Chapter 104: Spit in the Face
Zang Xiu was quite surprised when she heard the Empress Dowager's words. "Ah, Empress Dowager, what you said is really unusual. Everyone says that the Emperor spoiled the Imperial Concubine, making her arrogant and domineering. How come you say that it is the Empress who spoiled the Emperor?"
Empress Dowager Jiang chuckled softly and said slowly, "Everyone thinks so, but in reality, Yan'er has been throwing her heart and soul into him unconditionally over the years, and the Emperor has become too accustomed to it. I don't know what Yan'er is angry about this time, but I'm sure the fault lies with the Emperor. All men in the world are the same, and the Emperor is no exception. He's been spoiled by women and has developed some arrogance. He always thinks that no matter what, he just needs to be careful and coax her. How can such a thing be so easy!"
Zang Xiu listened quietly. Perhaps only the Queen Mother in the world would dare to say such words.
Empress Dowager Jiang muttered for a long time, then suddenly ordered, "There are two bottles of pills in the mahogany box in the inner room. Go and get them for me."
Zang Xiu went into the inner room as she was told. After half a day, she came out with two maroon porcelain bottles.
Empress Dowager Jiang took it in her hand, pulled out the cork, and peered inside. She nodded and said, "It's worthy of being something left by Old Ning. After so many years, it hasn't changed at all. Keep it carefully and don't mix it with other medicines." After giving some instructions, she closed her eyes and rested for a moment, then frowned and asked, "Just now, Rong An said that there was a Concubine Lin who caused discord between the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine?"
Zang Xiu replied, "Your Majesty, you heard correctly. That's exactly what happened."
Empress Dowager Jiang sneered, "She must be a beauty to have been able to instigate discord between Hao'er and Yan'er. Just now, when all the concubines came to pay their respects, how could I not have remembered such a person?"
Meng Yan's long-term childlessness did indeed make her unhappy, but that didn't mean she was happy to see someone instigate discord between the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine.
Empress Dowager Jiang herself had been empress for many years, and the pain she endured when Concubine Li was favored was still vivid in her mind. Meng Yan was her chosen future empress, and she naturally didn't want her to face the same situation as herself.
Zang Xiu looked at the Empress Dowager's expression and replied softly, "Your Majesty, it's the one with the apricot blossom tongcao hairpin and the emerald green double-breasted shirt. She was standing further back, so Your Majesty probably didn't notice her."
Empress Dowager Jiang thought for a long moment before finally understanding. "So it's that one. She's dressed simply, but I wonder if she's frugal or if she's just being disrespectful to an old woman like me. I've been away from the palace for months, and all the concubines are overjoyed and dressed up. She's dressed like that. Did the Imperial Household Department deduct her allowance? And who's she showing off with such a sad face? I despise such a vixen!"
Her words actually wronged Lin Yanrong.
She was born with a pair of tearful eyes and a sad brow, and she always had this sad face when she met anyone. However, Empress Dowager Jiang had already disliked her, and she was not in a good mood when she thought of her.
Zang Xiu listened and whispered, "Your Majesty, this Concubine Lin is the niece of the Dowager Concubine, the youngest daughter of the Prince of Nanping. When the selection was held, it was the Dowager Concubine who discussed with you and decided to keep her nameplate."
Empress Dowager Jiang frowned slightly. "This Lin family is truly declining with each generation. Now they've actually introduced someone like this..."
Before he finished speaking, a palace servant came in to announce, "Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, Consort Xuanhe and Consort Lin are here to pay their respects to her."
Empress Dowager Jiang remained silent, then smiled and said, "Okay," then she sat up straight.
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the sound of a skirt dragging on the ground outside, and sure enough, he saw Concubine Xuanhe leading a slender woman into the room.
The Concubine Dowager first paid her respects to the Queen Mother, and Lin Yanrong also paid her respects.
Empress Dowager Jiang acted as if she had not seen anything. She was only concerned with asking the palace maids and Concubine Xuanhe to find seats, and then she started to greet her, without any intention of letting Lin Yanrong get up.
Lin Yanrong was very polite. After only an incense stick's time, she felt her waist and legs were sore and sweat was beading on her forehead.
Before she traveled through time, she was a otaku who never exercised. Now her body was too weak to withstand such discipline.
Yes, Empress Dowager Jiang was punishing her, Lin Yanrong could feel it.
But why was this happening? The Queen Mother had just returned to the palace, so how had he offended her?
In the book... in the book, it says that the Queen Mother will fall in love with me at first sight, right?
Now, Lin Yanrong began to wonder if she had really traveled into that novel. How could these things be so different from what was written in the book?
Concubine Xuanhe glanced at Lin Yanrong from time to time and saw that her body was shaking slightly. It was obvious that she could not hold on any longer. She couldn't help but sigh in her heart: It's really like a piece of mud that can't be helped!
At that moment, she could only smile and say to Empress Dowager Jiang, "Empress Dowager, we are talking like sisters, but we forgot that this girl is still downstairs being polite. Let her get up first."
Having said that, seeing that Empress Dowager Jiang did not comment, he took the initiative to ask Lin Yanrong to stand up.
Lin Yanrong had been kneeling for a long time. When she stood up suddenly, she felt dizzy and her body swayed, and she almost fell down. Fortunately, a palace maid supported her, so she avoided embarrassment on the spot.
Empress Dowager Jiang glanced at her and laughed, "With a body like this, how can you bear the heavy burden of bearing children for the Emperor?"
Lin Yanrong blushed and replied softly, "The Empress Dowager is teaching me this, and I...I understand."
Empress Dowager Jiang continued, "Teach you a lesson? I never taught you a lesson. I was just saying something idle. There's no need to act so pitiful, as if someone had bullied you."
These words not only made Lin Yanrong, who was being scolded, feel ashamed, but even Concubine Xuanhe felt a little embarrassed.
Concubine Xuanhe's expression stiffened slightly, and she forced a smile. "This girl is still young, and the Empress Dowager needs to polish her more."
Empress Dowager Jiang said sternly, "Well, now that you've entered the palace, remember that you're no different from the other concubines. I don't care what your background is or who your relatives are. You're just a maid in the palace, so keep your duties. I haven't even returned to the palace yet, but I've heard you've caused a lot of trouble. The emperor has already made a decision on the past, so I won't pursue it any further. If I hear about you causing trouble again in the future, don't blame me for being intolerant."
After saying this, she softened her tone. "At the end of last year, Jiangnan sent a batch of fabrics to the palace. They're all in the storehouse. Ask a palace maid to accompany you and pick out two pieces. Just consider it my gift to you. Once you've picked, you can leave. There's no need to come back to express your gratitude."
Lin Yanrong felt extremely humiliated, but in front of the woman with the most noble status in the harem of the Great Zhou Dynasty, she could only endure it and swallow her pride.
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