Chapter 268 I Can’t Bear It
"Whether it's a prefecture, a county, or a district, I would like to ask the Emperor to grant Prince Ning a fiefdom so that he can depart as soon as possible and take up his post in his own fiefdom."
"After all, he will soon be a father, and he should have his own responsibilities. He can't always be under your protection, just eating, drinking and having fun. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
"As for me, if it is possible, I would like to ask Your Majesty for permission to go to the Imperial Temple and become a nun."
"I am willing to pray for the prosperity of Zhaoling State, for the well-being of Your Majesty, and for the safety of the people. I will never set foot outside the Imperial Temple again in this life."
Concubine Qin Shu spoke like this, as if she didn't know that she was about to die, but was just chatting with the emperor normally.
The emperor just looked at her and didn't say anything.
Concubine Qin Shu smiled and said, "If Your Majesty feels it is inappropriate, I have no complaints."
"Whether I live or die, I have never left the palace since the day I entered it. My life has long been yours, Your Majesty. You can do whatever you want with me, and I will accept it."
"It's just that I've never been filial to my parents in my life, and I've never helped my brothers and sisters, so I always feel guilty."
"It would be a shame if I ended up bringing disaster upon my parents' family because of my own stupidity. How could I possibly face my parents in the afterlife?"
"I will take my life to explain to Huipin and the Nineteenth Prince, to all the civil and military officials, and to the people of the world. I will accept it. Just think of it as my last chance to make a difference and help Your Majesty calm down."
"But I am absolutely not allowed to confess to a crime I did not commit. The crime of murdering the heir to the throne is too great. I cannot bear it, and neither can the Qin family. If you are going to pronounce the verdict tomorrow, please give me a quick death!"
What I mean is, just decide what verdict you want, and don't ask me whether I plead guilty or not, because the answer is always no!
After Concubine Qin Shu finished speaking, she knelt on the ground and kowtowed respectfully to the emperor. She stayed on the ground for a while before standing up and leaving.
He walked out of the Palace of Heavenly Purity with his back straight, without stopping or looking back.
The emperor didn't say a word from beginning to end. Concubine Qin's tone of voice was too gentle and too casual, as if an ordinary old woman was discussing what to eat for dinner with her husband.
There is no resentment, no dissatisfaction, and no struggle.
She asked the emperor to let Prince Ning go to his fiefdom, which was to tell him that Prince Ning had no intention of staying in Yulin City, and even less of fighting for the throne.
Even if he was granted a prefecture as his fiefdom, compared to the entire Zhaoling Mausoleum, it was like a melon seed compared to a big watermelon. Even if he turned all the old, weak, sick, disabled men and women in his fiefdom into strong elite troops, he would not be able to rebel!
If he was really granted a small county, then at most he would have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of his life, and he wouldn't even have the conditions to enjoy a bit of luxury, let alone rise again and fight back, which would be absolutely impossible!
Concubine Qin Shu asked to go to the Taimiao on her own initiative, saying that she was willing to stay there for the rest of her life. She said it so casually but sincerely, without any reluctance or unwillingness on her face.
She said that she didn't want to bring unnecessary disaster to the Qin family, and that she was willing to sacrifice her life to appease the emperor and give an explanation to others. She said it so calmly and confidently.
She didn't intend to argue. Although she was gentle, she was so unyielding. She was not making an excuse, she was telling the emperor that she was not the one who murdered the royal heir, but it didn't matter, even death didn't matter!
This made the emperor feel that this woman really had no feelings for him anymore. He was used to being flattered and fawned upon by everyone, and he felt a little strange at this moment.
He really began to think about all the memories of Concubine Qin Shufei in his mind.
At that time, the emperor was still the crown prince. He went on a secret visit to a restaurant in the city to have dinner. He sat in the lobby and listened to the students who were taking the imperial examinations talking freely. At the next table were Concubine Qin Shufei, who was dressed as a man, and her brother who was about to become the top scorer in the imperial examination.
…
The emperor recalled how he met and got to know Concubine Qin Shu, and later when he ascended the throne and she became his concubine. Only then did he realize that he remembered so many things about Concubine Qin Shu.
She said that she never left the palace after entering it, and it was true.
She said she had never given any help to her family, and had never even fulfilled her filial duties to her parents. This was also true. The emperor really couldn't remember when she had ever mentioned anything about anyone in the Qin family in front of him.
Minister Qin had made it all the way from being the top scholar twenty-four years earlier to where he was today, all thanks to his own hard work. Concubine Qin Shu had never said a word. Sometimes the emperor himself almost forgot that his Concubine Shu was actually a sibling of the current Minister of Personnel.
Even when she gave birth, the Qin family never sent anyone to take a look.
Prince Ning is now twenty years old and has no close relationship with anyone in the Qin Mansion. If you are not one who knows the inside story, it is really hard to tell that Minister Qin is his uncle.
