The concubine was charming and alluring, and the ruthless prince coaxed her day and night.

Chapter 48 Cold Jade Bracelet

These heartfelt words brought tears to the Empress's eyes.

There was a time when she treated the emperor the same way.

But now, the old favorites can't compete with the new ones, and the emperor doesn't even want to give her a second glance.

After a long silence, the Empress finally spoke in a hoarse voice, "Good child, I was wrong to misunderstand you. Get up now."

With the help of her maid, Xu Jiaojiao got up.

The Empress sighed softly, "I am very pleased that you have this intention."

She took off the jade bracelet from her wrist: "This bracelet was part of my dowry, and I am now giving it to you. I hope you will remember what I said today, and that no matter how the world changes, you will always treat Zheng'er the same as before."

Xu Jiaojiao, flattered and overwhelmed, thanked the Empress: "This humble servant thanks Your Majesty the Empress..."

The Empress's eyes curved gently as she personally placed the bracelet on Xu Jiaojiao's wrist: "Good child, you should now address me as Mother Empress."

Xu Jiaojiao looked up in surprise, her eyes reddening. She hadn't expected the Empress to approve of her.

She suppressed a lump in her throat and smiled happily: "Mother!"

Seeing the Empress's satisfied look, Xu Jiaojiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

A good first impression of my mother-in-law, I've won her over!

Not only that, she also received a jade bracelet, which was an unexpected surprise.

But having a first impression isn't enough. As the most honored woman in the Yan Dynasty, she has to find ways to please her mother-in-law and make her like her!

As long as you can win over Prince Chen, Jia Rong, and the Empress and her son, how can you not gain a foothold in Prince Chen's residence and enjoy wealth and luxury?

Thinking of the large gold ingot in her dream last night, Xu Jiaojiao's eyes became more sincere.

When Zhao Yunzheng was released into the Phoenix Palace, he saw Xu Jiaojiao getting along well with his mother, and a long-lost smile appeared on his mother's face. He was momentarily dazed, and his gaze towards Xu Jiaojiao held a hint of barely perceptible emotion.

The Empress Dowager hasn't smiled in a long time...

His beloved Jiaojiao truly possessed a kind of magic, capable of temporarily making him forget his many troubles, stopping Jia Rong from thinking about Li Mingyu, and even bringing a smile back to his mother's face...

Such a lovely girl must be a gift from heaven to him, and he should cherish her!

On the way out of the palace, Xu Jiaojiao raised her hand to show Zhao Yunzheng the cold jade bracelet, her smug little expression like that of a child who had just received praise from a teacher.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is very fond of me and often allows me to come to the palace to talk with her. Your Highness, next time I come to the palace, I will make some pastries for the Empress Dowager. Do you think she will like them?"

Because the Empress is Prince Chen's birth mother, Xu Jiaojiao will treat the Empress wholeheartedly and never be perfunctory, so that Prince Chen can feel her sincerity and love.

Seeing the happiness and anticipation on her face, Zhao Yunzheng's gaze softened: "Yes, it will."

His darling is so wonderful, no one could dislike her…

Prince Chen's Palace.

Tao Xiang knelt in the main room of Mingkun Courtyard, her thin body trembling slightly.

"Have you thought about it?"

The princess held a pair of scissors and carefully trimmed the flower branches in the vase. She didn't even glance at Taoxiang and asked indifferently.

Tao Xiang, with red eyes, kowtowed in despair and fear: "This servant has made up her mind. I would be more than happy to share the burden for Your Highness the Princess!"

Sensing the resolute tone in her voice, the princess put down the scissors and looked down at Tao Xiang.

After a moment, the princess smiled faintly, "Is that so? But I think you're being hypocritical."

Tao Xiang trembled and kowtowed repeatedly: "This servant is sincerely begging Your Highness to grant my request!"

The princess stepped forward, hooked Tao Xiang's chin with her toe, and examined her closely.

