Chapter 217 Meeting in the Cold Palace
Late at night, Nian Shilan brought Songzhi to the cold palace under the cover of darkness. She asked Songzhi to wait at the door and went in alone.
This place always seems eerie and scary to others, but to her it is just an abandoned house. After her death in her previous life, her soul wandered around the palace all day long, and she had been here countless times. She no longer felt fear of this place.
She gently pushed open a door and walked in, holding a lantern in her hand.
This place was still as desolate as she remembered, and it looked even more desolate under the cover of night.
"You're here."
Yixiu seemed to have expected her to appear here and was not at all surprised by Nian Shilan's arrival.
"It seems that you are not living well here, Queen. Oh, no, I can't call you Queen now. You have been deposed."
Nian Shilan looked at the person in front of her. For some reason, the hatred that had been pent up in her heart for a long time seemed to dissipate at this moment. She knew that she should not trap herself in the past anymore. Everything was different now.
"Noble Concubine Hua, don't be too proud. You think you can rest easy just because you beat me this time. Do you really think the emperor has completely retracted his suspicions about your Nian family? Why do you think you haven't been able to have children for so many years? Do you really think the emperor truly loves you? Don't dream. He is just using you, taking advantage of your jealousy to balance the power of the harem."
Yixiu knew that Nian Shilan came here today specifically to humiliate her, but she didn't care at all. For her, she had nothing now, so what was there to be afraid of? But if she was not having a good life, no one else would have an easy life. Didn't the emperor like to pretend to be deeply in love? Then she would tear off his fig leaf.
"You also know why I can't get pregnant?"
Nian Shilan was very surprised that Yixiu would say such a thing, but after thinking about it carefully, it was normal. With Yixiu's cautious and patient nature, how could she not thoroughly investigate anyone who posed a threat to her?
"Yixiu, do you know where you went wrong? You cared too much about your feelings for the Emperor, just like I did back then. The Emperor was wary of my Nian family, and I knew that. Aren't those Huanyi incense sticks that I treasure every day the ones he personally gave me? But so what? I don't need them now. I already have a lot, and I'm content. But what about you? You only needed to be the Empress and everything you wanted would come true, but you just aren't content."
"I'm not wrong!! I'm not wrong!!!"
Yixiu didn't know what her words had provoked her, and her originally calm mood suddenly became extremely excited.
"What do you know? I've lost my child, my title as Consort, and my husband's favor. Do you know how painful it is for me every time I see the Emperor constantly favoring others? You don't know, you won't know, you'll never know."
At this time, Yixiu seemed a little crazy. She kept muttering, sometimes talking about when she first entered the palace, and sometimes her thoughts jumped to after she entered the palace.
Looking at her current appearance, Nian Shilan did not feel a bit happy. In fact, what was the difference between them? Yixiu now was just like herself back then, except that she had experienced a lifetime and seen a lot of things.
Nian Shilan looked at Yixiu deeply and left the cold palace, leaving Yixiu alone there muttering to herself.
This should be the last time she sees her. For the rest of her life, she just wants to protect her family well and spend the rest of her life with her children and her good sisters.
After returning to Yiku Palace, Songzhi saw that her expression still seemed a little abnormal, and worriedly helped her sit down and rest for a while.
"My Lady, you don't have to take anything she said to heart. She brought this upon herself."
Songzhi didn't go in with Nian Shilan just now, so she didn't know what they talked about in there, but she didn't think it was a pleasant topic.
"Okay, don't worry, I'm fine. It's getting late now, you should go and get some rest."
Nian Shilan patted Songzhi's hand to comfort her.
"yes."
After Songzhi left, Nian Shilan thought quietly. Yixiu was right. The emperor had been wary of her Nian family for a long time. Although now because of the handover of military power, the emperor seemed to no longer be as suspicious of the Nian family as in previous years, but if she really became the queen, would the emperor's thoughts be the same as before?
It seems that I need to write another letter to my brother, and the younger generation in the family must also be properly disciplined, and must not let the emperor find any fault with them.
In fact, now that Yixiu has been defeated, they will feel much more relaxed. Most of the concubines in the harem are on good terms with them. Even if there are a few who may have some ulterior motives, they will not be able to cause any trouble.
…
The empress was deposed, which was a major event for both the former court and the harem. The loss of the position of the empress made many aristocratic families in Kyoto active again. So when the emperor went to court again, the issue that the court officials discussed most was the establishment of a new empress.
"Your Majesty, the mother of a nation is related to the stability of the country and society, and is the most important of the imperial court and the harem. Please appoint a queen as soon as possible."
"Your Majesty, Concubine Hua is virtuous and dignified, possessing both talent and integrity, and a kind heart. She is truly the best candidate for Empress."
"I second the motion."
"I second the motion."
"Your Majesty, although Concubine Hua is indeed both talented and virtuous, Concubine Xi has also been dignified and intelligent over the years, and she also has a prince by her side, so she should be considered as one of the candidates."
…
Looking at the ministers below who were discussing this matter, the emperor's expression did not change at all. He just observed everyone quietly. With the previous example of Yixiu, he would never allow his harem to have any connection with the previous dynasty again.
"What you, my dear ministers, have said is indeed what I have been thinking. There is no need to say anything more. I will consider it carefully. If there is nothing else, I will withdraw from the court."
Even if he had already made up his mind, he would not show it at this time. Every one of these people wanted to dig a piece of flesh out of him.
In the following days, the emperor did not make any clear statement about the queen's appointment. He just asked the Fourth Prince to go to the Yangxin Palace every day. Nian Shilan and Zhen Huan were not too anxious about this arrangement.
Now that there are no annoying people in the harem, they live happily every day. As for the position of empress that the emperor has always valued, it is not something that they must have.
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