Chapter 35: Main Hall "Who dares to criticize?"

The emperor got off the carriage first. The events of the night did not seem to have stirred any emotion in him. He looked indifferent and peaceful. Twelve palace servants holding lanterns in front of the ceremonial procession illuminated the coiled dragon pattern on his robe.

After getting off the car, he did not walk directly into the gate of Chengluan Palace. It seemed that he was waiting for someone.

The young eunuch's voice just now was so loud that it was obvious who he was waiting for.

When everyone looked closely, the first thing they saw was a slender hand with fair skin.

The palace maid hurried forward to help the person down.

Qingzan had put on the noble clothes she wore when she went to Taiji Hall that day. When she stepped out of the car, her clothes were light and her belt was loose, and she looked very different from the palace maids and eunuchs who had their clothes blackened and their faces stained by the fire tonight.

Anyone could see that Concubine Ying didn't look like she had experienced a fire at all.

The public sentiment and the uproar were silent for only a moment when the emperor appeared, and soon started again, but the volume was somewhat suppressed due to the emperor's presence.

After everyone had paid their respects, the emperor stood up.

Someone realized it later and was dumbfounded: "Why is Concubine Ying with His Majesty?"

The Queen also asked the same question -

But after asking, she added with a hint of resentment, "This palace and Concubine Hui were so worried, but it turns out my sister has played a trick on us."

Now there is no doubt that the person in the Taiji Hall is Qingzan.

The queen felt so angry that her teeth itched at the thought that someone must have seen her begging in such a panic.

She simply didn't dare to think about it. From which day did she stop living in Chengluan Palace?

Like mother, like daughter. She was as attractive to men as her mother. Her claims of illness and disfavor were all just pretexts to deceive others. She had probably already sneaked into the Taiji Hall, using every possible means to win favor.

However, with the emperor present, the queen had to at least maintain her composure.

He could only say, "So many people, worried about Concubine Ying's safety, haven't been able to sleep tonight. They've rushed here anxiously, but their worries were all in vain. Concubine Ying, you must give us an explanation. Explain why you weren't in your own palace, but came to His Majesty instead."

Qingzan glanced at the emperor. Since the emperor was here, was it her turn to explain?

However, Xiao Fang just stood with his hands behind his back, as if letting her do whatever she wanted, with no intention of helping her at all.

Qingzan glared at him again in anger, and the emperor returned his glance calmly. This exchange of glances was very intriguing to the eyes of others.

Since the Emperor stood by, Qing Zan could only speak in reply. She was not afraid of the Empress, "I am grateful for your concern, sisters. As Your Majesty said, I am ashamed that this unexpected fire alarmed the entire palace. But now that I am unharmed, you sisters can naturally rest assured. Could it be that Your Majesty thinks that 'worrying in vain' is not a good thing?"

The Queen was stunned by what she was saying. It took her a while to find the key to the confusing conversation. She gritted her teeth and said, "I am asking you now. It's curfew now, why is Concubine Ying not in her own palace? It's a good thing that you're fine, but the rules of the palace are not for show."

She glanced at the emperor as she spoke, and her voice lowered a little: "Even if I put some thought into going to the Taiji Palace to serve him, it should be recorded in the history books..."

As soon as these words came out, Concubine Hui's face changed slightly: "Your Majesty!"

No matter how unforgiving your words are, the emperor should not be implicated.

Concubine Hui wanted to speak up for Qingzan tonight, but she had to give an explanation in front of everyone.

Qingzan smiled, already having a plan in mind.

Originally, she planned to say that she went to Taiji Hall for help because she was frightened after the fire. However, if that was the case, the palace servants should have reported the matter to the public long ago. There would be no need to cover it up, and it would not have been delayed until now, when she had to face the Queen's questioning.

"Your Majesty just wanted to play chess tonight, so he summoned me to join him. It's irrelevant, so it doesn't need to be recorded in history books."

The Queen was the first to disbelieve it: "Playing chess? Lady Ying knows how to play chess, how come I didn't know about it before? Besides, aren't you sick?"

Seeing that the Emperor was still just watching from the sidelines, and didn't seem angry about what the Empress had just said, Concubine Wu dared to help out, "Yes, I've never heard that Concubine Ying is a chess player before."

"No, can't I learn?" Qing Zan replied. Then he said meaningfully, "I was already feeling better two days ago. I wanted to rest for a couple of days to consolidate my strength and then report back to Her Majesty tomorrow. Could it be that Her Majesty can't wait even a night?"

The queen keenly heard the hidden meaning in the other person's words. She was clearly throwing dirty water on herself without any reason, implying that she could not wait and would take action tonight.

But the others didn't think there was anything wrong with what she said, so they couldn't point out her fault for a while.

"As for whether I know how to play chess," Qingzan leaned towards the emperor who was watching the show with raised eyebrows, raised her bright eyes, took his arm, and asked softly in a rather charming tone, "Your Majesty, do I know how to play chess or not?"

No one expected that Concubine Ying would do such a bold thing, and everyone was dumbfounded.

This, in public, is it possible that Concubine Ying has no manners at all?

Everyone knew that His Majesty favored women with sense of propriety. No matter how he behaved in private, he couldn't be so frivolous in such an occasion. Even when Concubine Zhen was at the height of her favor, His Majesty always treated her with a stern hand when it came to serious matters.

Qing Zan's idea was simple. Since the Queen's every word and every action was intended to make others think that she was a seductive woman who deceived her master, she couldn't bear this reputation in vain.

Just when everyone thought the emperor would pour cold water on them, Xiao Fang nodded slightly, with a faint smile: "Not bad."

He doesn't mind giving her some face in front of others.

Qingzan pressed the issue further: "Just okay?"

