Chapter 136 Chapter 136
[Chapter 136]
Ruan Jun looked at Ji Jubai who was pretending to be pitiful. He looked exactly like the man who was standing behind the servant in the woodshed.
Smelling the alcohol on Ji Juebai, Ruan Jun didn't want to talk to him any more. What was there to talk about with a drunkard?
Seeing Ruan Yun coming out of the rockery, Ji Rebai wanted to go forward and hold Ruan Yun's hand, but Chun Qing, who had been standing next to her, came out and held Ji Rebai down.
The brocade robe was stained with dust, mixed with fallen leaves and new mud.
Ruan Jun turned around and looked down at Ji Lubai.
Now his face was full of anger, and he tried hard to break free, but he was still held down tightly by Chunqing.
Ji Juebai wanted to speak, but Ruan Yun just said coldly: "Master Ji, please think carefully. This place is not far from Qingxuan Palace. If you alarm others, you may not live to see the sunrise tomorrow."
A cool breeze blew away Ji Lubai's thoughts and restored some of his consciousness.
Chun Qing still didn't let go. He felt that his men were struggling less vigorously. Just as he was about to stand up, he heard Ji Lubai say in a voice that only they could hear:
"Ayun, I will wait for you, no matter how long it takes."
This time, Ruan Jun didn't even look at Ji Juebai. She would feel that she would be defiled if she looked at him any more.
Touching the armor in his hand, Ruan Jun suddenly felt a chill.
Killing someone privately is a serious crime, not to mention that Ji Juebai is now an official appointed by the court, so she cannot do it.
Closing her eyes in disgust, Ruan Jun lifted her legs and walked away.
The cardamom purple narcissus skirt swayed, and the belt was tied tightly around her waist, showing off her graceful figure.
Chun Qing waited until the Empress left before letting Ji Rebai go. However, Ji Rebai lying on the ground seemed to have been drained of all his energy and could only stare in the direction where Ruan Jun left.
Chunqing said with a hint of warning: "Master Ji's career was not easy to come by, so you must take good care of yourself. My queen is kind-hearted and doesn't want to think about the past. Master Ji should not forget your status."
The contemptuous words fell into Ji Lubai's ears, and to him they were all irony.
He stood up, pointed at Chunqing's nose and cursed: "Who do you think you are? How dare you blame me? You dog slave, you are just a eunuch, do you really take yourself seriously?"
Chunqing would not be angered by Ji Juebai's words, but just bowed and said, "It is my fault."
Ji Juebai left with a wave of his sleeves. When he passed by the flowerbed, many palace servants were looking in this direction. They looked at Ji Juebai and became angry again, "What are you looking at!"
The palace servants lowered their heads one after another, waiting to talk after Ji Juebai left.
Ji Juebai clenched his fists, his chest rising and falling. Now that he had passed the imperial examination, who would dare to look down on him? If you want to make comments, just go ahead!
Ruan Yun returned to the banquet with a normal expression, only to see the little princess sobbing in the emperor's arms.
Concubine Xian was standing beside her with a face full of regret. Although Ji Zhaoyi didn't show much expression, her red lips were tightly pursed, showing that she was angry.
The queen put away her usual smile and sat upright at the head of the table.
The Queen Mother seems to have returned to the palace and is not here at the moment.
The Queen spoke up, saying, "Is the palace short of food, clothing and daily necessities for the Second Prince? They even want to steal the little princess's Luban lock."
The voice was not loud, and only the people on the jade steps could hear it, and the others were the high-ranking concubines below.
The little princess's face turned red from crying. The emperor's face was as gloomy as water, and his eyes fell coldly on Concubine Xian.
Concubine Xian hurriedly explained, "The Second Prince is young, and he wanted something new just because he saw it. It is because I did not teach him well. Your Majesty, please calm down."
After just hearing these few sentences, Ruan Yun roughly understood what was happening.
The second prince was now staying obediently in Concubine Xian's arms, able to distinguish right from wrong. I wonder if he tried to snatch the little princess's toys earlier because of deliberate connivance.
At this time, they were still at the banquet, so the queen did not want to say more. Yan Shiyu patted the little princess on the back and said in a calm voice: "The second prince has grown up, it's time for him to know right from wrong."
Concubine Xian's face turned pale. The emperor didn't seem to be talking about the second prince, but more like him.
She dug her fingertips into her palms and bowed to indicate that she understood.
The wet nurse took the little princess over, and Ji Zhaoyi quickly held the little princess in his arms, touching her forehead affectionately.
Yan Shiyu's dark eyes fell on Ruan Jun, "Are you sober?"
