Yan Wan is reborn as a legitimate wife: Curing Ruyi's Douyi syndrome

Hangzhou Palace

Sanbao hurried in to report: "Your Majesty, something happened to Lord Ling."

Ruyi paused and asked, "What's wrong?"

Sanbao explained the whole story in detail, which basically meant that Ling Yunche was caught by Moore leaving his job without permission and abandoning his post.

Ruyi's face darkened after hearing this. She asked, "Ling Yunche? Was it discovered by Moore? Does anyone else know about it?"

Sanbao nodded and said, "Yes, the other guards on duty also know about it. The emperor got very angry and demoted Lord Ling to guard Mulan Paddock."

Ruyi stood up and said, "Go find the Emperor."

Ruyi rushed to the emperor's residence, and Ling Yunche was dragged into the courtyard and punished with ten strokes of the cane for abandoning his post without permission.

Ruyi came hurriedly.

Rong Pei shouted angrily, "Stop! The Imperial Concubine is here, don't get bloody."

Moore, who was in charge of supervising the execution, ignored Ruyi. If he hadn't caught Ling Yunche's little trick, he might be the one lying there now. Why should he stop?

Ruyi walked closer and took a closer look. Ling Yunche saw Ruyi coming and said with difficulty: "I didn't -"

Ruyi was furious and turned to go find Hongli, while Ling Yunche continued the execution.

Hongli sat in the house, listening to the argument outside the window.

Ruyi wanted to rush in but was stopped. Ruyi said angrily: "I want to see the emperor!"

Wang Qin laughed and said, "It's so late, why is the Imperial Noble Consort looking for the Emperor? The Emperor is going to bed."

Ruyi didn't care about that and shouted, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Hongli frowned and shouted, "Let her in."

Ruyi came in angrily and asked, "Your Majesty, why did you punish Ling Yunche? I don't believe Ling Yunche is such a person."

Hongli glanced at Ruyi coldly and said in a cold voice, "Yes, Ling Yunche was just helping you spy on the emperor! Ruyi, I didn't take his life, but I took your face into consideration!"

Ruyi's tone softened immediately, and she asked, "Your Majesty, I am just anxious to see you."

Hongli sneered, "No matter what the reason, spying on the emperor is a capital crime. Any other guard would have been executed long ago."

If Ling Yunche had not been agreed to by him personally, and he was one of the five flags under the Han army, and he was worried that if he killed Ling Yunche, someone would find out, he would have dragged him out and beheaded him!

If people knew that the imperial guards around him were from the Five Banners of the Han Army, would he still have any dignity? Would any good man from the Manchu Army be willing to serve as his imperial guards in the future?

However, Ruyi thought that Hongli was doing this for her own good, so she didn't dare to make a fuss and left with a guilty conscience.

After Ruyi came out, she walked in the pavilion with a gloomy face, and Rong Pei followed her carefully.

Rong Pei asked, "Your Majesty, who do you think is behind Guard Ling's actions tonight? Could it be targeting you?"

Ruyi said calmly, "Perhaps. No matter what, Ling Yunche has to go."

Rong Pei: "It's good enough that I can save my life this time. I'll find a way to get Guard Ling back to the palace later."

Ruyi nodded and said, "Rong Pei, send some medicine to Ling Yunche tomorrow."

Jiangning Palace Guard Station

Ling Yunche was lying on the bed with his head down. Rong Pei walked in, holding the soapberry that Ruyi had given him.

Rong Pei: "The Imperial Concubine knows that you have suffered an unprovoked disaster, but she is afraid that this matter will tarnish the reputation of the royal family, so she cannot make it public. That's why the Imperial Concubine asked me to bring you some soapberries."

Ling Yunche couldn't believe it. He was demoted because of Ruyi. Why didn't Ruyi give him some money to let him live there? Instead, she gave him a box of soapberries. Why?

Ling Yunche looked at the useless soapberries on the tray and suddenly understood the train of thought of a talented woman like Ruyi. He said sarcastically, "Does the Imperial Noble Consort want me to be free from worries?"

Rong Pei didn't hear the hidden meaning and nodded, saying, "No one can be free from worries. The Queen said that soapberry is wind-resistant and drought-resistant, and can also tolerate cold weather.

I hope that no matter where Guard Ling is, he can endure the temporary hardships and plan a way out.

The Queen also said something: You left in an undignified manner. If you want to come back, you must do so with dignity and honor."

Hope ignited in Ling Yunche's eyes, and he asked, "Your Majesty, do you still want me to come back?"

Rong Pei nodded and said, "Of course. Are you going to be left here in Mulan Paddock, ruining everything and fending for yourself?"

Ling Yunche said weakly, "I have no way to repay your kindness... Thank you, Imperial Noble Consort..."

Rong Pei whispered, "Take care."

Ling Yunche: "Thank you, Aunt Rong Pei."

Night banquet at the Hangzhou Palace.

The Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress sat in the upper seats. Ruyi led the imperial concubines, while Prince Hongzhou and his wife led the nobles.

