The Difficulties of Being a Concubine
In the blink of an eye, it was noon. After washing and changing into imperial concubine's clothes, Chen Yun walked past the city wall under the gloomy daylight and moved to the main hall of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Chen Yun looked up at the gloomy weather, which seemed to be beginning to see a few rays of light. "Escape from that place and finally breathe some fresh air! But the Queen Mother actually arranged for an audience in the main hall of the Palace of Heavenly Purity. I wonder what she was thinking?"
As soon as they entered the hall, they saw the Sixth Prince Li Tianxiang and Concubine Sun Shu kneeling before Emperor Li Lieo and Empress Xue Lian, while Concubine Xiao Shu and the Ninth Princess Li Xuelu stood aside, facing the Emperor.
Li Tianxiang defended himself, "Your Majesty, please understand! I have never criticized my brother with the ministers, nor do I have any intention of usurping the throne! For the past few months, besides attending court, I have been studying and doing manual labor at the Pingyang Mansion."
Li Lie'ao angrily demanded, "Then how do you explain this letter? Li Tianxiang! You have no intention of usurping the throne, but your mother wants you to be successful!"
Concubine Sun quickly defended herself, "Your Majesty! That letter was written by you and me thirty years ago when we were young and ignorant. It shouldn't be taken seriously now! I have a son, and I just want to live the rest of my life in peace. I wouldn't dream of such a thing!"
"Where's the evidence?" Xue Lian asked coldly, then sneered, "Can you prove that the prince is His Majesty? Can you prove that the contents of the letter are the result of youthful impulsiveness? You keep making excuses, but you can't find any reason to support your claims."
Upon hearing such a familiar story, Chen Yun looked at Concubine Xiao, who was glaring at Xue Lian with rage. Chen Yun immediately hatched a plan in his mind: "Concubine Xiao and Ninth Princess Li Xuelu are unwelcome in the palace, mainly because the Emperor suspects Concubine Xiao of having an affair with another man and bearing someone else's child. But it seems like it might be that the Queen Mother is behind this, causing His Majesty to misunderstand."
Xue Lian asked, "Put it aside for now. Yun'er, have you ever reflected on your actions in the palace?"
"My son, Queen Mother, believes that what Father and Mother taught me is very true. I shouldn't have been so impulsive. I will encourage myself more in the future."
"Okay, you go back first!" But Chen Yan didn't move, so Li Lie'ao continued to ask: "Is there anything else?"
Chen Yun thought to himself, "Of course there is something. I have needed this opportunity for a long time. So..." Chen Yun looked at Concubine Xiao Xian and Concubine Sun Shu, "Can I use them?"
Chen Yun took a step forward and glanced at Li Tianxiang, noticing his unusually rough hands. He also wore a Luban lock around his waist. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
"Your Majesty, I have two unwelcome requests. First, I can prove that the Sixth Prince has no intention of usurping the throne."
Everyone looked at her in surprise. Xue Lian asked dissatisfiedly, "How dare you question your father's judgment?"
Chen Yun ignored Xue Lian and asked directly, "Sixth brother, sixth brother, you are not cut out to be an emperor. Besides, being an emperor isn't that easy." Then he shifted his gaze to Concubine Sun Shu, "You are offended by a subordinate, and the officials find it hard to obey. You are afraid that your relatives will seize the throne, and you are trapped in a birdcage called the palace, unable to be free. Do you really want to fight for the position of crown prince?"
At this moment, Concubine Sun clenched her fist, and Xue Lian, Li Lieo, Chen Yun and Concubine Xiao all saw it.
"That bitch Xue Lian has always suppressed Xiang'er, and now she's taking the opportunity to suppress me. Is she going to be bullied to death? Li Lie'ao is the same, it's like he's lost his memory and has forgotten our past. None of them is a good person."
Chen Ying continued, "The worst thing is being manipulated by others without even realizing it."
Li Lie'ao wondered, "Is she hinting at something, telling Concubine Sun Shu and Tianxiang to keep their minds clear?"
Li Lie'ao changed his temper and asked gently, "Qing'er, please don't criticize me."