The urgency in her words made Ruan Yun blush inexplicably, and she muttered softly, "I'm not drunk."
Yan Shiyu did not expose Ruan Yun. He picked up the wine cup and just as the wine was about to go down his throat, he said with a half-smile, "Who takes his own wine so seriously?"
These words made Ruan Yun's face turn red instantly. Even though she wasn't drinking, she was even more intoxicated than before.
After drinking the scented tea, I was completely sober now.
At the side door, Ji Jubai walked back to the table with unsteady steps. When his eyes were about to meet Ruan Jun's, Ruan Jun retracted her gaze so as not to let others notice anything unusual.
End of the Banquet
The emperor went directly to Fengyi Palace as usual. Ruan Jun stood in the front and bowed to see the emperor and the empress off.
The concubines all left, but Ji Zhaoyi was still holding the little princess.
Ruan Yun went over and touched the little princess's hair and said, "Xin'er, are you happy?"
The little princess nodded and shook her head, sniffing and saying, "My second brother broke my Luban lock."
Ruan Yun comforted the little princess softly, "It's okay, just ask the Ministry of Eunuchs to make another one for Xin'er."
But the little princess shook her head and said, "I don't want it. He broke it. I don't want a second one."
After saying this, she was attracted by the sparkling hairpin on Ruan Yun's bun.
She broke away from Ji Zhaoyi's hand and tried to touch Ruan Yun's hairpin with her little hand, but then she thought of something and quickly let go. She said with a smile in her eyes, "Madam Ying's hairpin is really beautiful."
Ruan Yun and Ji Zhaoyi were both amused by the little princess' words. It turned out that this was the idea.
Scratching the tip of the little princess' nose, Ruan Yun said softly, "Tomorrow when we go to Queen Ying's place, you can choose any jewelry from the makeup box, but you are not allowed to cry because of Lu Bansuo tonight."
The little princess was coaxed into happiness, nodded and stood aside.
Neither of them rode on the ceremonial staff. Ji Zhaoyi looked at the little princess running ahead and said, "Sister Ying will spoil her by doing this."
Ruan Yun glanced at her and said angrily, "Why, are you jealous?"
Ji Zhaoyi said in a very gentle voice, with a hint of joking, "Sister, you must be upset to see me. How come you never said such words to me?"
Ruan Jun was amused by Ji Zhaoyi's words, and Ji Zhaoyi felt relieved only after seeing Ruan Jun laughing. She knew her limits and could see the sadness and hatred in Ruan Jun's face recently.
Although Ruan Jun hid these things very well, she only noticed a few details.
But since Sister Ying didn't want to say it, she just didn't ask.
It's always good to be more cheerful.
…
Tilt Palace
Lady Zhang touched the carved stone incense burner and smelled the fragrant white smoke emanating from it. Her beautiful eyes were dull and she didn't even notice when the handkerchief in her hand fell.
This is what Liu Jin saw when she came in with water for washing her hands.
Putting down the copper basin quickly, Liu Jin walked to Lady Zhang's side, supported her and said, "My lady, please don't sit on the ground. Cool down carefully."
Tears welled up in Lady Zhang's eyes. "Cold? Now that I'm sick, the emperor won't care. Today, the emperor didn't even look at me. He only said a few words to that bitch Ruan Yun."
Liu Jin looked troubled and said, "My lady, you should be happy that you can come back and get a title. There are many concubines in the harem who haven't seen the emperor for a long time. Why should you care about these things?"
Lady Zhang suddenly dropped the copper basin, propped herself up on her elbows, and cried bitterly on the ground:
"How can the relationship between me and them be the same as the relationship between them and the emperor?"
Liu Jin curled up his fingers and didn't dare to help Lady Zhang up at this time.
The young lady was once deeply favored by the Emperor, and all the concubines in the six palaces combined were not as favored as her.
What good is there? The first thing the emperor thought of was to move to the palace.
But this year, when lychees from the south were delivered, apart from those from the Empress Dowager and the Empress, the Royal Concubine had the most. I heard that the Emperor even gave the Royal Concubine the ones from before as rewards.
Lady Zhang leaned on Liu Jin's shoulder and touched the wet carpet with her hand. "I did something wrong, but I have already been punished by the emperor. Why does the emperor still treat me like this? Apart from going to Ruan Yun's palace, the rest of the emperor's concubines are all those who have children. The little princess...she should have been raised by me."
Liu Jin persuaded Lady Zhang, saying, "My lady, now Ji Zhaoyi is the mother of the little princess, not someone else."
