Repeatedly broken branches

Actually, if Xiao Mu hadn't brought up the matter of Ruan Cifeng marrying Xiao Shao, Xiao Shao wouldn't have been so determined to follow him. She felt that she belonged to Xiao Mu and wouldn't refuse anything Xiao Mu said. Moreover, in her heart, Ruan Cifeng was indeed the perfect choice for a good man. However, deep down, she felt that she was marrying above her station.

She was just a palace maid; how could she be worthy of a prince?

Even if she were to marry a prince and become his concubine, it would still be a great honor for her.

These past few days, Yu Yanjing's face has been devoid of smiles. Although he doesn't say anything, Xiao Mu can still tell.

He didn't want to talk about it, probably because it was something he found difficult to say, or something he didn't want himself to know. Since getting married, he had almost never kept anything from me.

But seeing him like this, Xiao Mu couldn't just sit idly by. They were husband and wife, so why was he hiding this from her?

Xiao Mu went to Shen Ruoxuan, who was the person who knew Yu Yanjing best and was most familiar with his situation. Asking him would probably be much better than asking Yu Yanjing directly.

As soon as Shen Ruoxuan saw Xiao Mu, she remembered the scene of her wrestling with Shen Shanshan that day. She kept suppressing her laughter, but still had to speak to her in a serious and nonchalant manner.

"Your Majesty, what brings you here?"

Xiao Mu cut to the chase: "Has Yu Yanjing been preoccupied with something lately? He seems really off."

"This..." Shen Ruoxuan smiled awkwardly, "What could it be? It's nothing more than Consort Jing's... oh no, Empress Dowager's affairs."

"What happened to the Empress Dowager?"

"Logically, the emperor and empress should pay their respects to the empress dowager and serve her tea on their wedding day. However, Consort Jing refuses to acknowledge herself as the empress dowager and refuses to see anyone. The emperor is very annoyed because this is not good for you. After all... you are the mother of the nation, and it is unacceptable for you to lose face."

Xiao Mu suddenly realized that Yu Yanjing was worried about this matter and was unwilling to tell her because he was afraid that she would overthink it. Although he had not mentioned his relationship with Consort Jing many times, she had heard about it since she entered the palace.

To untie the bell, one must tie the bell.

Both Consort Jing and Yu Yanjing have unresolved issues in their hearts, and it will indeed be difficult for them to resolve them together.

"Consort Jing, have you been observing a vegetarian diet and practicing Buddhism lately?"

Shen Ruoxuan replied, "Yes, Consort Jing has been practicing vegetarianism and Buddhism ever since the Emperor ascended the throne. She doesn't see anyone or speak to anyone."

Xiao Mu came up with a plan and sent Shen Ruoxuan back. She wanted to talk to Consort Jing herself, since she was practically a mother-in-law.

Xiao Mu locked herself in her room for several days and asked You to borrow several Buddhist scriptures, but her handwriting was very bad. It looked like ants writing crooked and messy. This wouldn't do.

Moreover, she could only practice in the morning and afternoon because Yu Yanjing would be coming over to stay overnight and have dinner, and she didn't want Yu Yanjing to find out.

"What is this?" Yu Yanjing picked up a crumpled piece of paper from the ground, unfolded it, and found that it contained some crooked and messy writing that looked like tiny insects! It was even uneven, with characters written up and down.

Feeling guilty, Xiao Mu quickly snatched the paper, crumpled it into a small ball, and threw it outside the door. Without changing her expression, she said, "My handwriting is ugly. I've been thinking of practicing it recently so that I won't be laughed at for writing badly when I issue imperial edicts with the Phoenix Seal in the future..."

"You don't need to write the imperial edict yourself, you idiot."

Yu Yanjing ladled a bowl of pigeon soup for her, smiled, his eyes overflowing with doting affection, and her reflection was all he could see in them.

Xiao Mu took a sip and exclaimed, "It's sweet and delicious!"

