Chapter 215 Lin Changzai is missing
Liang Chengbi's expression was dazed, his eyes rolling around in his sockets like dead fish. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "By... the Empress's decree? Why is there an Empress in the palace?"
Bai Yuxin smiled slightly, "Today at the court, the emperor has appointed the imperial concubine as the empress."
Liang Chengbi was speechless for a moment, stunned for a moment, then suddenly became manic, her brows ferocious, and she screamed, "Queen?! How can she, a dying person, be the queen?! I, this palace, am the real queen!"
She roared at the top of her lungs, then suddenly ran out.
The eunuchs guarding outside the door were well prepared. When they saw her running out of the house, they rushed over and pressed her to the ground. They took out the ropes they had prepared and tied Liang Chengbi up like a pig or sheep waiting to be slaughtered in the market. There was no trace of the aura of the former Concubine Liang.
The palace maid escorted her inside and made her kneel before the two men.
Liang Chengbi looked at the two people in front of her who had been bullied by her in the past. How could she be willing to kneel before them? She struggled in every possible way, her face twisted like a mad woman, and she cursed endlessly.
"That bitch Meng has been the emperor for seven years without any children. She's just a hen that can't lay eggs. How can she be the empress?!"
Ren Shuyi looked at her, her thin, curved eyebrows raised, and she whispered to Bai Yuxin, "Is she crazy?"
Bai Yuxin smiled and said, "This Liang must have been locked up for too long, so her mind is a little unclear." Then she turned around and gestured, "Someone, come and wake her up."
The palace maid standing behind immediately stepped forward, picked up a bucket of cold water and poured it over, instantly turning Liang Chengbi into a drowned rat.
Liang Chengbi was dripping with water from her hair to her heels. She seemed to have suddenly come to her senses. She glared at the two of them and scolded, "Bai, I am Concubine Liang. You are so ruthless! How dare you commit such a treasonous act? Do you want to be sent to the cold palace?!"
Bai Yuxin smiled faintly and said, "Liang, didn't you understand the decree just read out by the virtuous concubine? By the Empress's decree, Liang is demoted to a commoner and taken to the Ministry of Punishment for strict interrogation! Liang Chengbi, you are no longer the virtuous concubine Liang." As she spoke, she stepped forward and suddenly grasped Liang Chengbi's jaw, forcing her head up. Looking directly into her eyes, her gaze cold and clear, she said, "Liang, listen carefully. Today, at court, the Emperor has announced to the world that Sister Meng is the Empress. Sister Meng is now the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and it is not something a sinner like you can defame with your words. Be careful with your mouth, or you'll end up in the Ministry of Punishment and suffer the pain of having your tongue pulled out."
Bai Yuxin's gaze was like a sharp blade, piercing Liang Chengbi's heart. When he heard her mention the three words "Ministry of Punishment", Liang Chengbi shuddered when he thought of the cruel torture methods that were rumored in the past in that place nicknamed the living underworld.
She trembled uncontrollably, her voice trembling, "No... Impossible. Your Majesty, Your Majesty would never depose me... Nor would he allow me to go to a place like that... I, I have served Your Majesty since the time I was in the Crown Prince's residence. My father was the Prime Minister of the current dynasty, a veteran of two dynasties! I am very different from the daughters of impoverished families like you!"
"Oh, I almost forgot."
Bai Yuxin raised an eyebrow as if suddenly realizing something, and sneered, "Liang, I forgot to tell you. The court was particularly lively today. Your father rebelled in court, forcing the emperor to abdicate. He has now been stripped of his official position and imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice, awaiting trial. The Liang Mansion has been sealed off. Now, there is no Prime Minister Liang or Concubine Liang in this world, only the criminal Liang."
To Liang Chengbi, these words were like a bolt of lightning, and she was unable to recover for a long time.
Her face was as pale as paper, and her dry lips trembled constantly. "No... this is absolutely not... you are lying..."
The Liang family was so big, with founding heroes, prime ministers of two dynasties, and countless disciples who entered the court as officials. How could it just disappear like that?!
