Chapter 977: Chapter 824, The Empress Dowager Causes Trouble_3 Chapter 977: Chapter 824, The Empress Dowager Causes Trouble_3 Luo Qiong had not expected to select the daughters of these two families; his smile grew deeper.

The second miss of the Han Family was Yan Yiyi’s eldest sister-in-law, the legitimate eldest daughter-in-law of the Fang Family, and also the eldest daughter of the Han Family. If Yan Yiyi was not good to the two concubines, the marital alliance between the Yan and Han Families would have been in vain, even worse, it might even breed enmity.

Although Luo Qiong was willing to see misfortune befall Pingxi Hall, thinking of the Empress Dowager’s deep calculations made him feel dread and fear.

Empress Dowager: “I heard that Yeyang has entered the palace, go call him over. I just want to speak to him about this joyous matter.”

Qianqing Palace.

Xiao Yeyang had just finished reporting his duties to the Emperor when a eunuch from Cining Palace arrived.

Hearing that the Empress Dowager had summoned him, Xiao Yeyang involuntarily looked towards the Emperor.

The Emperor chuckled, “Go on.”

Xiao Yeyang nodded and quickly headed to Cining Palace.

Upon entering the hall and seeing the noblewomen present, Xiao Yeyang frowned and walked up to the Empress Dowager to greet her: “Yeyang pays his respects to the Empress Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager did not call him to rise immediately, merely looking at Xiao Yeyang indifferently.

Thinking back to the night of the Lantern Festival, how Xiao Yeyang had been on the lantern tower and successfully rescued the Crown Prince and the fourth Prince but ignored Jinghui, the Empress Dowager felt intense hatred.

“Rise.”

Xiao Yeyang stood up and looked at the Empress Dowager, “May I know what orders the Empress Dowager has for me?”

A smile spread across the Empress Dowager’s face: “I heard that besides Shengping, you don’t even have a concubine in your household, so I decided to choose two for you.”

“The choices have been made; the fifth lady from Earl Zhaode’s residence and the fourth lady from Earl Yongqing’s residence. Three days from now is an auspicious day; you can bring them into the Prince Residence then.”

Hearing the Empress Dowager’s incontestable command, Xiao Yeyang was furious, but he suppressed his anger and said with a faint smile, “Empress Dowager, Yeyang is currently busy with his duties and does not need so many people to serve him. Please let this matter go.”

The Empress Dowager’s face immediately darkened, “Yeyang, I’m not discussing with you.” Adding with a sneer, “I know you and your wife are close, but don’t forget who you are. What, a legitimate son of the Prince Residence, do you really intend to spend your life with only one daughter?”

Xiao Yeyang knelt on one knee, “Empress Dowager, I truly do not need so many people serving me, thank you for your kindness.”

“Slap!”

The Empress Dowager slammed her hand onto the table, her face full of anger as she looked at Xiao Yeyang: “What, you think you’re so strong now that you can defy me?”

Xiao Yeyang raised his eyes to look at the suddenly furious Empress Dowager, seeing the intense hatred in her eyes, his brow tightly furrowed.

“What’s going on?”

The Emperor suddenly stepped into Cining Palace and smiled at the Empress Dowager: “Empress Dowager, has this lad Yeyang angered you?”

The Empress Dowager glanced at the Emperor: “Your Majesty, you’ve arrived just in time. I’ve taken a liking to the ladies from Earl Zhaode’s and Earl Yongqing’s residences and wanted to match them with Yeyang, but unfortunately, Yeyang is ungrateful and just wants to live with Shengping alone; you should talk to him.”

After hearing what had happened, a chill flashed in the Emperor’s eyes, but his face remained smiling: “Empress Dowager, Yeyang has only recently married, and the young couple is still affectionate. If you designate someone to him now, of course, he would be unwilling. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor with irritation, “Emperor, do I not even have the right to arrange marriages for my own grandson now?” Gasping, her breathing became more rapid.

“Empress Dowager!”

The nanny by her side exclaimed in shock and hurried over to soothe the Empress Dowager.

However, the Empress Dowager’s breathing became increasingly labored and, not long after, she fainted outright.

Watching the palace staff hastily carry the Empress Dowager into the inner chambers, both the Emperor and Xiao Yeyang wore very grim expressions.

The Emperor looked at the noblewomen in the hall and said with a smile: “Everyone, leave the palace for now. As for the Empress Dowager, I’ll take personal care of her.”

No one dared to stay any longer and quickly left.

…

The next morning at the imperial court, several Imperial Censors jointly accused Xiao Yeyang of defying the Empress Dowager and disrespecting his elders, branding him as disloyal and unfilial.

The Emperor looked indifferently at the Imperial Censors and asked with a smile, “According to you, how should he be dealt with?”

The Imperial Censors fell silent.

The Emperor surveyed the officials and said: “The Empress Dowager did indeed suffer a recurrence of her old illness yesterday. Thus, I will strip Xiao Yeyang of his position and relieve him of his duties. What do you all think?”

The officials lowered their heads and remained silent.

After a while, Yang Chenghua, after evaluating the Emperor’s mood, was the first to stand up and express his stance: “The Emperor demonstrates wisdom.”

The other officials followed suit: “The Emperor demonstrates wisdom!”

Pingxi Hall.

Xiao Yeyang was leisurely lying on a lounge chair, his face full of enjoyment as Daohua tended to his nails.

“You’ve lost all your duties, yet you seem quite at ease.”

Xiao Yeyang ‘crunched’ on a peach, “I haven’t had a break in a long time, it’s high time I took a vacation.”

Daohua smirked at him and after a moment of silence, said, “Luo Qiong has been jumping around too much lately, and it bothers me. I’m thinking about showing her some color.”

Xiao Yeyang smiled, “Do as you wish.”

Daohua: “Won’t it mess up your plans?”

Xiao Yeyang shook his head, “The affairs at the Duke Residence are too well hidden. Maybe stirring Luo Qiong a bit could give us a breakthrough.”

Reassured by his words, Daohua began to plan how to reveal to the Ma Family mother and son that the timing of Luo Qiong’s pregnancy was off.