Chapter 166 Chapter 166 It’s better than him coming to me all the time…
Everyone in Handan Palace thought that their master had gone to the Zichen Palace to serve at night, but when they woke up, they found Concubine Zhen lying on their couch. They were all shocked and confused.
The palace servants did not dare to discuss right and wrong under the eyes of their master. Although they were puzzled, they only dared to gossip behind his back. On the surface, they remained silent and worked in an orderly manner.
However, everyone in the Handan Palace was surprised and suspicious. The atmosphere was so strange that they could no longer ignore it.
She had been stared at by all the palace servants since she woke up in the morning.
When delivering hot water for washing face, he would put down the basin and glance at her furtively; when delivering breakfast, he would hold the plate properly in his hands and his eyes would wander to her back; those who came in to light incense, fumigate moxa, or wipe the vase, one by one, would steal a glance at her before leaving.
He stared for a second, then turned away, not daring to look. He turned away again, then glanced again.
Nan Qiong Shuang sat in front of the dressing mirror, feeling that these gazes were interweaving back and forth into a dense silk thread array, in which she was entangled and tripped from time to time, feeling extremely annoyed.
She leaned back in frustration.
Yuanxiang stood behind her, dressing her. Qinglian fetched a jewelry box and opened it in front of her. "Madam, which ones do you want to wear today? Which ones do you want to change into?"
Nan Qiongshuang glanced at him listlessly, showing no interest, and raised her eyes to glance at Qinglian.
These two people didn't ask a single question. They were both servants of the Wangsheng Sect, and they knew what to ask and what not to ask.
She sighed, "No today, let's keep it simple."
Yuanxiang was startled, her eyes turned, but she still didn't ask, she just said: "Which dress are you wearing?"
"That cold moon white dress," she said. "We made such a scene at the palace banquet. I have to apologize to the emperor today. I can't wear anything fancy."
Yuanxiang took out her rouge and asked, "Are you planning on using some more color today?"
"Don't use it on your cheeks." She leaned toward the mirror and circled her lower eyelid with her finger. "Apply it under your eyes, on your lower lashes. Make it look like someone is about to cry." She added, "Apply some on the tip of my nose, too."
The best thing is to frown and look pitiful.
Emperor Jiaqing loved her fragile appearance like a delicate flower. The more fragile and vulnerable she was, the better Emperor Jiaqing's expression might be.
Yesterday, someone openly said that she had an affair with the Prince Regent. Emperor Jiaqing was so angry that he hacked and cursed in the Purple Palace. She didn't know what would happen to her in the future.
Although Emperor Jiaqing was driven from the throne, he had sat on it. Having tasted power, he couldn't give it up. He always harbored some illusions, thinking he was like Goujian, who slept on firewood and tasted gall.
How could such a person allow others to expose his secrets at a banquet?
He might not be able to do anything to Prince Ding or the Concubine Dowager, but her life was definitely in his hands.
She had a splitting headache as she thought about what to say next. Suddenly, she thought of Li Shenshu, who she had asked to come after the palace banquet and was now serving her in Handan Palace.
He looked around but saw no one. "Where's the new Aunt Shen Shu?"
Yuanxiang glanced at Qinglian and said, "Hey, didn't Aunt Shenshu come in with us just now? Where is she?"
Qinglian looked around and shook her head: "I don't know."
Nan Qiong Shuang knocked the comb twice on the dressing table and said, "Bring her here. I have something to ask."
Not long after, Li Shenshu came over slowly and steadily with her usual considerate smile and bowed respectfully:
"This servant pays respects to Consort Zhen."
Nan Qiongshuang turned the wooden comb and looked at her, sizing her up and resting her chin on her hand, looking at her with great interest.
Li Shenshu frowned, smiled, and lowered his eyebrows. Without her order, he would not even raise his eyelids.
It is strange that in a place like Wangshengmen where there is no rule of law, the people raised there would be so obedient to the rules.
She remembered what she had said yesterday: "The concubine is sleepy and tired, and her words and actions are different."
How interesting. An ambiguous sentence, open to any interpretation, it could mean both the Dowager and the Regent, depending on how and by whom it is interpreted.
She waved her hand and said, "Alright, that's enough, everyone get off." She extended her hand to Li Shenshu and said, "Auntie, please sit down."
Li Shenshu lowered his brows respectfully and did not move.
Qinglian and Yuanxiang went downstairs and understood what she meant. They closed the door silently.
