As soon as Lin Wanwan issued her imperial decree, the entire Kunning Palace immediately began to operate efficiently.
Ruolan led several clever palace maids to carefully lift the sixteen sandalwood boxes containing the "gifts," forming a grand procession.
Lin Wanwan personally led the group, not even riding in the imperial carriage, to show her "respect" for the Empress Dowager. They walked towards Cixi Palace under the complicated gazes of the palace servants.
The news arrived faster than she could walk.
Almost the instant she stepped out of the Kunning Palace, the Regent presented the Empress with a set of "Admonitions for Women" in a grand manner. The news that the Empress not only gladly accepted the gift but also took it as a sign of filial piety and personally delivered it to Cining Palace spread like wildfire throughout the entire harem!
The palace was in an uproar!
Everyone was stunned by the Queen's unpredictable and mysterious move!
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
"This tactic of using someone else's flowers to present to Buddha is absolutely brilliant! It has completely outmaneuvered the Regent and the Empress Dowager!"
"I've figured it out now. This Empress is no pushover! From now on, we'll have to avoid her whenever we see her!"
...
Inside Cixi Palace.
The Empress Dowager had just finished listening to her trusted nanny's report when she slammed her hand on the table in anger, causing the fine imperial kiln teacups to jump and spill tea everywhere.
"Damn it! That Lin Wanwan, how dare she!"
The Empress Dowager was so angry that her chest heaved violently and her face turned ashen.
How could she not understand Lin Wanwan's sinister intentions?
That idiot Xiao Yuan sent "Admonitions for Women" to humiliate the Empress—it was a terrible move! Now, Lin Wanwan has cleverly turned the tables on him, throwing this hot potato right in front of the Empress Dowager!
Humiliation was transformed into "filial piety" in an instant.
Provocation, in the blink of an eye, becomes "merit".
Should she accept this so-called "filial piety" or not?
Just as she was burning with anger and racking her brains for a solution, a palace maid's voice came from outside the hall:
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Empress has come to pay her respects."
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear!
The Empress Dowager took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her anger, and sat up straight again. Her face regained its dignified, benevolent, and majestic appearance, and she said calmly, "Summon them."
She wanted to see how this overly clever daughter-in-law would put on this show in front of her!
Soon, Lin Wanwan led the group carrying the gift boxes into the main hall of Cixi Palace.
Upon entering the hall, she saw the Empress Dowager sitting upright in the main seat with an unfriendly expression.
Lin Wanwan seemed completely oblivious, a bright and affectionate smile on her face, as she took the lead in giving an impeccable bow.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be blessed with ten thousand years of happiness and peace."
"Get up." The Empress Dowager's voice was unreadable.
"Thank you, Mother." Lin Wanwan stood up, then turned to the side and gestured "please" to the sixteen gift boxes behind her, her tone filled with the joy and excitement of presenting treasures.
"Mother, look! Your son has received an incredible treasure today, and the first thing I wanted to do was to share it with you!"
She began her performance.
She began by vividly recounting, with great emotion and embellishment, how the Regent's Palace had made a grand show of promoting her "dedication to learning," and how they had "cared" for her studies by gifting her this unique set of books.
In her description, Regent Xiao Yuan was portrayed as an exceptionally kind and caring uncle who doted on the royal family's reputation and loved his juniors dearly.
"When I heard your kind words, I was deeply moved and ashamed!" Lin Wanwan said, her eyes reddening and her voice choking with emotion.
"Your subject has just realized that I have neglected my moral cultivation in my daily life, and that I have had to trouble my uncle, the King, to personally remind me. It is really... I shouldn't have done that!"
The Empress Dowager's eyes began to twitch uncontrollably.
Listening to Lin Wanwan's distorted and fabricated "heartfelt words," she felt a surge of anger rush to her head.
How did Xiao Yuan's sinister intentions become "a heartfelt wish" in her mouth?
However, Lin Wanwan's performance was not over yet.
Then she changed the subject, her tone shifting from "guilt" to an excited "sudden realization".
"But at that moment, it suddenly occurred to me, Your Majesty, what virtue or ability do I possess to dare to enjoy this kind gesture and this meritorious gift all by myself?"
She looked at the Empress Dowager with reverence, her voice loud and sincere:
"If we are talking about the model of women in the world, the exemplary women of the harem, who else but Your Majesty deserves this honor? Your son is foolish and dull; studying this book of moral instruction is merely a means of self-cultivation. But if I were to present this book to Your Majesty for your appreciation, it would be a great merit that would illuminate the world and spread virtue throughout the four seas!"
Her words were so perfectly flawless!
She not only extricated herself from this humiliation completely, but also naturally bound the Regent and herself together, making them both "filial sons" offering "filial piety" to the Empress Dowager!
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's face went from ashen to deathly pale.
Of course she knew this was a scheme by the Regent to humiliate the Empress, but now, this blatant "humiliation" had been wrapped in layers of the most glamorous cloaks of "filial piety" and "merit" by Lin Wanwan, turning it into a heavy "filial piety" that she simply could not refuse, which was now blatantly placed in front of her!
Inside Cixi Palace, there was a deathly silence.
All the palace servants held their breath, watching in horror at this unprecedented scene.
The Empress actually left the Empress Dowager speechless!
Lin Wanwan looked at the Empress Dowager's fascinating face and sneered inwardly, but on the surface she still maintained that innocent and filial demeanor. She even stepped forward, affectionately took the Empress Dowager's hand, and urged her:
"Mother, this is a gift from both my uncle and I. Please accept it! It will show the world that our royal family is harmonious and loving, with kind mothers-in-law and filial daughters-in-law!"
"A kind mother-in-law and a filial daughter-in-law"?
"Harmony among relatives"?
The Empress Dowager felt her temples throbbing and her blood pressure soaring to the sky!
Looking at the pile of "Admonitions for Women" sent by the Regent, and then at her daughter-in-law beside her who looked like she wanted praise, she felt like she was completely caught in a dilemma, unable to get out of the situation!
Accept it?
If she accepts this pile of books, it would be tantamount to admitting to the entire court and the inner palace that she, as the Empress Dowager, also needs to be "taught" by the "Admonitions for Women" and needs to learn how to "obey the three obediences and four virtues"!
Does she even care about saving face?!
But if we don't accept it...
That won't do!
If she doesn't accept it, it means she's not appreciating the "filial piety" of her daughter-in-law and relatives, and that she's not kind! If word gets out, everyone will say that she, the Empress Dowager, is narrow-minded and mistreats her virtuous and kind daughter-in-law!
This...this is a complete dead end!
She was completely strangled by Lin Wanwan using her own expertise in "morality" and "rules"!
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