Chapter 65 A-Zhu: Hehehe, every little bit helps...
If the first time someone was sent to Emperor Xuanpei's side, there was some reluctance and helplessness involved.
This time, it seems that Empress Wang acted out of sheer frustration and resentment.
At this moment, everything that Empress Wang said about Azhu was true.
But it is precisely this kind of plain and simple "truthful" humiliation that is so harsh and piercing to the heart.
Emperor Xuanpei felt that if this was the case even in front of him, one could only imagine what kind of things his Azhu was hearing in the palace.
No wonder Ah Zhu was so anxious and almost cried with him about "life and death" without any regard for anything else.
Looking at the room full of palace maids resembling A-Zhu, and thinking of the twin sisters that Empress Dowager Shu was so eager to send to his side...
Empress Wang's almost provocative and mocking behavior, which seemed to suggest he was "desperate," ignited the fire that had been burning within Emperor Xuanpei.
Emperor Xuanpei was never a very good-tempered person.
Even though he rarely loses his temper, it is ultimately a cold indifference that seems to ignore him.
"Rules" are habits, but more like reminders that restrain his rationality.
"Get out, everyone."
Upon hearing Emperor Xuanpei speak, none of the palace maids dared to stay. They all lowered their heads and replied in unison, "Yes."
"Your Majesty!"
Empress Wang tried to stop him, but when she turned around, she met Emperor Xuanpei's gaze.
It was cold and thin, like a sharp blade gleaming with chilling light, and it swiftly shattered the words on the Queen's lips.
Realizing her momentary fear and cowardice, Empress Wang gritted her teeth and became even more unwilling to bow her head.
She was a noblewoman of the Wang family, the Princess of Qin betrothed by the late emperor, and the Empress, who ruled the country with unparalleled grace.
She had two sons, the eldest of whom was the crown prince.
Which concubine in this palace could compare to her?
Even Consort Zhang, who also came from a distinguished family and had a son, was defeated by her...
But what about now?
A wicked slave, guilty of unforgivable sins, was repeatedly bullied by a foot-washing maid.
How could Empress Wang tolerate such arrogant and outrageous provocation? How could she possibly tolerate it?
"Your Majesty..."
Empress Wang, unusually, knelt before Emperor Xuanpei.
"Your Majesty, I am the Empress, and also the Mother of the Nation... It is my duty to offer loyal advice before the Emperor!"
"Your Majesty, the Jiang family is treacherous and disloyal, harboring the heart of a traitor. Jiang Zhu is a remnant of the rebel party; what good could she possibly be?"
"She used every trick in the book to climb up to the Emperor, and the Emperor still favored her. How will the people of the world view the Emperor?"
"Now that Lady Jiang has set an example, the servants in the palace will only feel resentful and will rush to imitate her, making people uneasy."
"Moreover, Lady Jiang has acted improperly, stirring up trouble in the palace in just a few days, incurring the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people, and causing widespread discontent—she is truly harboring evil intentions and harboring treacherous thoughts!"
Empress Wang held her head high, looking at Emperor Xuanpei with disappointment and indignation.
Even if His Majesty wishes to punish me today, I will still speak out—
"Your Majesty, I cannot stand by and watch you bewitch me by such a vile and despicable servant."
"To bear the infamy of a tyrant for the sake of a mere criminal slave!"
Looking at Empress Wang, who was "unyielding" and whose words were piercing and heartbreaking, Emperor Xuanpei did not suddenly realize his mistake and "turn over a new leaf." On the contrary, he even... suddenly wanted to laugh.
In the imperial court, there were countless so-called "passionate and impassioned" individuals.
They didn't want to do anything; they just spent their days nitpicking over trivial matters and angrily submitting their remonstrances.
They wished they could publicly remonstrate with him by banging their heads against a pillar, so that they could use his reputation as a "foolish and incompetent ruler" to make a name for themselves in history and be remembered for eternity.
