Chapter 109: Such a lowly and humble status, how could she be Cui...
The next morning, what happened at the 80th birthday party of the wife of Duke Cheng'en became known to everyone. Even the news came from the palace that the Empress Dowager was furious. Concubine Shu knelt in the courtyard of Cining Palace for a long time but was not summoned by the Empress Dowager. After the gate of Cining Palace was locked, it was already late at night. She was then supported by her trusted confidant, Madam Duan, and returned to Zhaoyang Palace.
It was also heard that because of the fact that Concubine Shu went to the Cining Palace to apologize, the Second Prince Xiao Ze not only did not feel guilty, but instead had an argument with Concubine Shu, making her so angry that she almost fainted.
As for the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion, the news that Mrs. Dou had gone to the Ningshou Marquis Mansion yesterday to question her grandson Lu Bingzhi because he fell ill due to anger also spread. For a time, the capital city became lively again.
In the court, there were censors who impeached Concubine Shu and the second prince Xiao Ze, saying that Concubine Shu was not a good parent and that Xiao Ze, although a prince, was narrow-minded and did such a ridiculous thing at his great-grandmother's 80th birthday banquet, which made the old lady so angry that she vomited blood and fainted. This was truly unfilial. If the emperor did not punish them, how could he stop the gossips of the world?
It was also said that Cui Linghui, the eldest daughter of the Ningshou Marquis's mansion, had been trying to curry favor with the prince, and had been secretly giving things to him, which had damaged her reputation. Furthermore, her previous break-off of the engagement with the Prince of Weiguo further demonstrated her poor character, and she was definitely not qualified to be a concubine in the prince's mansion.
After the morning court session, two imperial edicts were issued from the Qinzheng Hall and the Cining Palace respectively.
Song Xuetang
Cui Lingyan was looking at the account book in her hand. After hearing Birou's report, her face was full of shock and she could hardly believe her ears.
Because of her poor parenting skills, the Emperor ordered Shu Guifei to be demoted to Shupin and to move out of Zhaoyang Palace and to Anyang Palace within three days.
Cui Linghui was also reprimanded by the Empress Dowager and punished to copy the Rules for Women a hundred times. She was also taught the rules by a palace maid. Ten days later, she entered the palace as Xiao Ze's concubine.
Meeting her young mistress's shocked gaze, Birou nodded. "The Emperor's decree was sent to Zhaoyang Palace after the morning court session. I heard that Concubine Shu was so angry that she fainted after hearing the decree. The Second Prince Xiao Ze was also punished, receiving twenty lashes of the cane and confined to Mingde Hall. The Empress Dowager's decree also arrived at the Marquis' Mansion after the morning court session. This matter is now spreading throughout the capital."
Cui Lingyan's eyebrows curved, her face filled with unconcealed joy. She said to Lu Bingzhi, who was sitting beside her, "Did your Highness hear that? Imperial Concubine Shu has been demoted to Imperial Concubine Shu, and the Second Prince has also been caned. This should make you feel a little relieved."
"The Emperor didn't raise the sword high and then lower it gently this time. Otherwise, the Second Prince might not know how to restrain himself and there would be more trouble in the future. Now that he has been dealt with like this, how could the Second Prince dare to find fault with the Crown Prince?"
Cui Lingyan was wearing a Xiangfei-colored jacket embroidered with peony flowers today, and her curved eyebrows and eyes made people unable to take their eyes off her.
Lu Bingzhi chuckled: "Are you so happy?"
Cui Lingyan nodded without disguising her feelings. "Of course. If the Second Prince isn't taught a lesson, given his temperament, if he doesn't like the Crown Prince, he might come up with some despicable way to find fault with him."
"The Crown Prince has always been too pretentious. If he doesn't care, how can others take his grievances to heart? This is especially true for someone of the Emperor's status."
Lu Bingzhi smiled, thinking that the emperor's decree to demote Concubine Shu to Concubine Shu might not be because Xiao Ze deliberately got close to Cui Linghui and humiliated him on the birthday of the old lady of Duke Cheng'en.
I am afraid that after the Queen Mother passed away, that person blamed Concubine Shu in his heart, but the emperor's majesty and face made him unwilling to admit his mistake. Therefore, although Concubine Shu has not been favored in these years, her status has never changed.
This time, when the imperial censor impeached him, his father, the emperor, probably went along with it, not only to avoid humiliating himself by reminding people of what happened in the past, but also to vent all his regret and anger on Concubine Shu.
He naturally felt no sympathy for his aunt, but he still felt a sense of irony. Back then, he had been so eager to bring her into the palace to protect her, and had directly made her a noble concubine despite the court officials' objections, but now, an imperial decree had demoted her to a concubine.
The emperor's sincerity is nothing but a joke.
There was a hint of sarcasm in Lu Bingzhi's eyes.
Neither of them mentioned that Cui Linghui was about to become Xiao Ze's concubine due to the Queen Mother's decree. In their opinion, such a status was enough to make Cui Linghui lose face.
Moreover, judging by Xiao Ze's personality, he probably never took Cui Linghui to heart. After this incident, he might even put all the blame on Cui Linghui and vent his anger on her.
Not to mention, how much Shupin, who has lost all face and become a laughing stock in the palace, will hate Cui Linghui.
There was definitely no bright future waiting for Cui Linghui when she entered the palace. It could only be said that she got what she wanted and it was all her own fault.
At this time, there was a sound of footsteps outside, followed by the voice of the maid greeting.
"This servant has met the old lady."
