novelaction Chapter 1010 I Want to Fight
Chapter 1010 I Want to Fight
As for whether Consort Qian or Consort Yang is more suitable, he is still considering it. Neither of these two consorts is favored, but they come from prestigious families and therefore have a place in the harem.
After Cui Rong failed to get a definite answer from Zhou Pu after several attempts to probe him, she realized that His Majesty was unwilling to make her Empress.
Cui Ling often traveled around the palace, so it was relatively easy for him to see his daughter, Cui Rong. The father and daughter frequently exchanged information, and Cui Ling was not surprised to know the Emperor's decision.
"Although His Majesty has been engrossed in alchemy and neglected state affairs in recent years, and has become somewhat depressed, it doesn't mean he's as clueless as Emperor Xian. The reason your father is so prominent now is simply because His Majesty uses me most conveniently, and because I have few ties with the major families, a clean background, and am extremely loyal to His Majesty. I'm the only one who can balance the power of the aristocratic families, that's all! Since His Majesty favors the other two, let's just let it go this time and wait for a more suitable opportunity!"
Cui Rong's eyes flashed with resentment as she listened. "Father makes it sound so easy, but when will we get another chance like this? Consort Qian and Consort Yang's backgrounds are far beyond what the late Empress could match. If one of them were to ascend to the position of Empress, they would definitely be even more difficult to deal with!"
Upon hearing this, Cui Ling pondered for a while, then shook his head as if giving up, and said helplessly:
“But His Majesty has already made up his mind. It’s probably not enough for us to just chime in from the sidelines. To outsiders, it may seem that my daughter and I are enjoying great favor, but only we know in our hearts that we are just pawns in His Majesty’s hands. Our words don’t carry much weight. If we say too much, we might not only fail to achieve anything, but also arouse His Majesty’s displeasure and offend him. That would not be worth it.”
"So what if it's a chess piece? It can still turn the tables. There's no situation that can't be broken. There's always a way," Cui Rong said confidently, though she was still unwilling to give up the queen position that was so close to hers.
Seeing her daughter's stubbornness, Cui Ling frowned, put on a stern face, and scolded her:
"Don't be ridiculous! For your sake, your father is now going head-to-head with all the powerful families. His biggest support is His Majesty's favor. If he displeases His Majesty, he will only face death. If I fall, you won't have an easy time in the harem either. We are in the same boat now. If I say no, it means no. Don't try anything funny or make any rash moves, or don't blame your father for being ruthless!"
To be honest, since her daughter became more and more favored, Cui Ling felt proud and glamorous in public, but she always had a vague feeling of not being able to hold on to her, especially now that her daughter was becoming more and more opinionated.
That's why he's become increasingly strict with his daughter.
"Father," Cui Rong wanted to say again.
Cui Ling waved his hand to interrupt him, saying firmly, "Don't say anything more. Listen to your father. Don't get involved in this anymore. Since His Majesty has made up his mind, let him decide who to choose in the end! Taking a step back will open up a whole new world! The position of Empress is nothing but a flower in a mirror and the moon in the water, just an empty title. The most important thing is to learn how to control His Majesty's heart!"
After saying that, he looked up at the sky and realized it was already dusk, so he decided not to stay any longer and got up to leave.
He paused before turning away, still somewhat uneasy, and gently reminded her, "As a pawn, you must be aware of your role. It is precisely because your father has always kept this in mind that I have survived until now and gained His Majesty's trust. Think about it carefully!"
Cui Rong kept her head down and remained silent. In the backlight, her expression was not visible, but her hands, resting on her knees under the table, were tightly gripping the thin silk robe, and the veins on the back of her hands were clearly visible.
The maid, Peony, who served Cui Rong closely, stood to the side, keeping her eyes downcast. She caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of her eye and knew that Cui Rong was restraining her emotions. She couldn't afford to be offended, or she would lose her temper.
After Cui Ling had walked away, another palace maid, unaware of the situation, cautiously approached and asked, "Your Highness, Lord Cui has gone far away. Shall we prepare dinner now?"
Cui Rong didn't answer. After a moment, she suddenly looked up and slammed the cups and saucers on the table to the ground.
A series of crackling sounds rang out as the porcelain shattered.
The eunuchs and palace maids serving in the palace were so startled that they immediately knelt on the ground, saying in fear and trembling, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger, Your Majesty, please calm your anger..."
"Hmph, you clueless idiot. I'm already annoyed. Why are you asking me questions? What are your eyes for?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! This servant knows she was wrong!" The palace maid kept kowtowing and begging for forgiveness.
"Get out of here, all of you. I need to be alone for a while."
The palace maids and eunuchs who served Cui Rong already knew that she was unpredictable and capricious. Upon hearing this, they were overjoyed and hurriedly left to avoid trouble.
Soon, only Cui Rong's personal maid, Shaoyao, remained in the hall.
Peony was able to become the first person to serve Cui Rong, which naturally shows that she was quite clever and had a first-rate ability to read people's expressions and understand their thoughts.
After calming herself down, she stepped forward and gently patted Cui Rong's back to help her catch her breath: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Why get angry with those lowly palace maids? It's not worth ruining your health! I know why Your Majesty is upset. What Lord Cui said earlier certainly makes some sense, but he is, after all, an outsider. He mainly moves around in the court and is unaware of the fierce struggles in the harem. If Consort Qian or Consort Yang were to become Empress, wouldn't they be arrogant and domineering, like a mountain pressing down on Your Majesty, making you feel suffocated!"
Cui Rong knew exactly what kind of person she was. Upon hearing this, she raised her head and glanced at Shaoyao lightly, without saying a word.
Peony trembled slightly upon hearing this, and continued softly, "This servant is Your Highness's person, and naturally I am wholeheartedly thinking of Your Highness. If I have said anything wrong, I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
At this moment, Cui Rong had gradually calmed down. Since entering the palace, she had known that she could only rely on herself in everything. Getting angry was the most useless and incompetent thing to do, and it would not help solve any problems.
She agreed with what Shaoyao said in her heart. No matter what, she couldn't just give up this opportunity. But on the surface, she was unhurried and said slowly and deliberately, "You little hussy, don't think I don't know what you're thinking."
After hearing this, Peony smiled ingratiatingly and gently massaged Cui Rong's legs: "Your Majesty is so intelligent, my thoughts can not be hidden from Your Majesty. If Your Majesty can advance further, I will naturally rise with you."
"Yes, as long as you do your job well, I will not treat you unfairly," Cui Rong said with a faint smile.
Having heard this, Peony felt reassured, knowing that Cui Rong wasn't truly angry. Emboldened, she racked her brains to offer advice: "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, why don't you go and whisper in His Majesty's ear? Perhaps he'll change his mind. After all, the final decision rests with His Majesty! It would be too frustrating not to fight for this!"
"You're right, I do want to fight for this position. If others can sit on this throne, why can't I?" Cui Rong said with a sneer.
A determined glint flashed in his eyes.