Chapter 153 Today’s Humiliation
Xiao Chenglan carried Jiang Yingli all the way back to Changyang Palace.
His shoulders were broad and strong, and he walked steadily. Jiang Yingli lay on his back and yawned after talking for a while.
By the time we arrived at Changyang Palace, Jiang Yingli had already fallen asleep.
After entering the outer hall, Lian Qiao and Qiu Xia hurriedly helped Jiang Yingli steady herself, and Jiang Yingli opened her eyes dazedly.
There was a ground dragon in the hall, and Xiao Chenglan asked Qiuxia to take off Jiang Yingli's thick fur coat.
Jiang Yingli was in a daze and was very clingy. She just took off the fox fur and clung to Xiao Chenglan again, asking for a hug.
"You're so clingy." Xiao Chenglan said this, but his face showed a very enjoyable smile. He sat down on the chair, put his arm across Yingli's waist, and pulled her to sit on his lap.
Jiang Yingli lay boneless in his warm and broad arms.
There was a tray on the table, containing things Xiao Chenglan had prepared long ago.
A white jade comb with a soft texture.
Jiang Yingli knew what he was going to do, so she sat up straighter, leaned on his shoulder, and let Xiao Chenglan take off her hairpins and rings.
For four New Years in the palace, His Majesty had combed her hair every year. Now that she had entered the palace, His Majesty had not abandoned this tradition.
Jiang Yingli really liked His Majesty combing her hair. His Majesty's movements were very gentle and slow, as if he was treating a fragile treasure.
Jiang Yingli had this feeling when His Majesty combed her hair for the first time. Her hair was held in His Majesty's palm, making her feel cherished.
After taking off the hairpins and rings, Jiang Yingli went to get a small round stool, placed it between Xiao Chenglan's legs, sat on it obediently, and then leaned on Xiao Chenglan's knees.
Xiao Chenglan lifted her hair with ease and held it in his palm.
Comb your hair with a white jade comb all the way to the end, and your eyebrows will be at the same level every year.
In addition to the white jade comb, there was also something wrapped in red cloth on the tray.
Xiao Chenglan shook it in his hand, then placed it on Jiang Yingli's forehead: "Here, put it under your pillow later."
Jiang Yingli accepted the gift, feeling both happy and shy. "This year, I still have money to ward off evil spirits."
This is usually given to children to help them grow up healthily in the coming years.
She is already twenty years old.
Xiao Chenglan touched her head and smiled gently, "I know you are not a child anymore, but I still hope you are safe in the coming year."
Jiang Yingli accepted it with peace of mind. Although she was not short of money, she still wanted to open it and see how much was inside, but was stopped by Xiao Chenglan.
"I just said you're not a child anymore. Even children can resist tearing things apart, so why are you so curious? I'm going to suppress the evil spirit tonight, and you can watch tomorrow."
"Okay then." Jiang Yingli suppressed her curiosity and put the talisman money away carefully.
Xiao Chenglan held Jiang Yingli's face lovingly and kissed her between the eyebrows.
The wind and snow started to blow outside again, but inside the palace there was peace and happiness that would not be disturbed by the wind and snow.
**
After an eight-day break, Xiao Chenglan resumed his duties. On the first day, he made pacifying the southwest a top priority.
Gu Zheng, the father of Gu Guiren in the palace, has been guarding the southwest for many years and is very familiar with the southwestern battlefield. Xiao Chenglan appointed him as the commander-in-chief and personally wrote a letter to officially send troops to the southwest.
On the 20th day of the first lunar month, one year after Xiao Chenglan ascended the throne, the censors were urging Xiao Chenglan to participate in the selection.
Xiao Chenglan postponed the selection of concubines on the grounds that the war was urgent, and only asked the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to choose an auspicious day to invite the third daughter of the Xue family into the palace.
When the minister who was urging the selection heard that there was a new person entering the palace, he thought it was fine and put the selection on hold.
On the evening of the ninth day of the second lunar month, an imperial edict was delivered to Xue's residence.
Everyone in the Xue family went out to welcome the imperial edict.
The eunuch on the rice paper pointed out that the imperial edict was for Xue Ning, so Xue Ning knelt in the front.
Her back was straight and her expression was calm, but her eyes were full of fierceness ready to strike.
