The palace servants retreated, and Li Su looked at Qiao Ci. "If there's anything you dislike about the palace's arrangement, you can have the servants change it at any time."
"Mm." Qiao Ci was not picky about these things, as long as she could live comfortably and have people serve her.
When it was time for bed that night, Qiao Ci was led by a palace maid to the hot springs to bathe. Li Su, who was waiting in the room, checked the bed. He instructed the palace maids to change the bedding to Qiao Ci's preferred material before sitting down to await his princess's return.
Originally, he had wanted to bathe with Qiao Ci, but seeing the palace maids, he had returned first.
With a creak, the door opened.
Li Su thought Qiao Ci had returned, but instead, he saw two scantily clad young women shyly step over the threshold.
The two girls each had their own unique appeal. One was dressed in a pure and alluring crimson, while the other wore a light blue gauze skirt, looking playful and cute.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, we are here to serve you in your chambers. We beg for your mercy."
As the two entered the room, they knelt down. They lifted their beautiful eyes, looking at Li Su with a pathetic gaze that brightened with hope.
So the Crown Prince was this handsome. Even if she could only be a concubine forever, it would be acceptable.
Li Su knew without thinking that this was the masterpiece of his good mother, the Empress.
"Go back where you came from. I don't lack palace maids here." Li Su's expression was cold. Upon closer inspection, a hint of disgust could be seen in his eyes.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, we are personal maids bestowed upon you by Her Majesty the Empress. If you send us back, Her Majesty will punish us sisters. Please, Your Highness the Crown Prince, keep us. We will do anything you ask ~" The woman in the crimson dress slowly began to shed her red silk.
Li Su had no intention of showing any tenderness. Seeing them continue to undress, he said sternly, "Guards!"
The next second, two eunuchs entered and bowed respectfully.
"Throw these two out. If any more indecent women enter my palace in the future, I will hold you accountable." Li Su's voice was like shards of ice. "Have the palace maids come in and clean the spots where they knelt ten times."
Heh, they wanted to drive a wedge between him and the princess? Not a chance!
The two eunuchs looked at each other. "But these are women carefully chosen by the Empress for you. If they are sent back... it might affect the Crown Prince's relationship with Her Majesty the Empress?"
In truth, what they really wanted to say was, wouldn't this be a great loss of face for the Empress?
Li Su actually thought about it seriously. The two beauties thought there was hope, their eyes sparkling.
Then they heard the Crown Prince lightly part his lips and say cruelly, "Since it is Mother's intention, then give them to Father. Send them to Father and say it was Mother's wish."
The young, handsome Crown Prince and the elderly Emperor. The two knew the difference. Hearing this, their faces turned pale. They knelt there, kowtowing, hoping the Crown Prince would take them in.
In the end, they were ruthlessly dragged away by the eunuchs.
About half an hour later, Qiao Ci returned to the sleeping quarters, surrounded by palace maids.
Looking at the floor, which was smooth, clean, and still bore water stains reflecting the candlelight, Qiao Ci asked, "What just happened?"
Li Su did not hide anything from her. With a smile, he walked over and pulled her hand, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "My mother sent me two palace maids just now, and I sent them to my father instead."
He looked up, seeking praise. "Did I do well?"
"Extremely well," Qiao Ci encouraged.
"Then can I sleep holding you tonight?" the young man looked at Qiao Ci pitifully.
The warm lamplight reflected on the young man's face, making him look both captivating and pitiable.
"Mm."
There was no reason to refuse, nor did she want to.
The Empress slept very soundly that night.
Seeing that Li Su had not sent the two beauties back, she assumed he had accepted them, and her mood finally improved somewhat.
As his mother, would she harm him?
She would only give him supreme power, beauties, and status.
As for those she disliked, she naturally didn't want her son to get close to them. Once he experienced the goodness of other beauties, he would no longer be so obedient to Qiao Ci.
While eating breakfast, Ru Hua, the head palace maid, approached with a constipated expression. The Empress glanced at her lightly and put down her spoon. "What is it? Why the long face?"
"Her Majesty the Empress... yesterday... yesterday..." Ru Hua stammered, not knowing how to start so that the Empress would be more receptive.
"Speak your mind. Faltering makes you seem small-minded." The Empress was in a good mood and did not scold her.
Whether said early or late, it had to be said. Ru Hua decided to go all out. "Her Majesty the Empress, the two beauties sent to His Highness the Crown Prince last night were given to His Majesty the Emperor by His Highness the Crown Prince. His Majesty the Emperor... His Majesty the Emperor favored them last night and even bestowed titles upon them..."
"What?!" The Empress slammed the table and stood up.
"The Crown Prince sent last night's beauties to the Emperor... and said they were from you. His Majesty was greatly pleased and even bestowed a reward upon you. The eunuch who brought the reward is waiting outside the palace..." Ru Hua's voice grew softer as she spoke, truly not daring to bring the eunuch in immediately.
The Empress felt dizzy and almost lost her balance.
The beauties she had prepared for her son had been made into concubines by her husband?
Li Su, how dare he?!
She had gone to great lengths for his well-being, only for him to stab her in the back. It truly chilled her to the bone!
Accepting the imperial decree with a numb expression, she didn't even know how she had managed to sit down.
On Li Su's side, having just finished breakfast, a palace maid from the Empress's palace came to summon him.
Qiao Ci was about to go with him, but he stopped her. "A'ci, wait for me here. I'll be back soon. Trust me, I can handle this."
As long as his mother harbored prejudice against Qiao Ci, he would not let Qiao Ci go to her. It would only lead to her being wronged, and he couldn't bear to see that.
Since his princess had come to Fengming with him, he would create a safe haven for her.
Upon arriving at the Empress's palace, Yin Lihua flung a teacup at him as soon as he entered.
With a 'bang', Li Su's forehead was split, and he bled.
Yin Lihua's expression tightened, then she said with concern, "Why didn't you dodge? Do you want to anger your mother to death before you're satisfied?"
"If I had dodged, Mother would only be more angry." Li Su stood straight, blood from his forehead streaming down his cheek.
The Empress quickly ordered someone to find medicine to stop the bleeding.
"No need, Mother." Li Su stopped her. "Your son knows you are doing all this for my own good, but I hope you can think more about what I want.
When it comes to romantic affection, my heart is small, and it can only contain Qiao Ci. If you can understand me, I hope you will stop sending all sorts of people to the Eastern Palace. No matter how many you send, the outcome will be the same."
Mentioning this, Yin Lihua became angry again. "Qiao Ci, Qiao Ci, you only have Qiao Ci in your heart, where do you place your mother? When you sent those two beauties to your father, did you think about Mother's feelings? Now all the concubines are laughing at me!"
"So..." Li Su retorted, "My feelings don't matter, is that right?"