Chapter 43: Shouzhong's eyes went dark
Wen Yao looked anxious after entering the palace. She didn't even bother to pay her respects. She asked Pei Yan, "Why did your majesty stop me from punishing Miao Da Ying?"
Cheng Shouzhong immediately coughed and warned her with a questioning tone: "Empress Qing is being too presumptuous."
When Wen Yao saw the emperor's cold expression, she also reacted, restrained her attitude a little, and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me," but she still didn't take it to heart.
Unlike when she first entered the palace, she now regards Pei Yan as her husband rather than the monarch. Even though a wife must respect her husband, the husband must also consider his wife's dignity.
Today Pei Yan did not care about her dignity.
"I thought you were different from Concubine Jiang."
Pei Yan's light words made Wen Yao's heart tighten.
Pei Yan stood by the window, tilting his head to look out, as if reminiscing: "I remember the day you were bullied, kneeling alone in the rain, weak and lonely, obedient and pitiful. I felt so distressed when I saw you. I thought you would be considerate of others, and even if you were in a high position, you would sympathize with the weak people like you back then. I never thought that people's hearts are easily changed, and you would become what you are now."
When Wen Yao heard the disappointment in Pei Yan's tone, she felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife.
She had no time to get angry, and knelt down hurriedly, frantically defending herself: "Your Majesty, I didn't! It was Miao Ying who refused to obey my aunt's teachings, so she pretended to faint. I was just trying to establish my aunt's authority, not intentionally bullying her, and I have never treated others like this. I usually respect the high-ranking ladies!"
Pei Yan turned around and looked at her: "At this point, do you still want to deceive me?"
Wen Yao was extremely anxious: "If your Majesty doesn't believe it, you can go and ask!"
"Did Miao Yingda pretend to faint?"
Pei Yan looked at the choked Wen Yao and sighed, as if he was heartbroken: "All officials say that I am a wise ruler, but I am so foolish that the women I favored all have such personalities."
Jiang Shuyi was squatting behind the door.
As there was a passage with curtains between the inner hall and the outer hall, she could hardly hear the conversation outside, but Pei Yan's voice still came through, and Jiang Shuyi couldn't help but be stunned.
Is Pei Yan scolding her?
Wen Yao's panicked voice was heard outside. She was probably admitting her mistake, but no one knew what she was admitting.
Jiang Shuyi pricked up her ears and only vaguely heard Wen Yao shouting words like "never again, sensible, virtuous", but she never heard Pei Yan's voice again.
*
When Wen Yao left the Palace of Heavenly Purity, she felt dizzy and as if she was walking on cotton. If Baoqin and Qingrui had not supported her on one side each, she would have fallen.
Qing Rui advised, "Don't be sad, Your Majesty. His Majesty is so angry, but he didn't really punish you. He just asked you to be alone for a while and come back to the Qing Palace when you have figured it out. This doesn't even count as house arrest, which shows that he still loves you."
Baoqin was a little aggrieved: "Your Majesty, what do you have to think about? It was Miao Ying who took advantage of Concubine Jiang to bully you first. Your Majesty treats her like this now, and she deserves it."
Before Qing Rui could refute, Wen Yao scolded Bao Qin first: "What nonsense are you talking about! When will the cycle of revenge end? Your Majesty has already dealt with Concubine Jiang and Miao Da Ying for me, so I should let it go. Even if I still feel aggrieved, I should tell Your Majesty. Torturing Miao Da Ying privately like this is no different from what she did back then!"
Baoqin: “But…”
"Baoqin." Qing Rui interrupted her and said disapprovingly, "I know you are trying to please Her Majesty and show your loyalty to Her Majesty, but if you really want Her Majesty's best, you shouldn't lead Her Majesty astray. Your Majesty is a benevolent monarch, and the one who matches Your Majesty is naturally a virtuous concubine. You let Her Majesty become a narrow-minded, jealous concubine who relies on her favor and becomes arrogant. Won't Your Majesty dislike her sooner or later?"
Baoqin was extremely angry. Qingrui had called her sister before, but since she had won the favor of the empress, she started to call her by her name.
But the queen obviously liked Qing Rui Luzhou's words more.
"Qing Rui, do you think His Majesty is very angry with me? Will he forgive me?"
Wen Yao asked nervously.
"Don't worry, Madam." Qing Rui looked around and waited for the eunuchs carrying trays to pass by before she lowered her voice and asked, "Do you know why Madam Jiang is favored?"
Wen Yao frowned in annoyance when she mentioned this person: "She just looked seductive, and she was very young when she served His Majesty. His Majesty was kind, so he favored her."
That's what her aunt told her.
"Does your majesty think that His Majesty is a monarch who judges people by appearance?" Qing Rui persuaded her: "That's because Concubine Jiang is domineering outside, but she is well-behaved in front of His Majesty. She listens to everything His Majesty teaches her. His Majesty is a gentleman. This gentleman likes to help people out of confusion the most. Concubine Jiang is just pretending to be obedient, so she has fallen out of favor now. But your majesty is different. You are not a bad person by nature. You really listened to what His Majesty taught you. How could His Majesty not like you?"
Wen Yao's mood eased a little, but she was still worried: "Then, why did His Majesty still want to drive me away even though I admitted my mistake today?"
"Your Highness, you admitted your mistake too quickly. It's inevitable that His Majesty will feel that you are not sincere. It's better for you to do as His Majesty said and go back to calm down. Think about how to admit your mistake before asking to see His Majesty."
Wen Yao was comforted by Qingrui's words. When she looked at Baoqin again, she felt annoyed and scolded her to follow behind, leaving Qingrui to support her.
*
Jiang Shuyi didn't know how long she had been squatting in the inner hall.
Since no one came to call her, she didn't dare to go out.
When the sun was at its brightest and it was noon, the meal was served in the outer hall. Then there was a knock on the palace door, and Cheng Shouzhong's voice rang out through the door: "Your Majesty, His Majesty wants you to come out."
Jiang Shuyi quickly got up and opened the door, and saw Cheng Shouzhong standing outside respectfully.
She went out despite the numbness in her legs.
Pei Yan was having a meal at the rosewood table.
There was no one else in the hall except the serving palace maids and eunuchs, and there was an empty embroidered stool opposite him.
In the past, Jiang Shuyi would have sat down on her own accord, but at this moment, she knew that she had angered Pei Yan. Seeing him look indifferent and eating leisurely with no intention of paying any attention to her, how could she have the courage to do so?
She looked at Cheng Shouzhong for help.
Cheng Shouzhong quickly winked at the emperor.
Jiang Shuyi understood, took two steps towards Pei Yan, and stopped not far from the dining table. She asked him tentatively in a low voice: "Can I serve the meal to Your Majesty?"
Pei Yan picked up a piece of mushroom and ignored her.
Jiang Shuyi looked at Cheng Shouzhong again.
Cheng Shouzhong was so disappointed that he once again winked at the emperor, "My queen, weren't you very good at jumping on the emperor before? Jump! Hug and act like a spoiled child!"
Jiang Shuyi understood, walked up to Pei Yan, reached out and gently pulled his left sleeve.
Cheng Shouzhong was very pleased to see that His Majesty paused and did not brush away Empress Jiang.
Yes, yes, yes, that’s it.
But the next moment, Madam Jiang knelt down with a plop, her face full of determination, and said to His Majesty: "When will Your Majesty hand me over to the Queen Mother for disposal?"
Cheng Shouzhong's eyes went dark.
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