Chapter 747: Hit the Concubine
The Empress Dowager did not return to the palace until evening.
As soon as she arrived at Changle Palace, she was told that Concubine Tuberculosis had arrived.
When she first heard the word "Concubine Tuberculosis", the Empress Dowager was stunned for a moment, and then she realized that this was the former Concubine Bai.
It's pitiful that such a good concubine like Bai Fei was given such an indecent title.
When the Empress Dowager walked into the hall, Concubine Tuberculosis bowed to her.
"I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
After the Empress Dowager sat down, she looked at Concubine Lao.
Concubine Lao always liked to wear plain and elegant dresses, and today was no exception. She wore a tea-white waist-length skirt with yellow plum blossoms embroidered on the sleeves. An apricot-yellow shawl hung loosely between her arms, and the pearl and gold hairpins in her hair swayed gently.
Her eyebrows were drawn thinly and her lips were lightly smeared with a little light pink lip balm, which made her skin look even whiter.
When the Empress Dowager was young, she also liked this kind of simple and elegant dress. Now that she is old, she prefers lively and bright things, and does not like this kind of dull look very much.
No matter what she was thinking, she always had a kind smile on her face and asked in a gentle voice.
"I heard that you were sick again recently. Why don't you take a good rest in the Misty Rain Palace?"
The consort pursed her lips and frowned slightly: "My body has not yet recovered, so I shouldn't have come to bother the Grand Empress Dowager. However, I am really worried and uneasy. After thinking about it, I still muster up the courage to come to see the Grand Empress Dowager and ask her to make a decision."
The Empress Dowager was a little surprised: "What happened?"
Concubine Lao spoke in a gentle voice.
"Originally, you have been taking care of the affairs of the palace, and I, Concubine Li, and Concubine Jing have been assisting you.
But now.
The imperial concubine took away the job from me without even saying hello.
She is a noble concubine, and her status is more noble than that of a concubine.
I should give in to her.
But alternating palace affairs is no trivial matter, and any slight mistake will lead to big problems.
She cannot take advantage of her favor and change the palace personnel at will without considering the overall situation."
The Empress Dowager frowned slightly: "Is there such a thing?"
She looked at Ms. Kong beside her.
Ms. Kong understood what she meant and immediately went out to whisper a few words to a senior palace maid. After learning the general course of events, she passed them on to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager was thinking about the recent dissatisfaction with the Imperial Concubine in the court. Now that something like this has happened, it seems that the rumors are true. The Imperial Concubine has become spoiled by her favor and has begun to interfere in the affairs of the harem.
Isn't it obvious that this is a struggle for power?
Concubine Lao carefully observed the changes in the Empress Dowager's expression. Seeing that she looked unhappy, she knew that she was also dissatisfied with the Imperial Concubine, and immediately continued.
“In fact, it’s okay even if the imperial concubine wants to interfere in the affairs of the palace.
After all, she is a noble concubine and is deeply favored. Naturally, she is not comparable to an ordinary concubine like me.
But she interfered in palace affairs without informing the Empress Dowager in advance.
This is really against the rules.
That’s why I came here specially to ask the Grand Empress Dowager to make the decision, so that the Imperial Concubine will not break the palace rules.”
This was indeed what made the Empress Dowager most dissatisfied.
Although she didn't usually take care of things, she was the Grand Empress Dowager after all, the woman with the highest status in the harem. How could they not inform her about such a major event as the change of palace affairs? Did they not take her seriously? !
But having said that.
This consumptive concubine in front of me is not a good person either.
No matter how nice her words sound, they cannot cover up the fact that she is trying to sow discord.
No wonder the emperor gave her such a title.
So many tricks are really annoying.
The Empress Dowager asked gently, "In your opinion, how should I deal with this matter?"
Concubine Lao lowered her eyebrows and said: "The Empress Dowager is the master of the harem. These matters are naturally decided by you. How dare I interfere? No matter what you decide to do, I will do it according to your instructions."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "You are an obedient person."
She gave instructions to Ms. Kong who was standing beside her.
"Go and win the favor of the Imperial Concubine. I have something to say to her."
"Yes."
Previously, the Empress Dowager almost had a quarrel with the Emperor over the Imperial Concubine’s matter, so naturally she would not go to the Emperor to discuss the matter this time.
She planned to have a good talk with the imperial concubine directly, and at the same time give her a warning, asking her to abide by her duties and not be too arrogant.
When Concubine Lao learned that the Empress Dowager was going to summon the Imperial Concubine, she knew that the Imperial Concubine would be in trouble. The depression that had been pent up in her heart was relieved and her mood improved.
In Yunxiu Palace.
Xiao Xixi is trying on clothes.
In late autumn and early winter, the weather was getting colder and colder. Zhezhi specially sent some cloth to the Shangfusi and asked the Shangfusi to make two new sets of clothes.
Knowing that it was the imperial concubine's clothes, the Shangfu Division did not dare to delay and prepared them as quickly as possible. Chen Sizheng personally delivered them to the Yunxiu Palace for the imperial concubine to try on.
After Xiao Xixi tried the clothes on, she determined that they were the right size and did not need to be altered.
The clothes were left behind and Zhezhi saw Chen Sizheng out.
As soon as they left, Qingsong ran in hurriedly.
"Your Highness, someone has come to Changle Palace and said that the Grand Empress Dowager wants you to come over."
Xiao Xixi was just about to change out of her new clothes when she paused after hearing this.
"Did you ask me what to do?"
Qingsong looked around and said, "I heard that he wanted to talk to you about something."
Baoqin asked everyone else in the room to leave, leaving only her, Qingsong and the imperial concubine.
Qingsong then continued, "I just spent some money and learned from the messenger that the consort went to Changle Palace today."
Baoqin became alert and spoke quickly.
"Could it be that Concubine Lao deliberately said something in front of the Grand Empress Dowager? Your Majesty, why don't you tell the Emperor about this? Even if the Grand Empress Dowager really wants to do something to you, she won't dare to go too far if the Emperor intervenes."
Xiao Xixi silently calculated in her mind.
The calculation results show that she may have some minor troubles when going out this time, but it’s not a big problem.
But to be on the safe side, she still sent someone to deliver a message to the emperor.
Xiao Xixi: "No need to say too much, just say that I went to pay my respects to the Grand Empress Dowager."
Qingsong responded: "Yes."
Since she was going to meet the Empress Dowager, Xiao Xixi didn't need to change her clothes. She could just go out wearing her new clothes.
The scarlet chest-length skirt is paired with an amber wide-sleeved outer shirt, with peony butterflies embroidered on the chest and decorated with pearl necklaces.
The lively and bright colors make her face look even more charming and beautiful.
The imperial concubine's guard of honor stopped at the gate of Changle Palace.
Xiao Xixi held Baoqin's hand and got out of the car, then walked slowly into Changle Palace.
"I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager looked at what she was wearing and found it much more pleasing to the eye than the dull appearance of Concubine Tuber.
But no matter how pleasing it looks, we still have to criticize where necessary.
"I heard that you have started to interfere in palace affairs recently."
Xiao Xixi glanced at the Concubine Tuberculosis who was kneeling beside her. It seemed that Baoqin was right. The Concubine Tuberculosis really came to complain to the Empress Dowager.
(End of this chapter)
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