Concubine Zhang leaned on Liu Jin's shoulder and tried to get up. Liu Jin hurriedly supported Concubine Zhang so that she could stand up.
Fearing that the young lady might fall, Liu Jin hurriedly helped Lady Zhang sit on the couch.
Touching Lady Zhang's skirt which was half wet, Liu Jin did not dare to ask Lady Zhang to change her clothes.
This is the dress that the young lady chose specially for attending the banquet. It looks very similar to the one she wore when she first entered the palace.
But who would have thought that the emperor didn't even look at it.
Liu Jin could understand the young lady's pain and anxiety, but now that things had come to this, she didn't know how to persuade Lady Zhang.
Lady Zhang's smile was uglier than crying, "Yes, she is the little princess's mother. Even the little princess who never gets close to others can call her mother. What a good trick and a good mind."
"Does she think that by marrying up to that bitch Ruan Yun, she can sit on the throne of a concubine in the future? I will not let her do that!"
Liu Jin immediately had a bad idea in her mind, and knelt in front of Lady Zhang and said, "My lady, don't be confused. My lady, do you still remember what the master told you? The emperor is now in love with Concubine Ying. Who knows, this is the way of the late emperor's Concubine Tao. Not to mention Ji Zhaoyi, the master said that he will give you whatever you want."
However, when Lady Zhang heard this, she pushed Liu Jin away and shouted, "Everything depends on my father, why am I still in the palace?"
Her father is the emperor's teacher, and she and the emperor have been childhood sweethearts. After so many years in the palace, if she had to rely on her father for everything, wouldn't it be a laughing stock!
"It doesn't matter if the little princess has a mother. As long as she's gone, I still have a chance. Even if Ji Zhaoyi is gone and the emperor hands the little princess over to someone else to raise, I can still use my old tricks!"
Liu Jin was frightened by Lady Zhang's words. She knelt in front of Lady Zhang and said, "My lady, please don't do anything stupid."
Lady Zhang lowered her eyebrows, tears rolling down her eyes, and shook her head desperately to look at Liu Jin, "No, how can this be a stupid thing? When I have a child, and the little princess is raised here, the emperor will come to see me often. Then not only will I be happy, but my father will also be happy for me outside the palace. The beautiful dream I have had for so many years will come true. How can this be a stupid thing?"
Liu Jin looked at Lady Zhang and felt deeply uneasy. She began to speak incoherently. "My young lady, when you wanted to enter the palace, I was reluctant at first, but later I just wanted you to be happy, so I agreed to let you go to the beauty pageant. I just want you to be well after you entered the palace. I have never been demanding of you. Just think about me, my young lady."
Lady Zhang wiped away the tears on her face with her hands, her eyes firm:
"Father loves me the most. If Father knew that I have a child, I wonder how happy he would be."
Liu Jin couldn't persuade Lady Zhang and could only watch her speaking as if she was sober or possessed.
At this time, Lady Zhang held Liu Jin's hand and said, "Liu Jin, you are the person I trust the most. You accompanied me from the palace to the palace. You will help me, right?"
Under the young lady's extreme desire and her own sincerity, Liu Jin could only nod in agreement with Lady Zhang's words.
…
Jingzhang Palace
Wang Yi helped the empress sit down, looked at the people outside the palace who wanted to follow in, and said, "Everyone, please leave."
The palace servants left silently. Concubine De sat in the inner hall, and said with a smile on her lips: "It is not easy for the Queen to come to the banquet today. No matter how good the makeup is, it can't cover up the Queen's haggard face."
Wang Yi fanned the queen to blow away the heat on her body, "Isn't this what the queen wants? It will be there soon, right?"
De Fei paused while fiddling with the teacup, raised her head and looked at Wang Yi with a hint of smile in her eyes. De Fei put down the teacup and said, "Now that there is a Concubine Ying Gui blocking my way, how can I achieve what I want so quickly?"
Wang Yi stopped swinging the fan handle, and the tassel on the fan fell on the back of her hand. Wang Yi knelt down and said:
"It was my fault, please forgive me, Madam."
Defei drank a sip of tea, glanced at Yi, and said, "Get up, you didn't say anything wrong."
She always thought more. So what if she was just Concubine Ying? In the past, the late emperor favored Concubine Tao, and her fame had surpassed that of the current empress dowager. But now, no one even knew where Concubine Tao's body was. So the empress dowager still won.
Her Ting'er is the emperor's eldest prince, who is loved by the emperor, obedient and sensible. She is the eldest prince's mother. Whatever she asks Ting'er to do, how can Ting'er refuse?
