Chapter 22 Jin Ling 22
That day, Jin Ling came all the way to the Cining Palace, carrying the headpiece she had made for the Empress Dowager. Before she even entered, she heard Empress Dowager Zheng exclaim, "Why don't you follow me to the city tower?"
Then there was a period of chaos and war, and Jin Ling met Queen Mother Zheng who was rushing out.
"Jin Ling?" Empress Dowager Zheng took one look at the kingfisher feather headpiece she held, but she wasn't in the mood to admire it any longer. She quickly waved her hand and said, "My dear child, I trust the craftsmanship of your treasure room. You can keep it in my bedroom for now."
As she was about to leave, Zilan, who was supporting her, became so nervous that her legs went weak and she was unable to hold the empress dowager. It looked like both of them were about to fall down.
Jin Ling took a quick step and supported the fallen empress dowager with one hand. She was even able to hold the tray with the other hand, and Zi Lan was also pushed by the tray to maintain her center of gravity.
"Your Highness, please forgive me!" Zi Lan knelt down and begged for mercy after she regained her balance. Queen Mother Zheng was in no mood to punish her at this moment. She was anxious to get to the city wall, but the Queen Mother's clothes were large and luxurious, which made it difficult for her to move. Now that Zi Lan was like this, she was worried about leaving her with only her maid.
"If the Queen Mother has any instructions, I can accompany her," Jin Ling said at the right moment, and the Queen Mother nodded in agreement. Jin Ling and Zi Lan immediately supported the Queen Mother on either side as they walked towards the tower.
Along the way, Zilan felt that Jinling had just come to her rescue and told her everything. Jinling immediately realized that today might be the day when Empress Dowager Guo would be defeated and killed.
As they thought about this, they saw Empress Dowager Guo on the city wall, lashing out at Li Yi and her son with furious vehemence. Unfortunately, Empress Dowager Zheng, already the victor, wasn't one to be trifled with. She knew what Empress Dowager Guo hated most was being treated as an equal by her status as a slave, so she responded with a sarcastic remark.
No one expected that Empress Dowager Guo would be so angry that she would actually commit suicide by jumping off a building in public.
Jin Ling rushed forward and hugged Empress Dowager Guo tightly. With her modified body, even Ma Yuanying could easily be beaten, let alone a woman in the inner palace. Empress Dowager Guo felt as if she were being controlled by a tremendous force, powerless to resist.
Afterwards, Queen Mother Zheng gave her a lot of jewelry and clothing, but these precious things were not suitable for her of her status.
Jin Ling knew that this was more of a reward than a consolation.
Queen Mother Zheng was taking the opportunity to tell her that they would welcome her into the harem sooner or later, and she would have the chance to wear these things sooner or later.
Sure enough, the confrontation between the emperor and Ma Yuanying continued.
Ever since Li Yi cancelled the imperial concubine selection, he had been reveling in his passion for eating, drinking, and having fun, spending his days with Jin Ling, admiring flowers, or drinking. He no longer acted like a wise ruler, but instead, using his own poor health as an excuse, he delegated all government affairs to Ma Yuanying.
At the beginning, Ma Yuanwei was secretly happy, thinking that he had finally completely suppressed the emperor. He was complacent every day, and even the selection of concubines was no longer as enthusiastic as before. But he soon realized that it was not a good thing for the emperor to be too incompetent.
As a rootless eunuch, he was destined to never ascend to the throne he dreamed of day and night, and could only be inferior to others forever.
Li Yi pushed everything aside. He accepted the lucrative ones, but more often than not, he was faced with complicated official documents and countless matters concerning the world.
Ma Yuanyi soon became unable to hold back, and for the first time in his life he began to persuade the emperor to take charge of the government.
Unfortunately, Li Yi had already made up his mind to roast him over the charcoal fire. Not only did he refuse his concession, but he became even more aggressive, spending all day hanging out with Jin Ling and no longer caring about the morning court.
"Jinling, what are you preparing for?" Sanhao, who had recovered during these days, took over the position of Zhangzhen again. Jinling naturally stepped down and returned to her previous leisure time.
In other words, she has more free time than before.
