Li Yu was so happy when he received Hongli's order that he hurried to Ruyi's residence.

When Li Yu entered, Ruyi was still playing with the armor in her hand out of boredom. The emperor had refused to come to her place recently, and she couldn't play with other concubines. She could only stare blankly in the room and wait for someone to come find her.

Li Yu bowed and said, "Your servant greets Her Majesty the Concubine Xian."

Seeing Li Yu coming, Ruyi stood up happily and said with a gentle smile, "Get up, Li Yu, why are you here? Did the emperor ask you to come and invite me?"

Li Yu smiled and said, "It was the Emperor who asked me to come to Master Xian, hoping that Master Xian would help the Emperor persuade the princess."

The two looked at each other and smiled very proudly.

Li Yu compensated, "The Emperor said that Princess Xian can ask a concubine to accompany you."

Ruyi said complacently, "Then let's go."

Ruyi walked to the door and originally wanted to call Yihuan, who was on good terms with her, but suddenly she felt that Yihuan's status was too low, so she turned around and went to Gao Xiyue's residence.

Gao Xiyue's residence

Gao Xiyue was playing the pipa for the Fourth Prince. The Fourth Prince had just turned five this year, but he was already a veteran who had listened to the pipa for five years. The two of them were very bored.

Jingqin and the others have been busy with their marriages far away recently and have not come to play with them. Gao Xiyue knows the seriousness of the matter and does not disturb Jingqin and the others. The mother and son can only entertain themselves.

Xing Xuan came in and reported: "Master, Concubine Xian wants to see you."

Gao Xiyue stopped playing the pipa, looking a little puzzled. She looked at Yongsheng, who was staring at her, and said, "Let her in."

Ruyi came in and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Imperial Concubine."

Gao Xiyue was even more puzzled and said, "Please sit down, Concubine Xian. What brings you here?"

Ruyi said calmly, "Your Majesty has been worried for a long time about the Khorchin tribe's request to marry the eldest princess. I cannot bear to see Your Majesty worried, so I would like to ask Your Majesty to go with me to persuade the two princesses."

Upon hearing this, Gao Xiyue slowly put down the precious pipa in her hand and said in a cold voice, "Who are you trying to persuade? Jingqin? Or Jingse?"

Ruyi heard the tone was wrong and quickly said, "Of course it's the two princesses. The Queen Mother only has Princess Hengti. For the sake of our filial piety, we shouldn't persuade the Queen Mother..."

Gao Xiyue had already picked up the teacup on the table.

Ruyi, still unaware, continued to ramble, "...the two princesses enjoy the support of the whole nation, so naturally they should serve the whole nation...ah—Gao Xiyue!"

Gao Xiyue threw a cup of tea directly at Ruyi, pointing at her and cursing, "Shut up, you heartless bastard! Get out of here!"

Mo Xin stepped forward and said, "Empress Xian, please."

Ruyi wanted to say something, but Gao Xiyue rushed over and tried to slap her. Ruyi was so scared that she left quickly.

As for the remaining concubines, Concubine Zhe wanted to skin them alive, but she could only try on Concubine Yi. Ruyi turned around and went to Concubine Yi's residence.

Concubine Yi's residence

Ruyi came in a disheveled state, with tea and stains on her outer robe, but she didn't care about that.

Huang Qiying let Ruyi into the house and the two of them greeted each other.

Huang Qiying said, "Please sit down, Concubine Xian. No one comes to see me for no reason. What are you doing here?"

Ruyi had learned her lesson this time, and put away her arrogant temper. She directly brought up Hongli and said, "The Emperor wants Concubine Yi and I to go together to persuade the two princesses."

Huang Qiying asked: "Who are you trying to persuade?"

Huang Qiying already felt something was wrong. She just wanted to confirm whether it was Jingqin and Jingse. Was the emperor so cruel? Jingqin and Jingse were the emperor's biological daughters!

Ruyi didn't understand. They were said to be two princesses, so of course they were Jingqin and Jingse. Could it be Hengti?

