Seeing Concubine Ning being escorted out of the Yu Garden by two powerful maids, some concubines had not yet reacted and could not understand how Concubine Ning was related to the previous two incidents. The concubines with deep thoughts lowered their heads and looked obedient, and the concubines who were close to Concubine Ning wanted to hide behind everyone, for fear of being labeled as an ally.

Lin, who was still standing there, was now pale. She had never thought that such a secret matter would be discovered by the emperor, and she had never thought that the emperor would directly suspect Concubine Ning. She suddenly thought of something and looked at Concubine Shugui in disbelief.

If the person mentioned today as the painter was Zhuang Yuyan, she and Concubine Ning would naturally become suspicious. However, when the person mentioned as the painter was Zhuang Yuyan's rival Concubine Shu Gui, they would never have thought that this was a trap waiting for them to fall into.

"Princess Lin, why did you plot like this?" The Queen spoke in the silence of everyone. "Earlier, you were jealous and punished Zhao Xianrong innocently. Because of the Emperor's kindness, he only demoted you. Now you have killed the servants in Concubine Rou's palace, framed Zhao Xianrong, and worked with Concubine Ning to kill Zhao Xianrong. Such sinister intentions are really amazing. You are also an old man around the Emperor, why did you do such a thing with Concubine Ning?"

Lin looked at the empress's righteous expression and smiled, "Which woman in this harem is not jealous? Your Majesty, you are blaming me now. Have you forgotten that when I first became a concubine, the emperor stayed in my palace for three days, and on the fourth day you found a reason to make me kneel outside Jingyang Palace for three hours. What I did to Zhuang Yuyan back then is not what you did to me back then?"

"How dare you! I made you kneel outside Jingyang Palace because you treated the palace maids harshly," the Queen looked at Concubine Lin without changing her expression. "I am the Queen of the First Palace and have the right to punish you for such bad habits. Back then, you were a concubine, but you made Zhaoxianrong kneel for several hours on the grounds that she broke your auspicious cloud hairpin. Isn't that ignorant of the rules and jealous? You have really brought shame to the Lin family by doing this."

Linpin wanted to argue, but her face changed when she heard the queen mention the Lin family. She could say those hateful words for a while, but what could she do after she said them? The Lin family is no longer the same as before. If she angered the emperor or argued with the queen again, even if the emperor spared the Lin family, the Zhao family behind the queen would not let the Lin family have an easy time.

Seeing that Linpin had fallen silent, Concubine Rou stepped forward and saluted to Feng Jin, saying, "Your Majesty, please give me and Zhao Xianrong justice. I originally thought that the people in the palace were harmed by Zhao Xianrong, so I was resentful and did the proper thing. Now that the truth is out, I know that I have wronged Zhao Xianrong and I am really sorry for her."

"Your Highness, your words are too kind," Zhuang Luyan knew that Concubine Rou would do this, and said with a smile, "Your Highness was also kept in the dark about this matter, how dare I accept your apology."

"Well, you've suffered so much this time, don't worry about these things anymore," Feng Jin interrupted Concubine Rou's next words, and glanced at the Queen and Concubine Lin calmly, "Concubine Lin was originally an elder by my side, so even if you are jealous, I still kept some dignity for you. Now that you have done such a thing, I really can't tolerate it. According to my decree, Concubine Lin has a violent temper and bad behavior, and she is given three feet of white silk."

"Your Majesty," Zhuang Luoyan's eyes changed slightly, and she couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, my life is not in danger, and Concubine Lin has served you for many years. This punishment is a bit too heavy." After that, she knelt down in front of the emperor.

"I beg Your Majesty to spare Concubine Lin's life. Although Lord Lin is no longer in office, he served as a minister in two dynasties. He is now old and cannot bear the pain of losing his daughter."

Feng Jian knew that Zhao Xianrong was worried that his action would chill the hearts of the old ministers. He bent down to help the woman who was kneeling in front of him up and saw the anxiety and worry in her eyes. Maybe she didn't understand that the Lin family was no longer affected, but it was rare for her to have such a heart.

"Since Zhao Xianrong has pleaded for mercy, I will spare Lin's life. However, this crime is really unbearable, so I will strip her of her position as a concubine and make her a low-ranking concubine. She will be relocated to Jingqiu Pavilion, and her ivory badge will be removed. She will never sleep with me again." Feng Jin no longer looked at Concubine Lin. "Lin Gengyi, kneel down and say hello."

A low-ranking official in the harem is like dirt on the ground. Any palace maid or eunuch with a little status can bully her. Such a life is worse than death. Someone died in Jingqiu Pavilion not long ago. If Lin Gengyi moves there now, what hope can she have?

Concubine Rou stepped aside, lowered her head and sneered. Zhuang Yuyan's move was really cruel. It was much more pitiful to make people live a life worse than death than to die as a concubine. Yet she still pretended to be kind.

After Lin was dealt with, the empress did not mention Concubine Ning. Concubine Ning was not like Lin. Although Concubine Ning was not as favored as Concubine Shugui in recent years, the emperor also loved to visit her in recent years. Naturally, his affection for her was different from that of ordinary concubines. Now that this matter has been said, no one can predict whether the emperor will remember the old feelings. She does not want to be the evil person.

