Poor Girl Becomes Empress

Chapter 22: Middle Pavilion

The next day the royal family gathered in the middle pavilion for lunch together. Much of Wei did not know about the royal family, rather they did not introduce themselves to Wei. He only knew about the daughter of both the queen mother and her granddaughter. Since arriving at the middle pavilion, Wei had already sensed that the other royal families did not like his presence. The emperor also looked at her coldly which made the concubines stare at Wei mockingly.

"It's an honor for us because the queen mother invited us to have lunch together. We thanked the queen mother," Zhuan, Quolin, Baoyi, and Annchi lowered their heads towards Nui who was sitting to Fengying's left.

Nui smiled cynically, obviously if she did not like those concubines. He then glanced at Wei who was sitting to the right of Fengying. "I invite you because of the welcome of the new empress in this palace."

The four concubines smiled stiffly, feeling dislike if invited just for it. They re-enforced their bodies while smiling sweetly.

"It's only been a day being empress seems like a lot has happened to you, huh? How did your forehead get hurt?" said the half-old woman who sat in front of the concubines wearing a bright green dress. She looked beautiful and her skin was completely healthy despite her slightly whitened hair.

Wei lowered his head. "Yesterday I accidentally hit a bookshelf so that his side hit my forehead." Wei's alibi made the woman cluck.

The woman was Lienxi, the younger sister of the previous emperor, Nui's second child. She is married to the daughter of the chief minister and has a son named Changyi who is now 24 years old. His son had studied in Meing Country for 3 years near the border of Goching Country. He also has a 20-year-old daughter. It was her daughter who helped Fengying do the empress' duties when the position was vacant. His daughter Xiahe was most feared by the concubines for her cruelty to rule.

"Sadly, a weak woman like you is it appropriate to carry out the duties of empress?" Lianxi stared at Wei lightly making Xiahe who was beside her smile cynically.

"Emperor, can I teach the empress in her duties? I'm afraid he can't afford it and ruin everything." Xiahe lowered her head facing Fengying who had been silent earlier.

Nui hit the table with her palm. He looked at Lianxi and Xiahe sharply. Her son and granddaughter were really haughty and always felt great. "How dare you underestimate the queen! Did I ever teach you guys like that?!"

The atmosphere in the middle pavilion felt increasingly hot. Wei felt that the atmosphere was there because of her. As he was about to say, the servants came while carrying trays filled with food.

"Please forgive our sassiness, the queen mother" Xiahe said with both hands tightly grasping the ends of her dress.

Nui no longer replied until finally the waiter finished serving food at each table. They then began to eat in silence as no one dared to open their voices.

Wei stared at the food in front of him. All of the food was peanut-based, making Wei reluctant to eat it. It made all the royal families look at him in wonder.

Annchi who understood the atmosphere instantly lit a fire back to fry Wei all out. "This meal was served directly from the royal family's residence, doesn't it match the empress' tongue?" it was her words that made Wei smile softly.

Wei was very sensitive when someone deliberately cornered himself with various questions. He knew the concubines, Lienxi, Xiahe, even Fengying very much did not want her to be in the position of empress. Therefore, their first impression when they see themselves very clearly shows dislike.

"Hmm, this porridge is so good!" wei's happy-looking face made Nui smile happily.

"Snake porridge is a food that was very liked by the empress and previous emperors. I deliberately asked the waiter to serve the peanut porridge so that we could remember them" Nui said.

Hearing that, Fengying stopped eating. He looked straight ahead with a face that was difficult to understand. It was understood by Wei. The girl smiled gently as she looked towards Nui.

"If this peanut porridge is a food that the previous empress and emperors loved very much, we are very honored to be able to taste it" said Wei who made Nui chuckle. Both eyes glazed over, still not willing to see the departure of the child and his daughter-in-law.

As Nui was about to say, Wei first spoke. He knew what Nui was going to say next, which would definitely hurt Fengying a lot since it concerned his mother. As bad as Fengying's mother was, the man would definitely not be willing if anyone else were to demean her.

"Surri, can I ask you a question?" said Wei who was replied with a head nod by Nui.

"You're free to ask anything, empress."

Wei took a deep breath. He used this opportunity to ask about his two parents who were summoned by the queen mother yesterday. Since then she has not seen her parents and suddenly heard the news that her parents have returned to their home.

"Can I visit my parents' house? I'm sorry if I'm presumptuous, but I miss them so much."

After hearing Wei's words, Lienxi who had been eating by herself suddenly stopped. He looked at Wei with regret. "How dare the empress ask that of the queen mother? Whose husband are you, emperor or queen mother?!" the sharp thrust that made Wei speechless.

Also true. Wei seemed to lose her mind. She should have asked her husband for permission, not the queen mother. He lowered his head while biting his lips deeply. In front of the royal family he seemed to have humiliated himself. He could also hear the whispers of the concubines mocking him.

"Why are you so upset with him, Lienxi? What was wrong with asking permission from her grandmother? The empress I already considered like my granddaughter." insisted Nui who managed to make them all silent.

Fengying who had been silent since then started talking. "I'm going to the training area now with the empress. He said he wanted to see me play with the sword. We're pulling ourselves out!" Fengying stood up while grasping Wei's right hand and made the girl stand up.

Wei felt confused, he never even said that to Fengying. But he also did not dare to stop his steps when pulled by Fengying.

She heard the vexation of the concubines behind her and the words of the queen mother who said that she and Fengying were as if they could not be separated.