With Qingluan's help, Hailanzhu has returned to normal and is now waiting for Dayuer's arrival.
"It's been an hour, why hasn't Consort Zhuang arrived yet?" Qingluan paced anxiously back and forth in the palace, fearing that something might have happened.
"Don't worry, maybe there was a delay on the way," Hailanzhu comforted her. "Wait patiently a little longer, Yan Zhaqiurong won't be able to turn things around."
The two waited for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before Dayuer finally came in from outside, looking around.
"Greetings, Consort Zhuang!" Qingluan bowed to her.
"No need for formalities, you may leave. I will take care of things here," Da Yu'er said, waving her hand.
"This servant takes her leave." Qingluan got up and left, thinking that Da Yu'er's arrival at Guanju Palace meant that Hailanzhu had gotten what she wanted. So, as she closed the door, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.
"Sister, Yan Zha Qiurong is dead." Dayuer rushed over with a joyful expression and hugged her arm.
Hearing this, Hailanzhu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although she knew that Yan Zhaqiurong had no way to escape, she still couldn't help but be excited to hear it with her own ears.
"That's good." Da Yu'er murmured to herself, "Now there's one less person in the harem who wants to harm you."
"Thanks to your friend outside the palace, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to find Yan Zha Fulin's weakness in such a short time," Hailanzhu said gratefully.
The act of saving the emperor was a great achievement. If this predicament had not been broken, Hailanzhu believed that Huang Taiji would not have killed Yan Zhaqiurong.
Da Yu'er laughed and said, "Actually, he also learned some things from Li Ziyin, and then used this clue to investigate further."
"She's a very thoughtful person," Hailanzhu praised.
"By the way, sister, what arrangements do you have for Pei Ran and Pei Xin?" Dayuer asked, looking around. According to the rules, palace maids under the age of twenty-five are not allowed to leave the palace.
Hailanzhu smiled and said, "I've thought it through. I'll have them come to Guanju Palace to serve me first, and then I'll ask the Emperor to expel them from the palace on the grounds that I'm not satisfied with their service."
“That’s excellent,” Da Yu’er nodded.
Taking advantage of the candlelight, Hailanzhu took out the rosewood box hidden under the dressing table and picked out two exquisite jade hairpins, placing them in Dayuer's hands.
"Sister, why is that?" Da Yu'er asked, puzzled.
"After they leave the palace, have your friend outside the palace give them these two jade hairpins. With these two items, they will be able to live a life of comfort and security for the rest of their lives, which will also fulfill their obligation to help me," Hailanzhu said.
Da Yu'er smiled and said, "I think it was you who helped them a lot. If it weren't for your plan, the two of them would probably still be living a miserable life in Chengxi Palace."
"It's a mutual benefit, I suppose!" Hailanzhu smiled gently.
"Alright." Da Yu'er accepted the hairpin. "Whatever you wish to do, Sister, Yu'er will obey."
Hailanzhu glanced at her, "I will not stand idly by if Yu'er is in danger."
Da Yu'er's eyes were a little moist. "It's so good to have my sister here."
The roosters began to crow, and the sky began to lighten. Hailanzhu rubbed her sleepy eyes and said, "I didn't sleep all night. Yu'er, you should go back and rest early too."
“Yes… Sister, you too.” Da Yu’er got up and dragged her exhausted body away from Guanju Palace.
Hailanzhu could no longer resist her sleepiness and fell asleep.
...
Pei Ran and Pei Xin left the palace five days later. The matter was handled very smoothly without any setbacks.
Perhaps because she was eating and drinking well, the fetus in her womb was growing very fast, and Hailanzhu's lower abdomen had begun to bulge slightly, but with the help of loose clothing, it was still not visible to the naked eye that she was pregnant.
During this time, without any annoying people bothering her, she lived a comfortable life.
But how can people be content with mediocrity? And so, an uninvited guest quietly arrives.
"This concubine greets Your Highness Consort Chen, wishing Your Highness boundless happiness and good health," Qi Leiyinyu said, bowing slightly.
This time she learned her lesson and waited directly in the main hall, having Qingluan announce Hailanzhu's arrival.
Hailanzhu glanced at her coldly, and seeing her dark, darting pupils, she knew the visitor meant no harm.
"No need for formalities," Hailanzhu said irritably.
If Zhe Zhe were to arrive, no matter how unwilling she was, she would greet her with a smile, after all, Zhe Zhe was the Empress.
However, Qi Leiyinyu was of lowly status and far inferior to her, so she did not hide her displeasure.
"Is Consort Chen still angry with me?" Qi Leiyin asked weakly.
Hailanzhu rolled her eyes at her. "What do you think?"
Qi Leiyinyu awkwardly touched the tip of her nose. She had thought Hailanzhu would just pretend to not care, but she hadn't expected her to be so direct.
However, she would not back down because of this. Instead, she shamelessly stepped forward, knelt down and said, "These past few days, while copying the Rules for Women in my spare time, I realized that I had made a mistake. I just haven't apologized to Your Highness Consort Chen. I hope Your Highness Consort Chen can give me a chance to correct my mistake."
"What if I refuse?" Hailanzhu asked, raising an eyebrow.
Qi Leiyinyu looked up, her eyes glistening with tears, looking as if she were about to weep. "If Your Majesty does not forgive me, then I will kneel here forever until you forgive me."
Hailanzhu was annoyed by what she saw, and frowned, saying, "Suit yourself. You have legs, so kneel for as long as you want!"
Qi Leiyinyu stared wide-eyed in astonishment at Hailanzhu in disbelief.
Is this still the legendary Consort Chen that everyone talks about? How could she say such harsh words to her!
"Your Highness, Consort Chen..." Qi Leiyin's face gradually twisted, but she dared not speak out in anger.
"What's wrong? You said it yourself. I didn't force you. You can leave now." Hailanzhu said coldly. She knew that Qilei Yinyu was best at playing the victim in front of others to gain sympathy.
"This concubine dares not, this concubine will kneel..." Qi Leiyinyu gritted her teeth, suppressing the anger in her heart, and lowered her head to say.
Hailanzhu ignored her and yawned, saying, "I always feel sleepy in the afternoon. I'll go back to my palace to rest for a while."
After speaking, he had Qingluan help him leave, leaving Qilei Yinyu alone in the main hall, bewildered.
Hailanzhu thought she would back down, but she didn't expect her to become even more ruthless.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Consort Yinyu...she has fainted!" Qingluan knocked on the door and said.
"So annoying..." Hailanzhu rubbed her sleepy eyes and impatiently opened the door. "How come she fainted in less than half an hour?"
Qingluan sighed helplessly, "The concubine clearly did it on purpose. Your Highness, you had barely left when she got up and knelt in the courtyard, attracting many people's attention. Now everyone in the palace is saying that Your Highness is mistreating the concubine, and they're even saying..."
"What else is there to say?" Hailanzhu asked, raising an eyebrow.
"They also say that Your Majesty is unworthy of your position and lacks tolerance," Qingluan said.
"You are not worthy of your position!" Hailanzhu laughed, knowing that Qi Leiyinyu had come here only to cause her trouble.
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