It's finally here!
Qian Shengyan relaxed her brows, but showed no intention of dodging or retreating.
She held the hand warmer close to her, a slight smile on her face, and quietly watched Li Shi's ferocious expression.
Li's momentum was strong, but someone was faster than her!
Two eunuchs suddenly darted out from behind Qian Shengyan, standing on either side of her and raising their hands to block Li Shi!
Li's outstretched hands were just a hair's breadth away from pinching Qian Shengyan; her fingertips could even touch the fur on Qian Shengyan's cloak. But her shoulders were pressed down hard, and she simply couldn't go any further!
"Qian!!" Li roared hoarsely, her voice filled with resentment, "Die! Die! Die—ah!"
The two eunuchs could not tolerate her insulting the Imperial Noble Consort like that, and with a clever move, they pressed Li down onto the still-icy ground.
Li's arm was twisted behind her back, and she could only cry out in pain, panting heavily through her nose, unable to utter another word.
A pair of light purple flowerpot-shaped shoes adorned with pearls walked up to her. Li Shi stared wide-eyed at those feet, and then heard Qian Shengyan's smiling voice: "Why did you take so long? You've kept me waiting."
After the appearance of the double fish jade pendant in Yongshou Palace, Qian Shengyan made some arrangements—she had already died once, she couldn't just sit idly by and wait.
Actually, it's easy to trace the source of the items belonging to the late Crown Prince that appeared in the palace. After ruling out the Emperor's private treasury, there is only one person who could have obtained the items belonging to the late Crown Prince, and that is the late Crown Prince's biological daughter, Princess Shushen.
However, Qian Shengyan hadn't thought of it before. It was only when He Hui and Duanrou came to pay their respects that day that they mentioned Shushen, who had already been betrothed, saying that she was now preparing for her wedding and spent all her time doing embroidery in Changchun Palace and couldn't come out to play with them at all.
He Hui and Duan Rou now live with Fu Erguochun in the South Third Palace. For this reason, Yinzhen specially strengthened the guards and patrols of the South Third Palace and arranged the residences of the princesses in the inner side to ensure their safety.
It was only then that Qian Shengyan remembered that Shushen actually lived in Changchun Palace with Ulanara.
In this harem, there was no one who could secretly slip things into her Yongshou Palace without anyone noticing.
After that day, she begged Yinzhen to find two eunuchs with decent skills to be transferred to Yongshou Palace, thinking that she would take these two with her when she went out. Who knew that after waiting and waiting, the New Year was over and they were about to go to Yuanmingyuan, but there was still no movement from Changchun Palace.
Finally, today, when Ulanara summoned everyone to discuss matters, Qian Shengyan guessed that something was bound to happen. In addition, Ulanara made an excuse to keep her there, clearly intending to leave her alone.
That's too obvious.
As Qian Shengyan walked, she was being supported by Qingxue, and behind her were the two eunuchs, Duan Wen and Duan Wu, who both knew martial arts.
Qian Shengyan tilted her head and looked at Li Shi for a moment, then suddenly raised an eyebrow: "What is she holding in her left hand?"
Duan Wen sternly rebuked her and reached out to pry open Li's fingers, only to find nothing in her palm. Qingxue, however, with sharp eyes, exclaimed, "There's something under her fingernails! There's something under her fingernails!"
Upon closer inspection, everyone was as expected; Li's long index fingernail was filled with white powder, which fell off as her finger trembled.
Qian Shengyan had someone find a handkerchief to wrap the powder in, and then asked Li Shi, "Are you going to say it here, or in front of the Emperor?"
"You...you have no right to punish me!" Lady Li said through gritted teeth.
She was indeed in the cold palace, but she was not deposed and remained a concubine!
"As the Imperial Noble Consort who assists in managing the six palaces, do I have no right to punish you?" Qian Shengyan chuckled. "Alright, then go see the Emperor."
"Wait a minute!" Lady Li exclaimed in surprise. "Shouldn't matters concerning the inner palace be discussed with the Empress first?"
After she finished speaking, the scene fell silent for a moment, then Qian Shengyan burst out laughing.
This is practically an admission of guilt.
She clapped her hands with a hint of delight and laughed, "Alright then, Green Willow, go and invite the Empress to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Duan Wen and Duan Wu, take Consort Qi with you, let's go and see the Emperor first."
Yinzhen wasn't too busy today. After finishing court and dealing with some memorials, he thought of going to the rear palace to see the Imperial Noble Consort, but when he got there, he didn't see her. After asking around, he learned that Changchun Palace had sent someone to a meeting, so he gave up and went back to the West Warm Palace.
Not long after he returned, someone came to report that the Imperial Noble Consort was requesting an audience.
"Hmm?" Yinzhen was puzzled for a moment, thinking that Yanyan could just go to the inner palace when she returned, but then he realized that such a formal request for an audience must mean that there was something important.
"Please come in." Yinzhen put away his vermilion brush, and Su Peisheng also stepped forward to tidy up the memorials and other things and put them aside. The next moment, Qian Shengyan led a group of people into the room. Behind her was Li Shi, who was being suppressed by Duan Wen and Duan Wu.
"This is..." Yinzhen squinted at the woman who staggered in, and after a moment he recognized her. He frowned, stood up, walked over and took Qian Shengyan's hand, then stopped in front of Li Shi, "Li Shi? What happened?"
"Your Majesty..." Li Shi was scared at this moment. She called out in a trembling voice, rolled her eyes and wanted to faint. Qian Shengyan had anticipated this and splashed a cup of warm tea on her face.
"Ah!" Li screamed in agony. Duan Wen had already knelt down and recounted the whole story.
At this moment, Qian Shengyan stopped sneering and chuckling. She just sat to the side, covering her eyes with a handkerchief, looking both aggrieved and afraid, as if she hadn't been the one who had just splashed hot tea on someone.
After finishing her short essay, she said with a sob in her voice, "I don't know how I offended Consort Qi, that she would try to harm me like this! If Duan Wen and Duan Wu hadn't stopped me in time, she would have strangled me! She has something hidden under her fingernails, and if she had just scratched my skin, she would have killed me!"
"She dares!" Yinzhen roared. "Fine, Li Shi, you're very good!"
Lady Li began to sob and plead, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty... I did not intend to harm the Imperial Noble Consort. I only... I only wanted to greet her... I only raised my hand and was misunderstood..."
"So how did you get out?" Qian Shengyan asked at the opportune moment.
Li froze, just as an announcement came from outside that Ulanara had arrived.
Ulanara arrived in a hurry. Upon entering, she glared at the incompetent Li Shi, then hastily composed herself and bowed to Yinzhen: "Your Majesty."
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress." Qian Shengyan stood behind Yinzhen and curtsied to Ulanara.
Yinzhen didn't tell Ulanara to get up. Instead, he walked to Qian Shengyan, took her wrist, and made her stand up straight. Then he asked, "Empress, in broad daylight, a deposed concubine from the Cold Palace is running around everywhere. How are you managing the harem?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