Emperor Xuanpei had seen enough of these people in the court, and he was thoroughly tired of them.
Unexpectedly, someone in the palace took over this role.
With her emotions running high and filled with grief and indignation, Empress Wang clenched her fists tightly. Her eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Emperor Xuanpei, clearly prepared to be punished if she argued with him.
Unexpectedly, Empress Wang watched as Emperor Xuanpei suddenly shook his head and laughed.
Empress Wang, caught up in her emotions, was not afraid of Emperor Xuanpei's anger, nor was she afraid of his punishment.
But his smile... made Empress Wang, who was inexplicably flustered, suddenly lose all her composure.
Emperor Xuanpei did not argue with Empress Wang any further, and he did not even get angry when she listed his various "tyrannical" titles.
He even still had a slight smile on his face.
As he rose and looked down at Empress Wang, Emperor Xuanpei uttered only one sentence.
"Your Majesty, from now on, there is no need to send people from Kunning Palace to the Emperor."
Having said that, Emperor Xuanpei didn't look at Empress Wang a second time, and turned to leave.
"Your Majesty, you are about to depart."
"Set up the carriage at Guanju Palace—"
At Eunuch Chen's shout, Aunt Hua and the others who were waiting outside the hall hurriedly ran into the hall.
Seeing Empress Wang nearly slumped on the ground, they hurriedly stepped forward to help her up.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, what's wrong? Has His Majesty reprimanded you?"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you..."
Nianqin stared in astonishment at the tears on Empress Wang's face and fell silent.
Emperor Xuanpei did not punish him...
But for Empress Wang at this moment, she might have preferred that Emperor Xuanpei would punish her in a fit of rage.
With vacant eyes and tears streaming down her face, Empress Wang felt a chill run through her body. She clearly felt that something was slipping through her fingers and had been lost.
"Your Majesty..."
Empress Wang, who could barely sit on the couch with the help of several people, could not hear anything.
She gripped Huiyue's arm, her lips trembling slightly as she spoke.
"Send a message to the household, saying that Sui'er... should be allowed to enter the palace."
*
Guanju Palace
While Empress Wang was organizing a "beauty pageant" for Emperor Xuanpei, Azhu and Consort Feng were also whispering and discussing their plans.
Ah Zhu had already told Consort Feng everything that happened at the hunting grounds the night they returned.
Honestly, everyone says "quiet people do great things," and Consort Feng never imagined that Ah Zhu, who was always so soft and whiny, would be so "brave."
Fortunately, A-Zhu did not follow in her footsteps.
"...That Miss Jiang you mentioned is not difficult to deal with."
The sixth young lady Jiang, who had frightened Ah Zhu so much, was clearly no big deal in Consort Feng's eyes.
"If you've made up your mind to ignore her, all her tricks will be for no one."
"Even if the truth about the Jiang family taking the blame back then is revealed... given the Emperor's current attitude towards you, if you refuse to give in, she will definitely be the one to die in the end."
"Furthermore, if the Emperor's promise to clear Jiang's name is true, then anyone involved in this matter will be forced to keep quiet."
"He will be determined to personally confirm your identity."
“A-Zhu”.
Consort Feng's voice softened.
"Whether it's Lu Yinyue or Miss Jiang, none of that matters. What matters is... that Madam Qian."
"A-Zhu, can you really just pretend you don't know her?"
"Can you remain unmoved by all the news about her?"
"The emperor is not easily fooled."
"He will inevitably want more from you, no matter how much he gives you."
"You've filled yourself up completely to plug this 'hole'... but once trust is damaged, it's not as simple as just saying 'fix it'."
To admit it or not to admit it?
Once you've made up your mind, you're determined to see it through to the end.
In the palace, those who hesitate and waver never have a good ending.
A-Zhu didn't speak; she couldn't utter a word.
She resented the money her mother had sent to prison to take the blame for her crime.