But for other concubines with a little more seniority, such as Concubine Hui, the mere word "okay" was enough to convey the meaning of indulgence, which was enough to shock people.

Your Majesty's treatment of Concubine Ying is truly extraordinary.

No matter what, once the emperor had spoken, no one dared to say anything about it.

The emperor's expression darkened slightly as he said to Concubine Hui, "There are snakes ahead and fire behind. I had no idea that the palace was so perilous. I'll have to worry about this matter, Concubine Hui."

Concubine Hui hurriedly responded and came down.

She also remembered an important matter: "Although the damage to Baoyuyou Pavilion isn't serious, it will inevitably require some repairs. Your Majesty, would you mind finding a temporary residence for Concubine Ying? My Ruizhu Palace and Zhaoyi's Guanju Palace are both available. If they could have someone to look after them, perhaps there would be fewer 'accidents' like tonight."

In this palace, position is also a guarantee of security. If there are enough people, the defense will naturally be more stringent. There will be people patrolling and guarding Ruizhu Palace all night long.

Concubine Hui thought that even if she helped Concubine Ying just once, she could repay the favors she had received for her position as a concubine in the future.

Although Lady Ying pleaded for her cousin, given her cousin's personality and old grudges, it would be difficult for them to live in peace in the future.

Therefore, no matter how rare and valuable Lady Ying is, she cannot be a companion after all.

The emperor stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the fire-stricken palace room. His deep eyes made it impossible to discern his thoughts.

At this time, all the palace servants in the side hall had fled outside. The room was dark and it was difficult to see the extent of the damage.

But it doesn't matter, the emperor has already made a decision:

"No need to bother. Although the side hall is uninhabitable, isn't the main hall intact?"

Concubine Hui was stunned: "This..."

Chengluan Palace is spacious. The main hall and Baoyuyou Pavilion are separated by a distance of more than a hundred feet. With such a large square in the middle, the fire naturally could not spread there.

But, Lady Ying is just a lady after all.

The palace concubines who had not yet left were also surprised and envious. His Majesty actually wanted to let a noble lady live in the main palace?

Who can say that Lady Ying didn’t turn out to be a blessing in disguise!

Although Concubine Hui was surprised, she only lost her composure for a moment before she responded gently, "This will indeed save some trouble. Zhaoshui Palace has been unoccupied for a while, so Concubine Ying will sleep there tonight. Tomorrow I will have the eunuchs clean up and buy some daily necessities."

In fact, after all the trouble, only the last part of the long night is left. I can just sit and sleep in my clothes and go out to play at dawn.

The emperor tacitly agreed to this arrangement.

The Queen was standing by, but she felt more and more uncomfortable as if she had swallowed a needle. Not only did she feel uncomfortable because the Emperor asked Qing Zan to live in the main palace, but she also felt that a decision like this did not require her to have a single say from beginning to end!

Concubine Hui, Concubine Hui has now completely replaced her.

The queen immediately thought of the misfortune that her grandfather had suffered.

The emperor did not tell her who had reported her grandfather, but wasn't the disaster relief money donated by the Zhao family, and was it the Zhao family's children who escorted them?

The Zheng and Zhao families have always been in collusion with each other. Could it be that Concubine Hui wanted to suppress her family's power, so she ordered the Zhao family to deliberately frame my grandfather?

The more the queen thought about it, the more she believed this to be the case.

In a short period of time, her home seemed to have been turned into a sieve with leaks from both front and back, and everyone wanted to pick a fight with her.

The queen wanted to say something, saying that Qingzan could not live in the main hall so easily. But as soon as she stepped forward, she was sent back to her original position by the emperor's cold look.

Her body went limp, and Fu Cui and Wu Bin hurriedly supported her from both sides: "Madam, what's wrong with you?"

The emperor looked at the man sideways for a moment, inevitably with a hint of ridicule in his eyes.

Some people are born to suffer, while others could have enjoyed all the honors but ended up tying themselves up in knots.

He said somewhat nonchalantly, "Let's all go."

At this point, although everyone was still talking, they didn't dare to stay any longer and immediately dispersed like birds and beasts. The emperor turned around and prepared to return home.

"Your Majesty!" At this moment, Xu Delu ran into Chengluan Palace and met the emperor who was walking out.

The emperor took just one step out before stopping again: "Are you back?"

"The Queen Mother has gone to bed." Xu Delu reported.

He just came back from Ziquan Palace.

With such a big commotion happening, it was impossible for the empress dowager to be unaware of it. After Xu Delu learned about the situation, he went to Ziquan Palace to reassure the empress dowager.

Xu Delu whispered to the emperor again, "What do you plan to do with the two people who set the fire?"

Originally, the damage from the fire tonight was minimized because the secret guards, following orders, were preparing to quietly deliver half a basket of grapes to Chengluan Palace at night. However, they unexpectedly ran into two eunuchs who were engaged in sneaky activities, committing murder and arson.

Since the fire had already started, the secret guard could only pinch his throat and imitate the eunuch's voice, shouting "fire" twice to alarm the people in the house.

Half a basket of grapes had to be sent back to the Taiji Hall.

Also detained were the two eunuchs who were about to escape, and they are still in the Taiji Hall awaiting their fate.

"Give it to Concubine Hui for careful examination," said the emperor.

At this time, most of the people who had gathered had been dismissed, and only the palace maids who had experienced a disaster in Chengluan Palace stayed. They surrounded Qingzan and were about to ask about her well-being, but they saw the emperor suddenly change direction and walked towards them. They all made way for her tacitly.

Qing Zanjing waited for the emperor to approach, then pointed behind her at the Zhaoshui Palace. The maid who held the keys was removing the dusty copper lock from the magnificent main hall door.

"Can I? Will it cause criticism..."

"If I say you can do it, then you can do it. Who dares to object?"