Li Helan's proud and arrogant laughter echoed in the warm room. The Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubine Yun were also convulsing with laughter, as if they had seen the most interesting thing.
Princess Tana was laughing so hard that Tatan's words burst out. She pointed at Qin Yining and mumbled. The Empress Dowager and the others couldn't understand what she was saying. Instead, they found it even more funny!
Bing Tang and Ji Yun were so anxious that they cried when they saw the situation. Ji Yun got up and was about to rush forward, but she was stopped by Bing Tang.
"No, we can't ruin Wangfei's plan. If you rush over now, won't Wangfei's previous patience be in vain? Our words carry little weight. If we offend the Empress Dowager, Master will have to think of a way to protect us! "
Ji Yun slowly knelt down again. She knew that Bing Tang was right, but she couldn't do anything when she saw Qin Yining being humiliated in public …
If only Wang Ye was here! Wang Ye would definitely tear these bastards apart!
Qin Yining wasn't as excited as the two maidservants. She turned a deaf ear and continued to perform the standard three kneels and nine kowtows in the direction of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
She didn't know how long she had performed the ceremony and how many times she had kowtowed. She only knew that her legs and knees were numb and numb. She kept repeating the phrase, "Long live Your Majesty." Even her voice was a little hoarse.
She knew that she couldn't resist. As long as the Empress Dowager had enough fun, she would pass today's test. If she left behind any evidence, it could be used as a reason for Li Qitian to punish her.
"Forget it. Aijia is tired of watching."
After a long time, the Empress Dowager covered her mouth and yawned. She waved her hand impatiently.
Qin Yining swayed and stood up straight with difficulty. Her knees hurt like needles. She respectfully said, "Yes."
Princess Tana hadn't had enough fun yet. She stopped laughing and suggested, "Empress Dowager, why don't you let Prince Zhongshun perform a blessing for you?"
The Empress Dowager snorted and laughed again. "Good, good. This gift is commonly used. Prince Zhongshun's consort should do it well. Make one for me to see. "
"Haha!" Li Helan laughed out loud once again, not caring about his image. He even slapped his thigh.
With Li Helan and the Empress Dowager laughing like this, Imperial Concubine Yi naturally laughed as well. The palace servants in the warm room also laughed along with the scene.
Ji Yun and Bing Tang knelt on the ground, lowering their heads and gritting their teeth as they quietly wiped their tears.
Amidst the mocking laughter, Qin Yining respectfully complied. His body couldn't help but sway a little. He placed his right hand on top of his left hand and placed his right leg on the left side of his waist. With great difficulty, he bent his knees and said, "Greetings to the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager looked at her swaying appearance and continued to smile, "Again, again."
Princess Ta Na also shouted, "Again."
Qin Yining did as he was told and continued his actions. Every time he bent his knees, there was a sharp pain in his knees. He couldn't help but kneel down.
The more he endured the pain, the more expressionless he became. Compared to the Empress Dowager, Li Helan, and Imperial Concubine Yi, who were laughing wildly again, there was a strong contrast.
This bow continued for the time it took for a stick of incense to burn. The Empress Dowager finally laughed enough. She held her stomach and said, "Good, good, enough. Aijia's stomach hurts from laughing. Your etiquette is wonderful."
"That's right. Aunt, to be able to make you laugh, Prince Zhongshun's etiquette is really useful. We didn't waste our time here watching her boring performance."
"That's right. It's just like that. It's annoying to watch." Li Helan coldly snorted. His heart was refreshed like never before.
Princess Ta Na sat down at the Empress Dowager's signal.
The Empress Dowager pointed at Qin Yining and said, "Tell me, what did you learn from today's bow?"
Qin Yining endured the pain and maintained his dignified standing posture. He smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager is healthy. It is a blessing for the world."
The Empress Dowager didn't react for a moment, "What do you mean?"
Qin Yining smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager was able to laugh for a long time and didn't find it difficult to breathe. This proves that your heart and lungs are very healthy. This is a sign that your body is healthy. You should rejoice. "
The Empress Dowager's expression quickly darkened.
"You dare to mock aijia?"
Qin Yining said seriously, "This subject's words come from the bottom of my heart. There is no meaning of ridicule. I am truly happy that the Empress Dowager is healthy. Moreover, this subject's wife was able to make the Empress Dowager laugh today. This is a wonderful thing that is worth spreading. "
Spreading?
That's right. Qin Yining's experience in the palace today would spread throughout the palace in less than half a day. Soon, even the courtiers' families would know. Those courtiers would naturally know as well.
Then wouldn't Pang Xiao know as well?
Qin Yining didn't mean to threaten the Empress Dowager, but when the Empress Dowager thought of Pang Xiao, her complacency cooled by half.
Pang Xiao had accumulated great power. He had a large number of troops in his hands. When he was in the army, it was equivalent to a tiger tally. He even dared to flip the table in front of the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager didn't dare to pursue the matter and could only smile apologetically. When Pang Xiao returned, he wouldn't come to settle accounts with her, right?
But after thinking about it, the Empress Dowager felt relieved.
If he wanted to settle accounts with her, he would have to come back alive first.
The Empress Dowager sneered and looked away, "Sit down."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager."
Qin Yining sat down. Even though his leg hurt, he didn't show any signs. He gritted his teeth and didn't let anyone see him make a fool of himself.
The Empress Dowager's face was calm. She turned around and asked the palace maid who was serving her, "Is the milk and bird's nest ready?"
