The Empress nodded. After coaxing him for a while, she handed the Prince, who had gradually stopped crying, to the wet nurse. She didn't let the wet nurse leave and only had a few people move the Prince's bedding and cradle to her bedchamber.
The Empress used her sleeve to wipe her tears. Holding Qin Yining's hand, she walked to the warm couch by the window and sat down.
Qin Yining held the Empress's hand with both hands and stood in front of her. He gently comforted her: "Niangniang doesn't need to blame yourself. Today's matter is a reminder to you. You just need to be careful in the future."
The Empress shook her head. The golden tassel behind her head swayed with her movements, "Yining, can I call you that?"
Qin Yining heard the Empress refer to herself as "I" and nodded with a smile. He relaxed a bit and said: "Of course you can."
The Empress sniffed and had Qin Yining sit down on the embroidered stool in front of her. She said: "I've been thinking about what you said that day. I also know that what you said is right. People say that a mother is strong. The logic is clear, but it's hard to actually do it.
"However, today's matter is the same as putting the reality in front of me. Those people, they all don't like me sitting in this position. I admit, I'm already old. It wasn't easy for me to get a brother at this age. I'm afraid I won't have any other children in the future.
"I'm filial to my mother-in-law, love my sister-in-law, and tolerate the concubines. But they want to hurt my only son." When the Empress said this, tears once again streamed down her face, "I've retreated again and again, but they aren't willing to let me and my child live in peace!"
Qin Yining saw the Empress cry sadly and couldn't help but feel his nose ache. He took the handkerchief that a palace maid offered and presented it to the Empress with both hands.
"Niangniang, you know that if you retreat again and again, it will only make the villains more arrogant." Qin Yining lowered his voice, "People like Imperial Concubine Yun are the easiest to deal with. She does things impulsively and doesn't use her brain. But the Tatan Princess Tana is coming. There will be an election in the new year. In the future, there will be more and more young and beautiful concubines in the palace. There will also be more and more people with different personalities and backgrounds. Niangniang also needs to be strong and think of ways to protect yourself and the Prince. "
The Empress nodded. She knew that Qin Yining was speaking from the bottom of his heart. She couldn't help but sigh, "You're right. In the future, I have to be strong and make plans for my child. I just feel … tired and disheartened. "
"Niang niang, as women, although we have to take care of our husbands and children, we can't put everything on this. Before we do anything for our husbands and children, we can't forget that we are human. You have to take care of yourself first and let yourself live well. Only then will you have the energy to do other things, don't you think so? "
This was the first time the Empress had heard of such a thing.
What she had seen were women who depended on men to survive, who sacrificed their entire lives for their husbands and children, and who were mercilessly abandoned after committing seven sins. Even if she did not commit the seven sins, she was still a newlywed for only one or two years. The husband would still have to take in concubines and take in handmaidens. If she did not allow it, she would be jealous.
No one had ever told her that she was a human being before her husband and children.
She felt that this explanation was novel, but it also enlightened her.
The woman in front of her was not even twenty years old, but she was so intelligent and quick-witted. She was scheming and shrewd, but she was also very kind.
The Empress actually had some understanding of the situation in court. She also knew that Your Majesty was wary of Pang Xiao. Logically speaking, it was very difficult for the two of them to have a heart-to-heart.
However, Qin Yining did not care about these things. He only dealt with the matter as it was. Because he could not bear to see his child suffer, he did not care about the grudges of the previous generation. He also did not care if he offended Imperial Concubine Yun or the Empress Dowager. Before other people could react, or rather, when other people did not dare to stop him, he reached out a helping hand to his child.
The Empress found it hard to imagine what would have happened to her child's face if Qin Yining did not care about this matter today. Such a young child, if he suffered such an injury, would he get a fever and leave a scar?
In reality, Qin Yining could have just watched from the side and not gotten involved in the trouble. But she did it.
The Empress' heart was filled with emotion. Putting aside the grudges between men, from her perspective, she admired and loved Qin Yining very much.
"You're right." The Empress wiped away her tears, her gaze becoming firm, "Many thanks. In every sense of the word. "
"Your Highness, there's no need for this. This is what this subject's wife should do, whether it's out of loyalty or out of humanity."
The two looked at each other and smiled. Their feelings seemed to have grown a bit closer.
The Empress was more than ten years older than Qin Yining, but she had learned a lot from Qin Yining. She couldn't help but discuss with him, "If we send Imperial Concubine Yun to the Imperial Clan Court today, I'm afraid the Empress Dowager will not let this go."
Qin Yining nodded, "That's right. Your Highness should know that even if we send Imperial Concubine Yun to the Imperial Clan Court, she will be released very quickly. "
After all, the Empress Dowager cared about her face. She had supported Imperial Concubine Yun in order to compete with the Empress. Now that such an inconceivable matter had occurred, the Empress Dowager naturally had to protect her. Otherwise, it was fine if Imperial Concubine Yun fell, but if the Empress Dowager and her family were implicated, wouldn't they lose face?
The Empress heard this and sighed silently.
