Chapter 833 Scolding
On the day Duke Hong was executed, the Empress Dowager fell ill again.
This time the illness was more serious than the previous ones.
When Concubine Min came to pay her respects to the Imperial Concubine today, she mentioned this matter in passing and hinted whether the Imperial Concubine should go visit the Empress Dowager?
Xiao Xixi knew that the Grand Empress Dowager disliked her, so she didn't like to deal with her.
But now that she holds the position of imperial concubine, there are things she must do.
No matter what happens inside, at least you have to look good on the surface.
Early the next morning, Xiao Xixi brought a group of concubines to Changle Palace to visit the Empress Dowager.
Changle Palace was rarely lively.
The Empress Dowager still looked very bad and looked very haggard.
She didn't even get out of bed, but just sat there leaning on the bed, listening to the concubines' greetings and consolations.
When the concubines had almost finished speaking, the Empress Dowager spoke weakly.
"I have received your filial piety. Now that the harem is taken care of by the imperial concubine, I am very relieved. You don't need to worry too much. I am just a little unwell and will be well in a while."
The concubines naturally gave their sincere blessings.
The Empress Dowager's gaze swept across them and finally stopped on the Imperial Concubine.
If you ask, who is the person in the entire harem that the Empress Dowager dislikes the most?
There is no one else except the imperial concubine.
It was because of the Imperial Concubine that Concubine Lu was banished to the cold palace.
It was also because of the imperial concubine that the emperor repeatedly disobeyed the Empress Dowager.
Even the fact that Duke Hong was tortured to death by slicing was related to the imperial concubine.
The thing the Empress Dowager regretted most in her life was that she should not have allowed Princess Nanfeng to enter the palace.
If it weren't for Princess Nanfeng, perhaps her relationship with the emperor wouldn't have been so bad, Duke Hong wouldn't have been executed by slow slicing, and the Lu family wouldn't have fallen to this point today.
Realizing that the Empress Dowager was looking at her, Xiao Xixi took the initiative to give her a sweet smile.
Far from being healed by this smile, the Empress Dowager felt that the other party was really pretentious, and her disgust deepened.
"I heard that the imperial concubine was kidnapped before. I wonder if the imperial concubine was injured?"
Xiao Xixi responded obediently: "Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager. I am fine."
"I'm glad you're okay."
The Empress Dowager changed the subject here and lowered her voice to scold.
"I have always wanted to ask you, as a concubine in the harem, why did you leave the palace without permission?
Where do you put the palace rules?
And you were staying with the King of England in the dead of night?
You two, alone, what are you trying to do?
I believe you will not do anything to let the emperor down.
But people’s words are scary!
Do you know what people outside are saying about you now?
They all say that you are not a faithful wife and have no manners as a royal concubine should have, and you have brought shame to the royal family.
Even the censors in the court submitted memorials to impeach you, thinking that you were unworthy of the position and wanting the emperor to demote you.
As the Empress Dowager, I have to take care of this matter.
Now in front of so many people, shouldn't you give a reasonable explanation?"
For a moment, everyone in the bedroom looked at the imperial concubine, wanting to see what she was going to say.
There are many people who gloat over other people's misfortune.
If it were any other concubine, if she were scolded like this to her face by the Empress Dowager, she would definitely be angry and anxious, and might even cry.
But Xiao Xixi looked very calm and didn't look panicked at all.
She explained calmly.
"Please understand, Grand Empress Dowager.
I did not leave the palace without permission, but only left with the emperor's permission.
The King of England and I are not alone, but we are accompanied by more than a dozen Yulin Guards and palace guards.
As for what you said about people's words being scary, there's nothing I can do about it.
The mouth is on other people's body, they can say whatever they want, I have no right to interfere.
Of course, I was indeed not thoughtful enough in this matter, and I have deeply realized my mistakes.
I have decided to stay indoors for a month and reflect on my mistakes in Yunxiu Palace.
I beg the Empress Dowager to be at ease and not get upset over such a small matter."
At this point, Xiao Xixi even gave the Queen Mother a standard 90-degree bow. Her attitude of admitting her mistakes could be said to be very proper.
However, the Empress Dowager was even more annoyed.
The woman started off by talking a lot, trying to deny all her faults, and only at the end did she pretend to admit her mistakes and apologize, which made it clear that she was just trying to fool her.
This woman didn't think she was wrong at all!
But the imperial concubine had already admitted her mistake and took the initiative to say that she would think about the matter behind closed doors. The Empress Dowager couldn't keep harping on it, otherwise it would seem that she was too narrow-minded.
But if she was let off so easily, the Empress Dowager would feel unhappy.
The Empress Dowager held her breath for a long while before she spoke reluctantly.
"Since the Imperial Concubine has said so, I have nothing more to say. From today on, the Imperial Concubine will confine herself to reflect on her mistakes for a month."
She paused and added.
"During the period of time when the noble concubine is reflecting on her mistakes, you are not allowed to sleep with me. Have someone remove the noble concubine's green card."
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the concubines present changed.
The green card existed to make it easier for the emperor to choose who would sleep with him at night.
However, the current emperor has never turned over the green card since he ascended the throne.
He used to live alone in the Weiyang Palace. Since the imperial concubine entered the palace, he asked her to sleep with him every night.
The green card is useless.
If the Empress Dowager hadn't mentioned it today, everyone would have almost forgotten that there was such a thing as a green card in the palace.
Judging from what the Empress Dowager said, she obviously wants other concubines to share the Imperial Concubine's favor.
This made many concubines present begin to feel restless.
The emperor has always favored the imperial concubine, and the central palace is empty, so the imperial concubine is the only one in charge of the entire harem.
Even though the other concubines were unwilling, they dared not say anything and could only endure it silently.
Now that the Empress Dowager has spoken personally, the concubines suddenly have hope to strive for progress.
Once you enter the palace, no one would not want to be favored.
They are no exception.
Who would be willing to be a stepping stone when they can be the superior? !
Xiao Xixi thanked him honestly.
When the Empress Dowager showed signs of fatigue, the concubines tactfully said goodbye and left.
Everyone walked out of Changle Palace.
As the imperial concubine, Xiao Xixi naturally walked at the front of the team.
With everyone's respectful farewell, she got into the imperial concubine's special carriage and gradually went away.
The other concubines also got into the carriage one after another.
Concubines of lower ranks, for example, were not qualified to ride in a carriage and could only walk back.
Everyone still appeared to be friendly on the surface, but in their hearts they were already thinking about how to get their green card chosen by the emperor.
At noon, Luo Qinghan was reviewing memorials in the imperial study.
When he saw that Xixi had not arrived yet, he couldn't help feeling a little confused.
On weekdays, Xixi would come to the imperial study on time to have lunch with him, and would never be late unless it was necessary.
How come you haven't come yet at this time today?
(End of this chapter)
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