Chapter 396: The Concubine Who Was Buried with the Emperor VS The Ruthless and Romantic Emperor 44
Yong'an Palace.

The sunlight falls softly on the glazed tiles of the palace, reflecting colorful light.

The palace is surrounded by colorful flowers and green trees.

Concubine Shu was leaning on the soft couch, her face was extremely charming, her eyebrows were like green feathers, her eyes were full of autumnal waves, her red lips were tender and tempting, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned with a seductive arc.

She frowned slightly, with a hint of anxiety in her eyes, and whispered to Xiangju beside her:
"Xiangju, quickly arrange for someone you can trust to go to Yangzhou. Find the most famous brothel in Yangzhou, whether it's the madam or the top prostitute, and do everything you can to get some unusual ways to please men from them. No matter how much money it costs, remember, this matter must not be known to anyone."

Xiangju blushed after hearing this, and said hesitantly: "Madam, this...is it inappropriate to do this? After all, the methods used by those places are probably too..."

Concubine Shu raised her eyebrows and sneered, "What's wrong with that? The emperor likes these things. If I were as rigid as the concubines in the harem, I would have been thrown into some corner by the emperor long ago."

Seeing Xiangju's shocked expression, she chuckled again and said, "In this harem, if you don't have the emperor's favor, you are like an ant. I must do everything I can to win the emperor's heart. What if those means are shameless? As long as the emperor can't stop wanting me, nothing else matters."

In this harem, favor is everything. There is nothing shameful or not.

It is shameful to have no grace and be bullied by others.

Xiangju bit her lip and nodded, "Yes, Madam, I will arrange it right away."

After saying that, he turned and left in a hurry.

Concubine Shu looked at Xiangju's departing back and quickly closed the door.

She pulled out a picture album from under the pillow. It was a pornographic picture album, a rare edition from the palace, which she had bought at great expense.

She blushed and started practicing.

Xinghua Palace.

Yu Yao was leaning on the couch by the window reading a storybook. The room was quiet and peaceful.

Liuli came in with a bowl of tonic soup and said softly, "My lady, this is freshly cooked tonic soup. Drink it while it's hot."

She nodded slightly, put down the book, took the bowl of soup, and took a sip.

Liuli thought about the news she had heard and lowered her voice and said, "Your Majesty, Xiao Qingzi came to report secretly that the noble concubine Shu from Yong'an Palace sent someone to secretly leave the palace, and no one knew what they were doing."

Yu Yao raised her eyes slightly, her eyebrows slightly frowned, "There must be a reason why Concubine Shu sent people out of the palace at this time. But this matter has nothing to do with our Xinghua Palace, so there is no need to pay too much attention to it."

After saying this, he handed the empty bowl to Liuli.

Liuli took it and nodded slightly, "Your Majesty is right. But this Concubine Shu is becoming more and more bold, which is really hard to predict."

Yu Yao sighed softly, "Favor is like floating clouds. Although Concubine Shu is now in great glory, who in the harem can maintain power for long? Let's wait and see what happens."

Liuli didn't say anything and walked away with the empty bowl.

"Tongtong, why did Concubine Shu send someone out of the palace?"

After Liuli retreated, Yu Yao asked the system in her heart.

The system did not answer her immediately. She asked several times before the system slowly said, "What else can you do? Of course, go to the brothel in Yangzhou to find ways to please men and consolidate your favor."

Yu Yao raised her eyebrows slightly, and then understood in her heart that Yangzhou was a famous place of romance, and naturally there were the most various ways to please men.

She didn't have any contemptuous thoughts. Wasn't she originally favored in this way?

I just think that the Dog Emperor really deserves the name of being a romantic man.

Then, he picked up the storybook again and read it.

Imperial Room.

The sunlight poured into the imperial kitchen through the carved windows, creating patches of mottled light and shadows on the ground.

The fire on the stove was burning brightly, steam was rising, and the ingredients in the pot were emitting tempting aroma.

Various knives and cooking utensils are neatly arranged, and the baskets hanging on the wall are filled with fresh vegetables and fruits.

The eunuchs and palace maids from the imperial kitchen were busy moving around in the kitchen. The sounds of cutting vegetables, frying food, and footsteps were intertwined, making the room extremely lively.

Xiao Qingzi stepped into the imperial kitchen, holding a basket in his hand. As soon as he entered the door, he said politely and courteously: "Eunuch, Xinghua Palace needs sea cucumbers, snow swallows and red dates today. Please prepare them quickly. The queen is waiting."

Although Xinghua Palace has a small kitchen, daily ingredients still have to be obtained from the imperial kitchen.

The eunuch in the imperial kitchen knew that Qin Zhaorong was pregnant, so he did not dare to neglect her and was about to go get the ingredients needed for Xinghua Palace.