There are so many concubines in this palace who are partial to their natal families. In fact, the vast majority of women were sent to the palace not to serve the emperor, but to seek benefits for their natal families.
The emperor brought those women into the palace not because he liked them or not, but because of their status, just to balance the various forces of the ministers in the court.
Perhaps because of this, Concubine Qin Shu has always been different in the emperor's mind.
…
As soon as Concubine Qin Shu left, the news that the emperor had met her spread to all the concubines in the harem, and even people of low status like Concubine Zhong knew about it.
She was so anxious in Yongyang Palace that she was like an ant on a hot pan, afraid that she would be implicated. But no matter how anxious she was, it was useless. Even the eunuch Chen Xi didn't know what the emperor and Concubine Qin had said.
She was anxious, but the Queen was angry.
The nineteenth prince died young, but no one else was affected, and the queen was the first one to be scolded by the emperor.
As the mistress of the Six Palaces, she was indeed responsible for what had happened, but hadn't she already found the murderer? Why did the emperor still want to see that bitch, Concubine Shu!
"Did you see clearly? When Concubine Shu came out, did she really look like nothing had happened? Didn't she say that the Emperor wouldn't see her?"
"Your Highness, we saw it clearly. The Emperor was indeed unwilling to see Consort Shu this afternoon. She knelt outside the palace gate for two hours, but no one responded."
The queen sneered, "Haha, no one cares? No one chased her out, right?"
"Even Concubine Hui is under house arrest, but she, a murderer, can come and go freely in the harem? The emperor's heart is always biased!" The queen waved her hand violently, and the teacups on the table shattered to the ground.
"Empress, please calm down. Things have come to this point. Concubine Shu's arrogance will not last for many more days. You must not lose your composure at this time."
The Queen held her forehead with her hand, her face full of resignation. "Mammy, don't you think I, as the Queen, am I being particularly cowardly? Before, when I didn't touch her, she was like a thorn, pricking my eyeballs!"
"But now, I've schemed so hard to bring her down, and I feel even worse. I feel so bad all over. I'm the lord of the six palaces, but I've condescended to scheme so hard just for a concubine!"
"It's as if I had already admitted it when I took action. In the emperor's heart... I'm not as good as her. Madam, tell me, in what way am I inferior to Concubine Shu? Where?"
"Your Majesty, please don't dwell on this. You are the Queen and your status is noble. Fighting with Concubine Shu in person would be an honor to her."
"Her status is not as high as yours, and her son is not as high as yours. The reason she has been able to act so arrogantly in the palace for so many years is because you, Your Majesty, are so generous and have never made things difficult for her."
"As soon as you look at her straight in the eye, she immediately collapses. Such a person is not worthy of your Majesty. As long as she is a concubine and you are the queen, she will always be inferior to you. Your Majesty, you can do whatever you want to her. It's not too much. What do you think?"
The old nanny's words finally made the queen smile.
"Haha, for so many years, Concubine Shu has been pretending not to fight or compete, as if she is so pure and kind. Bah, if she were really that kind, how could she have lived in peace in the harem for twenty-two years and become a piece of pure land in the emperor's mind?"
"No matter how many people dislike her, whether it's true or not, regardless of whether there is evidence or not, the Emperor will always believe her!"
"Haha, this is really funny. Does the emperor think that others are unwilling to watch the show from the sidelines in a quiet and peaceful manner? Does he think that others like to fight and grab things in an ugly and aggressive manner?"
"If I could gain the emperor's trust and favor, and he would give me everything I want, I wouldn't have to fight for anything. I could be a fairy without being tainted by the dust!"
The Queen's words really expressed the thoughts of most women in the harem. Concubine Shu has always been envied, not only because she always looks so clean and composed, but also because of the supreme grace given to her by the Emperor that allows her to have this composure!
But they forgot that the emperor wanted to treat everyone equally. He never favored Concubine Shu exclusively. Everyone knew that Concubine Shu held an enviable and heartbreaking position in the emperor's heart.
But there are so many women in the harem who have a special place in the emperor's heart.
The biggest difference between Concubine Shu and them is that she is particularly content. She cherishes what the emperor gives her, and does not scheme for what the emperor does not give her. In this light, how can she not be calm?
Because of this, she was able to maintain her gentle and generous image in the emperor's mind, instead of being eroded by the power struggle in the harem and becoming unrecognizable.
In this chaotic harem, she was always able to keep herself out of trouble, which was why she was always so annoying. The one who hated her the most was none other than the Empress!
Otherwise, why would the queen go to such great lengths to set up such a big trap for her and kill her with one strike!
The harem is a huge melting pot, everyone is struggling and rolling in it. How can you "come out of the mud without being stained"? The more innocent you are, the more I will expose your most ugly side to the emperor.
If you can’t lift it up, just draw one and stick it directly on your face!
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