Yu Yanjing smiled and said, "Then drink more. Practicing calligraphy must be hard work, so make sure you have some nourishment..."

Xiao Mu finished the bowl in one go. Although she wanted to drink more, she remembered what Wei Lan had said: as the empress, no matter how delicious or favorite the food was, she could not have a second bowl of soup after finishing it, and she could only take three servings of vegetables. Otherwise, she would be considered ill-mannered and ridiculed.

Xiao Mu shook her head and said, "No need, Yu Yanjing, why is my handwriting always crooked? And why does my hand keep shaking?" She couldn't help but ask.

Yu Yanjing glanced at her and patiently explained, "It's probably because the pen you're using is too thick. I'll find you a thinner one later, and you can try it again."

"Then can you hurry up? I want to... start practicing as soon as possible."

Yu Yanjing thought for a moment. Most of the pens from the Pen Making Bureau were like this. There were some fine ones, but they weren't suitable for her. The good pens all came from the Jiangnan area. If she really needed them urgently, then it would be too late.

But seeing how expectant she was, how could he bear to disappoint her?

"it is good."

"Thank you, Yu Yanjing."

Xiao Mu then realized that her problem wasn't with her skill, but with her pen. If she changed her pen, would she write better? That way, she could finish copying the Buddhist scriptures and give them to Consort Jing sooner.

……

"This is the decree to depose the empress, accept it..." Yin Fu'an threw a bright yellow imperial edict in front of Chen Lanhe, not even wanting to look at her. He had completely forgotten how he had humbled himself to please her, and he had also forgotten that her father was a meritorious minister who helped him ascend the throne.

Chen Lanhe sneered a few times, her eyes devoid of any light. She stared blankly at Yin Fu'an, not sad or resentful, but simply feeling sorry for herself. She had entered the palace, slept in the same bed with someone she didn't love, had a child, lost the child, and in the end, was still destined to be deposed. If she had married Deng Yizhi back then, how happy she would have been? Her child would have been as happy as Siwan, wouldn't she?

Although he did not directly intend to make Consort Qing the Empress, she had already taken charge of the affairs of the six palaces and held the Phoenix Seal. What difference was there between her and the Empress?

"Yin Fu'an, I don't want any title from you, just let me out... okay?"

Yin Fu'an snorted coldly, then stepped forward and stared fiercely at Chen Lanhe, raising his voice and saying, "Do you think that's possible? You're a woman I've played with and then discarded. Do you think you'll have a better life outside? I'll give you the rank of a beauty and keep you in the palace, that's the best place for you... Otherwise, it's a question whether your father, your brother, your sister-in-law, and your nephews will still be alive!"

Chen Lanhe glanced at him with disgust. He actually dared to use her own relatives and family to blackmail her. What a despicable person!

How could Father help someone like that?

She was in unbearable pain, but what could she do? She wasn't alone; her entire family was behind her. She couldn't let her misfortune in the palace drag her family down with her. She couldn't do that.

She crouched down, silently picked up the imperial edict from the ground, looked up at the cold and indifferent man, and said softly, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Yin Fu'an laughed triumphantly, a loud laugh that Chen Lanhe found incredibly grating. It was the most disgusting and terrifying laugh she had ever heard. She wanted to kill him to avenge her sister.

But he was the emperor; how could she kill him? She didn't know.

The days after being deposed were incredibly difficult. She didn't even dare to leave the palace. If she did, even the palace maids and eunuchs would gossip about her to her face.

Yin Fu'an dismissed her personal maid and sold her into slavery in the west. She had done nothing wrong and followed him, yet she suffered this undeserved misfortune.

The maidservant serving her now is a newly arrived maid named Yuan Yuan, who is about fourteen years old. She has a childish face and is clumsy in doing things, but she is not a bad person. She just can't do anything well.

In the morning, Yuan Yuan went to collect her monthly allowance, but was slapped in the face by Consort Qing's young maid, Xiao Cao, for no reason. She didn't dare to argue back and returned crying, covering her swollen cheek, without even collecting her allowance.

