Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Concubine Tong: I think it’s okay!

Crystal clear tears instantly burst out of the little boy's eyes, and then his rosy little mouth puckered up, and his chubby cheeks, like buns, became red and puffy with grievance.

However, Li Shuyao did not notice his change at all. After listening to what Concubine Tong said, she entrusted the little boy in her arms to Concubine Hui without thinking.

Then he stood up and followed Concubine Tong obediently towards the back hall.

Over there, Huipin skillfully held little Yinzhen in her arms, letting his little head rest against the crook of her arm. She looked down and exclaimed in surprise, "Why is this child crying like this?"

Rongpin and Anpin on the side also noticed the crying face of little Yinzhen, and hurried over to help Huipin comfort him.

So when little Yinzhen finally wiped away his tears and looked around with his big, clear eyes blinking, how could he find Li Shuyao?

*

The rear hall of Chengqian Palace.

Concubine Tong personally poured a cup of tea for Li Shuyao.

Li Shuyao took it somewhat flattered, lowered her head and took a sip. Suddenly, she remembered something and her apricot blossom eyes were startled.

Uh oh.

Did she miss something before?

Yinzhen...

Whether in the original novel or in history, Yinzhen was raised by Concubine Tong.

But after she was made a concubine, she felt that she was qualified to raise the baby in her belly, so she didn't think about it at all.

But now, looking at the expression on Concubine Tong's face, it could be described as "diligent".

Li Shuyao was a little unsure whether the plot was going to be twisted back again.

She slowly put down the cup in her hand, looking a little nervous and hesitant.

If Concubine Tong really spoke up, would she agree?

After thinking about it carefully, it seemed that he was not very good at raising children, and Concubine Tong would become the Imperial Concubine in a few years. If Yinzhen handed the child over to her for raising, her status would naturally be more noble.

After all, he is the adopted son of the vice-empress and the son of a concubine.

The portions are completely different.

She... She definitely wouldn't be as cruel and ruthless as the Defei in the original novel, who would even kill her own flesh and blood. She also doesn't have so much ambition, fighting in the harem all day long.

So, will the subsequent plot development be more inclined to real history?

...In history, little Yinzhen ascended the throne and became emperor!

Well, then, wouldn’t she be able to become the Empress Dowager?

Wow--

It was as if the door to a new world opened before her eyes. Li Shuyao suddenly had new ideas and even began to consider whether she should start to maintain her health.

...She must not be like the empress dowager in history who died in the second year after Yongzheng ascended the throne.

She wanted to live a few more years, sit on the throne of the Empress Dowager for a while longer... That would be so much fun, because there would be no one in the world who could restrain her. She could eat whatever she wanted, drink whatever she wanted, and climb up the roof and tear off the tiles whenever she wanted...

Well, anyway, I can live comfortably and freely all my life.

The more Li Shuyao thought about it, the happier she became. The little bit of nostalgia and reluctance in her heart had long been thrown into an unknown country.

Concubine Tong was still looking at her. After considering her words for a while, she said to Li Shuyao, "I asked you to come here today because I have something to discuss with you."

Li Shuyao suddenly came back to her senses, "Yes, go ahead."

Concubine Tong: "A rumor has been spreading in the palace these days. Are you aware of it?"

Li Shuyao shook her head.

Nanny Yan didn't tell her.

She herself was not a person who liked to know things. Although she loved to eat melons, she would only eat them when the melon field came to her.

Otherwise, she would listen to Qingyao telling her stories.

But Qingyao is busy these days, taking care of the baby in her belly. How can she have time to tell her stories?

Li Shuyao asked softly, "What kind of rumor is it? Is it related to me?"

Otherwise, Concubine Tong would not have come to her specifically to talk about this matter.

Li Shuyao quietly clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

Concubine Tong nodded, "It is indeed related to you."

She explained the whole story to Li Shuyao, and also brought out her defense in front of the Empress Dowager.

"...So, Sister Shu Yao, you have to believe me. This matter was not ordered by me. It was all the work of Ye Changzai and that guy. It was their own idea."

"I never thought of adopting Yinzhen."

"It's true that Yinzhen is a very cute child, and we have a good relationship, but now he has to call me 'Your Madam', and I have no grudge against you..."

Concubine Tong gave a long and rambling explanation.

Li Shuyao only heard a few words - I never thought of adopting Yinzhen.

Never...

Never thought...

ah?

She only knew that the plot had deviated from the main line, but, she didn't expect it to deviate to this extent!

Why did Concubine Tong suddenly no longer want Yinzhen?

Li Shuyao couldn't understand it.

She suddenly remembered a very important question.

Concubine Tong no longer plans to adopt little Yinzhen. Then, the subsequent battle for the throne among the nine princes and Yongzheng's ascension to the throne... will never happen again, right?

The beautiful dream she had just conceived was shattered in an instant before it even got dark?

The reversal was so fast that Li Shuyao had no time to react. She could only stare blankly at Concubine Tong. It seemed as if a thousand thoughts were running through her mind, yet it seemed as if she was thinking of nothing at all.

In the eyes of Concubine Tong, this was a sign that she was somewhat unhappy.

——If the oriole, which always loves to chirp, suddenly stops making any sound one day, doesn’t that mean it is in a bad mood?

