Chapter 44 Tit for Tat
Emperor Yuan Yong became even more upset after taking a look at Concubine Rou and Noble Lady Deng who lowered their heads and dared not say a word.
What kind of stuff is in his harem? This is why he didn't like going to the harem in the past.
Now I finally have someone I like, but it’s so hard to accept!
So, after all, he has no say in his harem? Whoever he likes must be alienated?
He just refused to believe it!
Concubine Lian hadn't expected Song Ronghua to be so useless. She had thought she could use Song Ronghua's provocation to teach Xu Xiuyi a lesson, to teach her the proper rules of the palace and who to offend and who not to offend. She hadn't expected the outcome to be this.
Dong Zhi was very efficient, or perhaps the palace maids and eunuchs knew the emperor was angry, and they were interrogated separately, so no one knew what the others would say. If the confession didn't match, they would die.
The best option is obviously to tell the truth.
Anyway, this matter has nothing to do with them, they are just servants...
Everyone saw Song Ronghua making things difficult for Xu Xiuyi and Concubine Lian ordering Chunqi to beat someone up.
When the results were delivered to Emperor Yuan Yong, he sneered at Song Ronghua and said, "You, master and servant, are in cahoots, constantly causing trouble! Song Ronghua will be demoted to a concubine and confined to her house for two months. That lowly maid named Su Ying will be given twenty strokes of the cane and sent to the laundry department."
"Your Majesty, spare my life, Your Majesty!"
Su Ying screamed with a pale face, and Song Ronghua trembled as if struck by lightning, not daring to utter a single word.
Dong Zhi scolded in a low voice and hurriedly ordered someone to cover Su Ying's mouth and drag her away. He thought to himself, what an unruly slave! Thunder and rain are all graces from the emperor, yet she yelled and cried in front of the emperor. Did she think the punishment the emperor gave her was not enough?
Everyone was silent. Concubine Lian trembled slightly, but she gritted her teeth and looked stubborn. She was a little panicked, not knowing what the emperor would do to her.
At this moment, the queen who got the news finally arrived.
"Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience."
"Xuan."
The Queen came in with Nanny Yan and knelt down to apologize: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you! This happened in the palace. It is my fault for failing in my duty. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Emperor Yuan Yong said coldly, "Queen, please get up! Queen, don't always be a good person. Take care of what you should do. I think this palace is getting worse and worse."
"Yes, I obey your command."
The Empress stood up and glanced at Concubine Lian. It wasn't that she didn't want to intervene; sometimes, she simply couldn't help herself. For example, Concubine Lian had the Empress Dowager's support. Concubine Yu had always been favored, and even now, her favor remained undiminished. They both held great respect in the Emperor's presence. Xu Xiuyi's background and influence were far inferior to theirs. Concubine Shu, for example, had the Crown Prince by her side.
She had to give some face to these three people and not be too harsh on them.
If Ding is really Ding Mao and Mao is Mao, then there will be more trouble.
However, since the emperor has given specific instructions today, she won't have to worry so much in the future.
Emperor Yuan Yong continued what he had just left unfinished. "Concubine Lian is confined to her house for a month, Chunqi is slapped twenty times, and is sent to the laundry department."
"Your Majesty!" Concubine Lian's eyes immediately turned red, and she gritted her teeth and said with tears in her eyes, "I didn't know it was Song Ronghua who wronged Xu Xiuyi. I admit that I was biased and believed it. I thought Xu Xiuyi was taking advantage of her favor and committing crimes, so I wanted to teach her a lesson. I admit that I was too impulsive and overstepped my authority. Your Majesty wants to punish me, and I dare not disobey. However, Your Majesty's punishment is a bit too severe, and I refuse to accept it! Even if Xu Xiuyi is not at fault, is she? She is a concubine, running around the palace without regard for her manners. She didn't ask the Empress for advice on harem matters, but instead bothered the Emperor. Doesn't she deserve to be punished?"
The Empress looked at Concubine Lian speechlessly. It was already this late, and instead of trying to be submissive to the Emperor, she started arguing with him. She even dragged Xu Xiuyi along!
Didn’t you see that the emperor was clearly protecting Xu Xiuyi?
Was she just trying to pull Xu Xiuyi? No, she was still slapping the emperor in the face.
The Empress felt that it was not unreasonable for the Emperor to dislike Concubine Lian. Who would like her? The more pressure the Empress Dowager put on her, the more the Emperor would dislike her.
Xu Lanshan immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty, may I have a few words?"
Emperor Yuan Yong said, "Just tell me."
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Lady Lian, I did not run around the palace without paying attention to my manners. I do not deserve your words. Also, Lady Lian, please forgive my audacity. The Empress is the master of the harem, everyone knows this, but the harem is also the Emperor's. As the master of the harem, it seems reasonable for the Emperor to handle its affairs, right? I was terrified at the time, and in a panic, I ran to the Ganyuan Palace and disturbed the Emperor. It was indeed my negligence, and I accept the punishment."
Concubine Lian was furious: "You are just making up stories!"
Emperor Yuan Yong sneered.
Xu Lanshan: "I am just telling the truth."
"you--"
"Concubine Lian!" The Queen gave her a cold look. "Xu Xiuyi would never dare to lie in front of the Emperor. You claim Xu Xiuyi was disrespectful. Where's the evidence?"
Concubine Lian: “…”
Where can I find evidence for this? She can't even say she saw it with her own eyes.
After all, Xu Xiuyi went straight to Ganyuan Palace. It took her a long time to get here, and everyone knew that she definitely didn't see it with her own eyes.
This bitch is so cunning!
The Empress continued slowly, "What Xu Xiuyi said is not wrong. This harem is the Emperor's harem, and there is nothing that the Emperor cannot interfere with. However, the Emperor is busy with state affairs, so it is indeed not appropriate to disturb him at will. Xu Xiuyi is new, so her momentary negligence is understandable. This will not happen again."
Concubine Lian was furious: "Why shouldn't this happen again? She——"
"Princess Lian!" The Queen's tone turned cold, and she said icily, "How many times have you done this? Do you want me to remind you one by one?"
You can let it go, but others can’t?
Lian Fei choked, she was not convinced. She could let it go, she felt it was only natural. Who was Xu Lanshan? How could she compare to her?
But he couldn't say these words, he could only snort and give up in anger.
"Yes, thank you, Queen!" Xu Xiuyi quickly bowed and thanked her. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling so exhausted.
Fortunately, someone spoke today to shut Concubine Lian up, and the Empress saw that the Emperor's attitude was barely on his side, otherwise if Concubine Lian got stubborn and refused to give in, it would be troublesome.
The palace has strict rules and the emperor has great authority. There is no reason for him to handle things unreasonably and based on his own will. If she can't come up with a reasonable explanation today, I'm afraid the emperor won't be able to protect her.
What a close call...
The Queen dealt with Concubine Lian, protected Xu Lanshan, suppressed her anger, and pleaded for Concubine Lian.
She had no choice but to ask, otherwise she would not be able to explain to the Empress Dowager.
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