The Sun family did want to marry their eldest son to Jiang Changning, but was rejected by Old Lady Zhuang.
Afterwards, the Sun family felt embarrassed and did not publicize the matter, so outsiders had no way of knowing about it.
This time, the Sun family sent Sun Qingqing into the palace in order to use this matter to blackmail Jiang Changning and let Jiang Changning help Sun Qingqing gain a foothold in the harem.
However, the Sun family never expected that things would develop like this. Not only was Sun Qingqing beaten half to death and sent out of the palace, but the Sun family's daughter's path to success was also cut short.
"I've told you long ago that you can't go to that palace, but you wouldn't listen. I don't know who instigated you to send Qingqing there. Now look what has happened, and it has turned out to be this situation. Oh, my poor Qingqing." Mother Sun lay on the edge of the bed, crying her heart out.
Father Sun walked around the room with a sullen look on his face. "How could this happen? How could this happen?"
"When the Queen was in the banker's house, I thought she was no simple person. You actually wanted to plot against her. Now, your efforts have been in vain. Master, I'm afraid your career as a minister has come to an end." Sun's mother cried even louder.
"Stop crying. I'll go out and find someone to think of a solution." Father Sun said and left.
Sun's mother didn't care about him and stayed with Sun Qingqing, never leaving her side.
At the same time, the news that Sun Qingqing violated palace rules and was punished by the emperor and expelled from the palace spread like wildfire.
The Sun family still had some reputation in the capital, but now they have lost all their face and become the laughing stock of the capital.
Most people in the city believed the rumors spread by the palace, but Zhao Xifang didn't believe it. "Jiang is really resourceful."
The maid who was helping her spin the thread lowered her head, as if she didn't hear what she said.
Jiang Changning, who was described by Zhao Xifang as a man of means, was now being troubled by the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother was very direct. "You are pregnant now, so it is not convenient for you to serve the Emperor. I think Feng Sui is a good person. Take her back and let her serve the Emperor tonight."
Feng Sui knelt there with the corners of his lips slightly raised.
"I won't take her back to Qiyuan Palace." Jiang Changning refused bluntly.
Feng Sui looked up in disbelief and looked at Jiang Changning.
The Queen Mother's face darkened, "This is my oral order, do you dare not obey it?"
Jiang Changning put the cup in his hand down and said coldly, "My mother wants her to serve the emperor, I have no objection, but she wants me to take her back to Qiyuan Palace and arrange for her to serve the emperor. I'm sorry I can't do that."
"How dare you!" The Queen Mother slammed the table in anger.
"Mother, you scared me." Jiang Changning patted his chest, "Oh my, Xiulan, go and summon the imperial physician and have him wait in Qiyuan Palace. It's time to take my pulse."
Jiang Changning stood up and bowed slightly, "Mother, I will take my leave first."
"Stop, I'm not letting you leave." The Queen Mother said sternly.
Jiang Changning stopped obediently, "Mother, do you have any other instructions?"
The Queen Mother had nothing else to do except asking Jiang Changning to take Feng Sui to Qiyuan Palace. She gritted her teeth and said, "Since you are pregnant, you should stay in the palace and take care of the baby. Don't go out and hang around."
This was a disguised way of restraining Jiang Changning's feet. Jiang Changning was eager for this. She was too lazy to pay respects to the empress dowager who always wanted to stuff women into Emperor Xuanzhi's pocket. She smiled and said, "I will follow my mother's order."
Jiang Changning left quickly, and the Queen Mother sat there gasping for breath. She wanted to punish Jiang Changning, but Jiang Changning's belly was the most advantageous amulet.
Feng Sui was dumbfounded. She had never expected that in the fight between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, the loser would be the Queen Mother.
After hitting a wall with Jiang Changning, the empress dowager did not give up and ordered someone to invite Emperor Xuanzhi to come for dinner.
However, Emperor Xuanzhi was busy discussing state affairs with his ministers and had no time to come over, so he sent a message: "Come back later to pay your respects to the Queen Mother."
Even if the Queen Mother wanted her son to sleep with a woman, it would not allow her son to interfere with his work, so she had to find another way.
She had made up her mind that she must let her son sleep with Feng Sui today.
At exactly 12 o'clock in the morning, Emperor Xuanzhi finished his work and went to Ciren Palace.
Before Chang Youzhong could answer, he heard a woman in front of him cry out, "Oh."
"Who is it?" Chang Youzhong asked loudly while standing in front of Emperor Xuanzhi.
Emperor Xuanzhi narrowed his eyes slightly and saw a woman in a lilac dress not far away. Her figure looked like Jiang Changning.
No, Emperor Xuanzhi immediately rejected this idea.
Not to mention the current time, Jiang Changning couldn't possibly still be in Ciren Palace.
Even if her mother asked her to stay for dinner, she couldn't be here alone.
Two palace maids holding lanterns walked over and when they shone the light, Emperor Xuanzhi discovered that it was indeed not Jiang Changning.
But the woman's features looked about 50% like Jiang Changning, especially since she was wearing the same lilac embroidered dress that Jiang Changning had worn a few days ago, which made her look even more like Jiang Changning.
"Ms. Feng from Jingyi Palace, why are you here?" Chang Youzhong recognized her.
"The Empress Dowager summoned my daughter to accompany her." Feng Sui said shyly.
Emperor Xuanzhi looked very unhappy. He knew that the Empress Dowager had always wanted him to favor concubines, but he also repeatedly stated that he did not need so many women.
He had no one in his heart before, so he didn’t care if there were more or fewer women in the backyard.
But now, he and Jiang Changning have a deep relationship and they live a comfortable life. He doesn't want so many women and doesn't want so much trouble.
He didn't want Jiang Changning to have blood on his hands like his mother.
The Empress Dowager didn't know that Emperor Xuanzhi knew that she had killed the old Prince of Jin's favorite concubines and illegitimate children.
A son should not blame his mother for her faults. Although Emperor Xuanzhi understood that the empress dowager did this for him and his elder brother, he did not want the person next to him to become so cruel and ruthless.
"Send her back to Jingyi Palace and let the housekeeper teach her some rules." Emperor Xuanzhi said in a deep voice.
Two eunuchs stepped forward, lifted up Feng Sui, and were about to drag her away.
Feng Sui shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, I have admired you for a long time. I was selected to enter the palace. In order to serve you, please have mercy on me."
"Wait." Emperor Xuanzhi said suddenly.
Feng Sui's eyes lit up and the corners of his lips turned up, but before his smile could fully bloom, he heard Emperor Xuanzhi say, "Take off her clothes. She is imitating the ugly woman and will only make a fool of herself."
Emperor Xuanzhi left in anger, and Feng Sui looked as pale as death.
Feng Sui was escorted back to Jingyi Palace. The other ladies saw that she was only wearing a middle garment and looked exhausted, and they all secretly guessed what had happened.
Emperor Xuanzhi went to the side hall to see the empress dowager. The empress dowager noticed that Feng Sui was not with him. Her eyes flickered and she asked tentatively, "Didn't the emperor see anyone when he came over?"
"No one saw it, but a rat running around was seen." Emperor Xuanzhi said.
"How could there be a mouse?" the Queen Mother frowned.
"Let's have someone catch a cat tomorrow. Does your mother like tabby cats, calico cats, or yellow tabby cats?"
The Queen Mother thought for a moment and said, "Catch a white cat."
"I remember that my mother used to have a white cat." Emperor Xuanzhi started a conversation with the empress dowager about the topic of raising cats and successfully made her forget about Feng Sui.
(End of this chapter)