Female Novel
Chapter 620 The Empress Was Specially Favored (Part Two)
"It's noon already. There's no need for that. Just tell all the ladies to come and pay respects to metomorrow." The empress played with the petals as she spoke slowly. "Prepare an outfit with a low collarfor me tomorrow."
"Yes, Your Majesty," said Nancy, as her eyes lit up.
The emperor stayed only with the empress, which made his concubines feel neglected. After all, eventhough the empress was still elegant and graceful, she was not in the bloom of youth. Even though shewas still well maintained, she could hardly be as delicate and beautiful as the young ladies of thepalace. It was well known that the emperor had a passion for young beauties. Even if he held theempress in high esteem, it was impossible to believe that he wanted to sleep with her in the SleekPalace every night.
"Lady Sherry, what is going on with His Majesty nowadays?" one of the emperor's concubines askedcuriously.
Sherry kept herself calm, as if she didn't even care. "He is the emperor. How can we know what HisMajesty is thinking about? He can do whatever he wants. It's not for others to pry into his business.Don't start talking like that, Lady. I'm afraid His Majesty will be displeased if he hears that we'regossiping about him."
"Yes, Lady Sherry."
Monica noticed something wrong in the imperial harem in recent days. She had a suspicion thatsomething was about to happen. Ever since her daughter Lilian had come of age, Monica had becomemore sensitive and alert to the social atmosphere. After all, she had only one daughter, and she didn'twant her to marry someone randomly.
"Well, Her Majesty doesn't need our greetings. We should all go back now. What's the point of stayinghere?" Monica finally spoke.
"Yes, Lady Monica."
The concubines all stood up and said goodbye to each other. Soon, only Sherry and Monica were leftin the hall. Monica looked at Sherry and asked, "Sherry, how's Francis nowadays?"
"He's much better now. He could hardly walk for so many years, but he can walk outside now. It's justthat he is still a bit weaker than an average person. I don't expect much from life. All I want is his safetyand health. But..." Sherry said in distress.
"Don't worry, Sherry. Francis is a good man and he has good fortune. God will bless him." Monica heldSherry's hand. "Do you feel that something is strange in the palace recently and a storm is coming?"
Sherry raised her eyebrows and looked at Monica. "Lady Monica, you just encouraged me not to worry.Now you seem even more worried than me. I don't think there's anything to be alarmed about, but it'sincredible how much His Majesty suddenly favors Her Majesty alone. We've both been living in theImperial Palace for many years. We know what sort of man His Majesty is. He has a passion forbeauties. In his advancing years, he has always favored the young and beautiful women more andmore."
"I find it very strange, too. His Majesty seems to have changed his habits entirely, as if he lost hisinterest in young girls, and now prefers mature women. It's rather inconceivable, isn't it? Sherry, do youthink Her Majesty has used some sort of witchery on him?" Monica asked in a low voice.
"Monica, don't talk nonsense." Sherry looked around, anxious to see that they were the only two there,and whispered, "There are no secrets in the Imperial Palace. We should watch our words carefully.Both of us have children, and if we get in trouble, so will our children."
Monica's face changed slightly. "I wasn't raising the idea seriously. It's just incredible that a man whoused to like young girls suddenly cares only for one particular older woman to the exclusion ofeveryone else."
"He's had so many young women that he's in the mood for something different."
"When he changes his mood, he looks for another young woman with a different style. I've never seenhim prefer an older one," Monica added.
"If the woman in the Sleek Palace hears your words, get ready for that she will make trouble for youand your daughter. She's the empress! If she interferes in Lilian's marriage, there will be nothing youcan do," Sherry reproached her with a frown. "Besides, seeing that she has kept her position for somany years, she must have some tricks up her sleeve."
"You are right. Now I'm worried about Lilian's marriage." Monica looked worried. "The girl is sostubborn. She just loves Master Chodak, but he's a monk! Even though she loves him, she can't evenget close to him. What can I do? She hates me for confining her to the palace. She didn't come backafter she ran away yesterday. If I hadn't sent people to take her back, who knows what she would havedone."
Hearing this, Sherry shook her head and said, "Lilian is a tough girl. She's been pursuing MasterChodak for so many years and still hasn't given up. Maybe she has her own ideas. You are her mother,after all, and won't harm her. If possible, talk to her and try to find out what she has in mind. Not manyprincesses in the royal family have reached adulthood."
Sherry's words made Monica nervous. Lilian alone, among the princesses in the Imperial Palace, hadalready come of age. Even though that fact wasn't on the minds of the emperor and empress atpresent, they would remember it sooner or later, so she had to make arrangements for her daughterwithout delay.
"His Majesty mentioned Lilian's marriage in an offhand manner the other day. I have a reputation to bearrogant and bossy in the Imperial Palace. Everyone says that His Majesty spoils me very much. Butwho is really the arrogant one in this palace?" Monica heaved a sigh.novelbin