mesbooks Chapter 221 Making Peace
Chapter 221 Making Peace
"The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching, and I'm thinking that since we haven't been together for a while, why not hold a family dinner and invite the princesses and princes living outside the palace to come in and have a reunion dinner together..."
Family banquets are usually held during the Dragon Boat Festival. There was nothing wrong with her suggestion, and the emperor nodded.
"The Empress Dowager's two princesses haven't been to the palace for a long time. This is a good thing. I've been busy with government affairs recently and haven't been able to properly show my filial respect to the Empress Dowager. I'll have to trouble you to take care of her..."
As usual, the emperor subconsciously handed the matter over to Yan Wan. He patted her hand gently, but he never expected Yan Wan to shake her head and politely refuse him with a worried look on her face.
"Your Majesty, I am busy with the affairs of the six palaces and I really cannot spare the time to prepare a family banquet. Why don't you leave this matter to someone else?"
Hearing this, the emperor frowned.
The emperor wouldn't believe her if she said she didn't have time.
"what do you mean?"
"I believe that since this is a family banquet, it's naturally the Empress who should be in charge. If I were to take over everything, how would the princes, princesses, and the royal family view the Empress? I know the Emperor is angry, but the Empress is the mother of the country. If the discord between the Emperor and Empress gets out, it will ultimately damage the Emperor's reputation..."
Yan Wan looked at the emperor worriedly, and while she spoke confidently, a barely perceptible smile flashed across her face.
As soon as Ruyi was mentioned, the emperor's face immediately darkened.
The affection of his youth faded, and when he realized that Ruyi was no longer under his control, the emperor was left with only impatience towards her, an incompetent queen.
After all, it was because Ruyi had hurt his reputation that day.
"Why are you mentioning her? The Queen has become increasingly confused over the years."
The emperor turned away and didn't want to say more.
Seeing this, Yan Wan hurriedly pulled his sleeve and forced him to look at her and persuade him.
"The Empress is the mother of the nation, after all. The Junggar war has been a resounding victory. I don't understand the political affairs, but I do know that now is the time to reward meritorious officials. The leaders of the Junggar tribes will soon come to the capital to meet the Emperor. If there's a disagreement between the Empress and the Emperor...why not take advantage of this family dinner...to mend things?"
Hearing this, the emperor couldn't help but sigh.
He knew that what Concubine Ling said made sense.
If she were an ordinary concubine, she would have been banished to the cold palace long ago, but she was the queen, the mother of a country. Even if there were many differences between them behind the scenes, she had to pretend that the emperor and the queen were in harmony in front of others.
The two are more than just a couple, their every move is linked to the country.
Even the Imperial Concubine could see through this, but the Queen...
The emperor felt a headache when he thought about how Ruyi had been avoiding him these days and hiding in the Yiku Palace out of spite from him.
If he had known this would happen, he should have been more cautious when choosing his successor...
The emperor raised his hand and rubbed his brow, sighing, "Then do as the imperial concubine says. You are kind-hearted, but the queen has many misunderstandings about you, and it's hard for you to plead for her..."
"Your Majesty has been feeling down these days, and I'm truly heartbroken. The Empress is honest, and I've gotten used to that over the years. These things don't matter. As long as Your Majesty is well, I'm willing to do anything..."
As Yan Wan spoke, she leaned into the emperor's arms, and where he couldn't see, the corners of her mouth curled up in pleasure.
The emperor frowned and embraced Yan Wan, patting her right shoulder soothingly. "I've wronged you these years. I'll give her a good scolding later. The queen has been really incompetent these years. If she can't even host an ordinary family dinner, she won't have to handle the affairs of the six palaces in the future..."