Chapter 193 The Queen Mother is in trouble

Shan Yanzhu was reinstated as Xipin, and the first thing she did after being released from house arrest was to go to the Central Palace to pay her respects. All the concubines and lower-ranking officials in the harem had to make an appearance and go to Yongshou Palace for a visit.

After Concubine Xi entered the palace, Yongshou Palace became lively again.

After sending the people from the palace away, the maid Ana served tea to her own queen and said happily:

"The queen finally made it through."

"Survive?"

Shan Yanzhu stood up and walked to the door. She stood on the steps and looked outside her palace.

The glazed tiles sparkle in the sunlight, and the high walls are connected to each other.

"For me, life in the palace has just begun."

Shan Yanzhu looked at the clear blue sky and murmured repeatedly: Everything has just begun.

Ana didn't understand what her mother meant. She said innocently, "Now that we have started, let's settle all the old and new grudges together!"

Shan Yanzhu looked at Ana, "New hatred or old grudge?"

"Madam, how long has it been since those people ganged up on you? Have you forgotten it so quickly?"

How could I forget?

Shan Yanzhu will never forget the helplessness she felt that day.

But she held Ana's hand and said, "Good Ana, I know you are speaking up for me, but you also said that they teamed up to bully me? Who can I deal with alone in the harem? Who can I seek revenge on?"

"Why are you alone?"

Ana stamped her feet and said, "The Emperor said yesterday that you are not alone, and he will always stand by your side! He is your backer! You can do whatever you want!"

Always stand by me?

Always stand by me, and you won't be the one to criticize yourself when everyone is framing you.

What does useless mean?

He expressed his disappointment as he knew that he had been framed and was powerless to save himself, and spoke these words as a cold bystander.

Shan Yanzhu just entered the palace and had less experience than others, but she was not stupid.

She thought that the emperor probably also felt that the harem had become united as one, and he hoped to use her to break this union.

To be fair, Shan Yanzhu entered the palace to be the emperor's pawn - these women in the harem, whether they like it or not, are all the emperor's pawns.

But she became a pawn for survival and for the longer-term glory of her family.

Instead of seeking death.

The emperor was too cruel to his chess pieces.

With his personality, if one day I successfully help him split the harem and deal with all the hidden dangers he wants to deal with, he will not be grateful. He will only feel that I have seen his ugly side.

Instead, she blamed herself for being cruel and ruthless, and found reasons to punish herself and her own family.

For something like this, eating it once is enough. Shan Yanzhu sneered, "Just listen to what the emperor said, don't take it seriously."

Ana didn't understand, "The emperor's words are binding, why can't we take them seriously?"

Shan Yanzhu didn't want to stand in the wind, so she turned around and walked back. As she walked, she said, "It is because the emperor's words are as good as gold. When he can't fulfill his promise, he kills the person he promised. He is still the emperor who never breaks his promise and keeps his word."

These words were inexplicably terrifying, and Ana shuddered, "Then, then Madam...what should we do?"

Shan Yanzhu thought for a long time and said firmly: "A wise bird chooses the right tree to roost in. This is the only choice for the Niu Hulu clan."

Ana didn't understand, but she did whatever her master said.

"Ana, get Madam Li here for me."

"Why did Your Majesty ask her to do that? If it weren't for her giving you those bad ideas, Your Majesty wouldn't have suffered such a great humiliation upon entering the palace..."

Shan Yanzhu interrupted, "Ana!"

Ana pouted, "Yes, I will go find her right away."

After being under house arrest for so long, it would be really stupid if Shan Yanzhu couldn't figure out such a small thing.

This Nanny Li was obviously instructed by an expert to come to his side, which is why so many of them happened to appear.

Rather than dealing with Nanny Li, relieving the hatred temporarily, fighting with the person behind her until they are bloodied, and finally being thrown away as a pawn, it is better to join forces secretly.

Since all the concubines in the harem are sisters, why not have one more?

Nanny Li told Cao Qinmo what Shan Yanzhu was thinking, and Cao Qinmo told Nian Shilan the same thing, "Nanny Li was kept by Concubine Xi."

"What do you think?" Nian Shilan asked.

"I think that this Xipin is not as simple as you think. Maybe she has received the emperor's instruction and is deliberately testing you. For the sake of caution, you should be on guard."

That's true.

When Nian Shilan went to see the child, she told the queen about it.

"Whether it's sincere or fake, what does it matter?"

This made Nian Shilan confused, [What does it mean? ]

"Princess Cao is from a humble family and doesn't understand. As for you, your family is too pampered and you don't know the responsibilities we have on our shoulders."

The queen didn't want to talk about these nonsense in front of the child, so she went to the bedroom with Nian Shilan, "The world is bustling with people because of profit, the world is bustling with people because of profit..."

[Can you not show off your knowledge? ]

The queen was in a playful mood, "Don't you understand?"

Nian Shilan rolled her eyes without any hesitation.

"This time, it's not that she wants to be on the same side with us, it's that the Niu Hulu clan wants to form an alliance with us. Many things in the palace are under the Emperor's nose, so it's not convenient to do them. If she really has this intention, your brother will get the news, and we don't need to worry about it."