In the bedroom, there were suddenly only two people facing each other.
"Please sit down, aunt." She stood up and leaned against the bed under the window. She pointed to the seat opposite the small table with her silk fan in her hand. "Thank you for your help yesterday."
"As a servant, it is my duty to answer the master's questions truthfully. I am flattered that Your Majesty appreciates me. How dare I sit opposite Your Majesty?"
Nan Qiongshuang smiled, fanning herself with a silk fan, and looked at her more carefully.
After a long time, she frowned and smiled, still without a single flaw.
Nan Qiong Shuang secretly admired it, took a sip of tea, and said:
"Although speaking truthfully is a must, few people can do it. Aunt, you are willing to speak your mind, and only then can I be safe and sound. In fact, I owe it to you."
Li Shenshu smiled modestly: "Your Majesty, please excuse me." But he still refused to sit down.
Nan Qiong Shuang didn't want to force her, so she pinched the tea lid and scraped the edge of the cup in circles:
"In the Jingsi Pavilion, Auntie has been serving Concubine Chang meticulously, meticulously, and without missing a beat. Seeing this, I truly envy her good fortune. Yesterday, Auntie also spoke up for me before the Emperor. I didn't know how to repay her, so I asked for her to stay by my side. However, I was in such a rush yesterday that I didn't even ask for your opinion. Do you have any interest?"
"Your Majesty appreciates this servant, and I am grateful. How could I be reluctant?"
"Then, Aunt is considered one of my own." She leaned on the small table, her elbows resting on the surface, fanning herself with a silk fan. "I have something I want to ask Aunt."
Li Shenshu nodded respectfully and listened.
"The Concubine dared to openly ask Aunt to testify at the palace banquet. It must be because she spoke in a fit of rage. May I ask, Aunt, how did you refuse the Concubine's kindness?"
As he spoke, his eyes looked at her face carefully.
Li Shenshu's expression remained unchanged: "If it exists, it exists. If it doesn't exist, it doesn't exist. I am just telling you the truth."
Nan Qiongshuang smiled lazily and rubbed the handle of her fan.
There is no upright person among those who come out of the gate of rebirth.
She just refused to say it.
She was too lazy to argue any further and simply said, "Auntie is trying to protect herself."
He lifted the lid of the tea and took a sip.
Li Shenshu's expression froze for a moment, then he smiled slowly again.
"With three parties fighting, the Forbidden City may soon change hands. Auntie has no intention of getting involved and only wants to protect herself. After all, the masters' bloody quarrels are none of my business. I serve whomever I choose."
"However, the Concubine's move is tantamount to forcing Aunt to take sides. You have no such intention, so you are unwilling. But since the Concubine has come to you, it is not something you can easily refuse. You will either offend the Regent or Prince Ding. Weighing the two evils, you should choose the lesser one. Aunt believes that the Regent's side has a greater chance of winning, so she answered truthfully, is that right or not?"
Li Shenshu just smiled and didn't answer.
"Having already offended Prince Ding, it's best to get closer to the Regent's people. Therefore, I trust my aunt's loyalty. I'm someone who knows how to repay kindness. You've helped me, so I won't treat you unfairly. But I'd like to ask, what did you do with the gold and silver that the Concubine Dowager gave you?"
If you accept it, you are greedy for money and will betray your master. If you don't accept it, you are ungrateful, bold but not tactful enough.
Li Shenshu lowered his head:
"Just now, I took out two-fifths of the money, picked out a few leading palace maids and eunuchs, and carefully arranged a circle for the Empress, warning them not to spread rumors."
The fan handle that was spinning leisurely in her hand suddenly stopped in her palm.
"The Emperor hasn't summoned a concubine to his bed for a long time, and he's become accustomed to not having anyone by his side. He can't sleep peacefully when someone is around. Your Majesty, fearing she might disturb the Emperor's rest, returned to the palace alone after serving him. I witnessed this myself." She bowed her head. "Some busybodies, unaware of Your Majesty's efforts, spoke recklessly. I couldn't stand it, so after scolding them, I granted them some favors in Your Majesty's name and ordered them to stop discussing it."
She continued, "If your Majesty is interested, I will use the remaining three-fifths to bribe the palace maids in the Purple Palace. I have been in the palace for a long time and have accumulated some prestige among the palace maids."
Nan Qiongshuang was silent for a while, then looked the man up and down carefully again.
After a long time, he finally smiled.
Too smart. Too smart. If she hadn't known that she had offended Prince Ding, she wouldn't have dared to use such a person.
