Dowager Zhao would not cause trouble for Lu Mingyu again.

Empress Qiao said nothing, but disbelief clearly flashed in her eyes.

Emperor Yongjia coughed and continued, “I have already promised my mother that I will confine Qin Shi to her bedroom for two months. Besides, Qin Shi gave birth to the Fourth Prince, and it is not very decent for her to be demoted to a Jieyu. After some time, I will find a reason to restore her to the position of fēi!”

Empress Qiao: “…”

Hehe!

Having such a mother-in-law is really unfortunate for eight lifetimes!

Empress Qiao replied expressionlessly: “Your Majesty is right.”

The Emperor’s word was as good as gold. He issued an imperial decree to punish Qin Shi, but after only one month, he changed his mind. It would be bad if it got out. Therefore, Empress Qiao had to come forward and “speak for Qin Shi” before he “reluctantly” agreed.

To get Empress Qiao to cooperate with this play, Emperor Yongjia had to comfort her with kind words: “My mother, she is old and sometimes makes mistakes. I am her son and you are her daughter-in-law, so we can only give in a little.”

“Speaking of which, Ah Jing also makes me look at him differently.”

“Mother had rewarded the palace servants to the Lu residence, but instead of accepting them, he immediately sent the persons to my Wenhua Hall. Once the matter was explained, he tossed this hot potato to me.”

“I was also afraid that Mother would hold a grudge over this, and that future meetings between the two of them would be awkward, so I made a small concession regarding the Qin Shi.”

When Li Jing was mentioned, Empress Qiao’s expression softened: “Your Majesty has helped Ah Jing out of trouble. I thank Your Majesty.”

Emperor Yongjia said with a smile: “Ah Jing is not just your son. I am his biological father. There is nothing wrong with cleaning up his mess for him.”

Empress Qiao calmed down a little and said slowly, “Your Majesty, please tell me how you plan to deal with Qin Shi.”

Emperor Yongjia hinted: “The Empress should have the final say on matters in the harem. Without Qin Shi’s company, my mother is always unhappy. The Empress is the most filial, and she has come to me to plead for my mother’s health. How can I not respond?”

Empress Qiao nodded to show that she understood.

…

When Li Jing entered the Pepper Room at noon the next day, Empress Qiao had no choice but to scold her son: “…How come you kept such a big thing a secret? When your grandmother made things difficult for you, you should have told me right away. I would have handled it for you!”

Li Jing said, “I can’t bear to see Xiaoyu suffer any injustice, and I can’t bear to see my mother suffer for me.”

Empress Qiao felt a lump in her throat and her eyes became hot.

Empress Dowager Zhao had always disliked her as a daughter-in-law. It was good enough that she didn’t look for opportunities to stab her. Even if she went to Shouning Palace, she might not be able to protect her son.

Before Empress Qiao could complain, Li Jing smiled and said, “It’s so good now. With my father stepping in, even if my grandmother is unhappy, she can’t make a fuss anymore.”

Empress Qiao sighed softly and told Li Jing that Emperor Yongjia had agreed to Empress Dowager Zhao’s request.

Li Jing was not surprised at all: “I had guessed that this would happen.” After a pause, he whispered: “It is worth it to appease the Empress Dowager with this matter in exchange for half a year of peace.”

With the status of Empress Dowager Zhao, it would be very easy for her to make trouble for Li Jing and his wife.

Empress Qiao sighed, “That’s true. I have already promised your father that I will cooperate with him in putting on a good show and restore Qin Shi’s position as a Jieyu first. After a while, I will let her come out of her palace.”

Qin Shi stayed by Empress Dowager Zhao’s side, fanning the flames from time to time, which was really annoying.

But without Qin Shi, Queen Dowager Zhao became even more difficult to deal with. She was doing her best to cause trouble, which was enough to cause a headache.

The mother and son chatted for a while, and Empress Qiao suddenly said, “Ah Jing, you and your father are much closer than before.”

Li Jing’s eyes flickered and he smiled faintly: “I was too reserved before and didn’t dare to get close to my father. This is how father and son should get along. I thought too much before.”

Empress Qiao smiled with relief: “Yes, I also hope that you and the Emperor will get along well with each other.”

…

A few days later, when everyone went together to Shouning Palace to pay their respects, Empress Qiao openly spoke up to Emperor Yongjia, pleading, “Qin Shi has occasionally spoken out of turn, and the Emperor has already punished her. Now, after all this time, it should be enough to let go of your anger.”

“My mother has been unhappy these days without Qin Shi by her side, and she is not feeling well. For the sake of my mother’s health, please show mercy, Your Majesty, and restore Qin Shi’s position as a Jieyu, so that she can leave the palace as soon as possible.”

Emperor Yongjia deliberately kept a stern face and said, “The word of the Son of Heaven is as weighty as a thousand jun, how could it be changed so easily?”

Meng Guifei and Su Fei sneered in their hearts at the same time.

It was such an obvious show, did he think they were fools?

Empress Qiao gently said, “This isn’t a matter of great importance in the court; it’s just a small issue within the harem. How could it be as serious as changing an imperial decree? Your Majesty, please consider it as giving me some face and grant my request!”

Emperor Yongjia nodded reluctantly: “Well, since the Empress has pleaded for Qin Shi, I cannot refuse her. However, this is only the first time, and it will not happen again!”

Meng Guifei and Su Fei both spit in their hearts.

Empress Dowager Zhao was very pleased and liked Empress Qiao more. She praised Empress Qiao for once, saying, “The Empress is the most filial.”

Empress Qiao suppressed her nausea and replied with a smile, “A daughter-in-law must be filial to her mother-in-law.”

That afternoon, Empress Qiao issued an imperial decree to restore Qin Jieyu to her position as fēi.

Qin Jieyu, who had lost weight after being confined for more than a month, almost burst into tears as she held the imperial edict in her hands.

The Fourth Prince came soon and said to Qin Fēi with a happy face: “In half a month or so, Mother will be able to leave the palace.”

Qin Fēi wiped her tears with her sleeve and whispered, “I don’t have to wait that long. Just wait and see. In a few days, your grandmother will find a way to let me out of the palace to meet people.”

The Fourth Prince: “…”

(End of this chapter)