Bai Yuxin let go and looked at Liang Chengbi slumped on the ground. A smile spread across her fair, jade-like face. "Liang, I have another piece of good news to tell you. The Empress is over three months pregnant. Our Great Zhou dynasty will have a successor."
Meng Yan is three months pregnant? !
How could this happen!
Wasn't she dying of illness in Shanghe Garden?!
A flash of inspiration suddenly exploded in Liang Chengbi's heart, and she immediately understood something.
This is a trap set up for her Liang family by the Queen Mother, the Emperor, and even Meng Yan!
From the very beginning, her every move was under their control.
They looked down at her, just like the clowns on the stage, singing and performing their own ridiculous plays.
In an instant, Liang Chengbi felt as if he had lost all his strength, as if all the bones and muscles in his body had been pulled out. He collapsed limply to the ground, no longer having the energy to fight or resist.
Two tears rolled down her face and fell onto the dusty carpet.
She was only in her twenties. In other families, she would be in the prime of her youth, with a harmonious marriage and the opportunity to raise children. However, she had become an abandoned woman hated by her husband.
Lu Haozhi had never even glanced at her. What had she done wrong? She was just trying to please him.
What does Liang Chengbi’s life mean?
Bai Yuxin and Ren Shuyi ordered the eunuchs to take Liang Chengbi away, and ordered people to seal off the Yiku Palace before they came out together.
It was a beautiful spring day in March, and both of them wanted to take a walk, so they ordered the sedan chair to follow behind, and they strolled side by side along the long street.
The two of them were silent for a long while. Ren Shuyi spoke first, "The Emperor just announced his decree today, and the Empress should still be in Shoukang Palace talking to the Empress Dowager. Since you have nothing to do this day, how about Noble Bai come and sit with me?"
Bai Yuxin agreed without hesitation and thanked the invitation with a smile.
Soon, they arrived at Jingyang Palace. Ren Shuyi led Bai Yuxin into the main room and asked the palace maid to serve tea.
The two sat down and chatted for a while before Ren Shuyi smiled faintly, "Now that the Central Empress has been decided, the six palaces will have their mistresses. I wonder what Noble Lady Bai's plans are?"
Bai Yuxin was sipping tea from a doucai porcelain green plum tea bowl. Hearing her question, she looked up and smiled, "I've already made up my mind. When Your Majesty takes the throne as the Empress, I'll serve as a female official in the Central Palace Office, dedicating my life to the Empress. I've already mentioned this to Your Majesty the Virtuous Consort. Why are you asking again?"
Ren Shuyi looked at her delicate features, considered her age, and couldn't help but sigh. "Earlier, when the Queen couldn't come out, I thought you were just making that excuse to avoid suspicion. I never thought...it turns out you actually really intended to do that."
Bai Yuxin put down the tea bowl in her hand and smiled. "I don't blame the Empress for having such thoughts. This is the Imperial Palace after all, and you and I are concubines after all. However, during this time with the Empress, I have learned many truths. Life is full of possibilities, so why should we be bound by the limitations of love and status?" At this point, she suddenly lowered her eyebrows and smiled softly, and said in a very low voice, "A hundred years from now, if my name is recorded in the history books, I will be satisfied."
Ren Shuyi couldn't help but take a deep breath, staring at Bai Yuxin intently. After a moment, she said softly, "I didn't expect you to be so young, yet have such ambitions."
Bai Yuxin smiled briefly, then suddenly asked, "Then I wonder what plans your Majesty, the Virtuous Concubine, has for the future?"
Ren Shuyi saw her piercing eyes and was afraid to meet theirs. She lowered her brows, smiled, and sighed, "This palace...what else can I plan? I was a virtuous concubine in the past, and from now on I'll just be a 'leisure' concubine. Your Excellency, don't worry. The Emperor has favored the Empress for seven years now, and I'm not the foolish person who can't see the situation clearly. This isn't so bad either. Here, I have a position of respect, and my mother's family is also glorious and respectable. Living a leisurely life in the palace might not be worse than marrying someone I don't like and having to contend with the concubines and maids in the harem."
