AWB Chapter 298: Madam, Why Are You So Suffering? (1.4 Votes Plus)
Chapter 298: Madam, Why Are You So Suffering? (1.4 Votes Plus)
It is clear that it has grown its wings and is no longer the fledgling that needs the protection of its stepmother.
The Queen Mother took back her unfinished words of resentment and said no more.
What's the point of talking any further? Things are already like this. The Queen Mother, who has experienced the ups and downs of the harem for many years, already knows that after the matter is done, the last thing she should do is to be angry and complain, but to assess the situation and find a solution in time.
Aunt Tohka knelt down.
She lowered her head and said, "I dare to say something I shouldn't say. If the Queen Mother is angry, just beat and scold me, but I still have to say it."
"What? Go ahead."
"Empress Dowager, you... lost your composure today. If you had listened to Concubine Zheng's provocations and ignored her... perhaps Concubine Hui wouldn't have come to force her. Concubine Zheng has her own selfish motives, which you, Empress Dowager, must have seen. You were simply too hasty. Although Concubine Zhao's influence is gradually building, it seems there's no need to rush at this point..."
After Tohka finished speaking, she kowtowed and waited for the Queen Mother to scold her.
Suddenly, an autumn breeze blew through, and the leaves of the transplanted Albizia trees in the courtyard began to fall. The lush leaves of midsummer had turned yellow, and the blooming season had passed. Many of the dried yellow flowers that had not yet fallen hung on the branches, a depressing sight.
These trees were transplanted here with great fanfare by the Empress Dowager at the birthday banquet in memory of the late Emperor.
Who would have expected that even today, it was still the late emperor's thing, that black token, but it allowed her to be imprisoned by a junior concubine.
It is true that success and failure are both due to Xiao He.
The Queen Mother looked gloomily at the yellowing branches. After a moment, she said in a calm voice, "Get up."
"You are the only one who dares to say these things in front of me."
Shixiang thanked her and stood up. She looked at her master earnestly and said emotionally, "I have followed the Queen Mother for most of my life. When I was young, I was even betrothed to her. I have enjoyed so many glorious years. Everything is a gift from the Queen Mother. How can I not always consider the Queen Mother's interests? As long as I can persuade you a little, even if you are angry, I am willing to bear the punishment. But... I am stupid and don't know if what I say is right..."
The Queen Mother glanced at her. "Whether it's right or not, it doesn't matter. It's only a matter of time before the Emperor shows me his true colors. If not today, then someday in the future. I'm making things clear today, giving him a chance to lash out. It's not necessarily a bad thing."
She walked down the steps, picked up a dried flower from the yard, and played with it in her hand.
"When the flower blooms, it's time to fall. Everyone thinks so. It's only natural that the emperor has gradually stopped looking at me. I shouldn't have gotten angry with him and hurt myself."
The corners of the Queen Mother's mouth slowly curled up, the haze in her eyes faded into the depths of her eyes, and then a sharp edge was revealed.
He even smiled slightly.
"As the saying goes, if you endure hardship for a while, you will surely enjoy a long and blessed life. Who knows if the humiliation I've suffered today might not be the beginning of a great blessing?"
Nanny Shixiang gazed at her mistress's inexplicable smile, paused, and then echoed, "That's right, the Empress Dowager is just taking it easy. Perhaps His Majesty feels bad for you being contradicted by Concubine Hui, and once the matter is over, he'll want to reflect on it and perhaps even be even more filial to you."
The Queen Mother sneered.
He glanced at the old servant kindly.
Like an adult looking at a child who doesn't understand.
But he didn't explain any more, threw away the withered flowers, and turned back to the hall.
"The palace gates are locked, so I'm just catching up on some sleep. If I'm well rested, I won't be swept away like a withered flower in autumn... I'm not just a tree that blooms for a few months."
Tohka hurriedly caught up to serve.
I understand that these few words of the Empress Dowager are very meaningful.
+
"Your Majesty, His Majesty didn't blame you for sealing off Ciyun Palace today, but he may pursue the matter tomorrow. The Queen Mother and His Majesty were battling each other, and you rushed to the front and stood up for His Majesty. Even if the Queen Mother is devastated, His Majesty might use you as a scapegoat in the future to preserve the reputation of filial piety. Why bother?"
