Qin Yining and the Empress did not expect Imperial Concubine Yun to act like this. The two did not react for a moment.
Qin Yining had truly learned the rules in Dayan. He knew that whatever he did in the palace and the rules, he would be ridiculed by others. Seeing such a disrespectful person who only knew how to complain after being disciplined, he was very surprised.
"Let's go and pay respects to the Empress Dowager." The Empress forced a smile, but she still maintained her composure and did not lose her bearing as an Empress.
Qin Yining said "yes" and followed the Empress' footsteps.
It had snowed heavily last night. The spacious courtyard of Ci 'an Palace was covered with a thick layer of white carpet. The palace servants were sweeping the snow, the broom making a soft rustling sound on the snow.
Seeing the Empress arrive, the palace servants put down the workers in their hands and bowed in greeting.
"Greetings to the Empress."
"No need for formalities." The Empress had a slight smile on her face as she gently raised her hand.
"Empress, please allow this servant to pass on the message." In front of the hall, the older palace servant curtsied. Although she had a slight smile on her face, she still appeared dignified.
The Empress stopped and nodded.
Qin Yining sighed inwardly. Standing here, he could faintly hear the sound of sobbing coming from inside the hall. It was clear that Imperial Concubine Yun was crying in front of the Empress Dowager.
Qin Yining looked inquiringly at the Empress.
The Empress could not hide the helplessness on her face, but she still maintained her poise and smiled at Qin Yining.
Qin Yining inwardly shook his head again and turned to give Ji Yun a look.
Ji Yun did not immediately understand Qin Yining's meaning.
However, when the palace servant came out to pass on the message and Qin Yining followed the Empress to the main hall, Ji Yun understood. She quietly fell behind the group and stood guard in front of Ci 'an Palace.
If something happened, she could rush home to report to Daren.
At this time, in the eastern hall, Imperial Concubine Yun was delicately kneeling by the Empress Dowager's legs. Her small white hand grabbed the Empress Dowager's sapphire blue dress as she cried like a flower destroyed by a storm.
"Aunt, you must make a decision for Yun 'er. Those people saw that Yun' er was a newcomer to the palace, so they bullied Yun 'er. Saying that Yun 'er doesn't know the rules, isn't that talking about Aunt? "
The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes and said nothing. She picked up the teacup with her wrinkled hands and used the white porcelain lid to brush the floating tea leaves.
This niece of his was too worrisome. She had a good appearance, but she didn't bring her brains into the palace.
Seeing the Empress Dowager remain silent, Imperial Concubine Yun felt even more wronged. Her face was covered in tears as she held onto the Empress Dowager's skirt, unwilling to let go.
"Aunt, please dote on Yun 'er! You didn't see how domineering that Prince Zhongshun's Imperial Concubine was. She even mocked Yun 'er for being a concubine! She mocked Yun 'er and looked down on the Empress Dowager. Shouldn't you teach such an arrogant servant a lesson? "
The Empress Dowager put down the teacup in annoyance and said in a deep voice, "Can't you just stop for a day? Why did you provoke her again? "
"Who does she think she is? She is only a Wangfei, how could she … …"
"Shut up and scram to the side." The Empress Dowager raised her foot and pulled back the skirt that Imperial Concubine Yun was holding.
Imperial Concubine Yun looked at the Empress Dowager in disbelief. She didn't understand why she had been told to "scram".
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the Empress and Prince Zhongshun's Imperial Concubine have come to pay their respects."
"Let them come in." The Empress Dowager straightened her skirt with a calm face.
When Qin Yining entered the hall, the first thing he saw was the rather eye-catching peony carpet. He lowered his head and walked forward, respectfully bowing. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Imperial Concubine Yun whose eyes were red from crying. He felt helpless.
The Empress Dowager looked at the Empress with a calm face and then revealed a slight smile. She nodded to Qin Yining and said, "Zhixi's wife has returned."
"Yes, this subject's wife has just returned to the capital. Has the Empress Dowager's health been good? "Qin Yining's attitude was respectful and concerned.
The Empress Dowager rubbed her forehead and said, "You also saw it. Aijia's health is not as good as it was a few years ago. If nothing happens, it's fine. But when something happens, I immediately have a terrible headache. "
"The Empress Dowager is overworked," Qin Yining said with a smile. "Fortunately, the Empress Dowager has the Empress to share her burden. Only then can you take a breather."
The Empress Dowager smiled, "At my age, I always want to share Your Majesty's burden. The Empress is steady and has to take care of the Prince. She has to put down the rake and get a broom. It's inevitable that there will be times when she can't attend to one thing and lose sight of the other."
"The Empress Dowager is right." The Empress bowed her head and agreed with the Empress Dowager, "It's all thanks to the Empress Dowager's constant reminders that the palace is stable."
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager finally gave the Empress a slightly better expression.
Ever since the coup in the palace between Marquis Qingyang and Prince Li, Qin Yining had some understanding of the Empress Dowager's personality. The Empress Dowager had a strong desire for power. In the beginning, she had held the power and made decisions that were not very wise.
Now, it seemed that the Empress Dowager was old and unwilling to give up power. However, Your Majesty was dissatisfied with the Empress Dowager and the Zhou Family because of Marquis Qingyang. He could not support the Empress Dowager to hold the power. Therefore, the Empress Dowager could only fight for it herself. Suppressing the Empress and making the Empress yield was the only way for the Empress Dowager to maintain her present power.
This arrogant and domineering but very beautiful Consort Yi was a tool for the Empress Dowager to keep the Empress in check. Choosing such a brainless person was probably because such a person was easy to control.
Thinking through this, Qin Yining felt even more disgusted with the life within the palace walls. However, she had to live within the palace walls during this period of time when she was learning the ancient rites under the imperial edict and would be implicated.
While thinking, the Empress Dowager reprimanded the Empress. The Empress listened with her head bowed and did not talk back.
Seeing the Empress being so respectful, the Empress Dowager's mood improved greatly. She reached out a hand to Qin Yining and said with a smile, "Zhixi's wife, come to aijia."
"Yes." Qin Yining raised her spirits and walked in front of the Empress Dowager with a smile. She first bowed and then put her hand on the Empress Dowager's hand.
The Empress Dowager's hand was dry and cold, making Qin Yining very uncomfortable.
Patting Qin Yining's white and creamy hand, the Empress Dowager sighed with emotion, "You young people are still the best. That's right, on this trip to the south, did you see anything interesting? "
Qin Yining's heart was alarmed. She raised her spirits and said, "There wasn't anything particularly interesting. After this subject's wife gave birth, her health was not very good. I also had to take care of my two brothers. Due to this, I did not pay much attention to the outside world.
"However, one thing is certain. That place is now much more prosperous than before. This is all thanks to Your Majesty's ability to rule the country. "
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager was very happy and nodded with a smile. She lowered her head and saw that Consort Yi had stopped crying but was still stubbornly kneeling at the side. She felt a wave of disgust in her heart.
"Why aren't you getting up? Why don't you grow up? Look at Prince Zhongshun. Sooner or later, you will be half as smart and sensible as Prince Zhongshun. Aijia will wake up in the middle of the night laughing! Tell me, what stupid thing did you do today? "
Consort Yi's tears fell again after being reprimanded. She looked at the Empress Dowager with grievance and disbelief.
The Empress Dowager turned to ask Qin Yining, "Tell me, what happened just now?"
Qin Yining smiled. The Empress Dowager had set a trap for her. If she did not answer well or leaned in the wrong direction, it was very likely that she would offend one side, or even both sides.
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