She kept saying she had to repay the kindness of being born.
She wouldn't even call her "mother."
Ah Zhu really thought he could remain indifferent... but when Jiang Liu mentioned Qian Mama, Ah Zhu couldn't help but go crazy and yell at her to stop.
"Your Majesty, I don't know."
Tears welled up in Azhu's eyes without her realizing it.
"Even if I say I can do it now, I can't really fool myself... I really don't know."
Consort Feng sighed softly.
If you know you can't go all the way, you shouldn't force yourself down a dead end.
"A-Zhu, if you really don't know if you can do it in the future... then leave yourself a way out first."
......
The imperial carriage soon arrived at Guanju Palace. As soon as they entered the inner hall, Emperor Xuanpei saw Azhu, who had been crying, hurriedly putting away a booklet with red eyes.
"Your Majesty."
Emperor Xuanpei reached out and hugged her, looking at Azhu who still had tears in her eyes, and wiped away the tears that were still stuck to her cheeks.
Emperor Xuanpei embraced Azhu and sat her on the chaise longue.
With a slight turn of my head, I saw the booklet that had been hastily stuffed away.
Emperor Xuanpei did not reach out to take it directly, but instead looked down at Azhu in his arms.
"You're crying... What are you looking at that's making you so sad?"
A-Zhu snuggled shyly against Emperor Xuanpei's chest, then took out the booklet.
"This concubine is just browsing to pass the time."
It wasn't some rambling, nonsensical story written by those delusional scholars dreaming of the future, but rather a play... "Mulian Saves His Mother".
Emperor Xuanpei remained silent for a moment.
Because of different experiences and backgrounds, there are very few people in this world who can truly empathize with others.
However, Emperor Xuanpei only had one foster mother.
When Consort Shu forced him to keep backing down, and even when he had to bow his head to the other princes regardless of right or wrong... the young Emperor Xuanpei wondered if his mother were still alive, would she have protected him as wholeheartedly as those other consorts?
Would it be possible to make him admit his mistake and apologize without even asking what happened?
But the reality is that no one cares about the pride and face of a taciturn prince.
Nobody cares whether he's happy or not.
Even his favorite foods were criticized as being unfit for public consumption, and he was forced to admit his mistake and then forbidden from touching them again.
Countless grievances and resentments were swallowed down along with blood and tears at the border.
Emperor Xuanpei, who had struggled to fight his way out, now looked at Azhu, who had no relatives or friends... and it was as if he saw his younger self in the deep palace, feeling equally lost, powerless and sad.
“A-Zhu”.
A-Zhu did not respond.
She even felt that the Emperor Xuanpei in front of her, whose eyes revealed a faint sadness, had an unusually unreal quality.
No, what did she just say?
? ? ?
It's just a fictional story, and the emperor was so easily moved?
ah? ? ?
That can't be, right?
The unusual situation made Ah Zhu feel genuinely panicked.
She didn't dare to continue the preamble, but simply nestled in Emperor Xuanpei's arms, holding him tightly in return.
Two people embracing each other... or rather, curling up together for warmth, the scene was incredibly heartwarming, with tender emotions slowly welling up.
At this moment, no matter what A-Zhu asked for, Emperor Xuanpei would give it to her.
But feeling uncertain and chickening out, Ah Zhu regretfully missed a golden opportunity.
Meanwhile, Emperor Xuanpei was thinking of Empress Wang in Kunning Palace, who, right in front of him, had repeatedly humiliated her by calling her a lowly maid and a foot-washing maid—
This happened right before his eyes. In places he couldn't see, how much injustice had his Ah Zhu suffered?
Just thinking about this only fueled the fire that had been burning within Emperor Xuanpei in Kunning Palace.
He held A-Zhu in his arms and, following the so-called "rules," said only: "I will draft an edict for you, so that from now on, you will not have to go to the Empress's palace to pay your respects if you feel unhappy."
