The earth-shattering "breakup between the emperor and empress" in the Golden Palace was like a Category 12 hurricane, sweeping through the entire palace and its surroundings in just half a day.
The news that the emperor had angrily rebuked the empress for being "immoral" and ordered her to be confined to Kunning Palace for a month spread like wildfire, reaching everyone's ears.
The entire capital city was in an uproar.
As for Kunning Palace, which was at the center of the storm, it became deserted at a speed visible to the naked eye the moment the imperial edict was issued.
The palace, which was bustling with activity yesterday, is now deserted and deserted.
Those concubines and eunuchs who had once tried so hard to curry favor with the Empress were now avoiding Kunning Palace like the plague. The palace servants were even more terrified, walking on tiptoe for fear of making the slightest sound and offending the "disfavored and abandoned Empress."
The fickleness of human relationships and the coldness of the world are vividly portrayed in this vast arena of fame and fortune.
However, the atmosphere inside the Kunning Palace at this moment was completely different from the gloomy and desolate atmosphere that the outside world had imagined.
"Your Majesty, you are... truly amazing!"
As the maid Ruolan carefully removed the heavy phoenix crown from Lin Wanwan's head, her eyes were full of stars, and her tone was filled with the adoration of someone who had survived a disaster.
"You didn't see it! The moment the imperial edict was issued, those opportunists in our palace who always change their tune with the wind turned green with fear! And those spies planted in Cixi Palace and the Regent's Mansion, they all looked like they'd lost their souls, not knowing where to put their hands and feet!"
Looking at her tired face in the bronze mirror, Lin Wanwan smiled faintly.
“This is just the beginning,” she said calmly. “Now that the stage has been set up, we, the main characters, must put on a full show.”
She looked in the mirror, gently touched the corner of her eye, and gave Ruolan her first and most important order of the day.
"Go and announce to the outside world that I was reprimanded by His Majesty in court, and I was filled with shame and indignation. After returning home, I fell ill and am now heartbroken and resting in bed."
She paused, her eyes sharpening, and added, "Remember, the more tragic the better. Ideally, you should be unable to eat or drink, constantly crying, and unable to even take your medicine."
Ruolan, being exceptionally clever, instantly understood her mistress's intention and nodded vigorously, saying, "This servant understands! I guarantee I'll handle it perfectly!"
With that, she dashed out to begin her "propaganda" mission.
Lin Wanwan watched her departing figure, and slowly picked up a piece of ginger from the dressing table.
She knew that it was now her turn, the leading lady, to take the stage.
Sure enough, before noon, the show came to us.
A young eunuch rushed in to report that Zhang Mama from Cixi Palace had come to visit the "seriously ill" Empress by order of the Empress Dowager.
This Zhang Mama was the Empress Dowager's most trusted confidante, the most trusted confidante among confidantes.
It was called "comfort," but in reality, it was a spying operation.
Lin Wanwan sneered inwardly, but immediately put on a serious face. She quickly and carefully rubbed the ginger around her eyes.
A spicy, stimulating sensation surged up instantly, and her eyes immediately reddened at a visible speed, with tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.
Coupled with her pale, haggard face and slightly disheveled hair, which she had specially painted while staying up all night, she looked exhausted.
The image of a heartbroken, misunderstood, and wronged "disfavored and abandoned empress" was instantly created.
"Quickly...quickly invite the old woman in." She ordered in a weak voice with a heavy nasal tone.
Soon, Zhang Mama, dressed smartly, entered surrounded by a group of palace servants. As soon as she entered, she saw Lin Wanwan lying half-reclined on the bed, her eyes red and swollen, her face haggard as if she was about to faint at any moment. Her face was immediately filled with "heartache" and "concern".
"Oh my goodness! Your Majesty! What's wrong with you?!"
Granny Zhang hurried to the bedside and exclaimed in exaggerated surprise, "When I heard the news this morning, I thought it was just gossipy servants spreading rumors! How... how could Your Highness have become like this in just half a day?!"
As she spoke, she subtly and carefully scrutinized Lin Wanwan from head to toe with her shrewd eyes.
Lin Wanwan seemed to have been completely stung by her words of "concern". She could no longer hold back, covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and began to sob softly. Her shoulders trembled, and she looked pitiful.
