Chapter 847, Kidnapped Again
Cining Palace.
The queen mother picked up the teacup on the table and poured it directly at the queen who was kneeling in front of her.
The queen did not dodge and was splashed with tea in her face.
The Queen Mother looked at the Queen with a cold expression: "Have you been Queen for so long that you've forgotten you're a daughter of the Jiang family? You've become the sword in the Emperor's hand, swinging it towards me and the Jiang family."
The Queen raised her eyes to look at the Queen Mother and said calmly, "Aunt, please stop. The Jiang family cannot defeat the Emperor."
The Empress Dowager immediately scoffed, "What kind of magic potion has the Emperor given you to make you so afraid of him? Back then, the late Emperor favored Lady Wan so much that he almost deposed her. Didn't I manage to turn that difficult situation around?"
"The emperor thought he had grown strong enough to no longer care about my family and the Jiang family. He never thought about whether he could have sat on the throne if it weren't for me."
"If I can push him to the top, I can naturally pull him down!"
Looking at the already frantic Queen Mother, the Queen felt helpless: "Aunt, the Emperor is not the late Emperor. The late Emperor ignored state affairs and indulged in women, which is why you and father's scheme could succeed."
"But the emperor is different. He is a man of both civil and military skills, and has many loyal ministers and capable generals at his disposal. You simply cannot use the same methods you used against the late emperor to deal with him."
"Aunt, please listen to my advice and stop going against the emperor. This way, perhaps the Jiang family can still have a way out."
Hearing this, the Queen Mother sneered repeatedly and looked at the Queen with a ridiculous face: "You are still the Queen, how can you be so naive? The Emperor and the Jiang family have been incompatible for a long time."
Seeing that she could not persuade the empress dowager, the queen could only leave the Cining Palace again with disappointment.
Walking in the corridor of the palace, the look in the queen's eyes became more and more determined.
Even though she was the queen, she didn't have much say in family affairs. Now, with the deaths of her eldest brother and nephew, her aunt and father had long lost their minds.
She was unable to save her family, and the only thing she could do now was to protect her Le Kang.
After the queen left, the queen mother stayed in the Buddhist temple for most of the day, and then asked someone to call the third prince in to talk.
Ever since the Third Prince learned that the Queen Mother was not the Emperor's biological mother, he has been trying to distance himself from the Jiang family. However, it is easier to get on board than to get off. Faced with the Queen Mother's summons, he dared not disobey.
"Grandmother, what do you want to talk to your grandson about?"
The Queen Mother looked at the Third Prince calmly. At this moment, she was too lazy to put on an act and said directly, "Did you know that Xiao Yeyang is investigating the treasure?"
The Third Prince's heart tightened: "Didn't Father suspend his post?"
The Queen Mother sneered, "Alright, stop playing tricks on me. I don't believe you don't know that this is just something the Emperor does for show."
As he said this, he snorted heavily.
"You took half of the treasure that was moved out. If Xiao Yeyang finds out that you actually got your hands on the treasure left by the Eighth Prince, do you think the Emperor will hate you even more after knowing this?"
The third prince turned pale and stared at the empress dowager in a daze.
At this moment, there was nothing he didn't understand. It was just a coincidence that he had found the treasure map left by Xiao Yechi in Duke Cheng'en's mansion. It was all a trap set for him by the Queen Mother and Duke Cheng'en.
The Queen Mother looked at the Third Prince indifferently: "Don't be so bitter and resentful. I'm asking you, do you want to sit on the throne? Do you think that based on the impression you have made on the Emperor, he will pass the throne to you? Opportunities are earned, not waited for."
The Third Prince frowned and said, "Grandmother, what do you want to talk to me about?"
The Queen Mother: "You don't want Xiao Yeyang to continue investigating, do you? Find a way to stop him."
The Third Prince smiled bitterly: "Xiao Yeyang didn't investigate openly, how can I stop him?"
The Queen Mother showed disdain: "You can't use your brain. If you can't stop it directly, then let him be tripped up by other things." Then she sneered, "For example, if Yan Yi gets into trouble, do you think he will be in the mood to investigate other things?"
The third prince seemed to be lost in thought. Being in the royal family, he had known since he was very young that he had to fight and rob, and he had never been a soft-hearted person.