For the Queen, everything is going according to plan now, and there is really no need for her to add another hidden danger to herself.

If Shan Yanzhu is smart enough, she should express her stance with sincerity instead of just talking without doing anything.

So they just pretend they know nothing.

~

Two days ago, An Lingrong caught a cold and had a cough for a few days. Baozhen handed her the boiled medicine.

"The Emperor knows that the young lady is not in good health, so he specially ordered someone to send some medicinal herbs. The young lady drank them in the past two days, and her cough seems to have improved a lot."

"It's caused by the weather, not an epidemic. Even if you don't take medicine, you can get better slowly. How can it be caused by the medicinal materials?"

An Lingrong took the medicine bowl and drank it.

"My young master has always been in poor health. When she went to serve in Yangxin Palace, I was afraid that she would not be able to hold on."

"Thanks to the Empress being outside, I drink those preventive soups three times a day, and take nourishing herbs. I am in good health, so nothing will happen."

An Lingrong put down the medicine bowl and looked outside. "The queen has been busy with palace affairs these days, so there is no need to pay respects. The weather is good today, so let's go pay respects to the queen later."

Baozhen just responded and the waiter came in.

"My lady, the Emperor wishes to see you at the west warm pavilion of the Yangxin Palace at 1:00 pm."

An Lingrong pursed her lips and tried to raise the corners of her mouth, "Thank you, Eunuch Lao."

"I'll take my leave."

In the Yangxin Palace, the emperor found a memorial impeaching Nian Gengyao among the memorials praising his merits.

Now, whether it is the war in the northwest or the epidemic in the capital, Nian Gengyao has made great contributions. Even if he is guilty of treason, the emperor will find a way to make amends for him and will not punish him severely.

So just take a look at this memorial.

Shen Meizhuang often went to Yikun Palace and had some friendship with the Imperial Concubine. Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang had known each other since childhood. Although You Fangruo said that Zhen Huan was devoted to him, he was still curious about the friendship between his own Concubine Wan and the Imperial Concubine.

"Go and call Concubine Wan to me."

When An Lingrong came over in a sedan chair according to the time, Zhen Huan had already arrived at the palace.

Su Peisheng bowed respectfully, "Please wait a moment, Miss Lao. The Emperor is talking to Concubine Wan right now."

An Lingrong didn't want to wait even for a moment, but after all, she was summoned by the Emperor and he didn't let her go, so it would be inappropriate for her to leave.

"It doesn't matter. The Emperor and my sister must have something important to say..."

An Lingrong had a smile on her face and a gentle voice. She wanted to say that the wind was too strong for her body to handle, but the weather was too good today and not even her hair could be blown up.

So she coughed twice, and then coughed twice more, and paused seven or eight times before saying the second half of the sentence, "It's okay to wait."

Baozhen remembered that her young master had not been coughing like this for two days ago: Yangxin Palace was really evil, and her young master's cough would get worse every time she came.

Su Peisheng looked pitiful and said, "I will go in and inform the young master again."

"Thank you, Su, cough, cough, cough..." An Lingrong said in a hoarse voice, "Eunuch."

At this moment, Zhen Huan in the palace was also feeling embarrassed. The emperor insisted that she read the memorial in which He Ersong impeached Nian Gengyao for abusing his power and arbitrarily mobilizing troops by taking advantage of the epidemic.

The harem cannot be dominated by one family, and the same applies to the court.

When everyone says that the Nian brothers have made great contributions, if there is no opposition, then the opponents will become emperors.

This impeachment memorial was a sign of the sincerity of the Niuhulu family.

To be honest, this thing does exist.

Before the emperor issued the order, Nian Gengyao did mobilize troops, but all he did was to prepare medicinal materials and control the movement of the people, and the emperor subsequently issued the same order.

It's not a big mistake.

But this is state affairs.

The Imperial Concubine has mentioned more than once that after she was favored in her previous life, she was flattered by the Emperor and became so carried away that she thought she said some things that had nothing to do with state affairs, but the Emperor took them to heart.

Eventually, the entire Zhen family was implicated.

Zhen Huan was unsure of the emperor's intention in letting her read the memorial, but no matter whether she understood it or not, it was not her place to decide whether the court officials were right or wrong.

"As a woman, I don't understand these things. I only know that I do whatever the emperor tells me to do, and I don't do anything the emperor doesn't tell me to do."

There is no right or wrong. What the emperor thinks is right is right, and what the emperor thinks is wrong is wrong.

The emperor felt as if he was scratching an itch when he heard these words, but at least he did not intend to say a word in defense of Nian Gengyao, which showed that her position was correct.

"Your Majesty." Su Peisheng stood at the door of the study and bowed, "The noble lady is here."

Zhen Huan was like seeing a savior, "Sister Tian, ​​come here. I will take my leave first."

The emperor said without even looking up: "I still have something to say to you."

Even though Zhen Huan doesn't understand state affairs and can't share her worries, she can always feel at ease as long as Wan Wan stands by her side.

