On May 15th, it rained heavily.
"Master, it started raining in the middle of the night. Looking at the weather, it won't stop for a while. Please be careful and don't get wet..." Lian Rui held up an oil-paper umbrella and helped Ning Wanyin sit on the sedan chair.
Ning Wanyin nodded softly.
As usual, the concubines first gathered in Jingxi Palace. The concubines with colorful banners were fine, but the others were somewhat embarrassed.
"It seems that Concubine Ning is favored by His Majesty. She has already sat in the sedan chair before she even reached the position of Zhaoyi." Concubine Fang said sourly, "My sisters should learn more from Concubine Ning."
She was slowly admiring the disheveled appearance of the lower-ranking concubines who came in the rain, and when she saw Ning Wanyin's clean clothes, she found it an eyesore.
"You are too kind, Concubine Fang. If Concubine Fang needs any advice from me, I will be happy to give it to you." Ning Wanyin responded calmly.
Fang Zhaoyi sneered, "I can't learn those low-level tricks of yours..."
"Fang Zhaoyi, you should learn when you have time. I heard that you accidentally had a miscarriage. Although I am useless, I have gained some experience in helping Concubine Shun to protect her pregnancy. I will definitely teach you everything I know." Ning Wanyin said slowly.
Fang Zhaoyi's face turned pale and she gritted her teeth, "I don't need you to teach me!"
"It's too early to say that, Zhaoyi. It's not like you've lost all chances in this life. You should learn more so as not to repeat the same mistake, right?" Ning Wanyin smiled faintly.
Fang Zhaoyi was almost pissed off by Ning Wanyin, but she had nothing to say. She hit people in the face, and Ning Wanyin picked on her sore spots.
When Wei Yingya saw this scene, she silently said to herself, "A person who is so arrogant in a palace drama will not survive more than three episodes. I must learn from this!"
"All the sisters are here, it's time for us to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager." Concubine Shu took over with a smile.
Xue Jinyan claimed to be ill and did not come. She felt ashamed to be slapped in public. No one in Xue's party dared to provoke Ning Wanyin, and their morale was low.
Concubine Shu thought that Ning Wanyin had severely humiliated the Xue family. If the empress dowager did not save their face, how would the Xue party survive in the future?
There should be a good show today.
…
The concubines entered the Cining Palace and paid their respects to the Empress Dowager.
"It is hard for you to come to pay your respects to me in such heavy rain. I am deeply touched by your filial piety." Queen Mother Xue looked kind.
All the concubines said in unison: "It is our duty to be filial to the Queen Mother."
"Very good, very good... They are all filial children." Queen Mother Xue praised, and her eyes fell on Ning Wanyin in the crowd:
"Ning Jieyu, I heard that your grandmother prayed for me in the pagoda, but I forgot to thank you."
Ning Wanyin stepped forward and said, "This is an honor for the Ning family. Thank you, Queen Mother."
"I have another matter to trouble you today. The abbot of the pagoda told me that someone is needed to perform a blessing ceremony in the palace to show sincerity. It would be even better if this person is related by blood to the person praying at the pagoda." Queen Mother Xue looked embarrassed:
"This matter is a little reluctant for you, but for Da Yan, you are the most suitable candidate."
Ning Wanyin followed suit and said, "It's up to the Queen Mother to order."
"Good boy, I didn't make a mistake in choosing you. I will leave the matter of praying in the palace to you." Queen Mother Xue praised with a look of satisfaction.
A maid beside Empress Dowager Xue stepped forward and said:
"The blessing ritual requires Concubine Ning to stand in front of the Queen Mother's palace, facing the direction of the pagoda, silently recite scriptures, and kowtow for three hours, with each kowtow falling to the ground."
The concubines were shocked. Kowtow for three hours? And they had to hear the sound? Ning Wanyin's forehead was about to bleed!
"It's still raining outside. I think we should do it another day." Concubine Zhuang suddenly said.
She didn’t want to befriend Ning Wanyin…
Instead, he owed her a favor. Help her three times, repay the favor, and then both would be even.
In her heart, she still disliked Ning Wanyin very much.
"Empress Zhuang, you cannot break your promise when you make a wish to the Buddha. Since you have made the wish today, you must pray for it today." Concubine Shi raised her voice.
She is one of the four beauties who entered the palace this year and is also the leader of Xue's party.
If we delay it until another day, we don’t know what will happen.
Queen Mother Xue gave her an appreciative look and said, "That's right. For the sake of the fate of Great Yan, this matter cannot afford to fail."
"I'm sure Concubine Ning will not ignore the destiny of Dayan for her own sake!" Concubine Shi took over the conversation.
This concerted effort forced Ning Wanyin to go out and kowtow immediately.
Lian Rui was almost anxious to death and looked at Ning Wanyin worriedly.
But Ning Wanyin just bowed and saluted, "I obey your orders and will never let you down, the Queen Mother."
Having said that, he followed the nanny who was leading the way and knelt outside the door to "pray for blessings."
Concubine Shu was a little surprised. She was so obedient? But thinking back to the last time the empress dowager punished her, she also obeyed meekly, so she didn't feel surprised.
Even though Ning Wanyin is a little clever, she is no match for absolute power.
Without the emperor, how could she have survived for so long?
"You all can go back." Queen Mother Xue waved her hand contentedly.
The concubines dispersed with different expressions.
The eunuch in charge, Liu Zhen, flattered, "The Queen Mother is very clever. She punished this slave girl with just one sentence. She dared to hit Master Xue. She is really courting death!"
"Yan'er's plan this time was very good. I saw it all and there was nothing wrong with it. It was just that she was impulsive at the last moment and let Ning seize the opportunity, thus losing face for the Xue family... She is still young and impatient." Empress Dowager Xue shook her head.
Liu Zhen took over the conversation and said, "Your Highness, your skill has won everyone over. Who dares not to take the Xue family seriously? With your guidance, Master Xue is so smart that he will definitely achieve great things!"
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