Chen Lanhe applied medicine to her and asked her what had happened. Only then did she learn that Consort Qing's personal maid was so unreasonable. Consort Qing couldn't possibly not know this, but she simply allowed her to run rampant in the palace.

Yuan Yuan was young and never dared to cause trouble. Today, she went to collect Chen Lanhe's monthly allowance in a well-behaved manner, but Xiao Cao called her up and humiliated her. Yuan Yuan endured it and planned to go back, but Xiao Cao wouldn't let her, saying filthy things like, "Even a stray dog ​​doesn't deserve to receive an allowance."

Yuan Yuan was unwilling to let her mistress be humiliated. She only said, "How could a palace maid talk about her mistress?" Before she could, Xiao Cao grabbed her hair and slapped her ten times. Her fair face was immediately red and swollen. Yuan Yuan wanted to go back, but Xiao Cao was still relentless and continued to humiliate her. It was only when Liang Yuxue passed by that Xiao Cao stopped and Yuan Yuan was able to escape.

Chen Lanhe felt bad seeing her pitiful appearance. Fourteen years old, a child. At home, she was always pampered in her parents' arms. For no reason, she was beaten and verbally humiliated for so long just because she was with her. Who could bear it?

She wasn't afraid of Consort Qing, and although she didn't want to go out, she had to go out for Yuan Yuan's sake. Otherwise, Yuan Yuan would be bullied by everyone every day. Now there was only Xiao Cao, but in the future there would be countless Xiao Caos.

How could we possibly sit idly by and do nothing?

She could bear to suffer the humiliation herself, but she couldn't bear to see those around her implicated.

When Chen Lanhe arrived at Suyang Palace, where Consort Qing was sitting, she had the maids announce her arrival several times, but Consort Qing did not come out. She could only wait there in the cold wind. What could she do? She was no longer the Empress and her rank was lower than Consort Qing's. Whether she could see someone depended on whether the person wanted to see her or not.

Consort Qing's maid, Chang'er, opened the door and said arrogantly, "The Consort is taking a nap. You can wait outside. She will receive you when she wakes up."

Chen Lanhe looked up and asked, "How long does the Imperial Concubine want to sleep?"

"I don't know, it depends on how long the Emperor stays. What brings you here? Don't come if it's not important. The Emperor is here, don't disturb his and the Consort's enjoyment!"

Yin Fu'an is here too, that's perfect, she just wants to get an explanation for Yuan Yuan and ask how the Imperial Concubine disciplines her subordinates.

"Let the Emperor come out and see me. I need to speak with him!" Chen Lanhe said, her tone very displeased.

Chang'er mocked, "If you want to see the Emperor, you should at least see if he wants to see you. Forget it, save your trouble. The Emperor will only hate you if he sees you. There are so many favored concubines in the palace now, who would want to see you!"

"..." Chen Lanhe raised her hand and slapped Chang'er across the face. Her voice disgusted her. How dare a mere servant boss her around in front of her master? Like master, like servant. Consort Qing was disrespectful to her master, and her servants were no different. She was not afraid of a servant.

Chang'er covered her face, looking at Chen Lanhe in astonishment, and said incredulously, "You dare to hit me? The Imperial Concubine will definitely not let you off the hook, you just wait!"

After saying that, Chang'er turned around and went inside to look for someone, crying.

Chen Lanhe smiled to herself. It was just a paper tiger. If it had the guts, it should have just fought her. What was the use of just putting on airs?

Before long, Consort Qing came out, her face still flushed and her hair slightly disheveled. She looked at Chen Lanhe with feigned innocence and said in a shrill voice, "Consort Chen, I don't know where Chang'er has offended you, that you would be so cruel?"

"Disrespectful of hierarchy."

Consort Qing looked at Chen Lanhe with great amusement and said sarcastically, "Hierarchy? Is Consort Chen joking? Talking about hierarchy with you? I forgot, you're not the Empress anymore, so where does this 'hierarchy' come from? It's funny, really funny."

