sbdcsierra Chapter 112 Argument
Chapter 112 Argument
"I am fine, let's go back."
It was a hot summer day, but Ruyi could not feel any warmth at all. Instead, she felt cold all over.
She was clearly trying hard to be a good queen, but she was still criticized everywhere.
It was indeed as the Queen Mother said, she had it too easy being a queen, which was why she lost her composure for a moment, immersed in this beautiful dream, and neglected many of the responsibilities she should have fulfilled.
"Sister...sister?"
Hailan happened to be on her way to visit Ruyi. Seeing her walking ahead, she instinctively called out to her. Unexpectedly, Ruyi was in a trance and didn't hear her call. It took several calls for her to react.
"Hai Lan? It's so hot, why don't you stay inside?"
Seeing her distracted look, Hai Lan was very worried: "Sister, what's wrong? Why do you look so bad?"
"It's okay. The new Balin girl who came to the palace was disliked by the emperor. The empress dowager originally sent a nanny to educate her. I arranged for them to go to Mulan Paddock out of kindness, but I didn't expect that my good intentions would lead to bad results and harm them instead. It's reasonable for the empress dowager to scold me." Ruyi was a little tired. She walked side by side with Hailan and said in a light tone.
"It's their own fault for not following the rules. What does that have to do with my sister?"
"It's just that I feel uneasy. They are so young, yet they are already disliked by the Emperor. How are they going to live in this palace in the future?"
"Don't worry, sister. This is not a big deal. The emperor is angry now, so it's not convenient for us to plead for them together. When the emperor calms down, we will find a way to help them regain his favor. Besides, they were born in Mongolia, and the emperor will not neglect them anyway." Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Hai Lan comforted her.
Ruyi was in a complicated mood. When she heard her say that, she just curled her lips slightly and nodded to show her agreement.
Yihuan became alienated from her, the newly born fifth princess suffered from heart disease, the new concubine was punished by the emperor because of her, and the empress dowager scolded her for not managing the six palaces well.
The pressure of these things was overwhelming her, and even with Hailan's comfort, she could hardly cheer up. She could only take things one step at a time and deal with them one by one.
In the golden autumn season, not long after the concubines returned to the Forbidden City from the Old Summer Palace, the emperor ended his hunting trip and returned to Beijing with everyone.
The first thing Yan Wan did when she returned to the palace was to pay her respects to the Queen according to the rules.
"I send my regards to the Queen."
She was dressed in a bright red Manchu dress. Although it wasn't pure red, it made her look bright and bold. Her face was radiant, and she walked, sat, and lay down with grace and elegance, even more majestic than the dour empress sitting at the head.
"Wake up, Concubine Ling. Have you been having a good time in Mulan Paddock these days?"
"Thanks to the Empress's concern and the Emperor's care, I am living a good life."
After the two men met and exchanged just two words, the smell of gunpowder filled the Yiku Palace.
Ruyi naturally would not ask the emperor about this matter, but now that Yanfang sat in front of her, the emotions that had been pent up for a long time finally had an outlet.
"I heard that Concubine Ying and Concubine Ke had a quarrel in front of the Emperor? You are considered an elder by the Emperor's side, why... didn't you try to persuade them? After all, they are of Mongolian origin and have noble status. If this causes a rift between the Manchu and Mongolian peoples..."
"Have you forgotten, Your Majesty? I am of humble origin, while my two younger sisters are of Mongolian origin and of noble status. Naturally, they disdain to say much to me, otherwise they wouldn't discuss me in private. We are all the Emperor's concubines. To put it bluntly, we are all the Emperor's concubines. Are there any distinctions between high and low among concubines? They are so coquettish and vulgar, and their words are so unpleasant. Your Majesty, you are the master of the harem, you must support me."
Yan Wan was waiting for her to bring up this matter, and as she spoke, she suddenly felt aggrieved.
She was very good at playing the role of weakness, and anyone who saw her would feel sorry for her when she looked like she was about to cry.
Aren't you the queen? Aren't you supposed to protect the concubines? They're all concubines, so you can't favor one over the other, right?
Ruyi thought she would speak to her in a sarcastic tone as usual, but she didn't expect her to suddenly start complaining, which made her seem aggressive.
She suddenly felt awkward, staring blankly for a long time before finally uttering, "Why are you crying? They're only teenagers, just children who don't know the rules. You're the head of a palace now, so why don't you be more magnanimous and ask the Emperor to spare them this time? Otherwise, the friendship between the Manchus and the Mongols will be disrupted."
Hearing this, Yan Wan almost laughed out loud.
Ruyi was really calculating. She was the one who suffered the most. She acted like a legitimate wife in front of him, saying everything in a high-sounding manner, but she didn't dare say anything in front of the emperor. She had to be the lobbyist herself, so she would get all the benefits and bear all the disadvantages.
Wei Yanwan is not a fool, so why should she let her be manipulated?
"Your Highness, please don't force me. I have suffered such a great humiliation. If you turn around and let them off lightly, how will the concubines look at me in the future? How will I survive in this palace? If you don't punish them severely, will the new concubines step on me in the future?"
Yan Wan's expression gradually became serious. She raised her eyes and looked directly at Ruyi, facing her overwhelming power. Her words were neither humble nor arrogant, and were clear and logical. She just didn't want to do what Ruyi said.
The atmosphere gradually became tense, and Ruyi was greatly angered by her words. "It's just a small matter, why are you being so aggressive? I see that you are making such a fuss about nothing, I am afraid you have your own selfish motives, wanting to monopolize the emperor's favor. Do you know that they are backed by the forty-nine Mongolian tribes? Aren't you afraid of disturbing the peace of both the Manchu and Mongolian peoples?"
"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words. Now that they have entered the palace, they are the Emperor's concubines. They must obey the Emperor in all matters and sever all ties with him. The harem is forbidden from interfering in government affairs. Your Majesty, you haven't forgotten this, have you? Furthermore, the Emperor is fair and just, and will naturally not let this matter get involved in Mongolian affairs."
"Your Majesty is the ruler of a country. He is merely punishing two concubines who have committed an offense. Do you have to consider the opinions of your ministers? I am just a weak woman. How could I possibly disturb the peace of the Manchu and Mongolian peoples?"
Yan Wan lowered her head and took a sip of tea, and then said a few words that left Ruyi speechless.
She has been favored in the past few years, and her words and actions have become more and more bold, with pride between her brows. After all, she is different from the little palace maid she used to be.
As a favorite concubine, she naturally has to act like a favorite concubine.
Seeing her expression change so quickly, Ruyi was furious: "Oh! You have so many excuses. Didn't you say that you only care about the emperor? Isn't the harmony of the six palaces also for the emperor's sake?"
Seeing that she brought up the emperor, Yan Wan became even more fearless.