lcionline Chapter 233 Jin Feng
Chapter 233 Jin Feng
After Zhen Huan fell asleep, Jing Xi felt more and more that something was wrong, and taking advantage of the watery moonlight, she hurried to Yonghe Palace.
"Oh!"
An Lingrong could no longer conceal the anger on her face. She picked up the teacup on the table and threw it heavily to the ground.
The emperor was clearly setting up a trap, but Zhen Huan was so immersed in love that she didn't notice the emperor's behavior at all.
After her anger subsided, An Lingrong slowly sat down on the couch, her brows furrowed, and she carefully considered the current situation.
The Imperial Household Department no longer had the Empress's personnel, so Empress Chunyuan's old auspicious dress probably wouldn't reach Zhen Huan's hands. However, just in case, she still had to borrow a spare. Shen Meizhuang was tall and slender, and her figure was quite different from Zhen Huan's. However, Concubine Jing and Zhen Huan had similar figures.
As long as she gets to Sui Yuxuan before Zhen Huan goes to the Queen's palace, she should be able to prevent all this from happening.
However, in order to be on the safe side, there must be a backup plan.
The next day, the emperor issued an edict, expelling Qian Mingshi back to his hometown. He also personally inscribed a plaque reading "Criminal of the Moral Teachings" and hung it on the gate of Qian Mingshi's house. Still feeling unsatisfied, he mobilized hundreds of his ministers to write poems denouncing Qian Mingshi. Some, however, whose criticisms were not profound enough, were dismissed and exiled. For a time, flattery flourished in the court.
Three days later, Zhen Huan held the canonization ceremony.
An Lingrong got up early in the morning and went to Suiyuxuan accompanied by Liu Zhu, while Shen Meizhuang went to Chonghua Palace to preside over the palace banquet.
On a winter morning, the sky is still dark, as if the night is still clinging to this land and unwilling to leave easily. Occasionally, a bird looking for food flaps its wings and flies by, and its cry sounds particularly shrill in the quiet morning.
An Lingrong's expression was solemn as she walked quickly along the long palace path. "Liu Zhu, today is Sister Zhen's enthronement ceremony. Do you want to attend?"
Liu Zhu shook her head: "I am your maid now. Wherever you go, I will go."
"Good Liu Zhu!"
As the two were walking slowly, a pretty figure suddenly appeared in front of them. When they got closer, they saw that it was the gorgeously dressed Concubine Qi.
"Is Noble Lady Wen okay?" Noble Lady Qi said with a forced smile on her face.
An Lingrong didn't want to pay any attention to her. She didn't even raise her eyelids and walked straight past her.
Just as she brushed past Concubine Qi, An Lingrong's arm was suddenly grabbed by her: "Humph, Concubine Wen has been in the palace for quite some time now, how come she doesn't even know the most basic etiquette!"
Her eyes were full of provocation, and when she saw An Lingrong looking at her, she increased the strength in her hands.
"Let go." An Lingrong frowned and spat out two words coldly, with disgust in her eyes.
"You humiliated me last time in Suiyuxuan, and you must apologize to me today." She gritted her teeth, looking unwilling to give in.
"Let go!" An Lingrong's voice became louder and her expression became colder.
"I won't let go, what can you do?" Concubine Qi had a smug look on her face.
"Pa!" The crisp sound of slapping rang out in the air.
An Lingrong shook her slightly aching hand, with no fear in her eyes.
Looking over there, Concubine Qi was already dumbfounded. She raised her hand to touch her instantly swollen face, and looked at the person in front of her with disbelief: "How dare you hit me?"
Her voice was sharp and piercing, filled with extreme anger.
"Now you're letting go!" An Lingrong said expressionlessly, and continued to walk forward, her steps calm and composed yet revealing a hint of urgency.
At this time, Concubine Qi finally came to her senses, took two quick steps, and her skirt swayed violently with her movements. She was about to catch up with her.
An Lingrong keenly sensed the murderous intent coming from behind her, and she bent down very flexibly, like an agile civet cat, with light and quick movements.
Concubine Qi, who was raising her hand to strike, missed and her body leaned forward uncontrollably.
An Lingrong saw the perfect moment and gave a gentle push, a seemingly casual push with just the right amount of force. Concubine Qi's face made intimate contact with the ground, making a dull thud and raising a small cloud of dust.
Jingtai shouted in panic: "My master, my master, are you okay?" Her voice was trembling and terrified, her face was pale, and she hurriedly helped her master up.
Concubine Qi endured the excruciating pain, her face twisted and sweat dripping down her forehead. When she looked up again, An Lingrong had already walked away, leaving only her receding figure. That figure, in her eyes, was so hateful and infuriating.
"Ah... I'm going to complain to the Emperor and the Empress." Concubine Qi shouted hysterically, her voice filled with tears. Tears gathered in her eyes and rolled around, as if they were about to burst out in the next second. Her eyes were full of grievance and anger.
Jingtai's voice became increasingly quiet, with a hint of timidity and hesitation: "My lady, the Empress asked you to hold Noble Lady Wen back, now..."
Yes, she had forgotten about this! Concubine Qi was stunned, and the anger on her face was instantly replaced by regret. She bit her lip, feeling unwilling but helpless.
Under normal circumstances, An Lingrong would have wanted to tease her, but today she didn't know how things would develop, so she didn't have the time to talk to her. She could only use the simplest and fastest method to get rid of her.
The master and servant were walking faster and faster when suddenly a voice came from behind them. An Lingrong stopped abruptly and looked in the direction of the voice.
Zhao Yingjiu ran over quickly, panting. Without even catching his breath, he bowed and said, "My lord, I finally found you!" His forehead was covered with sweat and his face was full of anxiety.
"What happened?" An Lingrong frowned and asked anxiously.
"My lady, just now Chief Steward Liang came back to the Imperial Household Department and said that Concubine Wan's auspicious dress was damaged. He took out a repaired auspicious dress sent from the Queen's Palace and asked Your Majesty to borrow it temporarily. I feel that this is inappropriate, so I came to report this to you!" Zhao Yingjiu did not dare to delay and finished speaking in one breath.
An Lingrong's mind went blank for a moment, and after a moment of silence, she stammered, "Liang Duorui... is he also the Queen's man?"
Zhao Yingjiu lowered his voice and said cautiously, "No, I heard that Chief Steward Liang is a distant relative of Lord Longkodo. I'm afraid..."
Queen Mother.
She had always been on guard against the Queen, but she didn't expect the Queen Mother to take action as well!
Zhen Huan, oh Zhen Huan, what on earth did you do to make the Queen Mother unable to tolerate you!
"Go back first and pretend you don't know about this!" An Lingrong calmed down and ordered.
"Yes!" Zhao Yingjiu responded and hurriedly turned and left.
An Lingrong asked Liu Zhu again, "Did Xiao Luzi go to see Concubine Jing?"
Liu Zhu nodded: "He went there early in the morning. According to your instructions, he will go directly to Suiyuxuan."
"Okay, let's go."