lcionline Chapter 191 Living Target
Chapter 191 Living Target
As Xia Qie finished speaking, the emperor turned the beads calmly.
Concubine Jing hurriedly pleaded guilty, "Your Majesty, I know nothing about this matter. Your Majesty, I will order someone to investigate right away."
"No need, I have already sent someone to capture him." The emperor looked at her coldly.
Concubine Jing fell to the ground.
Jiang Ruyin understood clearly that it was undoubtedly Concubine Duan.
She got herself into the game and dragged someone else down with her. If she wanted to form an alliance with me, she would have to frame someone else.
She glanced at it and saw Concubine Duan slowly touching the corner of her lips with a handkerchief. When she met Jiang Ruyin's gaze, she pulled the corner of her mouth.
Yes, the Empress Dowager will not live long, and her death is a sign that the Queen will return to the palace.
As soon as the Queen returned to the Forbidden City, Concubine Duan completely broke with the Queen Mother's party and joined forces with Jiang Ruyin.
By then, the Queen will be isolated and helpless, and the five concubines and the queen should all understand the importance of children. But the Queen will not let them get what they want. No matter how useless Chun Guiren and Qi Guiren are, they have to be promoted from the position of noble ladies to the position of concubines before they have the right to interrupt.
The two were childless, and the Empress would not give them children. To advance, they would have to propose a major conferral of titles on the six imperial concubines. Jiang Ruyin's allies included Concubine Qian and Concubine Gong, and perhaps others, unknown to the public, had secretly joined their ranks. With two princes and a princess in hand, the Emperor, for reasons of both reason and temperament, would not designate Jiang Ruyin as a Noble Consort. This was the perfect opportunity for Concubine Duan to rise to equal status with Nian Shilan, and this was one of them.
Concubine Wen was a truly brilliant general. With Nian Shilan ill and unable to leave her home, she either retreated to seclusion or sought refuge with others. Compared to Concubine Duan, as long as Nian Shilan was alive, Concubine Wen couldn't go out with her. Wen Yi was ten years old, and in three or four years, it would be time for a marriage. Concubine Wen would definitely become more active. Didn't you see how worried Concubine Wen was when Nian Shilan was poisoned? Poisoning Nian Shilan forced Concubine Wen, whom she had always disliked, into the Empress's camp. This was her second reason.
Hongning was An Lingrong's weak spot, and with this weakness, she was destined to be unable to fully serve Jiang Ruyin. Without any advisors, Concubine Duan's status within Jiang Ruyin's sphere of influence would have been greatly enhanced, compensating for her childlessness. At that time, both Jiang Ruyin and the Empress had no choice but to plot for her to secure the Fourth Prince, Hongli. This was the third point.
It was clearly an act of venting anger, but it managed to gain three benefits: one for his own position, two for Nian Shilan's followers, and three for the royal heir. Killing three birds with one stone, this kind of scheming ability really shocked Jiang Ruyin.
Jiang Ruyin took a deep breath. Fortunately, she had private dealings with Concubine Wen and Nian Shilan. Concubine Duan must die!
Why did Concubine Jing have to take the blame? If only Nian Shilan had been poisoned, the emperor would have investigated thoroughly. But Ling Changzai was implicated, and she indeed lost her life. No matter how much the emperor disliked a particular family, he had to save face and give an explanation to the historians and censors. Heaven be merciful, the emperor had worked diligently for decades to shed his reputation for moodiness, and it was evident. Originally, Ling Changzai's death was destined to be a dystoic childbirth, but now she was poisoned in the imperial palace's forbidden gardens.
The punishment must be severe, the previous dynasty must not be implicated, and it must be sufficient to give an explanation to any party. The Queen, Nian Shilan, Concubine Duan, and Jiang Ruyin all have the ability to order the perpetrators to swallow the truth, but Concubine Jing does not have it. She is a sitting duck in the Concubine's position.