Ruyi explained, "Of course it's Princess Yongle and Princess Hejing."

Ruyi couldn't help but want to preach again, and she continued to talk: "Princess, you enjoy the support of the world, so naturally you should devote your life to the world. Besides, just asking you to follow the old custom of marriage is not...ah——"

Ruyi's words really hit the nail on the head for Huang Qiying. Huang Qiying only had one princess, Jingyan, who was not as favored by Hongli as the two legitimate princesses. Now Hongli was willing to abandon them for power, let alone Jingyan, his own daughter?

Jingyan is the only child she has in her life! Huang Qiying couldn't help but think from her perspective, if her daughter married far away, Ruyi would also come to her and say these righteous words...

Huang Qiying picked up the "Rules for Women" on the table and threw it at Ruyi, angrily shouting, "Get out! You are not welcome here!"

Ruyi was incredulous and said, "Concubine Yi, this is the Emperor's intention!"

Huang Qiying sneered and said, "Then let the emperor question me about my crime."

Ruyi left in disgrace and had to go back to her residence to change her clothes and go find Yihuan.

Ruyi was delayed by this trip, and by the time she arrived at the Queen's residence, Jingqin and the others were already ready and had gone to Hongli's study. Only Jingse was left at the Queen's residence, playing the zither Gao Xiyue had just sent her.

Queen's Residence

Lianxin came in and reported: "Princess, Concubine Xian wants to see you."

Jingse: "We just provoked Empress Hui, who was so angry that she sent me a zither to comfort me. Now she's here again. It seems she thinks we're just a pushover. Let her in so I can meet her."

Jingse stayed behind on purpose. Wang Qin had already revealed that the emperor would ask Concubine Xian to persuade them. Jingse didn't want to watch Jingqin ask for permission to marry far away, so she stayed to see what Ruyi was up to.

Ruyi and Yihuan came in together, intending to persuade the Queen (taunting her). Unexpectedly, they came up empty-handed. In the Queen's room, only Jingse was sitting under the window, strumming her zither.

Seeing Ruyi and Yihuan come in, Jingse simply raised her eyelids and said calmly, "Sit down."

Ruyi and Yihuan looked at each other, walked to the table, and found a place to sit down.

Jingse didn't want to speak, and the room was silent for a moment.

Yihuan spoke to ease the situation, "Princess, are you playing the zither? The Book of Songs says, 'A graceful and virtuous lady enjoys the company of the zither and the qin.' The princess is beautiful and virtuous, and will surely find a good husband."

Jingse looked up at Yihuan without saying a word.

The room fell silent again. Yihuan didn't have Su Lujun's good temper. Seeing that Jingse refused to pay attention to her, she didn't want to talk anymore.

Ruyi's wish to use Yihuan as a pawn was dashed, so she could only bite the bullet and say, "The Emperor has already made up his mind. The princess will marry into the Khorchin tribe. The wedding will be in March next year. The grass is green and the birds are singing. It is a good day for the princess to get married."

Jingse was very resentful towards Hongli in her heart, but she said calmly: "I won't marry."

Jingse glanced at the two with disdain and said, "Even if I were to marry, I'm the legitimate daughter of the Empress Dowager. How can you two concubines have the audacity to mention such a big matter to me? The Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager will be the ones to discuss it with me."

Yihuan was furious and unwilling to speak. Ruyi forced a smile and said, "The princess is right. This matter shouldn't have been discussed by the two of us. However, the emperor asked me to do so, and I, Shu Guiren, couldn't refuse. So, I told the princess about this matter."

Jingse smiled sarcastically but said nothing.

Ruyi continued, "Princess, the Mongolian cavalry has always been the Qing dynasty's powerful support force for pacifying the country. Marriage between Manchus and Mongols is also a custom passed down from our ancestors."

Jingse said arrogantly: "So what? If I don't like you, I won't marry you."