"The Emperor, by the grace of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: The Xue family has a daughter, gifted with natural beauty, virtuous and dignified, well-mannered and virtuous... Today, the Astronomical Observer has divined the fortunes of the astrological world, and the lucky star appears in the north, signifying the third daughter of the Xue family. This will bring victory in battle and prosperity to the nation. I am delighted and wish to take her into the Western Palace. However, the Astronomical Observer has warned that the lucky star must not set in the west, as this will diminish blessings and bring disaster. I am apprehensive, but the Empress Dowager, who cherishes her affection for her, misses her deeply even during her illness. I cannot help but worry about her health, and how much I have caused her to worry. After careful consideration, I now offer my condolences to the deceased spirit and appoint Daughter Xue as Consort Dowager. She will choose a date to reside in the Fukang Palace, to accompany the Empress Dowager for a long time and bring blessings to Daye. I decree this—"
After the imperial edict was read, there was complete silence in front of the Xue family's gate.
Even the smile on Xue Ning's face froze.
Named as the Queen Mother?
His Majesty said that he would take her into the palace as a concubine!
The late emperor has passed away for a year, and Your Majesty actually wants to take a concubine for him. How absurd!
Empress Dowager Xue is her aunt, yet she wants them to share the same husband!
Madman! The emperor is a madman!
He used astrology as an excuse, first saying that she could not enter the West Palace as a concubine, and then brought up the Queen Mother, saying that out of filial piety he had to let her enter the palace, so he made her the Queen Mother.
The key point is that, in front of everyone at the palace banquet that day, her aunt did say that she wanted her to enter the palace and stay by her side for a long time.
What a perfect rhetoric!
He did it on purpose to fight back against his aunt who used filial piety to force him to agree to take her into the palace at the palace banquet.
This man is so vicious!
Xue Ning couldn't help but tremble all over, and the unspeakable humiliation made her hands and feet cold.
But when the humiliation reached its extreme, her sanity quickly returned.
No, her goal was to enter the palace. As long as she could enter, nothing else mattered.
Today's shame will be repaid a hundredfold tomorrow!
"Miss Xue San, please accept the imperial edict quickly. Once you accept it, you will be the Empress Dowager. I am waiting to pay my respects to you."
Xue Shide suddenly stood up, his old face flushed, and pointed at the eunuch who announced the decree.
Just as he was about to speak, Xue Ning shouted, "Your Majesty, I accept your command! Thank you for your grace!"
Xue Shide immediately glared at Xue Ning.
After the eunuch left, Xue Shide still had not recovered from the shock of the incident with the Concubine Dowager.
He pointed at Xue Ning and cursed, "The emperor has humiliated my Xue family so much, and you actually accepted this order!"
Xue Ning looked back at Xue Shide indifferently and asked, "Does my father want his daughter to disobey his order?"
Xue Shide was speechless under the questioning, but he was furious. He turned around on the spot, gritting his teeth and looking towards the direction of the palace: "How dare you, you brat!"
Such a slap in the face of the Xue family!
"Father, don't be impatient. Since you are entering the palace, it doesn't matter whether you live in the West Palace or the South Palace. Whether you are a concubine or a concubine, it is only a temporary status. A little impatience will ruin a big plan. Father, my Xue family will wait for the future."
Xue Shide took a deep breath slowly. Looking at Xue Ning who was still calm and composed, his anger gradually subsided.
Yes, let’s wait for the future.
Today, the emperor can appoint Ning'er as the imperial concubine. When the power is transferred in the future, he will make his favorite concubine Jiang taste the humiliation she suffered today.
The news that Xue Ning was named the Grand Concubine reached Wanshou Palace the next day. The Queen Mother didn't react at first and kept asking:
"Ning'er will be entering the palace tomorrow? That's great. What rank will she be given? My Ning'er should be Zhaoyi at the very least."
Nanny Xia remained silent, finally kneeling down and cautiously looking at the Empress Dowager. Her tone was indescribable, "Your Majesty, the Third Miss... has been named Consort Dowager. She lives in Fukang Palace, next door to you. She recites scriptures and prays for the late Emperor every day..."
All the expressions on the Queen Mother's face froze. Her breathing became uneven, her eyes widened, and then she fainted and fell onto the bed.
"Her Majesty the Queen Mother! Her Majesty the Queen Mother!"
"Doctor, call the doctor!"
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