Exile Queen is Beloved
Chapter 9 - The Threat of the Queen Mother

The atmosphere around the palace was very crowded because some servants were decorating the courtyard with a large enough mass. Even large dragon ornaments made of bamboo skeletons and red ornamental paper are quite luxurious on display in the middle of the yard. Not to mention, the fresh flowers planted there make the place even more charming. Qing Er passed through the hallway of the palace then from a distance a woman waving towards her started to approach.

Qing Er instantly recognized him when the woman had already stayed a few steps away from him. The girl was Ningshuang, Yuan Shi's younger brother. The only person in the palace who really liked Qing' Er wholeheartedly, Princess Ning without a doubt directly hugged her sister-in-law tightly.

"Sister, I'm sorry Ning hasn't seen you yet!" ning said in a complaining tone. "Ning received an order from the Queen Mother to conduct foreign language training in Beiming. So just heard the news this morning when Ning came back, is sister-in-law still sick?" asked Ning attentively.

"No Ning, I've improved," Qing Er replied with a smile.

"Ning heard a very unpleasant news. Ning was upset and went straight here to calm down." Ning crossed her hands across her chest while snorting in annoyance.

"What news?" qing Er asked as the two continued on their way to the main hall of the banquet.

"The news about Brother Qing who said he wanted to rebel! Tell me if that's not true, yes ’kan?" Ning was seen waiting for Liu Qing's reply.

Qing ’Er shook her head slowly then embraced Ningshuang and tightened her embrace while whispering. "I'm also sick of hearing this news, what if Ning helps me dispel those rumors?"

"How is it?" asked Ning innocently.

"So here's...." Qing Er explained to Ning in detail.

"Aren't you sure you're doing a show tonight? Oh right, after seeing why your clothes are so different?" Ning watched Qing ’Er from top to bottom.

"This is my own clothing, how? Is pretty?" Qing Er twisted her body to show her beautiful clothes.

"It really fits in the body of a charming sister-in-law. Ning was happy, because sister-in-law looked so happy." Ning hugged Qing'Er tightly, until the two of them finally crossed paths with the queen mother and the two instantly paid their respects.

"Greetings to the Queen Mother" said the two. However, only the non-wearing gazes from the Queen Mother did they get.

"Consort Liu Qing, shouldn't you be in the cold palace?" ask Suri's mother while raising the corner of her eyebrow.

"It just so happens that the emperor took me around, I was so bored inside the palace that I asked the emperor to take me outside for a walk," Qing Er sneered faintly.

"Yuan Shi brought you outside the palace?" the Queen mother looks unhappy. Without saying anything else he then returned to the pavilion then asked the eunuch to call Yuan Shi.

By pressing his forehead the queen mother appeared furious waiting for Yuan Shi's arrival. However, the man who was still with Wu Zetian was going around checking the work of the other palace servants. Not long ago a surrogate eunuch also reported the request of the queen mother to the emperor. "Sorry Your Majesty, the Queen Mother asked His Majesty the Emperor to meet her!"

Wu Zetian looked at Yuan Shi then hooked his hand to the emperor's arm. "Sister Yuan, it looks like the queen mother is angry. Maybe one of the servants reported your association with Queen Qing earlier."

Yuan Shi closed his eyes then shook his head. "It's nothing, why should the Queen mother call me personally?" Yuan Shi grunted softly. "Please tell the queen I'll be there soon!"

"Emperor take it easy, I will accompany the emperor to help explain the truth." Wu Zetian leaned his head on Yuan Shi's shoulder.

"Concubine Wu better get back, I'll see the Queen Mother myself." Yuan Shi let go of Wu Zetian's hand hooks then walked towards the pavilion that the queen mother lived in.

Inside the pavilion a gloomy atmosphere is visible, especially in the mother's room which is filled with dark aura and minimal lighting. Emperor Yuan Shi came to see the queen mother and saluted her. "Yuan Shi, I accidentally crossed paths with your empress" Mother Suei said without further ado.

Yuan Shi turned his head to the queen mother. "really? She was bored, so I took her out of the cold palace."

"On what basis? You want to tell everyone that you're a harmonious couple?" ask the queen mother in a sharp tone.

"Please no longer interfere in my domestic affairs!" the wryness of Yuan Shi who was now standing in front of the queen mother made the old woman furrow her brows irritated.

"Yuan Shi! You must have forgotten, I can easily get rid of that woman!" the queen mother threatened.

"Please also the queen mother does not exaggerate the matter, I alone will bring Qing' Er back to the cold palace. For now, let him enjoy the outside atmosphere, after which I won't let him out until the banquet is over." Yuan Shi lowered his head full of regret, for now the safest thing for him was to follow the orders of the queen mother for the safety of Qing 'Er as well as her throne.

"Good, I'm satisfied with your answer. Make sure you are only accompanied by Wu Zetian during the event, you should pay more attention to it. Don't forget about the grandchild I asked for, it's already the fifth month after you married Tian'Er but there's no sign of her getting pregnant especially you rarely see her!" said the queen mother full of emphasis.

"On that, let me take care of it myself. The queen mother need not be too dizzy thinking about the issue of heredity, I am obviously still young and can still lead this country. I won't underestimate the matter either, but what happens if I give Wu Zetian a child before Qing 'Er?" Yuan Shi clenched his hidden grip.

"You know clearly about the power of our clan that can definitely bring you down from the throne!

Of course, we want a descendant who can restore the glory of the clan, You better not be much to refuse my orders!" censure the queen again.

"If the queen mother has finished, let me say goodbye because there are still many tasks that I have to complete!" Yuan Shi sauntered away with the anger he held in his heart. An emperor under threat from the queen mother who held the control of the clan was outrageous, she would never forget this humiliation ever since she ascended the throne.

Yuan Shi finally went outside and looking for Liu Qing's whereabouts, he looked worried as well as wanting to bring her back to the cold palace. However it had gone around still not finding him so Yuan Shi returned to the imperial library and calmed himself there. Yuan Shi took out a white jade that his mother had given him, stared at the thing for quite a while and did not realize his tears had fallen.

General Ji then knocked and came to report on the current atmosphere of the palace. The man saw his best friend crying and approached the emperor. "Ji, what do you think it's like if someone can't protect the woman he loves?" ask emperor.

Ji was silent, he had even felt that way when this friend in front of him snatched his childhood sweetheart and was forcibly made his empress. Ji chuckled, "why would the emperor ask this kind of thing to an even unmarried servant?"

"How did you feel when I snatched Qing' Er from you?" yuan Shi asked flatly and precisely focused his gaze on Ji's eyes.

"You're an emperor, I don't deserve to compete with you!" ji replied with pain in his heart.

"You're right, I'm an emperor who should be able to get whatever I want." Yuan Shi smiled subtly at Ji making the grip of the man in front of him tighten at the sword he was holding.