Chapter 27 Coming for You
A fierce look flashed in the young eunuch's eyes. He shook his head slightly and walked forward slowly.
Behind him, Lady Liang's voice suddenly became sharp, and the sound of a club echoed in front of the empty Baohua Palace.
The young eunuch squinted his eyes comfortably as Concubine Liang screamed.
What's wrong with being a eunuch? Just because you don't have the ability to be a noble person, it's not your turn to look down on eunuchs.
A eunuch can kill you!
After the ten beatings, there was no visible trace of the disease on Lady Liang except that her face was a little pale. However, she lay motionless on the bench, as if she was on the verge of death.
In the end, he was dragged away by two eunuchs and sent back to the palace.
After returning to her side hall, Concubine Liang finally seemed to catch her breath. She opened her mouth wide, her hands clenched into the quilt beside her, her eyes full of resentment.
Concubine Jia, Concubine Song, and the Emperor...
They are all harming her. Sooner or later, she will make them die miserably!
"Empress Dowager, go tell her that Concubine Jia and Concubine Song caused me to lose half my life. Go quickly!" Concubine Liang used her last bit of strength to shake the palace maid beside her desperately.
When the news reached Wanshou Palace, the Empress Dowager's expression did not change at all when the tragic plight of Concubine Liang was mentioned. She only asked a few simple questions.
"Is your face okay?"
"Reporting to the Queen Mother, the maidservant beside Concubine Liang said that the wound on her face was superficial, and the more serious injuries were on her knees and hips. She could hardly move."
The Queen Mother was not interested. "That's enough. As long as her face is still useful, I'll send her a box of bird's nest and tell her that I love her and ask her to take good care of it."
The palace maid received the order and left. Nanny Xia looked at her from behind and shook her head, looking down on Lady Liang's behavior.
"This beautiful lady Liang is too stupid."
Disgust flashed in the Queen Mother's eyes. "She was the pawn I chose, and now you want me to stand up for her? I wanted to deal with that Song girl and Concubine Jia, but it wasn't for her. You've foolishly sacrificed half your life, and now you want to use me as a token. What a joke."
Nanny Xia also had a look of disdain on her face: "What the Queen Mother said is true, but this kind of fool is easy to manipulate. A little bit of good will can coax him into submission. If necessary, he can be used as a knife."
The Queen Mother smiled, but the coldness in her eyes made people shudder.
At night, each palace secretly awaited news from the emperor.
However, this time, His Majesty did not turn over any of the newcomers' names and went directly to Zhaohua Palace.
Some are happy and some are sad.
Song Zhaoyi was happy. She was afraid of being tossed around again tonight, but now she could finally have a good sleep.
There is no need to get up early to pay respects tomorrow, and Song Zhaoyi couldn't hide the smile on her face.
However, the atmosphere in other palaces was not so cheerful.
When Concubine Gu, who lived in Feiyu Pavilion, heard the news, she was sitting at the table studying military books.
She frowned and put down the book in her hand. "Father said that from the 'Essentials of Martial Arts' written by Your Majesty, it can be seen that Your Majesty is quite knowledgeable about military tactics. How could he prefer a woman like Concubine Jia?"
She still thought that His Majesty was extraordinary and not the kind of person who would be seduced by beauty.
It seems that she was wrong. No matter how noble a person is, he is just an ordinary person.
Concubine Gu Xiaoran's father was a loyal and brave general.
The general was meritorious in defending the southwest of Daye, and the late emperor personally bestowed the titles of loyalty and bravery on him.
However, military officers in Daye have never been prominent, so Gu Xiaoran's status is naturally not as high as Su Xiuyi, who comes from a literary family.
Concubine Gu didn't care much about this. She felt that status was the most illusory thing.
It's boring to see a group of women flocking to him.
Instead of spending time vying for favor, it is better to study a few more military strategies.
There are endless women like Jia Jieyu in the palace who can serve the emperor with their beauty, but how long can they enjoy it?
Whenever His Majesty was troubled by political or military affairs and asked people like them about it, they would be unable to answer, and she would feel embarrassed for them.
"Don't tell me this kind of news anymore." Concubine Gu picked up the military book she had put down and said, "I'm not interested in which vase Your Majesty has favored."
The palace maids serving Concubine Gu looked at each other and responded awkwardly.
After the maid retreated, she looked worried.