Upon hearing this, A-Zhu was not pleased but rather alarmed.
She was worried that she only had a limited opportunity to publicly provoke Empress Wang during greetings, and regretted that she could not freely enter and leave Kunning Palace to "get close and intimate" with Empress Wang.
Wouldn't this deprive him of his only chance to meet Empress Wang?
Ah Zhu refused to comply.
"Your Majesty."
Ah Zhu pressed her hand against Emperor Xuanpei's chest and whispered, "The status of a concubine is inherently controversial."
"If even the matter of paying respects to the Empress in the inner palace is neglected, it will only lead to more rumors and gossip, and even the Emperor will not be able to have peace."
Emperor Xuanpei gently stroked Azhu's back.
"If anyone dares to speak out of turn, I will personally order their punishment."
Ah Zhu received a letter early on about Emperor Xuanpei's visit to Kunning Palace.
At this moment, she was certain that something must have gone wrong with Empress Wang, who had seriously offended Xuan Pei, that petty person.
Ah Zhu, who only wished he could fan the flames and add fuel to the fire, had no intention of backing down.
She raised her head, her face flushed, and rested her hand on Emperor Xuanpei's shoulder, grumbling, "...I knew I couldn't hide it from His Majesty."
"It's one thing for me to be afraid of causing gossip, but actually, when I go to the Empress's palace to pay my respects every day, I also want to... show off."
Emperor Xuanpei paused as he touched Azhu's hand.
"show off?"
"yes."
A-Zhu, responding to the call, still rested his face on Emperor Xuanpei's shoulder.
She looked at the famille rose hexagonal vase painted with auspicious cloud patterns not far away, her tone both shy and proud.
"His Majesty has shown me great favor and has summoned me to his bedchamber several times... I can't help but want to show off a bit, so every day I want to go to Kunning Palace early to pay my respects to the Empress."
It's not surprising at all that Ah Zhu, with his shallow and arrogant nature, would say such a thing.
But in Emperor Xuanpei's eyes, Ah Zhu, so genuine and "smug," swaying left and right with a smug grin, was simply irresistibly cute.
He hugged A-Zhu, and both of them were shaking with laughter.
"Your Majesty..."
Hearing Ah Zhu calling him pitifully and resentfully, Emperor Xuanpei barely managed to stop laughing.
Instead, Ah Zhu couldn't help but laugh, and with a soft laugh, she leaned close to Emperor Xuanpei's lips and kissed him.
"Your Majesty, please don't take offense at my humble opinion... This is just one of my few hobbies."
Emperor Xuanpei smiled and patted Azhu's head. He replied repeatedly, "Alright, alright, alright, go ahead and go to Kunning Palace to pay your respects."
Ah-Zhu, whose wish had been fulfilled once again, hugged Xuan-Pei and smiled with her eyes crinkling.
"Your Majesty is so kind."
Emperor Xuanpei smiled and touched Azhu's long, curled eyelashes. After thinking for a moment, he couldn't help but instruct her, "When you leave Guanju Palace in the future, take some people with you so that those who follow you will be more vigilant."
Ah Zhu nodded repeatedly.
......
Before he received the "get-out-of-jail-free card," Ah Zhu was already eager to ascend to heaven, let alone now that he's practically being praised to the skies.
These past two months have truly broadened the horizons of those in the palace—
A-Zhu's words of "unwavering loyalty" were as if they were ingrained in her flesh and glued to her lips, never fading away in Kunning Palace.
However polite, loyal, and respectful she was in her words, her actual attitude towards Empress Wang was extremely aggressive, vicious, and almost sarcastic.
Ah Zhu is truly hated.
However, the Emperor seemed to be bewitched and blinded, turning a blind eye to Jiang's unruly and outrageous behavior.
Even when Empress Wang or Empress Dowager Shu were so enraged that they wanted to punish Jiang, they personally came to protect her.
