Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Fawning

With惢心's marriage, Yiku Palace regained its former vitality.

Except for Yuyan who fell ill in bed due to the loss of her son, other concubines would abide by the palace rules and go to Yiku Palace to pay their respects every day.

In the past, the only maids who served Ruyi closely were A Ruo and Suo Xin. After A Ruo died and Suo Xin got married, Ruyi assigned Shui Zhi to be Suo Xin's maid. Now, the only ones who can serve her are Ling Zhi and San Bao.

Sanbao is a eunuch after all, so it is not appropriate for him to enter the house to serve.

Lingzhi was used to doing the work in the courtyard after all, and although Ruyi specially promoted her to the position of senior palace maid, her flexibility and foresight were far from enough, and she would always make a fool of herself in front of the concubines.

Ruyi felt ashamed. Although she didn't say it, she had already been planning to transfer the palace maids.

However, since she was put under house arrest, her power to assist in managing the six palaces was taken back by Hongli and handed over to Zeng Huan.

Now that Hongli has lifted the ban on Ruyi, she naturally wants to take back the power to assist in managing the six palaces.

Ruyi thought so and naturally did so. She asked Lingzhi to quickly prepare a generous gift and then took a sedan chair to go to the Cining Palace.

As soon as he entered the house, he told Zeng Huan his purpose.

Although Zeng Huan appeared to be amicable on the surface, she didn't want to return the Phoenix Seal to Ruyi in her heart. But she had no good reason to refuse her at the moment.

Ruyi was afraid of more troubles. She was the future queen. If the harem was always managed by the empress dowager, then her status as imperial concubine would be meaningless and would easily cause chaos in the harem.

But who is Zeng Huan?

She was reluctant to give up the power she had finally grasped. Facing Ruyi's demands, she remained calm and composed, handling the situation with ease. She smiled and said, "Ruyi, you have only recently ascended to the position of Imperial Noble Consort. Your foundation is not yet stable, and you still need to learn more. In my opinion, it is best for me to temporarily manage the harem. When the Emperor truly appoints you as Empress in the future, I will personally deliver the Phoenix Seal to the Yikun Palace."

Seeing Zeng Huan's persistence, Ruyi knew that she would not be able to obtain the power to assist in managing the six palaces for the time being.

Ruyi never forgot that Zeng Huan was the murderer who forced her aunt to death. However, she had not yet become the mistress of the Forbidden City and could not do anything to Zeng Huan.

Whenever it was late at night and Ruyi was alone in her empty room, she would think of how Zeng Huan had pressed her and her niece, and how Yixiu had finally chosen to protect her and drank the poisoned wine.

So in Ruyi's heart, she hated Zeng Huan.

After leaving the Cining Palace, Lingzhi supported Ruyi as they walked along the palace path. The palace maids and eunuchs passing by stopped what they were doing and stepped aside to salute the Imperial Noble Consort.

Ling Zhi complained, "This Queen Mother is so unkind! Apart from the Emperor, you are the legitimate mistress of the harem. How can the Queen Mother be so disrespectful to you?"

Ruyi stopped and looked at Lingzhi seriously.

Ling Zhi is a straightforward person. She says whatever she thinks and does not shy away from the fact that this is the deep palace.

Ling Zhi was young and had never seen the world. Seeing Ruyi's cold face, she subconsciously lowered her head.

Looking at Lingzhi's tender face, Ruyi suddenly thought of A Ruo.

Because A Ruo was also so outspoken in the past, and in the end she lost herself because of jealousy towards Ruyi.

However, what Ling Zhi said was not wrong. Langya and Gao Xiyue were both dead, and Ruyi was the most senior female member of the harem. No one was more suitable to be the queen than her.

Who is Zeng Huan? She is just the concubine of the late emperor.

She had never been an empress, and even the title of empress dowager was due to Hongli. Moreover, Hongli and Zeng Huan were not on good terms, so why did she occupy the empress's seal?

She must find a way to get back the power to assist in managing the six palaces.