Zhuang Luoyan naturally would not mention Concubine Ning on purpose. After being helped up by the emperor, she sat obediently beside him, watching Lin's gradually ugly face with a meek face. Her black and white eyes looked innocent and helpless. She accidentally tilted her head and her eyes met the emperor's. Then she found that the emperor's eyes became a little complicated. It was a pity that she did not have the ability to analyze the other party's emotions just by looking at each other.

"Concubine Ning...is demoted to the rank of fourth-rank Hu concubine, and moved to the side hall of Ruan Ming Palace. Her ivory badge is removed." Feng Jin stood up, patted Zhuang Yuyan's hand, told her to have a good rest, and said lightly: "Everyone can go." After that, he turned around and left without caring about everyone's reaction.

"Farewell, Your Majesty." Zhuang Yuyan lowered her head and narrowed her eyes slightly. Ruan Ming Palace was the place of the virtuous concubines. It was really embarrassing for the emperor to let Hu Caixuan live there. Before yesterday, both of them were concubines who assisted in managing the harem. Today, one of them was the main concubine and the other was under the jurisdiction.

But if she remembered correctly, one of the emperor's sons was raised under the name of Hu Caixuan. Now that Hu Caixuan moved to Ruan Minh Palace, didn't it mean that this prince was also handed over to the mistress of Ruan Minh Palace, Consort Xian Guifei?

How much does the emperor like Concubine Xian to raise children? He stuffs them one by one into Ruan Ming Palace. If this continues, Concubine Xian will really deserve the title of Xian.

However, compared with Lin Zhixi's end, the emperor was merciful to Hu Caixuan, which shows that he still has some feelings for Hu Caixuan.

"Zhaoxian's injury has healed," Concubine Rou said gently as she walked up to Zhuang Yuyan. "You need to take good care of it and don't leave any scars."

Zhuang Yuyan knelt down and bowed, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am now fine."

Concubine Rou smiled and nodded, "I'm glad you're okay." After that, she held the palace maid's hand and staggered away.

Looking at Concubine Rou's back, Zhuang Yuyan slowly lowered her eyelids. No matter how much affection the emperor had for Hu Caixuan, now that she had come to this point, Hu Caixuan could no longer climb up. After all, Hu Caixuan was an old person by the emperor's side, and she could no longer rely on her looks to get the emperor's attention. What she had done now had broken the emperor's trust in her, and she could no longer be his confidant. Because of their past affection, the emperor couldn't bear to let her fall into such a miserable state. But also because of their past affection, the emperor didn't want to see her more often, and didn't want to remember that this woman used his trust to plot against other concubines.

For Hu Caixuan, who had already fallen in love with the emperor, such an ending might have been the greatest sorrow.

The Cold Food Festival ended in this way, and the concubines in various palaces dispersed one after another, and they had a new understanding of the degree of favor enjoyed by Xihe Palace.

On the bluestone road, Concubine Shugui walked slowly holding Lingsha's hand with a faint smile on her face.

"My queen, why do you want to help Zhao Xianrong?" Lingsha was puzzled, "Zhao Xianrong's murder has nothing to do with us."

"I have nothing to do with her murder, but since she was attacked, everyone knows that she was framed. In addition, my good sister did those things, I am afraid that I am also suspected." Concubine Shugui stopped and kept her eyes on a crabapple flower. "I acted a play with her, cleared my suspicion, and eliminated an opponent. What's not to do?" Hu Caixuan is an old man of the emperor, and he can still divide a lot of the emperor's favors, which shows her means. Judging from what she said today, I am afraid that she has been jealous of me for a long time. Without this jealous opponent, there is one less person to assist her in the affairs of the harem, which is a hundred benefits for her.

Everyone in the harem wanted to watch the show between her and Zhuang Weiyan, but they didn't expect that sometimes opponents could cooperate for the sake of profit.

Picking off a crabapple and stepping on it, Concubine Shugui smiled softly, "Even if the crabapple can bloom for four seasons, so what? This crabapple can only bloom for one season, in my opinion."

The slightly swaying step made Zhuang Yuyan drowsy. She leaned on the handrail of the step with one hand, looked lazily at the flowers and plants on both sides of the bluestone road, and squinted her eyes.

"My queen, let's go back to the palace."

Zhuang Luoyan opened her eyes and saw the gate of Xihe Palace. After the steps fell, she held Yunxi's hand and stepped down from the sedan chair. She stepped onto the stone steps and turned to look behind her. The setting sun illuminated the entire palace red.

Slowly letting go of Yunxi's hand, she fell down with peace of mind.

"Empress!" Yun Xi exclaimed.

"Quickly call the imperial physician, the queen has fainted."

Perhaps the emperor was reluctant to part with Hu Caixuan at this moment, or perhaps he began to reminisce about the past, but what if Zhuang Yuyan, who was framed by her, fainted again?

In this harem, the old ones are always inferior to the new ones.