"Auntie is thoughtful." She took a sip from the teacup, then placed it back on the small table with a tap. "A person has five internal organs, but only one heart. If Auntie had only this one heart, she would naturally be healthy. If she had two hearts, I'm afraid she wouldn't live long. Auntie has a heart of crystal and a heart of glass. There's no need to explain the pros and cons of this."
Li Shenshu smiled and said yes.
"Aunt has worked so hard for me, I will remember your kindness. Go ask Yuanxiang for three hundred taels of silver, Aunt deserves it."
Li Shenshu accepted the order and respectfully took his leave.
Nan Qiongshuang leaned her elbows on the small table, watched her gradually retreat, stroked her long hair, and thought for a long time.
Li Shenshu is a very smart person.
People who are too smart can either be used or killed. They cannot be controlled and cannot be deceived.
I had originally wanted to ask her directly about her situation after redeeming herself, but since she was now the head aunt of Handan Palace and was by her side day and night, there was no need to ask.
She personally observed whether Li Shenshu was living a good life and whether there was anything wrong with his words and deeds.
What's more, if she could use a person this smart, it would be like adding wings to a tiger.
Presumably, she is from the Gate of Rebirth, and Li Shenshu will notice it soon.
She didn't even have to speak.
If the Wangsheng Sect really pursues the person who redeems herself, Li Shenshu will definitely take action after discovering her identity.
She doesn't need to be anxious, just wait.
Nan Qiongshuang slowly made up her mind and looked out the window.
It was the beginning of autumn, and outside the carved window was a clear blue sky.
The clouds drifted slowly across the sky, and the branches of the trees swayed gently beneath the window. It was only the beginning of autumn, and the leaves, not yet yellow, shimmered in the sun.
She looked at the free and happy birds in the trees and sighed.
It's time for Emperor Jiaqing to get up. Let's go to the Purple Palace.
Everything in the Zichen Palace was calm as usual.
The agate bead curtain at the entrance of the hall hung straight down, and the round red beads touched each other lightly in the wind, making a crisp sound.
Wang Rang was standing guard at the palace gate respectfully. When he saw her, he was still respectful and said to her:
"Your Majesty, please."
She walked under the beaded curtain he lifted with fear.
Yesterday, Emperor Jiaqing scolded her in a rage, but the eunuch did not show it at all.
The more normal everything seemed, the more uneasy she felt.
She crossed the threshold of the Purple Palace with a heavy heart.
As soon as she entered the hall, the draft in the magnificent hall made her whole body cold.
She had been thinking about Emperor Jiaqing all morning.
Although Gu Huaijin said that the Regent was just talking nonsense, Emperor Jiaqing obviously didn't listen to him at all.
This was no longer a question of being in favor or out of favor. Emperor Jiaqing probably had murderous intentions.
He was already insane, and when a madman is insane, there is no reason to explain his behavior. She was just one of the many women around him.
He had loved her before, partly for her beauty and character, and partly because she had a regent behind her. But now, the rumors about her and the regent were spreading like wildfire. Not only was he unable to borrow the regent's power, but he was also humiliated because of her. How could this madman tolerate this?
Who knows, one day, he might stop being crazy and pretend to be crazy, take her thigh bone and use it to play the pipa.
Her scalp tingled and she slowly walked around the golden landscape screen at the entrance of the hall.
Inside the palace, Emperor Jiaqing sat at the table with his back to her. Opposite him, a gloomy figure, dressed in dark black and with an unapproachable demeanor, was reading a book, leaning on a pair of sunglasses. It was Gu Huaijin.
Once he tied the silk ribbon around his neck, he became serious and difficult to approach.
She dragged her feet forward and bowed:
"I pay my respects to the Emperor."
The bright yellow figure with its back to her froze.
Gu Huaijin put down the book and raised his head.
Her heart immediately started pounding, rising to her throat.
Emperor Jiaqing turned around.
It was actually a warm smile.
He extended his hand towards her, smiling broadly: "Deyin, come quickly, I have been waiting for you for a long time."
Nan Qiong Shuang froze in place, a layer of cold sweat breaking out on her back.
