Shen Nian'an glared at the little girl and signaled her not to talk nonsense. Over there, Zhou Beichen sighed softly, walked to the bed, and touched Zhou Zhaonuan's head.
"In the past, I did it myself, but today I'm asking someone else to do it. Although it's common to trust people when you employ them, I'm a little worried about Yingpin because of her carefree nature and her loose mouth."
Shen Nian'an stepped forward with a serious face to persuade, "Yingpin may be confused about small matters, but she will never be careless in big matters. When faced with life and death, who wouldn't try their best? Yingpin is the same. Yingpin is also afraid of death. Wasn't it proved just now? If the emperor died, she would have no one to rely on. I believe that Yingpin will definitely do her job well."
Even after Shen Nian'an said this, Zhou Beichen finally relaxed his brows. "Well, since I can't show up, I can only hope that Yingpin is more reliable. Otherwise, I really feel like I have raised a daughter."
Shen Nian’an: “…”
How can you compare a concubine to a daughter? What kind of talk is that? It's probably bullshit.
On the other side, Li'an Palace.
Looking at the dishes brought up by the palace maids, such as the duck in pickled sauce and the braised shredded vegetables in oil, Yingpin reluctantly sat down on the chair after Imperial Noble Consort Li kept refusing.
"Come, sister, try my food and see if it suits your taste."
Imperial Noble Concubine Li picked up a piece of duck meat for Yingpin, acting like a good sister. Yingpin blinked her eyes. Since they were so hospitable, it would be a waste for her not to eat it. Even if it was the Hongmen Banquet, she had already come here, so how could she come for nothing?
Yingpin ate without saying a word and watched the dishes falling rapidly.
Imperial Noble Consort Li: “…”
This woman must be a pig-headed person. How can she eat so much? I don’t know how the emperor could have the heart to do that to her. She looked at Yingpin with disgust, but when Yingpin looked up, she had already hidden her disgust well.
"Sister, have some tea!"
Is there any other treatment like this? Suspiciously taking the teacup handed to her by Imperial Noble Consort Li, Yingpin took a sip and let out a long sigh. It seemed that this treatment was so good. Today, Imperial Noble Consort Li might have something to ask her. Yingpin closed her eyes, intending to remain unchanged in the face of all changes.
"I wonder how your meal is going, sister?"
Imperial Noble Consort Li smiled as she approached Concubine Ying and said with concern, "The food is delicious. I must say, Your Majesty, the food cooked in your small palace kitchen is much better than what I cook in mine."
Hearing this, the corners of Imperial Noble Consort Li's mouth kept curling up, "Of course, the chef in this small kitchen was given to me by the Emperor when I was pregnant that year."
A trace of sadness flashed in Concubine Li's eyes. No matter what, she didn't want Zhou Beichen to die, but since he was dead, she was not particularly sad.
The carefree Yingpin didn't notice the hint of sadness that flashed across the face of Imperial Noble Consort Li at all. After finishing the cup of tea, Yingpin just raised her head and saw Imperial Noble Consort Li staring at her with a heavy face.
Two big words immediately appeared in Yingpin's mind: It's over, it's over. Imperial Noble Concubine Li is coming with her purpose.
"Sister, I have something to ask of you today."
Yingpin pushed away the hand of Imperial Noble Concubine Li that was tightly grasping her fingers without leaving a trace. Her breathing became a little rapid, and she looked anxious for Imperial Noble Concubine Li.
"What's up?"
Imperial Noble Consort Li barely thought before blurting out, "Sister, you don't know, the Emperor has been assassinated and has passed away. I heard his body will be brought back tomorrow."
After saying this, Imperial Noble Consort Li quietly observed Concubine Ying's expression.
Yingpin's expression first turned from shock to horror, and finally to sadness and fear. Her eyes were full of disbelief. At the same time, she held Concubine Li's hand and asked worriedly.
"Your Majesty, has the Emperor truly...passed away?"
Yingpin's voice was trembling and her body was almost shaking. Imperial Noble Consort Li smiled secretly in her heart and took Yingpin into her arms to comfort her.
"Yes, Sister Yingpin, the Emperor... has passed away. When I first heard the news, I was as confused as you are. But slowly, I came to my senses. Everyone is born, grows old, gets sick, and dies, and the Emperor is no exception. It's fine for me, but it's a pity that concubines like you who have never given birth will be buried alive in the imperial mausoleum with the Emperor."
Imperial Noble Consort Li secretly observed Concubine Ying's expression and deliberately bit on the word "live burial".
Yingpin shrank her neck, obviously she was terrified. Imperial Noble Concubine Li took advantage of the situation and continued to put pressure on Yingpin.
"However, Sister Yingpin, since you don't have any children in the harem, and your father holds half of the tiger talisman, why don't you persuade your father to stop supporting Prince Yan and support Yu'er instead?"
"When the time comes, as long as I become the Queen Mother, I will definitely find a way to protect you. Don't worry, I will never let you be buried alive."
Yingpin blinked her eyes and said, "Look, Concubine Li's brain is so smart," she stammered.
"Okay, okay. For my own sake and for the sake of your majesty's plan, I am willing to give it a try. I will find an opportunity to persuade my father. I believe that my daughter's life must take precedence over everything else."
Imperial Noble Consort Li smiled broadly, a rare moment. "Before, I was worried you wouldn't agree. Now that you agree, that's great. However, sister, we don't have much time now. We have to find a way to get you to meet your father as soon as possible."
Yingpin smiled awkwardly again. She spoke in a roundabout way and almost let the cat out of the bag from time to time. If she hadn't thought about the future and tried her best to restrain herself, who knows what Yingpin's mouth would say.
"Okay, okay, then I'll wait for my sister."
When Imperial Noble Consort Li reached the door, her face still solemn, "Sister, you must think carefully about what to say."
Yingpin nodded repeatedly, and Imperial Noble Concubine Li shook her head at the door. No matter what, she had tried her best. Now it all depended on how Yingpin would do.
That night, Imperial Noble Consort Li found an excuse that Concubine Ying had been pregnant for more than two months and let Concubine Ying's father and mother enter the palace.
Yingpin's father is a small general who started from the bottom as a fireman. He is a very down-to-earth person. If he can really be used by his father, he will definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort in the future.
That day, no one knew what Yingpin said to her father and mother. Everyone only knew that the candles in the side hall of Li'an Palace were not lit until the second half of the night, and then Imperial Noble Concubine Li had someone send Ying Congzhi out.
The next day.
The news that Zhou Beichen was executed by an assassin spread throughout the palace. For a time, the whole country mourned and there was crying inside and outside the palace. Of course, the ones who cried the most sadly were the concubines who had never given birth. They were not crying for the emperor, but for themselves. They had to be buried with the emperor at such a young age. It was really cruel.
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