How could she not understand her mother-in-law who had been with her for so many years? After the Empress Dowager released Imperial Concubine Yun, she would most likely bite back and say that she had deliberately framed her and was ashamed of being the Empress.
The Empress had just raised her ambition, but when she thought of the Empress Dowager, she became dispirited again. She had never felt so tired before.
What could she do?
As the Empress, she didn't even have the power to manage the harem. Everything was decided by the Empress Dowager. Even if she caught someone framing her child, there would be bad consequences if she punished that person.
It was truly tiring.
The Empress asked tiredly, "In your opinion, how should this matter be handled?"
Qin Yining thought about it and smiled, "The result of this matter, the Empress should have guessed it when she ordered Imperial Concubine Yun to be locked up in the Imperial Clan Court. As a mother, it is natural for her to stand up for His Highness. So no matter what the consequences are, you should just accept it. Imperial Concubine Yun will definitely be protected by the Empress Dowager. As for you, as long as Imperial Concubine Yun is willing to reflect on herself, this matter will only affect a few people in the harem and let them know your position. This is a very good result. "
The Empress lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment. Then she said, "Later, you accompany me. Let's take Mama Gong and go to the Empress Dowager's palace?"
Qin Yining said, "The Empress is witty."
At least by doing this, the Empress will establish an open and upright image in the eyes of Li Qitian. This is equivalent to stopping the loss in time. No matter how this matter should be handled, the result won't be so bad that she will lose her life. This is already very good. "
"How is it that I am witty?" The Empress stood up and regained her dignity and elegance as the Empress. "It is that you are willing to help. Thank you very much. "
Qin Yining hurriedly stood up and bowed, saying that he didn't dare.
The two of them dressed neatly and chatted with Mama Gong for a while.
Mama Gong was a mama who taught the rules. She didn't belong to any particular palace. She had already retired from the harem and was invited back by Your Majesty's decree. Her status was very high, so naturally, there was no problem of favoritism. The Empress spoke gently and in detail. For the sake of the cute child, Mama Gong naturally nodded.
The group of people soon arrived at Ci 'an Palace.
When the palace servant reported, Li Helan and the Empress Dowager were sitting next to each other, eating melon seeds and chatting about daily life.
As soon as she heard that the Empress wanted to see her, the Empress Dowager unhappily threw the melon seeds in her hand on the table.
"What is she doing here at this time? Who is coming? "
"Empress Dowager, the Empress came with Prince Zhongshun's consort."
When Li Helan heard Qin Yining, his swollen toes reflexively hurt.
"When that bitch comes together, there must be something bad! Imperial Mother, last time she caused my toenails to be chopped off. You must avenge me. "
The Empress Dowager snorted, "Isn't it because you are stupid? Who told you to kick people yourself? Idiot, you have a head on your neck. Do you only use it to breathe? "
When the Empress Dowager reprimanded Li Helan, she waved her hand. The palace servant immediately understood and went outside to invite the Empress in.
Li Helan curled his lips, sat up straight, and then wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.
When the Empress came in with Qin Yining, she immediately gave a big bow.
"Chenqie pays respect to Mother."
"Chenqie pays respect to Empress Dowager. Chenqie pays respect to Princess Royal. "
"Get up." The Empress Dowager waved her hand and motioned for the two to get up. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mama Gong behind the crowd. The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows in confusion, "What's the matter? Why did you come to my place at this time?"
The Empress said, "Yes. Just now, Consort Yun was learning the rules in chenqie's palace. During the break, chenqie ordered the wet nurse to bring Hao ge 'er here. Consort Yun intended to scratch Hao ge' er's face. chenqie has ordered people to take Consort Yun to the Imperial Clan Court. "
The Empress Dowager was stunned, "Where is Hao ge 'er? How is he? "
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was first concerned about her grandson, the Empress secretly let out a sigh of relief and said, "Niangniang, don't worry. Fortunately, the loyal Qinwang Fei found out in time and caught Consort Yi on the spot. Hao ge'er was safe and sound, but he was frightened and kept crying."
When the Empress Dowager heard this, she calmed down a little.
"How brainless is Consort Yun to directly try to scratch Prince Zhongshun's face in front of so many people? Even a fool wouldn't do such a thing. " The Empress Dowager looked suspiciously at the Empress, "You are so anxious to lock up Consort Yun. Is there a hidden reason, en?"
The Empress's heart that had just been a little relieved was raised again by the Empress Dowager's words.
She suddenly had a "sure enough" thought in her heart. Qin Yining was right. The Empress Dowager really began to favor Consort Yun.
The Empress Dowager pursed her lips, "Could it be that Empress Dowager suspects chenqie is using this matter to slander Consort Yun? So many people saw it. If the Empress Dowager doesn't believe it, you can go and ask them one by one. Moreover, chenqie and the Empress Dowager have been together for so many years. The Empress Dowager should know chenqie's character. If Consort Yun didn't really hurt Prince Zhongshun, why would chenqie say that? "
The Empress Dowager was a little hesitant. Although this daughter-in-law wasn't likable and was like a block of wood, as she said, she was a very upright person.
Could it really be Consort Yun who did it? To do such a stupid thing, Consort Yun was really possible.
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