Helian Qi had just returned from hunting, and was drenched in sweat. He just wanted to take a shower and change his clothes, so he had no leisure to appreciate the paintings.
He glanced at Ning Ziyin impatiently and was stunned.
The butterfly hairpin in Ning Ziyin's hair was Ning Wanyin's favorite. She wore it every day and praised him countless times for the jewelry she had given him.
He was immediately unhappy. Ning Wanyin said she loved it very much, but she gave it to someone else.
Is this like?
Who wouldn't treasure the emperor's gifts? How could anyone give gifts to others as casually as she did?
Helian Qi looked at Ning Wanyin with dissatisfaction, and his eyes paused. He came in with Concubine Zhuang and didn't pay attention to Ning Wanyin...
Only then did I realize that she was dressed very simply today.
He was a completely different person from what he was used to seeing.
She was beautiful in her plain appearance, but her slightly red eyes must have shown that she had just cried.
It was normal for him to cry for joy after seeing his mother, but he had a hunch that what happened today was more than just a happy reunion.
"Appreciate the painting?" Concubine Zhuang stared at Ning Ziyin. She was very sensitive to her love rivals and understood instantly: "Who are you? Do you think you are qualified to ask His Majesty to evaluate your painting?"
After saying that, he looked at Ning Wanyin and taunted her, "You are so generous that you sent your sister to His Majesty. Why, do you have to fight for favor with your own sisters?"
When these words came out, Ning Ziyin felt embarrassed and annoyed, and her face turned red with anxiety.
Although that's what she meant, it's so embarrassing to say it directly.
"Why do you say that, Empress Zhuang? My cousin is still a girl, and you must not ruin her reputation." Ning Wanyin tried to cover up her mistake, and her weak voice revealed a hint of guilt.
It was rare for Concubine Zhuang to win an argument over Ning Wanyin, so she kept on going, "How dare you say that you didn't mean that? Look at how plainly you are dressed today, to serve as a foil for her. You are such a good sister, aren't you afraid that she will step on you when she becomes favored?"
"Of course I will never forget my sister's kindness. I will definitely help her." Ning Ziyin hurriedly defended herself, fearing that she would give the emperor a bad impression of being ungrateful.
Concubine Zhuang laughed proudly, "You let it slip. You came here for His Majesty. A girl in the boudoir seduced my sister's man. Aren't you ashamed? Your Ning family is also a famous noble family. Is this the courtesy, righteousness, and shame of your big family?"
Ning Ziyin was choked for a moment and her face turned red with anger.
Ning Wanyin tried hard not to laugh out loud.
There is no such thing as a simple woman in the palace. It's just that the opponents that Concubine Zhuang had met before were too difficult to deal with.
If you change to a simpler one, wouldn’t you win the argument?
"Empress Zhuang, please go down first." When Helian Qi was in a bad mood, his expression was exceptionally calm.
"Your Majesty...I will help you take a bath..." Concubine Zhuang pulled his sleeve and shook him coquettishly.
There was no trace of joy or anger in Helian Qi's tone, "I am here to appreciate paintings. You can't understand them either, go down and have a rest."
Concubine Zhuang choked and glared at Ning Wanyin angrily, "I'll take my leave."
Concubine Zhuang retreated angrily, muttering, "It's shameless to send my cousin to compete for favor..."
Ning Ziyin saw the emperor drive Concubine Zhuang away, and she thought the emperor was protecting her, so she said shyly:
"Your Majesty, my sister and I have each painted a picture of summer lotus. Please appreciate it."
The maid presented two paintings.
Helian Qi recognized Ning Wanyin's painting at a glance. It was a kind of messy and ugly painting.
In comparison, another mediocre painting looks much better against this backdrop.
But the emperor showed no appreciation for the other painting and only felt disappointed with Ning Wanyin.
Because, that's what he taught.
No matter who competes with Ning Wanyin in painting, when the emperor is already standing in the Master's position, the only result will be the difference between his own paintings and those of outsiders.
No matter how well the painting is done by outsiders, what does it have to do with him?
Then he felt a little annoyed. He knew Ning Wanyin's painting was bad, but he still tried to draw on purpose. Wasn't he just using his precious student as a stepping stone?
Ning Wanyin was obviously forced.
ridiculous.
His concubines can still be bullied.
"Get out!" Helian Qi pointed at Ning Ziyin impatiently.
Ning Ziyin's face turned pale, and she knelt on the ground in panic, "Your Majesty, I don't know how I have offended Your Majesty..."
"The painting is ugly, get out!" Helian Qi was furious, his face was terribly gloomy.
Ning Ziyin's legs collapsed to the ground. It was the first time she saw the emperor's wrath. She was so frightened that her mind went blank and she was completely unable to react.
Wang Degui quickly came forward with a few eunuchs and dragged Ning Ziyin out.
But I dare not keep her as an eyesore.
Ning Wanyin knelt down and apologized, "Your Majesty, please calm down. It was my arrangement that was inappropriate..."
"You want me to take your cousin into the palace? Do you think the favor I give you is not enough?" Helian Qi asked impatiently.
Ning Wanyin bit her lip with tears in her eyes and said nothing.
Lian Rui secretly glanced at Ning Wanyin, and immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please understand. My master was forced... The old lady came up and blamed the master, scolded the master, and insisted that the master listen to Concubine Cen... Our master didn't want to, so she forced a cousin and forced the master to give her to you..."
Lianrui was responsible for complaining, while Ning Wanyin was responsible for lowering her eyes and shedding tears, looking so pitiful.
The irritability in Helian Qi's eyes disappeared. It was ridiculous that the Ning family was still thinking about joining the Cen family.
But the little girl in front of me...
Working for the emperor, how could the emperor let her suffer such injustice?
"Get up." Helian Qi stretched out his hand towards Ning Wanyin.
Ning Wanyin was too timid to offer help and whispered, "I am incompetent..."
"You are not incompetent, but as a daughter of the Ning family, you have no choice but to be restrained. If this old woman says today that you don't respect your grandmother after you are favored, more dirty water of unfilial piety will be thrown on you tomorrow." Helian Qi looked at her and felt a trace of pity in his heart.
Helian Qi is not a soft-hearted and kind person.
As a ruthless and cold-blooded emperor, he doesn't have that much sympathy.
Only when people can empathize with others can they be easily touched.
He was also oppressed by the word "filial piety", and his hands and feet were tied. The eyes of the entire court were on him. If he was an unfilial and evil person, the throne would not be his.
Because we share the same suffering, we feel extra sympathy for each other.
Ning Wanyin raised her eyes to look at him, and the tears that had been suppressed in her eyes fell as he said this, "Your Majesty, I don't want to send my cousin to the palace. I don't like her..."
Helian Qi helped her up, and said in a rare gentle and tolerant manner: "I will not let her enter the palace, and I will not let you be bullied."
"Your Majesty, you are so good to me..." Ning Wanyin buried her tears in Helian Qi's arms, hugging his waist tightly with both hands.
Helian Qi gently stroked her hair to comfort her. He didn't do anything, but this little girl was so easily satisfied.
Ning Wanyin was always well-behaved and sensible in front of him. It was rare for her to show such genuine feelings, which made him feel that the relationship between them was closer than before.
Helian Qi held Ning Wanyin and went to the bathhouse.
Lian Rui and Wang Degui tactfully withdrew quietly.
She realized belatedly that if the young lady had not asked her to paint, Ning Ziyin's intention to take advantage of the young lady to win her favor would not have been made public.
How could that make Ning Ziyin seem more hateful, the grandmother more hateful, and the young lady more aggrieved?
The lady is really smart.
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