sbdcsierra Chapter 114 Provocation
Chapter 114 Provocation
"To answer your Majesty, we have been here. As soon as we got back, Sister Xihe, who is with Concubine Shu, sent someone to ask about it. She said she wants to invite you to go to the Imperial Garden to appreciate the chrysanthemums together tomorrow."
"Send some leather to Shu Fei and Mei Fei later, and tell them that I just came back and am very tired. Let's forget about it tomorrow. We can go together after I've recovered. Remember, I'm not in a bad mood when I came back, but I became unwell after leaving the Empress's palace..." Yan Wan leaned lazily on a soft pillow, took a sip of tea and said slowly.
"Yes, I promise to do it properly."
Lan Cui had served Yan Wan for eight years, so they had some tacit understanding. She immediately understood Yan Wan's thoughts, and after Chun Chan sent the two annoying people away at the door, she went to get the skins she had brought back from Mulan Paddock and went to Yonghe Palace.
At this time, Concubine Ying and Concubine Ke were on their way back to their palace.
For some reason, Concubine Ying always felt uneasy. Even though Concubine Ling had easily spared her and even bestowed a reward, she still had no good feelings towards her.
"What are you thinking about, sister? Are you still afraid that Concubine Ling will secretly target us?" Ke Dacheng noticed that something was wrong with her and asked with some concern.
She couldn't just say she disliked Concubine Ling directly, so she just shook her head and made up a lame excuse: "I was just thinking of thanking the Empress for this matter. If it weren't for the Empress's mediation and finding a way to help us, I'm afraid this matter wouldn't be resolved so easily."
They have already had a grudge against Concubine Ling. Even if Concubine Ling doesn't care about it now, it is impossible for her to pretend that nothing happened and continue to interact with her in a friendly manner.
Who knows if Concubine Ling will pretend nothing happened on the surface, but actually make things difficult for them in secret?
Besides, it was a fact that they disliked Concubine Ling, and she really couldn't go to the trouble of trying to please a concubine of lower birth than herself.
"Yes, we must thank the Empress Dowager later. She is the master of the six palaces. Since we have offended Concubine Ling, we must maintain a good relationship with the Empress Dowager. Otherwise, if we lose her care, life will be difficult."
The Emperor and his men couldn't be relied upon, as winter was only a few months away. The palace was known for its snobbery, and if the palace people were to flatter and deprive them of food and clothing, life would be unbearable.
Unlike Concubine Ying who was worried, Concubine Ke saw it clearly and knew that their only way out now was to please the Empress.
With the Queen around, no one dares to bully them.
Lan Cui walked very quickly and soon arrived at Yonghe Palace.
She came at the right time, Yihuan was also staying with Ruiji.
After losing her son, she gradually recovered under the care of Yanwan and Ruiji. However, she was always afraid of being alone, so she often went to Yonghe Palace for a short rest.
Rui Ji was raising the Eleventh Prince, now almost two years old, a child of naivete, chasing after her and calling her "Empress Shu." While this couldn't alleviate her grief, it did bring her some solace, allowing her to stop feeling melancholy.
Seeing that both of them were there, Lan Cui stepped forward cautiously and saluted.
"Greetings to Consort Mei and Consort Shu. My master was always thinking of you when he was at Mulan Paddock. Just as he returned, he sent me here to deliver these fine leathers. He said it's already autumn, and the days are short in the Forbidden City, so winter arrives quickly. Consort Shu is not feeling well, and the Eleventh Prince is still young. These leathers are the best material this year, and they'll be perfect for making winter clothes."
"Thank you for taking so much trouble. Let's have a good reunion tomorrow. She's not here these days, and it's not fun for just the two of us to stay in this palace."
Seeing Ruiji bring it up, Yihuan nodded and asked with concern, "I heard that the new Concubine Ying and the current Concubine Ke had a fight at Mulan Paddock. Is your master okay?"
Lan Cui's face immediately fell when she heard that. She nodded and shook her head in embarrassment. Her hesitant look made the two of them have a bad feeling.
Yihuan and Ruiji exchanged a glance. Ruiji, who was outspoken, asked quickly, "Why are you nodding and shaking your head? What's wrong? Tell me the truth and don't play tricks on me."
"Go ahead and tell me. This is Yonghe Palace. Just tell me the truth. It won't be spread out." Yihuan saw Lan Cui's concerns and said softly.
Upon hearing this, Lan Cui sighed deeply and told Mulan about the hunting grounds and the difficulties the queen had posed to her today with a sad face.
"The two masters also know that the Empress has always disliked our master. He was fine when he came back today, but after paying respects to the Yikun Palace, my master's face was not very good. I asked Sister Chunchan who went with him. It was obviously my master who was wronged in Mulan Paddock, but the Empress insisted that my master plead with the Emperor on their behalf. It was their fault in the first place. It was only because of my master's plea that the Emperor gave them a light punishment. Otherwise, the Emperor would have written a letter to reprimand the two masters' mothers for their poor parenting..."
"My master suffered this loss for the sake of the Emperor. The concubine from the Yikun Palace was just too aggressive. The two concubines didn't know that they said very bad things in Mulan Paddock. They said my master was of a bad family background and was a foxy woman. They also said that the Kunqu opera she sang was vulgar. The servants couldn't stand it anymore. That's why the Emperor got very angry and drove them back from Mulan Paddock..."
Ruiji's face darkened with every word she spoke. When Lan Cui finished, she slammed her palm on the table, sending steaming tea splattering. This sudden movement startled Yihuan, who was standing by.
"How ridiculous! The Empress is really picking on the weak! It was clearly the Emperor himself who issued the order for punishment, yet she actually wants Concubine Ling, a victim of suffering, to plead for mercy? She doesn't dare to persuade the Emperor, so she makes things difficult for the concubines below. She's really calculating!"
Bai Ruiji had never been afraid of her, so she would naturally say whatever she wanted. She wasn't afraid that her words would reach Ruyi's ears. It would be fine if someone told her, so that she could see if the queen would be embarrassed.
Yihuan also had mixed feelings. She had thought that the queen was just confused, but now she didn't expect that she had become so aggressive.
The concubines below do not know the rules and should be strictly disciplined. There is no reason to indulge them in being rude and let Yanwan give in and beg for mercy one by one.
Besides, this is too harsh to hear.
The two concubines are so ignorant of the rules at such a young age. Wouldn't the palace be in chaos in the future?
Yihuan frowned, feeling upset and his face looked ugly.
"Lan Cui, go back first and serve your master well. Tomorrow, the Empress and Consort Shu will go to visit her together. Tell her to be more at ease and not to take these things too seriously."
Seeing Yihuan keeping her head down and not saying anything, Ruiji calmed herself down and softly instructed Lan Cui, who was trembling slightly with fear at the bottom.