Chen Lanhe said expressionlessly, "I'm not here to argue with you about these things. I'm here to see Xiao Cao. She injured my maid Yuan Yuan and insulted me. According to palace rules, she should be punished with fifty strokes of the cane and sent to the water room to serve, right?"

The water room was the most tiring and arduous place in the palace. They had to boil water, fetch water, and wash the clothes of eunuchs and palace maids all year round. Their hands were soaked in water all day long, and their hands were always white and peeling.

"The water room? Hahahaha, Consort Chen is joking again. Little Cao is a first-rank palace maid, and her allowance is the same as yours. Tell me, who should go to the water room?" Consort Qing laughed dismissively, her eyes filled with contempt.

Chen Lanhe smiled faintly, raised her chin, and said calmly, "That's how the palace rules are. Consort Qing, you should hand over Xiao Cao and let the female official sentence him."

What if I don't?

"Then we shall ask His Majesty!"

Yin Fu'an adjusted his belt and slowly walked out. He glanced at Chen Lanhe, who stood outside the door with an imposing aura, and said sternly, "I listened for a long time behind the door. Consort Chen just mentioned hierarchy? Is the tone you use now appropriate for addressing the Imperial Concubine? Did you even bow to her?"

Chen Lanhe was speechless, because according to palace rules, that was indeed the case, but she could not bring herself to demean herself before someone like Consort Qing.

"Your Majesty, please don't do this. Consort Chen is used to being high and mighty. How could she possibly bow and scrape before someone like me? Your Majesty, please don't make things difficult for her. Although she was wrong in this matter, we are all sisters in the harem. She is older than me and is like my elder sister. It is only right to give way to my elder sister!"

Chen Lanhe was completely convinced, after all, Consort Qing was very skilled with words, how could she possibly learn such eloquence?

"Don't play the good guy. I'm just asking, what does His Majesty intend to do about Yuan Yuan's matter?"

Yin Fu'an frowned deeply, unwilling to even glance at Chen Lanhe. His voice was sharp and his tone icy, "Your people did something wrong, so what's wrong with the Imperial Concubine's people teaching them a lesson? You still dare to cause trouble for the Imperial Concubine? Don't you want to live? Don't your family members want to live either?"

Chen Lanhe felt disgusted. She kept bringing up her family, as if she wanted everyone to know that she was using her family to threaten him.

She glanced at Yin Fu'an indifferently and sighed, "I was wrong, but Yuan Yuan did nothing wrong. Xiao Cao hit her, shouldn't he be punished? Which palace rule says that servants can take matters into their own hands?"

"Then I'll add a new palace rule: from now on, if a servant makes a mistake, the Consort's servants have the right to discipline them at any time! Are you satisfied now?"

Absurd, utterly absurd! A tyrant, a complete tyrant!

Chen Lanhe stared at him, speechless, unsure how to face him, such a beast, such an animal.

Consort Qing smiled smugly to the side, while Yin Fu'an looked at her with disgust. She was like a joke, being humiliated by a pair of despicable people in turn, and she had to endure it all without being able to put up any resistance.

What's the point of living like this? She's no longer a complete person, but she carries the fate of her entire family on her shoulders. If she dies, she's gone, but what about the living?

Her three nephews were so young, how could she bear to watch them die because of her mistakes?

When she was Empress, her family enjoyed boundless glory, and everyone benefited from her influence. Now that she has fallen out of favor and been deposed, her family is probably not doing well either. The only light in her heart is Deng Yizhi, but it is a light that she finds incredibly difficult to even touch.

Yuan Yuan came out and brought her back, saying that her injury was not serious. She even admitted in front of Consort Qing and Yin Fu'an that she was wrong and that Xiao Cao was right to hit her.

Chen Lanhe felt even worse. Because of her, even if the people around her suffered humiliation and loss, they would say that the loss was her own fault and the humiliation was her due. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart by a thousand knives, making it hard for her to breathe. She just wanted to die.