Chen Yun continued, "I'm sorry, Father. I still have something to prove."
Chen Yun pulled the Luban lock from Li Tianxiang's waist, and Li Tianxiang immediately stood up and grabbed it.
Chen Yun took the opportunity to grab Li Tianxiang's hand, then spread his fingers and said, "Look at this palm and back of his hand, how old it is! And the calluses and fingerprints on his hands are all left by constant work and craftsmanship. He is definitely not the type of general or soldier. His reaction when the Lu Ban lock was taken away just now proved that his heart is devoted to creation and craftsmanship! How can there be any talk of usurping the throne?"
Concubine Sun turned her head to look at Chen Yun, who was standing to the side, and considered the person in front of her: "She wants to help me? Why?"
Li Tianxiang asked in surprise: "Do you know the Luban Lock?"
Chen Yun smiled and said, "Of course, and it can be solved."
Li Xuelu said tearfully, "Sister-in-law, can you unlock Xuelu?"
Li Xuelu's collar was pulled down, and a locked collar was left around her neck.
Chen Yun came up to her and shook his head. Then, frowning, he fiddled with the lock and said, "It's also Lu Ban's! No problem. But... no wonder you're dressed so tightly. Why do you have this lock?"
Xue Lian said coldly, "Back then, Concubine Xiao betrayed Your Majesty and had an affair with her cousin, giving birth to Xuelu. After her cousin died in battle, Your Majesty took pity on her and took her in, but to this day refuses to acknowledge the affair. Your Majesty then made a pact with the dog pen, sparing her life. Yun'er, please don't meddle in other people's business."
Chen Yun pulled out the last piece of the Luban lock, threw it away, and then took off the collar from Li Xuelu's neck.
"Father, your Majesty, my second unwelcome request is for Concubine Xiao and her daughter."
Li Lieo's eyes were bloodshot. He slowly stood up and walked out of the dragon throne.
When he stood in front of Concubine Xiao Xian and Li Xuelu, he said coldly, "A bitch, a lowly creature. Is there any need to explain?"
After hearing this, Chen Yun looked at Li Lieo in surprise. Those words were so cold that they pierced into his flesh and blood. Even if they were not relatives, they should not come from the mouth of a family member, let alone when the real identity was not confirmed.
Li Xuelu even looked away with tears in her eyes. Concubine Xiao Xian stared at the heartless man before her, her eyes reddened, unable to utter a single word. Her heart was filled with a thousand words, all condensed into one sentence: "From the beginning to the end, is it true that I, a concubine, still cannot win your heart? Must you treat both mother and daughter worse than beasts?"
Chen Yun said, "Since Your Majesty is not interested in his concubines, I will not interfere. However, I hope Your Majesty will grant me a chance. In exchange for my secret recipe for curing famine, I can spare the Ninth Princess from punishment and any future involuntary marriage."
"Why is she helping me?" Concubine Xiao looked at Chen Yin with a frown.
Xue Lian stood up to stop him: "State affairs cannot be mixed with the affairs of the harem."
Chen Yun bowed to Xue Lian and said, "Mother, your words are very sincere. It's better to have less trouble than more!"
Li Lie'ao turned towards them, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "Do you really think I don't know the relationship between you four concubines and the Queen?"
Concubine Xiao Xian said dissatisfiedly, "I don't owe you any favors. You don't need to disobey your mother. Some people kill their own children and then put the blame on others."
Li Lieo looked at Concubine Xiao, but Concubine Xiao's eyes were fixed on Xue Lian.
Looking at Xue Lian again, she saw that her face was gloomy, her eyes were full of resentment, and her chest was heaving violently. She raised her chin slightly, with a hint of disdain in her eyes, and glanced coldly at Concubine Xiao, as if declaring war on her.
Seeing this, Concubine Sun Shu stood up with a jerk, her posture straight and fearless. She raised her left index finger, then spread out her five fingers, then made a sleeping gesture, and finally made a goodbye gesture with a silent sneer.
Xue Lian clenched his fists in anger, "Your Majesty, the evidence is irrefutable! Please don't tolerate these two! They are turning the palace upside down!"