Concubine Zhang is a fool. After so many years, the emperor's favor towards her is gone. What is there for a little Ruan Yun, a lowly palace maid who climbed up from the greenhouse, to be afraid of?
De Fei held her forehead and shook the handle of the fan in her hand, her voice calm:
"Why doesn't it smell the same as before? How could you mess up my favorite thing? Send it to the Ministry of Punishment, there's no need to keep it."
Wang Yi looked at the peacock incense burner that was burning blue, her brows wrinkled. She wanted to plead for the palace maid, but she knew it was not the right time, so she had to give up.
…
Linxuan Palace
Ruan Yun and Ji Zhaoyi talked for a long time on the road, and it was already late at night when they returned to the palace.
The palace maid Cuiyu ran out in a hurry. Tingxu looked at her wrinkled brows and said, "What are you doing? How can you afford to offend the queen?"
Cuiyu was extremely frightened and quickly knelt down and said, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I have something to report."
Ruan Yun looked at Cuiyu's expression and then towards the inner hall. Her heart suddenly sank, and she tightened her hand on Yingning's back.
"What's wrong? What's the matter with the Third Prince?"
Cuiyu raised her head quickly, "No... no."
Hearing that it was not Dongdong who caused the accident, Ruan Yun felt relieved and said, "Just tell me straight."
Cuiyu was in great trouble and told her mother, "Wen Baolin is here."
Wen Baolin was standing in the inner hall wearing a black cloak, facing the golden Buddha that Jiang Baolin had previously sent to Ruan Yun.
It sparkles brightly under the candlelight, as if the Buddha has really descended to the world.
Hearing footsteps behind her, Wen Baolin turned around and saluted Ruan Yun who was walking past her, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Ruan Jun placed her hand on the soft pillow and touched the pearl string placed casually on the table. Seeing Wen Baolin's appearance, she found it quite interesting.
He waved his hand casually and said, "Sit down, sister."
Wen Baolin stood there without moving. Ruan Jun looked at her like this and said nothing more, nor did she try to persuade her any further.
Wen Baolin suddenly knelt down, which made Ruan Jun lift the curtain and look at Wen Baolin.
Wen Baolin was still wearing the same palace dress she wore tonight, except that a black hoodie covered the brightly colored dress.
"Does what the queen said last time still count?"
Ruan Yun suddenly laughed when she heard what Wen Baolin said. She put the teacup aside and said, "I don't remember any agreement with Wen Baolin."
Wen Baolin was choked by Ruan Yun's words. He knelt there awkwardly and nodded, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty did not agree to my request last time."
"But..." Wen Baolin raised her eyes again, her eyes full of pity and sincerity, "I know that Your Majesty has many concerns, whether it is for me or - Defei."
Ruan Yun paused, put the pearl string back casually, picked up the teacup, and said, "Is Wen Baolin threatening me?"
Wen Baolin shook her head quickly, "I dare not. I just want to do things for you, so that you can see my sincerity."
Ruan Yun glanced at Ying Ning calmly. Ying Ning walked over to help Wen Baolin up and said with a chuckle, "My lady, don't kneel down. It seems like my queen is punishing her concubines at will."
Wen Baolin could only sit down obediently and continued, "The pressure from Concubine De made me feel suffocated, so I had people watching Concubine De every day. One day... I didn't mean to find out, but I happened to see someone from the Empress's palace near Jingzhang Palace, and then I knew that the Empress was having a headache because of Concubine De."
Ruan Yunxing's eyes became colder as she looked at Wen Baolin again. Even the gentleness she had just pretended to be disappeared, which made Wen Baolin feel uneasy.
"It turns out that Wen Baolin doesn't want to cooperate with me or rely on me. This behavior seems like a threat."
Wen Baolin denied it again and again, "I said at the beginning that it never happened, so it never happened."
"I only saw it by chance, and I would never guess what kind of hatred there is between the noble concubine and the virtuous concubine, but I can guarantee that if the queen wants to know something from the virtuous concubine, now is the best time, and it is absolutely true."
Ruan Yun's lips curved slightly, "You have no basis, why should I trust you?"
Although she said so, Ruan Yun's heart had already been shaken. Wen Baolin knew that she had sent people to Jingzhang Palace, but he did not expose it at that time and waited until now, as if he wanted to let Defei relax her guard.
What did Wen Baolin know from Concubine De? He must have only known that she had some doubts about Concubine De, but he didn't know what was going on inside. But how could she know that Concubine De would definitely tell the truth?
Or what method can be used to make Concubine De tell the truth?