"The weather has been hot and cold these past two days, and Sister Tian has always been weak, so it's not advisable for her to wait at the door for a long time."

The emperor nodded, "Then let her go back and rest."

As he spoke, he extended his hand to Zhen Huan, "Come to my side."

Su Peisheng got the emperor's will and came out, apologizing, "I'm sorry, young lady. The emperor asks you to go back first. Concubine Wan is inside, and the emperor really doesn't have time to see you."

An Lingrong pinched her handkerchief, her face full of disappointment, "The Emperor will have my sister to serve him, I will go back first."

She turned around and stepped into the sunlight with her embroidered shoes. Her face was brighter than the sunlight.

"Why don't you wait a little longer, young lady?" Baozhen whispered, "You are so anxious to let Eunuch Su go in to ask questions. Aren't you afraid of upsetting the emperor?"

An Lingrong smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wise. How could you have forgotten to call me over at 11:00 p.m.?"

If he has forgotten, it means he doesn't care about me. Why should I wait?

If he hasn't forgotten, he is deliberately leaving me out, so I don't have to wait!

The Queen Mother once said that your body is your own and there is no need to degrade yourself.

"It's all trivial." An Lingrong patted Baozhen's arm. "The queen should be waking up from her nap by now. Let's go and pay our respects to her."

Nian Shilan heard about what happened in Yangxin Palace and snorted, "If you say that Lao Deng didn't do it on purpose, I really don't believe it."

[He clearly doesn't care about women, but he always talks about the former dynasty and the harem being one, and he uses the harem to rule the country.]

[She was afraid that these women would join forces, so she deliberately called one over and left her alone. She said she loved the other one, but she actually made enemies for her.]

Nian Shilan glanced at An Lingrong and said, "You have become quite smart in this life."

[In the previous life, I knew that Zhen Huan was inside, but I stood at the door for more than half an hour blowing the cold wind, until my voice became hoarse. Then I turned around and hid in my room, saying "I deserve it", "I don't know what's good for me", "I don't deserve it", why bother. 】

With An Lingrong's current thoughts, she could no longer understand her own mentality of waiting.

She also felt stupid.

As the two were talking, Zhou Ninghai rushed in in a panic, "Your Majesty! There's news from Shoukang Palace that the Empress Dowager is...not well."

Nian Shilan was shocked, "The Queen Mother is not well?"

[In my previous life, she didn’t die even when I died. In this life, my death date hasn’t come yet, so why did she die first? 】

An Lingrong couldn't help but glance at the Imperial Concubine: What do you mean her death date hasn't come yet? The Empress will live a hundred years, how can there be a death date?

Nian Shilan thought that the empress dowager's illness had relapsed, so she summoned the concubines from the six palaces to take care of her. However, when she arrived at Shoukang Palace, she found that the empress dowager was already talking nonsense.

"…You promised that after the selection…"

As it was a royal scandal, the emperor immediately stopped the concubines from crying, "Why are you crying? The Queen Mother is still here."

The Queen wiped her tears with a handkerchief and said kindly, "The Queen Mother and the Emperor must have something else to say. We sisters should wait outside the palace."

All the concubines retreated outside the bedroom and knelt in an orderly manner. No one spoke, and they continued to cry sadly.

Nian Shilan was bored and thought about what she knew.

【Long Keduo promised you that he would marry you once the selection was over.】

What?

Who marries whom?

The Empress Dowager and Longkodo were also having an affair?

Concubine Duan was not feeling well and coughed several times.

[He said that the late emperor did not like the color pale blue, and asked you to wear a pale blue gown so that you could avoid being selected. Unfortunately, he lied to you. The late emperor liked pale blue the most.]

[He allowed you to enter the palace so that you could support his sister, Queen Hyo Yi-nin, in her position in the palace.]

Zhen Huan silently tugged at Concubine Jing's clothes, reminding her that she still had to pretend.

[You said you hated him in your heart, so why did you have an affair with him even after you entered the palace and had a child with the late emperor?]

The words "The Queen Mother is having an affair" were like a thunderbolt, exploding in those people's minds.

The Queen had heard about this from Nian Shilan a long time ago, so she was somewhat calm.

[They were having an affair, and the emperor caught them hiding under the bed. 】

And was caught by the Emperor!!!

[So is Prince Fourteen the son of the Empress Dowager and Long Kedo? ]

Fourteenth Master!!!

Concubine Jing opened her mouth slightly: illegitimate child, the Fourteenth Master is actually an illegitimate child?

[The Queen Mother died, what should Longkodo do? ]

What does that mean? Could it be that after the emperor passed away in his previous life, the empress dowager and Longkodo were still together?

Concubine Jing swallowed her saliva: This, this, this...

The shock of this incident cannot be expressed in words.

[In his previous life, Longkodo was sent away by the Queen Mother who gave him poisoned wine. Without the Queen Mother, who would give Longkodo wine?]

It was a false alarm.

Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief, yet felt baffled.

[So what went wrong that caused the Queen Mother to die so many years earlier? ]