Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Fawning

Hongli still had a cold face. He knew that his words today would definitely hurt Ruyi's heart, but he was the emperor, the supreme ruler, and the whole world belonged to him, so he would not think that he was wrong, let alone apologize to Ruyi.

Hongli glanced at her and said nonchalantly, "If you like to laugh, then stay in the Yikun Palace and laugh by yourself. I have other things to do, so I'll leave first."

"As for惢心, I have ordered Jinzhong to go to the Ministry of Punishment to have her tortured. If she can endure all the punishments the Ministry of Punishment can impose and still not change her confession, then the rumors in the harem will be quelled."

Ruyi's scarlet eyes widened like copper bells. She didn't expect that Hongli would let the Ministry of Punishment torture惢心. What kind of place is the Ministry of Punishment? Although she has never been there, she has heard of the cruelty of the punishments there. It would be fine if惢心 can hold on, but what if she can't stand it and keeps talking nonsense?

After all, Ruyi still doesn't trust惢心. Even A Ruo, who has served her since childhood, can betray her, let alone惢心, who only serves in the Qiandi Palace.

Ruyi wanted to plead for惢心, but just as the words were on her lips, Hongli, who had already lost his patience, was about to get up and leave.

But when Hongli stood up, he accidentally touched the brocade box, and the seven-treasure bracelet fell out of the brocade box and landed at Ruyi's feet.

Ruyi squatted down and picked up the bracelet, placing it in her palm. The cold touch made her feel hopeless. She remembered Hongli once asking her if she had any plans for him. At that time, she had firmly told him that she had not. But now, to get out of trouble, she had to tamper with the bracelet.

When Hongli saw her looking at the bracelet affectionately, he became furious, snorted coldly, and walked away.

"Your Majesty." Ruyi suddenly called out to him, her tone hurried and firm, "There's something wrong with this seven-treasure bracelet."

Hongli paused, stopped, and turned around. "What did you say?"

Ruyi quickly walked over to Hongli, holding the seven-treasure bracelet in her hand. Holding it up before him, she casually said, "Your Majesty, the so-called seven-treasure bracelet is made of gold, silver, coral, glass, amber, giant clam, and agate. The so-called seven treasures, as recorded in different Buddhist scriptures, vary, but there are only about a dozen materials used to make this bracelet. However, the seven treasures recorded in Buddhist scriptures must include carnelian from Tibet, not agate. While the two are similar in color and appear translucent and bright red, agate is far more precious. Master Anji is a highly accomplished monk and would certainly not make such a mistake."

Hongli's hawk-like eyes narrowed slightly, staring at the bracelet on Ruyi's hand. After looking at it carefully under the candlelight, he pinched the bracelet and slammed it on the table.

Hongli's face was gloomy, and Ruyi took the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, the bracelet is the evidence. I did not have an affair with Master Anji. Someone must have deliberately framed me. Although I don't know who is so vicious, now that we have a clue, it will be much easier to investigate."

Seeing Hongli soften his stance, Ruyi continued, "The concubines in the harem are all from the Manchu, Mongolian and Han ethnic groups. They would definitely not mistake red chalcedony for agate. The only ones who would make a mistake are the ignorant outsiders."

Ruyi's words successfully shifted the suspicion onto Yuyan.

Hongli glanced at Ruyi and called Li Yu in.

Li Yu caught the bracelet thrown by Hongli with both hands and said, "Li Yu, take your men to Qixiang Palace and find a way to get the people in Concubine Jia's palace to write down the seven treasures they often use. Whoever's handwriting is most like that of the Imperial Concubine will be brought to me in the Yangxin Palace."

Li Yu had just heard everything from outside. He exchanged a smile with Ruyi and was about to go off to do his errand when Hongli called him back, saying, "Wait a minute! Have Jinbao go to the Imperial Household Department and take a set of newly-minted carnelian hairpins to Noble Concubine Jia. Tell her it's a reward from the Emperor for her hard work during her pregnancy."

Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief. She watched Li Yu's departing back and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, if that's the case, can you please release惢心 first? These past few days, every time I think of惢心 suffering because of me in the Ministry of Punishment, I feel anxious."