The eunuch was embarrassed when he heard this. He rubbed his hands on his apron and looked a little embarrassed: "Oh, Eunuch Xiao Qingzi, you came at a really bad time. You know, the lady in Yong'an Palace also specifically asked for sea cucumbers today. I..."

Before he finished speaking, the eunuch from Yong'an Palace approached with an arrogant look on his face and interrupted their conversation: "Humph, the noble concubine is the apple of the emperor's eye, so naturally the sea cucumber should be used by our concubine first."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qingzi was furious. The queen was Zhaorong, whose status was higher than the one in Yong'an Palace. What's more, the queen was pregnant with a dragon seed.

But thinking that Concubine Shu was indeed very favored recently, he suppressed his anger and said, "Eunuch, my queen is pregnant with a dragon seed. If this sea cucumber is missing, I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what?"

The eunuch who took Yong'an Palace didn't take it seriously and said nonchalantly: "Our noble concubine is the apple of the emperor's eye. If the concubine wants to eat sea cucumber, how dare the people in the imperial kitchen refuse to give it to her?"

The father-in-law, who is in charge of managing the food, is in a dilemma.

On one side is Qin Zhaorong, who is pregnant and of high rank, and on the other side is Shu Guipin, who is in favor.

Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and he didn't know how to make a decision.

After thinking for a moment, he finally decided to satisfy the needs of Yong'an Palace first. After all, Concubine Shu was in favor now and could see the emperor every day, so he really didn't dare to offend her.

As for Qin Zhaorong, other things can be used as substitutes. There is no need to eat sea cucumber. Instead, the emperor only goes there to visit once every ten days or half a month.

He smiled apologetically and said to the eunuch of Yong'an Palace: "Don't worry, I will pick the best sea cucumber for you right away."

Then, he turned to Xiao Qingzi and said apologetically: "Eunuch Xiao Qingzi, I'm really sorry, all the sea cucumbers for today have been reserved by Yong'an Palace, you see..."

Xiao Qingzi's face darkened, but he knew that this matter could not be forced, so he suppressed his anger and said coldly: "If that's the case, then forget it, I will report it to the queen."

After saying this, he turned around and was about to leave.

After returning to Xinghua Palace, Xiao Qingzi did not dare to delay at all. He went straight to Yu Yao's room and reported everything that happened in the imperial kitchen.

Yu Yao frowned slightly, and a chill appeared in her eyes, but then she returned to normal and comforted her softly, "Forget it, Xiao Qingzi, don't be angry. In the harem, people are fickle and the world is fickle. I'm pregnant now, so I shouldn't get angry, so as not to hurt the baby in my belly."

Although she didn't necessarily want to eat sea cucumbers, she naturally felt uncomfortable being treated so coldly.

Liuli, who was standing by, complained indignantly, "My queen, the people in the imperial kitchen are too much. How dare they be so negligent when you are pregnant with a dragonborn child?"

Yu Yao narrowed her eyes slightly, with a hint of coldness in her expression, "Liuli, think of a way to tell the emperor about this."

She wanted to see how the Dog Emperor would react.

Liuli nodded slightly, "Don't worry, Madam, I understand."

Imperial study. Sunlight shines through the carved window lattices, sprinkling on the desk, the scent of ink and ambergris interweaves, quiet and peaceful.

Lu Xi walked in lightly with a whisk in his hand and said softly, "Your Majesty, something happened in the imperial kitchen."

Emperor Jing put down the memorial he was reviewing and looked up at Lu Xi, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes, "What's the matter?"

Lu Xi bowed and said carefully, "Today, Xinghua Palace and Yong'an Palace both asked the Imperial Kitchen for sea cucumbers, but the Imperial Kitchen only had one excellent sea cucumber, so the Imperial Kitchen's chief steward privately gave it to Yong'an Palace. When Eunuch Xiao Qingzi returned to the palace and learned about this, he was very angry and reported it to Empress Qin Zhaorong."

He really admired Concubine Shu. Although she was a daughter of an official family, she was able to humble herself and serve the Emperor.

In order to please the emperor, she tried every possible means, even at the cost of self-torture.

Apart from anything else, the candles in the Hall of Supreme Harmony are the fastest.

Lu Xi didn't know how to use it, but he only knew that every night, the palace would be filled with the extremely excited screams of Concubine Shu and the crazy and unbridled laughter of the Emperor.

Although Qin Zhaorong is also very much loved by the emperor and has powerful means, she never abuses herself and will never agree to any excessive actions.

It's not surprising at all that the emperor favors Concubine Shu.

Lu Xi was very curious about what the emperor would do and who he would favor more.

Emperor Jing had no idea what Lu Xi was thinking. His expression was complicated and he tapped the table lightly with his fingers, making a rhythmic sound, as if he was thinking about something.

