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

After Li Yuanqi went to war, the old emperor summoned Lian Rongrong and Fu Bao to the palace.

With the Imperial Guards and secret agents left behind by Li Yuanqi inside the palace, it was safer than outside.

Lian Rongrong and Fu Bao spent their days chatting with the old emperor, and they lived a rather pleasant life.

Everything was calm, as if nothing would happen. But everyone knew that beneath this calm surface, turbulent undercurrents were brewing.

Li Yuanqi took the opportunity of paying his respects to Lian Rongrong several times, but each time he was either rebuked or couldn't even get a glance from her.

On this day, after paying his respects, Li Yuanqi was summoned to the palace by Consort Yao.

After the mother and son dismissed everyone around them, Consort Yao slowly spoke.

"Yi'er, when exactly do you plan to make your move? It's been almost a month since Li Yuanqi left."

If you continue to hesitate, I fear Li Yuanqi will soon be returning to the capital in triumph.

"Mother, your son..." Li Yuanyi hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.

But Consort Yao had already seen through his intentions.

"I know you still care about that girl Lian Rong, but can't you tell which is more important, a woman or the country?"

Li Yuanyi shook his head helplessly: "Compared to her, the empire is nothing. I have already lost her once, and this time, I will not let her escape again!"

Seeing her son so bewitched, Consort Yao was furious. But in the end, the decision still had to be made by Li Yuanyi.

So Consort Yao could only patiently persuade her, "Silly child, as long as we seize the throne, why would we be afraid that Lian Rong will run away?"

"Mother, you may not know this, but that girl is quite formidable. Alright, Mother, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

In three days, everything will be clear. At that time, I will need to trouble Mother to lead the women of the capital to the Imperial Grace Temple for the grand silkworm-rearing ceremony.

Hearing Li Yuanyi's words, Consort Yao felt somewhat relieved. She guessed that Li Yuanyi intended to use the silkworm harvest ceremony to control the families of court officials, and thus echoed his words:

"Anything my son needs me to do, I will do without hesitation!"

Three days later, Consort Yao received news from Li Yuanyi. As soon as the news arrived, Consort Yao went to the Imperial Study to bring up the matter of the Silkworm Festival.

Li Yuanqi did not return, and the old emperor naturally did not grant his request. However, that very night, the old emperor fell into a coma.

At the same time, the Imperial Physician Ruan Nianzhi also disappeared without a trace.

Everything happened so suddenly that Lian Rongrong didn't even have time to react.

"Princess Qi, Consort Yao has sent me to inform you that you must attend the Sericulture Ceremony with her tomorrow."

While Lian Rongrong was taking care of the old emperor, a maidservant from Consort Yao's side suddenly came.

"Didn't Father Emperor refuse to give his permission? Does the Consort intend to insist on going her own way?"

Even without turning her head, Lian Rongrong still bowed respectfully and replied:

"Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine said that His Majesty's serious illness was caused by his disrespect towards Empress Leizu."

It is believed that His Majesty will be able to wake up as long as the silkworm festival is successfully held! Moreover, the silkworm festival has already been postponed for a month due to the war.

If it's postponed again, it might be impossible to hold it this year! Oh, by the way, Her Majesty also asked me to tell you that all the women in the capital will attend on time tomorrow.

Even the old lady of the Lian family and the first wife will go together. The Empress also specially favored the gentlemen of Mingyue Hall.

They were also fortunate enough to participate in this grand event this year!

These words were almost a blatant threat. She was telling Lian Rongrong that if she didn't go, the old emperor would never wake up.

Not only that, but the family and Mingyue Hall will also be buried with them.

"Very well, I understand. Tell Her Majesty that I will attend on time!"

After the maid left, Lian Rongrong wiped the old emperor's face again.

"Father, for your safety, we can only ask you to make this sacrifice."

The next day, the women dressed in their finest attire and waited early in front of the Huang'en Temple.

Lian Rongrong was unwilling to go with Consort Yao, so she left the palace early in the morning accompanied by palace maids.

Now, as the eldest prince's principal wife and the richest woman in Dasheng, Lian Rongrong's net worth is far beyond that of others.

Even Rongrong didn't expect that she would be surrounded by a group of women as soon as she arrived at the temple.

This time, Lian Rongrong truly experienced the feeling of being the center of attention, but she already had something on her mind.

The women's nagging was particularly bothersome to her.

Lian Rongrong only found a moment of peace when the carriage from the Prince Ling's residence stopped not far away.

"Oh, isn't that the carriage of the Ling Prince's residence? I wonder which of the Ling Prince's consorts has come today?"

A female member of the household, who was watching the spectacle, said in a shrill voice, her contempt completely undisguised.

"What do you mean by 'which princess'?" another woman asked, puzzled.

Everyone glanced at Lian Rongrong. Everyone knew that Lian Rongrong and Hua Lingsu had a grudge against each other, so now that she had the opportunity, she naturally had to make a good impression.

Suddenly, the wife of a vice minister approached Lian Rongrong and said with great enthusiasm:

"Your Highness may not know this yet, but that Miss Hua has already been promoted to the rank of concubine."

"She's been promoted to a concubine?" This surprised Lian Rongrong.

Because the Princess Consort of Ling refused, Hua Ling insisted on entering the Ling Prince's mansion as a concubine.

In just a few short months, she has already become a concubine?

"Yes? It happened just a few days ago! I heard that Hua Ling initially pretended to be humble."

She served Princess Ling tea and water every day, and even personally attended to her when she washed her feet.

"That's right, I've heard about it too! But I've also heard that even so, that lowly person was still tortured to death."

"So what if you suffer a lot? You can't compete with her youth and beauty. No matter how powerful Princess Ling is, she still can't control Prince Ling, can she?"

I heard that that little slut is pregnant now. And, just as she found out she was pregnant, Princess Ling inexplicably fell ill.

The doctor said it was due to accumulated stress, but I feel it's not that simple!

The women chatted amongst themselves, and even Rongrong managed to hear everything clearly.

It must be said that these women, though noisy as they may be, are very sharp-eyed when it comes to matters of the inner quarters.

Just as everyone was discussing this, people finally got off the carriage from the Ling Prince's residence.

Lian Rongrong looked closely and realized that the person who came was indeed Hua Ling.

Lian Rongrong shook her head and sighed helplessly. This Miss Hua really has never disappointed anyone!

It seems she's going to play a significant role in today's events.

As soon as Hua Ling got out of the car, she slowly walked towards Lian Rongrong.

The chatter gradually subsided as Hua Ling approached. Although many women looked down on Hua Ling, given her status, they could only bow respectfully.

Hua Ling casually raised her hand, and everyone stood up and stepped aside. However, judging from the fact that most of the women were standing behind Lian Rongrong, their stance was clearly evident.

"Greetings, Princess Consort Qi." Hua Ling gave Lian Rongrong a polite bow.

Lian Rongrong smiled slightly, neither returning the greeting nor saying anything.

Hua Ling was naturally annoyed by Lian Rongrong's disrespectful treatment, but after several months of immersion in the Ling Prince's mansion, she had long since learned to conceal her sharpness.

Fortunately, the awkward situation did not last long, and Consort Yao's carriage arrived.