At this point, she continued, "I'm quite curious. Why is your Excellency so loyal to the Empress? Alliances are not uncommon in this palace. I know the Empress has taken good care of you since you entered the palace, but... treating her like you do is truly rare. You seem to have never considered yourself."
Bai Yuxin was speechless for a moment, then smiled and said, "Have you ever heard, Your Majesty, that a man will die for his true friend? Since I entered the palace, Sister has always treated me with sincerity, treating me as a human being, not a pawn to gain favor. Moreover, Sister has never concealed many confidential matters from me. She trusts me so much, and I repay her with all my sincerity."
Ren Shuyi felt her heart tremble. Having lived in the imperial palace for a long time, she was used to seeing the fighting and killing between women. This kind of friendship was truly more precious than gold.
A gentleman will die for his friend, and a woman can also have such love and loyalty.
The two exchanged a few words when a palace attendant suddenly rushed in and reported, "My two masters, Concubine Lin is missing!"
The two of them changed color and asked in unison, "What do you mean she disappeared? How could a concubine just disappear?!"
The palace servant, looking anxious, replied, "My two masters, after Liang was imprisoned, the Ministry of Punishment was ordered to arrest Liang's followers. Those like Shen and Chang who had previously supported Liang have all been taken to the Ministry of Punishment. However, when the eunuchs went to Chengqian Palace, they found only a few maids and eunuchs in charge of cleaning. Concubine Lin was nowhere to be seen."
Ren Shuyi frowned and scolded, "Did she go out for a walk? Have you looked everywhere?"
The man replied, "Your Majesty, we've searched everywhere. We've searched the six palaces, the imperial gardens, Wenyuan Pavilion, Changyin Pavilion, the five north and south buildings, and even the corner towers. But Concubine Lin is missing. Not only Concubine Lin, but her chief maid, Xiuzhi, is missing too."
Bai Yuxin said, "This is ridiculous. Could the concubines in the harem be lost like this? Look for them in the ponds, wells, and storage rooms everywhere."
The man followed his instructions and left. Ren Shuyi then said, "This matter is of great importance. We must report it to the Queen immediately."
Bai Yuxin pondered for a moment and said, "The Empress is pregnant, so we shouldn't disturb her easily. Let's wait until the news is confirmed before making any plans."
Seeing that she was calm and composed, Ren Shuyi nodded in agreement.
Meng Yan rode on a sedan chair and headed all the way to Shoukang Palace.
The emperor's decree to crown her as queen has been announced to the world, and everyone in the palace now knows that she is the queen of the Great Zhou and the mistress of the harem.
As he walked along, everyone he met knelt down in respect, and no one dared to look up.
Everyone sighed that after seven years of the emperor's favor, the crown finally fell on her head.
Meng Yan hadn't left Tishun Hall for a while. Today, while walking outside, she looked up at the clear sky, the red walls on both sides, and the rows of buildings in the distance, and her heart was suddenly refreshed.
Looking down at the palace maids following her, Ruizhu and Yunxiang, they had become much more stable than before, no longer as impetuous as they were back then, but their eyes still revealed a spirited look.
She smiled slightly and leaned back in her chair.
After a while, they arrived outside Shoukang Palace.
The head maid, Zang Xiu, had already received the news and was waiting at the door. When she saw her arrive, she hurried forward and bowed down, "Your servant greets the Empress."
Meng Yan knew that her status was extraordinary. Even the Emperor Lu Haozhi treated her as an elder. He quickly helped her up and said with a smile, "Aunt, please get up quickly! Is the Empress Dowager free?"
Zang Xiu smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager has prepared tea and snacks and is waiting for you." Then she added, "The Concubine Dowager is here too."
Meng Yan understood, smiled back, and followed Zang Xiu inside.
When I entered the main hall, I saw Empress Dowager Jiang in formal attire, sitting at the top of the table.
Sitting on the side below her was Concubine Xuanhe.
The old woman was wearing the imperial concubine's crown and robes today, but she looked unhappy, gloomy and extremely ugly.
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