Seeing Jingse paying attention to her, Ruyi thought she had hit a sore spot and said triumphantly, "Princess, you enjoy the support of the whole nation, so naturally you should devote your life to the country. Besides, this time, I'm just asking you to follow the old custom of marriage alliance."

Jingse said calmly: "While my parents are still alive, I won't travel far away."

Ruyi "pressed on the attack" and said: "Princess, you don't understand your parents' painstaking efforts. I want to talk to you. If you don't understand the principles of the palace, I have to explain them to you.

The Emperor, ruling the four directions, must maintain peace and stability in the country. The Empress, in her position as the Empress, must be the mother of the nation. The Princess, a daughter of Heaven, must devote her heart and soul to the Qing Dynasty."

Jingse was silent for a while. Ruyi thought Jingse was convinced by her and was about to continue preaching.

Jingse chuckled and said, "I thought you had some tricks up your sleeve, but I didn't expect it to be just these. Concubine Xian, did you ever think about yourself when you told me this?

As a concubine, you have repeatedly provoked the Empress Dowager; as a daughter, you are indifferent to what is happening at home; as a master, you pretend to be blind when your servants suffer.

You stole Concubine Wen's child and have no motherly heart. You also regard Concubine Shen, who helped your family, as an enemy. Concubine Xian, how can you have the nerve to say these words in front of this princess with such righteousness?

Ruyi felt as if Jingse had ripped off her veil. She angrily said, "Princess! It was the Emperor's will that you marry far away. You don't have to mock me here. If the Emperor truly loved you, how could he bear to let you marry far away to Khorchin?"

At this time, Jingqin rushed in angrily with the whip she had snatched from Huanian. She was still wearing her solemn attire, and Ruyi and Yihuan were both shocked when they saw her.

Ruyi dared to speak out against Jingse because she had always been just talking, and Jingse was not as favored by Hongli as Jingqin. Seeing that Jingse was weak, she naturally picked on the weak. Now Jingqin rushed in, Ruyi shut up.

Unfortunately, it was too late. Jingqin heard everything and asked with a smile, "Empress Xian, what did you say to Jingse just now?"

Ruyi said fearfully, "I didn't say anything... Now that Princess Yongle has returned, I will... tell..."

Wei Yanwan gave Jingse a look, and Jingse burst into tears. Ruyi and Yihuan were stunned. Where was Jingse, who had just calmly refuted them?

Jingse pointed at Ruyi and cried, "Big sister, Concubine Xian said that the emperor doesn't love Jingse and wants Jingse to marry far away!"

Jingqin approached Ruyi with a smile on her face. Ruyi was so frightened that she didn't even notice that Jingqin had wrapped the whip around her neck.

By the time Ruyi found out, Jingqin had already strangled her to death. Ruyi's eyes turned black and she couldn't even speak.

Jingqin sneered, "Has Concubine Xian still not learned her lesson? How dare you come to Jingse and gossip about me? What do you think? If I strangle you to death right now, will the Emperor punish me for you? It's a pity that I'm going to marry into Khorchin, so I can't punish you."

Yihuan was petrified. Ruyi was strangled to the point of suffocation, and the fear of death made her struggle desperately. Unfortunately, Wei Yanwan was comforting Jingse, and everyone else had been sent away.

There were only five of them in the house.

Jingqin herself thought this was a good idea. She had to get married anyway, and she wanted to marry to Khorchin. Even if Ruyi died, the coward Hongli would not dare to hold her accountable.

What a pity! If Ruyi really died, Hongli, the petty-minded man, would always be thinking about her and strangle her to death. If Hongli held a grudge against her, how would she ever return to Beijing? What a pity!

Jingqin felt sorry, but she didn't let up her strength. Ruyi's face had turned purple, and Yihuan was frightened and fainted.

Seeing no movement in the room, Li Yu's lackey thought something was wrong. He rushed in and found Ruyi, whose face had turned purple. He shouted, "Princess Yongle, please spare me! Princess Yongle, please spare me! It was Concubine Xian who spoke too much. I will take her away right now."

