Chapter 138 The Queen Mother's Teachings
Xu Lanshan sighed inwardly, the Empress was indeed the Empress. Her dignified and virtuous persona wasn't something anyone could achieve. At least, if it were her, she wouldn't be able to laugh at that moment.
Today we should go to the Cining Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. After a brief greeting, the Empress led the concubines to the Cining Palace.
When they came previously, Concubine Lian was serving beside the Empress Dowager. Today, when they came in, they did not see Concubine Lian.
This is actually not surprising. Concubine Lian just lost face in Ganyuan Palace and was confined to Cining Palace by the emperor. How could she have the face to come out and see people?
If we say that the instigator of all this is Xu Lanshan, then all the concubines can't help but secretly watch the show with anticipation.
Xu Lanshan didn't think too much about it. She followed the other concubines in paying respects to the empress dowager.
She had plotted against Concubine Lian, but if Concubine Lian hadn't intentionally harmed her, she wouldn't have ended up like this. If it wasn't just this time, there would be a future. Sooner or later, she would confront Concubine Lian.
The empress dowager glanced at Xu Lanshan indifferently, without deliberately causing trouble for her, and treated her the same as everyone else.
Xu Lanshan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but the concubines who were originally waiting to watch the fun were a little disappointed.
After a while, the Queen Mother kept the Queen and ordered all the concubines to leave.
Everyone knelt and left, and couldn't help but look at Xu Lanshan once or twice, intentionally or unintentionally.
Others didn't dare to say anything, but Concubine Yu was not afraid. She glanced at Xu Lanshan and sneered, "Chen Zhaoyi is truly blessed! Not only is she doted on and protected by the Emperor, but even the Empress Dowager values her very much!"
Lianpin suffered such a great loss, but the Queen Mother didn't say a word to Xu Lanshan and actually endured it like this. It really makes people jealous.
You know, in the past, wasn't it because Concubine Lian was afraid of being scolded by the Empress Dowager?
As a result, the Empress Dowager didn't say anything about provoking the most powerful Concubine Lian.
Xu Lanshan smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager is kind and loving. She has always been kind to the younger generation. She is equally good to me and others. I don't deserve what Concubine Yu said!"
Concubine Yu chuckled, glanced at Xu Lanshan meaningfully, and floated away.
The other concubines, feeling unhappy, left as well. Only Bai Jieyu and Xu Lanshan remained, talking as they made their way to Lianyi Palace.
Bai Jieyu couldn't help but say: "The Empress Dowager still loves Concubine Lian very much. Sister Xu should be more careful. But if there is anything wrong, send someone to find the Emperor. The Emperor will definitely make the decision for you..."
Concubine Lian suffered a great loss, but the empress dowager who loved her did nothing to Xu Lanshan, not even giving her a sharp look. This in itself was abnormal.
Xu Lanshan nodded and smiled: "I will be careful."
How dare she underestimate the empress dowager?
In the Cining Palace, the empress dowager retreated to the east warm room which served as her living room, and the empress hurriedly accompanied her in.
The Queen Mother sat down, leaning against a large pillow. She glanced at the Queen and said reprimandingly, "There are no outsiders here, so I won't beat around the bush with you. Queen, look at what you've done with the harem."
As soon as the Queen Mother said this, the Queen's face changed and she immediately knelt down: "I have failed in my duty, please punish me, Queen Mother."
The Queen Mother stared at her for a long moment before waving her hand. "Stand up, sit down and talk. I'm just reminding you, not punishing you. After all, you're the Queen, and the harem still depends on you to take care of it!"
"Thank you, Queen Mother, for your kindness..." The Queen stood up and sat down, feeling bitter in her heart: "I ask for your guidance, Queen Mother."
She could probably guess what the Queen Mother was trying to say, but she still wanted to hear it herself. If the Queen Mother wanted to send her on a mission, she couldn't just leave it at that and expect her to understand, right?
This won't do. How can I owe the Queen Mother a favor if she doesn't ask for my permission?
The Queen Mother smiled and said calmly, "It's not that I'm teaching you. I've only lived a few years longer and eaten a few more bowls of rice than you. Empress, so many concubines in the palace are from famous and noble families. Even the most humble ones are the daughters of officials. They have been noble since childhood, well-versed in rules and etiquette, and their virtues have been carefully selected before they can be by the emperor's side. But how come all of you are not as good as a palace maid who appeared out of nowhere? If this gets out, it will really make people laugh!"
After hearing what the Queen Mother said, the Queen couldn't bear it anymore and her face became hot.
What could she do about this? As she had said, Xu Lanshan repeatedly confronted Concubine Lian and refused to give in. How could the Queen Mother remain completely indifferent? It turned out she was waiting here.
Never mind the allegation that Concubine Lian had provoked Xu Lanshan first, or that Xu Lanshan was merely responding with a counterattack—in this palace, how could there be so much logic? Was Xu Lanshan worthy enough to talk about "fairness" with Concubine Lian?
The Queen knew that Xu Lanshan was doomed. The Queen Mother had set her sights on her, and there was no way she would confront the Queen Mother to protect her.
Let her be deposed. The Queen didn't feel it was too bad. Because of the matter of her brother from her natal family, the Queen had always had a grudge against Xu Lanshan and thought that she was not loyal enough to her.
What's the point of having a chess piece that's not loyal enough?
The Queen forced a smile and said, "I am ashamed. The Queen Mother was right. But Chen Zhaoyi is very favored by the Emperor. The Emperor likes her. I thought that since the Emperor is busy with state affairs, it would be a good thing to have someone who is knowledgeable, interesting and pleasing to the heart to accompany him. Therefore, I indulged her a little. Besides, the Emperor will also protect her..."
The Queen Mother sneered, "Ridiculous! There are so many concubines in the harem, is it possible that you can't pick out a good one to serve the Emperor? If you say that the Emperor protects her, who knows if she is the one who is instigating the Emperor all day long? You guys are just too honest and don't understand those low-brow methods. No wonder you can't compare to others."
"this--"
The queen was a little confused.
The Queen Mother seemed to realize belatedly that her words were a little inappropriate, and sighed, "Logically, I shouldn't have said these words, but now the harem is dominated by one person, and the atmosphere is chaotic. And this person is also very stubborn and aggressive. I don't know how many troubles will arise. Queen, this is outrageous! If this continues, the disputes will never end, and I don't know how many scoldings you will receive as Queen."
These words really touched the Queen's heart.
Come to think of it, this was not the first or second time that she had been reprimanded by the emperor because of Xu Lanshan.
The queen couldn't help but feel angry. How could she have ignored this?
"I have learned your lesson. Thank you, Queen Mother, for your advice!"
The weather was getting colder, and today the first snow fell. The wintersweets in the Imperial Garden were fragrant, and the red plum blossoms were beginning to bloom. Camellias, azaleas, and other flowers also bloomed beautifully, making the Imperial Garden not so cold and drab in winter.
The empress was in high spirits and chose a date to hold a banquet, inviting all the concubines to appreciate the plum blossoms, and even specially invited Emperor Yuan Yong.
The heating in Xiangxue Pavilion was warm, and the concubines came in wrapped in cloaks and coats. After entering the pavilion, they took off their heavy coats, revealing that each of them was more graceful than the other.
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