Emperor Zhao Qing ate lunch in Noble Consort Xue's palace. After resting for a while, he heard a palace servant report that the Great Advisor was waiting outside Tai An Hall.
Emperor Zhao Qing had a good nap and had just woken up. He was lying on his side on the bed and saw Noble Consort Xue sitting in front of the dressing mirror and combing her hair. Hearing that Zhu Muzhao wanted to see him, he closed his eyes to rest for a while before sitting up. He said to Noble Consort Xue, "Zhen will go and see. If you have nothing to do, why don't you take a walk in the Imperial Garden? Don't stay cooped up in the palace and wait.
The women in the Palace, when it was someone's turn to serve in bed, they would stay in the bedroom the whole day, not daring to take even half a step outside, for fear of delaying the Emperor's arrival and losing his grace. When the Emperor was coming, when he was leaving, he would not follow their wishes, so how could they dare to ask too much?
Emperor Zhao Qing had spoken because he felt sorry for Noble Consort Xue and didn't want her to wait. In the past, she would have said something he liked to hear, politely declined, and then obediently waited in the Palace.
Noble Consort Xue put down her comb with a smile and walked over to help him change. "I will listen to Your Majesty."
But she had been well-behaved for so many years and was tired. If she continued to endure, she wouldn't be able to convince herself.
After Emperor Zhao Qing left, the chief palace maid Song Lan, who served Noble Consort Xue, came in with a copper basin. She saw her mistress sitting alone on the soft couch and laughing. She didn't know what she was thinking, but she seemed to be in a good mood. She secretly relaxed. Just now, the Emperor had left in such a hurry that she thought something had happened and wouldn't be able to come tonight.
Noble Consort Xue saw her come in and returned to her senses. She gathered up the robe that Emperor Zhao Qing had put on her before he left and waved at her. "Go, bring over the newly prepared clothes for this season. Ben gong will pick some. In a moment, we will go to the Imperial Garden to relax."
Song Lan obediently went out to give orders. In less than ten minutes, she had laid out all the clothes of various colors and materials in front of her mistress.
After washing up and putting on makeup, Noble Consort Xue, who was dressed in a golden silk dress, was so beautiful that all the palace maids in the room lowered their heads and didn't dare to raise their eyes, for fear of being dazed by her beauty.
Song Lan had already brought along a few competent palace maids and eunuchs. She had brought along tea, fruit, cushions, and utensils. She sent a quick-footed eunuch to clear the way and escorted Noble Consort Xue out of Zhongcui Palace.
There was some distance between Zhongcui Palace and the Imperial Garden. Imperial Consort Xue rode on a palanquin carried by four people on the way. When she met two groups of young concubines who came out to visit, she leaned against the side of the road and saluted. Only when Imperial Consort Xue's carriage was far away did she dare to leave.
It didn't take long for the commotion to spread to all the palaces.
When they reached the fork in the garden, the eunuch who led the way ran back. Song Lan saw the figure and frowned. She quickly walked up and pulled him to the side. She whispered: "Why are you so flustered? Is there anyone in the garden?"
"Jiejie." The young eunuch panted and said, "This lowly one saw the Empress' jade carriage parked outside the garden."
Her complexion changed slightly as she heard her Mistress asking, "What's the matter?"
Song Lan walked forward and moved to the side of Imperial Consort Xue's legs. She stood on her tiptoes and whispered: "The Empress is there. Mistress, should we go forward or turn back?"
She had been an ignorant little maid in Zhongcui Palace for ten years. To be able to be ordered around by Imperial Consort Xue as her confidante, her eyesight must be top-notch. There was a reason for her to be so careful — ever since that incident three years ago, when the Tenth Princess died, their mistress would always avoid the Empress. Other than going to Phoenix Perching Palace on the first and fifteenth day of the month to visit, they would avoid the Empress if they could.
But it was rare for her mistress to be in such a good mood. They had already walked to the entrance of the garden. Did they have to turn back?
Song Lan complained in her heart. If they really turned around and left, who knew what the rumors would be like in the palace tomorrow? They would repeat the same old story and talk about the headless case of the Tenth Princess falling from the building. They would say that it was the young miss of the Xue family who killed the Tenth Princess, so Imperial Consort Xue still didn't have the face to see the Empress.
"Go forward."
Eh?
Song Lan didn't react for a moment. She raised her eyes and saw Imperial Consort Xue's beautiful face. Her long eyebrows slanted to her temples, her eyelashes reflecting the spring in her eyes, bright and dazzling.
Song Lan's heart shook. She was slightly panicked but also slightly excited. She lowered her head.
"Yes."
In the Imperial Garden, Rui Empress was looking at the red leaves near the Thousand Autumn Pavilion. Sun Gui Ren, who had been favored recently, was sitting at the side. There were also a few beauties and Xiao Chang below them. They obediently listened to their conversation, occasionally making a sound, covering their lips as they smiled.
Imperial Consort Xue held Song Lan's hand as they walked into the garden. From afar, she saw the harmonious scene of the wife and qie. A cold smile floated at the corner of her lips and her steps didn't even pause.
