The girls lined up in a row, walked up to Queen Mother Zhou one by one, reported their names, and then took away Feng Chai. When each girl thanked her, she couldn't help but glance at the emperor beside Queen Mother Zhou from the corner of her eyes.
"Yes, yes, these dozen daughters are indeed ladies of the family. They behave dignifiedly and have beautiful appearance. The Ai family is very satisfied. What does the emperor think?"
Queen Mother Zhou squinted at the pretty girls below, and the more she looked at them, the more she liked them.
Mo Chuan's face was expressionless and his voice was cold: "I don't like any of them."
Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and said: "Since the emperor doesn't like any of them, then the Ai family should just choose one that the Ai family likes."
She said kindly and cheerfully: "Which girl named Ning'er, please come forward and let the Ai family have a look."
Upon hearing the word "Ning'er", several people's faces couldn't help but change color at the same time.
Mo Chuan's eyes were heavy and he said nothing.
Chu Shaoyang's expression was sinister, and he held the back of the chair with his left hand, his knuckles turning white.
The girls stood with their heads bowed, and for a long time no one came forward.
Empress Dowager Zhou wondered: "Isn't there a girl named 'Ning'er' here?"
The eldest princess had been drinking with Ye Tingxuan. She laughed drunkenly when she heard this, pointed at Shen Ning and said: "Mother, Princess Dingyuan's maiden name is the word 'Ning', and my son always calls her 'Ning'er'..." Well… "
Before she could finish the rest of her words, Ye Tingxuan covered her mouth.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. The eldest princess drank too much. She is drunk."
"Nonsense, this princess is not drunk at all. Ning'er, come and prove to me that I am not drunk." The eldest princess pushed Ye Tingxuan's hand away and grabbed Shen Ning.
Chu Shaoyang stood up in a hurry, put his hand on the back of the eldest princess's hand, and said in a deep voice: "Aunt Huang, you are really drunk. Let Prince Consort Ye take you back to the house."
Empress Dowager Zhou's expression was gloomy and uncertain, turning around on several people, and then landed on Shen Ning's face.
Her eyes were deep, showing no emotion or anger, and she softly uttered two words: "Xiao Si."
Xiaosi had been shaking like chaff for a long time and was huddled behind Mo Chuan. Now knowing that he couldn't escape, he threw himself on the ground and knelt in front of Empress Dowager Zhou, lowering his head and not daring to raise his head.
"The slave is here."
"Come and tell the Ai family what is going on?" Queen Mother Zhou lowered her eyelids and looked at Xiaosi.
"The Queen Mother, this slave has made a mistake. This slave is talking nonsense. This slave... I don't know anything." Xiaosi kowtowed on the ground, speaking incoherently.
Mo Chuan really wanted to kick him in the ass and make this guy who failed to achieve anything but failed more than get away with it as far away as possible.
Empress Dowager Zhou was not angry but smiled and said "ha".
"Emperor, the Ai family wants to hear what you have to say." She looked at Mo Chuan coldly with sharp eyes.
Mo Chuan looked directly at Empress Dowager Zhou with an indifferent expression, and said calmly: "I just said what I should say, I don't like any of these girls."
"Very good. Before the Aijia arrived, something big seemed to have happened here. Come and tell the Aijia what happened?"
Empress Dowager Zhou Jiang was very old. She had been in charge of the harem for many years, and any troubles in the palace could not be hidden from her eyes and ears.
Mo Chuan knew that Queen Mother Zhou was asking questions knowingly, so his choice was to refuse to answer.
Even the purpose of Queen Mother Zhou coming here was very clear to him. What he had to do now was to protect her from any harm.
"Xiaosi, if your master refuses to tell you, why don't you, a slave, tell me? Don't you know what the crime of disobeying the Queen Mother is in this palace?"
Empress Dowager Zhou knew her own son's temper, so she didn't force him. Anyway, if the emperor didn't say anything, someone would.