Chapter 91: Imperial Official Orders Kneeling on Ice
In the middle of summer, the sun was scorching and the hot atmosphere permeated every inch of the palace, making it so hot that people could hardly breathe.
Ever since Your Majesty issued the order to increase the ice quota for Yaohua Palace, the imperial eunuchs have been continuously delivering more ice to Yaohua Palace.
He was so diligent that he was afraid that any slackness would anger the emperor.
Today, the Imperial Eunuch came in person, his face filled with fear and uneasiness.
He walked into the hall with trembling body and unsteady steps, and knelt tremblingly in front of Shen Yuning.
His voice trembled as he said, "I pay my respects to Concubine Shen."
Shen Yuning was sitting idly by the side, fiddling with the lotus in the asparagus fern and moon-shaped vase on the table with her slender fingers.
Crystal clear water droplets hang on the pink petals, making them look particularly fresh and elegant in the sultry air.
When she heard the imperial edict, she didn't even raise her eyelids.
Smiling, he asked, "Master Taiguanling, did I force you to deliver ice today?"
"I dare not. All this ice is the share that Your Majesty deserves."
There was obvious fear in Taiguanling's voice. He put his head on the ground, beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead, and he never dared to look up.
He was afraid that he would accidentally anger the favored Concubine Shen in front of him.
He secretly complained in his heart.
I never expected that His Majesty would slap Concubine Liu in the face without mercy.
In this situation now, he is caught in the middle and is in a dilemma.
A faint arc appeared at the corner of Shen Yuning's mouth.
He casually said to Xitong beside him: "It seems that there is too much ice delivered today. Xitong, give some to the Lord Imperial Household Official."
“Yes.”
Xitong responded respectfully.
With a look of disdain, he glanced coldly at Taiguan Ling who was kneeling on the ground.
He ordered a eunuch to bring a whole block of ice and place it next to the Imperial Household Order.
"Master Taiguanling, you see, there is too much ice in Yaohua Palace today to be used up. I'll give this piece of ice to you so that you can taste it and avoid going around saying that we in Yaohua Palace forced your Taiguan."
Xitong's voice was clear and pleasant, but to Taiguanling it sounded as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart.
An ominous feeling welled up in my heart.
He raised his head and glanced at the whole block of ice next to him that was as tall as a stool, and his heart felt cold.
Before he could open his mouth to speak, Xitong continued, "Since the queen has not asked the Imperial Household Officer to get up, the Imperial Household Officer should kneel down properly. Kneel on this piece of ice. This will not only help you get rid of the extra ice, but also help you sober up."
The imperial eunuch was greatly shocked.
In all his years in the palace, he had never heard of such a punishment.
Besides, it is a taboo for a concubine in the palace to resort to private punishment. How dare Concubine Shen be so bold!
But when I thought about how much His Majesty doted on Concubine Shen, I couldn't help but tremble in my heart.
If Concubine Shen said a few bad things about him in front of His Majesty, I'm afraid that by then, he would not only be on his knees, but he might even lose his position as the Imperial Official. I have to stay in the Ye Ting for some time.
Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth, moved his knees and knelt down.
In an instant, the coldness quickly spread from his knees to his whole body, making him shiver.
Shen Yuning sneered from his nose.
She stood up from the couch and said as she walked, "I am tired and want to go to the bedroom to rest. Imperial official, once you have finished with the ice, you can go back on your own."
"Well, I'll send you off, Your Majesty."
The Imperial Eunuch watched Shen Yuning's figure disappear in the hall, but he did not dare to move at all. He could only kneel obediently on the freezing ice.
Yongan Palace.
Liu Zhaoyi's hands tightly grasped the exquisite teacup.
Anger was boiling in my heart, and I wanted to throw the teacup in my hand hard to vent my anger.
However, as Zhaoyi who was in charge of all matters in the harem, her noble status and position made her endure it.
How could she behave like Concubine Wang and behave like a shrew?
As soon as Shen Yuning entered the palace, she was promoted to a concubine and was extremely favored.