"Empress Dowager, it is ready."
"Mm. Go get it. Everyone can have some. The Emperor specially sent the bird's nest to aijia. "
"Then many thanks to Auntie." Consort Yun smiled sweetly, "Your Majesty is very filial to the Empress Dowager. Usually, chenqie's palace is allocated bird's nest."
Li Helan sneered, "Ignorant. There are so many bird's nest. Other than providing for Imperial Mother, how can there be enough to provide for you concubines?"
Consort Yun's smile froze. She continued to smile.
Not long after, the bird's nest was brought up in food boxes by the palace maids of Ci 'an Palace.
The palace maids served the bird's nest to each person.
Qin Yining took it and slowly stirred the bird's nest with a spoon. He looked at the Empress Dowager and the others from the corner of his eyes. He didn't eat it immediately.
The Empress Dowager and Li Helan both ate. Princess Tana ate even faster. Consort Yun also ate half a bowl. Qin Yining slowly took a bite.
Consort Yun smiled and said, "Aiya, such a good bird's nest. It's a pity that the Empress and the Eldest Prince aren't here."
"En, that's right." The Empress Dowager's movements paused. She suddenly said, "It's time to send a bowl to the Eldest Prince. Hao ge 'er can eat supplementary food recently. It's best to eat this." She pointed at Qin Yining, "Go to Kunning Palace and send it to the Eldest Prince."
Qin Yining was stunned. He stopped holding the spoon in his hand and looked at the Empress Dowager in surprise.
Consort Yun slowly put down the bird's nest. She covered her mouth and smiled, "Aunt, I'm a Wangfei. How can I agree to run errands? Isn't that degrading the status of a Wangfei? "
"Aijia is the Empress Dowager! Who dares not to listen to Aijia's words! "The Empress Dowager glared at Qin Yining. She slammed the porcelain bowl on the square table next to her.
The sound of porcelain breaking shocked everyone in the warm room. They all stopped what they were doing and saluted.
"Empress Dowager, please calm down."
The Empress Dowager pursed her lips and said coldly, "No matter who Aijia is, no matter where Aijia is, don't forget who the world belongs to. You don't even want to do a small thing. Do you really have a rebellious heart? "
"Empress Dowager, you're exaggerating." Princess Tana smiled apologetically.
She hadn't forgotten the purpose of her marriage alliance.
Qin Yining lowered her head. She endured the pain in her knees and maintained the saluting posture. Her brows were tightly knitted.
Today's matter was strange in every way.
"Qin Clan, are you going?" The Empress Dowager asked in a deep voice.
Qin Yining smiled and saluted, "Empress Dowager, this subject's wife will naturally obey your orders." If she said half a word of no, she was afraid that she would be immediately punished. She was afraid that the Empress Dowager was waiting for her here.
The Empress Dowager's face relaxed a little. She ordered the palace servant behind her.
"En. Go get a bowl of cow's milk blood bird's nest and give it to the Prince Zhongshun. "
"Yes."
The palace servant immediately accepted the order. Not long after, she brought a small, exquisite black food box with a spiral design.
Ji Yun and Bing Tang's faces were tense at this time.
The Empress Dowager actually ordered Qin Yining, a dignified Prince Zhongshun, to run errands and deliver things. What was the meaning of this? Could it be that today's humiliation in the warm room wasn't enough? Did she have to drag her out in front of other people to continue humiliating her?
As long as Qin Yining stepped out of this door and took a step forward with the food box, other palace servants would see it. In the blink of an eye, the Prince Zhongshun had become the Empress Dowager's servant. The news that she had to flatter the imperial family would spread. In the future, how could Qin Yining interact with the noble ladies?
Ji Yun gritted her teeth. Bing Tang's eyes also turned red.
They all wanted to stand up for Qin Yining. However, their status was low and they didn't have the qualifications to speak. Instead, it would cause more trouble for Qin Yining.
They would remember today's humiliation!
Qin Yining took the food box.
The Empress Dowager ordered: "Go quickly and come back quickly. Don't let the bird's nest get cold. Hao ge 'er won't feel well after eating it. Come back quickly after delivering it. Aijia still wants to talk to you. "
"Yes, this subject will go now."
Qin Yining carried the food box and curtsied. She walked stiffly outside. Her knees hurt more and more. She could only grit her teeth and endure it without any strange reactions.
Bing Tang and Ji Yun also curtsied and followed Qin Yining's footsteps. Bing Tang could see that Qin Yining's knees were swollen. She wanted to go to a place where there was no one else and give Qin Yining a good check.
Li Helan picked up the bird's nest and took a bite. She chuckled and said: "Tsk, a dignified Prince Zhongshun has been reduced to delivering bird's nest. This princess royal can only eat bird's nest, ha!"
This sentence caused Consort Yi and Princess Tana to laugh.
Qin Yining had already walked far away, but she could still hear the laughter coming from the warm room.
After turning a corner, Ji Yun reached out to take the food box in Qin Yining's hand: "Princess Consort, let this servant take it."
"That's not appropriate. I was ordered by the empress to deliver the bird's nest to His Highness. I've already agreed and endured it. If the Empress Dowager finds out, I'm afraid there will be trouble. I might as well let them humiliate me and endure this first. "
Qin Yining's face was pale. Her knees hurt and her forehead was sweating.
Bing Tang gritted her teeth and said: "Princess Consort, does your knee hurt a lot? I'll help you apply medicine when we get back. "
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