She quickly withdrew her foot and shook her head with dissatisfaction: "Tsk, withered and thin, bland and mediocre, she only has the looks to marry a servant in the manor."

She flicked her sleeves, picked up the scissors, and continued pruning the flowers: "If you can't even win my pity with your appearance, how can you expect to gain the prince's favor? You should go back to Qianxi Pavilion and obediently serve Sister Zheng."

Tao Xiang was about to cry.

Given Zheng Antong's personality, if she were to return empty-handed, Zheng Antong would definitely skin her alive.

No, even skinning them would be considered good!

Zheng Antong said that if the princess did not make her a concubine, she would be sold to a brothel by a slave trader.

She doesn't want to be a prostitute ridden by thousands!

Even being an unknown concubine in the backyard of Prince Chen's mansion, living a miserable life, is better than being sold to a brothel!

She pleaded repeatedly, "Your Highness! Please give me a chance! I will do my utmost to get the Prince to look at me more and to share Your Highness's burdens!"

The princess didn't reply, only frowning slightly in annoyance: "Wang Mama..."

The latter immediately stepped forward and kicked Tao Xiang: "You blind fool, don't you know the Princess Consort is tired? Get out of here! Don't let your two-ounce bum of a slut dirty the Princess Consort's room!"

Tao Xiang was kicked and fell to the ground, tears streaming down her face.

No, you can't!

She doesn't want to be sold!

Suddenly, Taoxiang realized something.

She knelt up abruptly and said urgently, "Your Highness! This servant knows of a secret medicine that can make one's skin as smooth as cream, fragrant and sweet, fair as snow, and eyes like stars!"

The princess paused slightly as she trimmed the flower branches, glancing sideways at her: "Oh? What secret medicine is it?"

A glimmer of hope rose in Momoka's heart: "The Skin-Soothing Pill!"

"Xiji Pill..."

The princess muttered to herself, her eyes narrowing slightly as she pondered for a moment.

After a moment, she chuckled with interest: "Do you know what the consequences will be if you use the Skin-Soothing Pill?"

A bitter taste rose in her heart amidst the fragrance of peach blossoms.

Since the Xiji Pill is a secret medicine, it must have its hidden aspects, and she was well aware of that.

But what could she do even if she knew? She was just a lowly maidservant; besides obeying her master, there was nothing she could do…

Tao Xiang kowtowed deeply: "As long as I can share Your Highness's burdens, this servant will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

The princess chuckled twice and put the scissors down again.

She stepped forward and helped Taoxiang up: "Since you have such a heart, how can I, the Consort, betray your loyalty?"

"Wang Mama, bring me my phoenix hairpin." As she spoke, the princess gently brushed away the strands of hair that Tao Xiang had stuck to her cheeks with tears.

Granny Wang quickly retrieved the hairpin.

After the princess reached out and took the hairpin, she tucked it into her peach-scented hair and examined it closely: "Hmm, not bad. Her eyebrows and eyes are delicate, and her figure is slender. Upon closer inspection, she does indeed have the grace of a swallow."

As she spoke, a barely perceptible wicked smile appeared in the princess's eyes.

She curled her lips meaningfully: "Granny Wang, which courtyard did Xu Jiaojiao live in when she was promoted to concubine?"

After a moment's thought, Wang Mama replied, "Your Majesty, Concubine Xu previously resided in the Stone Warm Pavilion."

The princess nodded slightly, smiling kindly: "After Xu Jiaojiao was promoted to concubine, she gained the prince's exclusive favor. It seems that Shi Nuan Pavilion is a place of auspicious feng shui. Tao Xiang, I will bestow this auspicious place upon you. You must not disappoint me..."

Despite the princess's gentle demeanor, Tao Xiang broke out in a cold sweat.

Her blouse was completely soaked, sticking to her body and making her extremely uncomfortable.

She forced a smile: "This servant will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty's high expectations!"