Chapter 141 An Lingrong 82
"That Zhen is truly despicable." Jixiang helped his wife sit down, his face still filled with indignation. "She said such nice things that day, but Concubine Xiang is still so lively and energetic."
"Forget it, Your Majesty, you kindly wanted to adopt Longyue, but she actually chose Jingfei again. She's really untrustworthy."
"Alright, stop talking." Concubine Duan sat sideways on the chair. She had stood in Suiyuxuan for too long yesterday and her body was a little exhausted. "With my disability, it's no wonder she didn't want to entrust Longyue to me. It's such a pity..."
"Now that Zhen has left the palace, Your Majesty, why don't you write a memorial to change Princess Longyue's adoptive mother?"
"How can it be so easy? Concubine Jing and I are both concubines, and she also controls the palace power." Concubine Duan looked out the window with a distant look: "We need to borrow some help for this matter."
"Your Majesty is saying..."
"When Zhen gave birth yesterday, did you see Concubine Yi's reaction?"
"Empress Yi? I didn't notice anything wrong."
Concubine Duan shook her head: "Didn't you notice that she ignored Concubine Hui from beginning to end?"
"Your Majesty, are you saying that there's a rift between the two of them?"
"Isn't there often such things in the palace? Sisters' love can turn into war in an instant, and blood feuds can also be united for profit. Is it strange to have another Huipin and Yifei?"
Concubine Duan stood up and slowly lay down on the bed: "No hurry, no hurry, my body can still hold on for a while."
…………
With Zhen Huan leaving the palace, the situation in the palace changed again.
The newly promoted Concubine Qi and Concubine Jin were obviously dependent on the Queen, and served her as diligently as Concubine Qi did back then; Concubine Hui moved to the Suiyuxuan with her daughter since Zhen Huan left the palace, and she didn't even have much contact with Concubine Yi, with whom she used to be on good terms, and only served the Queen Mother every day.
Concubine Jing raised Longyue, so she naturally had a good relationship with Concubine Hui and Concubine Yi, while Concubine Chun, the expert in moving, turned to Concubine Jing.
After returning to the palace, Concubine Duan continued to wander around, but she did not have close relationships with any of them.
The most surprising person was Concubine Xiang. Because of her scheming and patience, the Queen wanted to recruit her into her service. However, she actually ran to Concubine Yi and was willing to be a pawn, which was shocking.
As for Concubine Xin, as one of the only three non-partisan people in the palace, she was treated the worst. She was clearly the princess's biological mother, but she was bullied and humiliated by Concubine Qi, who lived in the same palace, and her life was miserable.
From this perspective, the power in the palace is surprisingly evenly distributed. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager are both quite satisfied, but as for the Empress, who cares?
"I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Queen."
After paying their respects, Concubine Jin and Concubine Qi sat down obediently. Looking at Concubine Qi, who was sitting in a seat further ahead than her, a hint of gloom flashed in Concubine Jin's eyes.
"I wonder what the Empress wants me and others to come here for?" Concubine Qi was in high spirits. Now she was the most favored one in the palace except Concubine Yi, and the Empress also valued her more. Naturally, this made Guaerjia, who had been doing well since entering the palace, lose her vigilance before entering the palace.
The Queen leaned back in her seat, her gentleness now replaced by a powerful presence. She casually picked up the tea bowl and fiddled with it for a few seconds before speaking calmly, "Tomorrow we'll go to Ganlu Temple to pray for blessings. Are you all ready?"
"Your Majesty..."
"I have already made preparations and am just waiting to take a good look around Ganlu Temple tomorrow." Concubine Qi couldn't stop gloating in her words, and it was obvious that she was not just talking about Ganlu Temple.
The Queen simply ignored their subtle wit, smiled, put down her tea bowl, and said to Concubine Qi: "Very good, you have always been capable, and I am very confident in your ability."
"Your Majesty, Zhen Huan has now left the palace, and the Zhen family has been exiled. Is it really necessary to be so vigilant?"
"Even a centipede is dead, but its limbs are still stiff. With a face like that, who knows if she'll ever make a comeback. Although the Emperor hasn't behaved much since she left, he's been indifferent to everyone except Concubine Yi. How can I be at ease?"
After the Queen finished speaking, she saw them all lower their heads, obedient and submissive, and she felt much more relieved. "Especially Concubine Yi. She relies on her own favor with the Emperor and is now like another Concubine Hua. She also has children, which makes her even more dangerous than Concubine Hua. If she whispers in the Emperor's ear to take Zhen Huan back, and they join forces, I'm afraid I will no longer be able to check and balance them."
"Your Highness is the Empress, the mother of the nation. How dare that Concubine Yi disrespect her?" Concubine Qi said with disdain, but her eyes were full of jealousy. She was just a Han army flag, her family had no power, and yet she managed to climb over her head. What a bitch!
"That's why I want you to serve the Emperor well. This harem doesn't need a single flower. Only a garden full of spring flowers can make me and the Queen Mother feel at ease. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I will follow the Queen's instructions."
After they both bowed, the Queen smiled and said, "Get up quickly. There's no need to be so polite here. Jianqiu——"
Jianqiu responded quickly and brought out a brocade box.
The Queen opened the box, revealing a string of red jade beads. "This is red jade sent as tribute from a foreign country. I think the color is bright and festive, but I'm afraid it's too bright for me to wear. Now I think it suits Concubine Qi very well."
As he spoke, he handed over the red jade necklace. Concubine Qi quickly took it with both hands. She felt that the red jade was indeed warm and moist, and had a special and strange fragrance. It smelled very fragrant, and she couldn't help but pick it up and put it on.
"I thank the Queen for the reward."
The Queen smiled at her smug expression and nodded with satisfaction: "As long as you like it, this red jade really suits you very well."
"I like it. I will wear it all the time in the future to live up to the Queen's love."
"Okay, you look younger when you wear it, and I feel younger too when I see you."
Jinpin looked at the string of good things that even she rarely saw, and silently tightened the handkerchief in her hand.
The next day, everyone gathered at Jingren Palace. The Queen glanced around and saw that several concubines' seats were still vacant. She immediately asked, "Why aren't Concubine Yi and the others here?"
"That's right. The Empress has come out but she still hasn't seen them. I think some people are relying on their favor and don't know the order of hierarchy." Concubine Qi immediately took up the conversation, pointing directly at Concubine Yi for being arrogant because of her favor.
Xiangpin, who was sitting in the front, laughed and said, "It's because we were excited to hear that we could leave the palace today, so we came a little early."
"Really?" The Queen feigned surprise and looked behind her. Jianqiu hurried forward and said, "Your Majesty has been so worried about going out of the palace to pray for blessings these days that you've been taking short naps. You did get up a little early today."
"Look, I'm really old and always get up early, but I'm tired and you come early." After the queen said this, everyone naturally complimented her and put the matter behind them.
Sure enough, a few minutes before the time for paying respects, Concubine Yi and Concubine Jing arrived one after another. When they entered the room and saw that it was full of people, they were both a little surprised.
Concubine Jing stepped forward and confessed her guilt to the Queen: "I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Queen. I am late, please do not blame me."
"Your palace is far away, and you have to take care of Longyue, so it's inevitable that you'll be late. It's okay."
When it was Lingrong's turn, she simply paid her respects to the Queen according to the rules and then sat down in the first seat at the bottom. She glanced around and noticed Concubine Qi's indignant expression.
but……
Lingrong took a sip of the Queen's West Lake Longjing tea, wiped the corner of her mouth and said nothing. No matter how Concubine Qi tried to make a face, she didn't even glance at her.
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