The next day. In the Hall of Light, Wind, and Moon.
The Empress sat gracefully on the back seat, as if her new and old lovers and beauties had all disappeared, leaving her alone as the mother of the world.
All the concubines were present, and they were all smiling. It was also because Zhen Huan had fallen out of favor that no one could dominate Xuan Ling anymore. But was that really the case?
Jianqiu smiled at the Empress and said,"It's time for the Empress to bow."”
The Empress smiled gently and said,"Okay, let's begin."”
Everyone stood up and bowed respectfully. The Empress is auspicious!"
The Empress stretched out her hand and smiled faintly.”
The concubines obediently stood up and sat down.
The Empress smiled with satisfaction." There are many disputes in the harem now, and the concubines are dying. As the emperor's concubines, all of you should be considerate of the emperor's wishes and share the emperor's worries and difficulties.”
Concubine Hua smiled brightly,"The Empress is benevolent and virtuous. ChenQie will naturally do her best for the Emperor. No one dares to disobey!"”
The Empress smiled faintly." Concubine Hua has always been considerate of the Emperor's wishes. Now that Qiao Cai 'nu is also a rare flower of understanding by the Emperor's side, all the concubines should follow suit. Only when the harem is happy will the Emperor have no worries!”
Concubine Hua glared at Qiao Cainu hatefully. Now that Zhen Huan had fallen, there was naturally no need for Qiao Cainu.
Everyone nodded in agreement. After all, everyone wanted to be the favorite concubine of the Great Zhou, right?
The Empress looked at her brows and smiled lightly,"Now that Hui Jieyu's body has recovered, she has to share the burden with Concubine Hua!" This matter of assisting the six palaces is too hard. Your position has been restored and now you are favored by the emperor, so you have to be considerate of the emperor!”
Mei Zhuang respectfully lowered her head with a smile that was not a smile,"ChenQie is willing to share the burden of the Empress, the Emperor and Hua Fei. This is ChenQie's blessing!"”
Consort Hua raised her eyebrows and said coolly,"It's naturally very good that Handsome Fairness Hui is willing to share my worries. It's just that Handsome Fairness Hui fell into the water two years ago and was infected with the epidemic. There are so many things in the Inner Palace now, so you don't have to worry about it!"”
Mei Zhuang's face instantly turned pale as she looked at Concubine Hua with eyes filled with intense hatred,"ChenQie's body is ChenQie's own, of course only ChenQie knows!" To be able to share Consort Hua's worries, ChenQie is extremely honored, how can you say that it is troublesome?”
The Empress saw that Consort Hua had already gone against Mei Zhuang, and the other concubines were also jealous. She said in a timely manner," Forget it, forget it. You have plenty of time in the future. Sisterhood is deep, so there's no need to be so polite! Furthermore, there's still Consort Jing!"
I couldn't help but find it funny. Sisterhood? The Empress's ability to praise people was really not ordinary. Just look at Consort Hua's and Mei Zhuang's nauseated expressions and you would know. She even dragged in Consort Jing who was not involved.
Consort Jing smiled gently," ChenQie is used to being idle all year round. Now that Wen Yi is unable to leave ChenQie, ChenQie can only regret sharing the Empress 'worries. Please empathize with ChenQie!”
Consort Jing was indeed an old woman. She knew how to talk and share the Empress 'worries! Sure enough, the Empress smiled modestly and said," Forget it. Wenyi is indeed still young and her body is weak. She needs someone to take care of her, but Cao Jie Yu passed away early!" The emperor's children are cold, Jing Fei you must do your best!”This was to remind Jing Fei, Cao Jie Yu, this lesson, and that she was not Wen Yi's birth mother.
Consort Jing nodded awkwardly, as if she had been taught a lesson.
The Empress provoked the dissatisfaction of several forces in the Inner Palace with just a few words, and she herself took advantage of it. Tsk tsk.
In the end, the Empress dismissed everyone out of exhaustion, but I still stayed.
The faint burning of sandalwood blurred the Empress's face. She closed her eyes tightly as if she was very tired. I obediently knelt on the ground in silence.
