bookcurios Chapter 176 Empress Dowager Liu's Helplessness
Chapter 176 Empress Dowager Liu's Helplessness
Qianqing Palace.
The emperor had left, so the banquet could not continue. The atmosphere in the side hall was gloomy and depressing...
Everyone understood that Shen Zhinian was also a victim in this matter, so they didn't hate her that much. If it weren't for that vicious woman Liu Ruyan, how could they not even have a good New Year?
Fortunately, Your Majesty is wise and immediately sentenced that bitch to death, otherwise they would have wanted to eat her flesh and drink her blood!
However... when the news of Shen Zhinian being pregnant with the royal heir came out, the palace concubines all had complicated feelings.
Some people think that she is already favored, and once she gives birth to the emperor's heir, she will be the head of the harem, and her position in the harem will be even more difficult to shake. It would be better if she couldn't give birth to the child...
Some people think that this may not be a bad thing. His Majesty likes Concubine Rou so much, and they usually get too little favor. Now that Concubine Rou is pregnant and can't sleep with him, maybe their chance has come!
In order to reduce the emperor's fear, Empress Dowager Liu rarely asked about the affairs of the harem, at least on the surface. But as the most noble woman in the harem, she still had to say some things.
"Empress, as the mother of the country, you have the responsibility to manage the harem and assist His Majesty. But not only did you fail to fulfill your duties as the empress, causing chaos in the harem, but you even made the New Year like this."
"If one's virtue is not in line with one's position, disaster will surely follow. Do you know your mistake?!"
How could Queen Jiang not understand that the Queen Mother's move was to suppress her arrogance in front of the concubines. If her dignity as queen was damaged, it would be even more difficult for her to rule the six palaces.
But even though she understood it, the Zhou Dynasty ruled the world with filial piety, and the Queen Mother was crushed to death just by using the word "filial piety".
Queen Jiang dared to reprimand Concubine Liu, but she didn't dare to confront Empress Dowager Liu, so she had to kneel down with the help of Gao Yunhuai: "I was negligent in not noticing Liu's matter, please calm down, mother!"
Gao Yunhuai also knelt down and said distressedly: "Empress Dowager, please calm down! It's not that the Empress Dowager is unworthy of the position, but your health has been poor to begin with, and it has become even worse in winter. There are some things that you really can't do..."
Empress Dowager Liu knew that the emperor would not allow her to punish the queen. She said this just to make the queen lose face in front of the concubines, and her goal has been achieved.
"That's all, get up."
"Liang Fei, Gui Fei, since the queen is not in good health, the two of you should help manage the six palaces and help the queen share her worries."
Concubine Liang bowed and said respectfully, "I will follow the instructions of the Empress Dowager!"
The Queen Mother was clearly trying to get Concubine Liang and Concubine Gui to take more power away from her. Queen Jiang was furious, but she had no other options.
Concubine Liu stared at the door in a daze.
She had always felt that she was the most beloved woman of His Majesty. His Majesty never called other concubines by their names, only her "Qingqing".
But just now, His Majesty actually called Concubine Rou "Nian Nian"?
She was confident that she was the most special in His Majesty's heart, because she was the only one in the harem who gave birth to His Majesty's child. Now that Concubine Rou was also pregnant with the royal heir, what was she?
She had never seen His Majesty so nervous about a woman...
Concubine Liu felt a sour and bitter heart, and a dense pain was rising in her heart. Tears welled up uncontrollably in her bright peach blossom eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
Empress Dowager Liu took in Concubine Liu's expression, and her heart couldn't help but sink: "I am tired, Concubine, please take me back to the Cining Palace."
Cuizhu hurriedly tugged at Concubine Liu's sleeve.
She came back to her senses and said absentmindedly, "Yes..."
The eldest princess yawned while leaning on Concubine Liu's shoulder and said in a baby voice, "Mother, Yun'er is sleepy. Yun'er feels so uncomfortable..."
Concubine Liu's mind was now full of the way His Majesty was nervous about Concubine Rou, and she didn't notice the eldest princess's flushed cheeks at all. She handed her to the wet nurse and said, "Take the eldest princess back to Yongshou Palace to rest."
She couldn't help but wonder, if the eldest princess was not a princess but a prince, would His Majesty care more about her...
Arriving at the Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Liu dismissed the palace maids and sneered, "That Liu Ruyan has the same demeanor as her cousin's old aunt. She is just as good at pretending to be weak and just as cruel and ruthless."
"I never thought that Concubine Liu had been dead for so many years, and the pawns she left behind could still help the concubines in my mother's family stir up trouble!"
At this point, Empress Dowager Liu warned him, "You should have figured it out today. Liu Ruyan is just a front. The real person behind the scenes is the Empress."
"The emperor knew clearly in his heart, but he did not punish the queen. He even suppressed the matter when you directed the criticism at her. Imperial Concubine, do you know what this means?"
Concubine Liu, however, had tears in her eyes as she murmured, "Your Majesty calls her 'Nian Nian', Your Majesty actually calls her 'Nian Nian'... Am I not the only special one in Your Majesty's heart?"
Empress Dowager Liu: “…”
She choked with blood in her throat!
It seems that all she said was in vain?
Everyone thought that Shen Zhinian was the victim of tonight's incident. But Empress Dowager Liu had experienced cruel palace struggles during the previous emperor's reign before she ascended to the throne of Empress Dowager. Nothing could be hidden from her eyes.
The result shows that Shen Zhinian is the ultimate beneficiary, and has received the emperor's full guilt and pity. With the lesson learned tonight, even if she really does something evil in the future, the emperor will not easily doubt her.
Others believed Shen Zhinian's innocence, but Empress Dowager Liu did not. Perhaps she was the one behind all these things.
Empress Dowager Liu originally wanted to tell the inside story to Concubine Liu, and let her use Shen Zhinian to deal with Queen Jiang and her party, but she had to be vigilant against this woman at all times, so as not to be bitten back by this sharp knife.
But seeing Concubine Liu's reaction...Empress Dowager Liu felt only helplessness and a sense of disappointment.
If she really told the truth, the imperial concubine would be jealous and hate Shen Zhinian, and would never tolerate Shen Zhinian again. If she and Shen Zhinian were to fight, wouldn't the queen be the winner?
Empress Dowager Liu had no choice but to swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue, and said against her conscience: "Noble Concubine, don't be deceived by the temporary appearance. The emperor has few heirs, and he only cares about the piece of meat in Concubine Rou's belly. The only one he loves in his heart is you."
Concubine Liu's eyes gradually brightened up, and she asked in disbelief, "Aunt, is what you said true? Does His Majesty really only love me?"
Empress Dowager Liu nodded helplessly: "Although the emperor is not my biological son, I watched him grow up. Who does he love in his heart? Don't I understand?"
Perhaps, Concubine Liu wanted to immerse herself in a beautiful dream and didn't want to wake up. She wiped the tears from her eyes and said with a smile: "Qingqing believes in aunt!"
Empress Dowager Liu's eyes flashed with a cold light: "The most important thing for you now is to raise a prince."
"Although Concubine Zhou is almost four months pregnant, no one knows whether she can give birth to a princess. If she gives birth to a princess, all our plans will be in vain. Now that Concubine Rou is pregnant, it is a good thing."