Yao'er always has an indelible place in his heart, and is about to give birth to a child for him.

Although Concubine Shu won his favor for a while and he indulged her, she was ultimately unable to touch the softest part of his heart.

"The people in the imperial kitchen are really becoming more and more ignorant of the rules."

Emperor Jing's face was gloomy, and he spoke coldly, "Pass on my decree. The servant who is in charge of this matter today will be punished with thirty strokes of the cane and demoted to the Xinzheku as a slave, as a warning to others."

Lu Xi quickly agreed and was about to leave.

Emperor Jing called him back, with a hint of guilt in his eyes, "Wait, my share of sea cucumbers has not been touched yet, right? Send someone to send it to Xinghua Palace immediately and tell her that I will visit her later."

Lu Xi took the order and left, secretly feeling that the Emperor still treated Concubine Qin Zhaorong differently after all.

Xinghua Palace.

Yu Yao sent Lu Xi away with a smile on her face, but as soon as Lu Xi left, her expression immediately changed and became cold.

She turned to Liuli and said, "Throw that sea cucumber away to me."

Liuli was surprised and said hesitantly, "My queen, this is a sea cucumber given by the emperor. Is it really going to be lost?"

"Do you really think I'm precious? Now you're giving it to me like alms, what the hell is that?"

Yu Yao's face was full of disgust. She didn't even look at the sea cucumber. After saying this, she went back to the inner room.

Liuli looked at the sea cucumber with hesitation, but she was reluctant to throw it away, so she just took it away secretly.

As night falls, the stars are dotted like broken diamonds on the inky sky.

Inside the Xinghua Palace, the lights were dim. Yu Yao was sitting by the window, reading a storybook.

Xiao Qingzi came in hurriedly, "Your Majesty, the Emperor is coming to the Xinghua Palace. Are you ready to go out and greet him?"

Yu Yao looked at Xiao Qingzi, was silent for a moment, and said coldly: "Close the palace gate. When the emperor comes, tell him that I'm asleep."

Xiao Qingzi was embarrassed, "My queen, isn't it a bad idea to shut the emperor out like this?"

"What's wrong?"

Yu Yao sneered, "Men are all cheap. The more you get close to him, the more he will look down on you and think you are an eyesore. Just do as I say."

Just be careful not to overdo it.

"This"

Xiao Qingzi did not dare to disobey, so he turned around and went out, following the Queen's instructions and having the gates of the Xinghua Palace closed.

The night was as clear as a mirror, covering the entire palace.

The corridors of the palace were illuminated by palace lanterns. The swaying lights gently moved in the breeze, casting hazy light and shadows.

Emperor Jing was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and was slowly walking towards the Xinghua Palace, surrounded by Lu Xi and a group of eunuchs and palace maids.

But when he reached the gate of Xinghua Palace, he found it closed.

Emperor Jing was slightly stunned when he saw the tightly closed palace gate in front of him, not understanding what was going on.

Seeing this, Lu Xi hurried forward and knocked on the door, shouting, "The Emperor has arrived—"

However, there was no response from inside.

Emperor Jing stood at the gate of Xinghua Palace with an ugly look on his face. He didn't expect that Yao'er would dare to block him outside the door.

As the emperor, he had always been courted by his concubines, and no one had ever dared to be so bold as to lock him out.

This feeling of rejection made him a little angry.

When Lu Xi saw the emperor's ugly face, he was worried and asked, "Your Majesty, what are you doing?"

Then he continued to knock on the door, and the sound was much louder than before.

Xiao Qingzi opened the palace gate and walked out. After respectfully bowing to Emperor Jing, he said anxiously, "Your Majesty, the Queen has gone to bed."

Although Emperor Jing felt uncomfortable, he thought that since Yao'er was pregnant, it was normal for her to go to bed early. "It's okay, I'll go in by myself."

After saying this, he stepped inside.

Seeing this, Xiao Qingzi was startled and hurried forward to stop Emperor Jing, "Your Majesty, no! The queen has gone to bed, you will disturb her if you go in like this."

Emperor Jing was instantly furious and shouted, "How dare you, you daring servant, stop me!"

Xiao Qingzi was so frightened that he immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I am only thinking about the Majesty and the Dragonborn."

Emperor Jing snorted coldly and continued walking towards the bedroom despite Xiao Qingzi's obstruction.

But when he arrived at the door of the bedroom, he found that the door was closed. Not only was the door closed, but even the lights were off.

He gently pulled the door and found that it was locked.

There was nothing he didn't understand. This woman was angry and deliberately refused to see him.

"Yao'er, I know you're feeling uncomfortable. Can you please open the door and listen to my explanation?"

Emperor Jing stood at the door of his bedroom, feeling angry, amused, helpless and pity.

Of course, I also find it quite fresh. This woman is always so different.