She immediately knelt down on her knees, and as soon as she touched the ground, tears began to flow. She wiped her tears with her handkerchief:
"Your Highness...your Highness, I have come today to demand a punishment from Your Highness. Yesterday, my cousin caused a scene in the Ganhe Palace, and I am speechless and have no words to offer. Rumors are terrifying, and I am ashamed to serve Your Highness for the rest of my life. I dare not ask for Your Highness's forgiveness..." She kowtowed with tears in her eyes, "But Your Highness, please punish me severely. I am willing to return to the Jingsi Pavilion, where I can reflect on my mistakes and live out the rest of my life."
After he finished speaking, he fell to the ground shaking, tears falling all over the floor.
Emperor Jiaqing turned around and did not move. Gu Huaijin was silent for a moment, rubbing his eyebrows in frustration.
Emperor Jiaqing looked at him anxiously.
"Sir, please don't be upset." He leaned forward to persuade, "Deyin is upset by yesterday's farce. I don't blame her. In a few words, this matter can be resolved. Deyin will not be here for long."
Gu Huaijin said impatiently, "It's okay." He then said, "Don't kneel, Madam."
"I dare not not kneel..." She bit her handkerchief and sobbed, her forehead pressed against the cold golden brick floor again:
"I don't know how I have offended Prince Ding and the Concubine Dowager, to be slandered in public like this! How can I, as the Emperor, allow such slander to tarnish my dignity? Although I am innocent, I have brought shame upon the Emperor. Regardless of whether this is true or false, I must leave. I only hope that the Emperor will not be angry and take care of himself..."
The more he spoke, the harder he sobbed. The words got stuck in his throat and he gradually couldn't continue.
Gu Huaijin leaned back in his chair, reading a book as if nothing had happened, without even noticing a single word.
There was a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Emperor Jiaqing glanced cautiously at her expression, then turned around and helped her up with a smile. "Deyin, get up quickly. The ground is cold. I know you are innocent of what happened yesterday, and I don't blame you. Don't think too much. I have something to say to you, sir, and I don't have time to accompany you right now. Please return to Handan Palace and rest."
"Clear and innocent?" She finally stood up, her skirt wrinkled above her knees, tears welling up in her eyes. "Your Majesty, you don't intend to punish me?"
"I will neither punish nor blame you." He quickly turned around and glanced at Gu Huaijin again, "Master is here, you can go down first."
Emperor Jiaqing was really afraid of displeasing Gu Huaijin and wished she would disappear from his sight immediately.
Gu Huaijin was in a state of confusion: "How long do you intend to cry and kneel, Madam?"
"I..." She bit her handkerchief and was about to speak when Emperor Jiaqing stood up, took her shoulders and turned her around:
"I know yesterday was just a misunderstanding. Deyin, please don't take it to heart. Isn't Deyin on good terms with the Daming Palace? Why did you have a disagreement with the Regent a few days ago? The Regent's temper is not easy to deal with. Deyin should go and apologize to the Regent immediately. I trust you and will not be provoked by evil people."
Even his mother, who was determined to release him, was labeled a "traitor".
She never expected Emperor Jiaqing to react like this. She looked past the emperor and glanced at the people at the table from afar.
Gu Huaijin leaned against the back of the chair with his legs crossed, reading with a cold expression, as if he didn't care at all.
She hesitated a little: "The Emperor wants Deyin and the Regent to reconcile?"
Emperor Jiaqing: "That's right."
Gu Huaijin gently turned the page.
Emperor Jiaqing held her hand and said, "Go quickly. I really don't take it to heart. My master has repeatedly advised me, and I listened. The Regent has just finished his court and is in the Daming Palace. If you go now, I'll have time to see you."
Nan Qiongshuang didn't need to get close to him to know that someone was listening attentively.
She always felt that he was a little angry.
She was a little lost for words. "Now is not a good time to make peace with the Daming Palace. My cousin is angry with me." She refused for the time being, expressed her stance to the man, and then appeased Emperor Jiaqing. "Wait until his anger subsides, then we can make peace with him. Otherwise, it would be a waste of time."
"Then, when the time comes, go quickly." Emperor Jiaqing clapped his hands and smiled, then pushed her out of the palace. "Today, Deyin should return to Handan Palace first."
Nan Qiongshuang was pushed out by Emperor Jiaqing in a daze.
The white marble square in front of the Purple Palace was a hazy expanse of white.
She was completely confused and had no idea what was going on.
Was it because Gu Huaijin persuaded him that he changed his mind and trusted her wholeheartedly, or was this indifferent attitude all fake?
If he was persuaded by someone - Emperor Jiaqing still considered himself the ruler of a country in his heart, would he completely listen to someone and change his mind overnight?