He knew that his father was very sensitive to everything related to the Eighth Prince, so the fact that he took the treasure left by Xiao Ye Chi would never be exposed.
The Third Prince pondered the Queen Mother's words for a moment, then left the palace in deep thought. Upon returning to his residence, he asked the Third Prince's wife, "I remember there's a banquet at Prince Ping's residence tomorrow, right?"
The Third Prince's wife nodded and said, "Xiao Yeyang has been appointed Crown Prince, and Uncle Ping sent a notice to the clan members, asking them to come over for a gathering."
The Third Prince pondered for a moment and said, "Go and choose two good gifts. I'll go with you tomorrow."
Prince Ping's Mansion.
Concubine Jiang came to Concubine Ji's courtyard for the first time.
Concubine Ji smiled and welcomed her into the house: "Sister, why did you think of coming to my place?"
Concubine Jiang: "Isn't this too much time? When we were in charge of the palace, we had no free time all day long, so we wanted to rest more. But now that we are no longer in charge, we feel uncomfortable all over."
Concubine Ji smiled and said, "I'm fine. It's nice to just enjoy the flowers or something when I have nothing to do."
Seeing that Concubine Ji didn't respond, Concubine Jiang took the initiative to say, "Today is the day when the palace is hosting a banquet for all the families. I originally thought that since the Crown Prince's Concubine was handling such a big event for the first time, she would inevitably be busy and might come to us for help. Who would have thought..."
Concubine Ji smiled and took over the conversation: "Who would have thought that the Crown Prince's Concubine would manage everything in an orderly manner, busy but not chaotic, and not need our help at all."
Concubine Jiang sighed, "That's right. I originally thought the Crown Prince's Concubine came from a humble family, with limited knowledge and abilities, and that she couldn't possibly handle a banquet of the royal palace's standards. But she managed to organize it with great fanfare. I really underestimated her before."
Concubine Ji smiled faintly: "The Crown Prince is very picky. How could he be attracted to someone who only has good looks? Look at how harmoniously the Prince and the Crown Prince get along now. The Crown Prince's Concubine has made great efforts in this."
While the two were chatting, Daohua was smiling and leading the female relatives to Pingxi Hall to talk.
Because of the news that the empress dowager was not the emperor's biological mother, everyone had fewer concerns. The palace was particularly lively today, and people came from all the families who had posted the notice.
Xiao Yeyang was in the front yard, entertaining the male family members; in the backyard, Daohua was in charge alone.
Many royal family members came this time. Although Daohua was a junior, she had the help of Princess Yong and Princess Huijia to keep things under control. Everyone gave her face and nothing happened.
Among the guests, Madam Li watched her daughter move with ease among the princesses, princes' wives, and princesses, becoming more and more like the mistress of the house, with a gratified smile on her face.
After a busy day, Daohua felt her face was almost stiff from smiling.
After dinner, after seeing off the female relatives, Daohua took Madam Li's arm and walked towards the gate: "Mother, I was really too busy today and didn't treat you and sister-in-law well. You must not be angry with me."
Madam Li glanced at Daohua and said, "There's no need to say such things to your family." Then she glanced at Han Xinran and said, "Your sister-in-law and I both understand."
Han Xinran immediately nodded in agreement: "Yes, big sister, there is no need for us to be so polite. But, I see that you are really tired today, why don't you find someone to help you share the burden?"
Daohua: "Today is the first banquet I've hosted since taking over the palace. I can't make any mistakes. Everyone in the palace has their own ideas. I don't dare to use them. However, I can let the sisters in the palace practice their skills for unimportant banquets in the future."
Han Xinran smiled and said, "It is a blessing for a young lady in the palace to have a sister-in-law like you who is willing to teach the housekeepers and directors."
Madam Li laughed and said, "Don't praise her. She's just lazy and wants to be idle."
Daohua smiled and leaned on Madam Li's shoulder: "Mother understands me the best."
As they were talking, the three of them arrived at the gate of the palace.
Daohua watched Madam Li and Han Xinran get on the carriage, then turned and went into the palace. Since she was in the palace, Daohua did not bring Mei, Lan, Mei and Ju with her to see Madam Li off, but only brought two maids.
When she was about to reach the Chuihua Gate, a dark shadow suddenly rushed over. Before Daohua could react, she was hit hard on the neck, and then she fell into darkness.
(End of this chapter)
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