Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 578 How much sincerity does the Emperor have?

"Whether it's true or not, what does it matter?"

Zhou Bai stared blankly at a certain spot in the carriage, his voice low, almost a sigh. Lu Qi was a man sent by the Emperor, so Zhou Bai naturally wouldn't believe everything he said, but that didn't stop him from thinking about the matter in its deepest and most serious form, and then sharing that with Meng Shu.

"From the day Shu'er gave birth to the eldest prince before the Imperial Concubine, the Marquis's mansion... could no longer tolerate her."

After saying this, he turned to look at Xiuyun and said wearily, "I have thought about this a lot over the years. When the Marquis of Lin'an found the Emperor, who was then the Ninth Prince, he was probably trying to protect himself. Throughout history, few merchants and tycoons have been able to have a good end and preserve their family's foundation. It was both a gamble and a matter of mutual dependence."

"But the Ninth Prince was first enfeoffed as the Prince of Jin, and then smoothly ascended to the throne. The Tang family, which had been living in a remote corner, returned to the capital overnight and became a highly sought-after noble family."

He closed his eyes and let out a long breath: "At this point, the Marquis's ambitions have gone far beyond this. How could he allow the Tang family's glory to end with just one imperial concubine?"

"If Shu'er had given birth to a princess, or if the Imperial Concubine had remained childless, perhaps things would have been peaceful. But unfortunately, both Shu'er and the Imperial Concubine gave birth to princes. This is fate!"

Zhou Bai gave a wry smile, unconsciously stroking the lines on his palm. He was a man, so he understood men better.

The carriage turned a corner and entered Qinrenfang. We should arrive at the mansion in a quarter of an hour.

Seeing Xiu Yun remain silent, Zhou Bai suddenly leaned closer and said, "Over the years, everyone in the court knows that Consort Jin's favor has never waned. Yun'er, do you think the Emperor's feelings for our Shu'er are truly sincere?"

Xiuyun didn't understand why he asked that, and after a long silence, she murmured, "Your Majesty is intelligent and beautiful, with a graceful bearing, and has given birth to the Emperor's eldest son. Even if she doesn't have... complete sincerity, she is still the most..."

Zhou Bai shook his head, interrupting her, his voice turning cold and hard: "Perhaps there is affection, but more than that, it's just using Shu'er as a pawn to restrain Marquis Lin'an."

Xiuyun's fingertips were icy cold as she stared blankly at him.

Zhou Bai reached out and gently grasped her trembling hand: "Yun'er, you must understand, it wasn't me who forced Shu'er to fight for it. It was the Emperor, it was him who pushed us from behind, leaving us no choice but to fight."

The carriage swayed slightly on the official road, crushing those words in the rumbling of the wheels, and also striking heavily on Xiuyun's heart.

The Imperial Palace, Funing Hall.

Jingming hurriedly returned from outside. As soon as he entered the hall, he quickly waved the whisk in his hand and gestured to all the palace servants serving in the hall to withdraw.

"How is it?" The Emperor kept his head down, his pen moving slowly across the memorial.

Jingming bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have received news that it was just now that Miss Green Willow escorted Lord Zhou and Madam Zhou out of the palace. Consort Jin sat alone in the study for almost half an hour, and when she came out, her expression and demeanor were no different from usual."

The Emperor paused in his writing, a hint of consideration flashing in his eyes: "Zhou Bai has made meritorious contributions to the management of the canal transport, and Consort Jin should also enjoy the same favor."

Jingming quickly replied, "Your Majesty is wise."

"Go to the Imperial Treasury," the Emperor said, putting down his vermilion brush and tapping his fingertips lightly on the imperial desk. "Bring me the mother-of-pearl inlaid sandalwood pipa that was presented as tribute from Shu Prefecture last year, as well as the rose water and pearl necklace sent by the Abbasid Caliphate. Also, bring a box of ginseng that was presented as tribute from Silla."

Apart from the mother-of-pearl inlaid pipa, the other items were all from overseas, and their quality far surpassed that of ordinary tributes. The emperor kept them in his private treasury and never gave them away to others lightly.

"Yes, this servant will take care of it right away!"

Jingming bowed in agreement and was about to turn around when he heard the Emperor say again, "There's no need to send someone to deliver it. Just bring it to the Funing Palace and I'll take it there myself later."

Jingming was taken aback for a moment, then quickly and respectfully replied, "This servant obeys!"

After he left, Funing Palace returned to tranquility.

The emperor got up and walked to the window.

It was nearly dusk outside the window, and the sky was piled with golden-red and crimson clouds.

He stood with his hands behind his back, silently gazing at the magnificent twilight.