lcionline Chapter 189 Promotion to Concubine Rou
Chapter 189 Promotion to Concubine Rou
The smile on Fanghua's face froze, she felt a little embarrassed, but she didn't dare to refute: "...Yes."
Queen Jiang looked in the mirror and saw her deeply sunken cheeks, and her heart couldn't help but sink.
She was also a famous beauty back then, and was known as the "two beauties of the capital" together with Concubine Liu. But over the years, she was tortured by illness and no longer had the beauty she once had, while Concubine Liu was still as bright and beautiful as ever.
How could Queen Jiang not hate this? !
Even she herself disliked her appearance. No wonder His Majesty doted on Concubine Liu so much...
Before Queen Jiang could think about it, Li Changde's respectful voice came from outside: "Your Majesty has arrived--!!!"
Queen Jiang stood up with the help of Gao Yunhuai, bowed her head and knelt down: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live your Majesty!"
In the past, emperors would always sympathize with her poor health and would either exempt her from the formalities before she finished performing the ceremony or personally go forward to help her up.
But today, Nangong Xuanyu walked straight to the main seat and sat down, then glanced at Queen Jiang indifferently: "Get up."
The joy in Queen Jiang's heart dissipated a lot, and she had a bad premonition, but she still had a dignified and virtuous smile on her face: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, have you had lunch yet? If not, I will have someone serve you food right away."
"No need."
Nangong Xuanyu got straight to the point and said, "I came here today because I have something to discuss with the Queen."
Queen Jiang held on to her spirits and asked with a smile, "What instructions does Your Majesty have?"
"Rou Guiren is pregnant, and she suffered such a great injustice at the New Year's Eve palace banquet. I want to promote her position."
Nangong Xuanyu originally planned to issue an order directly, but there was a difference between the inner and outer palaces, and the harem was led by the queen. The promotion of concubines of the rank of concubine and above required the queen's opinion to show respect for the central palace.
Otherwise, if word gets out, the censors will have something to say, and they might even accuse Concubine Rou of seducing the emperor.
Queen Jiang's heart suddenly tightened, and she used great strength to suppress the haze in her eyes. She said with understanding as always: "Noble Lady Rou suffered injustice while she was pregnant. Not to mention that Your Majesty pities her, I feel very distressed when I see her. She should be compensated."
"It's just that... since the founding of the Great Zhou, except for major festivals and ceremonies, when the six palaces are granted special titles, a noble lady can only be promoted to a concubine if she gives birth to an imperial heir."
"It is unreasonable for Your Majesty to promote Concubine Rou while she is still pregnant..."
"Besides, there are Concubine Zhou and Concubine Meng in the harem who are pregnant with the heir. Concubine Meng was wrongly accused of killing Chen Da Ying and suffered a lot of grievances. If Your Majesty promotes Concubine Rou's position at this time, I'm afraid they will think too much."
"For the sake of Concubine Rou and the safety of the harem, Your Majesty should wait until the heir is successfully born."
Nangong Xuanyu knew very well that the queen's dignity and virtue were all pretended, but both the former court and the harem needed a balance, so he always turned a blind eye to some things.
At this moment, listening to Queen Jiang's seemingly thoughtful remarks, the emperor could only sneer in his heart: "In this case, then let's promote Concubine Meng to the position of concubine."
It's not that he cares about Concubine Meng, but some of the Queen's words make sense. Concubine Jin Rou's position alone will indeed make her the target of public criticism.
With the company of Lady Meng, her favor was not so conspicuous.
Queen Jiang choked.
Her purpose was to prevent Shen from being promoted, so that her opponent would not become stronger after Concubine Wen entered the palace, rather than to have one more concubine in the harem!
Queen Jiang tried to maintain a smile on her face: "This... since Your Majesty has already made the decision, why not wait for Concubine Rou's father to return from Yangzhou before issuing an edict? By then, her father will have made great contributions in disaster relief, and it will be more reasonable for Concubine Rou to be promoted."
Anything will change if it is delayed. This period of delay is enough for her to do a lot of things.
The emperor's eyes, which seemed to be able to see through everything, fell on Queen Jiang: "Some things should be stopped in moderation. Don't destroy the last bit of love between you and me."
"Li Changde, go and convey my order."
After saying this, Nangong Xuanyu stood up and left Kunning Palace.
Anyway, he has already done the superficial work, and whether the Queen agrees or not cannot change his decision.
"His Majesty……"
Queen Jiang looked in the direction where Nangong Xuanyu left, and the blood color on her face faded completely!
Your Majesty knows about the Suhe Pills! Your Majesty really knows everything!
No wonder he ignored her like that on New Year's Day, making that bitch Concubine Liu laugh at her!
No wonder he only informed her instead of discussing it with her when he wanted to promote Shen's position.
"puff--!!!"
Queen Jiang was already in poor health, and she was so frightened that she vomited blood!
"Queen's Empress!!!"
Gao Yunhuai was so frightened that his face turned pale. He quickly rushed over to support her and shouted at the palace servants around him, "What are you still standing there for? Go get the imperial physician!"
"Yes!"
"Don't go!"
Queen Jiang grabbed Gao Yunhuai's arm tightly and said, "Your Majesty just came here and asked for the position of Noble Lady Jin Rou, and I vomited blood and asked for the imperial physician. If this gets out, won't it cause criticism that I am jealous and intolerant?"
"My lady..."
Gao Yunhuai's eyes were filled with distress: "Your health is very important..."
Queen Jiang smiled bitterly and said, "I won't live long anyway, so what's the big deal about my broken body? Even if I die, I will be a virtuous queen who rules the country!"
"Go to my storehouse and pick out two valuable gifts, and give them to Concubine Rou and Concubine Meng respectively."
Gao Yunhuai was originally a guard at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and fell in love with the unmarried young lady at first sight. But he knew that with his status, he would never have any chance of being with the Duke's eldest daughter.
He only wishes to stay by the young lady's side forever.
So, one month before the eldest daughter got married, he castrated himself. After recovering from his injuries, he went to the palace with the eldest daughter as part of her dowry.
Gao Yunhuai accompanied Queen Jiang from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion to the Prince's Mansion, from the Prince's Mansion to the Eastern Palace, and from the Eastern Palace to the Harem. Along the way, no one understood her pain better than him: "...Yes."
"My lady, you have been wronged..."
Queen Jiang said weakly: "I am the queen, so I will not feel wronged!"
……
Tingyu Pavilion.
Li Changde personally brought a large group of palace servants to read the imperial edict.
"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, summons: Here is the second daughter of the Minister of the Imperial Household, Lady Rou Guiren Shen, of the auspicious Zhonghua family, with a dignified character, chastity and self-discipline, which deeply comforts my heart. From today on, she is promoted to Concubine Rou, granted the position of the head of Zhongcui Palace, and the canonization ceremony will be held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. She is also granted the official title of assistant to the six palaces. I decree this!"
Li Changde's smile deepened, and his attitude became more respectful: "Empress Roupin, please accept the order."