Chapter 274 Punishment of Concubine

The sixth year of Chongwu.

A year after Su Jingyao took control of the palace, Lin Miaoyin could only avoid her like a cat or a mouse when she faced her again.

The concubines who had been on good terms with her before now began to distance themselves from her like fence-sitters.

Especially Mo Zhirou, after returning to the palace from Jiangzhou, she was extremely quick to change her attitude and quickly drew a clear line between herself and Lin Miaoyin, as if their past friendship had never existed.

But at the beginning, almost all the people in both the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sixth Bureau were Lin Miaoyin's people.

Lin Miaoyin had a firm grasp on many of their private matters, so it took Su Jingyao a lot of effort to take over.

After all, Lin Miaoyin had been in the palace for five years, and many of the staff were high-ranking female officials or eunuchs in charge. It would be impossible for Su Jingyao to remove all of them in a short period of time.

Therefore, even if Jun Zechen issued an edict that the Empress had full authority over the harem, Lin Miaoyin could still privately point fingers at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sixth Bureau. However, Su Jingyao could not blame her in the face of this because there was no conclusive evidence to prove that those who opposed Su Jingyao were Lin Miaoyin's people.

But Su Jingyao likes challenging people and things.

We just need to deal with them slowly and defeat them one by one. It's just a matter of time.

A year passed quickly, and Su Jingyao had almost completely eliminated all of Lin Miaoyin's minions.

Miaoyun was so proud of the imperial concubine's loss of power that the smile on her face almost overflowed.

"Master, I heard that a lot of teacups and vases have been broken in the Imperial Concubine's Palace recently. Someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to ask if we should replace them for the Imperial Concubine's Palace."

"The Ministry of Internal Affairs has a fixed amount of money every year, and the Imperial Concubine will be given a share of it. If she needs to add more, the Imperial Concubine is not a poor person, so let her buy it herself."

There was a hint of coldness in Su Jingyao's eyes. She was not used to the concubines' habit of throwing things.

"My Lord, when you were not in the palace, the Concubine was very frugal when she was in charge of the harem. For the concubines who did not get along with her, whether it was the clothes and jewelry issued by the Shangfu Bureau or the Shanggong Bureau, or the things purchased by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they were all reduced by half."

Miaoyun mentioned the Imperial Concubine today and simply told her everything that she had done in the past.

"If the eldest prince was not in our Kunning Palace, we would certainly be treated harshly. Although the noble concubine hates the eldest prince, she has always been sarcastic to the palace maids in our Kunning Palace for the past five years."

Miaoyun was very angry.

The noble concubine was jealous of her former master's favor, so she used some little tricks that were not painful or itchy, but still insulting, to make people like her hate the people in Kunning Palace.

As slaves, Miaoyun and the others could only endure such tactics. His Majesty and the Queen Mother would never embarrass the Imperial Concubine for a minor grievance of a palace maid.

Su Jingyao's eyes darkened: "Why didn't you tell me before?"

Miaoyun looked embarrassed and lowered her head slightly.

"My master had just returned to the palace and had not yet fully mastered the palace power. I did not want my master to offend the Queen Mother in order to avenge me. The Imperial Concubine has been trying to please the Queen Mother over the years, and the gifts she gave on her birthday every year are very expensive. If my master confronted the Imperial Concubine directly, the Queen Mother would probably be unhappy with him."

Miaoyun had considered it very carefully, and it wasn't really a big deal. It was normal for slaves like them to suffer some grievances.

"Does your master think I am such an ignorant person, Noble Concubine..."

Su Jingyao chuckled, but the smile did not reach her eyes, and was a little cold.

"Then tell the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sixth Bureau to return you exactly as they treated you."

Su Jingyao casually turned the jade bracelet on her hand.

"Didn't the White Concubine also have complaints against the Noble Concubine before? Now let the White Concubine do whatever she wants. I will handle it impartially."

Su Jingyao raised her head slightly, a shrewd look in her eyes.

Since Bai Fei has come to her for help, she will not treat Bai Fei unfairly, but Bai Fei must also have some value to be used.

She is the empress and cannot do whatever she wants like she did in the Eastern Palace. She still needs to show her magnanimity and dignity to the world.

However, it was natural and reasonable for Su Jingyao to be gentle with the person who had bullied her in the past and to maintain harmony in the harem when Concubine Bai wanted to take revenge.

"Yes, Master."

The seventh year of Chongwu.

One day, the Imperial Concubine Gui and the Imperial Concubine Bai were arguing with each other. In a rage, the Imperial Concubine Gui suddenly raised her hand and slapped the Imperial Concubine Bai hard.

The two of them went to Kunning Palace to make trouble.

Su Jingyao sat at the top, casually scanning the

The bright red slap mark on Bai Fei's face was shocking and very obvious.

"Your Majesty, please make the decision for me. The noble concubine relied on the fact that she has the third prince and a higher status than me, and she slapped me for no reason. The palm print on my face is the evidence!"

Bai Fei's eyes were filled with tears, and she looked at the Queen with extreme grievance.

