Wearing a book, hooking him up

The sixth year of Chongwu.

A year after Su Jingyao took control of the palace, when Lin Miaoyin faced her again, she could only retreat away from her like avoiding a cat or a mouse.

The concubines who had been on good terms with her before now began to distance themselves from her like fence-sitters.

Especially Mo Zhirou, after returning to the palace from Jiangzhou, she was very quick to change her attitude and quickly drew a line between herself and Lin Miaoyin, as if their past friendship had never existed.

But at first, almost all the people in both the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sixth Bureau were Lin Miaoyin's people.

Lin Miaoyin had a firm grasp on many of their private matters, so it took Su Jingyao a lot of effort to take over.

After all, Lin Miaoyin has been in the palace for five years, and many of the people there are female officials of high ranks or eunuchs in charge. It is impossible for Su Jingyao to remove all of them in a short period of time.

So even if Jun Zechen issued an edict that the Queen had full authority over the harem, Lin Miaoyin could still privately point fingers at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sixth Bureau. However, Su Jingyao could not blame her in the face of this because there was no conclusive evidence to prove that those who opposed Su Jingyao were Lin Miaoyin's people.

But Su Jingyao likes challenging people and things.

Just deal with them slowly and defeat them one by one. It's just a matter of time.

A year passed quickly, and Su Jingyao had almost completely eliminated all of Lin Miaoyin's minions.

Miaoyun was so proud of the Imperial Concubine's loss of power that she almost burst into a smile.

"Master, I heard that a lot of teacups and vases were broken in the Imperial Concubine's Palace recently. Someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to ask if we should replace them for the Imperial Concubine's Palace."

"The Ministry of Internal Affairs has a fixed amount of cash flow every year, and the Imperial Concubine's palace will give it according to the quota. If there is a need for additional money, the Imperial Concubine is not a poor person, so let her buy it herself."

There was a hint of coldness in Su Jingyao's eyes. She would not tolerate the concubine's bad habit of throwing things.

"Master, when you were not in the palace, the imperial concubine was very frugal when she was managing the harem. For the concubines who did not get along with her, the price of clothes and jewelry issued by the Shangfu Bureau and the Shanggong Bureau, as well as the items purchased by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, were all reduced by half."

Miaoyun mentioned the imperial concubine today and told her everything she had done in the past.

"If the eldest prince wasn't in our Kunning Palace, we would definitely be treated harshly. Although the imperial concubine was afraid of the eldest prince, she always mocked and ridiculed the palace servants in our Kunning Palace during those five years."

Miaoyun was indignant.

The imperial concubine was just jealous of her master's favor, so she used some little tricks that were not painful but insulting to disgust the people in Kunning Palace.

As servants, Miaoyun and the others could only endure such tactics. His Majesty and the Queen Mother would never embarrass the Imperial Concubine for a minor grievance of a palace maid.

Su Jingyao's eyes darkened: "Why didn't you tell me before?"

Miaoyun looked embarrassed and lowered her head slightly.

"Master had just returned to the palace and had not yet fully mastered the palace power. I did not want Master to offend the Queen Mother in order to avenge me. The Imperial Concubine has been trying to please the Queen Mother in recent years. Every year, the gifts she gave on her birthday are very expensive. If Master confronted the Imperial Concubine directly, the Queen Mother would probably be unhappy with Master."

Miaoyun was very thoughtful, and it wasn't a big deal actually. It was normal for slaves like them to suffer some grievances.

"Am I such an ignorant person, your master, my noble concubine..."

Su Jingyao chuckled, but the smile did not reach her eyes, and there was a hint of coldness in it.

"Then tell the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sixth Bureau to return to you exactly what they did to you in the first place."

Su Jingyao casually turned the jade bracelet on her hand.

"Didn't Concubine Bai also have complaints against Concubine Gui before? Now let Concubine Bai express her feelings freely. I will handle it impartially."

Su Jingyao raised her head slightly, a shrewd look in her eyes.

Since Bai Fei has come to her for refuge, she will not treat Bai Fei unfairly, but Bai Fei must also have some value to her.

She is the queen and cannot do whatever she wants like she did in the East Palace. She has to show her magnanimity and dignity to the world.

However, it was natural and reasonable for Bai Fei to take revenge on those who had bullied her in the past and for the sake of harmony in the harem, Su Jingyao to be lenient with them.

"Yes, master."

The seventh year of Chongwu.

One day, the Imperial Concubine and the White Concubine were arguing. In a rage, the Imperial Concubine suddenly raised her hand and slapped the White Concubine hard.

The two of them went to Kunning Palace for a fight.

Su Jingyao sat at the top, casually glancing at the two people sitting below.

The bright red slap mark on Bai Fei's face was shocking and very obvious.

"Empress, please help me. The imperial concubine relied on the fact that she has the third prince and a higher status than me, and she slapped me for no reason. The palm print on my face is the evidence!"

Concubine Bai's eyes were filled with tears, and she looked at the Queen with extreme grievance.

