Zhao Fuhai's smile became more genuine at his words, and he lowered his voice: "We're just welcoming you, Brother Zhang, aren't we? We just didn't know the Emperor had appointed you to serve at Chengqian Palace... this service..."
Zhang Qilin understood that the Emperor wanted him to protect the Empress while she was busy cleaning up the palace staff and dealing with those brainless palace servants.
As for the deadline...
In other words, he went back home once the female official was selected.
Zhang Qilin knew his mission. Now he represented the Emperor and was on the same side as Chengqian Palace, so he naturally couldn't afford to have a conflict with Zhao Fuhai. Their enemies were all outside Chengqian Palace.
Therefore, he lowered his voice and said, "Before the end of the year, our family will definitely go to inspect the warehouse with Eunuch Su."
Zhao Fuhai was relieved.
The smile is now incredibly genuine.
"Brother Zhang, please walk slowly, this road is a bit uneven."
Looking at his smiling face, Zhang Qilin laughed along: "What kind of rough roads haven't we brothers seen? We'll just get through them. And if things get really bad, we can always uproot them, right?"
The two of them smiled knowingly.
Changning's prediction was correct. After her imperial edict was issued, the six palaces were in complete chaos. Of course, on the surface, everything remained calm, but behind the scenes, it was like boiling water covered with a lid; the bubbling water was about to burst the lid off.
The entire harem will be reduced by almost one-fifth of its staff, including those who have reached the age limit but have not left the palace, those who have committed crimes, those whose backgrounds are not clean, etc. No matter what power they have or who their master is, Changning will not recognize them.
Because the harem belonged to her.
The palace servants who were to be sent out of the palace were naturally in a panic. They were all bewildered and did not know why the Empress had suddenly caused such a big commotion, when they had not heard a word about it before.
Only a few people knew the inside story, but they had all been warned by Su Peisheng that if they tried to stop the Empress, they would only face death.
They were well aware of the old eunuch's methods, so they kept their mouths shut and dared not say a word.
This left the palace servants feeling helpless and desperate.
Changning was reclining on the couch reading a book. The window had been replaced with a glass one, which allowed excellent light, making the room warm and bright. She loved to stay here during the day.
Seeing this, Yinzhen ordered the Ministry of Works to further develop glass manufacturing techniques.
The Ministry of Industry stated that they were too exhausted and overwhelmed with developing new weapons!
However, no one dared to disobey the emperor's orders, after all, the Nine Clans Elimination Game was no joke.
With orders coming from above, people below were running themselves ragged. The Ministry of Works had no choice but to reluctantly assign more personnel to develop glassmaking techniques.
Changning was reading a particularly interesting part when Tingfeng arrived shortly afterward.
"What, who's the first one to arrive?"
Tingfeng replied with a smile, "Your Majesty is indeed a prophet; you truly are Consort Qian."
Changning sneered: "If she's willing to be the one to make an example of someone, then I must grant her wish."
Otherwise, she might really think that just because she's been made a concubine, she can act with impunity. I'll show her who's in charge.
Tingfeng nodded and withdrew, then invited Consort Qian in.
Consort Qian was filled with apprehension. When she heard that a quarter of the staff in her palace would be cut, she immediately flew into a rage and launched into a tirade of questions at the eunuch who delivered the decree.
"A quarter? How many people do I have in total? Why are you targeting my staff?"
Is Your Majesty dissatisfied with me?
Or are you a bunch of scoundrels using the Empress's decree to act arrogantly and domineeringly on my territory?
Consort Qian now possesses the authority of a principal consort, but the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree came from Chengqian Palace and naturally looked down on her, a tiger without claws.
Therefore, the eunuch didn't say much, only gave a cold smile: "Your Majesty can verify the authenticity of this imperial edict, but you'd better obey the Empress's decree."
The scene of the eunuch respectfully confessing his guilt, which she had originally envisioned, did not occur, and Consort Qian's anger suddenly surged to the top of her head.
What? Just because the Empress is powerful, does that mean everyone in Chengqian Palace has become so noble?
Now even a lowly eunuch delivering imperial decrees dares to be rude to her? If she fails to get revenge, where will Consort Qian's face be in the future?
Without saying a word, Consort Qian led her men to Chengqian Palace.
She even boasted, "I refuse to believe that Her Majesty the Empress won't give me an explanation! Do you all think I'm still the same pushover I was before?"
However, while waiting at the entrance of Chengqian Palace, her impulsive mind suddenly calmed down. Looking at the palace in front of her, Consort Qian felt cold sweat breaking out.
How could she forget...?
She is Fucha Changning...
Fucha Changning, a ruthless killer who would readily pluck out people's tongues...
She was just a concubine who could act so arrogantly, but now that she's the Empress, the entire Qing Dynasty is in her hands. Dealing with her would be as easy as stepping on an ant.
Consort Qian now felt caught in a dilemma; she had already made her boastful statement, and her own servants were watching closely.
If we were to slink away now, wouldn't that be too embarrassing?
Moreover, he had come out of Zhongcui Palace in a huff and headed all the way to Chengqian Palace. Countless people must have seen him, and now the entire harem was waiting to see him make a fool of himself.
While she was hesitating, a palace maid led her inside. Good heavens, it was too late to leave now.
When Consort Qian, Lady Liu, saw the Empress sitting regally on the high seat, she instinctively smiled obsequiously and said, "Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
Changning snorted coldly, without saying a word. Instead, he casually picked up the teacup, blew on it gently, and began to sip it.
Consort Qian had no choice but to remain squatting, feeling her legs go numb, but she dared not utter a word or look up at the Empress's face, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, awaiting the Empress's command.
At this moment, cold sweat poured down her back. She felt immense regret and a slight sense of self-loathing.
Why did he lose all his previous imposing manner when facing the Empress?
He even dared to dream of confronting the Empress, but before they even exchanged a single blow, he was already intimidated.
Just as Consort Qian was relentlessly belittling herself, Changning finally spoke.
"Consort Qian, I've heard you've been quite arrogant lately?"
"How could that be? With Her Majesty the Empress here, this concubine would naturally not dare."
Consort Qian smiled cautiously.
"Then what is your dissatisfaction with my decree?" Changning looked at her, expressionless, her voice low and imposing.
"I think you don't want your head anymore."
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