nashuaworldcup Chapter 172: Demoting Concubine Ying to Commoner ①
Chapter 172: Demoting Concubine Ying to Commoner ①
This information was undoubtedly good news for Yan Wan. Mei Ruo's biggest backer had fallen. This way, she could avenge Madam Wei and Zuo Lu.
Just when she was getting over her grief, Ji Tao brought her another piece of sad news.
Wanyin passed away.
Lan Qi stood up suddenly, "How could this happen?"
Ji Tao said, "I heard that Concubine Wan, in order to avenge the Fifth Prince's broken leg, took advantage of the eldest prince's inattention and stabbed him in the heart with a dagger before committing suicide."
Yan Wan: "Where is the emperor?"
Ji Tao: "The Emperor had the Fourth Prince and the Princess captured and sent to the Shenxingsi before heading to the Zhongcui Palace."
Lan Qi: "Jinzhong, you and I will go to Zhongcui Palace. Jitao, you will stay here with Concubine Ling."
Ji Tao responded.
Seeing Lan Qi and Jin Zhong about to leave, Yan Wan climbed out of bed and shouted, "I'll go with you."
Jinzhong said anxiously, "Lord, Concubine Cheng is right. You have just given birth and are weak. You should stay in Yongshou Palace and wait for news. We will be back soon."
After being persuaded by Jinzhong and Lanqi, Yanwan had no choice but to stay in Yongshou Palace and wait for news.
Ji Tao: "Empress Ling Fei, you are feeling weak. I will go to the kitchen and make you a bowl of chicken soup."
Yanwan nodded.
She squinted her eyes weakly, her mind full of Hongli's ruthlessness. She and Hongli had witnessed with their own eyes the brutal murder of Madam Wei by Jirimutu, and she just wanted Hongli to make the decision for her, but no matter how much she begged, Hongli remained indifferent.
The most ruthless imperial family.
Yanwan only truly felt it today.
It seems understandable why Zeng Huan wanted to take power into his own hands. Only supreme power can protect the people he cares about.
Lan Qi and Jin Zhong walked one after the other along the palace path.
Wanyin's death was an accident. Although Lanqi hated Ruyi, Hailan, Meiruo and Yuyan, she never thought of taking Wanyin's life.
Suddenly Lan Qi stopped, turned to Jinzhong and asked, "Jinzhong, am I wrong?"
Jinzhong glanced up at Lan Qi, then quickly lowered his head. He hadn't meant to say that in the Yongshou Palace courtyard just now. He simply couldn't bear to see Yan Wan suffer, so he spoke without thinking. After all, they'd been together for so many years; how could he not feel Lan Qi's kindness to Yan Wan?
He knew what Lan Qi meant.
Jinzhong raised his eyes and said to Lanqi in a firm tone, "Master Cheng, I know that all you did was for your sake. As long as Madam Wei and Zuolu are alive, they will always be obstacles to your master. Whether it's a moment or a lifetime of grief, I think you will soon get over it. Hu Richa has a bad temper. You saw through it and asked me to take him to the gambling house, and then asked me to secretly let Zuolu cheat him of his money. Given his personality, he will definitely fight with Zuolu. If Zuolu is killed by Hu Richa, Madam Wei will definitely not let it go. Your Majesty, although I understand that you are doing this for the good of Concubine Ling, please rest assured that I will keep this matter a secret."
Lan Qi nodded slightly, turned and walked towards Zhongcui Palace.
The moon was as bright as day, and the ground was covered with silver light. The endless rows of pavilions seemed to be covered with snow. Bright lights shone through the walls and gates of the palace. The branches and leaves of the flowers and trees in the courtyard were clearly reflected, and the dark shadows spread across the ground, and the colors of the flowers were hazy, creating a quiet and elegant scene.
I heard a soft cry.
Upon entering Zhongcui Palace, Hongli had already left. Yongqi, dressed in mourning, was kneeling before Wanyin's coffin, while Shunxin knelt beside him, sobbing and burning paper money.