The palace servants guarding along the way didn't dare to stop them at first. They watched as Imperial Consort Xue's procession majestically walked towards the pavilion. Until the great taijian of Phoenix Perching Palace bowed and stood out, blocking Imperial Consort Xue not far from the pavilion.
"Nubi greets Imperial Consort Niangniang. Did you come out to tour the garden?"
Imperial Consort Xue didn't even glance at him. Song Lan self-consciously said: "Ning gonggong's words are laughable. Why does our niangniang need to greet a servant like you when she comes out?"
Disregarding the grievances between the two mistresses, Song Lan also hated this Eunuch Ning. When she had been a little palace maid, she had worked in Feng Qing Palace. Once, a palace maid of the same rank had broken a vase. Because she had recognized this Eunuch Ning as her adoptive father, she had found Eunuch Ning to make the decision. In the end, the fault had been placed on her head. If it wasn't for Tao momo, who was passing by, interceding for her, she might have been buried somewhere.
"This lowly one wouldn't dare …" Eunuch Ning complained but inside, he didn't care. Who didn't know that Imperial Consort Xue was like a cat when she saw the Empress?
"It's just that the Empress is currently admiring the scenery in front. Afraid that random people would come in and disturb her, she told nubi to stand guard here. If Imperial Consort Niangniang wants to go over, please wait here for a moment. Allow nubi to go and inform her."
Song Lan heard the phrase "random people" in his words and her face flushed in anger. A lowly eunuch dared to beat around the bush and insult their mistress!
She really wanted to give him two slaps!
Before she could shout, Imperial Consort Xue spoke first: "No need. Since the Empress is also here, ben gong will personally go and greet her."
Finishing, she waved her hand for Eunuch Ning to leave.
Eunuch Ning didn't dare to listen to her. Half a minute ago, when Imperial Consort Xue's sedan had arrived outside the Imperial Garden, someone had come to report. He had been careful and secretly sent a palace maid to report to Rui Empress. But Rui Empress only replied "I understand" and didn't give any clear orders. Her meaning was for him to think of a way to stop her and not let her go over.
Eunuch Ning had served the Empress for many years and always had this thought. Kun Ling Bureau had changed two daren. When the eighth month's Book of Kun came down, the hearts of the people in the hougong were wavering. The palace maids without any support were like headless flies, not knowing where they should go to try their luck. Today, the Empress wanted to embarrass Imperial Consort Xue to appease those feipin and make them understand one thing — no matter how Kun Ling Bureau recruited, the one whose words counted the most in the hougong was still her, the mistress of the six palaces.
"Niangniang, don't make it difficult for this lowly one." Eunuch Ning didn't move. It wasn't that there wasn't a path on the side. It was fine to go around, but as an honored imperial consort, why would she go around the path of a eunuch like him?
But he hadn't expected that in the next moment, Imperial Consort Xue would actually move a step to the side and go around him.
Eunuch Ning stilled. His mind was filled with the thought that he couldn't ruin the Empress' plans. He brainlessly turned around, knelt down and pulled on the hem of Imperial Consort Xue's robe.
Imperial Consort Xue stumbled from being pulled by him. Song Lan hurriedly grabbed her arm to steady her. But seeing that he dared to pull on their mistress, she angrily kicked his shoulder and scolded harshly: "You dog!"
This shout wasn't not loud. It caused all the feipin sitting in the pavilion to jump in fright. It wasn't that no one had seen Imperial Consort Xue and her entourage walk over, but the Empress hadn't made a sound so they had pretended to be deaf and dumb, waiting to see a good show. Who would have thought that it would be such an opening.
"Ah, what is this?" Sun Gui Ren first gave a small exclamation, her large and watery eyes staring towards the south.
Empress Rui's smile darkened. She gazed at the bright gold in the distance before standing and saying: "Go, follow ben gong to see."
The group followed. When they arrived, they saw Imperial Consort Xue, who usually liked to smile, had a cold expression as she called for someone to support her. The head taijian of Perching Tree Palace was trembling as he knelt on the ground. The people of Zhong Cui Palace were all furious.
It was possible to guess what had happened.
Empress Rui frowned. She looked at Eunuch Ning who was kneeling on the ground and had an idea. She then raised her head to meet Imperial Consort Xue. The two's gazes met in the air and the former asked first: "Who was the one making a racket just now?"
Hearing Empress Rui's question, Song Lan voluntarily admitted: "Replying to Empress, it was nubi."
Empress Rui was displeased: "In the Imperial Garden, it isn't a place for you to shout."
Song Lan was sullen but she still knelt down: "Nubi knows she was wrong."
Empress Rui ignored her and said directly to Imperial Consort Xue: "Meimei, this palace servant has neglected discipline. Today, ben gong is a small one. What will happen if she shocks the Holy Self in the future?"
Imperial Consort Xue thought inside, Empress Rui's habit of striking first hadn't changed at all — —
Just like in the past, when her eldest brother's only son was in his prime. Before they could discuss marriage, the Empress pushed out the Tenth Princess at the Lotus Banquet, causing a group of youths in Jing to admire her.
