Chapter 10: The Emperor Protects

In the Cining Palace, all the concubines had already left, leaving only Concubine Xue to chat with the Empress Dowager.

Noble Consort Shu and Wang Degui arrived at the Cining Palace together.

“Your Majesty, please forgive this servant, it’s all because this servant is stupid and couldn’t convey the emperor’s decree to you in time…” Wang Degui repeated the emperor’s words, trembling, “His Majesty also said… he also said that Noble Consort Ning greets you every day, she is definitely not disrespectful, and the one time she was absent was because of me. I hope the Empress Dowager can understand.”

Empress Dowager Xue’s face was gloomy.

The emperor was clearly protecting Ning Wanyin, and he said it was his fault, so naturally Empress Dowager Xue couldn’t punish Ning Wanyin anymore, she said coldly, “Since the emperor is pleading for her, then I will let her off this time. You can go.”

Wang Degui wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly retreated.

Noble Consort Shu wouldn’t stay to watch the Empress Dowager get angry, so she also quickly bowed and retreated.

After the outsiders left.

The chief eunuch, Liu Zhen, said angrily, “Your Majesty, the emperor actually slapped you in the face for a woman! He completely forgot that without your support, how could he ascend the throne! You can’t let this go!”

When Empress Dowager Xue was Empress, she held the power of the palace.

At that time, the emperor, who was still a prince, could only bow to her respectfully, how dare he oppose his mother.

Therefore, the people in the Cining Palace felt superior, even when facing the emperor.

“Alright, you can also leave, let me think about it.” Empress Dowager Xue was furious, but she didn’t make any impulsive decisions, instead, she dismissed the palace servants.

The winner of the previous generation’s palace was not a simple person.

Liu Zhen led the palace servants to retreat.

Empress Dowager Xue looked at Concubine Xue, her expression complex, “Yan’er, we both misjudged him, thinking he was easy to control. The emperor has been laying out his plans in the court for the past three years, competing with us, and he has already established a foundation. It’s difficult to change the emperor now, so the family specially sent you to the palace.”

“Yan’er understands. Aunt, why are you saying this now…” Concubine Xue felt that today’s incident was very embarrassing for her aunt, and as a woman from the Xue family, she was also very angry.

“The emperor is not a puppet, and he won’t be content with being a puppet. Therefore, you have to see through the emperor’s true intentions, don’t be blinded by anger.” Empress Dowager Xue instructed, a sneer appearing on her face, “The emperor can’t directly break with us, so you will be made a Jieyu. This is the emperor’s compromise with the Xue family, he wants me to take a step back now, and he’s using this Noble Consort Ning as a pawn.”

Concubine Xue was a little confused, “Aunt, how do you take a step back?”

“Didn’t the emperor say it? Noble Consort Ning greets me every day…” Empress Dowager Xue’s eyes were cold.

Every day, greeting her. The emperor had made it clear enough.

Concubine Xue was stunned, and she suddenly realized, “His Majesty wants you to be like the previous Empress Dowagers…”

No longer greeting her every day, only on the first and fifteenth of each month.

Then the Empress Dowager’s control and deterrence over the palace would be greatly reduced.

Now, the concubines have to go to greet her every day, and they are reprimanded and threatened by the Empress Dowager.

The emperor’s concubines have to act according to the Empress Dowager’s wishes.

The emperor can’t tolerate this.

“You…” Concubine Xue looked at the Empress Dowager with worry. If she gave up power, then the Xue family’s influence in the palace would be reduced…

“Let’s see, I need to think carefully.” A hint of worry flashed in Empress Dowager Xue’s eyes. The emperor is like…

The Empress Dowager had no choice but to let it go if the emperor didn’t favor Concubine Xue. They needed a prince with Xue family blood!

…

The Cining Palace was shrouded in gloom, but the Lingxue Pavilion was bustling with activity.

After Wang Degui went to the Cining Palace to apologize, he immediately went to the inner treasury to bring back silk and jewelry.

In addition, there were gold and silver items as a reward according to her rank.