Jiang Shi cried pitifully, looking as if she had suffered some great injustice, only shedding tears and shrinking in the emperor's arms.
This situation, which was both frustrating and infuriating, seemed endless, even continuing right up until the Lunar New Year.
At the turn of the year, the Spring Festival, which should have been a joyous occasion, was... well, apart from Ah Zhu and Emperor Xuan Pei, no one else in the palace really had a good time.
Therefore, when the imperial concubines were at a loss for what to do with A-Zhu during the selection of concubines at the beginning of the new year, they were actually hoping for a selection of young women to enter the palace as soon as possible so as to put down Jiang's power.
With the triennial imperial selection approaching, Empress Wang surprisingly put aside her grudges with Consort Zhang and refrained from any underhanded tactics, instead focusing on preparing for the selection of imperial concubines.
A-Zhu has no palace affairs to attend to, and she's not in a hurry about this at all.
After all, how long had she been a concubine?
Even if these things were handed to her now, she wouldn't be able to do them properly.
While you can still please the emperor, do your best to please him. Once you have a position of power and can no longer please him, you will naturally be able to compete for control of the palace.
After the greetings were over that day, A-Zhu intercepted the Consort Xian, who had finally made an appearance.
"Your Highness, the Virtuous Consort."
A-Zhu, who was calling for Consort Xian, unceremoniously found a secluded spot and blocked the person's path.
Yet, just as Consort Xian was on edge, as if facing a formidable enemy, he smiled and curtsied to her.
"This humble concubine greets Your Highness, the Virtuous Consort."
"Consort Jiang, there's no need for such formalities."
Consort Xian waved her hand repeatedly, signaling A-Zhu to get up.
Consort Xian wanted to ask A-Zhu what he was trying to do by stopping her... but she just couldn't bring herself to say it.
After all, Ah Zhu's behavior over the past few months and Emperor Xuanpei's excessive favoritism were so "shocking" that they were somewhat frightening.
Even though Consort Xian is now a concubine... what does being a concubine mean?
Even Consort Zhang, Empress Wang, and Empress Dowager Shu had to back down.
Seeing that the people from Guanju Palace had surrounded the place at a distance, Azhu looked at Consort Xian with concern in her eyes, but her words struck at Consort Xian's weak spot.
"His Majesty said that Princess Jingyi has always been prone to coughing during the winter and spring... Now that Your Highness is out and about, has Princess Jingyi's cough been cured?"
Consort Xian clenched her fists tightly; she really wanted to just throw the person away and leave without a trace.
But seeing Ah Zhu's concerned expression, Consort Xian had no choice but to force a polite smile.
"Thank you for your concern, Consort Jiang. Jingyi has been feeling much better these past few days."
"That's good, that's good."
A-Zhu nodded repeatedly, looking relieved. Then she looked at Consort Xian and smiled, "In the past, when the princess was ill, I didn't want to bother her."
"Now that the princess is feeling better, I would like to visit the Sixth Princess at Ganquan Palace."
Consort Xian forced a faint, fake smile.
"How could we let Consort Jiang go to such lengths to see a junior like her? It's really..."
"What are you saying, Your Highness?!"
A-Zhu stared at Consort Xian with a forced smile and said, "Princess Jingyi is truly beautiful and lovely, well-behaved and charming. I really like her very much. I only regret that I cannot keep her by my side every day and take good care of her. How could it be considered troublesome?"
"If I hadn't met Consort Xian today and received such a personal greeting, I would have been thinking of asking His Majesty to take the Sixth Princess to Guanju Palace to be properly cared for."
"Consort Jiang!"
Consort Xian, like a cat with its fur standing on end, cried out, "You, you, you are simply outrageous!"
"How dare you!" A-Zhu took a step closer to Consort Xian.
She clutched her lower abdomen and said aggressively, "Your Majesty knows how to cherish the princess and love your own child, but what about my child?"