Wen Baolin pursed his lips and glanced at Tao Chu behind him.
Tao Chu took out a square box from his sleeve, Ting Xu immediately stepped forward and stood in front of Ruan Yun, and Ying Ning did not reach out to take it.
Ruan Jun only looked at the square box, showing no interest at all. "What is this?"
Wen Baolin also moved his eyes to the square box, and said word by word very clearly: "Distracted."
Ruan Yun slammed the table and said in a stern voice: "These drugs are forbidden in the palace. Are you looking for death?"
Wen Baolin knelt down and kowtowed again, her eyes firm, and said: "I know I am guilty, but it was I who personally handed the evidence to Your Majesty. I just hope Your Majesty can believe what I say."
Tao Chu held the square box in his hand, retracted his hand slightly, and knelt behind Wen Baolin again so that Wen Baolin could lean on him.
Ruan Jun felt that Wen Baolin was very interesting now, much more interesting than her cousin.
He dared to use such medicine of unknown origin in the palace, and now he even dared to bring it to her. He is really not afraid.
Ruan Jun looked at Wen Baolin silently, and also wanted to hear what she said.
Wen Baolin was very nervous. He looked at the square box in Tao Chu's hand and said, "The mind-twisting powder was originally used by brothels outside the palace, for those who don't want to receive customers. After using this mind-twisting powder, their mind will fluctuate and their consciousness will be unclear. Then they will do whatever you tell them to do."
Wen Baolin wanted to continue speaking, but she didn't say anything. She looked up at Ruan Yun and said, "After hearing what I have said, Your Majesty, can you please not punish me?"
Ruan Jun found it even more interesting that Wen Baolin came to her in a hurry without even thinking of a countermeasure. Could it be that he was provoked by something?
"You used banned drugs in the palace, and you brazenly brought them to me. I don't even know what they are. If you endanger the emperor's life, do you want me to go to jail or behead you?"
Wen Baolin's eyelashes trembled violently. He knew there was no other way, so he could only bite the bullet and continue speaking:
"I... never slept with the emperor. When I was still at home, I overheard the maids discussing the Confession Powder. They said there was a girl in the brothel who had been refusing to obey. After taking the Confession Powder, she started to talk nonsense and spread scandals about many officials in the capital. After asking, I learned that the girl was originally the daughter of an official. She committed a serious crime and was exiled. She should have been confined to the Jiaofang Bureau, but she ran away secretly and was bought back by a trafficker."
Ruan Yun was not very interested in the stories Wen Baolin told. These dirty things were common in everyone's home.
Wen Baolin continued, "Originally, the emperor had not summoned me to sleep with him, and I thought that since the Circumventing Powder could make people obey temporarily, it would not be wrong to use it on the emperor."
After saying this, Wen Baolin knelt down, leaving Ruan Yun, Ting Xu and Ying Ning looking at each other in bewilderment.
Ruan Yun didn't know whether to say Wen Baolin was brave or timid, as he dared to use such a thing on the emperor.
"Then you are available?"
Wen Baolin hesitated for a moment and then shook his head. Ruan Yun immediately asked, "Did you use it? Otherwise, why do you feel so guilty?"
Wen Baolin immediately raised her head, knelt beside Ruan Yun, and said, "I dare not. I know that this medicine has a very strong effect. It can even make people lose their minds and talk nonsense. Even if it can make people fall into a deep sleep and make her do whatever you want, the effect is too strong. I dare not take the risk with the emperor."
Ruan Jun looked at the square box again, and it was indeed the same style as the ones outside the palace.
"How did you get it into the palace?"
There were dedicated people in charge of purchasing in the palace. Every time a purchasing carriage passed through a palace gate, the Yulin Army would check it layer by layer to ensure that there would be no omissions.
Wen Baolin said: "I had been looking for a long time but couldn't find a way, so I asked someone to look for it again. A eunuch who was engaged in purchasing appeared. I tried to test him for a long time, but he just said that he was short of money and would keep it a secret. So I asked him to bring him in."
Ruan Yun responded, "Did your father find this medicine for you?"
At this point, Wen Baolin could only nod and admit, "Yes."
Ruan Yun sneered, "You are so brave, what can't you do? Why do you come to me for help?"
Wen Baolin clenched the handkerchief in his hand, his face full of humiliation:
"The Concubine De said that I had sores on my body and removed my jade token. Everyone in the palace avoided me. I really couldn't stand this kind of humiliation."
"I have already placed the Heart-Worrying Powder in the incense burner in the Jingzhang Palace. Concubine De can no longer live without it. I just want you, Madam, to help me."
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