To Be a Mighty Empress, Or Not to Be - C106
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger …” The officials shouted.
“Then, who can stand up and give me an explanation?” The emperor’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word and sentence revealed a certain majesty that caused others to not dare to offend him.
The rest of the officials looked at each other before lowering their heads, not daring to speak. The Crown Prince then stepped forward and bowed, “This son believes that the matter is extremely important, yet such important news has been suppressed. I think someone must have done something to conceal the disaster in the south.”
“Continue!”
The Crown Prince cleared his throat and continued, “The people are in dire straits. The most important thing for us to do is to provide relief and stabilize their minds. Then, Father will send someone to investigate them thoroughly. We must catch them and get to the bottom of this.”
Hearing this, the Emperor nodded his head in appreciation and opened his mouth, “The Crown Prince’s words are reasonable. Who would be willing to go to the south to deal with this matter?”
There was another silence. This was no trivial matter. If he couldn’t find a reason, how could he explain it to the Emperor? Furthermore, the officials from the south had always been difficult to deal with. No one wanted to take over this mess.
Shi Anran’s gaze turned deep. In her previous life, the person who took over this matter was the crown prince, but in the end, it all went wrong. Not only was he beaten up by the victims in the south, he was also scolded by the Emperor when he returned.
After the imperial court dispersed, the emperor was discussing some matters with a few ministers. Shi Anran tactfully left, passing by the Third Prince on the corridor, and continued to walk forward after receiving the note from her. No one noticed what she was doing at all.
After going back, Li Mu opened the note Shi Anran had given him, and the deep look in his eyes appeared. This woman told him to take the initiative to report to the Emperor and then head south to investigate this matter. However, if this matter was successfully completed, then royal father would definitely look at him in a new light. This was truly a dangerous move. Li Mu immediately felt that this woman was actually quite clever.
The moon was bright in the sky, and the palace was still brightly lit.
“Your majesty, it’s late at night.” It was indeed late, Shi Anran could not help but remind him.
After seeing the color of the sky, the emperor tiredly closed his eyes. He picked up the cup of tea on the table, took a sip, and said, “I’ve been worrying too much lately …”
“Your majesty, this matter will be resolved eventually. If you are too worried, it will harm your dragon body.” Shi Anran said with a clear and bland voice.
Hearing this, the emperor smiled slightly: “Anran, you don’t know much about the matters of the imperial court. Forget it, I’ll look at this place first, you should go back and rest.”
Shi Anran put the paper away. “Anran respectfully sees your majesty.”
At the morning assembly the next day, the Third Prince took the initiative to go to the south to investigate the local officials. Although the Emperor did not believe that he had the ability, he was on time.
After the morning assembly, the Ninth Prince, who had been beaten up by Xiang Rongcheng at the Bright Moon Restaurant, looked at Third Prince with a smile that was not a smile and said: “Third Brother, you better think things through. Taking credit is not how you play, it’s fine if you don’t get anything in the end.
Li Mu smiled faintly but didn’t say anything. Coincidentally, at this time, the crown prince came over. Li Gan looked at him with a little complexity in his eyes and said, “Third brother, this is a very important matter, you …”
“Don’t worry big brother, third brother will do his best!” Li Mu spat out a sentence and successfully suppressed the words he was about to say. Originally, the crown prince had planned to ask for an edict but the Third Prince was one step ahead of him, so it was inevitable that he had some thoughts in his heart.
After he left, the ninth prince held onto the crown prince’s shoulder and said, “Looking at him, he doesn’t seem to be any great expert. After he left, the ninth prince held onto the crown prince’s shoulder and said,”
Li Gan frowned slightly, and pushed his hand away: “Ninth Brother, that’s not what I meant. You should be clear about what you’re not allowed to say in the Imperial Palace.”
Hearing this, the ninth prince was immediately at a loss for words. He let out a dry laugh, unsure of what to say.
The night before the Third Prince was going to leave, the emperor laid down a banquet in preparation for his successful return. All of the officials had brought their families and families to attend the banquet, while Shi Yu and his third wife accompanied him at his side.