"He should be treated like dirt, discarded like a lump of rotten flesh?!"
Consort Xian took a step back, her face deathly pale.
Wow, it actually exploded.
Just as her new rivals were about to enter the palace, Ah Zhu's old grudges were not yet settled.
Empress Wang's help was something A-Zhu could manage, but Empress Dowager Shu... A-Zhu was truly powerless to help her.
The Marquis of Chengen's household has a grudge against the Jiang family. How could Consort Xian not know this?
The Virtuous Consort must know.
Therefore, Consort Xian's face would tighten every time she saw her.
When she publicly "miscarried" in Cining Palace, not only did no one offer a perfunctory word, but no one seemed surprised either.
"I thought I had kept my pregnancy a secret all along," A-Zhu said, her eyes red as she looked at Consort Xian. "When did Your Majesty find out?"
Faced with Ah Zhu's confident expression, and considering how favored she was, who knew if she had discovered something?
What's more, A-Zhu even used the Sixth Princess to threaten her... Consort Xian couldn't keep her mouth shut and actually revealed everything.
Okay, okay.
Ah Zhu wanted to applaud all the ladies in the palace.
If she hadn't shamelessly clung to the emperor as her backer, she probably wouldn't have been able to win even one round against these women.
"I will not let the death of my unborn child go unpunished."
Ah Zhu stared directly at Consort Xian and threatened her without any restraint.
"Your Majesty should have heard this clearly."
"Your Majesty, you may go to the Emperor to lodge a complaint and seek help from Empress Dowager Shu... But I swear that I will do everything in my power to make Your Majesty suffer unbearable pain and wish you were dead."
Ah Zhu truly struck at Consort Xian's weak spot.
Consort Xian, who was utterly heartless and helpless in the face of Ah Zhu's threats, broke down in tears.
"All the mistakes are my fault."
Consort Xian knelt down as she spoke, pleading with A-Zhu through her tears.
“Consort Jiang, if you have a problem, come at me. Jingyi is only six years old. She is truly innocent.”
A-Zhu stared blankly at the virtuous concubine in front of her, who was kneeling and kowtowing to her for the sake of the Sixth Princess, crying and begging her.
She can kneel down too, it's just that.
If she made a mistake, all she had to do was kneel down and beg; she could do it even faster and cry more bitterly than Consort Xian...
"I can have my own children, what use is a useless princess?"
Ah Zhu looked coldly at Consort Xian.
"It is true that Your Majesty is a villain who stirred things up behind the scenes, but the executioner who harmed the imperial child in my womb is ultimately Empress Dowager Shu."
"Your Highness, whether you believe it or not, I have one thing to say—as long as Your Highness is willing to make amends, for the sake of Princess Jingyi, I will let you off the hook no matter what."
"If Your Majesty thinks that I am useless and only talk big, or that Empress Dowager Shu is more worthy of your loyalty... Your Majesty, please give it a try."
Empress Dowager Shu?
Azhu repeatedly mentioned that Empress Dowager Shu was not a reliable support for Consort Xian.
Consort Xian saw it very clearly—Empress Dowager Shu looked down on her and always thought she was useless.
In the palace, not all women from a family could rise to high positions.
She is now the head of the palace, but she is blocking the way.
Empress Dowager Shu wished she could disappear immediately so that the position of the head of the palace could be made available to those two sisters... Why would she help her?
Consort Xian wiped away her tears and looked up at A-Zhu.
"Consort Jiang, what do you want me to do?"
"From now on, I'll have to trouble Your Highness to take care of things." A-Zhu smiled and helped Consort Xian up. "As for what else I could possibly want... naturally, it's to avenge the unborn child of the Emperor who died in my womb."
The virtuous concubine, feeling a chill run through her body, looked at the smiling Ah Zhu and finally nodded blankly.
......
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Author's Note: Thank you so much for your support, my lovely readers! [heart][heart][heart]
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