Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 184 He Chose Me

The four of them finally went to take a look at the statue.

Daiyu watched for a while and said, "The Bodhisattvas in Tibet seem to be more lively."

"It's probably frozen." said Princess Hongchang.

Daiyu thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it's because the locals are lively?"

The two of them chatted back and forth, and after a few words, the Queen Mother laughed again. She scolded, "Still talking nonsense! Aren't you afraid of being blamed by the Bodhisattva? Speech is also karma!"

The two of them stuck out their tongues, put their hands together, bowed, apologized sincerely, and then came out.

The Queen Mother then took them north along the Jinshui River.

Daiyu could not help but ask the Empress Dowager in a low voice: "Your Majesty, there is no one else here, please tell us: What is the relationship between the Emperor and Concubine Lai?"

"What does it matter? It doesn't matter!" The Queen Mother snorted, but still explained it in detail:

"His biological mother was a concubine I brought with me as a dowry. Although I favored her greatly, I never had a child. As soon as this child was born, I held him in my lap and raised him.

"When his mother had him, she made him a beauty. The beauty wanted to take her child back, but she knew she couldn't compete with me, so she looked for someone else outside.

"Because she followed me, she knew the real identity of Concubine Lai, so she went to find Concubine Lai. It was agreed that she would get the position of concubine and could raise her own children.

"But Concubine Lai refused to tell us her purpose. I later figured out that she probably just wanted to silence him and stop him from bothering her."

As the Queen Mother spoke, she walked to a bridge and did not want to go any further, so she crossed the bridge and walked back to the Yanjia Palace.

Tanchun helped her across the bridge.

Daiyu and Hongchang followed behind tactfully without offering any help.

"Although the Supreme Being loves beauties and is easily influenced by others, he is very serious about the issue of his offspring. When he found out that this beauty was being reckless, he immediately became furious.

"So the emperor was neither raised by me nor had any relationship with Concubine Lai, but was given to Concubine De to raise at that time.

"De Fei is weak and sickly, how can she have the energy to raise a child? I feel sorry for the child's mother after all, she is from my mother's family, so I take care of her more secretly."

At this point, the Queen Mother smiled with satisfaction, looked back at Daiyu, and said, "The Emperor is a kind and righteous child.

"He has always known that I was the one who was taking care of him, and he also knew that his mother was making trouble because she didn't want me to take care of him. So on the surface, he was not close to me, but he also didn't pretend to hate me in order to avenge his mother.

"It was only in the last year of the Emperor's reign that I went to him and asked him: When you become the Emperor, which lady from the same palace would you like to have as your legal mother?

"He chose me."

So, the title of Empress Dowager was actually chosen by the Emperor, not the Supreme Emperor?

Daiyu glanced at the Queen Mother and suddenly felt that this might not be the case, so she couldn't help but ask, "Queen Mother, you didn't lie to us, did you?

“Your Majesty doesn’t seem like someone who would listen to others and give his queen to anyone at random!

"No matter how I look at it, I feel that it is because of the deep affection between you and the Supreme Lord that he gave you this honorable position in the last year, so that you can live a carefree life for the rest of your life!"

The queen mother was even happier after hearing this, and she smiled until her eyes narrowed, but she was stubborn and refused to admit it, snorting, "He is not!

"If it was his idea to make me the empress, it must be because there is no one left in my family now! This way, when the emperor ascends the throne, there will be no foreign relatives to hinder him!"

This is too harsh a statement.

None of the three dared to answer.

Princess Hongchang glanced at the two people who were trying to urge her, and said dryly: "Empress Dowager, are you thirsty? How about we go back and have some sweet soup?"

The three of them burst into laughter.

After eating the sweet soup, Tanchun took out the diabolo that she had brought for the empress dowager and asked someone to shake it for her to see. She then said, "It's not difficult, I tried it at home and I can play it. It's just that my arms hurt from the fatigue."

Before he finished speaking, the Supreme strode in, his face livid, and shouted, "Where is that bastard slave?"

"Don't shout for now." The Queen Mother raised her hand to stop him and told the three young girls, "There is something going on in the palace, so I won't keep you here any longer. Don't say what you said today when you leave the house.

"Especially Hongchang, you can't tell your parents, and you can't mention a word to anyone else. Do you understand?"

The retired emperor was so angry that he clenched his fists tightly, and he looked gloomy and scary, as if he was about to kill someone on the spot!

The three men saw that the Supreme was furious, and they knew how serious this matter was. They all knelt down and said yes, then left quickly.

After leaving the palace, Daiyu and Tanchun said goodbye to Princess Hongchang, but Hongchang showed his face from the car window and asked Daiyu with a smile: "Aunt Zhaoqing, when can I go to find you to go out to eat at a restaurant?"

"Why don't you come to my house and play for a day the day after tomorrow?" Daiyu raised her eyebrows, indicating that it would be better for her not to say anything more for the time being.

Princess Hongchang understood and nodded in agreement.

Daiyu and Tanchun returned home and went back to their rooms to wash up.

Zijuan and others were extremely surprised.

The first few times Daiyu came home from the palace, she either fell asleep immediately or took a bath, changed her clothes, and then had a big meal.

However, it is rare that he doesn't say a word even while bathing, as he did today.

After I finished washing, changed my clothes, and combed my hair, before I started drinking the tea, Tanchun came.

The maids understood what was going on and knew that something must have happened in the palace. They all hurriedly left, leaving the two sisters to talk in private.

"Have you never heard any rumors about Concubine Lai's affairs at home?" Daiyu could not help but ask Tanchun.

Tanchun shook her head, "I was just thinking about it. Normally, if someone in the mansion knew about this, there would be some gossip or hints spread, but I haven't heard a word.

"The only thing that can serve as evidence is that Madam Lai is very respectable in front of the old lady.

"The East Palace was closed, and the old lady discussed with Lai Mama about who should stay and who should go. The old lady agreed to whatever Lai Mama said, without any intention of rejecting it.

"As for the rest, I really can't tell anything."

Tanchun thought for a moment and said, "Lai Da and Lai Er are not actually very scheming people. I think even they may not know about this.

"But if Yanzhi is really from the Zhao family, it can explain how she knows my horoscope."

Daiyu shook her head: "From what we know about the Zhao family, is there anyone who is so strict with his mouth? If the Zhao and Qian families knew about this, would they still allow themselves to be driven out by the whole family?"

Tanchun hesitated and said, "That means that the old lady and Lai Ma are the only ones who know about this.

"But it's strange that the person behind this was able to get my horoscope in order to bring down Concubine Lai."

"What's so strange about this? If someone offered to find you a rich and powerful in-law as bait, do you think your father, your grandmother, or even your eldest sister would give out your horoscope to make it worthwhile for them?!"

Daiyu looked out the window with a cold gaze, "Grandmother still has my horoscope in her hand. If one day my horoscope appears in some strange place, I won't be surprised."