Palace maids and eunuchs carried trays of gift boxes, filling the courtyard of the Lingxue Pavilion.

“Noble Consort, this set of red gold filigree inlaid with a hundred precious butterfly head ornaments is a top-notch treasure, with a total of twenty-eight pieces. And this soft jade silk from Shu, it’s soft as clouds, the embroidery is exquisite, it’s very beautiful.” Wang Degui introduced enthusiastically.

This Noble Consort was so favored and valued by the emperor, he naturally wouldn’t be negligent.

Ning Wanyin looked at the dazzling array of treasures and silk, her thin lips curved slightly.

The emperor was quite good at giving gifts.

She loved luxurious things.

This was to her liking.

“Thank you for the emperor’s favor.” Ning Wanyin bowed slightly to the items to express her gratitude for the emperor’s grace.

Wang Degui pointed to a row of eunuchs from the Imperial Bedchamber, “His Majesty heard that you like lotus flowers, so he specially ordered this servant to build a pond for you to plant lotus flowers. Do you have any requirements for the style of the lotus pond…”

Build a lotus pond?

Ning Wanyin did like lotus flowers, and she also had a lotus pond at home. The most suitable water depth for lotus flowers is less than a person’s height, if a pond is dug specifically for planting lotus flowers, then the pond will definitely not be too deep.

It’s the kind where you won’t drown if you fall in and can stand up.

Ning Wanyin smiled faintly, “Thank you for the emperor’s grace! This concubine has no requirements, everything is up to you. When the lotus flowers bloom in the summer, this concubine will personally pick lotus flowers and give them to the emperor!”

“Noble Consort is truly showing great affection for the emperor.” Wang Degui laughed and flattered her.

…

The Zhongcui Palace, the Mozhu Xuan.

“Master, I just heard the news, the emperor came forward and protected Noble Consort Ning. He also gave her a lot of rewards!” Shi’er, her personal maid, said angrily, “Why did the emperor ignore you when you were being bullied by the Empress Dowager yesterday…”

Song Qingzhi was stunned, she frowned, “Don’t blame the emperor.”

Shi’er reluctantly shut her mouth.

Song Qingzhi lowered her eyes, her gaze fell back on the book, but her mind was not at ease.

She had been secretly comforting herself, the emperor was a man who did great things, how could he waste his time in the palace? She was only kept by the Empress Dowager for a day, of course, the emperor didn’t need to go to such great lengths…

But it turned out that the emperor’s favor for someone was so obvious.

She was simply not the one he loved.

Song Qingzhi’s hand holding the book tightened involuntarily.

…

Everyone in the palace was waiting to see the drama unfold in the Lingxue Pavilion, but they didn’t expect that Ning Wanyin was not only not sent to the cold palace, but she also received a lot of rewards from the emperor.

Everyone was shocked, only Tang Miaoling was very calm.

Because she had been shocked once in her previous life.

She was leisurely nestled in her bedroom, holding a plate of sugar-coated melon seeds, happily munching on them.

After removing the emperor from her life, she only thought about eating and drinking well, wasn’t that wonderful?

“Meiren, there’s news from the emperor. Noble Consort Ning will still serve him tonight!” Qiu Xia, the head palace maid, reminded her.

Qiu Xia was an old hand in the palace, and she was also from the Tang family.

The four Marquis’ Mansions were powerful and influential, and they had some connections in the palace, it wasn’t difficult to arrange some palace maids in advance.

When Tang Miaoling was selected, the Tang family immediately assigned her to Tang Miaoling’s side to help her compete for the emperor’s favor.

“Hmm——” Tang Miaoling didn’t care, she happily munched on melon seeds.

“This Noble Consort Ning is your cousin, if you steal the favor of others, you will offend people, but you are cousins with Noble Consort Ning, she will definitely not mind.” Qiu Xia offered a suggestion.

“Crack——”

Tang Miaoling’s melon seed cracked in her mouth.

Steal her cousin’s favor?

You don’t have to think so highly of me!