When she saw his father from afar, Shi Anran went up to him and greeted him, “Father!”
Seeing that his daughter’s identity was now different, Shi Yu felt a sense of relief between his brows, “Anran, be more careful of everything by the side of the emperor. Everyone knew the saying of accompanying a monarch like a tiger.
Shi Anran nodded in agreement, “Father, daughter naturally knows.”
Shi Yu could not stay any longer, and walked forward. After Shi Yu left, the third wife glanced at Shi Anran and said in disdain, “No matter what, isn’t she still the emperor’s servant? “Why are you so arrogant?”
“What did you say, woman? In front of Aunt, you are not to be presumptuous! ” Cui Yun walked over and stood behind Shi Anran, one on the left and one on the right. They were maids personally arranged by the emperor to stand by Shi Anran’s side, so they naturally had to protect Shi Anran.
“Where did this servant girl come from to be so arrogant, and why does big miss Shi Family still have to call me ‘concubine’? Who do you think you are?” Perhaps Third Madam’s voice was too loud and attracted a lot of attention.
Shi Anran laughed and shook her head: “Forget it, let’s go!” Arguing with such a person would only reduce his own character.
Unfortunately, how could Third Madam let her leave so easily? She immediately went to block her way. “Would it be that after a few days, even your father will not be called?”
Cui Yun stood out and pushed her away, “She’s just a concubine, why are you being so arrogant!
When the Third Madam heard her concubine’s words and was extremely unhappy, she looked at the little girl who was following Shi Anran and felt that she was not scary at all. She then clamored, “I am the Third Madam of the Shi Family, don’t you people respect me wherever I go?
Cui Yun didn’t retreat at all, and said: “We are aunt’s subordinates, aunt is someone close to the emperor, if you say this, do you think the Emperor’s teachings are wrong?”
Hearing the two words “emperor”, the third wife remembered that Shi Anran was different from her previous self and was already someone who served the emperor. The person beside her wasn’t like Yi Yue, who belonged in her own residence and could freely scold him. She wanted to say something fierce, but she didn’t dare to. After holding it in for a long time, she finally said, “I can’t be bothered to haggle with you maids.”
Shi Anran indicated for Cui Yun to not speak. After the third wife left, Shi Anran then said softly, “It’s not worth being angry over. Just ignore her in the future.”
“Aunt is right.” Cui Yun lowered her head and acknowledged, she felt that Shi Anran was indeed someone who could keep her cool, and was different from the others.
At the banquet, there were many people wishing the Third Prince a smooth return. In reality, their words were filled with sarcasm, hoping that he wouldn’t be able to do anything and lose his identity as a prince to the emperor. That would be the happiest thing.
It was not a common thing for princes and ministers to form alliances, but no one was willing to support Third Prince. Perhaps the ministers all thought that this’ useless and useless’ Third Prince would not become a great figure in the future, and naturally did not waste their time thinking about it.
After Shi Anran poured wine for the emperor, he stood behind her and guarded the entire time. Countless gazes were fixed on her, not moving at all, as if he did not see any of them. In this period, Xiang Rongcheng did not say a single word, and only drank her wine in silence.
The emperor had left with the Imperial Noble Consort Zhao halfway through, and Shi Anran had also become free to do so. Just as she was about to go and relieve the situation, she was stopped halfway by Xiang Rongcheng, “Anran, how did you become the emperor’s maid?”
“Does this have anything to do with you, Young Master Xiang?”
Hearing this, Xiang Rongcheng was startled, then coughed lightly in embarrassment: “Of course it’s related, the palace maids in the palace will change once every five years, which means after five years you can leave the palace, and we can get married!”
He spoke so naturally, as if the five years of waiting for Shi Anran in the middle were just the flick of a finger.
Shi Anran looked at him without leaving a trace, but it was as if she had completely forgotten about his last sentence. She lowered her eyebrows and said indifferently: “Young Master Xiang, if you have nothing to say, please move aside.