novelhk Chapter 273 Taking a concubine
Chapter 273 Taking a concubine
The sky is high and the clouds are light, and the golden palace is magnificent.
Among the nine-story palace, Xu Jiaoran's bedroom is like a quiet haven, but undercurrents are surging inside.
Cheng Wenwen's persuasion was like a spring breeze that stirred the lake in Xu Jiaoran's heart. She began to re-examine her relationship with Li Zhen, and she no longer used a cold shell to cover up her inner feelings.
She decided to change and no longer just have the title of queen, but to truly hold real power.
In the eyes of everyone, Xu Jiaoran's transformation was so natural. She began to show gentle care to Li Zhen, and her eyes showed deep affection instead of the alienation she had before. Her actions made Li Zhen happy, as he had never thought that Xu Jiaoran would change so much.
However, all these changes were not due to Xu Jiaoran's true feelings for Li Zhen, but her careful planning and strategy. She knew that as a queen, if she did not have real power, she would be like a tree without roots and a willow without support. What she wanted was not only the title of queen, but also the supreme power.
There is a deep sea in Xu Jiaoran's heart, which is her scheme and ambition. She began to quietly lay out in the harem and secretly cultivate her own power. She used a graceful smile and soft words to cover up her ambition, but she quietly laid out her plan in every conversation.
Cheng Wenwen was right. She wanted to control the power and she wanted to undermine Li Zhen's authority, so she now appeared submissive in front of Li Zhen.
Her actions made people think that she was deeply in love with Li Zhen, but behind it was a crazy pursuit of power. She wanted to become the real controller of the harem.
However, all this could not be accomplished overnight. Xu Jiaoran needed to strike at the right time and make Li Zhen trust her enough. She used some of her tricks to slowly erode Li Zhen's power, causing him to lose control of the harem without realizing it.
Li Zhen was very happy about Xu Jiaoran's transformation.
Xu Jiaoran's transformation happened quietly like a spring breeze. She was no longer the cold queen, but began to show unprecedented tenderness and care to Li Zhen. All these changes were due to Cheng Wenwen's persuasion.
Xu Jiaoran began to take the initiative to care about Li Zhen's daily life and diet, and her eyes showed warmth and care.
Li Zhen felt this change, and his heart was filled with joy. He saw himself in Xu Jiaoran's eyes, and he felt that he had entered her heart.
One day, Xu Jiaoran made a request to Li Zhen. She hoped that Li Zhen could promote her father's official position and give him a higher position in the court.
"Why do you suddenly want your father to be promoted?" Li Zhen was a little suspicious at first. After all, since Xu Jiaoran entered the palace, she rarely asked about family affairs and seldom interacted with her family.
Xu Jiaoran explained, "My father was ill a few days ago, and my mother came to me for help. My family was demoted a few days ago, and many people took advantage of it. I really feel sorry for my elderly parents who are suffering. I ask Your Majesty to help them, even if it's just a superficial promotion, so that people won't laugh at my family."
After hearing this, Li Zhen agreed to Xu Jiaoran's request without hesitation. He understood that this was a manifestation of Xu Jiaoran's trust in him, and he couldn't let her down.
However, this decision caused an uproar among the court officials.
Many court officials were dissatisfied with Li Zhen's preference for Xu Jiaoran's father, and they believed that this was a violation of the court rules. Their voices surged like a tide, making Li Zhen feel more pressured.
However, Li Zhen was not defeated by this pressure. He stood firmly on Xu Jiaoran's side, his eyes full of trust and love for Xu Jiaoran. He knew that this was a manifestation of his love for Xu Jiaoran, and he could not give up his decision because of the pressure from the court officials.
Deep in the palace, in the palace of Queen Xu Jiaoran, a discussion about family promotion was going on. Xu Jiaoran's eyes were like torches, and her request was directed to Emperor Li Zhen, her tone full of expectation and determination.
The Xu family was promoted by the emperor, and Xu's father was reinstated as the Minister of Rites. Now he holds a prominent position in the court and has enormous power. The family members began to feel complacent, as if the whole world was in their hands.
However, Xu Jiaoran is well aware that everything will turn into its opposite when it reaches its extreme, and excessive exposure will only bring unnecessary trouble.
So, she gently persuaded her mother: "Mom, our good days are still to come. Now the glory of my father and family is already prominent enough. If we show it too much, it will bring unnecessary trouble."
Xu's mother understood her daughter's words and understood the truth in her heart. When she returned home, she began to persuade Xu's father: "Sir, Jiao Ran is right. We have more than enough wealth and glory, and now we should know when to stop."
When Mr. Xu heard what his wife and daughter said, he felt a sense of relief. He took a deep breath, and a glimmer of enlightenment flashed in his eyes. He nodded and said, "You are right. I was wrong. I should be more restrained now."
There was a gleam of wisdom in his eyes, as if he understood many things at once. He knew that as the head of the family, he should have a long-term vision and profound wisdom.
He began to adjust his attitude and behavior, becoming more low-key. He no longer flaunted his power and status in the court, but handled various affairs more modestly and carefully. He began to listen more to the opinions and suggestions of others, and paid more attention to the relationship with his colleagues.
Such changes made the Xu family's position in the court more stable. Father Xu's low profile and modesty not only won the respect and trust of his colleagues, but also made him more favored by the emperor.
Xu Jiaoran was also in charge of the palace. She had already begun to gain control of the affairs of the harem. With the help of her father in the previous dynasty, the power of the Xu family would only grow greater.
However, all of this came from Li Zhen. This little power was not enough to undermine Li Zhen.
Far from enough.
Xu Jiaoran still has to think of some solutions.
……
In the magnificent palace, the court officials gathered together, with worried looks on their faces. The imperial power was as supreme as heaven, and now the court officials wanted to ask Emperor Li Xian to recruit concubines to enrich the royal bloodline, but the emperor refused on the grounds of personal will, leaving the court officials helpless.
The court officials were at a loss and had to persuade Xu's father, who also tactfully conveyed the court officials' intentions.
Xu Jiaoran sat in the chaise longue, wearing a luxurious queen's dress that made her look even more graceful. Facing the request of the court officials raised by her father, she did not directly agree or refuse, but smiled and said: "I already know their thoughts, and I will persuade your majesty!"
"Jiao Ran, you don't have to do this. This is not what your father means..." Who wants another woman to snatch his daughter's husband?
However, Xu Jiaoran assured: "I am the queen, so I naturally have to have the tolerance of a queen. Let them wait for news from me."
Father Xu was a little confused. What did his daughter mean by this? If other women entered the palace, the emperor would not favor her so much.