kvmb Chapter 348 Happy
Chapter 348 Happy
Shen Qingtan accepted the brocade box handed to her by Lüzhi and expressed her gratitude towards the inner palace: "This concubine thanks Your Majesty for your grace."
"Her Majesty prepared two gifts for each princess consort: one as a greeting gift and the other as a wedding congratulatory gift," Green Branch explained.
Shen Qingtan's eyes flickered slightly. Green Branch's words meant that the Empress treated everyone equally, and that the extra gift she received was not due to special favor.
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Your Highness." Shen Qingtan was somewhat flattered and lowered her eyes to look at the exquisitely carved Ruyi pattern on the box. "I have heard that Your Highness is kind-hearted and benevolent. When the Prince and I got married in Da Zhou, Your Highness specially prepared a wedding gift for us."
Upon hearing Shen Qingtan's words, Lüzhi respectfully said, "Your Highness, you don't look well. You must be tired from yesterday's journey and still feeling unwell. I happen to be on my way to the Imperial Hospital to fetch medicine for Her Highness. May I offer you a ride?"
Upon hearing Lüzhi mention her complexion, Shen Qingtan vaguely understood Lüzhi's intention: "Thank you for your trouble."
As she left Chang Le Palace, she saw a palace maid sneaking away.
Shen Qingtan glanced at the green branch beside her, then casually sat down in the sedan chair.
The eunuchs carried the sedan chair toward the palace gate.
The sedan chair stopped at the palace gate. Shen Qingtan got into the carriage and took out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe the powder off her face.
Liu Yue lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw the carriage slowly moving along, with guards from the Guangling Prince's Mansion standing guard beside it. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
She lowered the curtain and asked, "Your Highness, was the Empress worried that Consort Shu would make things difficult for you, and that's why she came to your rescue just now?"
After all, Green Branch's every word and action required the Empress's approval.
Shen Qingtan couldn't figure out the Empress's thoughts. Although the Empress rarely appeared in public and only showed up on important occasions, she firmly controlled the power in the harem.
Today, Consort Shu is deliberately trying to provoke the Empress into conflict with their Guangling Prince's Mansion. Given the Empress's methods and shrewdness, she probably sees through this clearly.
The Empress instructed Green Branch to escort her out of the palace, was this a deliberate act to impress Consort Shu?
After all, the Prince Xian, born to Consort Shu, was more of a threat to the Prince Qi, born to the Empress.
The enemy of the enemy is the friend.
That must be why the Empress offered her help.
Shen Qingtan replied, "I suppose so."
She opened the gift from the Empress; inside the box was a set of kingfisher feather ornaments inlaid with rubies and pearls.
She opened the second box with auspicious patterns, and inside lay a jade pendant with red tassels and a few jade beads as embellishments.
Shen Qingtan took out the jade pendant and examined it closely. The jade pendant was smooth and had no carvings or patterns, so there was nothing special about it.
The few jade beads used only as decoration are engraved with neat Sanskrit characters.
She carefully examined the Sanskrit characters but couldn't identify them.
Buddhist scriptures are usually written in Sanskrit. Shen Qingtan guessed that the inscription on the bead was a Buddhist scripture, so she did not examine it any further and put the jade pendant back into the box.
-
In Zhaohua Palace, Consort Shu looked gloomy. She really hadn't expected Shen Qingtan to be so eloquent. Not only did she not gain the upper hand, but she was also pushed to the forefront of the storm.
The women in the harem who wanted to climb the social ladder were all hostile towards her and wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible.
At this moment, a palace maid hurriedly entered, knelt on the ground, and reported: "Your Majesty, the Empress has sent her maid, Lüzhi, to escort the Princess of Guangling out of the palace."
Consort Shu scoffed, "The Empress really wants to win over the Prince of Guangling."
Unfortunately, Zhao Yi was destined to never rise to prominence in Northern Qi.
The emperor only had suspicion and a desire to use Zhao Yi, so how could he allow Zhao Yi to seize power in Northern Qi?
If Zhao Yi hadn't killed his brother, he might have been rewarded for his meritorious service and quickly gained a foothold in the court.
Zhao Yi's impulsiveness caused him to miss his only chance to seize power in Northern Qi.
Because the emperor will no longer assign tasks to Zhao Yi to stand up for him.
“Your Majesty, the Prince of Guangling has no power or influence in Northern Qi; he is merely a prince with an empty title.” Hongqiao brought over a cup of tea and advised, “If you wish to avenge your father, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Do not let today’s events upset your health.”
Without Ying Hongqiao's words, whenever Consort Shu thought of her brother's tragic death at Zhao Yi's hands, she wished she could immediately tear Zhao Yi to pieces.
Hongqiao whispered, "I found out that the Prince of Guangling went to the Imperial Study to see His Majesty, but His Majesty has not yet summoned him into the palace."
She glanced out the window, a smile on her face: "The Prince of Guangling has just recovered from a serious illness and is still very weak. In this cold weather, he must not get cold again."
Consort Shu felt pleased upon hearing this.
The Emperor deliberately ignored Zhao Yi in order to give him a warning.
She beckoned Hongqiao to come closer and whispered a few words in her ear.
-
At the same time, Zhao Yi stood tall and elegant at the entrance of the Imperial Study, his gaze fixed on the closed door, faintly hearing the sounds of arguing coming from inside the hall.
The eunuch guarding the door noticed that Zhao Yi's face was pale and worried that something might have happened to him, so he took out a hand warmer and handed it to him.
"Your Highness, His Majesty is summoning his ministers. We do not know when he will summon you. Please warm your hands with the hand warmer first."
Zhao Yi stared at the sleeve stove, about to speak.
With a loud "bang," the sound of porcelain shattering on the floor echoed from inside the hall.
The eunuch shuddered in fright, shrank back to the door, and peered into the hall through the crack in the door.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." The minister knelt on the ground and continued to speak: "The people are praising the Prince of Guangling and are speaking out for him."
“The Prince of Guangling, a dignified heir to the throne, was punished for a treacherous minister who plotted against him and brought disaster to the people. Yet he was forced to use the great merit he had made in controlling the plague to atone for his crime.”
"This is undoubtedly telling the world that the Lin family is above imperial power. Where is the imperial authority?"
"The Prince of Guangling's killing of a fourth-rank official has already violated the laws of Northern Qi, and he should be punished according to the law." The Emperor of Northern Qi was furious: "Merit is merit, and demerit is demerit; how can they be confused?"
"The disgraced official Lin Yi has shown contempt for the imperial authority. The actions of the Prince of Guangling are aimed at establishing the imperial authority in the hearts of the people and deterring treacherous officials with wicked intentions."
The ministers continued to advise: "Your Majesty, if you do not severely punish the Lin family and quell the public resentment, I'm afraid that no one will respect the royal family in the future."
The Northern Qi emperor clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead.
These ministers were all pressuring him to compromise and reward Zhao Yi to appease the people's grievances.
What is Zhao Yi's identity?
Have they all forgotten?
"A mere court official dared to assassinate a prince and yet he wasn't punished. People are already spreading the proverb, 'The emperor's throne rotates, next year it might be my turn.'"
The elderly censor cried out, "Your Majesty, the imperial power is inviolable! This old minister is willing to die to remonstrate with you!"
When the emperor of Northern Qi heard the proverb circulating among the people, his expression changed drastically.