mesbooks Chapter 275 Both rain and dew are touched
Chapter 275 Both rain and dew are touched
"Your Majesty, even if you don't care about the country and the royal heirs, please consider this concubine for a moment!"
Xu Jiaoran's voice was gentle but firm. She waved her feather fan gently, and her brows revealed a determination that could not be ignored.
Li Zhen was unmoved, with a gleam in his eyes. He said, "Jiao Ran, I am not a stone or wood person. I only want to be with you, you know. I don't want to take in anyone else."
"Everyone outside calls me the 'evil queen who brought disaster to the country'. How can I bear such a crime?"
Xu Jiaoran's voice was weak but full of unyielding determination. Her heart was like a lake blown by the cold winter wind, turbulent but calm on the outside.
"Whoever dares to be so presumptuous! I will kill him!" Li Zhen's voice was as shocking as thunder, and his eyes revealed an unquestionable determination.
However, Xu Jiaoran smiled calmly and said softly, "Your Majesty, can you kill everyone in the world? The comments of outsiders are surging like a tide. Isn't this a problem that you and I have to face?"
Li Zhen was suddenly speechless. He looked at Xu Jiaoran's bright and determined eyes, and an indescribable emotion surged in his heart.
He knew that he couldn't protect her forever, and couldn't keep the world silent forever. He needed to make a change, for her - Xu Jiaoran.
I may not care about these false reputations, but she cares about reputation, so I will give it to her.
"Okay." Li Zhen finally nodded, "I promise you, I will consider expanding the harem."
A glimmer of relief flashed in Xu Jiaoran's eyes. She knew that this was not what Li Zhen really wanted, but this was not something she should consider. Now that she had accomplished this, she believed that those court officials would appreciate her a little.
In the following days, Li Zhen began to make arrangements for taking concubines. He asked the Ministry of Rites to select several women of outstanding appearance and character to enter the palace as concubines. Although he was still hesitant and reluctant, he knew that he had to do this for Xu Jiaoran.
Xu Jiaoran was deeply trusted by Li Zhen in the palace. She was well versed in governance and was well-known for her ability to handle palace affairs. This time, she persuaded the emperor to expand the harem, which earned her widespread praise from court officials and the people.
It was rumored in the palace that Xu Jiaoran's persuasion was not aimless, but a well-thought-out decision. She understood that the prosperity of a country could not be separated from the continuation of the royal family's offspring. And recruiting concubines was for the succession of the royal family and for the future of the country. Her words were gorgeous and meaningful, and her soft-hearted words made Li Zhen finally accept her suggestions.
After hearing the news, the court officials had a better impression of Xu Jiaoran. They saw her foresight and wisdom as a queen. She not only paid attention to trivial matters in the palace, but also set her sights on the future of the country. Her behavior showed a noble sentiment and virtuous quality.
After this news spread among the people, they changed their views on Xu Jiaoran. They no longer regarded her as a witch queen, but as a virtuous woman who truly cared about the people's livelihood. Her behavior showed the people what a real queen should be like, and her virtue and tolerance won the people's praise.
"The daughter of the Xu family was made the Crown Princess because of her virtue and reputation. Now that she is the Queen, she can't be too bad!"
"I guess those were all rumors before. In the past, we common people have received a lot of favors from Miss Xu!"
The people praised Xu Jiaoran one after another.
Deep inside the palace, Xu Jiaoran still maintained her modesty and low profile. She did not become complacent because of her success in persuading the emperor, but handled the affairs of the palace more carefully. She knew that as a queen, in addition to fame, she also needed power, more power.
……
As the days passed, new concubines entered the palace one after another. They each had their own characteristics and charm, adding a new color to the palace.
The wind blows across the red walls and golden tiles of the Forbidden City, and the colorful flowers sway in the wind, hiding the intricate desires and entanglements in the deep palace.
As more people came into the palace, emotional competitions between concubines quietly began to arise in this majestic palace.
At this time, the new concubine was ready to take action, and her stunning beauty caused a sensation in the palace.
But Emperor Li Zhen was not easily shaken. His heart always belonged to Xu Jiaoran. Facing the pleas of other concubines and the emperor's urging, Li Zhen reprimanded them with a firm attitude, his eyes full of determination for Xu Jiaoran.
This behavior caused many concubines to feel resentful, but in the deep palace, they could only complain and feel resentful.
When Xu Jiaoran learned about this, she just laughed it off quietly.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty is truly devoted to you and never lets other concubines get close to you! Your Majesty, you must hold on to His Majesty's heart and make it impossible for those vixens to do anything." The maid wanted to make Xu Jiaoran happy.
However, Xu Jiaoran didn't care about Li Zhen at all, so how could she be happy about it?
On the contrary, when Li Zhen came to her palace, Xu Jiaoran also advised Li Zhen: "The king should treat everyone equally. The new concubines in the palace are all daughters of court officials. If Your Majesty refuses to let them in, I am afraid that they will be dissatisfied with their new life."
However, Li Zhen didn't agree after hearing this. He only had Xu Jiaoran in his heart, and he just wanted to find a moment of peace and happiness with her.
"So what if you're dissatisfied? I took in concubines based on your request, but that doesn't mean I have to favor them!" Li Zhen held Xu Jiaoran's hand and told her, "You know what I mean."
Xu Jiaoran nodded: "I know what your majesty means, but if they are dissatisfied, they will not be dissatisfied with your majesty, but with me."
"With me here, who dares to embarrass you? You don't have to be afraid."
"Your Majesty, I know your feelings, but I feel that I cannot bear your kindness." Xu Jiaoran pulled her hand away and said to Li Zhen, "Your Majesty, why don't you share this affection with other sisters?"
"How can I not bear it? You just want me to go to another woman, right?" Li Zhen was angry.
Xu Jiaoran was silent.
This silence made Li Zhen turn around and leave in anger.
However, not long after leaving Xu Jiaoran's palace, Li Zhen returned again. They had finally eased the tension a lot, and he couldn't be angry and couldn't make the relationship awkward again.
She is used to saying things that hurt your heart, so just pretend you didn't hear them.
Li Zhen went back after brainwashing himself.
But Xu Jiaoran closed the palace gates tightly, as if to express her determination. This made Li Zhen a little angry, and his usual gentleness and consideration seemed to have disappeared at this moment.
Just when he was at a loss, Li Zhen suddenly made up his mind and decided not to endure this kind of waiting and rejection. In order to piss off Xu Jiaoran, he really went to another concubine. Although he felt a little uneasy and guilty, he was more driven by a feeling of anger and rebellion.
However, when Li Zhen stepped into the bedrooms of other concubines, he looked at the delicate and beautiful concubines in front of him, but he felt that something was not satisfactory.
He realized that he still couldn't let go of Xu Jiaoran in his heart. Because Xu Jiaoran had that unique fragrance, that jade-like skin, and those eyes as bright as stars...
All of this makes it irreplaceable.
He suddenly felt that he should not have agreed to her request to take a concubine from the beginning.
"Your Majesty? Let me help you change your clothes!" the concubine said coquettishly.