sbdcsierra Chapter 1177: Concubine Wang is now no different from a grasshopper in autumn
Chapter 1177: Concubine Wang is now no different from a grasshopper in autumn
"But later... later, I made some careful inquiries and found out that it was actually an insignificant maidservant beside Concubine Wang who 'accidentally' let the secret slip among the ladies of high rank, and that's how the rumor spread!"
Xiao Mingzi finished his speech, pouring out beans from a bamboo tube, and finally said with certainty: "Your Majesty, I dare to guarantee that this matter was deliberately arranged by Your Majesty Wangpin!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the air inside the Phoenix Chariot seemed to freeze instantly.
Handan suddenly straightened up, her face flushed with anger, her chest heaving violently: "How dare the Concubine Wang?!"
"When she failed to win your favor, she resorted to such despicable tactics to sully the Empress's reputation! She..."
Having said this, Handan was so angry that she was speechless for a moment.
Fuqiu's face was so gloomy that water seemed to drip out of it, and her eyes were cold.
Although her reaction was not as big as Handan's, her tightly pursed lips revealed the anger surging in her heart.
Fuqiu looked at Shen Zhinian, her voice filled with suppressed chills: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty Wangpin's plan is so sinister!"
"Although the rumors were suppressed by Your Majesty's thunderous measures, if she finds another opportunity to stir up trouble again, it will ultimately be detrimental to Your Majesty's reputation!"
Shen Zhinian listened quietly, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
Princess Wang...couldn't hold it back any longer.
When she failed to win the emperor's favor, she tried to use this underhanded method to throw dirty water on him, trying to sow the seeds of suspicion between her and the emperor.
It's really... extremely stupid, and he is seeking his own death!
She put down the teacup, and the bottom of the cup touched the rosewood table, making a very light crisp sound.
Shen Zhinian's gaze swept over the still indignant Handan and the sullen Fuqiu, finally landing on Xiao Mingzi's nervous face. "I know the situation well."
"Miss!"
Handan couldn't hold back any longer, her voice filled with reluctance and anxiety, "Are you...are you just going to let it go like this, and let Concubine Wang slander your reputation like this?"
"If she fails this time, who knows what despicable tricks she'll resort to next time!"
The cold curve at the corner of Shen Zhinian's lips deepened a little, with a hint of mockery: "Forget it?"
She raised her eyes, sweeping across Handan's angry face, and finally landing on Fuqiu's eyes, which also contained a hint of anger, but were more calm. "What's the rush?"
Shen Zhinian's voice was low, but it carried the composure of someone in control of the chess game: "Your Majesty used thunderous means to publicly execute those who made irresponsible remarks, forcibly suppressing this evil wind and fire with blood."
"If something happens again now, no matter what the truth is, it will be like stirring up the dirty water that I finally managed to suppress, and pouring it all over me."
"People will only remember the rumors about me and Minister Gu being brought up again, not the frame-up by Concubine Wang."
"Reputation may seem empty, but it is the foundation of a harem."
Especially... when she is about to be promoted.
Shen Zhinian stopped looking at the maids and cast her gaze towards the slightly swaying brocade curtain. Her voice was filled with cold certainty: "After returning to the palace, there will be plenty of opportunities for her to repay the principal with interest!"
"Initially, Concubine Wang was only allowed to secretly surrender with the Wang family in order to eradicate the entangled tree of Duke Dingguo's Mansion. She did bring back some news, so she can be considered a meritorious service."
At this point, Shen Zhinian's tone was filled with undisguised contempt: "But now, the tree has fallen, and the monkeys will scatter."
"The Duke Dingguo Mansion has been destroyed, and her usefulness as a chess piece... has also come to an end."
"Not only does Wangpin not know how to restrain her edge and behave herself, but she even dares to have such evil intentions towards me?"
She scoffed softly, her laughter lacking anger, only a sense of condescension: "You are truly... so foolish, courting your own death!"
Fuqi and Handan immediately understood what the Queen meant.
The value of Concubine Wang has been reduced to zero with the collapse of Duke Dingguo's Mansion.
Not only did she not realize that she was about to be abandoned, but she also jumped out to make trouble at this time. This was tantamount to cutting off her own last chance of survival with her own hands!
In the eyes of the Empress, Concubine Wang was no different from a grasshopper in autumn.
Fuqiu replied in a deep voice, "I understand."
Handan also nodded vigorously, her little face full of excitement as she waited for the show.
Shen Zhinian said no more, closed his eyes again, and leaned back into the soft cushion.
……
The long line moved forward in silence.
The majestic black-armored imperial guards guarded the emperor's bright yellow carriage.
Following behind were the carriages and horses of concubines and royal family members.
At the end of the team, several specially made prison vans were particularly eye-catching.
Through the gaps in the wooden fence, a few haggard and lifeless faces could be vaguely seen.
The dry grass, covered with white frost, broke into pieces under the wheels, and was picked up by the wind, hitting the cold wooden fence of the prison van.
In one of the prison cars, Duke Dingguo was curled up in the corner.
His once burly figure was now reduced to a skeleton, with his filthy prison uniform hanging empty on his body.
The gray and withered hair was scattered in a mess, fluttering weakly in the biting cold wind, like the last few withered grass in late autumn.
Duke Dingguo's cloudy eyes were half closed as he looked at the shadows swaying under the car. His former sharpness and calculations had long been covered by the ashes of despair.
The iron chains made a heavy and harsh "clattering" sound as the prison van bumped and swayed, again and again...
In a luxurious carriage with soft apricot-yellow curtains, a white and tender little hand quietly lifted the curtains.
The eldest princess pressed her little face against the cold window frame, her eyes drawn to the incongruous prison vans.
When the white hair in the cage, like dead grass, came into her sight, the eldest princess suddenly opened her eyes wide: "Grandpa?!"
Her childish voice was filled with disbelief and fear.
Although the eldest princess knew that Duke Dingguo had rebelled, Concubine Zhuang had been keeping her under house arrest since the incident.
Every time the eldest princess asked about matters related to Duke Dingguo's Mansion, Concubine Zhuang remained silent.
This was her first time meeting Duke Dingguo.
The eldest princess remembered the feeling of her grandfather's chin rubbing against her head when he held her in his arms.
I remember the faint, medicinal sandalwood scent on his body.
But the person in front of me...
How could this person, locked in a cage and looking like a rag doll, be the grandfather who always brought her new and interesting toys and lifted her high above his head?!
The eldest princess's small body tensed up instantly, and a mixture of fear and heartache filled her heart.
Taking advantage of the time when the convoy stopped for repairs, the eldest princess threw aside all responsibility and lifted the heavy curtain.
Her small figure was like an arrow shot from a bow, and in the astonished eyes of everyone, she stumbled towards the front of the team, the bright yellow carriage that symbolized supreme majesty!
"Father! Father——!!!"
The eldest princess' voice was tearful, and her figure seemed so abrupt and fragile as she moved among the solemn black-armored guards.
The guards subconsciously moved aside and no one dared to really stop this princess from her golden age.