Jian Qiu acted as if I didn't exist as he massaged the empress's shoulders and legs. There were only the three of us in the entire Jiyue Palace. My heart slowly calmed down.。
Two hours passed, and the Empress seemed to have really fallen asleep. My body fell to the ground, my face pale, but I struggled to get up and insisted on kneeling on the ground.
The Empress seemed to only know that I was still there after hearing the commotion. She asked in surprise,"What happened to An Pin?" Why was he kneeling on the ground all of a sudden? Shouldn't Jianqiu go and bless Lady An Pin?”
Jian Qiu smiled kindly and said," Lady An Pin, this servant will help you up. Be careful!”
I struggled and refused to get up. I looked at the Empress sadly and begged," Your Majesty, I just want to see Huixue. Huixue can't leave my side."
Before I could finish, the Empress no longer looked at me with her usual gentleness and fierceness."An Pin, are you blaming BenGong for not taking good care of a little servant girl?"”
My body softened as if I was very afraid, but I suddenly said firmly,"Empress, Huixue is used to serving me, I can't leave her!"”
The Empress looked at me with a faint smile as I calmly fiddled with the gold and jade armor. An Pin was making a mountain out of a molehill! This servant still doesn't know her limits. An Pin has just come to the palace and there is no one to remind her of the rules of the harem, but as the Empress, how can this Queen ignore it?”
I seemed to have no idea what to do. I bit my lips tightly and my eyes gradually filled with tears. I pretended to be calm and said," The Empress is kind. It is Huixue's blessing to be able to educate her. Huixue has been in the Empress 'palace for many days. She is not as good as I am..."
The Empress coldly said,"Did Bengong say that she had already learned the rules?"”After a pause, she said with a friendly expression,"An Pin is indeed gentle and pleasant. She is so dedicated to a palace maid. It can be seen that she is a kind and sensible person. If An Pin has such thoughts, she might as well spend more on the emperor!"”
I subconsciously touched the sachet in my arms in fear, but I was afraid that the Empress would find out. I pretended to be calm and said,"Empress, my body has always been very weak. The Emperor occasionally comes to my palace, but my service is not considerate and in line with the Emperor's wishes!"”
The Empress smiled gently." What's in your arms?”
I subconsciously touched it and even took half a step back. I panicked and said,"No, nothing!"”
The Empress glanced at Jian Qiu. Jian Qiu immediately understood and walked over. Without a word, he searched me. I couldn't resist, so a beautifully embroidered mandarin duck sachet was immediately exposed to everyone. I stood up and wanted to take it back, but unfortunately, my delicate body was no match for Jian Qiu's healthy body. I fell to the ground like duckweed with a panicked expression.
The Empress stared at the sachet and then stared at me, coldly saying,"An Pin, who gave you this sachet?"”
I stammered and didn't dare to answer. I wanted to take it back but was afraid of the Empress.
Jian Qiu smiled faintly. Speaking of which, this girl is very-"
"When I was in my hometown, I personally embroidered this.”I replied dejectedly.
The Empress didn't say anything, and Jian Qiu continued to smile. Speaking of which, Huixue is already 17 years old. The Empress is benevolent."
I coldly interrupted,"It's just a token of love between a concubine and the person she likes. It's just that the young master had returned to his hometown not long before I entered the palace due to family matters."”I paused for a moment and said with a nostalgic and gentle expression," It was a spring day. All the flowers in Songyang County were in full bloom. I went out for a walk and went to the temple fair. From afar, I saw my favorite candy clay figurine on Aunt Dou's stall. It was Sun Wukong! I excitedly reached out to take it, but a young master had already taken it before me. He was a very gentle and gentlemanly person. He gave me the sugar clay figurine. Later, he told me that he knew that I wanted to eat the sugar clay figurine because he wanted to get to know me.。”
I forgot to call myself concubine, but me. I wonder if the clever Empress of Vermilion Gate will believe me? So vulgar! (Damn, I refuse to admit that I wrote it!)）
The Empress looked at me in shock. She only regained her senses when she saw that I couldn't help but cry in the end. She shouted with a cold face,"How dare you, Madam An! You are the Emperor's concubine, yet you are secretly making deals with her and still thinking about the past before entering the palace!" This is the rule of the palace, bengong has the right to execute you!”