He was still going crazy in his bedroom last night.
If not.
So, Emperor Jiaqing said one thing in public and another in private, and he was very good at acting.
She was almost frightened.
Perhaps, before this, she had underestimated him.
She turned around one last time and took a look at the solemn and magnificent Zichen Palace.
The bright yellow glazed tiles of the Purple Palace reflected the dazzling midday sunlight, making people's eyes dizzy.
Under the azure sky, golden roof beasts lined up in rows, swallowing up the sun that shines on all things in one gulp.
*
She later spent a whole day in Handan Palace pondering what Emperor Jiaqing meant.
After much thought, I can only guess that the emperor wants to win her over.
Maybe it was because Li Xuanbai would not allow the Chang family army to touch her at all; maybe it was because Li Xuanbai got angry again and still ordered people to send fruits to the cold palace; maybe it was because she did not give Li Xuanbai any face, but Li Xuanbai indulged her again and again.
He wanted to use her to contain the Daming Palace and balance the Dingwang Mansion.
It wasn't surprising that the Jiaqing Emperor would have such plans. But the fact that he had gone from being hysterical last night to acting so cheerful today was completely unexpected. For so long, she had always thought of him as a hedonistic fool, but she had never expected him to be so good at hiding his feelings and so patient.
If she had not heard his vicious curses in the secret room with her own ears, Nan Qiong Shuang would never have believed that a madman could be so cunning.
Maybe he wasn't crazy.
Maybe even his illness is fake.
If he was faking illness, then what was Gu Huaijin treating him for all day?
She didn't know if she was overthinking it.
She rubbed her temples with a splitting headache.
And there was one thing she couldn't let go of.
Gu Huaijin heard Emperor Jiaqing ask her to reconcile with Li Xuanbai.
He lost his composure at the mere mention of "Li Xuanbai," becoming overly anxious and worried, like an unwanted puppy. Although she had politely told him she wouldn't go see Li Xuanbai, who knew if he would understand or take her advice.
I just coaxed him into doing better yesterday, don't let him go back to his old ways again and start cutting himself with a knife.
She cut a small piece from the copybook, dipped the pen in ink, and planned to write him a note.
He just put a dot of ink on the paper, but then stopped.
At this time, I felt even more upset.
He had always been determined to die. The situation had collapsed, and there was no room for recovery. The situation was now in its present state, and no amount of coaxing or persuading would have been of any use.
Nightmares always await him at his feet. One unprepared step, one false step, and he will repeat the same mistakes, with no chance of recovery.
What if...what if I tell him the inside story of the Gate of Rebirth?
She had not been willing to reveal it to him before because she did not want to betray the Gate of Rebirth due to love and let her twelve years of hard work go to waste.
Now, I am afraid that even if I tell him, I won’t be able to persuade him.
Those who live for revenge will still seek their own death after taking revenge.
She held her forehead in pain and sighed deeply.
Well, it's better to say it than not to say it. It's only a temporary solution and not a fundamental solution, but it's better than him stabbing me at every turn.
She picked up her pen and wrote on the note:
"Whatever you wish to know, I will tell you truthfully tonight."
After writing, fold it up.
He opened it again hurriedly and added: "Don't let your imagination run wild."
After folding it neatly, he handed it to Qinglian.
After that, he waited until late at night when everyone was asleep, walked through the corridor, and secretly went to Gu's mansion.
The entrance to the secret room was inside the large wardrobe in her bedroom. It was difficult to sneak into the wardrobe openly in the daylight, as there were many people watching.
She leaned on the chaise longue and looked out the window at the early autumn sky, pondering over and over in her mind, trying to recall more of what Emperor Jiaqing had said and done.
Before I knew it, it was dark.
It was an ordinary early autumn in the Forbidden City.
If Wu Dao hadn't brought that news.
At midnight, the lights in Handan Palace were out. A dead silence fell all around. Qinglian Yuanxiang helped her wash and dress, then hung the gauze curtains for her bed.
The palace was already shrouded in a dim blue hue, with only two bean-sized candles flickering softly in the night.
She listened attentively for a while, but there was no sound around, so she slowly sat up and drew aside the curtain.
When her bare feet stepped on the cold ground.
Wu Dao: "Auntie, Luojing City is about to change."
She was so frightened that her bones trembled: "Huh?" She pulled aside the bed curtains.
Wu Dao: "Tonight, our people are taking action at Prince Ding's Mansion."
"Gongsun Hong, it's time to close the net."
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