Chapter 139: The Concubine Is Furious
After hearing what Concubine Chen said, the expressions of the concubines present changed subtly.
She is here to make the decision for the Queen?
She is just an assistant in charge of the six palaces. If the queen does not give up her power, she cannot command the emperor even if she holds a chicken feather.
I thought the queen would be angry, but she said with a pleasant face:
"How can I not be happy? Whether it's you helping me or Concubine Ying helping me, it's a very good thing."
She stroked her bulging belly as if to show off, and said:
"I am pregnant now, so it is inconvenient for me to work hard. I will ask my sister to take care of all the affairs in the harem in the future."
Concubine Chen sneered and said, "Don't worry, Queen, I will fulfill the responsibilities of the mistress of the six palaces for you!"
The Queen also smiled, "It's good that you have this determination, sister. It just so happens that there is something that needs your help right now. This year is early spring, and summer will probably come soon."
She slowed down and looked at Song Zhao, "I am concerned that although the peach trees at the Zhisi Gate are in full bloom, Concubine Song is allergic to the peach pollen. I think we should move those peach trees away as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary trouble."
Faced with the Queen's sudden concern, Song Zhao seemed a little overwhelmed.
She first stood up and thanked the Queen for her kindness, then said, "I don't often go to the Locust Gate, so the Queen and the Concubine don't need to worry about my trivial matters."
The Queen said, "How can that be? Qingliang Terrace is near the Locust Gate. In summer, everyone often goes there to listen to operas. Are you really going to never go there? Flowers are dead, but people are alive. You can't alienate your relationship with your sisters just for a few peach trees."
She had a smile on her face, not revealing the knife hidden behind her. She said to Concubine Chen, "How about it? Can my sister handle this?"
Song Zhao knew clearly in her mind that the Queen wanted to cut down the peach trees near the Locust Gate at this time. How could it be for her good?
Who in the palace doesn't know that the peach blossoms at the Locust Gate were planted by the late emperor for Concubine Yu?
Concubine Yu is the biological mother of Prince Rui, and Prince Rui was the force that was most dissatisfied with the Ning family in the previous dynasty.
If Concubine Chen really moved these peach trees away, she would obviously offend Concubine Yu, and would also make Prince Rui focus on the mistakes of their Ning family.
Concubine Chen also understood this logic. She knew that the Queen was deliberately embarrassing her.
But she was used to being domineering and never took anyone seriously, so she immediately responded to the queen's words.
"This matter is not difficult. I will handle it properly for the Queen."
The Queen asked her to move the peach trees to another place, but that afternoon, Concubine Chen ordered people to cut down all the peach trees.
He also ordered the palace servants, "I am following the order of the Empress to eliminate the evildoers in this place. You should send the cut peach tree to Shoukang Palace to Concubine Yu and say that it was given to her by the Empress."
By saying this, Concubine Chen cleared herself of the blame.
If Concubine Yu blames her at that time, she will just say that the Queen asked her to do it and throw the dirty water on others at will.
The Concubine Dowager Yu had been in poor health and had been recuperating in the palace.
Today, she saw that the peach tree that represented her friendship with the late emperor was cut in half. She was so angry that she vomited blood!
Shoukang Palace reported the news to the emperor.
Jiang Deshun hurried to the Shangshufang to inform Xiao Jingheng of the matter.
As a result, as soon as he entered, he saw Xiao Jingheng throwing a memorial to the ground, which landed right at his feet.
"Your servant pays his respects to the emperor." Jiang Deshun bowed, then picked up the memorial and placed it back on the dragon table with both hands.
Xiao Jingheng said unhappily, "This eldest son of Ning Baichuan is even more outrageous than him! He even dared to report to me and asked me to forgive Song Shicheng, and even said something like "Don't let down the old minister's heart."
Xiao Jingheng slammed the table with his anger unabated, "It's not enough for him to take care of the Ning family's chaos, he even wants to comment on how I deal with the guilty ministers? It's really presumptuous!"
Seeing Xiao Jingheng's palms were red from clapping, Jiang Deshun hurriedly advised:
"Your Majesty, calm down and take care of yourself!"
Eunuchs were not allowed to discuss important court affairs. Xiao Jingheng just spoke a few more words to him because he was feeling choked up.
Now that he had calmed down a little, he took the hot tea from Jiang Deshun and asked calmly:
"What brings you here?"
Jiang Deshun said: "The Empress Chen cut down the peach tree at the Locust Gate, which made Concubine Yu angry. Concubine Yu was not in good health to begin with. Just now, Shoukang Palace reported that Concubine Yu vomited blood..."
This matter was originally a serious one, but Xiao Jingheng said indifferently,
"Concubine Yu is Lao Wu's biological mother. Since she is ill, let Lao Wu come to the palace to visit her."
When Prince Rui rushed into the palace that night, he didn't even get to see Concubine Yu for the last time.
She was so angry that she died.
After Prince Rui learned what had happened, he was naturally furious and ran to Chaoyang Palace to ask to see Xiao Jingheng and ask him to deal with Concubine Chen.
But Xiao Jingheng said, "This matter cannot be blamed entirely on Concubine Chen. She assisted the Queen in managing the six palaces. I can't be angry with her just because she cut down a few peach trees. She also blamed herself for Concubine Yu's death. Isn't she rushing to visit now?"
Such cold words were hard to believe for King Rui!
He questioned Xiao Jingheng emotionally, "Brother, are you afraid of the Ning family? Is that what you are afraid of?"
"How dare you!" Xiao Jingheng was furious, and the two brothers became enemies in an instant.
Jiang Deshun hurriedly advised: "Oh, Your Majesty, no matter how sad you are, you can't talk to the emperor like this!"
In the end, Prince Rui no longer paid any attention to Xiao Jingheng. He left in a huff without even saying goodbye.
*
The funeral of Concubine Yu was held in a hurry. After two days of mourning in the palace, everything returned to normal.
Xiao Jingheng did not rebuke the Concubine Chen, nor did he blame the Queen.
Perhaps because he felt guilty towards King Rui, he raised his title of prince.
In this way, Prince Rui became the most honorable one among all the princes.
On this day, Song Zhao went to pay homage to Concubine Yu.
On the way back to the palace, Xiao Fuzi asked her,
"Empress Chen has caused such a disaster, but the Emperor has not even said a word of reprimand. This shows that once she is favored, her power will be even greater than before."
Song Zhao sneered and said in a low voice:
"The Emperor allowed her to cause this disaster. Why did the Emperor blame her?"
Xiao Fuzi didn't understand what Song Zhao meant, but seeing that Song Zhao didn't want to continue talking, he stopped asking.
After returning to the palace, Song Zhao saw that he was distracted, as if he was still thinking about this matter.
So he gave him a hint, "Let me ask you, the emperor restored the title of Chen Fei and granted her the power to assist in managing the six palaces. Who will the Ministry of Internal Affairs inform first about this matter?"
Xiao Fuzi said: "Of course I have to inform the Queen first."
Song Zhao smiled, "So now you know why Concubine Yu died at this time?"
Xiao Fuzi pondered for a long time, then suddenly slapped his thigh and suddenly realized:
"I see! It's because..."
"Hush." Song Zhao placed his index finger between his lips and gestured to Xiao Fuzi to keep quiet. "We can't discuss the emperor's affairs. Go down and take care of your own business."
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