Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

Lian Rongrong's words thoroughly enraged the Empress Dowager. After all, when she was imprisoned in the Cold Palace, she had indeed had a relationship with the Prince of Ling's father.

However, the rumors circulating outside that Prince Ling and the Empress Dowager are mother and son are now considered nonsense.

The Empress Dowager did indeed conceive that man's child, and even used the child to escape the Cold Palace.

However, the child was not fortunate and died in the womb.

As for why the Empress Dowager took such good care of Prince Ling, it was ultimately just a matter of loving the house because of the prince and feeling guilty.

Back then, the old Prince Ling was sent on a campaign because he was suspected by the late emperor, and all sorts of reasons were more or less related to the Empress Dowager.

This past event was a knot in the Empress Dowager's heart, a bottom line that no one was allowed to cross.

But today, why is Lian Rongrong being so sarcastic towards her? The Empress Dowager has been immersed in the inner palace for many years, and she was not without humiliation when she was young.

But ever since she became a Noble Consort, no one has dared to bully her, not to mention that she is now the Empress Dowager, who is second only to the Emperor.

"Say what you just said again!" The Empress Dowager looked at Lian Rongrong coldly, her eyes as icy as blades.

Hua Ling, standing to the side, couldn't help but swallow. She had seen the Empress Dowager's stern side before, but she had never seen her eyes filled with murderous intent.

But Lian Rongrong didn't care at all. To her, the Empress Dowager was just an old lady dressed in fancy clothes.

If the old woman is kind-hearted, she will treat her with respect; but if the old witch is wicked, she will vanquish her!

Although Lian Rongrong knew that it was still difficult to shake the old witch's position, it did not mean that she was afraid of her!

"You've said too much just now. Which sentence was your grandmother referring to?"

Lian Rongrong looked completely sincere, as if she really didn't know what the Empress Dowager was asking.

"Are you pretending to be stupid with me?" The Empress Dowager smiled calmly, but the smile was hardly pleasant.

"Guards! Seize Princess Qi!"

As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, several maids stepped forward from both sides.

Lian Rongrong stood still and looked around, seemingly not intending to resist. The Empress Dowager and Hua Ling were both very satisfied with Lian Rongrong's attitude.

Just as the first nanny was about to grab Lian Rongrong's arm, her body suddenly flew away into the distance.

Before anyone could even see how Lian Rongrong made her move, the old woman had already fallen solidly to the ground.

The other nannies were somewhat afraid when they saw this, but the Empress Dowager's decree had been issued, so no matter how afraid they were, they had to bite the bullet and go ahead.

In a short while, four or five old women lay on their backs on the ground. Some were rubbing their waists, while others were clutching their buttocks.

The Cixi Palace was filled with moaning and groaning, a scene that was both comical and lively.

"Princess Consort Qi, how dare you defy the imperial decree!" The Empress Dowager roared in fury, slamming her hand on the table.

Compared to the furious Empress Dowager, Lian Rongrong's expression was remarkably relaxed.

Lian Rongrong spread her hands and blinked her big, innocent eyes twice: "Grandmother, please understand, I did nothing!"

Furthermore, what crime have I committed to anger my grandmother so much?

Lian Rongrong acted too quickly; indeed, no one saw how she made her move. Furthermore, Lian Rongrong's words just now were not at all excessive.

If a crime must be committed, it is only for failing to obey the Empress Dowager's words and promise to close Mingyue Hall.

However, this kind of thing is really impossible to convict. After all, the Empress Dowager has not issued an explicit decree, and even if she really wanted to issue one, she would need a suitable reason.

Hua Ling stood to the side, seeing the Empress Dowager's hands trembling with anger, and quickly spoke up:

"The Empress Dowager is the most respected, and we are the least respected; the Empress Dowager is the eldest, and we are the youngest. The hierarchy of seniority and age is an unchanging principle."

Even if the princess is of noble status, she cannot surpass the empress dowager. No matter what, the princess should not forget the principles of respect for elders and the proper order of seniority.

