Chapter 10 New Love Old Love
Li Yueyao immediately said, "Leave it to Concubine Xian."
The emperor was stunned when he heard this: "Xianfei?"
After thinking for a moment, he shook his head and said, "Let's leave it to Concubine De."
Li Yueyao smiled and said, "Your Majesty, in your opinion, who has a better brain, the Defei or the Xianfei?"
The emperor didn't speak.
"This time, we are investigating the poison master hidden in the palace. The virtuous concubine is tough enough and smart enough to quickly and smoothly uncover the person behind the scenes."
The emperor sighed for a while and said, "I am worried that she won't come out..."
Li Yueyao laughed after hearing this. It turned out that the emperor did not really dislike the virtuous concubine.
It was supposed to be Concubine Xian who was the Crown Prince's principal wife, but the Emperor was blind and chose the girl from the Xie family. However, after the marriage, Concubine Xian became the most favored person in the Eastern Palace.
The virtuous concubine was both talented and beautiful, and also had means. The emperor loved her the most before he ascended the throne.
Unfortunately, the two of them finally broke up because of the Imperial Concubine. In recent years, the virtuous concubine refused to leave Yong'an Palace out of spite, which benefited the empress and the Imperial Concubine.
So he said, "I'll handle this matter, you don't have to worry about it. Just issue the order."
The emperor nodded.
Half an hour later, the two decrees were sent to the harem.
The queen remained indifferent.
The emperor's poisoning was a matter of great importance, and it was expected that he would be reprimanded or lose his power in the palace.
But who will take over the palace power is a question worth pondering.
"Qingning, who did you give the power of the palace to? The Imperial Concubine? Or the Virtuous Concubine?" The Queen asked her personal maid.
When Qingning heard the question, she answered respectfully, "Neither, it's...it's the virtuous concubine."
"Xianfei?" The Queen was surprised.
"Why is it the virtuous concubine?"
Qingning lowered her head and replied softly, "Your Majesty, after you left Taiji Palace, His Majesty summoned Concubine Shu. Before Concubine Shu left, His Majesty issued these two decrees."
The Queen sneered, "Xianfei... now there's going to be some excitement in the palace. Let's see how Your Majesty chooses between this new love and this old one. Humph~"
Qian Lou came to Yong'an Palace in person to convey the imperial edict, but saw that the gate of Yong'an Palace was still closed, so he waved his hand behind him.
A guard behind him climbed over the wall, jumped in and opened the door from the inside.
Qian Lou walked slowly into Yong'an Palace with the imperial edict, stood in the middle of the courtyard and said loudly:
"Your Majesty has issued an order. Your Majesty, please come out and receive it."
After a while, the palace servants came out one by one and stood in the courtyard, but there was no sign of Concubine Xian.
Qian Lou continued, "Your Majesty, I, Qian Lou, come from the Taiji Palace.
The Grand Princess of Jinyang issued an oral order: If the Yong'an Palace insists on locking its gates, all its gates will be demolished."
Sure enough, a cold voice came from the main hall: "The Grand Princess of Jinyang has returned to the palace?"
"Yes, Your Majesty the Concubine."
"How long do you plan to stay this time, Aunt?"
"Your Majesty, the Grand Princess of Jinyang lives in a side hall of the Taiji Palace. It looks like she won't be leaving for a while."
After hearing this, the virtuous concubine appeared at the door of the main hall.
The virtuous concubine had bright eyes, a white nose, red lips and white teeth. She wore no makeup, dressed simply, and her hair was simply tied up with a jade hairpin.
He held a book in his left hand and a string of jade beads in his right hand, which he kept twisting between his fingers.
The setting sun shone on Concubine Xian, giving her beautiful and intellectual face a layer of golden glow.
"But something big happened in the palace?" asked the virtuous concubine indifferently.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty is not feeling well."
"Hasn't he been ill for over two months? But is there something else going on?"
Qian Lou walked forward slowly, stopped two steps away from Concubine Xian, and whispered, "Your Majesty has been poisoned."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Xian sneered, then said, "Finally, you've left yourself with only half your life?"
After hearing these outrageous words, Qian Lou dared not say a word.
"Tell me, what does Princess Jinyang want?"
