Gyeongin Palace

When Ruyi came in, the concubines stood up and greeted her.

Everyone: "Your humble servant greets the Imperial Concubine."

Seeing that everyone had returned to their usual attire, Ruyi said coldly, "Get up! The first day of the new year is just a few days away. I will go with you to Anhua Hall to pray. Don't miss the auspicious time."

Everyone said: "We will follow the Imperial Concubine's orders." and sat down.

……

Quiet again.

Ruyi was extremely angry. When the Queen was here a few days ago, they were trying to curry favor with her, and Changchun Palace was no different from a busy city. But as soon as the Queen left, they became silent again.

Is the Queen the reincarnation of Jin Yuanbao? These concubines only have eyes for the Queen, not for her, the Imperial Noble Consort!

Ruyi couldn't help but sarcastically said, "Why, you have nothing to say to me? Weren't you chatting and laughing with the Empress a few days ago?"

The concubines looked indignant, and Ruyi felt a little relieved when she saw this.

Ah Ruo scoffed, "Why are you being so rude, Imperial Concubine? We were used to doing these things when the Empress was here, so naturally, we have nothing to say. You are a concubine who is in charge of the harem, and you are afraid that you can't do things as well as the Empress, so you are extra cautious."

Lujun said sarcastically, "The Imperial Noble Consort is here, so Concubine Shen should mention the Empress less, so as not to anger the Imperial Noble Consort. We can just talk about these things in private."

Ah Ruo covered her face and said aggrievedly, "I dare not. I just said what was in my heart carelessly. Imperial Concubine, I just said it casually. Will you not be angry?"

Huang Qiying saw that Ruyi was furious and was afraid that she would do something desperate, so she came to the rescue and said, "The Imperial Concubine is kind-hearted and will not bother with us about this."

Ah Ruo got angry and continued to sarcastically say, "Everyone can see how good the Empress is. But just because she gave birth to a legitimate son, the Imperial Noble Consort is not as good as the Empress.

Not to mention that the Empress had both a son and a daughter, Princess Hejing married in the capital, and Princess Yongle married into the Khorchin tribe of Mongolia, ruling over Khorchin. It was truly a state of great nobility."

Ruyi said coldly, "Shen Fei is the most knowledgeable about the Empress's kindness. Now that the Empress has gone to the Jinan Palace, she is lonely without anyone to accompany her. Shen Fei, since you are so grateful, why not go to the Jinan Palace to accompany the Empress?"

Ah Ruo's eyes lit up. Such a good thing? She had already had enough of staying in the palace. The emperor only favored Ruyi and didn't care about the others. Why should she stay in the palace and suffer? And there was also an annoying boss in the palace!

Ah Ruo was so surprised that she blurted out, "Is what the Imperial Concubine said true?"

Ah Ruo realized that her mood was not right again, so she adjusted herself and continued to taunt, "I'll wait, Imperial Concubine, you must keep your word!"

Ruyi: "Of course I keep my word. Come, take Concubine Shen to the Jinan Palace immediately to accompany the Empress."

A Ruo could hardly hold back her laughter.

Bai Ruiji jumped out and said, "Royal Concubine! You are deliberately picky and making things difficult for the concubines in the harem. You are truly immoral!"

Ruyi was furious and scolded, "It is not your place to judge whether I am immoral or not. Or rather, given your status and position, it would be useless to judge. Since you are speaking for Concubine Shen, then you should go to the Jinan Palace with her."

Bai Ruiji: The plan works!

Except for Concubine Zhe who didn't come and Concubine Chun whose child was about to marry, everyone else was moved.

Huang Qiying said sarcastically, "What does the Imperial Noble Consort mean by this? Are you not allowed to say a word of justice? I also agree with Concubine Shen's statement. Are you going to send me to the imperial palace as well?"

Ruyi was a little embarrassed, and said stubbornly, "Of course! Anyone who speaks up for Concubine Shen will be punished just like her and sent to the Jinan Palace!"

Lu Muping and Chen Wanyin: "I am willing to go."

Ruyi was so angry that she laughed and said, "Alright! Come here! Take them all away!"

long street

A Ruo, Bai Ruiji, Huang Qiying, Chen Wanyin and Lu Muping were all invited into the sedan chair.

