Chapter 199 Queen, it’s time to show your filial piety
Queen Lu’s eyes were dark: “Xie Tianyu won’t tell.”
The wind blew in from outside the window, and the lights in the room swayed. Surrounded by the water-red brocade quilt, the usually dignified and virtuous Queen Lu was hidden in the shadows, looking eerie and ghostly.
When Jinzhi was looked at by her eyes, her previous panic gradually dissipated. Even though her hands and feet were still a little cold, she had calmed down.
Thinking back to all the years when the Queen had never made a mistake, and that Prince Cheng was also in the Queen's control, and that the Queen had even schemed against him once, allowing the Lu family to help His Majesty defeat Prince Cheng and regain the throne, he still believed that the Queen was "infatuated" and "deeply in love" with him, and had not had a second bloodline for many years.
Even though he knew Xie Yin was not his biological son, he still kept him by his side. Even though he knew his own blood could not recognize him, he was still willing to "guard" the Empress...
Jinzhi gradually calmed down: "Then, Madam, what should we do next?"
"Nothing."
Empress Lu reached out to smooth her long hair, her fingertips slender and white, like a young girl's soft fingers: "The affairs of Prince Cheng's Mansion have nothing to do with the harem. I am the Empress, and there is no need for me to do anything I shouldn't do."
"If Xiao Yan wants to investigate Xie Yin's background, he must produce evidence. As long as Xie Tianyu doesn't speak, no one will ever know about the past. Even if they do find out, Xie Yin will at most lose his Rong family bloodline, and no one will suspect he's not of royal blood."
It is simply impossible to do anything under the noses of Xiao Yan and those tyrants in the Privy Council. Xie Tianyu is branded as a treasonous person and everyone in the capital is watching him.
At this time, whether you contact him or want to do anything, it is too easy for others to find fault with you. Any mistake will lead to you falling into the trap.
Do less and make fewer mistakes; do nothing and make no mistakes.
As for Xie Tianyu...
She had left herself a way out since she was young and had never married. When she was "forced" to marry Emperor An, the "deep affection" she had built up over the years, and the obsession that was full of madness and would not allow him to be in love with others, were enough to make him keep his mouth shut.
Even if it was just for his only blood, Xie Tianyu would not betray her.
Empress Lu said, "We don't need to do anything now. We just need to watch quietly. We can find a way to exonerate him from the Imperial Clan Temple later."
Jinzhi whispered, "I understand."
Empress Lu frowned and asked, "Is there any news about the people who stayed with the Grand Empress Dowager?"
Jinzhi shook her head. "No, those who serve the Grand Empress Dowager are all appointed by His Majesty. Others cannot enter the inner hall. Even if they find a chance to sneak in, there are usually other people guarding nearby. There is no chance to avoid others searching the Grand Empress Dowager's palace. Your Majesty, do you think that thing is not with the Grand Empress Dowager?"
Empress Lu's eyes were cold and gloomy. "The people that Crown Prince Li trusted the most during his lifetime, and who were most likely to have that thing, were only the Grand Empress Dowager and the Rong family. When Crown Prince Li was in trouble, that thing disappeared. If it's not in the Grand Empress Dowager's hands, then it must be in the Rong family's hands."
After Rong Qian'an's death, the Rong family's property was divided into two. If that thing was really given to Rong Qian'an, it would definitely fall into the hands of the Rong sisters later.
After Rong Yue married into Prince Cheng's Mansion, her share of the dowry had already been searched and found to be unresolved, except for Rong Zhen's share which was still in Song Tangning's hands.
Queen Lu originally wanted to use the engagement between Lu Zhinian and Song Tangning to marry Rong Zhen into the Lu family legitimately. Not only could she gain access to the Rong family's connections for her son, but she could also quietly investigate the "dowry" belonging to Rong Zhen in Song Tangning's hands. If she could find that thing, she could take it back without making a fuss. However, who knew that something went wrong in the Lu family.
It was obvious that they should have gotten married in just half a year, but that fool Lu Zhinian had wasted her years of planning.
"Song Tangning can't move for a while. Xiao Yan is protecting her. If we're not careful, it might arouse suspicion. Let's first try to get the Empress Dowager to say something."
The old guy is now very confused. He talks about the past all the time and goes crazy from time to time.
Empress Lu's face showed some sinisterness, and she said to Jinzhi, "After daybreak, you come with me to the Grand Empress Dowager's palace. Find an opportunity to mention Xie Tianzhao's matter away from others and see if you can get something useful out of her. If that doesn't work, find a way to drive her crazy."
If the Empress Dowager suddenly falls ill, her palace will be in chaos. With people coming and going, there will naturally be an opportunity to search her back palace.
There have been frequent incidents in the capital recently, which made Queen Lu particularly uneasy. The imprisonment of Prince Cheng after the Lu family made her already uneasy heart vaguely aware of a hint of crisis.