It would have been fine if His Majesty had given the glass mirror to Shen Yuning to slap her in the face some time ago, but after she exercised her palace power to punish Concubine Shen, His Majesty actually spoke up to defend her.
Directly increase Shen Yuning's share to more than hers as Zhaoyi!
At this time, Yiqi walked in from outside the hall with a frown on her face.
If I tell Her Majesty the news I just heard, given Her Majesty's temper, she would probably be furious.
"My lady."
Yiqi gritted her teeth, knelt down and saluted, then whispered, "The imperial eunuch sent someone to deliver ice to the Yaohua Palace today. He stayed in the palace for half an hour. When he came out, I saw that his legs were shaking and his face was as pale as paper."
Liu Zhaoyi was already upset because of the heat and recent events, and when she heard this, her eyes instantly became as sharp as an eagle.
There was a cold light in his eyes, shooting straight at Yiqi.
"How dare Concubine Shen to resort to private punishment against the Imperial Official?"
"I sent someone to inquire about it in detail. I heard from Concubine Shen that there was too much ice delivered today, so I asked the imperial eunuch to deal with the extra ice before leaving. And the way the imperial eunuch dealt with the ice was... to kneel on the ice until it melted."
Yiqi raised her eyes cautiously and stole a glance at Liu Zhaoyi's expression.
“Pah—”
With a crisp sound, the teacup that Liu Zhaoyi had been holding tightly in her hand suddenly slipped out of her hand, fell to the ground, and turned into countless pieces.
Liu Zhaoyi gnashed her teeth and said, "What a Concubine Shen, relying on your majesty's favor, how dare you act so recklessly and not take me seriously!"
"Your Majesty, calm down."
Yiqi saw that Concubine Liu was furious, so she hurriedly and carefully tried to comfort her.
"My lady, Concubine Shen is in great favor now. She is arrogant and domineering. Now is not the time to confront her head-on."
"Your Majesty has favored many women over the years. Concubine Shen is not the first one to be favored, and naturally she will not be the last."
Yiqi paused slightly, raised his eyes to glance at Liu Zhaoyi's expression, and saw that her expression had eased a little.
Then he continued, "Your Highness, think about it carefully. Not only do you have two princes, which is a great support in the palace, but more importantly, you are now in charge of the palace. Who in the harem doesn't respect you? Why do you have to worry about Concubine Shen and hurt yourself for nothing?"
"From Concubine Yan to Concubine Wang, and now Concubine Shen, who can truly occupy His Majesty's heart for a long time and gain his long-term favor and love? It's just a flash in the pan."
After Yiqi's earnest persuasion, the anger in Liu Zhaoyi's heart gradually subsided.
There was a hint of fatigue and vicissitudes in her eyes.
My love for Your Majesty is no longer as persistent and important as it was in the past.
As long as Your Majesty can consider her face, grant her the dignity she deserves, and let her firmly hold power in the palace.
The rest of the things can be put aside for the time being.
However, when she thought of the glass mirror and His Majesty's open increase in the amount of ice used in Yaohua Palace, every single one of them was a severe trampling on her face.
She became a laughing stock in the harem.
"Oh."
Liu Zhaoyi sneered, with a hint of viciousness flashing in her eyes.
"Don't worry, I won't be stupid enough to take action directly. I have been working in the harem for many years, and I am best at diverting trouble away."
Her thoughts involuntarily drifted to Concubine Yan, the woman who had almost been beaten to a bloody pulp in the fight for her favor.
Isn't she finally planning to come out?
Isn't she trying to use her face to seduce His Majesty?
But so what? She persisted for two years, but didn't His Majesty soften his heart?
Ever since she learned about that incident, she deeply understood that His Majesty was not a caring man.
Or perhaps, Your Majesty's heart has long been buried with the dead person.
“Whether it’s Concubine Shen or anyone else, they are nothing but passing clouds and smoke in the harem, fleeting.”
Liu Zhaoyi raised her chin slightly, a sneer appearing at the corner of her mouth.
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