At night, outside the imperial study in the palace.
Ever since the imperial edict punishing Princess Rongfu came down last night, Concubine Xiao has been kneeling here.
After kneeling for a whole day and night, her whole body was sore and numb, her body was shaky, and her face was haggard.
However, she remained upright and motionless.
Behind her were Nanny Wen and four maids kneeling and trembling.
In the imperial study.
Emperor Jing put down the brush he was using to review memorials and asked, "Has Concubine Xiao returned?"
Eunuch Zhou replied respectfully, "The Imperial Concubine is still kneeling outside. No matter how I try to persuade her, it's useless."
Emperor Jing sighed and paused before saying, "Let her in."
"yes."
Eunuch Zhou withdrew in response. As soon as he left the imperial study, Concubine Xiao immediately asked, "Eunuch, is the emperor still unwilling to see me?"
"Your Majesty, the Emperor lets you in."
"Really?" Concubine Xiao looked surprised and quickly stood up.
"ah!"
Because she had been kneeling for too long, her feet were sore, painful and numb, and she stood up too quickly, so Concubine Xiao fell to her knees as soon as she stood up.
"Your Majesty!" Nanny Wen and several maids who were kneeling behind her quickly stood up and supported her.
Eunuch Zhou also looked worried: "My Lady, please be careful."
"I'm fine, Madam Wen, please help me up."
After several people helped the person up, Concubine Xiao took a moment to calm down before entering the imperial study with the help of several people.
Seeing Concubine Xiao stumbling in, it would be a lie to say that Emperor Jing was not moved at all: "Please take a seat."
"Yes." Eunuch Zhou gave a look, and the eunuch waiting nearby immediately brought a chair and placed it in front of the desk. "Your Highness, please come in."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." After expressing her gratitude softly, Concubine Xiao sat down with the careful support of Nanny Wen.
"Why are you doing this? The Fourth Princess's crime is unforgivable. If I let her go as you wish, how can I explain this to the people of the world?"
"emperor……"
Concubine Xiao burst into tears and immediately knelt down: "I know that the princess's crime is unforgivable, but I have watched her grow up since she was a child and loved her like my own daughter. How can I not be heartbroken?"
"It's all my fault. After the Queen passed away, I took pity on the princess, who lost her mother at a young age, and I spoiled her too much without properly teaching her the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. As a result, she has come to this point now. It's all my fault. Your Majesty, please punish me..."
Emperor Jing sighed: "It has nothing to do with you. It was the Fourth Princess who made the mistake. Go back..."
This shows that he has no intention of letting Rong'er go.
Concubine Xiao closed her eyes, finally giving up. She kowtowed again: "Your Majesty, I know that the princess's crime is unforgivable. I dare not expect anything else. Please allow me to see the princess, to see her one last time..."
Emperor Jing didn't pause and waved his hand: "Go."
"Thank you, Your Majesty..."
After returning to Yaohua Palace, Concubine Xiao washed herself with a sore body and put on makeup again.
After kneeling for a whole day and night without eating or drinking, she had already become extremely haggard. Even the thick makeup could not hide the fatigue on her face.
If it were any other day, she would definitely be anxious, and the emperor would definitely be displeased when he saw her like this.
But now, this look is the effect she wants, an effect that will gain a good reputation, a good effect that can help her Zong'er.
"Is the princess's favorite blood swallow soup ready?"
Nanny Wen sighed inwardly: "I'm ready."
Concubine Xiao stood up and said, "Let's go to Changle Palace..."
In Changle Palace.
The fourth princess was under house arrest. Unlike the previous times when her life was not in danger, this time, she would soon be beheaded in public.
Anxiety, fear and uneasiness filled her whole body.
"Qingmei!" the Fourth Princess asked sharply, "Where is the Imperial Concubine? Why hasn't she come yet?"
Qingmei knelt down hurriedly: "Princess, the Queen is still kneeling outside the imperial study, pleading for you..."
The Fourth Princess was about to be executed, so how could she listen to these words? She acted as if she didn't hear them and just screamed uncontrollably: "Find her here, let her come! She has to save me, she must save me! Otherwise..."
"Rong'er!" His words were interrupted as Concubine Xiao walked in with a happy look on her face, "Rong'er, I'm here!"
She secretly resented that if she had not arrived in time, this daughter whom she cared so much about would have betrayed her.
"The Imperial Concubine and the Princess have something to say, please leave." Nanny Wen put down the food box, then dismissed all the maids and waited on the side.
"Your Highness, you are finally here!" The Fourth Princess grabbed onto Noble Concubine Xiao's sleeve tightly as if she had seen a life-saving straw.
Concubine Xiao, however, was all smiles as she helped her sit down. "Don't be afraid, Rong'er. I've been kneeling in the imperial study for a whole day and night, and your father has promised not to execute her again..."
"But is it true? I don't have to die?" The Fourth Princess was in disbelief, but seeing Concubine Xiao's happy expression, it didn't seem fake.
"I will still lie to you. Of course it's true, but..."
Concubine Xiao pretended to frown and said, "Your title cannot be restored, and you will be under house arrest from now on."
"That's nothing," the Fourth Palace Master breathed a sigh of relief. This time, she truly believed it. "With the Imperial Concubine here, it's only a matter of time before I regain my title and my freedom."
"You, you," Concubine Xiao tapped her nose and scolded, "I am the only one who spoils you. Okay, the emperor's decree will arrive soon. I will tidy up your appearance for you. Don't lose your manners."
As he said this, he stood up and walked behind her, expressionlessly and carefully tucked away her fallen hair.
Then he continued, "Look at you, you look so pale. I heard Pei Ji will be returning to the capital in a few days. If he sees you like this, how can you snatch him away? I brought you your favorite blood swallow soup, it's good for your skin, drink it quickly."
No longer in danger of losing her life, and hearing that Pei Ji would soon return to the capital, the Fourth Princess' eyes lit up: "I'll drink it now!"
Nanny Wen quickly took out the blood bird's nest soup from the food box.
Watching the Fourth Princess drinking her soup gracefully without any suspicion, Concubine Xiao felt both pain and relief. "Rong'er, when your brother takes the throne, I will have him restore your princess title and allow you to become the most honored princess of the Great Jin Dynasty."
The fourth princess put down her soup spoon and said with a satisfied smile, "Mother is the best to me..."
Before she could finish her words, the fourth princess felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, and then her blood surged and she vomited a mouthful of blood.
She clutched her belly in shock and fear: "Mother! What happened to me?"
After saying that, he spat out another mouthful of blood.
Seeing Concubine Xiao's indifferent expression, the Fourth Princess finally understood. She widened her eyes in disbelief, "The blood swallow soup is poisonous! You, you want to kill me?"
"Why?" She was filled with pain and hatred. "I am your biological daughter. How could you treat me like this? How could you..."
Concubine Xiao sighed and said expressionlessly, "Rong'er, I should have saved you at all costs, but you shouldn't have threatened me. I still have your brother, the Emperor, and the Qingping Marquis's Mansion. How can I be threatened by you all the time?"
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