Concubine Tong sighed in her heart. Fortunately, she had anticipated Li Shuyao's reaction long ago. At this time, apart from some resentment towards the culprit, she did not have any other emotions.

Concubine Tong picked up the teapot and poured Li Shuyao another cup of tea.

At the same time, he said, "I know you are unhappy."

Anyone would be unhappy if this happened to them.

Li Shuyao's reaction was relatively calm.

At least after she finished speaking, Concubine Tong did not see any suspicion or vigilance towards herself in her clear eyes.

Just a little unhappy.

I think sending a few more plates of snacks in the future will be enough to appease him. If that doesn't work, I can add a few boxes of gold, silver, and jade...

Concubine Tong reluctantly retracted her wandering thoughts and returned her attention to Li Shuyao. She then slowly said, "So I specifically went to ask the Grand Empress Dowager to hand those two bitches over to you for disposal. What do you think?"

"ah?"

Li Shuyao had just come to her senses when she was startled again. She stammered, "I, I, I, I will take care of it?"

How should she deal with it?

The palace rules she had memorized before were mostly for palace maids and eunuchs. After becoming a high-ranking official, she did memorize some of them, but they were all kind reminders from Nanny Lin, such as how to serve in bed, how to serve meals, how to accompany the emperor, and so on.

Later, she had a baby, so who would ask her to memorize the books?

Even the previously agreed plan to learn to read was forcibly stopped by the emperor, who said that he was worried that she would read too many books during pregnancy, which would not only damage her eyes, but also that she might give birth to a little nerd in the future.

She lived happily like this for half a year. If she couldn't see the red walls, green tiles, and flying eaves of the Forbidden City every day... she would probably feel like she was in heaven.

Now, suddenly, Concubine Tong stuffed a palace fighting script in front of her without any explanation. Li Shuyao's first subconscious reaction was that she couldn't do it, she couldn't do it, how could she deal with others?

Li Shuyao waved her hands, and the expression on her delicate little face was like that of a good student who was distracted in class and was called up by the teacher in class, sometimes white and sometimes red.

"No, no, no, please, please come, Your Majesty."

When Concubine Tong heard this, her eyes suddenly darkened. "I'll do it?"

"Yes, come here." Li Shuyao nodded.

Concubine Tong: “…”

She took a deep breath, "You don't believe what I just said, do you?"

She sent the men to Li Shuyao to be dealt with by her. Firstly, she wanted to prove that she had an open mind and that the two men's actions were not instigated by her; secondly, she wanted to let Li Shuyao vent her anger; thirdly, she was a little curious about what kind of strange ideas Li Shuyao would have this time.

But Li Shuyao was unwilling and kicked the two men back.

So she doesn't believe her?

Concubine Tong suddenly felt as if there was a big hole in her heart. The cold wind blew back and forth, making her feel chilly.

Li Shuyao didn't know what Concubine Tong had misunderstood.

She showed a puzzled expression, "I, your Highness, do not disbelieve what the Imperial Concubine says."

Concubine Tong's heart suddenly warmed up a little, "So you believe me?"

Li Shuyao nodded directly, "Whatever the Imperial Concubine says, I believe it."

"Because the Imperial Concubine is a very good person!"

"Good man" Concubine Tong blinked her eyes and said nothing.

She felt that Li Shuyao's words sounded a little strange, but if she had to say what was strange, she couldn't put her finger on it.

After thinking for a while, Concubine Tong still couldn't figure it out, so she had to change the subject again, "Then why are you unwilling..."

"Because I don't know what to do according to the palace rules."

“…”

Concubine Tong was silent for a moment before she found her voice again. "According to palace rules, if a palace maid spreads rumors or causes trouble, she can be punished with caning. If it were a concubine, she would most likely be demoted, have her salary fined, be forced to reflect on her mistakes, and be required to copy palace rules, etc."

However, the positions of these two people are so low that there is no room for demotion, so they can only be banished to the cold palace.

But Concubine Tong didn't want them to go to the cold palace.

Because they had offended her, they first used her as a scapegoat, and then indirectly tarnished her image in front of the ancestors and other concubines, as well as Li Shuyao...

How can just banishing her to the cold palace be enough?

She needs to be subjected to the most severe punishment in the world, only then can the anger in her heart be extinguished a little...

Countless dark thoughts were turning in Concubine Tong's mind.

Over there, after listening to Concubine Tong's words, Li Shuyao tilted her head and thought for a moment, then revealed an expression of sudden enlightenment. "Does your Majesty think that just shutting them up and reflecting on their mistakes is too easy on them?"

Concubine Tong nodded directly and said, "Yes."

Li Shuyao: "That's easy, just give them a taste of their own medicine!"

"Don't they love to gossip, spread rumors, and nag?"

"Then let them speak!"

"There are twelve hours in a day. Apart from four hours for sleeping and half an hour for eating, they must talk non-stop for the rest of the time, from sunrise to sunset."

"They can't drink water yet. If they are thirsty, feed them Coptis chinensis water."

"Coptis chinensis water is so good. It clears away heat, detoxifies, and removes dampness."

"If this continues for three months, I guarantee they will be more careful with their words and actions and won't dare to spread rumors again!"

"What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Concubine Tong: I think it’s okay!