Yuqiongyin

After a dreamless night, Xie Chenning slowly opened his eyes and felt refreshed even in his sleepy state.

Finally, she didn't have that dream again last night. Over the past few days, that strange dream has been bothering her and making her sleep uneasily.

Nanny Lu, who had been waiting in the outer hall, heard the noise, carefully opened the door, and asked softly, "Madam, are you awake?"

"Yes." Seeing that Xie Chenning had already sat up, Nanny Lu hurried forward to help Xie Chenning wash and dress.

Xie Chenning lowered her eyes to look at the palace dresses on the tray in the maid's hand, and chose a dark purple dress. The hem of the skirt was decorated with blooming peonies made of countless gold threads, and a colorful phoenix jade pendant was hung around her waist.

After the palace maids dressed her, Xie Chenning lifted her wide sleeves and let them adjust her clothes.

After changing into her palace dress, she sat in front of the Phoenix Jade Screen dressing table while the palace maids combed and tied her hair for her.

These palace maids were skilled in their craft and quickly combed an exquisite bun for Xie Chenning, coiling her hair in the front, embellishing it with pearls and jade jewelry, and inserting a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin.

"What does your Majesty think?" The deft palace maid combed her hair skillfully, put her sleeves together, stepped back, and asked respectfully.

Xie Chenning raised her eyes slightly, and the ends of her bright and dazzling eyes were smudged with a little light pink, which accentuated her charm.

Her eyes moved as she took a look at herself in the mirror. She saw that her silky smooth hair was skillfully tied into an exquisite bun. A few strands of hair fell beside her fair cheeks, gently brushing against her pink skin, making her look even more charming.

Her hair was adorned with ornaments made of pearls and jade, sparkling with brilliant light, which complemented the gorgeous clothes she was wearing, making her whole body exude an aura of nobility and elegance.

Xie Chenning nodded with satisfaction, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a faint smile: "Very good."

After hearing this, the palace maids secretly breathed a sigh of relief and looked delighted.

In the past, the Empress never said anything and looked worried, which made people anxious.

Now being praised by the Queen means that their efforts have not been in vain.

Xie Chenning slowly stood up, walked to the window gracefully, and looked at the scenery outside.

The bright sunshine shines down and shines on her, making her figure even more beautiful and charming.

"Are they all here?" Xie Chenning asked softly.

The maid beside her answered respectfully: "Yes, your majesty, the concubines from all the palaces have arrived."

Xie Chenning nodded slightly, indicating that she understood, and she said calmly: "Then let's go."

Since Emperor Wei Ming did not attach importance to the Queen, the power of the six palaces was actually in the hands of the Imperial Concubine.

Therefore, the concubines did not need to go to the Queen's palace to pay respects every day. Only on the first and fifteenth day of each month would the concubines go to the Queen's palace to pay respects to her as a sign of respect for the Queen.

This arrangement made the queen's position somewhat awkward, but the former "Xie Chenning" did not care about it and just quietly performed her duties.

Now Xie Chenning is the same.

When everything was ready, Xie Chenning held onto Nanny Lu's arm and slowly walked outside.

Her gorgeous outfit today made her look elegant and graceful. Her eyes were indifferent and her chin was slightly raised. There was a hint of fierceness in her eyes that made people dare not look directly at her.

*

In the front hall of Kunning Palace, the concubines present were whispering.

"The Queen has made us wait for such a long time today. Is she still ill?"

"Wait a minute. The Queen was very angry a few days ago and directly banished Li to the cold palace..."

"The Empress has always had a good temper, but that day Li Concubine slandered the Empress in front of the Emperor. She has brought trouble upon herself."

"..."

Seeing the concubine say this, others didn't dare to respond, but looking around, they found that everyone except the imperial concubine had arrived.

No matter how miserable the queen is, she is still the queen, and the Xie family is not someone they can afford to mess with.

As everyone was looking around, they heard a loud shout: "The Queen has arrived——!"

Everyone fell silent, stood up quickly, and bowed in unison, greeting in unison: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Queen. May the Queen be blessed with good health."

Xie Chenning walked out slowly from behind the screen with graceful and dignified steps. She went to a high position, stopped, and looked down at the concubines standing below. Her eyes were calm and deep.

The concubines below were dressed in gorgeous costumes, with red flying and green dancing, and beautiful women competing for beauty. But in Xie Chenning's eyes, it seemed a bit boring, competing for beauty for a man.

She sat down slowly and raised her hand gently, her movements were graceful and her voice was clear: "Get up."

All the concubines stood up, and their eyes unconsciously glanced at Xie Chenning above them. They muttered to themselves that the queen today seemed different from before.

Her temperament and aura made the concubines present feel in awe.

Everyone sat down with their own thoughts, and their every move naturally did not escape Xie Chenning's eyes. She sat on a high seat and had a clear view of everything below.

Looking at these people who were cautious and had ulterior motives, Xie Chenning's mouth corners slightly raised, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

It turns out that the original owner had to face this group of monsters every day.

"Who hasn't arrived yet?"

Xie Chenning narrowed his eyes slightly, and swept his cold gaze over everyone, finally landing on the empty seat, with a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.

She supported her chin with one hand and gently stroked the armrest of the phoenix chair with the fingertips of the other hand. Although her tone was a little doubtful, it inexplicably made people feel chilled.

The concubines below looked at each other in silence, and the atmosphere in the entire hall was so solemn that it was suffocating.

They all knew that the absent person was the imperial concubine, a woman favored by the emperor.

And now, the Queen asked this question, obviously intending to embarrass the Imperial Concubine.

However, no one dared to answer this question easily.

After all, the imperial concubine has a high status and is deeply favored by the emperor. Who would dare to offend her?

But at the same time, everyone couldn't help but feel awe for the current queen. She must have been well prepared when asking such a question. Perhaps she wanted to take this opportunity to use the imperial concubine to restore her own majesty.

Xie Chenning sat on the phoenix chair, his eyes as cold as ice, as if he was waiting for something.

Her eyes occasionally swept over the concubines below, observing their reactions.

As time passed, the atmosphere in the hall became more and more tense.

Finally, someone couldn't help but whispered, "Your Majesty, it's the Imperial Concubine..." The voice was low and weak, as if afraid of causing unnecessary trouble.

Xie Chenning raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, but there was no smile in his eyes.

She nodded lightly, and said calmly, "Then let's withdraw."

Her tone, which was neither warm nor angry, sent a chill through the hearts of everyone present.

What does this mean? Is this a slap in the face of the imperial concubine?