The small court meetings in the Hall of Supreme Harmony were held time and time again, but the matter concerning the Liu family remained unresolved.
Everyone knew that the Emperor wanted to compensate the Liu family, at least to give them the means to continue living in the capital. However, no one was willing to speak up for the Liu family first. Liu Feng was dead, and the Liu family was already at their wits' end, relying solely on Consort Rong for support. Moreover, the people harbored deep resentment towards Liu Feng for embezzling military funds, and no one was willing to risk their reputation at this time.
Gu Heng sat expressionlessly on the dragon throne, his knuckles rhythmically tapping the table. "Do my ministers mean that I should expel the Liu family from the capital?"
"This... Your Majesty, we had no such intention. Now that the Liu family has been raided, we should let this matter pass." The minister who spoke was glared at by Gu Heng and retreated shakily.
Just as the atmosphere was getting a little strange, Cen Hai jogged into the palace and reported, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is requesting an audience outside the palace, saying that she wants to personally plead guilty on behalf of the Liu family."
"Please come in quickly."
Consort Rong was dressed in plain clothes, with all her hairpins and jewelry removed. The days she had been in a coma had made her look extremely haggard, as if she would shatter at any moment.
"Your Majesty, I, Liu, beg forgiveness." Consort Rong knelt on the ground. "I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace, but I failed to restrain my father and brothers in time, causing Your Majesty great trouble. I am guilty, and I beg Your Majesty to punish me, strip me of my title, and demote me."
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. What was Consort Rong up to by pleading guilty?
"There is no connection between the imperial court and the harem, so what does it have to do with my beloved concubine?" Even though it was planned in advance, seeing Consort Rong in such a state still made Gu Heng feel sorry for her, so he personally got up and helped her up.
"Your Majesty, please punish me and drive the Liu family to the frontier to serve as guards." Consort Rong pleaded earnestly, "I cannot bear to see Your Majesty toiling day and night for the sake of the Liu family, harming your health."
Gu Heng feigned anger, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Since that's the case, I will demote Consort Rong to the rank of concubine. As for the Liu family, I will find someone in the clan with ability and give them a sixth-rank official position."
Consort Rong's apology gave Gu Heng a way out, easily saving the Liu family. As for her rank in the harem, Gu Heng could find an opportunity to restore Consort Rong's rank later.
"Your subject obeys the decree."
Even those with discerning eyes could see through Gu Heng and Consort Rong's charade, and they pretended not to hear and went along with it.
“Cen Hai, go to Zhaoning Palace and ask the Empress for her opinion, since it involves matters of the inner palace.”
Gu Heng's next words stunned Consort Rong. The Emperor's plan to her did not include consulting the Empress's opinion.
......
In Zhaoning Palace, Jiang Yu looked at Cen Hai in front of her, her face contorted in a frown.
[Demoted to the rank of Consort? How can this be? In the Great Qing Dynasty's harem, only consorts of the rank of Consort or higher are qualified to raise imperial heirs. Demoting them to the rank of Consort would mean those three ungrateful wretches would truly be unable to be sent away!]
Thinking of her tragic end in her previous life, Jiang Yu quickly shook her head. "Eunuch Cen, I think demoting her to the rank of Consort is a bit too much. Let's demote her to the rank of Imperial Concubine. After all, the Crown Prince and the others often stay at Lingxi Palace."
Cen Hai's expression immediately cracked. Could it be that the Empress has been possessed by some evil spirit? She seems like a completely different person.
[To try and protect the Liu family using such a disgusting method—I wonder which heartless bastard came up with this plan.]
Cen Hai's nose started to itch, and he desperately suppressed the urge to sneeze.
Gu Changyan, standing to the side, quickly lowered his head to hide his laughter, his whole body still trembling.
"Furthermore, I am aware that I am not feeling well. I will entrust the selection of concubines next March to Consort Rong. If she does a good job and selects a few close confidantes for the Emperor, then Consort Rong's rank will be restored."
[You've been spreading rumors all day that I'm jealous and forbidding Gu Heng from participating in the imperial concubine selection. This time, let everyone see who's really jealous!]
With just two sentences, Gu Heng and Consort Rong's strategy of feigning retreat and then advancing was completely thwarted.
When Cen Hai relayed the news to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, even a few officials couldn't help but smirk with schadenfreude, while Gu Heng and Consort Rong's faces turned as black as charcoal.
The Empress's implication was that if no suitable candidates were selected in the imperial concubine selection next March, the Empress's rank would never be restored.
"Let's do as the Empress says."
Gu Heng's hands clenched into fists beneath her sleeves. Did she really not care at all? Was she happy about the talent show, and even her three children were completely indifferent, willing to send them away to be someone else's children?
Consort Rong... oh no, Consort Rong also noticed Gu Heng's strangeness, and a hint of melancholy appeared between her brows and eyes. Jiang Yu, why do you always have to compete with me in everything!
On the other side.
When Gu Qingling and the other two learned that Consort Rong had been demoted, they rushed to Lingxi Palace to comfort her.
"Why did the Empress Dowager demote you? I will go to Zhaoning Palace to seek justice for you." Gu Qingfeng was simple-minded and, once provoked, rushed forward like a firecracker.
“Feng’er, the matter of being demoted has nothing to do with Her Majesty the Empress.” Consort Rong pulled Gu Qingfeng into her arms. “Don’t argue with your own mother for my sake.”
Gu Heng's unusual behavior set off alarm bells in Consort Rong's mind. She hadn't expected Jiang Yu to change her ways, and she absolutely wouldn't allow Jiang Yu to take the Emperor and the children away from her.
"Consort Rong, you know me, I only recognize you as my mother." Gu Qingfeng was so charmed by Consort Rong that he wished he could rush to Zhaoning Palace the next second.
"Now that Her Majesty the Empress has the Third Prince by her side, it is likely that soon the Third Prince will be studying with you in the Imperial Study. Ling'er and Feng'er, you must take good care of your younger brother then."
Seeing the disgust in Gu Qingling and Gu Qingfeng's eyes, Consort Rong was satisfied. "And Yao'er, you should also get closer to the Third Prince, so that Her Majesty will like you."
"How dare a foreign member of the imperial family compare himself to us!" Gu Qingyao stamped her foot. "Consort Rong, with his sickly appearance, he probably doesn't even know a few words."
"Don't talk about your brother like that."
Consort Rong feigned anger, watching Gu Qingling and the other two leave before a smile slowly appeared on her face. "Jiang Yu, if your biological child and your adopted son were to quarrel, I wonder whose side you would take?"
"Your Majesty is wise. Judging from the temperament of that person in Zhaoning Palace, I'm afraid even the Third Prince will be expelled from Zhaoning Palace." The nanny beside her also spoke with a smile, all thinking that they could easily control Jiang Yu.
"It's good that he's gone. Gu Qingyan shouldn't have appeared at Zhaoning Palace in the first place."
A ruthless glint flashed in Consort Rong's eyes. "A bastard child without father or mother. The Emperor has already shown great favor by tolerating him growing up in the palace. If he insists on blocking my path, then he will only have one way out: death."
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