Now, this handle has been delivered to the emperor. Whether to use it or not, and whether to protect Concubine Jing, all depends on the emperor.
Jiang Ruyin's expression was unhappy, and her fingertips were cold. With a hint of fear in her eyes, she looked at the emperor with affection.
The emperor understood and took her hand. "It's so cold. Hongxuan can't leave you. Go back. I'm here."
Jiang Ruyin nodded obediently and bowed, saying, "It's all because of your incompetence. Please, Your Majesty, seek justice for the Imperial Concubine and Ling Changzai."
Concubine Jing was still waiting for the outcome on Xiao Lezi's side without noticing anything, not knowing that her fate had already been sealed.
The fragrance brought by the skirt lingered at the tip of the nose and then disappeared without a trace. Concubine Jing knelt upright.
Behind him, Concubine Duan whispered softly, "Your Majesty, I feel a little unwell. I will go back and take a dose of medicine and come back soon."
Seeing Jiang Ruyin and Concubine Duan leave one after the other, Concubine Wen's face was filled with worry. Previously, Concubine Jing had stayed out of the matter, while Nian Shilan and Jiang Ruyin seemed to be colluding against Concubine Duan. From now on, Concubine Duan and Jiang Ruyin might have to go in and out together.
Jiang Ruyin leaned against the red wall on the long street and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sister Fangfei, I believe you haven't been to Yanqing Palace yet. It's spacious and peaceful, a great place to meditate. I'm about to go back, would you like to go with me?" Concubine Duan appeared at the corner with brisk steps.
"I'm really sorry, Sister Duanfei. I was quite frightened today and I want to go back to the palace to rest first." Jiang Ruyin smiled apologetically.
Concubine Duan nodded understandingly. It didn't matter if she refused. Seeing her call Jiang Ruyin "sister" knew she was ready to give in. There was still a long way to go, and she would eventually figure it out.
......
Jiang Ruyin would never seek the skin of a tiger.
A wise man will make a thousand mistakes in one of his plans, while a foolish man will gain something in one of his plans.
Concubine Duan had never won the emperor's heart, so she thought the emperor had no heart. Little did she know that if she touched Nian Shilan, she would be dead.
If anyone wants to blame someone, blame Concubine Jing herself. She and Jiang Ruyin were too incompatible in spirit, and Concubine Duan noticed it.
......
"Are you going back to the palace directly, Your Majesty?" Fu Qiu asked softly.
Jiang Ruyin waved her hand, "Hongxuan is still in the Yanxi Palace. Let's go to the Yanxi Palace."
The Yanx Palace was deserted, without the noise of children.
Jiang Ruyin hurried in and saw Hongxuan and Hongning cuddling together on the couch in the west room. An Lingrong held a cloth tiger in each hand, making fake howling sounds.
"Sister!" Seeing Jiang Ruyin, An Lingrong's heart finally settled down.
Giving her a reassuring look, Jiang Ruyin smiled and said, "Xiao Hongning, what are you doing?"
Hearing this, Hongning trembled all over, his face filled with fear and he dared not respond.
Hongxuan hugged Hongning tighter and replied, "Mother, Hongning is a little hungry. Can you and Empress Qian prepare something for us to eat?"
Seeing Hongning seemed to be expecting something, Jiang Ruyin nodded, "Okay, then I'll make an exception and prepare an extra portion of tangerines and a sweet bean cheese bowl."
The two brats nodded repeatedly with shining eyes.
Leading An Lingrong out of the palace, she couldn't wait to speak, "Sister, she..."
Jiang Ruyin squeezed An Lingrong's hand, looked at her calmly, and whispered, "Ling Changzai is gone, killed by poison. The imperial concubine suffered greatly from it and needs to rest in bed."
An Lingrong pursed her lips, her eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings. "...Sister, I believe that doing things for the Emperor is always right. If I can be promoted to Consort, you won't have to be overshadowed by Consort Hua and Consort Duan because of my illusory seniority."