"Granny...Granny, please stop..." Her voice was broken and filled with grievance, "It's...it's my fault...it's my fault for being immoral, which has angered His Majesty...enraged His Majesty in court..."
"Your Highness, please don't say that!" Granny Zhang quickly sat on the edge of the bed, affectionately took her hand, and gently patted the back of her hand, beginning her test.
“What couple doesn’t bicker? His Majesty was just saying that in a fit of anger. Once he calms down, he will naturally remember how good you are, Your Majesty.” She paused, then changed the subject, asking seemingly casually, “But speaking of which, Your Majesty and His Majesty have always been deeply in love. What could have caused you to quarrel to this extent?”
They've arrived.
Lin Wanwan sneered inwardly, but cried even harder on the surface.
Sobbing, she in fits and starts let slip a carefully crafted story.
"It's all...it's all my fault..." she choked out. "I just felt that most of those female officials...come from humble backgrounds, and having suddenly gained power, they might...maybe they don't know the consequences of their actions. That's why...that's why I thought of promoting a few well-known noble ladies to help them out..."
"Who would have thought...who would have thought that someone would report this to His Majesty..."
As she spoke, she seemed to realize she had let something slip, and quickly covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief, shaking her head in panic: "No...no...I was just talking nonsense..."
However, her attempt to cover up her true intentions became the best evidence in the eyes of Granny Zhang!
A knowing glint flashed in Zhang Mama's eyes!
I see!
She immediately imagined a dramatic scene: the Empress must have wanted to install her trusted confidants from aristocratic families to control the power of the female officials, but a loyal censor of the Emperor leaked the information, which angered His Majesty!
Granny Zhang was secretly pleased, but on the surface, she became even more "heartbroken." She continued to "comfort" her, trying to extract more information.
"Your Majesty, you are just too naive! You mean well, but there are always some wicked people who spread rumors and slander before His Majesty!"
Her words sounded like both a comforting remark and a hint or guidance.
Lin Wanwan seemed to have her secrets exposed, and she cried even harder, and "unintentionally" complained.
"Your Majesty... His Majesty just... just listened too much to those people..."
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty's painstaking efforts, he... he doesn't understand at all..."
This complaint contains a wealth of information!
It successfully shifted the blame to a fictitious "villain" who "spread rumors" before His Majesty!
The existence of this "villain" not only perfectly explains why the emperor's temperament suddenly changed, but also deepens the rift between the emperor and empress "caused by misunderstanding", making the whole play even more seamless!
Hearing this, Granny Zhang was overjoyed!
She knew that she had obtained all the "intelligence" she wanted today!
She offered a few more words of feigned comfort to Lin Wanwan, and seeing her sobbing uncontrollably as if she were about to faint, she finally got up and took her leave, satisfied.
After seeing off this "distinguished guest," Ruolan quickly closed the palace door and hurried back to her bedside.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" She looked at her mistress's eyes, which were red and swollen like peaches, and felt extremely distressed.
Lin Wanwan, who had been crying her heart out just a moment ago, immediately stopped crying the instant she heard the palace doors close.
She straightened up, calmly tossing the wet handkerchief off her face. Where was the last trace of vulnerability and grievance in her eyes? Only icy calmness and calculation remained.
She picked up the bronze mirror, looked at her almost perfect "miserable state," and nodded in satisfaction.
Ruolan was utterly impressed by her mistress's incredible ability to change her expression in an instant.
"Your Majesty, your acting skills are so superb, even the most famous actors in the palace can't compare to you!"
Lin Wanwan wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, regained her usual composure, and sneered, "Crying isn't enough."
"At most, this level of understanding will make them believe that we have developed a rift."
A sharp glint flashed in her eyes.
"We need to make him feel that we... have truly become enemies."
As she spoke, she slowly walked to the desk and began grinding the ink herself.
Ruolan asked, puzzled, "Your Highness, what are you going to do?"
Lin Wanwan picked up her brush and slowly began to write on the snow-white Xuan paper.
Her voice was cold and clear.
"Write a letter... and send it to my mother's family in the Lin family..."
"A letter of complaint."
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