Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 788: These are just means to control the emperor's heart (41 reward points added)

It was rare to see Nian Nian being "frustrated", and Nangong Xuanyu couldn't help laughing.

Especially when she heard her say that she took Ah Xu with her every day, but Ah Xu called her father first instead of mother. Nangong Xuanyu felt an indescribable sense of superiority in his heart...

Nangong Xuanyu was in a good mood.

Although this kind of comparative behavior is childish.

But the emperor is able to plan and win battles thousands of miles away, and he would be childish only in the Zhongcui Palace.

Of course, he couldn't let Nian Nian know what he was thinking, otherwise this stingy woman would be even more jealous.

Nangong Xuanyu picked up the lotus root box that Shen Zhinian loved to eat and said softly, "Ah Xu is only nine months old, what can he understand? Maybe in a few days, he will call me 'mother'."

"Okay, stop being jealous."

Shen Zhinian then snorted softly, picked up the lotus root box and took a bite.

How can “concubine mother” be as nice as “queen mother”?

Rather than this title, she would rather hear Ah Xu call her "Mother"!

Shen Zhinian lowered her eyes, not letting Nangong Xuanyu see the ambition that flashed in her eyes.

Now that the army has set out to fight the Huns, the emperor no longer has to be busy discussing whether to fight or make peace with his ministers as he did some time ago.

After dinner, the two sat on the couch by the window and played chess.

The game of chess was played with back and forth, sometimes Nangong Xuanyu had the better move, sometimes Shen Zhinian had the upper hand.

Looking at the exquisite chess game on the board, Nangong Xuanyu suddenly remembered the first time they played chess when Shen Zhinian had just entered the palace.

He was amazed by her chess skills. He didn't expect that there was such a skilled chess player among the concubines! Before he knew it, he had played chess with her for the entire night...

At that time, he always thought that Nian Nian was pure and kind, as simple as a water lotus swaying in the wind. What he liked most was her glass-like heart.

Looking back now... A good chess player plans his moves, and a good planner can achieve great things. How can a woman who plans every move be as innocent as a blank sheet of paper?

It's just that he was immersed in the gentle land, and the authorities were confused...

And now… even though Nangong Xuanyu had long understood that the pure kindness that Nian Nian had shown in the past was just a means to win favor and win the emperor’s heart, he was deeply trapped…

Nian Nian just wants to win his heart, what's wrong with that?

Even if she is not really innocent, so what?

She has never done anything to harm anyone.

Nian Nian loves him, and he loves Nian Nian. He is willing to fall for her...

Fuqiu quietly brought up two cups of tea.

As soon as the emperor took a sip, his brows furrowed: "Why is it stale tea?"

Fuqiu knelt on the ground in fear, seeming a little confused: "How could this happen..."

"This is the Rain-Predating Longjing tea that Eunuch Chen from the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent over at the beginning of last month. Your Majesty has not tasted it yet. Today, when I learned that Your Majesty was coming over for dinner, I asked this servant to brew it..."

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhinian also picked up the teacup and took a sip, then frowned: "The taste does not seem to be that good..."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I failed to serve you well."

"Fuqiu, why don't you quickly change the pot of tea!"

Fuqiu replied "yes" and quickly retreated with the cup.

The emperor's face darkened.

Nothing is ever simple in the harem.

At the beginning of last month...it was when he showed great favor to Concubine Chun because he was angry with Nian Nian.

At that time, the whole palace was rumored to have Nian Nian fallen out of favor and Concubine Chun was likely to replace her.

So...those servants in the Ministry of Internal Affairs who flatter the powerful and look down on the weak neglected Nian Nian and fooled her by passing old tea off as new tea!

Just because Nangong Xuanyu didn't point out many things in the palace doesn't mean he doesn't know about them.

When Concubine Zhuang gained the power to assist in managing the six palaces, she replaced the head of the Imperial Household Department who was loyal to Liu Shiqing with one of her own.

Was the act of fooling Nian Nian done by the servants of the Imperial Household Department on their own initiative, or was Concubine Zhuang also laissez-faire?

In the past, Nangong Xuanyu would definitely not have doubted Concubine Zhuang like this. But in his heart, Concubine Zhuang had long been a double-faced person, and it was difficult for the emperor not to think too much.

The war with the Huns had just begun, and the military advisor was the think tank of the Zhuang family. It was naturally impossible for Nangong Xuanyu to do anything to Concubine Zhuang at this time.

but……

"Li Changde!"

Li Changde immediately stepped forward, bent over and asked, "What do you want, Your Majesty?"

Nangong Xuanyu said in a deep voice: "Chen Yangming, the chief steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, can't even tell the difference between new tea and old tea. How did he get this position? Send him to Xinzheku to gain more experience for a few years!"

"Yes!"

At this time, Fuqiu had already brought new tea.

Shen Zhinian picked up the teacup and took a sip, hiding the slightly upturned curve at the corners of his lips.

She knew Nangong Xuanyu too well.

Because she knew that the emperor was suspicious and overthinking, it was much more helpful to let him figure out some things himself than for her to complain directly.

Moreover, it was the emperor's official words that Chen Yangming was sent to the Xinzheku, and it was none of her business.

After a few games of chess, the night grew darker.

The emperor had been busy with the Xiongnu affairs a few days ago, and with the affairs of Concubine Hao and the fifth prince, he really had no mood to favor his concubines. Calculating the time, he hadn't touched Nian Nian for a long time...

The moonlight was dim, and the beauty was beside him. Nangong Xuanyu's gaze towards Shen Zhinian gradually became hotter.

The emperor waved his hand, signaling everyone to go down, then stood up, picked up Shen Zhinian and walked towards the bathroom...

Shen Zhinian exclaimed softly and subconsciously put his arms around Nangong Xuanyu's neck: "Your Majesty, what are you doing?"

He said simply: "Take a bath and go to bed!"

The spring light in the room was so bright that even the moon was ashamed to hide in the clouds...

Early the next morning.

When Shen Zhinian woke up, Nangong Xuanyu had already gone to attend the morning court.

Handan and Fuqiu came in to help Shen Zhinian wash and comb her hair, and reported: "Your Majesty, there are already quite a few of our people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Everything is in accordance with your instructions. After Chen Yangming was dragged to the Xinzheku, there are several people who are competing for this position who are loyal to you."

With Shen Zhinian's current identity and status, the position of the Chief of the Imperial Household Department has become vacant, and it would be too easy for her to push her own people up.

"Pick a smart one and ask him to come to see me in a low profile."

"Yes."

After washing up, Shen Zhinian sat in front of the bronze mirror and Handan tied her hair for her.

Handan couldn't help herself and asked the question in her heart: "Your Majesty, there is something I have been thinking about all night, but I still can't figure it out. I hope Your Majesty can help me solve my confusion."

"It is you who taught the Fourth Prince to call him 'Father' every day, but you never taught him to call him 'Mother'. Why did you..."

Shen Zhinian looked at the majestic and charming beauty in the bronze mirror and smiled: "If not, how can His Majesty feel superior? How can he feel that in Ah Xu's heart, he, the father, is more important than me?"

"In this way, His Majesty will love Ah Xu more."

They are just means to control the emperor's heart.