Hongli glanced at her coldly, his anger still lingering. He said coldly, "The matter hasn't come to a conclusion yet, Imperial Noble Concubine, aren't you a little impatient? Is this really Concubine Jia's frame-up, or are you afraid that under severe torture,惢心 will confess and testify against you?"

"If Imperial Concubine Jia really wanted to frame you, I'd like to hear what happened between you that would make her want to kill you like this?"

Ruyi was forced into a corner by Hongli and fell on the beauty couch. In the end, he still didn't believe in her. Ruyi was a little disappointed. She couldn't remember how many times she had been disappointed with Hongli. He always said he loved her, but he never stood firmly behind her and trusted her unconditionally. Ruyi's heart gradually grew colder due to his suspicion again and again.

She wanted to ask Hongli why, but the words changed when they came to her lips, "Your Majesty, I have already explained. I am in a high position, and there is no guarantee that there will not be jealous people. You have experienced the cruelty of the harem before, so why are you forcing me so hard? I look at you from the top of the wall, and I am heartbroken when I see you."

This line from the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi's poem "Drawing the Silver Bottle from the Well to Stop Lustful Escapes" was later adapted into a play titled "Wall Horseback" by the renowned Yuan Dynasty playwright Bai Pu. Ruyi and Hongli met because of this play.

At that time, Ruyi was still Qingying. She was ordered to enter the palace to accompany the bride. The deposed empress Yixiu wanted to match her with the third prince, but the third prince had no interest in her and directly threw her into the imperial garden. Ruyi was bored, so she took Arruo to Changyin Pavilion, which was her first encounter with Hongli.

Ruyi actually dislikes the story of "Wall Horse" (Wall Horse). In the story, Pei Shaojun, the son of the Minister of State, Pei Xingjian, and Li Qianjin, a young lady from the Li family, first meet in Luoyang. During their chance encounter on the wall horse, they fall in love and secretly commit to each other. Pei Shaojun waits for Li Qianjin to return to his home, and the two live together in the back garden, raising a son and a daughter. Unfortunately, their love doesn't last long. Pei Xingjian discovers their affair, believing Li Qianjin's behavior is inappropriate and demands a divorce. Reluctantly, Pei Shaojun writes a letter of divorce, leaving Li Qianjin disappointed and leaving. Upon returning to her parents' home, she discovers her parents have passed away. Determined to fulfill her filial duty, she wears mourning clothes and stays at home to observe the rites of burial.

Many years later, Pei Shaojun passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. He was worried about Li Qianjin, so he went to her house to seek reconciliation. However, Li Qianjin was resentful of the divorce he had done to her and refused to reconcile. Finally, after Pei Shaojun's pleading, Li Qianjin forgave him, and the couple reconciled.

At that time, Ruyi even had someone rewrite the ending of "Wall Horse". Princess Li was arrogant and never forgave her lover until her death, while Pei Shaojun spent the rest of his life in loss and self-blame.

Hongli came to his senses and saw that Ruyi was frightened. He couldn't bear it and softened his tone. "Imperial Concubine, I will send people to investigate this matter. As long as it is proven that Concubine Jia framed you, I will immediately release惢心 from the Ministry of Punishment. As for you, you don't have to be confined to the Yikun Palace anymore."

Upon hearing that the ban was lifted, Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief.

But when she thought about Concubine Jia trying to frame her for the position of Empress, regardless of her reputation, Ruyi's heart itched with hatred. The position of Empress was hers, and no one could take it away from her. Ever since she was sent to the cold palace, she had been constantly brainwashed by Hai Lan. She didn't realize the importance of power before, but now...

As long as Ruyi didn't ascend the throne, she would be unable to sleep or eat, not knowing what tricks those people would use to frame her next time. Only when she ascended the throne and cut off those people's thoughts would she be safe.

She wants to hold both love and power firmly in her hands.

Hongli held the seven-treasure bracelet in his hand. Jinzhong had searched out the bracelet from the Yiku Palace and given it to him until now. He didn't know how many times he had taken it out to look at it.

How could he not tell the difference between agate and carnelian?

But Hongli didn't understand, when was this bracelet replaced?

The only possibility is Li Yu.

Could it be that Li Yu was someone Ruyi had planted beside him? The more Hongli thought about it, the more he felt something was amiss. It seemed he had to pay more attention to Li Yu and not let him become the second Wang Qin.