Jingqin withdrew her hand with regret. Ruyi collapsed on the table, taking deep breaths, and her complexion recovered a little. Jingqin really wanted her to die, and she wanted to leave quickly.

Jingqin looked at Ruyi, who was slumped on the table, and Yihuan, who had fainted on the ground, and sneered, "When will you learn your lesson? Come on, someone, send them out for treatment. Don't dirty the Empress Dowager's land."

The servants all came in. Jinxin saw a horrifying mark on Ruyi's neck. She was so frightened that her expression became a little unnatural. She didn't dare to speak for fear of upsetting Jingqin again. She hurriedly helped Ruyi away.

He Xi looked at Ruyi's miserable condition without daring to say a word. She struggled to pick up the unconscious Yihuan and half-dragged and half-carried her out.

The other servants were so frightened that they dared not even breathe, and even cleaned the room in silence. Wei Yanwan was holding Jingse, and both of them saw Jingqin's actions, but did not stop Jingqin. Seeing that Jingqin had let Ruyi go, the two of them came over to ask about her well-being.

Ruyi and Yihuan were taken to the side room of the Queen's residence and treated by the imperial physician. Hongli hurried over and took a look at Ruyi's miserable condition and Yihuan who had fainted from fear, without saying a word.

Hongli entered the main room. When Jingse saw Hongli coming in, she threw herself on him and cried and complained. Jingqin also asked with tears in her eyes: "The emperor also wants to marry Jingqin, right?"

Hongli's arrogance immediately disappeared. Seeing his two daughters crying more and more sadly, Hongli felt more and more guilty. He argued cunningly, "It was my father who was too impatient. I didn't know what Jingqin meant. I originally wanted Concubine Xian to persuade you, but I didn't expect it to backfire. I just wanted to ask you if you wanted to get married, not to force you..."

Hongli frantically tried to coax his two daughters into submission. As for blaming them? Jingqin was about to get married, so what was the point? Jingqin was just worried about her sister. What had she done wrong?

After Hongli comforted his daughter, he went to the side hall to see Ruyi, who had recovered, and Yihuan, who had slowly regained consciousness. Yihuan was still dazed, as if she had been frightened to death.

Seeing Hongli coming, Ruyi said aggrievedly, "Your Majesty." However, her voice was a little hoarse from being strangled, like the roar of a wild animal. Yihuan was frightened by Ruyi's words again.

Hongli consoled Ruyi for a while, without mentioning any punishment for Jingqin. Fortunately, Ruyi was mentally unstable and didn't care. The incident just passed.

From then on, Jingqin became famous in one battle and was known as the ruthless person who "almost strangled Empress Xian to death and still got away with it."

Ruyi didn't know what was wrong with her. Hongli didn't help her punish Jingqin, but she didn't find fault with him either, thinking he was doing it for the greater good. She came up with a plan: not only did she not cover up the marks, but she went out to hang out day and night.

As Ruyi wished, Jingqin's reputation for cruelty spread not only within the palace but also outside the palace, frightening the Queen Mother's followers and the Khorchin tribe, who were still trying to make trouble, into submission.

The Empress Dowager didn't dare to bother with the grandeur of Hengti's wedding; the Empress and the Emperor were busy arranging things for Jingqin. Jingqin had asked to marry "for the sake of the country," and she was marrying into the most "noble and wealthy" Khorchin. What was wrong with a little more attention? The Empress Dowager was dissatisfied and held back.

Korchin did not dare to refute Jingqin. Not only did she get married in the capital, she also brought 5,000 elite soldiers with her. As soon as they showed any signs of doing so, the generals jumped up and scolded them: "The legitimate princess is marrying you, so what's wrong with bringing more dowry? Don't be so shameless."

Combined with Jingqin's reputation for cruelty and the fact that she was backed by three great military families: the Fucha, Zhangjia, and Uya, the Khorchin tribe simply became obedient.

Ruyi didn't know that her plan to ruin Jingqin's reputation not only failed but also turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Jingqin. This is a story for later.

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