In ordinary families, if a grandmother wants to punish her grandchildren, the younger generation must humbly accept it, let alone the Empress Dowager.

Although Ling'er shouldn't criticize the Princess's actions, the Princess really went too far today!

"Hmm!" Lian Rongrong nodded. "What you said makes a lot of sense! So, between you and me, who is the superior? Who is the inferior? Who is the elder? Who is the younger?"

Hua Ling was speechless. She was clever and quick-witted, and naturally understood what Lian Rongrong meant.

Hua Ling stopped talking and instead whispered something in the Empress Dowager's ear.

Hua Ling thought her voice wasn't loud, but little did she know that Lian Rongrong had excellent hearing. Lian Rongrong listened with a smile as the little witch gave the old witch advice.

"Your Majesty, why don't we let the Imperial Guards arrest her? If she resists and fights with the Imperial Guards, we can say that she harbors resentment towards Your Majesty and wants to assassinate you."

Anyway, everyone had seen what Lian Rong did at the previous birthday banquet. Since she dared to defy the imperial decree, she would naturally dare to assassinate him as well.

"Everyone present will be a witness. Assassinating the Empress Dowager is a crime equivalent to treason; even Prince Qi can't save her!"

A fierce glint flashed in Hua Ling's eyes, but Lian Rongrong only found it laughable! It was unclear whether Hua Ling underestimated her or Li Yuanqi.

However, even Rongrong didn't expect that the old hag, the Empress Dowager, would actually follow Hua Ling's plan.

Lian Rongrong wasn't afraid, but if the Imperial Guards were alerted, it would be troublesome.

However, just as the two sides were about to enter the next stage, Eunuch Yuan, who was by the old emperor's side, suddenly collapsed.

"His Majesty has decreed that Princess Qi be summoned to an audience." Yuan Shu's voice rang out outside the Cixi Palace.

The three women inside the hall reacted differently upon hearing the commotion. Lian Rongrong, knowing that her father-in-law, the Emperor, had come to her rescue, naturally looked relieved.

As for the old witch and the young witch, one was annoyed and the other was disappointed!

Yuan Shu entered Cixi Palace, seemingly oblivious to the haphazardly placed maids and servants. He respectfully bowed to the Empress Dowager and said with a forced smile:

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, but His Majesty has urgent business to discuss with Princess Qi."

"What urgent matter is it?" the Empress Dowager asked in a cold voice.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty wishes to inquire about the Princess Consort's affairs at Mingyue Hall."

"Does His Majesty also disagree with the Mingyue Hall matter?" Hua Ling couldn't help but get excited upon hearing this, and for a moment she couldn't control her mouth.

"Miss Hua, what are you saying? Mingyue Hall was ordered by His Majesty to be run by the Princess Consort, how could she disagree?"

His Majesty has heard that Mingyue Hall is doing exceptionally well and wishes to reward the Princess!

Listening to the fake Yuan Shu spouting nonsense with such a straight face, even Rongrong could hardly hold back her laughter.

Now, does Lian Rongrong know from whom Li Yuanqi inherited his tendency to speak carelessly?

Lian Rongrong knew that Yuan Shu was talking nonsense, and the Empress Dowager naturally knew it too.

The Empress Dowager knew very well that her disobedient behavior was to protect Prince Qi and his wife.

So even though the mother and son disagreed, they still had to maintain appearances.

The Empress Dowager waved her hand, signaling Yuan Shu to take Lian Rongrong away. She didn't say much, which was enough to show her stance.

"Princess Qi, please." Yuan Shu stepped aside and gestured for her to enter.

The two left Cining Palace one after the other. No sooner had the first stepped outside than Lian Rongrong spoke up:

"Eunuch Yuan arrived just in time. If he had been any later, I would have been bullied."

The fake Yuan Shu glanced at Lian Rongrong, both amused and exasperated, and thought to himself:

If it had been any later, who knows who would have suffered the loss?