Chapter 24 Yao Jinling 24
The two sat opposite each other in the garden, neither of them spoke first.
Wan Baoxian was naturally trying to suppress her. As for Yao Jinling, she was just bored and just wanted to play with her.
Thinking of this, Jin Ling picked up the tea beside her and took a sip slowly.
Wan Baoxian was stimulated by her leisurely attitude, and he also saw that the reward held by Yao Jinling, a palace maid, was much higher than his own, not to mention how much effort she put into it.
As the only daughter of the Wan family, she naturally had no shortage of these things, but how could she be willing to lose to a flattering villain instead of fighting for her own reputation?
"Ms. Yao is truly favored by the Empress Dowager. If you don't know, I'm afraid she would empty out the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace."
Jin Ling sighed inwardly. He was too young, and it was impossible for him to touch her skin. She put down the tea bowl in her hand and gave Wan Baoxian a shy smile. "Miss Wan is really humorous. She emptied the Cining Palace and only got these things. If you didn't know better, you would think Miss Wan was mocking the shabby royal family."
"You! Smooth talk!"
"You're welcome. Miss Wan is quite eloquent." Jin Ling saw that her face turned red.
Is this what a noob is? Noob and yet loves to play.
This conversation ended with Wan Baoxian's somewhat embarrassed departure. Having triumphed completely, Jin Ling couldn't be more pleased with this virtuous concubine. It would surely be a fun way to pass the time.
…
The conferment ceremony was more tedious and tedious than expected. Jin Ling wore the attire of a concubine and accepted the conferment together with the virtuous concubine.
This time, she was still a concubine on equal footing with Wan Baoxian. The difference was that this time her title was not the ordinary Li, but Zhao.
So she is now Consort Yao Zhao.
Jin Ling casually flipped through the fire avoidance map in her hand, knowing that Li Yi probably wouldn't go to either place tonight. She planned to wait until midnight and then go to bed.
"Your servant pays homage to Her Majesty the Concubine Zhao."
Seeing that it was Eunuch Bao, a popular figure beside the Emperor, Jin Ling was quite polite: "It's so late, are you here for His Majesty?"
Eunuch Bao lowered himself even lower, his tone becoming more respectful. "Your Majesty is as shrewd as a god. His Majesty specifically asked me to bring these things to you. Firstly, they are gifts to celebrate your consort's appointment, and secondly, His Majesty is busy handling government affairs and will have to sleep in the Hall of Supreme Harmony tonight..."
"I understand." Jin Ling smiled and nodded at him, handing the chrysanthemum and longan cake next to her to Eunuch Bao. "Please also thank His Majesty on my behalf. Also, ask His Majesty to take care of the emperor's health, not to overwork himself, and to settle down as soon as possible."
On the other side, Wan Baoxian was not so lucky. He waited the whole night with the fire avoidance map in his hand, going from anticipation to disappointment.
The next morning, the two went to the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace to pay their respects. On the way, they met, and Jin Ling immediately noticed the dark circles under her eyes, suggesting she had endured a rough night.
"This servant pays respects to Consort Xian/Consort Zhao."
Jin Ling raised her hand and called out lightly, not even intending to look at Concubine Xian. She just took the smiling hand and left slowly, but was blocked by Concubine Xian.
"What are you doing, sister?" Jin Ling lowered her head to admire her nails which were dyed with Impatiens. There was only a trace of red on her fingertips, which looked like plum blossoms in the snow, very elegant.
Seeing her rosy complexion, lowering her head and fiddling with her nails, with an arrogant attitude that showed she didn't take her seriously, Concubine Xian felt aggrieved at being ignored all night and turned to anger and jealousy. She raised her hand and hit Jin Ling in the face:
"Don't think you can get ahead of me just because you sleep with me first!"
Jin Ling grabbed her hand, smiled, and took a step closer. In a voice only the two of them could hear, she said quickly, "Do you really think you can beat me?"
After saying this, he fell backwards due to the force of Concubine Xian's struggle, deliberately bringing down Qiuju who was beside him. Finally, he staggered two steps and fell on Qiuju and Xiaorong.
Of course, most of the pressure actually fell on Qiuju.
In full view of the public, right in front of the gate of the Cining Palace, the emperor's newly appointed Concubine Zhao fell to the ground. The news spread throughout the harem almost immediately.
Jin Ling was helped up by Zi Lan who came hurriedly. The virtuous concubine next to her was still staring at her indignantly, completely unaware that she had lost another wave of impression points.
She would not rely on injuries to gain sympathy like in the original drama. First, she was slapped in front of the Cining Palace, and then she said the classic quote: "I'll hit you if I hit you." In the end, in order to maintain her character, she and Qian Feiyan beat each other.
After doing so much, the emperor gave each of them fifty lashes. Even the virtuous concubine who saved rabbits and copied Buddhist scriptures later changed people's impression of her.
It’s a huge loss.
Jin Ling has no intention of harming herself to establish her image as a little white flower.
Kneeling in the Empress Dowager's palace, the two men looked at the Empress Dowager with an angry face and apologized in unison.
"You still know you're wrong!" The Queen Mother slammed her phoenix palm on the sandalwood table beside her, her whole body shaking with anger. "Two concubines openly fought in public. Where do you put the dignity of the royal family?"
The virtuous concubine kneeling beside her was still furious, not feeling that she had done anything wrong. Before the empress dowager could ask, she jumped out and said, "Your Majesty, it was Concubine Zhao who provoked me first. Please understand, Your Majesty."
So, is it necessary to use self-harm to deal with such a stupid person in the early stage? Doesn't this just jump out by itself?
Jin Ling knelt there without saying a word, which made Concubine Xian think she was afraid. She couldn't help but feel even more proud: "Why are you silent now? Weren't you very proud when you provoked me just now?"
"Shut up!" The Queen Mother could no longer bear it and stopped Concubine Xian. She also ordered their personal maids to describe the scene in detail without saying a single lie.
Wanhua, who was beside Concubine Xian, couldn't help but look bitter. If they told the truth about what happened just now, their queen would definitely be unreasonable.
There was no way out, she could only kneel there and speak hesitantly, glossing over the attempted slapping of Concubine Xian, but she could not deny that she pushed Concubine Zhao, and could only say that it was Jin Ling who did not stand firmly.
The smile on Jin Ling's face was different. She was neither humble nor arrogant, and her words were well-reasoned and well-founded. She did not exaggerate a single word, but simply reported the truth.
But that's enough.
Xian Fei was about to open her mouth to provoke Jin Ling, but Jin Ling interrupted her: "This time, I had a quarrel with Xian Fei and didn't see the road ahead clearly. I accidentally slipped on a stone and fell. I hope the Queen Mother will forgive me."
No one expected that she would actually defend Concubine Xian, and they all stood there in a daze.
The Queen Mother was about to ask a question when she heard Jin Ling emphasize the word "accident" and immediately understood her good intentions.
"In that case, you better be careful next time you go out. Avoid certain things if you can, so you don't get tripped by anything again."
The Queen Mother's words were full of hidden meanings. She was openly admonishing Concubine Zhao, but in reality she was mocking Concubine Xian. Even Concubine Xian understood what she was saying, and her face turned red, making the place very lively.
Jin Ling nodded repeatedly, then stood up and took a seat.
"Although you were merely bickering, the concubines in the harem must pay even greater attention to their moral conduct. I cannot encourage this trend. Therefore, I will punish you by making you copy the palace rules five times as a warning to others."
When Sanhao presented the pearl hairpin and armlet to the two men, Jinling continued to provoke her and made her snatch the armlet.
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