Qian Lou replied, "Your Majesty has decreed that Consort Xian will assist in the management of the six palaces from this day forward. Your Majesty, here is the imperial decree, seal, and plaque."
Qian Lou signaled to the young eunuch behind him to hand the things over to Fu Shou, the eunuch beside Concubine Xian.
Then he lowered his head and whispered, "Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess asked this servant to convey that Concubine Shu has also been poisoned.
There is a master of poison hiding in the palace. Ask Her Majesty to capture him as soon as possible."
Xian Fei remained expressionless after hearing this and asked, "Where's the Queen?"
"The Empress was stripped of her power over the harem, but Kunning Palace was completely peaceful and tranquil."
"Where's the imperial concubine?"
"Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess means that she will handle the Empress and the Imperial Concubine herself, and Her Royal Highness the Virtuous Concubine only needs to manage the harem and catch the perpetrator."
Xian Fei nodded and said, "Go back and report this to Grand Princess Jinyang. This is a very good arrangement."
When Qian Lou finished speaking, he bowed and took his leave.
After everyone had left, Chunyun, the maidservant beside Concubine Xian, asked, "My Lady, is the palace gate still closed?"
"Pass the order down. Starting today, Yong'an Palace will no longer be closed. Arrange for people to clean the palace thoroughly.
In addition, summon the heads of the four departments and six bureaus within the palace to come for questioning tomorrow morning."
"Yes."
Chunyun asked again, "What should we do if the concubines from the harem come to pay their respects?"
"Although the Queen has been deprived of her palace power, she is still the Queen. Let them go to the Queen. I am not available."
"Yes." Chunyun replied respectfully.
After the two edicts came down, the harem was shaken, but the biggest shock was to the Imperial Concubine's Fanghua Garden.
"What did you say? Nanny Qin is still alive, and she's actually serving Princess Jinyang?"
The imperial concubine had lost her gorgeous attire and was now dressed in plain clothes, lying sickly on the bed.
At this moment, a blush appeared on the angry face, which made the imperial concubine look more lively.
"You useless thing! Nanny Qin discovered my secret back then. Just because Your Majesty doesn't believe him doesn't mean that Princess Jinyang doesn't believe her.
Now the Grand Princess has entered the palace and summoned back all those left behind by the late Emperor and the Empress Dowager. These people have been in the palace longer than we have."
As the imperial concubine spoke, she was visibly panicked.
Seeing this, Nanny Zhou beside the imperial concubine stepped forward, patted her hand soothingly, and said:
"Don't panic, Concubine. No matter how powerful the Grand Princess of Jinyang is, she cannot surpass Your Majesty.
As long as the Queen holds His Majesty's heart firmly, they will not be able to cause any major trouble in the palace."
The imperial concubine shook her head after hearing this and said, "I'm afraid we'll have to be extremely alert this time.
Now the management of the six palaces has fallen into the hands of Consort Xian, and she is no fool like the Queen."
Miao Qing, the maidservant beside the Imperial Concubine, said, "The virtuous concubine has imprisoned herself in Yong'an Palace for many years and has allowed the harem to become the Empress's world.
This shows that she is not very smart and is not worth worrying about."
The Imperial Concubine shook her head after hearing this and said: "Before I entered the palace, this harem was ruled by the virtuous concubine.
If it weren't for her quarrel with His Majesty, and the virtuous concubine not coming out out of anger, this palace wouldn't have been so successful these past few years. We'd better be careful."
Nanny Zhou nodded and said, "Yes, I'm afraid Nanny Qin has already informed Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess of everything.
The two decrees from the harem are probably not His Majesty's intentions, but the opinions of the Grand Princess Jinyang."
Miao Qing continued, "Is the Grand Princess of Jinyang planning to use Consort Xian to deal with us?"
"No, this is a tacit understanding reached between the Empress, Consort Xian, and Grand Princess Jinyang.
I have been fighting with the Queen for so many years, but the Queen has not gained any advantage. Princess Jinyang wants to find someone to challenge me.
The reason why the Queen remained silent was that she wanted to watch the fight between the virtuous concubine and me so that she could reap the benefits.
No, we must send a message to the Young Master as soon as possible."
Nanny Zhou nodded and said, "I obey your command."
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