Ke Xin picked up the incense on the altar, lit it with candlelight, and handed it to Lu Jun.
Lujun's eyes moistened. She and Wanyin had known each other for decades, having served Hongli together since their time in the Qiandi Palace. After Hongli ascended the throne, they lived together in the Zhongcui Palace. Wanyin was a gentle and kind woman, not competitive or aggressive. She truly did not deserve to end up committing suicide.
Yongqi didn't cry or make a fuss, he just knelt there quietly.
Looking at his face, Lujun's eyes gradually turned red, and she subconsciously recognized him. Yongqi was also a poor child.
Turning around, Lujun saw Lanqi standing at the palace gate.
Since Hongli was not around, Lanqi asked Jinzhong to go back to Yangxin Palace first to report that Yanwan had given birth to the fifth princess. Then she went up to Lujun and told her what had happened outside Xianfu Palace during the day.
Lujun's slightly furrowed brow deepened as she turned to glance at Wanyin's coffin. She felt a tinge of sympathy for Yongqi's plight. Now that he had a crippled leg and no longer had his mother's protection, what use was the title of Prince Rong to a ten-year-old? As Lujun regained consciousness, she heard a familiar voice.
"I never thought that Concubine Ying would actually protect her family from doing such a ridiculous thing. It's really pitiful for the lives of Concubine Ling's mother, brother, and Concubine Wan."
Lujun sighed and said awkwardly, "Yeah, how is Concubine Ling?"
Lan Qi shook her head and said, "It's nothing. I just had some shock and I'm a little weak after giving birth to the fifth princess. I asked Ji Tao to stay in Yongshou Palace with Ju Rui to take care of Concubine Ling."
Lujun: "Alright, after I finish taking care of Concubine Wan's funeral, I will go to Yongshou Palace to see her."
As a fellow imperial concubine, Lujun was once bewitched by Hailan and, in a fit of rage, she did some terrible things to Yanwan. Even the five years of torture she endured in Qixiang Palace were largely due to her. Fortunately, Yanwan forgot the past and even visited Lujun at Zhongcui Palace when Hongli became suspicious of her. She will cherish this memory for the rest of her life.
After Lan Qi finished burning incense and left, Lujun immediately called Kexin and asked her to go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to prepare some generous gifts to be sent to Yongshou Palace.
Jirimutu died, Princess Balin and Huricha were arrested and taken to the Ministry of Punishment, and the most anxious person was Meiruo.
She brought Abao to the Yangxin Palace with her pregnant belly, knelt in front of the palace, and cried out: "Your Majesty, my brother has done nothing wrong. Why did you arrest my mother and fourth brother? My mother is old and has lost her beloved son. If you treat her like this, I am afraid it will chill the hearts of the forty-nine Mongolian tribes. Your Majesty..."
Meiruo knelt in front of the temple and cried miserably.
Hongli did not want to see her, but he did not want the Balin incident to affect Meiruo's unborn child, so he did not deal with Huricha and the princess immediately, but only locked them up in labor camp. Meiruo was reluctant to leave, so Hongli had to ask Jinbao to persuade Meiruo.
Jinbao's face was filled with surprise, his thick eyebrows slightly raised, and his dark eyes soon returned to calm. He could not disobey the order, so he had to purse his lips and walked out.
Jinbao: "Oh, Concubine Ying, why are you kneeling on the ground?"
Seeing Meiruo kneeling on the ground with a big belly, Jinbao hurried forward to help Meiruo up.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her pretty face became ferocious with anger and unwillingness. Meiruo slapped Jinbao's hand away and said harshly, "Get out of here, you dog slave! How many heads do you have? You even dare to touch me. Be careful or I'll have the emperor kill you..."
Jin Bao took a deep breath, he knew it would be like this.
He lowered his head, his back bent, his expression extremely calm, and said in a gentle voice, "Empress Yingfei, the Emperor is busy. You should return to the palace first. When the Emperor wants to see you, he will naturally come to Xianfu Palace to see you."