Then, she turned her head suddenly and glared at Lin Miaoyin fiercely, with anger burning in her eyes.

"My Lady, do you have anything to explain?"

Su Jingyao raised her eyebrows slightly, looking lazy and speaking in a flat tone.

"Your Majesty, it was Concubine Bai who spoke rudely first. I was angry and lost control of myself, so I slapped her."

When Concubine Bai was clamoring to go to Kunning Palace to ask the Queen for help, Lin Miaoyin realized that she had been too impulsive.

But since it has already happened, she certainly can't be afraid.

Relying on the Queen's support, Concubine Bai has been finding fault everywhere over the past year. She just came out for a stroll today, but was ridiculed by Concubine Bai. She even said that no matter how hard her Third Prince tried, he could never compare to the Queen's eldest prince.

Even if she couldn't compete with the Third Prince, it was not something that a mere concubine like her could discuss.

"What did Bai Fei say?" Su Jingyao's voice was still unhurried.

"Princess Bai is a concubine, but she is criticizing the Third Prince. As the Third Prince's mother, I naturally cannot tolerate this."

As Lin Miaoyin spoke, tears began to fall and she started to cry.

"Empress, I know that my Third Prince is not as noble as the First Prince, but he is also your Majesty's child. How can I tolerate Concubine Bai's insults?"

She was crying so hard that her eyes were filled with tears and her body was shaking slightly.

"Empress, the Imperial Concubine is slandering me. I have never said anything bad about the Third Prince. The Imperial Concubine is slandering me."

Concubine Bai directly fought back and refused to admit that she had talked about the prince.

Lin Miaoyin glared at Bai Fei with eyes wide open, her eyes seemed to be spitting fire, and she felt hatred in her heart: This Bai Fei used to pretend to be weak and gentle, but it turns out she is just a wolf in sheep's clothing!

Su Jingyao continued to ask: "Does the Imperial Concubine have any evidence to prove that Concubine Bai was talking about the prince?"

Lin Miaoyin's expression changed instantly.

It was impossible for Concubine Bai to discuss the prince in public. She only spoke to her. Even when she said that the Third Prince was not good, he was very close to her, and the palace maids around her might not have heard it clearly.

Now that Lin Miaoyin thinks about it, Bai Fei must have planned it long ago!

First, she made things difficult for the palace maids for a whole year, and even talked about and ridiculed her behind her back with other sisters in the palace from time to time, which made her dissatisfied with Concubine Bai for a long time.

Today, Bai Fei pretended to meet her by chance again and insulted the Third Prince directly, just to let her vent all her anger. She beat Bai Fei, so she is not right without evidence!

Lin Miaoyin originally thought that if the Queen could not handle the matter impartially, she would go to the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother did not show any obvious bias, and Lin Miaoyin only asked for fairness.

But now...

"The Imperial Concubine is silent. Does that mean she admits that she framed Concubine Bai?"

Su Jingyao picked up the teacup, gently skimmed off the foam with the lid, and took a sip gracefully.

"No, Queen, I don't have any!"

"Whether Bai Fei talked about the prince, the Imperial Concubine cannot provide evidence, but there is solid evidence that the Imperial Concubine beat the concubine. She is confined to her room for a month and must copy the palace rules fifty times."

Su Jingyao put down the teacup with a cold expression.

Lin Miaoyin didn't expect that the queen would convict her so easily.

"Empress, how can you convict so easily? You and Bai Fei are in the same group, and you are on Bai Fei's side!"

Lin Miaoyin's eyes were red and her voice sounded aggrieved.

"The Imperial Concubine falsely accuses the Queen, and her crime is even more serious. She will be demoted to the rank of Concubine."

Su Jingyao said coldly, stabbing straight at Lin Miaoyin.

Lin Miaoyin froze for a moment, her body swaying.

However, Bai Fei openly raised a sarcastic smile on her face, feeling proud and pleased.

Those who bully others will eventually be bullied. She was just giving them a taste of their own medicine.

"If Concubine Lin is not satisfied with my decision, you can go to the Cining Palace to meet the Queen Mother in person. But you must know that the Phoenix Seal is in my hands."

"You can also go to meet His Majesty. You should also know that His Majesty is a husband who has a deep love for me."

Su Jingyao's voice was neither hurried nor slow, yet it was full of authority.

Lin Miaoyin bit her lower lip. The Queen was telling her clearly that no one would help her, no matter whether it was the Queen Mother or His Majesty!

"Concubine Bai was wronged today. Concubine Lin was able to frame me. I believe she also framed you. I will tell His Majesty what happened today and confer the title of Concubine De on you."

The surprise on Bai Fei's face was not concealed at all, her eyes lit up instantly, and her eyebrows and eyes were filled with joy.

I didn't expect this benefit.

"I thank the Queen for her grace."

Bai Yingyue was so excited that she saluted immediately, her voice trembling with excitement.

She actually became one of the four concubines!

She has a good relationship with the queen in the harem, and the Bai family has also been promoted by the Su family. In the future, her Bai family may also have a place in the capital.