mesbooks Chapter 116 Attack
Chapter 116 Attack
On the second day after returning to the palace from Mulan Paddock, news suddenly spread from Yongshou Palace that Concubine Ling had fallen ill.
He said that he had a persistent headache when he returned to the palace that day, and was so sick that he could not get out of bed the next day.
The Yongshou Palace summoned the imperial physician to take her pulse early in the morning, and the doctor said that she had caught a cold. They immediately sent someone to the Jingshifang to inform them and remove her green badge.
"You just accompanied the emperor on a trip, why did you get sick? Weren't you fine yesterday?" Ruyi got up early in the morning and was dressing up when she heard the news from Rong Pei.
Rong Pei shook her head and carefully combed her long black hair: "Maybe she is tired after coming back from Mulan Paddock. She was exhausted all the way and got sick when she saw the wind..."
"It's good this way. Ever since the time in the Old Summer Palace, the emperor has always favored her and neglected the other concubines in the palace. Now that she's sick, the emperor will be less interested in her and let others share in his grace. Since she's sick, you don't have to come to pay your respects in the future. Let's wait until she gets better." Ruyi looked at her face in the bronze mirror and replied with a long sigh.
"Yes."
The "others" that Ruyi mentioned refer to the two Mongolian concubines who were punished by the emperor.
This Concubine Ying and Lady Ke Da Ying were both cheerful and appeared to be very obedient.
It is a pity that such a delicate and pretty girl has been defeated quietly in the palace. It is a good opportunity for them to make up for their previous mistakes while Concubine Ling is recuperating.
This was the first time the concubines in the harem paid their respects after returning from the Old Summer Palace.
She was pregnant when she was in the Old Summer Palace, and as it was a hot summer day, she exempted herself from everyone's greetings. Today's greetings turned out to be the most complete gathering of all the concubines in the harem.
After Yihuan sat down, he looked around but couldn't find Yanwan for a long time.
She frowned in confusion and asked, "Didn't Sister Lingfei return from Mulan Paddock? Why haven't I seen her today?"
"Replying to Empress Shufei, someone from Yongshou Palace came to report that Empress Lingfei fell ill right after returning. The Empress Dowager was sympathetic and specially exempted her from paying respects..." Rong Pei replied loudly.
Ruiji turned her head and looked at Cheng Huan, her eyes full of resentment.
He was fine when he came back yesterday, but he fell ill when he came to pay his respects. She won't believe me if I say this has nothing to do with the Queen.
Ruyi sat listlessly at the top. Perhaps because the head ornaments on her head were too heavy, she tilted her head slightly and chose a relatively comfortable sitting position.
"That's fine. Let's get together again when Concubine Ling is feeling better. This is the new Concubine Ying. She just came into the palace and gave birth to the fifth princess not long ago. She has never been introduced to anyone. Now is the perfect time to show her face while paying respects. We are all concubines, and we must support each other and live in harmony in the future..."
"Look at what the Empress said. Concubine Ying is of Mongolian origin and noble status. How could she be interested in the support of concubines like us who are of humble origin? Don't you agree? Ke agrees."
When Ruyi mentioned Concubine Ying, Rui Ji spoke slowly, interrupting Concubine Ying who was about to stand up and bow to speak.
Today, she wore a crimson-colored Manchu dress embroidered with vast expanses of vibrant crimson peonies. She was naturally beautiful, and the vibrant crimson accentuated her charm. Her demeanor was bright and flamboyant as she spoke. Anyone who saw her understood why the emperor favored her during a period of national mourning, even though it had offended the empress dowager.
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience fell silent.
The two Mongolian concubines' faces turned pale and they looked at Ruyi, who was sitting at the top, as if asking for help.
After being punished by the emperor, they dared not bring up their Mongolian origins. Not to mention winning some honors and favors for their mothers in the palace, they were lucky if their mistakes did not bring trouble to their mothers.
Even Rong Pei looked at Ruyi with concern.
This Concubine Mei has always been low-key in the palace, but she is the most difficult person to mess with. She is now making trouble in public to vent Concubine Ling's anger and embarrass the two of them.
Seeing Ruiji's stubborn look, Ruyi felt dizzy and her head began to ache slightly.
She spoke calmly, trying to comfort her: "You raised the Eleventh Prince, so you are naturally responsible. As a concubine with a long history, you can naturally be said to be supporting him."
"What's the point of being a concubine? It's still something people will ridicule. I see this palace is a mess, the principles of hierarchy are all messed up. A mere noble lady dares to step on the throne of a palace mistress and act tyrannically. I really don't know what my future will be like. Forget the emperor's favor. How about I give up the throne of Yonghe Palace? Anyway, whether you are the mistress or not, you will end up being abused. Don't you agree? Noble Lady Ying?"
Concubine Mei forced a smile on her face and looked seriously at Concubine Ying who was standing awkwardly in the palace.
As soon as these words were spoken, all the concubines in the palace looked at each other in bewilderment. For a moment, no one dared to speak, and they all looked at the queen.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty dare not..." Concubine Ying was terrified, her face flushed with shame. She stood there like a wooden stake, her hands tightly clasped together, at a loss as to what to do.
"No, I think you are quite bold and daring. As expected of a Mongolian, you are very efficient and straightforward. Even in front of the Emperor, you are straightforward and say whatever you want."
Seeing her speaking so rudely in front of the Queen, Hai Lan immediately stopped her: "Princess Mei, what do you mean by that? How dare you speak so rudely in front of the Queen?"
"Yes, it was just an unintentional mistake by the two sisters. Besides, the emperor has already punished them. Why do you have to keep harping on this, Concubine Mei?" Seeing this, Su Lujun also came forward to help.
"I know you're on good terms with Concubine Ling, but they've already earned her forgiveness yesterday. I heard she even gave them a reward. Why are you being so aggressive? They're young and naive, and it was just a minor mistake. If they reflect on it and repent in the future, they won't do it again."
Ruyi was very helpless. A group of people were chattering in front of her, making her restless early in the morning.
At this point, Rui Ji sneered. She said disdainfully, "I'm not speaking up for Concubine Ling. I'm speaking up for myself. I share the same background as Concubine Ling. We both worked diligently for so many years to achieve the position of Concubine, but what's the result?"
"Even Concubine Ling, who is favored by the Emperor, cannot escape the fate of being ridiculed. If the lips and teeth are separated, how can I, a concubine, escape this fate? They say that the position of the head of the palace is so glorious, but to me, it is nothing but a joke."
It's a joke. These palace rules are a joke, the emperor is a joke, the entire palace is a joke.
In her opinion, it would be better for the emperor to give up his ties with Mongolia and become his son-in-law, and give the throne to the forty-nine Mongolian tribes.
It is better than being wary of everything, living a cowardly life under the control of the little concubines, and being a cowardly emperor.
What she said made sense. Which of the concubines present hadn't endured many years of hardship to reach their current position? If they worked hard to climb to a high position, only to be constrained by concubines of lower rank, wouldn't the hierarchy be in chaos?
Just because of a humble background, does it mean that even if you are in a high position, you are inferior to others?
Ruyi said nothing when she heard this. She looked at the faces of the concubines around her and saw that they agreed. Finally, she set her gaze on Shufei, who had been silent below.