The next day after the wedding, Lu Xiaolian and Zhongshan Huang entered the palace to pay respect to The Empress and Empress dowager.
"Xiaolian greets Imperial Grandmother and mother Empress" Lu Xiaolian said as she bowed to the Empress and Empress dowager.
"Do rise" the Empress dowager said smiling.
She was very satisfied with the Emperor's choice this time, Lu Xiaolian unlike Xu Mingzhu had a good head on her shoulder. She was already aware of the events of yesterday.
Mingzhu seams to have lost control of the haram but that is to be expected when dealing with a sly fox like that Jang Suyin.
She had never liked that madam Jang she had always been full of little tricks right since she was younger but Huang'er always seamed to tolerate her nonsense. She would have to have a chat with that grandchild of hers.
"Yes your majesty" Lu Xiaolian said and sat at next to the Empress.
"I heard of the events of yesterday, I am very proud of how you handled it. I always advice that one acts in a way that puts the Imperial family in a good light.
I fear that I have been too lenient with the crown princess Consort. Xiaolian your first duty as the primary wife of the Crown Prince is to manage the Haram, the Suyin has been left to run wild for too long. Luli I will have to trouble you to handle this" the Empress dowager said shaking her head gently.
"Yes Mother, I have already called Mingzhu into the palace" Empress Ye replied.
"Good someone there present the gifts to Xiaolian" the Empress dowager instructed and a servant carried a tray of gifts and presented it to Lu Xiaolian.
"This incense calms the mind and maintain balance of the Ying and Yang in the body" the Empress dowager said.
"Xiaolian thanks her majesty for the gift" Lu Xiaolian said smiling.
"Good" the Empress dowager replied.
* * *
Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu palace.
"The Emperor has arrived" the Eunuch at the door announced as the door was opened and the Emperor walked in.
"Zichen, you're here" Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu said from her seat.
"your highness" Zhongshan Zichen said after taking a seat.
"How are you doing, we haven't had a chance to meet of late" Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu said as her servants began serving the tea.
"I have been well, I trust that you too are well. I hope that you weren't too worried by the events of the Su family, I know how close you are with Imperial Consort Su" the Emperor replied.
"I am very well thanks for your concern" Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu said
"You don't want to talk about her it seams. I only asked because of how strongly you advocated for her to enter the palace" The Emperor continued.
"back then I thought that she would be a good match for you but lately I regret my decision especially with recent occurance" Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu said.
"With recent occurance, that's rich coming from you. I have evidence of your attempt to poison Princess Xi'an during her stay in the palace. Imperial Consort Su may have directed the Maid but you gave the order even when you suspected you were being manipulated by Imperial Consort Su" the Emperor said finally facing the Dowager Imperial Noble Consort.
"That not true, you have to believe am your mother. I carried you in my womb for ten months" Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu said loudly.
"And poisoning the sixth prince, I know it was you that supplied Imperial Consort Su with the herbs" the Emperor said
"impossible the Sixth prince surffered from a birth defect" Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu said.
"The only birth defect that he had was that he was deaf but you made him blind all in a bid to frame the Empress" the Emperor said
"Yes that"s right, I should have known it would be her, trying to come between our mother and son bond" Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu said.
"You could have killed him. It's because of this bond that I am not making your crimes public" the Emperor replied.
"I am your mother Zichen I gave birth to you and not her" Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu shouted heatedly.
"You may have given birth to me, but you were never a mother to me at all. At least not until the crown Prince death. Mother Empress took me away and raised me after you tried to drawn me when I was a few days old all in a bid to hurt father Emperor after the Death of your childhood sweetheart and the crown Prince father" the Emperor replied.
"You knew, how? Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu asked losing her footing and falling to the ground.
"Father Emperor knew about your affairs but imperial grandmother has always liked you and kept picking you for bed service" the Emperor said.
"No no no no, it can't be" dowager imperial Noble consort Xu said in disbelief.
"He let you live because imperial grandmother made him promise to do so when she found out everything as a way to repay you for the part she played in everything" the Emperor said standing in front of the Dowager Imperial Noble Consort.
"Why, why let me be" Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu said as tears rolled down her face
"Because like you said, you carried me to term. you could have terminated the pregnancy but you carried me to term. So I let you be but you just won't stop. That is why am giving you this last chance" the Emperor said dropping a Buddhist prayer bead on the ground in front of her and walking out of the Dowager Imperial Noble Consort palace.
"Zichen am sorry" Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu said in tears as the Emperor walked out of her palace.
...The next day
Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Xu announced that she was leaving the palace. She announced that she aboundons the worries of life and moving into a Buddhist temple to become a nun to pray for Wei and guard the Past Emperor's grave.
This announcement surprised everyone but most of all the Xu family, who had always relied on her.