Hongli happened to pass by in a sedan chair and frowned and asked, "What happened?"

The five people hesitated and were unwilling to explain the reason. Hongli asked Rong Pei, "What does this mean?"

Rong Pei said coldly, "Your Majesty, these ladies have repeatedly used the Empress to ridicule and contradict the Imperial Noble Consort. I, under the Imperial Noble Consort's orders, am sending these ladies to the Jinan Palace to accompany the Empress."

Ruyi walked out slowly, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty. If Concubine Shen had only offended me, I could have tolerated it. But she repeatedly uses the Empress as an excuse to attack me, which is truly disrespectful to the Empress."

Hongli said coldly: "Really, Concubine Shen?"

Although A Ruo wanted to leave, she couldn't let Ruyi accuse her of something, so she retorted, "I was just lamenting a few times that the Empress had both a son and a daughter, and the Imperial Noble Consort took this opportunity to hold a grudge against me and punish me. Your Majesty, I am truly wronged."

The rest of them said, "I just said a few words on behalf of Concubine Shen, and the Imperial Noble Concubine punished me for conspiracy."

The other concubines also followed out.

Su Lujun explained, "Your Majesty, it was indeed the Imperial Noble Consort who was rude and offended the Empress first. Concubine Shen tolerated it everywhere, but when she could no longer tolerate it, she made a few arguments."

Lin Ruoyao also said: "It was indeed the Imperial Noble Consort who mentioned the Empress first, and then Concubine Shen refuted it."

Hongli rubbed his forehead and said, "The Imperial Concubine is making a fuss. Are you also stupid? Take all these things away. Rong Pei, I will fine you ten feet. If you can't persuade the master, what's the use of having a servant like you?"

Ruyi said in disbelief, "Your Majesty!"

Hongli raised his hand and said, "You want to punish the concubines by sending them to the Jinan Palace. I won't allow it. The Empress went to the Jinan Palace to recuperate. What are you trying to achieve by sending so many people there?"

So many concubines are dissatisfied with you, which is enough to show how unpopular you are. Ruyi, you should look for the reasons within yourself and don’t put everything on others.

Ruyi looked dissatisfied, but Hongli didn't want to say anything. He stopped the farce and left.

Ruyi was sulking alone, and the two of them were in a cold war again.

Yangxindian

It was already early morning, and Hongli was still awake all night reading memorials. Wang Qin felt really bad for him. He held up a teacup and advised, "Your Majesty, you've been reading memorials for a long time. Take a break. This is the calming tea that Doctor Xia prepared for you. Drink it while it's hot."

Hongli put down the memorial, nodded, took the teacup, and said, "Well, I feel dizzy after reading this."

Hongli finished the tea in one gulp, put down the teacup, and prepared to continue reviewing the memorials.

Wang Qin advised, "Your Majesty, stop looking and go inside to rest for a while. You haven't slept all day."

Seeing Wang Qin's distressed face, Hongli nodded and said, "Okay."

Gyeongin Palace

As usual, Xu An presented the records of the Jingshifang to Ruyi for review.

Ruyi frowned as she looked at the records and said, "The Emperor has recently appointed many concubines and maids, and has summoned her more often than before."

Xu An could only nod and say, "Yes."

Xu An was very upset. Who could have imagined that he would be the biggest victim of Ruyi's rise to power? Qin Li, who had offended Ruyi, was at ease, and Ruyi did not pick a fight with him.

On the contrary, he, who was in charge of the Imperial Household Department, had to personally show Ruyi the records every few days. It was also strange that Ruyi did not like to read the Imperial Household Department's account books, but loved to read the records of the Imperial Household Department. While reading, she would ask him for information and did not reward him!

Ruyi: "I understand." She returned the file to Xu An calmly.

Xu An: "I will take my leave."

Rong Pei was tortured and was still lying down to recuperate, and no one came to persuade Ruyi.

Yangxindian

Hongli's complexion became worse and worse, and his body became weaker and weaker, so he summoned Xia Zhang to take his pulse.

Hongli asked, "How is my pulse?"

Xia Zhang: "Your Majesty, everything is normal and there is nothing serious."

Hongli was a little reluctant to believe it and asked, "But my spirit is not as good as before. The tonic medicine you prescribed is of no use to me."

