Yu Muhuai gently held Xue Rong's hand and patted it lightly a few times to show comfort.

"Rong'er, you misunderstood me."

Then she pulled Xue Rong to the side and sat down.

Yu Muhuai tried his best to make his eyes soft, try to make his tone soft and sweet, and try to show the tone that a husband should have.

"Rong'er, Ping Qinian has been in the palace all the time, you know."

Xue Rong nodded, of course she knew that the palace where Ping Qinian was located was heavily guarded all year round, and no one was allowed to approach.

Yu Muhuai's voice was a little quieter, as if he was talking about something secret.

"Rong'er...... Ping Qinian wanted to die, but I never let him die, which you don't know. ”

When Xue Rong heard this, her eyes immediately widened and she covered her mouth in surprise.

What secrets did she—she heard?

Over the years, everyone has been speculating about what happened to Ping Qinian.

At first, people thought that Yu Muhuai had killed Ping Qinian.

However, every major festival, Ping Qinian will attend.

But he just showed his face, dressed neatly, with a serious face, and appeared in the seat next to the emperor with an expressionless face, not drinking, not talking, or eating, just sitting quietly.

In the past few years, living in the palace, Ping Qinian's appearance has changed somewhat.

His skin was paler than before, his body was thin, and his cheeks were a little swollen. He seems to be very afraid of the cold now, and even on a hot day, he needs to wear a lot of clothes, and he doesn't sweat much.

The current Ping Qinian has blank eyes, empty eyes, no focus, and no big reaction to the greetings of others.

However, he is nine thousand years old, even if he is not feeling well at present, Yu Wei is still there, and Dongchang still firmly occupies a corner of the court, and no one dares to say anything to him.

The emperor was very tolerant of him, and he didn't need him to salute or speak.

After a short time, Ping Qinian would break out in a cold sweat and tremble all over his body, as if he was unwell.

Then the emperor will order someone to help him back to the palace.

The emperor's explanation for this is that Ping Qi is old, has had a stroke, is not in good health, and is inconvenient to move.

There is an imperial doctor in the palace, and he can pay attention to his body at any time, so Ping Qinian has been recuperating in the palace.

There are a lot of rumors about this in private.

It is said that Ping Qinian is not in good health, so he simply gave power to the emperor.

It is said that Ping Qinian was threatened by the emperor with important things.

Some people even said that Ping Qinian had actually died a long time ago, and the person everyone saw now was pretending to be someone who looked similar.

There are all kinds of speculations, but no one dares to put them on the bright side.

More than four years is enough for Yu Muhuai to completely control the control of the East Factory.

The current emperor has the strongest intelligence department in the country, and anyone who dares to chew the root of his tongue will have the possibility of being discovered.

But even if Yu Muhuai heard someone talk about these things, she wouldn't be worried.

Because those speculations won't have much effect on her.

The people outside didn't dare to talk nonsense, and the people inside the palace didn't dare to talk too much.

Queen Xue Rong is not an eventful person, so naturally she will not deliberately inquire about related matters. If someone in the palace discusses matters related to court politics, she will also order severe punishment.

Therefore, this is the first time Xue Rong has learned about Ping Qinian's situation, and the emperor personally informed him.

Seeing Xue Rong's shocked appearance, Yu Muhuai smiled and raised his hand to stroke her long hair.

Xue Rong blushed a little.

Yu Muhuai continued: "Ping Qinian is a chess piece of mine, as long as he is still useful, he can't die.

Since I ascended the throne, I have always been vigilant and cautious, and I dare to say that since the establishment of the Cong Kingdom, no emperor who has ascended the throne has lived as much as me! ”

"Your Majesty....." Xue Rong was going to cry again.

But this time she was distressed and cried, not because the emperor was hurt.

Seeing this, Yu Muhuai made persistent efforts and continued.

"Ever since I ascended the throne, I have been surrounded by wolves.

In the past, there were 9,000 years old such as Ping Qinian, who covered the sky with one hand, and then there were enemy troops like the Ji State and the peasant rebel army who were ready to overthrow the Cong regime at any time.

There are jackals, tigers and leopards everywhere in the court, and what they think about all day long is not to serve the country and share their worries for me, but how to benefit from me! ”

Hearing this, Xue Rong couldn't help but blush a little.

She, isn't she worried about the emperor?

Yu Muhuai continued: "The territory of the Cong Kingdom is vast, the northern border is long, and in the first few years of my ascension to the throne, there were disasters and famines in the north every day, but the Manchu civil and military forces were just thinking about how to deduct their own benefits from the disaster relief materials! ”

Speaking of this, Yu Muhuai's whole body tensed, and he seemed to tremble with anger when he thought about it.

"Your Majesty ....." Xue Rong burst into tears.

Yu Muhuai said as he spoke, and there was a crying tone in his tone

"Rong'er, I'm bitter.....

A few years ago, I only had two sets of dragon robes that could be changed and washed, and if it weren't for Rong'er's ingenuity, I was afraid that I would have to wear torn clothes to the court. ”

"Woo, the emperor ....." Xue Rong couldn't help crying when she heard the bitter things in the past.

"Rong'er, it's not that I don't want to spoil you and love you, it's not that I don't want to fill the harem.

If the world is peaceful, the country is safe and healthy, the people are rich, everyone has food, and every family has surplus money, I would rather be a faint monarch who preaches yin every day!

But when Cong Guo was handed over to me, he was already in danger, and he was in danger!

If I covet pleasure and time with you, how can Cong continue? How can I be worthy of the ancestors of the Cong Kingdom? ”

Speaking of this, Yu Muhuai was already in tears.

"Your Majesty.... Woo, the concubine is wrong, the concubine should not be inconsiderate of the emperor, it is the concubine's fault. ”

Xue Rong was already crying so much that she couldn't cry anymore, she couldn't help but weaken and knelt on the ground.

She felt that she was too ignorant and disobedient to come to the emperor today.

She was ashamed of her actions!

Yu Muhuai helped her up: "Rong'er, you're right....."

"No, it's the concubine's fault! The concubine will not come to disturb the emperor in the future, and the concubine will not allow anyone in the harem to disturb the emperor!

Your Majesty, you can take care of the society with peace of mind, manage the affairs of the court, and leave everything in the harem to the concubines! ”

Yu Muhuai hugged Xue Rong, raised his sleeve and wiped the tears that were squeezed out.

Tonight, Xue Rong stayed in the emperor's bedroom.

But the two didn't do anything, just covered the quilt and slept purely.

Early the next morning, Yu Muhuai got up to wash up and prepare to go to court.

Xue Rong also got up early and personally served Yu Muhuai everything.

Before leaving, Xue Rong saluted.

"Your Majesty, the concubines will remember their duties, and you don't have to worry about the affairs of the harem."

Yu Muhuai touched Xue Rong's long hair, nodded, and then turned to leave.

Since that day, Xue Rong has never come to her again because of Yu Muhuai's failure to be fortunate to the harem woman.

Xue Rong also did not allow any harem concubines to disturb the emperor with this matter.

Yu Muhuai's eyes were warm.