It turns out that while Geng Youran was investigating this matter, Yinzhen was not idle either.
The two of them found out about Hongshi's situation one after the other.
After that, news of Hongshi's persecution of the royal bloodline spread throughout the palace.
Consort Nian was released from confinement, Consort Wu was neglected, the Empress rectified the atmosphere of the harem, and Consort Qi knelt day and night at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"I wonder what brings Your Majesty here today?"
"Sister, you must already know about Hongshi and Consort Qi's affair, right?"
"Of course. It's already spread throughout the palace, it's hard for any concubine not to know."
"His Majesty sent Gao Wuyong to see me, saying that Consort Qi has been kneeling at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation for three days. This can't go on. I called you here to ask for your advice."
'They don't want me to come up with ideas, they clearly want me to persuade them,' Geng Youran thought to herself.
"Your Majesty thinks too highly of me. I have no good ideas about this. As you know, Consort Qi always dotes on Hongshi. She would do anything for him."
"Then she only brought trouble upon herself. The Emperor has already issued an edict ordering Hongshi to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors. No one is allowed to see him without the Emperor's decree."
Geng Youran couldn't help but sigh. This child, in the end, still did something wrong in his pursuit of the throne.
"Since Her Majesty the Empress has said so, I will give it a try. But what if I cannot persuade her..."
"I will bear the consequences."
"Yes, then I will go there right away."
Geng Youran rushed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and saw Consort Qi not far away, dressed in plain clothes, her face pale, her lips bloodless, and she looked like she might collapse at any moment.
"Consort Qi."
"You've come, haven't you? To see me make a fool of myself."
"Your Highness, please stop this. Your health will collapse if you continue like this."
"Ha, stop crying over nothing. I bet you wish we were dead right now."
Geng Youran frowned; she hadn't expected that Consort Qi would still be so confused at this point.
"Your Highness Consort Qi, Prince Hongshi caused the death of Consort Wu's unborn child, and led Consort Jia to commit suicide. These are two lives lost! Do you think the Emperor will let this go? Do you think the Guarjia clan and the families behind the Wu clan will let this go?"
"It's clearly their own greed! What does it have to do with my Hongshi!"
If it weren't for her promise to the Empress, Geng Youran really wanted to leave. She thought to herself, "No wonder they're mother and son; their thought processes are exactly the same."
She frowned and said with a gloomy face:
"Sister Qi Fei, I'll call you 'sister' one more time. If you want Hong Shi to die quickly, then keep kneeling here!"
Geng Youran then got up and left.
Consort Qi was confused by Geng Youran's words and didn't know whether she should continue kneeling. She also knew that continuing to kneel might not be of any use.
"Your Majesty, Consort Qi has arrived."
"please."
"yes."
"Consort Yu, there's no need to be so polite. Just say what you have to say. I'll do anything to save my Hongshi."
Geng Youran twitched the corner of her mouth, put down her teacup, and said:
"Sister, I only have one thing to say: Hongshi's fate depends on whether you believe it or not."
"Speak."
"From this day forward, you are no longer responsible for Hongshi's affairs."
Consort Qi stood up solemnly:
"Consort Yu, what do you mean by this? I only have Hongshi left as my child. Are you telling me to abandon him?"
"Sister Qi Fei, it's still the same thing, it all depends on whether you believe it or not."
Consort Qi turned and left without continuing her conversation with Geng Youran.
Qianxue entered the room, looking at Qi Fei's retreating figure with a sense of helplessness, and said:
"Your Highness, why did Consort Qi leave? What will happen to Prince Hongshi now that she's gone?"
"I'm giving her one night. If she hasn't made up her mind by this time tomorrow, then I won't be able to help her."
"Your Majesty, surely the Emperor wouldn't really execute Prince Hongshi?"
Geng Youran glanced at her sideways:
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. Also, have someone keep an eye on Consort Qi and report to me immediately if anything happens."
"yes."
Qianxue was even more confused; she couldn't guess what her master was thinking.
Geng Youran's thinking was actually very simple. She knew that the Emperor would not take action against Hongshi this time, but others did not know, at least not Consort Qi.
Now that Consort Nian has been released from confinement, the Emperor seems to be considering regaining his favor, so Geng Youran needs Consort Qi to help her divert Consort Nian's attention.
Of course, Geng Youran wouldn't tell anyone about these things.
That evening, the Emperor came to Chengqian Palace and chatted with Geng Youran about Hongshi.
"You're probably already aware of what's happened recently, even without me telling you. What are your thoughts on Hongshi?"
"Your Majesty, since you asked me to speak, I will tell you the truth. Please don't be angry."
"Speak, I'm not angry."
"I think Prince Hongshi has been tricked."
"You've been tricked?"
“We all know that Prince Hongshi wants to seize the throne. But given his cunning, he would never have thought of such a vicious scheme.”
"You mean, there's someone else behind this?"
Geng Youran nodded and said:
"At the very least, there is someone who gives him advice."
Yinzhen turned his head and stared at Geng Youran without saying a word, which made Geng Youran feel uneasy.
"Your Majesty, why are you looking at me like that?"
"I just feel it's a bit of a pity that I didn't let you assist in managing the six palaces."
Geng Youran smiled and brought Yinzhen a new cup of tea.
"Your Majesty, I don't have that much ability. It's already quite difficult for me to manage this small area of Chengqian Palace."
"I know you're blaming me because of what happened to Consort Wu."
"Your Majesty, I dare not."
"lie."
It's a lie, but it's not entirely a lie either.
Geng Youran simply didn't want to serve people.
They entered the palace to serve the empress and the emperor, and left the palace to serve the prince, the princess, or even the concubine.
Having finally entered the palace, she was now being asked to serve a mere concubine, which she naturally refused to do.
"How about this, I will issue an edict tomorrow to have Consort Wu move to another palace, is that alright?"
"Your Majesty can decide for yourself."
Yinzhen patted Geng Youran's shoulder helplessly. This woman was getting colder and colder, but once she entered his heart, she couldn't easily get out.
Just as Geng Youran had predicted, Hongshi was not sentenced to death but was imprisoned.
Consort Qi helped Geng Youran divert Nian Yunrong's attention in the harem, leaving Nian Yunrong at a loss for what to do.
To make matters worse, in April, Nian Gengyao was demoted to the position of General of Hangzhou, and soon after, he was reduced to a sinecure guarding the East Gate of Hangzhou.
Fu Hui fell ill again at this time.
Under these circumstances, Geng Youran actually had a relatively leisurely summer.
Aside from occasionally agreeing to something or popping up in public, she lived a very comfortable life.
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