"Your Excellency is as quiet and elegant as a chrysanthemum. It was fine when you first entered the palace. Everyone's status and favor were similar, and no one was superior to anyone else. But if this continues, other ladies will be promoted, and you will fall behind. You may even be treated harshly because of your lack of favor."
Another maid was also upset: "We thought that since the young lady came from a military family and had a heroic appearance, she would be more likely to gain favor. We would also benefit from it, get promoted, and get more monthly wages. We were wrong."
Both of them sighed, shook their heads and retreated.
In Zhaohua Palace, Jiang Yingli happily welcomed the emperor.
In the afternoon, Xiao Chenglan told her that she had a knee injury, so she didn't need to greet him. Jiang Yingli stood in the outer hall waiting for him.
When Xiao Chenglan entered, Jiang Yingli smiled and folded her hands in front of her belly to greet him.
"Your Majesty, I welcome you respectfully."
Seeing her like this, Xiao Chenglan smiled faintly and walked over to hold her hand: "Why are you so happy? Did you see something interesting?"
Jiang Yingli shook her head. "No, I just thought that His Majesty would spend the day with me and go to someone else's place at night. I didn't expect His Majesty to come."
Xiao Chenglan smiled, lowered his eyes, and led her to the inner hall.
Jiang Yingli helped Xiao Chenglan change into lighter casual clothes with ease.
"Your Majesty, are you tired? Are you hungry? I have asked someone to prepare a midnight snack."
Xiao Chenglan adjusted his cuffs and walked straight to the chair in the hall and sat down.
"There's no rush. I have something to tell you first."
Jiang Yingli's smile paused, she felt confused and uneasy, "What are you talking about?"
Xiao Chenglan sat down, spread his long legs, put one hand on the table, and the other on his knee, patting it.
"Come here and sit next to me."
Jiang Yingli pursed her lips. Although she didn't know what Xiao Chenglan was going to say, she still obediently moved a small round stool and sat down in front of Xiao Chenglan.
She sat properly, her back straight, her legs together, her hands folded on her knees, her eyes looking at Xiao Chenglan expectantly and nervously.
Xiao Chenglan sighed softly, stretched out his long arm, and moved the person and the stool in front of him. He wrapped his legs loosely around her waist and sat close to her.
He rested his elbows on his knees, held Jiang Yingli's hand with his big hand, leaned his upper body towards her, lowered his eyes slightly, and looked at her seriously.
"I know all the details of the conflict between Concubine Song and Lady Liang in front of Baohua Palace today. I want to ask you, if Lady Liang had provoked you, what would you have done?"
Jiang Yingli never expected Xiao Chenglan to ask this, but she still thought about his words seriously.
"If she had provoked me, I would probably... pretend not to hear anything. After all, I wouldn't be angry at her. Besides, how could I be late? She wouldn't have the opportunity to plot against me. Your Majesty, I'm very diligent."
Xiao Chenglan smiled and touched her head.
"Yeah, very good."
Jiang Yingli's eyes became brighter and brighter, and she smiled happily.
"However, if you encounter the same situation as Concubine Liang again, you should learn from Concubine Song and fight back. She has set a good example for you."
Jiang Yingli frowned slightly and said in confusion, "But the Empress Dowager punished me even though I didn't do anything. If I did, the Empress Dowager would probably become even more dissatisfied with me..."
Moreover, Song Zhaoyi is completely different from her.
"It doesn't matter whether she punishes you or not. Besides, didn't I come here today?"
"That was Zhaoyi Song who went to see His Majesty. If I go to see His Majesty, will His Majesty come too?" Jiang Yingli asked.
Xiao Chenglan held Jiang Yingli's hand tightly. "Do you know what Song Zhaoyi's people told me?"
Jiang Yingli shook her head in confusion.
"She said that Concubine Jia was kneeling in front of the Wanshou Palace and was about to faint."
Jiang Yingli was stunned.
Hanlu actually used her name to invite people, and what about fainting? That's too exaggerated!
"So, Your Majesty, you came so quickly because you heard that I was almost fainting from being punished by kneeling?"
"Not entirely. I know they are exaggerating. Judging from the time of the morning meeting, I know you have just received your punishment. Besides, Concubine Song would never kneel for even a moment longer. She must have sent someone to find me right after she knelt. How could she have been on the verge of fainting?"
Jiang Yingli's eyes were full of admiration: "Your Majesty is so smart, your guess is absolutely correct."
Xiao Chenglan smiled, "However, you are right about one thing. I came here for you."
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