Ever since Li Yi revealed her preference for her, the Shang Gong Bureau has been trying to please her, both overtly and covertly. However, seeing that she remained indifferent to the admiration she received, Ruan Sizhen and Zhong Sizhi became even more fond of her and were happy to do her a favor.
"What else can I prepare? He insisted that I cook for him myself and make him a crystal dragon and phoenix cake. I don't know how to cook, so I can only help out in the kitchen and do some talking."
As she put the plate of cakes into the lunch box, her eyes showed a look of helpless indulgence: "If I don't make it for him, he will throw a tantrum like a child. He is getting worse and worse."
Seeing her expression, Sanhao deliberately teased her: "I think someone is enjoying it."
"Who are you talking about?"
"Of course it is... Your Majesty. You chose a rice cake that is so difficult to make, instead of choosing from so many other complex and exquisite pastries. Your Majesty is truly well-intentioned."
"Well, you are getting bolder now, you even dare to make fun of us!" Jin Ling didn't agree with her, stretched out her hand and poked her waist and abdomen, and only stopped when Sanhao begged for mercy.
The two were playing around the stone table when suddenly a group of guards came over, arrogantly announced the name of Ma Yuanying, and forcibly abducted Jin Ling.
Seeing this, Sanhao ran all the way and met Li Yi, Queen Mother Zheng and Gao Xianyang on the way. Without waiting for them to ask, he immediately told them that Jin Ling had been arrested.
"He is so bold that he dares to arrest people at will in the palace!" Gao Xianyang has always been disgusted with these unfair things. He couldn't help but start to denounce Ma Yuan's vicious ambitions.
Queen Mother Zheng also looked in agreement.
Before Li Yi could send anyone to question him, Ma Yuanying had already come over and paid his respects as if nothing had happened.
After a round of witty exchanges, the situation seemed to be reaching a stalemate. Li Yi was already furious at his words, which were full of derogatory insults towards Jin Ling. Then, when he said he was going to deal with the seducer around her, she was worried that he might harm Jin Ling. Just as she was about to lose her temper, she heard a familiar voice behind her:
"Your Majesty and the Queen Mother are here to pay their respects."
"Jin Ling!"
Li Yi took two quick steps to help her up, looked her up and down, and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she was not injured.
"In fact, the reason I oppose Your Majesty taking Yao Jinling as your consort is simply because her identity is unknown, and I am afraid that it will tarnish the moral character of the royal family."
"But she is now the daughter of the Imperial Court, so her identity is naturally not a problem."
Li Yi supported Jin Ling and looked at Ma Yuanying with some ambiguity: "The daughter of the Minister of Justice?"
"One of my officers, a court official, has no children. As soon as he saw Yao Jinling, he felt a warm kinship with her. He found her sweet, amiable, generous, and steady, and has adopted her as his own daughter."
"...Haha, General Ma really has good intentions."
Li Yi suddenly stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, smiling like a complete tyrant.
"Since this is the case, I cannot let General Ma down. Let's discuss the selection of a concubine again."
"What about Baoxian?"
"Since she was strongly recommended by General Ma, she must be a person of outstanding virtue, both beautiful and intelligent. Let's confer the title of Consort Xian. I wonder if General Ma would be satisfied?"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
As soon as the imperial edict for selecting a concubine was issued, her little room was instantly filled with people. Even Qian Feiyan, who had always been at odds with her, came over.
Looking at the girl who was fawning on her, Jin Ling didn't actually dislike her.
Qian Feiyan is a person who fears power and bullies the weak. She is even more realistic and utilitarian than Jin Ling.
As long as you have power and can bring her benefits, she will assist you wholeheartedly.
In the original drama, Qian Feiyan worked with Jin Ling to slander Concubine Xian, set up a scheme to frame Madam Wan for witchcraft, killed Bu Jixiang, and used drugs to kill Concubine Xian twice. Each and every one of these was inseparable from Qian Feiyan's excellent execution ability.
Finally, he seized the opportunity precisely and jumped off Yao Jinling's sinking ship. Even she had to say it was brilliant.
If she still came to her later to seek refuge, Jin Ling felt that she probably would not refuse.
But this time it won’t work, this time she wants to take the smile away.
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