"Your Majesty, Consort Wu has been promoted to Noble Lady Ning."
"Oh? Just a distinguished person?"
"Your Majesty, you seem quite disappointed?"
"The Emperor has summoned her quite a few times recently, and I thought she would at least be a concubine."
Qianxue pouted:
"She has only served the Emperor for a short time, and now that she has become a Noble Lady, it is already a great blessing."
Geng Youran lay on a recliner in the courtyard with her eyes closed, chatting idly. Suddenly, she remembered that Hongzhou had sent someone a few days ago to say that he wanted to eat some snacks.
"Qianxue, have Xiao Anzi go to the Imperial Household Department and ask if any fresh ingredients have been delivered recently. Pick a few and we'll make something for Hongzhou to eat."
"Yes, this servant will go right away."
Geng Youran made some snacks that Hongzhou and Hongli liked, and had Xiao Anzi deliver some of them. Afterwards, she also took some of her homemade osmanthus honey to Yongshou Palace.
"This concubine greets Consort Xi."
"Sister is here, please rise. There's no need for formalities between us sisters."
“Affection is one thing, but rules cannot be broken. I just made some food for the two children and sent it to the prince’s residence. Remembering that you always like my osmanthus honey, I brought some over.”
"Even if my older sister doesn't say anything, I was just about to ask for it anyway."
"glutton."
"Sister, you also know about Consort Ning's matter?"
"I understand. I didn't expect that despite her innocent appearance, she's actually quite clever. She managed to extricate herself from such a serious matter. To compensate her, the Emperor bestowed upon her the title of Noble Lady and even gave her a separate palace."
Wanru glanced around, told Huangli and Qianxue to stand guard at the door, and quietly said to Geng Youran:
"Sister, the Eighth Prince has been imprisoned."
"Because of Hongshi?"
Wanru was stunned for a moment:
"How did you know, sister?"
Geng Youran smiled:
"To be honest, I was just guessing. This matter dragged on for several months, and I knew the Emperor had a backup plan. It's just a pity for Hongshi, who became someone else's shield without even realizing it."
Wanru sighed:
"Who can argue with that? We've watched Hongshi grow up since he was a child. Tell me, how did things come to this?"
"It's only a matter of time. You've forgotten how much Consort Qi did to get him into the Emperor's favor when he was a child. Even if he thought it was wrong back then, his thoughts might change as he grows up. Besides, he's always been bothered by Hongli's affairs, so it's impossible for him not to think about it."
Upon hearing this, Wanru smiled wryly:
“Sister, you know that I have never dreamed of a higher position. I’m not stupid; I know the saying, ‘It’s lonely at the top.’”
"When the late Emperor was alive, he greatly appreciated Hongli and praised you as a blessed man. Hongli is also diligent, and you deserve all of this."
The two sisters have known each other for so many years and understand each other very well. Wanru knew that Geng Youran was speaking from the heart.
The Emperor treated her indifferently, but valued Hongli highly, and she was unsure whether this was a blessing or a curse.
"Alright, I'll talk to the Emperor again about Hongshi and try to find a way to get Hongli and Hongzhou to go and take a look."
Wanru frowned:
"Sister, speaking of these children, have you noticed that we haven't seen Fu Hui much lately?"
"He's probably sick again."
"Consort Nian was also a tragic figure. I heard that after General Nian was demoted to Hangzhou, Consort Nian once went to plead for him with her child in her arms, but was scolded by the Emperor, and Fu Hui also fell ill."
"Perhaps this is fate. You should know that ever since Nian Gengyao was appointed as the General Who Pacifies the Distant Regions, he has become arrogant and complacent, and he doesn't respect anyone except the Emperor. With his sister being a Consort, he has become a local tyrant. The Emperor has long been dissatisfied with him."
"Sister, what do you mean?"
"Just watch. The Emperor won't let this go so easily."
As Geng Youran said, in September, Nian Gengyao was stripped of all his official titles and honors and escorted to the capital. The court officials listed ninety-two charges against him, both major and minor.
"Your Highness, please use some, I beg you."
Qingyan knelt on the ground, and no matter what she said, Consort Nian remained silent and did not eat anything.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor and the young prince will be saddened if they see you like this."
"Heh, will His Majesty be sad? Since my brother was imprisoned, he hasn't come to see me even once."
"Your Majesty..."
"Get out, I want to be alone for a while."
Seeing that her attempts to comfort him were unsuccessful, Qingyan had no choice but to leave temporarily.
"Your Majesty, I beg you, please go and persuade the Imperial Concubine. She locks herself in her room all day, never seeing the sun, and she's eating less and less. If this continues, something bad will happen."
"Qingyan, I know you are loyal to Consort Nian, but this is a knot in her heart. Even if I go, it will be of no use."
Qingyan then realized that most people in the palace wished their masters were dead.
No, there is one more person who might be able to help her.
"Master, Qingyan from Yukun Palace has arrived, saying she has something to ask of you."
"not see."
"master?"
"I say I will not see you."
Geng Youran roughly guessed Qingyan's purpose in coming to find her at this time, but she secretly didn't want to get involved.
“Miss Qingyan, my master is indeed unwell and cannot see anyone. You should go back first.”
"Eunuch An, I beg you, please let me see Consort Yu just once. Just once."
"Miss Qingyan, please don't make things difficult for me."
Unexpectedly, Qingyan ignored Xiao Anzi's attempts to stop her and barged in.
"Qingyan from Yukun Palace requests an audience with Consort Yu!"
"Master, what do you think?"
Geng Youran sighed, thinking to herself that these people really treated her like a fire extinguisher. Why did they always come to her when there was a problem? Couldn't they just let her rest for a while?
"Go out and tell her that I will not see her, but I will help her. Tell her to go back and take good care of the Imperial Concubine and the young prince."
Qianxue wanted to ask, but in the end she didn't.
"yes."
That evening, Yinzhen arrived at Chengqian Palace.
During their meal, Yinzhen casually asked:
"Did someone bother you today?"
“It’s Qingyan from Yukun Palace who came to ask me for help.”
"Would you like to help me with this?"
"I don't like to meddle in other people's business, but I can't stand some people in the palace who fawn over the powerful and flatter the weak."
"So this afternoon, you deliberately had several gossipy ladies-in-waiting and maids made to kneel as punishment, and even made them copy Buddhist scriptures?"
"I was merely warning them not to be disrespectful to their superiors. What, is Your Majesty feeling sorry for them?"
Geng Youran gave him a look, and Yinzhen didn't know what to say.
"Do whatever you want."
"So, Your Majesty, you've granted my request?"
Yinzhen nodded, then drank the wine on the table in one gulp.
The following afternoon, Yinzhen, accompanied only by Gao Wuyong, arrived at the somewhat deserted Yukun Palace.
"Where are the servants here? Why are there so few of them?"
"Your Majesty, some of the servants from Yukun Palace have now been reassigned to other palaces."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
