“You don’t have to wear yourself out. Due to my overwhelming workload recently, I have many scrolls to looked at. That is why I don’t have much appetite. I appreciate Concubine Xiao’s effort.”
“That’s what this humble concubine is supposed to do.” She smiled as she massaged the Qi Zhen Emperor’s shoulders and showed her concern by saying, “Emperor has to take care of your health. Remember to take a good rest. You’re the Emperor of Da Lin and all our people depend on you.”
“I know.” Qi Zhen Emperor took another mouthful of the snow fungus soup.
Seeing that the Qi Zhen Emperor was in a good mood, Concubine Xiao shifted her eyes and said slyly, “Yi’er resembles Emperor a lot. He spends all his day on the matters of the Royal Court and neglects his personal health. Anyway, Yi’er is no longer young. Even though he has a few concubines in his residence, but the position of his first wife is still vacant. This humble concubine thinks it may be the right time to assign a first wife for Yi’er so that they can inherit the legacy of the empire in the future!”
The Qi Zhen Emperor did not have much reaction after he heard her words. After a brief silence, he replied, “I will deliberate on this issue.”
“Since Emperor is going to ponder on this issue, can this concubine suggest a candidate?”
“Who?”
“Ji Muqing, the daughter of the Ji Family.”
The moment she spoke Ji Muqing’s name, the Qi Zhen Emperor’s expression changed immediately. He repeated himself, “I’ll take your suggestion into consideration.” Concubine Xiao decided it was better for her to end the conversation.
Once she left Fuyang Hall and returned to her residence, she immediately ordered the eunuch, “Bring Prince Yi to my residence.”
“Yes!” The eunuch immediately left to carry out his task.
Very quickly, Jing Yi arrived in his official robes. There was a eunuch running along by his side, covering him from the rain with an umbrella. However, the small umbrella could not block the heavy, slanting rain. In a blink of an eye, the bottom of Jing Yi’s robes and his shoes were all wet. Many small water droplets decorated his good-looking face. As he entered the residence, he wiped the water droplets off with his sleeve. Concubine Xiao promptly ordered her servant to prepare a bowl of ginger tea for Jing Yi.
Jing Yi asked, “Imperial Mother has something important to say?”
“I think so.”
“Regarding Jing Rong?”
Concubine Xiao frowned as she dismissed all the eunuchs and maids in her residence. She said with extreme caution, “Before this, I met Lord Li, the city gate overseer, outside Fuyang Hall. He has never visited the palace without anything of high importance, so it is unlikely for him to visit the palace for no reason today. I questioned him when I bumped into him and he stuttered but did not spill a word. I believe it might be something very significant, hence, I summoned you to my residence to inform you about it. I hope that you can find out what happened. You can also prepare yourself if there is something big happening.”
Jing Yi fell into thought. He gently hung the teacup on his finger and said, “Lord Li is the city gate overseer and he visited the palace? Could it be… regarding the assassination of Jing Rong that was under my order?”
“It’s highly possible.”
“What did Imperial Father say?”
“Your Imperial Father did not say anything. But, from what I noticed when I spoke to Lord Li, your Imperial Father seems to have forbidden him from speaking about it.”
Jing Yi squinted as he remained quiet for a while, then wondered, “Did Jing Rong send a letter to the city gate? And then Lord Li personally delivered the letter to the palace? Then, he must have brought the news about the assassination in Anfu to the palace. If that is the case, Imperial Father will definitely inform the Supreme Court. From what I see, we should not speak to Lord Li. Instead, we should ask the Supreme Court Chancellor.”
Concubine Xiao agreed. She nodded and said, “The Supreme Court Chancellor works for you. If there are any orders from your Imperial Father, the Chancellor will definitely take the initiative and send the news to you.”
“Yes. Your son will look deeper into this.”
Concubine Xiao pondered before she spoke again, “Oh, yes. I’ve spoken to your Imperial Father about your marriage and conveniently brought up the name of the Ji Family’s daughter. Your Imperial Father did not object, but neither did he agree. He said that he needed some time to think about this carefully. Hence, he knows our intention and will give us a reply after he considers.”
In actual fact, Jing Yi clearly knew that his marriage was nothing but a manoeuvre in the game of thrones. His first wife was supposed to gain power for him, and should also be a major factor for him to succeed the throne. Hence, he had given in to this idea a long time ago! “I’ll follow Imperial Mother’s instructions.”
“Don’t you worry. Your Imperial Mother will lead you to the throne. You’ll have to marry Ji Muqing no matter what happens, then gain the power of the Ji Brothers.” Concubine Xiao’s delicate face turned ferocious, showing how much she craved for the power.
Comparatively, Jing Yi appeared calm. He did not bother to think about his marriage at the moment, but his mind was on the visit of the city gate overseer. There was no sign of the rain stopping as it only got heavier. Concubine Xiao intended to make Jing Yi stay for a little longer and leave only after the rain stopped. However, Jing Yi informed Concubine Xiao that he was going to the Supreme Court as the matter could not be delayed. Then, he hastily left Concubine Xiao’s residence.