Chapter 152 The Empress Resigns, the Emperor Summons Consort Li

Chapter 152: The Empress Resigns, the Emperor Orders Consort Li to Warm His Bed

As soon as these words were spoken, it made it seem like the Empress was deliberately picking on her.

Emperor Jingyang pulled Consort Li up again and held her in his arms to comfort her.

The next second, his cold gaze swept over the Empress’s dignified, delicate face, and he shot her a displeased look, saying coldly:

"Enough, Consort Li was just worried about Xue'er’s health and didn’t intend to offend you. As the ruler of the harem, you ought to be broad-minded and tolerant. If you insist on making a big deal out of such a small matter, you’re being way too petty."

The Empress had long known that Emperor Jingyang was fickle and heartless, but when she saw his attitude with her own eyes, her heart still felt a stab of pain.

This was the man she had insisted on marrying back then.

Looking at it now, she must have been blind to marry such a scumbag.

Did Emperor Jingyang really see her as some narrow-minded, intolerant woman?

The Empress curled her lips coldly and said expressionlessly, "Your Majesty, I'm just stating a fact. I did not deliberately target Consort Li."

"When I bestowed the Phoenix Pattern Gold Hairpin to Princess Ye, she gained the right to dispose of it. Princess Ye and the Tenth Princess are sisters-in-law. If the Tenth Princess wanted it, she could have asked, and Princess Ye would surely have given it to her. But just yanking a pin out of someone’s hair is hard to justify."

"That such a thing happened in the harem is my failure. I have failed to keep the harem in order. I am willing to relinquish the Phoenix Seal and the authority over the harem, and I ask Your Majesty to grant my request."

The Empress knew that Emperor Jingyang no longer had much trust in her. For someone he disliked, even breathing in his presence was probably wrong.

Thus, as she spoke these words, no joy or anger could be discerned on her face.

It was as if she were simply stating an ordinary fact.

But her words hit like a bombshell, sending shockwaves through everyone.

What did it mean to voluntarily relinquish the Phoenix Seal and the authority over the harem?

It meant that from then on, her position as Empress would be in name only, completely losing the protection of the Son of Heaven. Anyone in the palace could trample on her, and she would no longer be that lofty woman.

But after all, the Empress had not committed any of the Seven Grounds for Divorce. Even if Emperor Jingyang disliked her, he had no grounds to depose her.

"Empress, have you thought this through?"

Emperor Jingyang narrowed his eyes and studied her, trying to see if she was baiting him into jealousy and regret.

After all, such a classic retreat-to-advance tactic was common in the harem.

But after staring for a long time, the Empress’s face remained expressionless, without any extra emotion.

Even the love in her eyes had vanished completely.

The Empress said coldly, "I have thought it through. I ask Your Majesty to take back the Phoenix Seal and the authority over the harem and choose someone else to take over."

Everyone thought running the harem was a sweet gig, but who knew how much of her own money she'd sunk into it during her tenure?

All together, it came to several hundred thousand taels.

And Emperor Jingyang was a cheapskate. He always felt that as the Empress, she should give more than others to be worthy of her title and position.

Emperor Jingyang called that having a big heart.

But whenever there was even a whisper of trouble in the harem, everyone would blame her for being an unqualified Empress.

She had to handle conflicts and relationships among the concubines, care for each one’s health, and most importantly, generously share the man she loved with others, urging Emperor Jingyang to spread his favors evenly.

After more than twenty years as Empress, there was nothing but grievances and no joy. She herself didn’t know how long it had been since she had a good night’s sleep.

The Empress sneered inwardly. Let him hand this mess to whoever he pleased!

She was done with it!

Consort Li watched the whole scene, growing more anxious by the moment.

The Empress was quitting?

How could this be!

She broke free from Emperor Jingyang’s embrace, fell to her knees with a thud, and spoke in a soft voice. Tears streamed down her enchanting face, soaking her brows and lashes.

"Your Majesty, no!"

"The Empress has managed the harem for twenty-three years, working tirelessly and diligently every day, keeping everything in perfect order. All the concubines in the harem have seen this and are grateful. If anyone else were to take over the harem now, it would be hard for them to gain the respect of the harem."

"Moreover, the Empress has not made any mistake. Today’s incident is my fault. I mishandled matters with Princess Ye and disturbed Your Majesty and the Empress. I am willing to accept punishment. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider and withdraw your decree."

Emperor Jingyang looked at Consort Li, his sharp eyes softening a little. He found her increasingly sensible and considerate.

Why hadn’t he noticed this before?

Now, looking more closely, he saw that Consort Li’s face was truly beautiful. Her fair, translucent skin had a faint blush from crying, her figure was slender and graceful, and her shimmering eyes were watery and pitiful, as if they could captivate anyone.

She didn’t have the Empress’s stately and dignified beauty, but she was like a resilient little white flower in the wind, inexplicably stirring a protective urge in people.

Emperor Jingyang suddenly felt he had been blind and dumb, letting such a beauty slip right past him without bedding her all those years.

He walked over, gently pulled Consort Li up, and gazed at her with deep affection.

"Beloved Consort, I have wronged you all these years. From now on, I'll make it up to you."

"Tonight, I'm staying right here in your Weiyang Palace."

Consort Li: "…"

Consort Li: "!!!"

Her heart took a severe blow.

Emperor Jingyang’s words terrified her more than the Empress handing over the Phoenix Seal.

For years, she had refrained from competing, been gentle and graceful, and carefully crafted a persona of being out of favor. She had deliberately avoided Emperor Jingyang, not wanting him to notice her or come to her Weiyang Palace.

The idea of having to sleep with the man she hated most was worse than dying!

She would never!

Consort Li hid the disgust in her eyes, a hint of panic flickering across her face, and spoke in a soft, pitiful voice:

"To be able to enter the palace and serve by Your Majesty’s side is already Your Majesty’s great grace to me. I am already satisfied with my current state and don't dare to seek any more of Your Majesty’s favor."

"I am already the mother of two children, and my looks and complexion have faded considerably. I am not as attractive as the younger concubines who just joined the palace. Your Majesty must not neglect them and should share your favor around, so the harem won't give you any trouble."

Consort Li was unwilling to serve the Emperor. Her intention was to persuade Emperor Jingyang to go to the newly arrived ladies instead of staying there to make her sick.

But her words were too well-spoken; Emperor Jingyang did not grasp her hidden meaning at all. He just figured she was drunk on the joy of being favored again and thus used a tactic of playing hard to get, which left him feeling guilty and regretful.

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