Just like in the past, when the Tenth Princess was critically ill, the Emperor was furious. Before she could plead for the child in her womb, the Empress cried in front of the Emperor, forcing her to kneel in front of the hall to beg for forgiveness. The child died in her womb. The Emperor didn't demote her, but made the Ninth Prince, who should have returned to Jing that year, stay in the mountain for two more years.
From then on, she silently watched as Empress Rui used all her methods to control the six palaces and endured until now.
Not long after her son returned to Jing, this Empress made peace with his father through the Count of Zhong Yong Fu, vainly attempting to marry the daughter of the Rui Family into the Xue Family to make up for the unfortunate marriage of the Tenth Princess.
The Empress had calculated every step. She had calculated well. Lu Fei was old, Shu Fei was useless. As long as she could suppress her, this guifei, the hougong would be under her control. If she continued to endure, when that little noble one became pregnant, maybe this Empress Rui really would have a way to adopt a di imperial son and let him succeed the throne.
Xue Guifei looked at Empress Rui who was sternly denouncing her. She lightly pushed away the support of the palace attendants and walked forward. She bowed slightly and said: "This nubi was rash. Empress, please punish."
She often suffered in front of Empress Rui. Everyone was used to it. Even Empress Rui herself didn't feel that there was anything wrong with her lowering her head to her. Her expression softened and she looked at Song Lan who was kneeling on the ground. She drawled: "Since she didn't learn the rules well, she needs to be taught from the beginning. Seeing that this nubi has served meimei, ben gong will not punish her heavily. Someone, send her to Clear Dew Workshop to learn the rules."
Song Lan's face instantly paled. Clear Dew Lane. It had a nice name, but anyone who had been in the palace for a few years knew that it was the most filthy place. Palace maids who made mistakes were sent there not to learn the rules, but to be abused by the old eunuchs who were in charge.
Song Lan didn't dare to turn her head. She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to resist begging for mercy from her mistress. That would make her softhearted and she would lower her head and apologize to the Empress in front of all these palace consorts. This was probably the Empress' original intention.
Song Lan bit her lip and lowered her head deeply. She didn't make a sound. There was only one thought in her mind: she couldn't beg for mercy, she couldn't let the Empress have her wish.
Just at this time, she heard a gasp — — "Niangniang!"
Immediately after, there was a commotion beside her. Everyone squeezed behind her. Song Lan dazedly turned her head to look and saw Xue Guifei being propped up by a crowd of palace servants. Her head drooped to the side and she had fainted.
"Niangniang!"
Seeing this scene, Rui Empress paused for a moment. Then she thought that Xue Guifei was pretending. She wouldn't have fainted so easily.
She couldn't help but laugh in anger. She thought that the once proud Xue liangdi would use such an unconventional tactic. Rui Empress felt indescribably proud.
After calming down, Rui Empress methodically started to order the palace servants around her. She pretended to be anxious and said: "Quick, send Xue Guifei back to Zhong Cui Palace and then call for the taiyi."
She hadn't expected that Xue Guifei's fainting in the Imperial Garden wasn't a defense, but a counterattack.
A counterattack that had been silent for three years.
.....
Emperor Zhao Qing of the Hall of Tai An was discussing the matter of the Life Breaker with the Head Supervisor. They had just talked about the continuous murders in Taishi Library.
"Have you found the culprit?" Emperor Zhao Qing wasn't looking for Xue Rui who was in charge of the case, but the person in charge of the Celestial Commissioner's Office. If someone who didn't know the truth was here, they would find it strange. But there was only the ruler and the official in the room. There wasn't even a taijian to serve tea and grind ink.
"There is some progress," Zhu Muzhao said. "According to the reports of the two spies that this official left in Taishi Library, the culprit must be hiding in the library. The most suspicious person is an old servant that does odd jobs in the library. This official has already sent people to keep an eye on him. When we find out who is the mastermind, we can catch them all in one fell swoop."
When Emperor Zhao Qing heard the news, he wasn't happy: "Can't we capture the culprit and interrogate him? Quickly kill those traitors so that the troublemaker dies and the [Xuan Nu Liu Ren Book] can see the light of day again."
"Your Majesty, do not be impatient," Zhu Muzhao urged. "This matter cannot be rushed."
Emperor Zhao Qing became silent. He looked at the official who had advanced and retreated with him in the past, the official who had helped him ascend to the throne. Thinking of the future, his emotions wavered.
The atmosphere in the room had just become quiet when a report came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, there is an emergency."
Emperor Zhao Qing frowned and summoned the person in. He didn't avoid Zhu Muzhao. The eunuch who came to deliver the message kowtowed and entered the room.
He hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, Imperial Consort Niangniang has fainted in the Imperial Garden. The imperial physician diagnosed that Imperial Consort Niangniang is pregnant and is suffering from anxiety. I'm afraid that the dragon seed will be lost."
The eunuch said the last few words with a trembling voice. He was afraid that if he said a word too much, it would be the same as losing his life. Emperor Zhao Qing sat there in a daze. He suddenly stood up and walked out anxiously. In the blink of an eye, he was out the door.
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