Chapter 214 The Empress's Majesty
"Lady Chen."
She turned to Chen Shanggong and said, "Lady Li is emotionally unstable. Take her away first and find a quiet place to settle her down. Have the female physician take good care of her and make sure she calms down."
Chen Shanggong immediately obeyed the order and said to Li Nian'er, "Lady Li, please."
"Aunt! Your Majesty the Empress! It was Lu Zhaoruo who harmed me!"
"It was she who pushed me to the front of the Emperor's brother-in-law, and it was she who closed the door, begging my aunt, the Empress, to do justice for me..."
Li Nian'er cried out.
The Empress's gaze was sharp as a knife as she suddenly turned to Madam Jiang: "Madam Qi! Keep your niece in check! If you continue to let her make a scene here and spread this scandal, damaging the reputation of the Imperial Uncle and the face of the Imperial Family, can your Qi family bear the consequences?"
Jiang trembled with fear at the merciless rebuke.
Yes, if this continues, it won't just be a matter of innocence that's lost, but the lives of the entire clan!
Seeing that the Empress was not helping her but instead scolding her aunt, Li Nian'er turned to Lu Zhaoruo and roared furiously, "Lu Zhaoruo, you bitch! You not only killed my brother, but you also ruined my reputation..."
"Nian'er!"
Jiang roared angrily.
She leaned down, gripping Li Nian'er's shoulders tightly with both hands, her expression fierce and desperate: "Nian'er! Listen to me clearly! Shut up! Go with Consort Chen immediately! If you dare to utter another word of nonsense..."
She stared into Li Nian'er's unfocused eyes and uttered the cruelest choice, word by word, "I'd rather give you a quick death now, preserve your reputation, and save your whole family from being dragged down with you!"
Li Nian'er was completely stunned by the unprecedented ruthlessness in her aunt's eyes. The words "the whole family will be buried with her" were like a thunderbolt, shattering all her madness.
Her eyes widened in terror, and she went limp as if her bones had been removed. She bit her lip tightly, no longer daring to make a sound, only tears streaming down her face.
Jiang was in a state of utter confusion.
How could such a thing happen?
Nian'er's life is ruined!
The Empress's gaze fell on the sleeping Imperial Uncle, a hint of disappointment and annoyance flashing in her eyes, but her tone was unusually calm: "The Imperial Uncle is deeply drunk and has a nightmare. When you go out, call two reliable eunuchs in to help the Imperial Uncle to the next room to rest. Serve him carefully with hangover soup, and have the Imperial Medical Bureau send a tight-lipped physician to check his pulse."
She paused slightly, then said, "No one may disturb the Imperial Brother-in-law for any reason before he sobers up. Once he is awake, have him go to see the Empress Dowager immediately."
After Consort Chen led Li Nian'er away, the Empress turned her gaze to Lu Zhaoruo, who was standing quietly outside the door: "Madam Lu, today's events are chaotic, and you have also been frightened. Go back and rest first. I will make a clear judgment on right and wrong."
Lu Zhaoruo bowed deeply: "This humble woman obeys your command."
The Empress turned to Lady Jiang one last time: "Lady Qi, if even a single word of what happened today is leaked out, no matter who says it, I will hold you responsible. Do you understand?"
Jiang's face turned deathly pale, and she knelt on the ground, saying, "This humble woman... understands!"
The Empress extended her hand to Princess Yongfu and said gently, "Yongfu, come back to Jinxia Garden with me. Today you only accompanied me to admire a new view. Do you understand?"
Princess Yongfu nodded subconsciously and took the Empress's hand.
Back at Jinxia Garden, she summoned her personal maid and whispered, "Go to Cining Palace immediately and secretly inform the chief eunuch of the Empress Dowager that I have important business to attend to and need to see the Empress Dowager immediately after the banquet to wish her a speedy recovery."
After giving her instructions, she casually rejoined the other ladies, chatting and laughing.
Meanwhile, Jiang returned looking dejected.
Her face was deathly pale, even makeup couldn't hide her ashen complexion, yet she still forced a smile that looked worse than crying as she dealt with the small talk from others.
The surrounding noise and splendor felt like a dull knife cutting into her flesh.
She regretted it.
I shouldn't have brought Li Nian'er into the palace!
She knew her niece was foolish and reckless, but she still held onto a sliver of hope that she could climb the social ladder.
I told her countless times to be careful with her words and actions, but she still managed to commit this terrible disaster! This not only ruined her own life, but also put the entire Qi family in a very difficult situation!
A surge of resentment and disappointment welled up in my heart, but it was quickly overwhelmed by a deeper sense of sorrow.
Even if Nian'er is stupid, she is still an innocent unmarried girl. Now she has been taken advantage of by that philandering, over forty-year-old imperial brother-in-law... Thinking of the shocking marks on Li Nian'er's body, Madam Jiang felt breathless.
What might we do?
A profound sense of powerlessness overwhelmed her.
Faced with the Empress's oppressive presence and the Emperor's power, she felt as insignificant as an ant.
There's nothing she can do but sit here forcing a smile and wait for that unknown, cruel verdict.
Is it a three-foot-long white silk ribbon, enough to end it all?
Or... or should she be sent to the Emperor's brother's mansion to become a shameful concubine and spend the rest of her life there?
Lu Zhaoruo stepped out of the palace gate.
The warm glow of the summer evening spread down, the lingering heat of the day gradually dissipated, and a slightly damp breeze brought a touch of coolness.
Her long-strained mind relaxed slightly.
However, the stinging pain in my right ankle is getting worse.
She subconsciously shifted her weight to the left, taking each step extremely slowly and cautiously, her forehead beaded with cold sweat from the pain.
As she looked up, she saw that familiar figure.
Dressed in official robes, Xiao Yeming stood gracefully at the foot of the stone steps not far from the palace gate. The setting sun cast a warm golden glow around him, but it could not dispel the worry that had settled between his brows.
He had clearly been waiting for a long time.
Wang Wu stood behind him.
Dong Rou stood anxiously beside him, twisting her fingers, her face full of self-reproach and fear.
Just as Xiao Yeming's brows furrowed more and more, almost unable to contain himself and preparing to enter the palace again, he spotted a figure walking alone with an obviously unusual gait.
In that instant, all the anxiety and gloom in his eyes were suddenly replaced by a deeper worry.
He almost instinctively rushed forward, even jogging a little, his eyes immediately locking onto her slightly lame right foot and pale face.
What happened to your foot?
He almost reached out to help, but stopped himself out of politeness. "Were you injured in the palace? Is it serious?"
Lu Zhaoruo took in his series of reactions, watching his expression change from worry to anxiety, and feeling his gaze fall precisely on her wounds. A gentle ripple spread through the place in her heart that had been warmed by the sun.
She lowered her eyelashes and gave a proper curtsy: "Thank you for your concern, General Xiao. I twisted my ankle, but it's nothing serious, and I'm fine."
When Xiao Yeming heard her say "everything is fine," his brows not only did not relax, but instead furrowed even more.
Seeing that she was unwilling to say more, he did not press her for answers at the palace gate.
He softened his tone: "A sprain is no small matter. Don't push yourself."
After saying that, he instructed Wang Wu behind him: "Go quickly and drive the carriage closer, make sure it's steady."
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