mesbooks Chapter 164 Discovery
Chapter 164 Discovery
Thinking of this, Hailan suddenly realized.
No wonder Concubine Ling looked so strange that day. Putting aside the astronomical phenomenon, the rumors in the palace must also be related to her.
Ever since Ruyi gave birth prematurely, rumors began to spread in the palace, saying that the Queen was unlucky and that not only the Thirteenth Prince, but even the Fifth Princess was killed by her.
Although the palace servants did not dare to say these things in front of their master, these words had already spread among the people in private. Not only were they discussed in private, but even the people working in the Yikun Palace were afraid and wanted to stay away from the Yikun Palace.
At that time, Ruyi was concentrating on taking care of the Thirteenth Prince during her confinement period, and then she was busy asking the Emperor for an explanation, so she temporarily ignored this matter.
Even though Hai Lan was indignant when she heard this, she was busy comforting Ruyi and thinking of ways to bring the Thirteenth Prince back, so she didn't take the matter seriously.
Unexpectedly, the rumors became more and more intense. Now people in the palace are in unrest. If they are not stopped, it may damage Ruyi's reputation.
Now that I think about it, this rumor is not groundless. It must have been instigated by someone behind the scenes with the intention of slandering the Empress.
The emperor had always believed in astronomical phenomena, and probably because of the rumors spreading in the palace, he believed them and sent the Thirteenth Prince away.
Thinking of this, Hai Lan hurried to Yikun Palace to report the matter to Ruyi and discuss countermeasures together.
When she arrived at the Yiku Palace, Ruyi was sitting in a daze, fiddling with a child's rattle, and she didn't look very energetic.
She was wearing a sandalwood-colored double-breasted jacket with auspicious patterns of fortune, wealth and longevity on it. The pearls and jade on her head jingled pleasantly as she moved.
It’s a pity that this outfit is too old-fashioned and looks very desolate in this somewhat deserted Yiku Palace.
Although she is nearly forty years old, she would look lifeless if she didn't wear some bright colors.
Thinking about what she has been going through these days, it is normal for her to look much older. Once she cheers up, she will surely feel much better.
"Sister..." Hailan said with concern.
"Summer is almost here, and this rattle was left behind by Yongji. I wonder how he's doing in Xiefang Palace, and whether the servants there are taking good care of him..."
Ruyi didn't look up at her, but gently moved the rattle and said sadly.
Yongji was an obedient child. Since giving birth to him, she had been pregnant one after another and had no time to focus on him.
Now the mother and child have ended up being separated.
It's her fault that she's a useless mother. She can't take care of any of her three children.
"There's a nanny specially assigned by the Emperor to look after the Xiefang Palace. I think the twelfth prince will be fine. If you're really worried about him, I'll go see him on your behalf. The Emperor didn't allow you to visit, but he didn't say I can't."
Seeing that she was sad again, Hailan couldn't help but sigh and comfort her in a low voice.
I thought that if I helped my sister become the queen, she would be able to join hands with the emperor and live the life she had always dreamed of. However, I didn't expect that after becoming the queen, my sister's life was not as comfortable as when she was a concubine.
At least at that time, the emperor still had a place for his sister in his heart.
Now, what the emperor wants more is probably a good queen, rather than the confidant he knew and loved in the past.
As time goes by, the emperor's mind changes.
Ruyi heard this and suppressed her sadness. She handed the rattle to Rong Pei and put it away before nodding, "Thank you for your help, Hailan. I'm so grateful for you these days. Otherwise, I really don't know how I would have managed to get through this."
Ruyi was very grateful that there was someone close to her who was with her at this time.
"Sister, you have taken care of me a lot before. Now it is my turn to take care of you. Sister, I came here today for something else." Hai Lan didn't care about anything else. She remembered her purpose and said quickly.
Seeing Hailan's serious expression, Ruyi frowned slightly.
"What's wrong? Is there something wrong in the palace?"
Hai Lan carefully looked around the hall, and only spoke after she realized that there was no one else in the hall except Rong Pei.
"Sister, do you still remember what Concubine Ling said that day? She said, 'If fate is against us, what's the point of forcing her to stay?' I once said this to her. That day, I saw her seducing the Emperor in the Imperial Garden, so I wanted to warn Concubine Chun, and that's why she was sent to the flower room..."
When mentioning this, Hailan didn't feel any guilt at all.
She even felt a little angry. Why didn't she think of a way to get rid of this little maid? It wouldn't have happened that after so many years, she became the biggest opponent in controlling Ruyi's path to the palace.
She had never expected that a mere maid could have such courage and strength to climb to the position of concubine and even dominate the harem.
Ruyi's brows furrowed even deeper, but she didn't expect that Concubine Ling was involved in this.
At this moment, she could no longer care about being upset, and quickly asked, "Are you suspicious..."
"She definitely wasn't just gloating when she said that to you. Rumors have been spreading throughout the palace lately, saying that you, sister, are unlucky for the Thirteenth Prince. I'm afraid the rumors are related to Concubine Ling. Right now, the rumors are targeting the Yikun Palace. Sister, should we... send someone to investigate?"
When mentioning Concubine Ling, Hai Lan's face was full of contempt.
She originally thought that Concubine Ling was just vying for favor, but she didn't expect that her ambition had grown bigger over the years, and she even wanted to take action against the Queen.
Some rumors are nothing, but if they are not stopped day after day, the queen will gradually lose the support of the people.
If everyone in the palace spreads rumors about the queen like this, how will she manage the six harems in the future? How can she become a role model for the six harems?
His thoughts are really vicious.
"I didn't expect Concubine Ling to be so dishonest even though she's pregnant. However, she's carrying the Emperor's heir. Without concrete evidence, I can't blame her..."
Thinking of the dragon fetus in her belly, Ruyi felt a little embarrassed.
Concubine Ling's methods are nothing but low-level and inferior ones, but Ruyi doesn't take them seriously.
She prides herself on being as gentle as a chrysanthemum. If he takes advantage of her pregnancy, wouldn't he be like Concubine Ling?
Seeing Ruyi's hesitation, Hailan vowed to take charge of the matter: "Please rest assured, sister. I will send someone to investigate secretly. I will definitely find evidence that Concubine Ling spread rumors secretly. Slandering the Queen is a serious crime. I must make the Emperor see her true face and not believe her slander again..."
"Thank you, Hailan. I've seen everything you've done for me over the years. I will definitely not treat you unfairly in the future..."
"Don't worry, sister. I will investigate this thoroughly. It was you who helped me get my current position as a concubine. Now that you're in trouble, I will definitely not sit idly by..."
......
Before Hai Lan could try her best to quell the rumors, the emperor also learned about it from the people below.
After knowing this, the emperor was a little annoyed.
He has always been very concerned about his reputation, so naturally he would not allow his queen to be criticized like this.
After he issued an imperial decree, the servant who usually spoke the most cheerfully was dragged into the Ministry of Punishment and given a beating, the matter was gradually forgotten amid the panic of the palace people.
After Ruyi learned about this, her resentment towards the emperor dissipated a little in the past few days.
He would also take the initiative to protect herself. Ruyi knew that the emperor still had her in his heart, but he was the emperor and he had to put the overall situation first in everything.
After so many years of relationship, Ruyi was a little disappointed in him, but she couldn't completely betray her true feelings.
Therefore, even though the emperor has been ignoring her these days, Ruyi still has fantasies about the emperor in her heart.
She loved the emperor wholeheartedly, and even if the emperor sent both children to be raised elsewhere, Ruyi could not feel any resentment and could only endure it all silently.