Hongli sighed, "The Empress Dowager likes the beautiful scenery of Quyuan, but the lotus flowers haven't bloomed yet, what a pity."

The Queen Mother smiled and said, "I am grateful to the Emperor for his filial piety. At the age of sixty days, I can still see the scenery of Jiangnan. But I think that since I am here, I must see the lotus flowers before I leave."

Hongli chuckled and said, "My Queen Mother, you're joking. Where are the lotus flowers in spring?"

The Queen Mother smiled and clapped her hands lightly. A flower boat with green lotus leaves and pink lotus flowers slowly floated on the lake, reflecting the water lanterns on both sides of the bank. A woman in pink silk clothes, dressed as a Han Chinese, sat in the boat and played the pipa.

The concubines exclaimed in surprise.

Prince Hong Zhou praised: "It is indeed a lotus. The Queen Mother has a brilliant idea!"

Hongli's contemptuous smile froze, and he raised his glass to save face and said, "Come, Empress Dowager."

The woman in pink got off the boat, walked before the Queen Mother, the Empress and the Emperor, and took off her veil. Wasn't she Bai Ruiji, the concubine who had fallen out of favor for a long time after giving birth to a child?

Bai Ruiji bowed and said, "May the Queen Mother be well, May the Emperor be well, May the Empress be well."

Hongli had long known that Bai Ruiji was the Empress Dowager's person, and the Empress Dowager also directly exposed her card: "Does the Emperor remember the year when Concubine Mei entered the palace?"

Hongli was unable to answer, but fortunately the Empress Dowager did not demand an answer. She continued, "I still remember. It's been almost fifteen years now, right?"

Bai Ruiji said dejectedly, "Yes, Queen Mother."

Hongli's smile was almost gone, and Langya tried to smooth things over by saying, "The Emperor always thinks about his concubines."

The Empress Dowager sneered, "The Empress has lived in another palace for a long time, so she doesn't know. Since you left, the Emperor has only favored the Imperial Noble Consort. How could he remember these old loves, let alone a new one?"

Ruyi was stuffing pastries into her mouth. When she heard that this matter involved her, she looked at the empress dowager with an innocent face.

The Empress Dowager, however, was not fooled by Ruyi's trick and bluntly stated, "The Imperial Noble Consort has been childless for a long time. If the Emperor favors her exclusively and unswervingly, how will the harem be able to produce new offspring?"

Hongli smiled awkwardly and said, "Empress Dowager, Concubine Shu is pregnant soon, and Concubine Chun and Concubine Qing are also expecting children. Our son will not be short of children."

The Queen Mother admonished, "Having many offspring is the blessing of the imperial family. Moreover, you have so many concubines in your harem; they should be treated equally. Spending all day with the Imperial Noble Consort, and then often disappearing from view, is truly inappropriate. If I don't advise you, will all the concubines in the palace resent you before you change your mind?"

Ruyi stood up and said innocently, "Empress Dowager, I acknowledge my guilt."

Langya also stood up and said, "Mother Queen, this is my fault. If I hadn't been in poor health, I wouldn't have..."

The Queen Mother interrupted, "Although you are the Queen, you have been living in another palace for a long time. How can you know what is going on in the harem?

Imperial Noble Consort, after the Empress left, the Emperor, against all odds, appointed you Imperial Noble Consort. It's your duty to look after the concubines in the harem, and I don't need to remind you. This shows how negligent you, the Imperial Noble Consort, have been!"

Ruyi understood that the Empress Dowager was targeting her. Why didn't the Empress Dowager mention that the Emperor always stayed with the Empress during the Southern Tour, but instead criticized her? Ruyi was dissatisfied and lowered her head in silence.

All the concubines were gloating and unwilling to help Ruyi out of trouble.

The Queen Mother sneered and said, "Look, what I am saying now is what the concubines are thinking, isn't it?"

The Queen came to the rescue, saying, "Mother, it was I who requested the title of Imperial Noble Consort. It is my fault that I did not teach you well. Imperial Noble Consort, after the banquet, please come to my room. I will teach you how to be a good mistress of the harem."

The Queen Mother came down the steps and nodded in agreement. "It's good that the Queen has this intention. Imperial Concubine, when it comes to managing the harem, you are far inferior to the Queen."

Hongli spoke to ease the situation, "Very well, since the Empress is willing to teach, Imperial Noble Consort, please listen carefully. The Hangzhou prefect has also prepared a song and dance. Let them come up and show the Empress how this Hangzhou song and dance differs from the one in Beijing."

The Queen Mother shook her head and said, "Forget it. I am tired too. Meipin, the wind is strong in this lake. You should go down too."

Hongli nodded and watched the empress dowager leave.

Three pleasure boats approached slowly. The two on the left and right were filled with musicians playing music together. On the middle boat stood a woman in red, holding a red plum blossom and performing a dance.

Hongli's eyes widened as he exclaimed, "Excellent! It's truly a masterpiece, as if you were in a painting."

Langya smiled, but Ruyi, who was sitting at the bottom, had a cold expression on her face.

