If she had firmly objected today, he would have sent these women away as she wished.
He had chosen these women to test her feelings, never expecting her to be so indifferent. Although her expression had soured earlier, she had still agreed.
Did she not love him that much?
Or did she have other motives?
Emperor Xian's expression remained unchanged, his mind racing with thoughts, and so did Qingyao's. While she appeared calm, dignified, and smiled at those below, her mind was working rapidly.
Who was this man? How could he imitate Liu Zun so perfectly, even fooling her? After all, a man who combined such dominance and gentleness wasn't easy to mimic.
It wasn't something one could learn in a day or two, which meant this person must be someone close to him.
Those close to him were almost all loyal, and there were few such treacherous individuals with such high martial arts skill.
No, a person suddenly flashed in Qingyao's mind. If that person were still alive, they could easily accomplish this.
Because he and Liu Zun had studied under the same master, Tian Shan Lao Ren, and had lived and slept together for years. He knew Liu Zun's habits and movements intimately.
Most importantly, his martial arts were extremely formidable. Besides Liu Zun, ordinary people would likely not be his match.
If Liu Zun had been caught up in something at the time and had been even slightly careless, he might have fallen victim to this man's scheme. Who would have thought this man had infiltrated the palace? She had thought he was dead.
Qingyao raised her eyes, her gaze drifting as if in a north wind, cold and chilling.
She looked at the man beside her. He happened to look over as well, smiling gently. They exchanged glances.
Qingyao tried her best to examine him discreetly, her smile shallow and accommodating, making it impossible to discern her true thoughts.
"Which family's daughter has the Emperor taken into the palace?"
Qingyao tried to stabilize the tremor in her voice, appearing cool and distant, though her heart felt like it was burning, a blurry, bloody mess.
Where was Liu Zun now? Was he alright?
What should she do now? Qingyao pondered, immediately thinking of the chief eunuch, Ah Jiu.
She recalled Ah Jiu's initial apprehension upon seeing her. Ah Jiu had always been neither master nor servant to the Emperor. Therefore, Ah Jiu's trembling performance must have meant he knew what had happened to the Emperor but couldn't speak of it.
Thinking of this, Qingyao's gaze casually swept over the Emperor's side. She saw Ah Jiu, his lean figure completely unlike his former self. Now, no matter when or where, he always kept his head slightly bowed, avoiding everyone's eyes.
The Emperor on the upper seat had a handsome face veiled with a smile, and his clear voice rang out.
"The daughter of Grand Academician Sima, Sima Lanmei, is now conferred the title of Consort Mei, and the daughter of the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, Yun Xin, is conferred the title of Consort Yun..."
The Emperor conferred titles upon three consorts in succession: Consort Lan, Consort Yun, and Consort He. Additionally, there were several more ladies of the inner palace, such as Zhaoyi and Zhaoyuan. In total, many beauties entered the palace.
Looking at the prominent families behind these women, all influential ministers in court, Qingyao coldly observed everything before her. This man's scheming was truly profound.
Even if he were a fake, once he had favored these beauties, even if their families found out, they would desperately strain their eyes to insist he was real. Such cunning.
Qingyao's lips curved into a smile. She wasn't worried about these women entering the palace, nor about the throne being usurped. Her concern was Liu Zun. She had to find him as soon as possible and know if he was still alive. The mere thought of him encountering trouble sent a pang of pain through her.
"How does the Empress see it?"
"As long as the Emperor likes it."
Qingyao's expression was faint, but her tone was gentle, which made the selected women breathe a sigh of relief.
Given the current situation, if the Empress had objected, she would have at most gained a reputation for jealousy, but they would not have been able to enter the palace. She hadn't expected the Empress to be so magnanimous, allowing them to fulfill their desires.
Qingyao agreed because this man was not Liu Zun at all, but Shangguan Hao.
Now, only she and Ximen Xinyue were in the palace. If Ximen Xinyue intended to use these women against her, why shouldn't she use these women to cover her own upcoming actions?
She had to find out where the real Emperor was. Had something happened to him, or...?
Qingyao dared not think further.
"Good, Yao'er is considerate. I will return to the Imperial Study."
Emperor Xian rose. Qingyao, unhurriedly, led Ximen Xinyue and the newly conferred consorts in the main hall, slowly bowing: "Your Majesty, may you have a good journey."
The Emperor departed. Qingyao paid no attention to the women below and led Xiao Yuer, Mochou, and Bingxiao away first, stating indifferently, "Consort Shu, please make the arrangements for these matters."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress."
Ximen Xinyue's expression was gloomy and unpleasant. She had intended to anger this woman and was confident that she would prevent the Emperor from taking concubines, thus earning a reputation for virtuousness.
Instead, she had earned a foul reputation for jealousy. To her surprise, this woman had ultimately agreed to the Emperor taking concubines, leaving her in an awkward position to attend to them.
However, Ximen Xinyue looked up again, her face full of smiles.
"Guards,"
Eunuchs and palace maids immediately stepped forward. Ximen Xinyue said gently, "Arrange the newly conferred consorts and the ladies of the inner palace to their respective palaces. Send the young ladies who were not selected out of the palace."
"Thank you, Consort Shu."
The selected women all respectfully thanked Consort Shu. Ximen Xinyue did not forget to warn these women, "You must be careful in the palace. Not everyone here is as easy to talk to as I am."
With that, she turned and left with her personal maids, eunuchs, and palace maids in a grand procession, not looking back at the new consorts.
Leaving a few women looking at each other in bewilderment.
What did Consort Shu mean by her words? Who else could it be in the palace but the Empress? The Empress's expression had been less than pleasant all day, and looking at the little princess beside her, her eyes were full of anger. It seemed they would have to be careful from now on...
Phoenix Luan Palace.
In the grand hall, Qingyao dismissed all the eunuchs and palace maids, leaving only Mochou and Bingxiao. She then summoned Shen Yu and Mingyue.
The few of them gazed at the stern-faced Empress. She was enveloped in the cold frost of winter, her pupils like blood, an eerie red, her face filled with murderous intent. The day's events had caused the usually composed and indifferent woman to lose her composure so drastically.
They were slightly surprised.
"Your Majesty?"
Xiao Yuer, holding her mother's hand, said, "Mother, shouldn't we leave the palace?"
Qingyao scanned the surroundings, knowing that those below assumed she was upset because the Emperor had taken concubines.
Who knew that the palace had already turned upside down? That person was manipulating everything in the palace, causing so much sorrow to so many people, and this was precisely his goal.
He had framed Prince Nan'an, and next, he would likely target her, the Mu Residence, and anyone in court who might hinder him.
She would never stand by and do nothing.