Then, she turned her head abruptly and glared at Lin Miaoyin fiercely, with anger burning in her eyes.

"My Lady, do you have anything to explain?"

Su Jingyao raised her eyebrows slightly, looking lazy and speaking in a flat tone.

"Your Majesty, it was Concubine Bai who spoke rudely first. I was angry and lost control of myself, so I slapped her."

When Concubine Bai clamored to go to Kunning Palace to ask the Queen for the decision, Lin Miaoyin realized that she had been too impulsive.

But since it has already happened, she certainly can't be afraid.

Relying on the support of the Empress, Concubine Bai has been finding fault with her everywhere over the past year. She was just out for a stroll today, but was ridiculed by Concubine Bai, who even said that no matter how hard her Third Prince tried, he could never compare to the Empress's eldest prince.

Even if she couldn't compare with the Third Prince, it was not something that a mere concubine like her could comment on.

"What did Bai Fei say?" Su Jingyao's voice was still neither fast nor slow.

"Although Bai Fei is a concubine, she is criticizing the Third Prince. As the Third Prince's mother, I naturally cannot tolerate this."

As Lin Miaoyin spoke, tears began to fall from her eyes and she started to cry.

"Your Majesty, I know that my Third Prince is not as noble as the First Prince, but he is also your Majesty's child. How can I tolerate Concubine Bai insulting me like this?"

She was crying with tears in her eyes and her body was shaking slightly.

"Your Majesty, your Highness is slandering me. I have never said a single bad thing about the Third Prince. Your Highness is slandering me."

Concubine Bai directly fought back and refused to admit that she had talked about the prince.

Lin Miaoyin glared at Bai Fei with eyes wide open, her eyes seemed to be spewing fire, and she felt hatred in her heart: This Bai Fei used to pretend to be weak and timid, but it turns out she is just a wolf in sheep's clothing!

Su Jingyao continued to ask: "Does the noble concubine have any evidence to prove that the white concubine talked about the prince?"

Lin Miaoyin's expression changed instantly.

It was impossible for Concubine Bai to discuss the prince in public. She only spoke to her. Even when she said that the Third Prince was not good, she was very close to her, so the palace maids around her might not have heard it clearly.

Lin Miaoyin now thinks that Bai Fei must have planned this long ago!

First, she had been making things difficult for the palace maids for a whole year, and even talked about and ridiculed her behind her back with other sisters in the palace from time to time, which had made her dissatisfied with Concubine Bai in her heart.

Today, Bai Fei pretended to meet her by chance again and insulted the Third Prince directly, just to let her vent all her anger. She beat Bai Fei, so she is not right without evidence!

Lin Miaoyin originally thought that if the Queen could not handle the matter impartially, she would go to the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother did not have obvious bias, and Lin Miaoyin only asked for fairness.

But now......

"The Imperial Concubine is silent. Does that mean she admits that she framed the White Concubine?"

Su Jingyao picked up the teacup, gently skimmed off the foam with the lid, and took a sip gracefully.

"No, Your Majesty, I don't!"

"Whether Bai Fei talked about the prince, Gui Fei can't produce evidence, but there is solid evidence that Gui Fei beat the concubines. She will be confined to her room for a month and copy the palace rules fifty times."

Su Jingyao put down the teacup with a cold expression.

Lin Miaoyin didn't expect that the Queen would convict her so easily.

"Your Majesty, how can you convict me so easily? You and Bai Fei are in cahoots, and you side with Bai Fei!"

Lin Miaoyin's eyes were red and her voice sounded aggrieved.

"The noble concubine has framed the empress, her crime is one level higher, and she will be demoted to the rank of concubine."

Su Jingyao said coldly, stabbing straight at Lin Miaoyin.

Lin Miaoyin froze for a moment, her body swaying as if she was about to fall.

However, Concubine Bai openly and blatantly gave a mocking smile, feeling proud and pleased.

Those who bully others will eventually be bullied themselves. She was just giving them a taste of their own medicine.

"If Concubine Lin is not satisfied with my decision, you can go to Cining Palace to meet the Queen Mother in person. But you must know that the Phoenix Seal is in my hands."

"You can also go to meet His Majesty. You should also know that His Majesty is my husband who has a deep love for me."

Su Jingyao's voice was neither hurried nor slow, yet it was full of majesty.

Lin Miaoyin bit her lower lip. The Queen was telling her clearly that no one would help her, no matter whether it was the Queen Mother or His Majesty!

"Concubine Bai was wronged today. Concubine Lin was able to frame me. I believe she also framed you just now. I will tell His Majesty what happened today and confer the title of Concubine De on you."

The surprise on Bai Fei's face was not concealed at all, her eyes lit up instantly, and her eyebrows and eyes were filled with joy.

I didn't expect this benefit.

"I thank the Queen for her grace."

Bai Yingyue was so excited that she saluted quickly, her voice trembling with excitement.

She actually became one of the four concubines!

She has a good relationship with the empress in the harem, and the Bai family has also been promoted by the Su family. In the future, her Bai family may also have a place in the capital.