After the dance, the woman in red stepped forward and presented a red plum blossom, saying, "May the Emperor be well, and the Empress be well. I, your humble servant, boldly present this red plum blossom to the Empress. The Empress is a noble person with a kind heart, and I admire her greatly. I hope you will accept it."

Langya originally wanted Lianxin to take it.

Ruyi, who was sitting down, said with a look of sarcasm: "A good official's daughter is actually busy with these things."

The woman in red said nervously, "This humble servant is just trying to make the Emperor and the Empress smile."

Langya nodded and said, "It's great that you have this intention."

Hongli also asked, "What is your name and who is your father?"

The woman in red said gently, "My name is Lin Ruoyao, and my father is Lin Ze, the prefect of Hangzhou."

Hongli smiled and said, "So she is Lin Ze's daughter."

Hongli understood the Hangzhou prefect's meaning and said with a smile, "It's truly remarkable that you've danced while enjoying the beauty of West Lake. Your plum blossom dance is also quite unique. I'm sure the Empress will be very pleased with your performance today."

Langya nodded and praised: "Very beautiful."

Lin Ruoyao smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, for your compliments."

Seeing that Langya also agreed, Hongli joked, "I wonder if Lin Ze would be willing to let you enter the palace as a concubine."

Lin Ruoyao knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "It is a blessing for this subject to be able to accompany the emperor."

Hongli smiled and said, "Okay, then I will make you a concubine and give you the title of "Mei".

Lin Ruoyao bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you!"

Ruyi couldn't sit still any longer. She looked down on Lin Ruoyao and taunted her, "Court Lady Mei doesn't like plum blossoms too, does she?"

Bai Ruiji said sarcastically, "Oh? What a novelty, Imperial Concubine? You like plum blossoms too, right? Did you plant these plum blossoms? Or is your name written on them? How can others not like them?"

Bai Ruiji was filled with anger. The emperor had only visited the child she had been waiting for for a long time and was only interested in hanging out with Ruyi. So when the empress dowager asked her for help and gave her an excuse to punish Ruyi, Bai Ruiji agreed without hesitation.

Ah Ruo imitated the words perfectly: "Why is the Imperial Noble Consort wearing a rose hairpin today? Could it be that the Imperial Noble Consort also likes roses?"

Chen Wanyin added, "That's not what the Imperial Concubine meant. What she meant was that people who like plum blossoms aren't necessarily as noble as the flowers themselves. Isn't that right, Imperial Concubine?"

Ruyi originally wanted to imply that Mei Chang was trying to curry favor with the rich and powerful, but she didn't expect that these concubines were targeting her like crazy. A new person is coming to the harem, and they are not in a hurry?

Ruyi's weird attitude was attacked by all the concubines, while the princes and nobles on the opposite side watched silently, and Hongli felt a little embarrassed.

Langya tried to smooth things over, saying, "Alright, the Imperial Concubine is drunk and talking nonsense. It's late, and everyone is tired. Let's all go back."

Everyone stood up: "Yes."

Ruyi was furious when she saw Langya blaming her for the incident. She stood up and said coldly, "I'm drunk and can't go to the Empress tonight to be lectured."

Langya smiled faintly and said, "Nothing. I have already taught Jingqin these things. Since the Imperial Noble Consort is not available today, let Jingqin go to your place tomorrow."

Ruyi recalled the unpleasant memories and decisively admitted her mistake: "I will just go for a walk to get rid of the smell of alcohol. I'd better come to the Empress tonight to listen to her teachings."

Langya nodded gently.

On a canal boat

The imperial ship was mighty and majestic.

Hongli and Langya stood at the bow of the phoenix boat, with Jingqin, Jingse, Yonglian, and Shushu standing behind them.

Hongli said sadly, "Langya, are you still unwilling to return to the palace with me?"

Langya smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty, I am not feeling well, and the imperial physician said that Yonglian must be carefully cared for throughout his life. I do not want to take any risks with Yonglian."

Hongli sighed, "Let Yonglian recuperate in the palace, and let Shushu take care of him, isn't that possible?"

Langya shook her head and said gently, "Your Majesty, raising a son for a hundred years is like worrying about him until he is ninety-nine. I am worried about Yonglian staying alone in the Jinan Palace."

Hongli knew that he could not persuade Langya to change her mind, so he could only sigh and say, "Yonglian is going to get married, it's time to return to the capital."

Langya nodded and said, "I am now bringing Xiyue, Yonglian, and Shushu back to the capital for Yonglian's marriage. After the marriage is completed, I will take Yonglian back to the Jinan Palace to recuperate.

Yongcheng, Xiyue is reluctant to let him go. I beg the Emperor to grant Xiyue a favor and let him stay with Xiyue to be raised. I will find a famous teacher to teach Yongcheng."

Hongli knew that the queen had made up her mind, and it was for the sake of their child, so he nodded in compromise, looking lonely.

Langya was no longer the wife of Prince Bao. She still looked lonely and reluctant, but she would never ask to stay.