Chapter 233 Who doesn’t want to be Princess Rui?

Xue Mei has been here several times in Wanjing Palace.

It sits in the middle of the palace atrium, with glazed tiles contrasting with the faint sunlight.

There are trees in the palace, not as bare as the Qing Dynasty palace. It is the beginning of May, with dense green shade. In the sunshine, the leaves look even more green and tender.

When Xue Mei came in, she saw Empress Dowager Qi wearing a dark blue embroidered flower trouser and a golden hairpin on her head, and she didn't dress up any other things.

She applied a little powder and looked rosy.

"...Empress, are you planning to leave the palace?" Xue Mei saw that Empress Dowager Qi was dressed in an ordinary woman and asked directly after giving the salute.

Empress Dowager Qi smiled: "Go out and see the dragon boat racing. The Ai family doesn't like to go out during normal seasons, but Your Majesty is filial and the general begging to go out to the Ai family to relax."

In this dynasty, the concubines were allowed by the emperor, the empress and the empress dowager, and with the accompanying eunuchs and female officials, it was okay to leave the palace.

However, you have to report wherever you go or who you meet.

At the level of the Empress Dowager, second only to the Emperor, it is even more convenient for her to leave the palace.

But for example, Empress Dowager Hu is old and has been in the palace all her life and will not think about going out for a walk when she is idle. Empress Dowager Qi is younger and she may go and see any major events during festivals.

Of course, this is only once every few years.

During this year's dragon boat race, I heard that King Yu, King Rong and the Prince brought people to participate, right in the canal south of Kyoto.

The elegant shops on both sides of the canal have long been seized.

This year, Xiao Jingcheng was in Beijing, and the Empress Dowager accompanied her son to watch the dragon boat race, which was natural.

Xue Mei felt that the emperor, the stepson, was very filial.

Xiao Jingcheng's face was inexplicably sunk, but soon returned to calmness.

"Since you are here, let's go with the Ai family and serve you." Queen Mother Qi said.

Let Xue Mei serve him, this is a great honor.

Empress Dowager Qi left the palace in a low-key manner, and there must be a wife of the powerful family, the eldest princess, the princess and the princess who are accompanying him.

Not everyone is qualified to serve the Queen Mother.

Xue Mei and Xiao Jingcheng came in, and the empress dowager was leaving again as she spoke. The two of them accompanied the empress dowager out again.

At the entrance of Wanjing Palace, there is a soft sedan chair.

Xue Mei and the Empress Dowager each got into the sedan chair, and Xiao Jingcheng rode a horse to guard the side and left the main gate of the imperial city.

Outside the main entrance is the moat bridge.

Two carriages were parked at the door.

The empress dowager got on the carriage and turned around to greet Xue Mei, asking her to get on her own carriage too.

Xue Meidao is.

Xiao Jingcheng was still riding a horse, and the carriage behind him was empty.

"King Rui valued you very much." Empress Dowager Qi suddenly said.

Xue Mei: "..."

"Don't be nervous, the Ai family just said this." Empress Dowager Qi said, "You saved King Rui's life, and he valued you as much as you deserve."

Xue Mei was not nervous.

She just couldn't figure out the meaning of the Queen Mother's words.

Empress Dowager Qi was very thoughtful, and she needed to break her words to understand.

Xue Mei quickly analyzed the words and tone of Empress Dowager Qi, but could not hear any displeasure of Empress Dowager.

It's like she was saying: My son likes you very much and wants to marry you as Princess Rui, you deserve it. I know this, I will state it so that you won't think I don't know.

Not objecting, it seems... it's not very happy either.

Xue Mei then spoke: "Empress, I dare not be a daughter."

Queen Mother Qi smiled.

She chatted with Xue Mei and asked her what rice dumplings she ate this morning and how much clothes she made in summer.

Gradually, the topic led to the power.

Empress Dowager Qi said: "The more you look like Prince Rui's Mansion and the more powerful family members of Qi, the more you should be careful. If the sky sneezes, it will be a sudden wind and rain in the world, which can destroy trees and houses."

