After reading the same three-page long gift list, Wang Degui finally picked up a scroll held by a palace maid beside him and presented it to Ning Wanyin with a smile:
"Empress Chen, His Majesty has personally granted you a royal painting."
The scroll unfolds.
The painting shows a beautiful woman holding a baby in swaddling clothes, and the beauty's expression is very vivid and lifelike.
Ning Wanyin recognized them immediately; they were herself and her child.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! I am deeply grateful for your kindness." Ning Wanyin bowed while holding the child, her face full of emotion.
Helian Qi helped her up and said, "No need to be polite."
There were some things he didn't say.
Not only will he paint this year, he plans to paint a picture of them mother and son every year.
Together with Ning Wanyin, she accompanied Xier as she grew up year after year.
However, Helian Qi couldn't say such sincere words that were too heartfelt.
…
"Your Majesty is still as fond of Concubine Chen as ever." A deep look flashed in Jingpin's eyes.
For other people, it is the mother who is honored because of her son, but Jingpin sees clearly that for Ning Wanyin, it is the son who is honored because of the mother.
The emperor attaches great importance to all the princes. The reward given to the Fourth Prince today is the same as that given to other princes, no more and no less.
He can't be said to be partial to the Fourth Prince.
But he has always been partial to Ning Wanyin.
No matter how hard his son tries, the Fourth Prince has already won half the battle with Concubine Chen as his mother.
It's fine that I'm not favored, but is my son's future going to be affected because of an incompetent mother like me, and he will have to miss the throne?
As a mother, she couldn't let her son lose to her at this step.
Concubine Jing deliberately said this in front of Xiao Yunyao.
Xiao Yunyao had already been filled with jealousy, but in front of everyone, she maintained a dignified and gentle appearance.
I just sneered in my heart, Ning Wanyin, you won’t be able to laugh soon!
At this moment...
The eunuch in charge of the Divine Palace Department came hurriedly to report, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Empress Chen, the Fairy Palace..."
A hint of hidden pleasure flashed across Xiao Yunyao's eyes.
On the occasion of your son's first birthday, the eternal lamp enshrined in the Xianling Palace for praying for the country suddenly went out.
Isn't this a sign that your son is doomed to fail?
Ning Wanyin, even without Concubine Lin, I can still ruin your son's future.
"A palace maid in Xianling Palace tried to extinguish the eternal lamp that was used to pray for the country, and I and others caught her red-handed. This is a serious matter, so I have come to report it." The eunuch said the second half of the sentence.
Xiao Yunyao clenched her fists in her sleeves. Got caught?
This Ning Wanyin is indeed much more difficult to deal with than Concubine Kang.
…
Ning Wanyin knew very well that there were many hidden chess pieces among the palace people.
Although Concubine Shu was dead, Cai Quan in the Criminal Justice Department was able to pass on the news and have someone assassinate Xiao Yuanzi.
There must be some fish that have slipped through the net in this palace.
In addition to Concubine Shu, there are people from the Xue family in the palace. Empress Dowager Xue just retired, and these chess pieces are hidden in the palace, ready to serve at any time.
Concubines such as Jingpin may also send trusted pawns into the palace. This includes those who have not yet entered the palace but plan to enter. If they are planning to do so, they can prepare in advance.
so……
Even within the twelve departments under her jurisdiction, there may be people with bad intentions sneaking in.
Until the lurking chess pieces take action, they are just like ordinary palace servants and are difficult to detect.
Therefore, Ning Wanyin had placed her own spies in various places of the Twelve Departments from the very beginning.
Dingzi looks like an ordinary palace servant, who is specifically responsible for surveillance.
Today, a palace maid who was in charge of cleaning the Xianling Palace, took advantage of the fact that no one was around and planned to approach the eternal lamp and turn off the light.
He was immediately caught by the stalking nail.
Wherever Ning Wanyin is in charge, there will definitely be someone around.
Everywhere she went, she was watched closely. You looked around and saw no one, but that was because the people following her were hiding in the dark.
…
There are people so bold as to try to extinguish the eternal lamp that prays for the country!
Helian Qi's face instantly darkened, "Summon Wu Mi to investigate this matter!"
"Yes." Wang Degui accepted the order.
Ning Wanyin frowned and thought, should we do it today? If we succeed, then...
This is for Xier!
Ning Wanyin felt a chill in her heart, and asked Lian Rui and others to send the child back to Yonghe Palace first.
The emperor did not handle this case in front of his ministers and royal family members.
After the one-year-old ceremony was over and all the court officials and clan members left, Wu Mi came to the court with the captured palace maid.
After being severely tortured, the palace maid was covered in blood, but she did not confess a single word and was determined to persevere.
"Your Majesty, this person is a palace maid of the Divine Palace, responsible for the cleaning of the Fairy Palace. Today she intended to extinguish the eternal lamp. She did not confess, but I searched her residence and found this thing." Wu Mi presented a scroll of spell.
It was a scroll of spells painted with cinnabar.
Curse the eldest prince, the second prince, and the fourth prince to die a miserable death.
The only thing missing was the third prince’s name.
Helian Qi's expression became increasingly ugly, and he casually threw the spell to Jingpin:
"Take a look."
Jingpin took it, her face changed drastically, and she knelt down hurriedly and said:
"Your Majesty, someone is framing me. I would never curse the princes! If I were really so treasonous that I dared to extinguish the eternal lamp today, why would I leave such evidence when I knew that the palace maid might be arrested!"
She never expected that this matter would involve herself. Although she wanted Ning Wanyin and the Fourth Prince to die...
But she didn't make any move.
In order to prevent Ning Wanyin from tracking her down, she deliberately instigated Xiao Yunyao to be the scapegoat. She used Xiao Yunyao to deal with Ning Wanyin, and she hid behind the scenes.
"What Concubine Jing said makes a lot of sense." Xiao Yunyao said with a concerned look on her face:
"I believe that Concubine Jing is definitely not that kind of person! Someone must have framed her."
She chose to frame Concubine Jing.
Because if something happens to the fourth prince, the three princes will benefit the most, and the mothers of these three princes are the best candidates for framing him.
Concubine Kang has the eldest prince to deal with.
Concubine Rou is not worth mentioning to Xiao Yunyao. Whether to frame her or not depends on whether there is a more suitable candidate.
And Concubine Jing said behind her back that she was not as good as Ning Wanyin!
And Helian Qi has a biological child...
Such a disgusting person is much more suitable than Concubine Rou.
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