I wiped my tears and raised my eyebrows coldly. I'm not afraid. Ever since I entered the palace, I've been living a life worse than death! I only beg for death. Please have mercy on me and let Huixue go. She is still young and doesn't know anything. Please return the sachet to me!”
The Empress looked at me in shock and was so angry that she laughed. You've committed a serious crime and you're still thinking about others? In your dreams!" As she spoke, she angrily threw the sachet in front of me.
I happily picked up the sachet and wiped it with pity before putting it back into my arms. With a face that was unafraid of death, I said," Concubine Concubine pleads guilty and is at the Empress 'disposal!"”
Silence. There was no longer any angry roars in the hall, only a terrifying silence.
After a while, the Empress smiled gently and personally walked in front of me to help me up. She gently said,"An Pin is only seventeen years old this year. BenGong is not a person with a heart of stone. How can I execute you?" Although you already have someone you like, this was all before you entered the palace. Forget it, BenGong will pretend that I don't know anything today!”After a pause, she said sadly,"Poor child. If you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?" Why do you still want to enter the palace?"
I coldly said,"The concubines and women are not favored by father."”
The Empress smiled and even sympathized with her. Although she was born of a concubine, she still had the face of her mother. Although her father did not favor her, he did not blame her. And I, the daughter of the Di family, am not even as good as her, the son of a concubine. She, the concubine's empress, has always been despised by the harem. Now that she sees me like this, she's a little proud. I, Zhu Yixiu, am the Empress!
The Empress pitied him and said,"Forget it! Don't mention the past! In the future, you should do your best to serve the emperor and give birth to children for the Great Zhou. This Wan Guipin is already pregnant, why haven't you seen any movement?”
My movements? Haven't you given me enough rewards? How many times have I slept with you?
I coldly said,"I only wish to die of old age in the palace."”
The Empress patted my hand pitifully." What depressing words are you saying? Huixue is already considered a burning incense in this palace! In fact, bengong has always been very satisfied with your intelligence and understanding. In the future, with your company, the emperor will definitely be very happy and bengong will be at ease!”
I pushed away the Empress's hand in panic and said," I just want to die in the palace! I don't expect the emperor's favor!"
The Empress smiled in satisfaction and disagreed. She's already the Emperor's concubine, yet she's still talking about this nonsense! Forget it, you're tired too! Go back!"
I nervously looked at the Empress and muttered,"Then Hui Xue?"”
The Empress looked unhappy but said softly,"BenGong will take good care of HuiXue. Your body is weak, so go back and recuperate. When your body is better, come back and get HuiXue!"”
I couldn't help but jump up and say,"Really?" Really? Will Huixue return to my side if I recover?”
Jian Qiu laughed." Little Lord An Pin is really too happy. Little Lord should call herself a concubine. The Empress naturally keeps her word. Little Lord An Pin should go back and rest!”
The Empress nodded with a smile. I pretended to be overjoyed as I thanked her and left. I didn't stop until there were no outsiders in the Wanyue Tower.
I schemed against the Empress, and the Empress schemed against me. I just don't know who is the winner and who is the loser in this game of chess!
Jiyue Hall.
The Empress smiled and looked at Jian Qiu.”
Jian Qiu smiled faintly.”
"Oh?" The Empress asked indifferently.
Jian Qiu replied with a smile,"Hui Xue is a simple and innocent girl. I have been paying attention to her day and night and have found nothing unusual." One day, a servant tested her to see if An Pin was her sister. Hui Xue panicked. Although she could not speak, she could not lie with her eyes. Therefore, Hui Xue must be An Pin's sister.”
The Empress was playing with a pot of peonies, smiling faintly without saying a word.
Jian Qiu continued to smile."And this servant has carefully observed the expression of Little Mistress An Pin. She doesn't look fake. If she is, then this woman…" Jian Qiu continued to laugh." And this servant saw that she really wanted to die of old age in the palace. Everyone in the harem wanted to be favored by the Emperor, but An Pin had been indifferent ever since she entered the palace. Even those few times when she had to serve the Emperor were all obtained by the Emperor himself. However, An Pin was still cold to the Emperor and did not show any hospitality!”