Li Lie'ao yelled, "Shut up!" The hall fell into a dead silence, with only the anxious, rapid breathing of the crowd echoing faintly in the air. "I will take care of this matter! Queen! How can you, the mistress of the harem, act like a little woman? If you continue like this, don't blame me for breaking the rules. I won't even sleep with you on the first and fifteenth day of the month!"
Chen Yun immediately understood what Concubine Sun Shu meant. According to the emperor, the two of them could only sleep together on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. The rest of the time, they were just monarch and subject. No wonder Xue Lian was so angry.
So Chen Yun walked over to Xue Lian, patted her gently, and whispered, "Mother, some things can't be rushed. Life is long, and opportunities are plentiful. Why harm yourself?"
Xue Lian's heaving chest finally calmed down after he nodded.
After Chen Yun saw that Xue Lian and the other two women were no longer so angry, he came to Li Lie'ao, bowed, and made a plea: "Father, I beg you to agree to my request. Spare the two imperial concubines and their children. Why should a family fight to the death? Similarly, I hope you will consider my suggestion and accept my little trick."
However, Li Lieo did not respond immediately, but was considering something. The air in the hall seemed to freeze.
Li Lie'ao looked at his three women. Each of them had murderous looks in their eyes. He felt uneasy and thought, "Can't these five women give me a little less worry for one day? Continuing to make trouble will not help. It's been decades, and this knot can't be untied."
Then Li Lie'ao looked at Chen Yun again. Chen Yun looked at him with eyes wide and hopeful, which made Li Lie'ao feel at ease. "Although she has a stubborn personality, leaving a way out for me now is also a way to solve the problem of the three of us. Moreover, she has evidence and convincing evidence. As for the virtuous concubine and her daughter, forget it. They don't matter anyway."
Li Lie'ao said, "I agree. So what is the secret recipe?"
"Later, I will follow the map and search the countryside for a crop called potatoes. This crop has a harvest period of approximately 120 days. It can be grown in arid areas and has a high yield. However, it is not suitable for long-term cultivation in one place, and it cannot be grown on good land because potatoes will make the soil acidic, thus damaging the soil properties."
"I hope what Yan'er said is true. Concubine Shu, Tianxiang, let's put this matter to rest. I also promise to exempt Concubine Xiao and the Ninth Princess from punishment."
Concubine Xiao, Concubine Sun, Li Xuelu and Li Tianxiang also knelt again.
At this time, the third prince Li Linhao ran in hurriedly.
"My prince, Lin Hao, why are you so flustered?"
Hearing Li Lie'ao's question, Li Linhao said, "Father, my mother is threatening to commit suicide again! Please go over there."
Li Lie'ao waved his sleeves and walked over, cursing, "I'm so annoyed. You all come to bother me."
"Concubine Lin? Maybe... try to win her over?" Thinking of this, Chen Yan followed.
When I arrived at Concubine Lin's bedroom, I could hear a loud noise coming from outside the door.
Walking into the bedroom, he saw Concubine Lin sitting on the bed with her hair disheveled, crying. She was holding a pair of scissors in her hand, pretending to cut her neck. Li Linhao was anxiously trying to persuade her, "Mother, why are you doing this? If you have something to say, just talk it over!"
Li Lie'ao was standing at the door. Chen Yan looked back and saw that his face was filled with anger, yet also a sense of helplessness. However, the ugly woman had to meet the father-in-law, so he was still unwilling to go in.
When Concubine Lin saw Li Lieo come in, she cried even harder, crying and saying, "Your Majesty, you are finally here. I really can't live any longer!"
Li Lie'ao frowned and scolded, "Why are you crying? How disgraceful! Can't you just talk it out calmly? Why are you trying to kill yourself?"
Concubine Lin cried, "Your Majesty, you now favor other concubines and ignore me. What future do I have in this palace?"
Li Linhao covered his head and turned around, while Xue Lian, Concubine Xiao and Concubine Sun were even more embarrassed to watch.
Li Lie'ao said, "Didn't I come to see you? I have a lot to do. My beloved concubine, please understand how difficult it is for me!"