That year, she accidentally learned that the thing left by Prince Li could actually control the army and even threaten the imperial power. Rong Zhen and his wife died because of this.
If she could get that thing, even if Emperor An disliked the Fourth Prince, even if the Lu family and Prince Cheng's Mansion were gone, the throne would only belong to her son.
"Remind the Fourth Prince more these days, tell him not to do anything he shouldn't do, and not to interfere in the Lu family's affairs. He doesn't need to cut off contact with the Lu family, but he shouldn't get too close. Let him attend court and do his job well, and don't interfere in other matters."
"yes."
The master and servant were shocked for a moment, and only after they explained everything did the hall become quiet.
After Jinzhi's earlier panic dissipated, she looked at Empress Lu's somewhat tired face and whispered, "Your Majesty, it's still early. Would you like to sleep a little longer?"
Empress Lu had a severe headache: "I will take a short nap. Wake me up at dawn and go pay my respects to the Grand Empress Dowager."
Jinzhi carefully helped Queen Lu lie down, and after she leaned against the pillow, she reached out and gently massaged her forehead and the area under her eyebrows. The warm hands relaxed the tension between Queen Lu's brows.
She was silent as if asleep, even her breathing had become smooth. But after a long while, she closed her eyes and said softly, "Jinzhi, do you feel that there have been too many things going on in the capital lately, as if there is a hand stirring things up in the dark?"
Starting from the Mansion of Duke Song, to Lu Zhinian, the Lu family, and then to the Mansion of Prince Cheng, it seemed as if someone was pushing things forward step by step.
Jinzhi paused, "Madam, are you talking about Miss Song?"
"Not her."
Empress Lu opened her eyes and said, "Song Tangning doesn't have the ability, nor does she have the means to stir up trouble in the capital to this extent."
But everything that happened during this period was indeed related to her, and the source of everything was her return from the mountain. But if it wasn't Song Tangning, who else could it be?
Queen Lu narrowed her eyes and thought carefully about the people around Song Tangning. After a moment, a cold and stern face suddenly flashed through her mind.
She frowned slightly.
Could it be that eunuch?
But why did he do all this? Was it just to wipe out the noble families and please Emperor An?
"Empress?" Jinzhi lowered her head.
Queen Lu closed her eyes again: "Nothing."
Her breathing became heavier again, as if she had fallen asleep, but her mind was still thinking about Xiao Yan. Seeing this, Jinzhi slowed down her movements and continued to rub her head.
After dawn, the morning light spread across the palace walls. Empress Lu combed her hair and led Jinzhi to the palace of the Grand Empress Dowager. All the way, she was thinking about how to get information from the crazy old man. But when she arrived at the palace gate, she was told that the Grand Empress Dowager was no longer in the palace.
Empress Lu was shocked: "You said the Grand Empress Dowager left the palace?"
The palace maid bowed her head and said, "Recently, the ladies of the various palaces have been frequently visiting Shou'an Palace. The Grand Empress Dowager has been repeatedly disturbed, and her condition has worsened. When His Majesty learned of this, he ordered the Grand Empress Dowager to be moved to the Imperial Manor on the outskirts of the city for rest and recuperation. She was escorted out of the palace before dawn."
He paused, looked up at Queen Lu:
"Your Majesty is grateful for the Empress's filial piety in personally tending to her illness, and also feels that you are a role model for the palace, virtuous and gentle. Although the Grand Empress Dowager has left the palace, your filial piety must not cease."
"Your Majesty has instructed me to place scriptures in the Buddhist hall of Shou'an Palace. Your Majesty, please go in and copy the text. I will then have someone take it to the Imperial Estate and give it to the Grand Empress Dowager. This will surely make the people of the world appreciate your sincerity and filial piety."
“…”
Empress Lu, who had already come up empty-handed, looked grim: "Did His Majesty say that?"
"I dare not speak nonsense."
The palace maid was not afraid of being exposed by Empress Lu at all. She was sure that Empress Lu would not be able to lose face and not be the virtuous, gentle, sincere and filial person, and she did not dare to confront Emperor An.
Besides, what would happen even if they confronted each other? Emperor An was extremely fed up with the Lu family at this moment.
He lowered his eyes to hide the sarcasm in them, and bowed respectfully towards Empress Lu, who had been frequently bothering the Grand Empress Dowager. "The paper and ink are ready in the Buddhist hall. Your Majesty, it's time to fulfill your filial duties."
Queen Lu's face turned pale and blue, and she wished she could slap him in the face.
But she could only force a smile as she bowed respectfully to the man. After a long while, she gritted her teeth and was supported by Jinzhi as she walked through the gate of Shou'an Palace.
That old immortal!!
Why didn't he just die of illness in the palace? !
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