Since that day, An Ningxiang rarely left her chambers.
Tang Guo had long been excused from the daily greetings required of consorts. Her reason was simple, she wanted to sleep in and didn’t want to get up early.
This reason was truly unprecedented. When it spread, it only fueled public disdain, with accusations of the Imperial Concubine’s arrogance and indulgence running rampant.
While General Tang was still alive, many held back their complaints.
But General Tang had been dead for more than half a year, and now, many voices of criticism were directed at this Imperial Concubine.
Recently, Xuanyuan Mo received memorials from ministers suggesting the “rain and dew be evenly spread” throughout the harem. Naturally, Xuanyuan Mo rejected these suggestions outright.
He mocked them, saying, “You seem quite concerned about my harem. Back when I needed people to volunteer to quell the border unrest, why didn’t anyone step forward?”
“If all of you are so idle, how about I grant you titles and send you to the border to earn some military merits before returning?”
“If I hear such comments again, I might take a great interest in the affairs of your backyards instead.”
Xuanyuan Mo’s firm reply silenced the court officials.
The emperor now was no longer the easily manipulated ruler of his early reign.
The officials exchanged glances, then observed those who had consorts in the harem. To their surprise, these officials appeared calm and had no intention of impeaching the Imperial Concubine for monopolizing the emperor’s favor.
They were puzzled. Today, they had expected a flood of support after submitting the memorial. Why was reality so different?
After the court session, one official couldn’t resist pulling aside a colleague for answers. “Lord Meng, what’s the meaning of this?”
“What meaning? Lord Liu, what do you mean by pulling me aside?” Lord Meng feigned innocence, wearing a look that prompted Lord Liu to curse him as an old fox.
Smiling, Lord Liu asked, “Lord Meng, don’t you have any opinion on the Imperial Concubine monopolizing the harem?”
“What opinion could I have?” Lord Meng raised his eyelids. “That’s the Imperial Concubine’s ability. We as external officials shouldn’t interfere in His Majesty’s harem.”
“I recall that Lord Liu has eighteen concubines at home. Be careful not to catch His Majesty’s attention.”
With that, Lord Meng adjusted his robes and left, a faint smile on his lips. His daughter was doing well; why do anything to make others dislike him?
Thinking of the news his daughter had sent back, his expression turned more complex. When it came to the Imperial Concubine, it was best for the Meng family to neither praise nor criticize.
Not supporting her and not adding fuel to the fire was the wisest course.
The emperor’s thoughts were becoming increasingly difficult to predict.
“Mistress, what are you looking for?”
Hearing Tang Guo’s order to retrieve the boxes from the General’s Residence that had been brought into the palace, Mei Lan asked considerately, “The items stored in the boxes were all arranged by this servant. If you could tell me what you need, I can find it more quickly.”
Tang Guo smiled and nodded. “That’s true. I forgot Mei Lan was the one who organized everything back then. Do you remember a small box that Father once gave me, containing my mother’s keepsakes? Other than my favorite sachet that’s missing, all her mementos should still be in that box, right?”
“Yes, I remember. I’ll go find it right away.”
Mei Lan vaguely recalled it and quickly located the box she remembered, retrieving a small box roughly the size of a book.
“Mistress, is this the one?”
Tang Guo glanced at the box and nodded. “Yes, hand it over. This is it.”
Mei Lan assumed Tang Guo wanted to reminisce and grew even more silent as she stood by.
Her mistress had lost her mother at birth, and now the general was also gone. Though it once seemed the emperor treated her well, it turned out to be nothing but an illusion.
Thinking about it, the man who bore the emperor’s likeness was probably the one who treated her mistress the best in this world.
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