Doctor Li said from the side, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for my eloquence. Your Majesty has been suffering from depression and stagnation. Although it may appear to be a disease, it is actually a heart disease."
Chen Yun thought about it, then prepared to leave: "No. Even a judge can hardly judge family affairs."
"Chen Liangdi, please diagnose Concubine Lin."
At that moment, Chen Yan almost wanted to kill someone. "You're forcing me into something you don't want to deal with, right? I might lose my head."
Chen Yun came to Concubine Lin and said, "My Lady, please calm down and speak slowly. You will only make my father and the Third Prince worry. From what I see, you don't just want His Majesty to accompany you, do you?"
"What do you know? But you don't know how difficult life is in this palace. I'm threatened every moment. Why isn't my child the crown prince? How is he inferior to your husband?"
Seeing that Concubine Lin was very emotional, Chen Yun asked the imperial physician for a few silver needles and gave her a few acupuncture treatments. In an instant, she calmed down.
Li Lie'ao: "Why hasn't Yun'er taken my pulse yet?"
Chen Yun said, "To cure an illness, one must first cure the body. To cure the body, one must first cure the mind. From now on, except for me and Noble Concubine Lin, please keep your mouths shut." As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Yun placed Noble Concubine Lin on the bed, "Noble Concubine Lin, lie down first."
Chen Yun lowered the bed curtains, then hugged Concubine Lin and said, "Concubine Lin, for now, don't pay attention to anyone other than you and me. This includes your son and His Majesty. Treat them as if they don't exist. Then relax and don't let this birdcage palace suppress you."
"Birdcage Palace. How apt." Then, Concubine Lin's eyes looked as powerless as if they were burned out. She sneered, as if telling of her misfortune.
Chen Yun said gently, "I come from a poor family. Although I can't even afford three meals a day, I'm happy and free. I'm also worried about following in your footsteps. Can you tell me, is it appropriate for me to marry the Crown Prince?"
Concubine Lin gently pushed Chen Yun up, then looked at him tenderly, "Why do you think so?"
"Because, I just want to be with one person for the rest of my life. But in the imperial palace, there are always people forcing young royals into selections, so how can I even dream of this?"
Concubine Lin sighed, "So that's how it is. A life together. Blame it on other women for your own failures, and on your children for not working hard enough."
Chen Yun immediately said, "No, I heard that the Third Prince is very promising. You have worked hard enough. It's time to let go, let him go, and let yourself go."
Concubine Lin pulled out the needle, then sat up and said, "It's strange. It's because I married into the imperial palace and naively thought I would be together forever."
Li Lieo also closed his eyes outside the bed curtains and took a deep breath, as if lamenting that he had let Concubine Lin down but was powerless to change the current situation.
Chen Yun and Concubine Lin walked out of the bed curtains, gave a thumbs-up and said with a smile, "It's done! Then I'll take my leave first."
Li Lie'ao was the first to come to Noble Concubine Lin to comfort her. Noble Concubine Lin gently pushed his arm away and said to Chen Yun, "Chen Liangdi, the banquet in four days will be the day to decide the position of Crown Princess. I will support you."
Chen Ying pointed at himself and couldn't believe what the other person said.
Concubine Xiao Xian said: "I will also support you."
Concubine Sun Shu also responded: "This palace is also."
Xue Lian glanced at them in surprise, then looked at Chen Yin and nodded meaningfully.
Chen Yun smiled wryly and said, "I'm not helping you to get the position of Crown Princess. On the contrary, I want to have a safe and secure life where no one offends me and I don't offend anyone."
Concubine Xiao Xian said, "But Concubine Fang De's sister is Chen Youyou. She will deny you and even resort to trickery."
"Then helping her stop her from causing trouble will be the greatest help you can give me."
Chen Ying threw a coquettish glance, then bowed and left.
Li Lie'ao asked, "Queen, are you still unwilling to acknowledge her now?"
"Let's talk about it after I can manage the Eastern Palace."
"But you've sidelined her. You haven't let her manage the Eastern Palace, and you haven't allowed her to participate in the banquets of the major aristocratic families. Are you even excluding her from the Three Kingdoms Banquet?"
Xue Lian let out a deep breath, "Of course not."
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