The room was so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard.
"What Princess Consort De said is correct." Yan Xiu said coldly, "Since Princess Consort De has realized her mistake, I shall revoke your authority to assist in managing the harem."
"Emperor!" Princess Consort De looked up in shock.
Li Yuyu: ?
The authority to assist in managing the harem has been revoked? Then Princess Consort De has truly suffered a loss this time. What was all this turmoil for?
However, could it be that Yan Xiu intends to give her the power to assist in managing the harem?
As Li Yuyu thought of this, she saw Yan Xiu looking at her.
!!!
She refuses!
The task of helping Yan Xiu manage his concubines, exerting effort only to be thankless, she didn’t want to do it.
A faint smile appeared in Yan Xiu’s eyes as he realized Li Yuyu’s reluctance. He looked towards Beauty Zhou, and finally glanced at Han Guiren, who was leaning pale on the bed.
"Pass on my verbal edict, Han Guiren is gentle and filial, courageous and unyielding, I am deeply impressed and promote her to Beauty, bestowing the title Qing. From today onwards, Beauty Qing will replace Princess Consort De to assist in managing the harem."
Shen Quan reflexively knelt to receive the edict: "Yes, your servant will convey the decree immediately."
Princess Consort De, who was kneeling, was bewildered, Beauty Zhou in the room was shocked, and Beauty Qing lying in bed was momentarily blank. Let alone accepting the decree, she even lost the ability to think at this moment.
How could... this happen?
"Beauty Qing, quickly give your thanks." Shen Quan quietly reminded her.
The Imperial Decree had yet to be issued, but with the Emperor publicly announcing it, it was sealed in fate and wouldn’t change.
Realizing the situation, Beauty Qing no longer dared to lie down. With Shui Bai’s assistance, she laboriously got down, kneeled on the ground, and kowtowed saying, "Your concubine thanks the Emperor for his gracious favor."
"Hmm." Yan Xiu specifically walked over, wanting to feign assisting Beauty Qing to stand, but in the end, didn’t extend his hand: "Beauty Qing should properly assist in managing the harem in the future, and ensure that the series of events that happened during this period does not occur again."
This series of events was referring to the significant and minor issues arising during Princess Consort De’s management of the harem.
Princess Consort De could no longer utter a word.
"Beauty Qing, rest well. I have other governmental affairs to attend to, Lady Li, accompany me to the Imperial Study to attend to the brush and ink."
After Yan Xiu finished speaking, he left with his hands behind his back.
Li Yuyu bowed slightly in the direction of Princess Consort De and followed closely behind him.
"Beauty Qing," Princess Consort De, with Lan Qin’s assistance, stood up from the ground, looking down at Beauty Qing who hadn’t raised her head: "I always thought I had control over everything, yet didn’t realize how in the eyes of others, I was just a dull fool, merely a pawn on the chessboard."
Having said this, Princess Consort De placed her hand on the back of Lan Qin’s hand, slightly raised her chin, held her head up high, and left.
She had lost her face, she absolutely could not lose her composure as well.
"Your concubine bids farewell to Princess Consort De." Beauty Qing’s forehead touched the ground deeply as she kowtowed.
After Princess Consort De left, Beauty Qing then stood up from the ground.
She looked to her side at Beauty Zhou and softly said, "Sister Zhou... "
"Beauty Qing, please don’t humble your concubine, your concubine has no title and dares not consider herself Beauty Qing’s sister." Beauty Zhou lowered her head slightly, her soft voice laced with a tinge of bitterness.
"Sister Zhou, is this truly how you see me as well?" Beauty Qing suddenly filled with tears: "You think, like Princess Consort De, that these are my means, my intentions?"
"Have you forgotten how I risked my life to save you last time?"