"So she really doesn't love the emperor and loves the person she likes?"”
Jian Qiu smiled." This servant is just guessing. The Empress has her own decision!" Moreover, this servant once inquired about when Hui Jie Yu was pregnant and wanted to flatter An Pin, but An Pin rejected it. As for later being favored by the Emperor, this servant vaguely heard that An Pin was able to see the Emperor because she drank wine to drown her sorrows in Yu Run Hall. Although she was indeed doted on for a few days, An Pin was ultimately not as doted on as Wan Gui Pin!”
The smile on the Empress's lips deepened as she casually asked," What else?”
Jian Qiu said,"Empress, do you still remember? Last year, when Consort Hua's Cao Jie Yu made trouble for Wan Gui Pin to perform a graceful dance, she asked An Pin to sing and play the zither. The Emperor had promised, but An Pin still did not refuse. Although she played the zither in the end, she did not sing a song. Everyone was fooled by Consort Hua's method of regaining favor, so they naturally did not care."”
The Empress sat in the back seat and smiled faintly. Is it worth bengong taking the risk to support it?”
Jian Qiu smiled,"An Pin has both virtue and ability but was born in a humble family. She should be grateful that the Empress took care of her!"”After a pause, she continued," But you can't underestimate her. Your Highness, do you still remember the case of An Bihuai? No one asked me to take off my hairpin and hand over the Buddhist scriptures! It could be seen that his heart was hard and not as weak as his appearance! However, An Pin was also a person who valued relationships and loyalty. She had almost lost her life just now, but she was thinking about her sister and that sachet!”
The Empress smiled and said nothing.
In the past few days, Xuan Ling had frequently visited Consort Hua. Although the people in the harem were anxious, they did not dare to offend Consort Hua. After all, her methods were not to be trifled with. Therefore, Concubine Hua became even more domineering and domineering. She no longer felt lost like before. Even Mei Zhuang, who had been favored recently, was not as good. However, the Empress did not seem to care at all. She had always been magnanimous, considerate, and tolerant. The hearts of the people in the harem wavered, as if a storm was about to come.
Seeing that the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, the Emperor ordered them to return to the palace on the same day, while Zhen Huan remained in the palace. Many of the concubines were secretly smiling in their hearts, waiting for the day when the emperor would take pity on them.
There were no roads in the middle of the Fanyue Lake. Only the small boat could be used by Empress Dowager Zhaoxian when she detained Concubine Shu. Not only was it remote, but it was also old and uninhabited. There was no beam in the main hall, so much so that he couldn't even hang himself from the beam in misery. It was a wonderful place to go!
Just as I returned to the Forbidden City, the Empress summoned me to the Zhaoming Hall overnight. I know that tonight is the night of change. If Xuan Ling succeeds in one move, then the Empress will protect me. Although I don't love Xuan Ling, I should do my best to repay this life-saving grace. The Empress was indeed scheming. If it doesn't work out, then fulfill my wish to die in the palace!
Xuan Ling, you said you would protect me, but you chose to protect Zhen Huan. I'm really, really jealous. I even hate you for abandoning me.
Zhao Ming Hall. The lights were bright. There were faint mottled footsteps and sounds of fighting that did not belong to the Forbidden City.
The Empress was sitting on the back seat. It was already noon, and logically speaking, all the palace servants should have rested, but the Empress did not show any signs of fatigue. Her expression was solemn.
I am sitting below her. If the Empress doesn't sleep, would I dare to sleep? Can I sleep?
After a long time.
The Empress sighed." An Pin, if you were about to die, what would be the first thing you think of?”
I looked at her sad expression, but there was a righteous and courageous aura. I couldn't help but admire her, Zhu Yixiu. She was calm in the face of death. Should she sigh that she was indeed the empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty?