On the way back to her own palace, the maid Xifeng asked others to stay away and whispered to Concubine Hui.
She couldn't wait to go back and talk about it, she was already very anxious.
The series of actions of our master who broke into the Palace Administration Office and Ciyu Palace were really too presumptuous and too dangerous.
Even Eunuch Cao who was in front of the emperor was beaten. He was the emperor's close attendant!
The key is the token of the late emperor, which cannot be used casually.
Using it this way may be too costly.
Concubine Hui just walked with her chin raised and her head held high, her eyes determined. She didn't say anything and no one knew what she was thinking.
Xifeng couldn't help but said a few more words.
Concubine Hui suddenly stopped and frowned, "Are you confused? Have you forgotten His Majesty's temperament?"
Xifeng said anxiously, "It is precisely because I know that Your Majesty is cold and indifferent that I am worried about Your Majesty."
"Why are you so anxious, you fool? He clearly allowed me to break into the Cining Palace today and even encouraged me to do it. If I really didn't do it, he would have troubled me in the future, thinking that I didn't know his intentions!"
"I'm trapped in the deep palace, holding the late emperor's token but having no place to use it. Beating a few concubines won't incur the death penalty, so I don't need to use the token. If I don't use this token today to help His Majesty, I may not need it in the future, so it would be a waste. It's better to please him and make him value me more. It will be easier to ask him for money and favors in the future. I don't have much to ask for myself, but there are so many relatives of the Li family army who need my care!"
Concubine Hui spoke eloquently and with clear thinking.
Xifeng was somewhat persuaded.
But I always feel that there are other reasons why my master took the risk.
He said tentatively, "But when the Queen was beating someone in the Palace Administration Office, Your Majesty hadn't arrived yet. You seemed really anxious at that time..."
Concubine Hui wondered: "Is it wrong for me to be anxious? I can't just let those two be beaten to death!"
Xifeng choked and hesitated, "Your Majesty has always disdained to participate in the intrigues in the palace, and usually just watched from the sidelines when she saw someone in trouble. But recently, you..."
"The atmosphere in the palace is getting worse and worse. I can't stand it and have been wanting to deal with some people for a long time!"
Concubine Hui cracked her knuckles, her face cold, "Alright, stop talking, let's go back to the palace for lunch. We've been busy all day and missed lunch."
The master has always had a very regular schedule, so Xifeng couldn't say anything more. He suppressed his worries and anxiety and hurriedly served the master back to the palace.
Concubine Hui strode forward.
There was no one around to chatter with me, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But Xifeng's words also made her think about it.
Were you very anxious when you were in Gong Zhengsi just now?
Is it obvious?
The images of Fei Wan and Concubine Yue covered in blood flashed before his eyes.
Maybe I was a little anxious and rough...
That was probably because the palace maids who were tortured were angry because they saw that they were seriously injured.
She has never been able to tolerate evil slaves bullying others!
After returning to the palace, he was halfway through his meal when his eyes suddenly caught sight of the bottle of medicine on the table.
"Xifeng, take the medicine back to Concubine Zhao." Concubine Hui ordered.
"Yes. However, Your Majesty, there is not much of this medicine left. I'm sure Concubine Zhao has some better medicine given by the emperor."
"The Imperial Gift is the Imperial Gift, and what I gave is what I gave. Give her some of the medicine we usually use for sprains and bruises. Although it hurts a bit, it's much more effective than those lukewarm and weak medicines from the Imperial Pharmacy."
"Yes."
After Concubine Hui finished her meal, she remembered Concubine Yue.
"Send some to Changle Palace as well... Never mind. The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion is also a military family. They have no shortage of strong medicine for bruises and sprains. There's no need to waste ours."
Xifeng went to Chunxi Palace to bring back medicine.
It is said that Concubine Zhao has been carried back to Chunxi Palace and seems to be in good condition.
"Your Majesty, I have a piece of news that I overheard..." Xifeng came closer and reported quietly, "Didn't the maid Linshui who reported the Empress Zhao escape? Where do you think she went?"
Concubine Hui glared at her, "Are you still keeping me in suspense? Tell me!"