"What the Empress said is very much."

"The Ai family wants to live some leisurely life," said Empress Dowager Qi, "but she is confused and has to take care of these things as the empress dowager."

Xue Mei: "Empress is wise and peaceful. You must be a clear reward and punishment for your affairs, and it is a blessing for the people below."

Queen Mother Qi smiled.

"Do you think the Ai family should be in charge of more things?"

"If you have the ability, you will naturally have to work harder." Xue Mei smiled, "As kind and wise as the Empress Dowager, it is the gift of God. If you don't use it, wouldn't you let God down?"

The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes slightly.

Xue Mei means that she also likes power very much and she thinks she has the ability.

Therefore, it is necessary to be a person in power.

She wanted the princess, which she had told the emperor before.

The Empress Dowager felt that this woman was ambitious, but she had courage, scheming, and even open-minded.

No matter how much scheming a person is, it is not a bad thing, as long as she is willing to admit it.

A real villain is more cute than a hypocrite. In the eyes of Empress Dowager Qi, those who dare to admit their desires are considered desirable.

After chatting all the way, Empress Dowager Qi agreed with Xiao Jingcheng's desire to marry Xue Mei.

At least, compared with Qi Siran, Xue Mei is more direct.

Qi Siran was equally ambitious, but she always took the opportunity to cover up. Empress Dowager Qi was very disgusted with her behavior.

The Qi family was too powerful and the Rui Prince's Mansion was prominent. The marriage between the two families would only make the emperor even more afraid and would not benefit Xiao Jingcheng.

As a mother, Empress Dowager Qi hopes that Xiao Jingcheng can marry a down-and-out daughter.

Xiao Jingcheng is the most powerful and prestigious among the princes. The Yue family is prominent and only cooks fire to him, which makes his situation worse.

On the contrary, the Yue family was in a downturn and could provide him with some shame and make the emperor feel more at ease with him.

Xue Mei is a good choice.

As for Xue Mei herself, she also admitted that she had the desire for power. If King Rui had what she wanted, she would be more at ease to be Princess Rui.

Even if Xiao Jingcheng goes to the frontier in the future, Xue Mei can maintain the dignity and honor of the royal palace, because she and Xiao Jingcheng are both prosperous.

Such a daughter-in-law is much more sensible than Qi Siran.

Qi Siran is always a little arrogant and can't hold her face down. She acts more curved than Empress Dowager Qi.

"You are a good child." Empress Dowager Qi said to Xue Mei, "You have the ability, otherwise you would not be able to save Jingcheng."

"The Empress is too proud."

"You can afford it." said Empress Dowager Qi.

When the carriage arrived by the canal, Xiao Jingcheng's secret guards and the guards of Wanjing Palace had already taken their seats secretly and would protect Empress Dowager Qi.

They stopped in front of a teahouse.

The private room on the second floor of this teahouse is the best viewing point, overlooking the entire canal.

Xue Mei got off the carriage and helped Empress Dowager Qi.

Just at this moment, a eldest princess, Xiao Jingcheng's aunt, came to pay tribute.

The eldest princess helped Empress Dowager Qi upstairs, and Xue Mei was a few steps behind.

Xiao Jingcheng asked her: "What did my mother tell you?"

"The Empress Dowager asked me tactfully, do you want to be Princess Rui?" Xue Mei said.

Xiao Jingcheng was stunned and immediately asked: "How do you answer?"

"Of course I want to." Xue Mei smiled, "The powerful princess, if you don't want to do it, it's a trick."

After saying that, she turned around and quickly followed Empress Dowager Qi in.

Xiao Jingcheng stood there, savoring his words for a moment, and there was an undepressed curve at the corner of his lips.

However, a sharp gaze fell on his face and was captured by his eyes.

Xiao Jingcheng looked over immediately.

He couldn't find the source of his sight, because the streets were full of people and bustling, and the sight had long disappeared in the crowd.
Chapter completed!