Xia Zhang knelt down and explained, "Your Majesty, considering the emperor's condition, I dare not use too strong a medicine, nor dare I rush for results. Your Majesty has been working hard these days and often summoning concubines, which is not conducive to his recovery, Your Majesty."

Hongli slammed the table in anger and said, "Useless! Can't you think of a way to make me get better quickly? There are so many sika deer in the deer park. I remember that when the late emperor was alive, he also used deer blood mixed with wine to drink."

Xia Zhang advised, "Your Majesty, deer blood can indeed greatly replenish deficiency, strengthen essence and blood, and its effectiveness is even better when mixed with wine. However, the medicinal properties are too strong and incompatible with your holy body. I dare not use it."

Hongli sighed and shook his head, saying, "Forget it. Then go back and think about the prescription."

Xia Zhang: "Yes."

Jinzhong listened carefully to the conversation in the hall and walked away quietly.

Yongshou Palace

Jinzhong told Lin Ruoyao about the benefits of deer blood wine. Lin Ruoyao was also interested in it, and the two hit it off immediately.

Yangxindian

Hongli was lying on the couch, holding a memorial in his hand. Hongli was tired of reading it, so he rubbed his brows and threw it down in annoyance.

Jinzhong advised, "Your Majesty, please take a break before reading the memorials and drink some milk tea."

Hongli sat up, opened the bowl, took a sip and said, "It tastes different from what the imperial kitchen makes."

Jinzhong smiled apologetically and said, "Your Majesty is wise. This was made by Concubine Mei herself."

Hongli said calmly, "Her cooking skills are pretty good."

Jinzhong: "Noble Lady Mei was worried about the Emperor's fatigue, so she sent this. Actually, I was thinking, since Noble Lady Mei prepared the deer blood wine, why didn't she send it along as well? Taking them together would be more effective!"

Hongli hesitated, apparently tempted, and asked, "Why would Concubine Mei prepare deer blood wine?"

Jinzhong: "Noble Lady Mei heard that Your Majesty has been tired recently, and she heard about this wonderful recipe, which is said to be able to greatly replenish the body's deficiency, strengthen the essence and blood, so she prepared it. Your Majesty, would you like to go to Yongshou Palace to try it?"

Hongli thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to Yongshou Palace."

Jinzhong nodded and said, "Yes."

……

A few days later, outside the Yangxin Palace

Liu Tongxun and Zhao Hui talked as they walked.

Liu Tongxun: "It seems that the Emperor is running low on energy, extremely sleepy, and sometimes even reeks of alcohol. What should I do?"

Zhao Hui was too lazy to pay attention to Liu Tongxun. His daughter-in-law was Princess Hejing. He could just ask the princess and find out. What were the two of them discussing here in the dark?

Zhao Hui left quickly, and Liu Tongxun didn't bother to say anything and hurried to catch up with him.

It happened that Ruyi came in from the other side and heard Liu Tongxun's discussion. Her face suddenly became gloomy.

Gyeongin Palace

Ruyi felt a little dizzy and couldn't open her eyes, so she could only lean on the couch.

Rong Pei got out of bed as soon as her injury healed. Ruyi became more and more dependent on Rong Pei, and Rong Pei was happy with it.

Rong Pei came in and saw Ruyi like this, and asked worriedly, "What's wrong, Your Majesty?"

Ruyi: "I feel a little dizzy."

Rong Pei was surprised and said, "I'll go call Doctor Jiang over."

Ruyi stopped him, saying, "Don't worry, how is your investigation going?"

Rong Pei: "I heard that the Emperor privately asked Doctor Xia for deer blood, but Doctor Xia refused, saying that deer blood is strong and would not benefit the Emperor's body. But I discovered that the people in Yongshou Palace go to the Deer Garden every day to collect fresh deer blood."

Ruyi asked in confusion, "Concubine Mei used deer blood? Did she secretly get some deer blood wine for the Emperor to drink?"

Rong Pei: "The Emperor was unable to obtain it from Doctor Xia. I'm afraid someone else has used deer blood wine to please the Emperor."

Ruyi pondered for a moment and asked, "Where is the emperor now?"

Rong Pei: "Yongshou Palace."

Ruyi stood up with a gloomy face and said, "Let's go to Yongshou Palace."

Rong Pei stepped forward and helped Ruyi leave.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like