As the words fell, Old Lady Dou walked in from outside, holding Nanny Sun's arm.
Seeing two people in the room, one looking at an account book and the other reading a book, Madam Dou couldn't help but say, "There's been a huge uproar in the palace, and there are countless rumors outside. You and Yan girl seem to be having a leisurely time."
Lu Bingzhi and Cui Lingyan stood up and bowed to the old lady. Then he personally helped the old lady sit down on the couch.
"The Emperor was able to issue this decree because Grandmother went to the Ningshou Marquis's residence yesterday to question him. Otherwise, this matter would not have become such a big deal, alarming the court and leading to the impeachment of the Censor, which led to the Emperor issuing this decree to demote Noble Consort Shu to Consort Shu."
Madam Dou was very pleased with her grandson's words, but she couldn't help but reveal a hint of surprise in her eyes. She glanced at Lu Bingzhi and said jokingly, "You've never said such coaxing words since you were a child. How come your personality changed after you got married? Now you've become so sweet-talking that you can even coax me, your grandmother."
Madam Dou said this, looking towards Cui Lingyan and smiling, "It's true that men are different after they get married."
Cui Lingyan's cheeks turned red when she heard the joke, and she stood up to pour tea for the old lady.
Madam Dou stopped her and said, "Don't bother. I'll just come over to see Bingzhi and leave. I still have things to do in the mansion."
"Oh, by the way, since you're pretending to be sick, just pretend to be sick. Ask the kitchen to prepare some soothing medicine. That way, if the palace sends a doctor, they won't have anything to hold against you."
Lu Bingzhi nodded and said, "I understand. Guanyan has made all the preparations. Besides, my grandson was just angry with Xiao Ze and Cui Linghui. He should feel better after a day. Otherwise, people will think he is too petty and incapable of taking on responsibilities. It's not good to be sick for seven or eight days."
Madam Dou glanced at him and said, "It's good that you understand this. Go to the palace in a few days to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager so that she won't worry."
"As for the Emperor, you should also be more careful and thoughtful. If the Emperor summons you, you should have some sense of propriety in how to respond. Xiao Ze is, after all, the Emperor's biological son, and Bingzhi, you are just his nephew. Last time, when Xiao Ze secretly poisoned him, the Emperor sided with his own son. Even if he handles it this time, the Emperor may still have some resentment. If you don't handle it well, it will be a hidden danger for you and our Duke of Wei's Mansion."
Lu Bingzhi nodded and said, "Grandson understands. Grandma, don't worry. I will handle it carefully."
Old Madam Dou came here for two reasons: one was to go through the motions, and the other was to give these instructions. Seeing that Lu Bingzhi agreed, she felt relieved and left with Nanny Sun without staying any longer.
Cui Lingyan wanted to stand up and see them off, but Madam Dou smiled and said, "You and Bingzhi should just stay put. There's no need for us to be so polite to each other."
She thought for a moment and continued, "By the way, when Bingzhi comes to the palace in a few days, you don't have to go with him. Just tell him that I'm upset because of what happened this time. I haven't been able to sleep well these past few days and have a headache. You stay at home to take care of him. Now that Concubine Shu has just been demoted, there are so many eyes in the palace staring at our Weiguo Mansion. Just tell Bingzhi to go to the palace and deal with it himself."
Knowing that Mrs. Dou's arrangement was for her own good, Cui Lingyan didn't think much about it and agreed obediently.
Madam Dou nodded and left with Nanny Sun.
After leaving Songxue Hall, Old Lady Dou couldn't help but laugh. "Yan's personality is straightforward and simple. Unlike those noble ladies from the capital, who are prone to overthinking, she just accepted my words. If it were someone else, they might not think that I, as her grandmother, was thinking about her. Instead, they might think that I stopped her from entering the palace and that she missed the opportunity to show her face in front of the Empress Dowager."
Nanny Sun heard the admiration in the old lady's tone and said with a smile, "Otherwise, how could the prince like her so much? Even you, old lady, praise her so much and always consider the young lady as your junior. From what I've seen, among the noble families in the capital, there's probably no grandmother who loves her grandson's wife so much. Our young lady is truly blessed."
Nanny Sun's words made Old Lady Dou laugh. "You're so good at saying nice things, but I really want Yan to marry Bingzhi. If someone else had come in, Bingzhi wouldn't have let anyone live in Songxue Hall. I see they get along quite well, closer than an average couple who've been together for two or three years."
"This child is infinitely better than her stepsister. If Cui Linghui had really married in, given her personality, there would have been chaos in our house, making me, her grandmother, worried. Now that things are going as they are, it seems that God is blessing our Weiguo Mansion."
Ningshou Marquis Mansion
After receiving the empress dowager's decree, Cui Linghui turned pale. After the eunuch who delivered the decree left, she collapsed to the ground.
Her face was pale, tears welled up in her eyes, and her shoulders were shaking uncontrollably.
She couldn't believe her ears. When the Empress Dowager's imperial decree arrived at her house, she was only given the status of a concubine by Xiao Ze, just as Old Lady Dou had said yesterday.
A concubine, such a lowly and humble status, how could Cui Linghui have such a lowly and humble status? Even if she wanted to enter the palace, she should be Xiao Ze's concubine.
Madam Zhai's face turned pale. She glanced at Cui Linghui with a hint of disdain and said coldly, "Are you satisfied now and don't want to make any more trouble?"
"Our Ningshou Marquis's Mansion is also a well-known family. The eldest daughter of the eldest son has become the concubine of the Second Prince. I wonder how people will laugh at us and make us laugh."
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