"Little Master?"

Seeing Ruyi motionless, Sanbao stepped forward to remind her.

Ruyi came to her senses and warned Lingzhi, "Lingzhi, did you see what happened to A'ruo?"

Ling Zhi knelt down in fear and said tremblingly, "This servant deserves to die."

Ruyi helped Lingzhi up, patted the back of her hand, and said, "I don't mean any other things. I just want to remind you that there are many people in the harem and they have many opinions. No matter how badly the Queen Mother treats me, she is still my mother-in-law. I have to respect her. Do you understand?"

After Ruyi's advice, Lingzhi also understood.

If you want to survive long in the harem, you must be careful in what you say and do.

Although Lingzhi is diligent and down-to-earth, she is not very clever. Ruyi wants to find a smart and capable person to serve her closely. And this person will soon appear in Yikun Palace.

While Ruyi was still racking her brains over how to regain the power to assist in managing the six palaces, a shocking event happened in the palace.

It's about Neqin.

According to reports from the front line, the Jinchuan War was defeated repeatedly. As the Minister of Military Affairs, Nianqin had a close relationship with the Empress Dowager, so even Hongli had to call him uncle.

But it was just such a minister who, after suffering repeated defeats, not only failed to examine himself properly, but even spoke nonsense when drunk, blaming Hongli for the army's defeat, blaming him for not respecting Buddhism. It was because of this that the Buddha did not bless the Qing soldiers.

Fuga received the secret letter and immediately told Zeng Huan about it.

Upon hearing this, Zeng Huan slammed the table and stood up, angrily saying, "How foolish! Neqin is undoubtedly pushing himself into a pit of fire by doing this."

Fujia was also anxious. She had been with Zeng Huan for decades and naturally knew how important Nianqin was to Zeng Huan.

Zeng Huan said, "Where is he now?"

Fujia lowered his eyes and answered truthfully, "I heard that Lord Neqin abandoned the Jinchuan campaign and returned to the capital alone, but was intercepted by soldiers on his way into the city. He is now imprisoned, awaiting the Emperor's decision."

Zeng Huan closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

The man she relied on, Nianqin, unexpectedly returned to the capital without permission. The emperor was already suspicious of him and wanted to kill him.

Zeng Huan opened her eyes and said calmly, "How was the Jinchuan campaign?"

Fu Jia said, "Don't worry, Queen Mother. The Emperor has already sent Master Fu Heng."

Zeng Huan responded, picked up Tuanzi from the couch, and stroked his soft white fur. Seeing that Zeng Huan didn't react, Fu Jia looked up at her and said, "Queen Dowager, what should we do about Lord Neqin's matter?"

Zeng Huan snorted coldly, "He committed such a serious crime. If the emperor doesn't kill him, it's already a great mercy. What else can I do?"

Fujia said no more. She felt sorry for Zeng Huan. She knew better than anyone how long and how painful it was for her to go from a concubine to the empress dowager.

After so many years of hard work, she finally cultivated someone who could have a say in the previous dynasty and who the emperor was wary of. She put in so much effort, but unfortunately all the years of training would be wasted.

Just as Fujia expected, Hongli ordered Zhang Tingyu to go to the prison and deliver poisoned wine.

When Hongli issued the decree, Yihuan happened to be grinding ink nearby. Seeing her ignoring him, he couldn't help but ask, "Yihuan, do you think the Empress Dowager will blame me for ordering Nianqin to be executed so casually?"

Yihuan paused, then raised her handkerchief and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. As a concubine in the harem, it is not appropriate for Yihuan to interfere in trivial matters of the previous dynasty. As for the Empress Dowager, I am extremely worried and dare not make any comments."

Hongli glanced at her indifferently without saying anything.

Yihuan knew Hongli's difficulties. Seeing that he was frowning, she thought he must be worried about the Jinchuan campaign. She couldn't bear to disturb him, so she knelt down and left.

What he just said was just a test from Hongli. He wanted to see if Yihuan could not help but speak up for Zeng Huan.