I raised my eyebrows and coldly said,"No matter how stupid I am, I can guess that tonight will not be peaceful!"”Under the Empress's unfathomable gaze, she paused for a moment before continuing," Empress, you have protected me, I am extremely grateful! If he could survive this tonight, he would definitely repay the Empress in the future. However, if Bianci were to die, the one who would be most worried would be Bianci's mother and Bianci's younger sister Huixue. The Empress was smart enough to guess that. Bianci would not dare to lie if the Empress took such good care of Bianci!”I don't dare to lie because everything I say is fake!
The Empress smiled faintly and said with satisfaction,"In that case, you won't waste BenGong's good intentions!"”
Then, the Empress did not say anything else. She just closed her eyes and waited quietly. The entire hall was filled with a solemn atmosphere.
What Zhu Yixiu wants is for me to be convinced and follow her lead. She would always be the Empress of the Great Zhou, whether she lived or died.
Six hours have passed, but I feel like a lifetime has passed. If I, An Ling Rong, can survive tonight safely, I, An Ling Rong, swear that I will never fall in love with Xuan Ling again in this life. Otherwise, I won't need to be punished by the heavens and will dig out my heart to commit suicide! If he died, hehe, then let Yi Xin leave with this beautiful love that was as short as fireworks in this world forever.
"Report-report-report!" A few internal supervisors, led by Xiao Xiazi, rushed into the Zhaoming Hall excitedly. Xiao Xiazi was excited but did not lose his etiquette and respectfully bowed. Good luck!"
The Empress couldn't help but smile with tears in her eyes. How is the emperor?"
Xiao Xiazi smiled and said," Your Majesty is fine, but please take care of your phoenix body first!”
The Empress laughed. Good! God bless our Great Zhou! The Emperor is a wise ruler, how could he be bullied by evil? Xiao Xiazi, go and report to the emperor that bengong is fine. May the emperor take care of his dragon body! It's the blessing of the people and the world!"
Xiao Xiazi couldn't help but laugh with tears in his eyes." This servant obeys the imperial edict. This servant will take his leave!"”
This meticulously crafted sure-kill situation won the satisfaction of its master, Xuan Ling. At this moment, I finally understood what a king is! Xuan Ling and Prince Runan are close brothers, but they killed each other without any scruples just to seize the world of the Great Zhou. I finally understand what it means to be cold and what it means to be angry!
Xuanling sent Qinghe King's people to seize Runan King's military power in various places, imprisoned the generals and broke his soldiers. And that night quietly in the name of the Empress Dowager banquet Runan Wang's wife and children, temporarily launched, Runan Wang took care of his wife and children did not resist and detained in the imperial clan forbidden house waiting for punishment. The princess, the emperor's concubine, and the prince should be demoted to civilians and continue to live in the old residence of Runan King.
Zhen Yan was one of the heroes in this matter. He destroyed his reputation and took the opportunity to gain the trust of Runan King. He even got the list of Runan King's henchmen and personally led the Yulin Royal Guards to control Runan King's residence. Otherwise, even if Xuan Ling had a chance of winning tonight, it was not impossible for him to be buried hundreds of miles away.
Zhen Huan, you are indeed not a soft character. Even your brother Zhen Yan is a good person. Hehe, as expected of the late emperor's favorite son?
Although Consort Hua had suddenly lost her power, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse!
Consort Hua, the self-proclaimed number one consort in the imperial harem of the Great Zhou Dynasty, was merely a sacrificial victim of Xuan Ling's elaborate killing plot.
She was a gorgeous beauty with a beauty that could topple a country. She had an extraordinary family background and was deeply infatuated with Xuan Ling. And no matter how beautiful Consort Hua was, she was still a concubine. She was just the most beautiful and the most short-lived and sad fireworks in the Great Zhou Dynasty. When it was beautiful, it was soul-stirring. When it dissipated, even the dust was buried in the torrent of history.
Life is as thin as paper, only people say it is beautiful. Unfortunately, the fireworks of this golden age were easily cold. Hua Fei lost everything about you, and you still want to live. But when you know that the person you love the most has destroyed everything about you, what can you use to live? It's not because you have nothing, but because your life is a joke!
Too many lessons have been learned. Xuan Ling, I've really given up on you.
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