Chapter 13: Ning Shi is My Treasure

In the Cining Palace.

Empress Dowager Xue rubbed her temples, her face filled with helplessness. “Brother, why are you so impulsive? Why did you order those officials to submit memorials?”

“Your Majesty, please calm down. His Majesty favors Ning Shi, and Xue Jieyu hasn’t even been favored yet. The Duke is also anxious!” Liu Zhen comforted her.

“What is Ning Shi? She’s just a tool the Emperor is using.” Empress Dowager Xue’s face darkened:

“Brother, you’ve gone too far. You pressured the Emperor, and he actually promoted her rank, making our Xue family’s face even more embarrassing. Time is of the essence, I can’t delay any longer…”

She couldn’t bring herself to relinquish power.

But the Emperor had made it clear with his actions. If she didn’t back down, he would support Ning Wanyin’s rise step by step.

“The Emperor has left some room for maneuver. I’ll take advantage of this and stop here.” Empress Dowager Xue made up her mind and sighed in dejection.

Liu Zhen was puzzled. “Your Majesty, the Emperor is so aggressive, promoting that Ning Shi, clearly slapping you and the Duke in the face! Where is the room for maneuver?”

“The Emperor didn’t make her a Jieyu, he didn’t let this lowly woman overshadow Yan’er’s rank, that’s enough face for our Xue family. If we continue…”

If they continued to stalemate, it would be difficult to say.

“Invite the Emperor here. Tell him I’m feeling unwell and have decided to rest.” Empress Dowager Xue, having made up her mind, acted decisively.

…

The Empress Dowager was unwell, and the Emperor came to visit immediately.

Filial piety is a virtue, but sometimes it’s also a shackle. Even the Emperor couldn’t be unfilial.

“At noon today, I felt unwell. Perhaps it’s because I’m getting old and my energy is waning. From now on, don’t let your concubines come to bother me every day.” Empress Dowager Xue looked weak.

Helian Qi was waiting for this sentence. He immediately cooperated, “Mother’s health is paramount. But my concubines should serve Mother. Please allow them to come and pay their respects on the first and fifteenth of each month.”

A flicker of complexity crossed Empress Dowager Xue’s eyes.

If the concubines completely ignored the Empress Dowager, the Emperor would surely be accused of being unfilial.

He took advantage of the situation and proactively proposed to visit on the first and fifteenth. He was truly watertight, leaving no room for criticism.

If only her son could be as steady as Helian Qi, how could the throne fall into the hands of an outsider?

“Your filial piety touches my heart.” Empress Dowager Xue looked at the Emperor and said, “But there are two things I can’t let go of. One is a personal matter. Yan’er is my niece. I’m sick and can’t take care of her much. I hope you’ll take good care of her…”

“I understand. Mother, don’t worry.” Helian Qi agreed. This was what he expected.

“The other is a matter of state. I hear you favor Ning Shi alone, but the most important thing for an emperor is to shower his favor equally. How can you neglect the rest of the harem because of her? This woman is a fox who seduces the ruler, a grave sin! Your harem shouldn’t have such a woman.” Empress Dowager Xue’s eyes flashed with coldness.

Helian Qi’s face showed no emotion. He said calmly, “Mother, please calm down. Ning Shi is timid and weak, she just obeys me.”

Empress Dowager Xue was furious. She didn’t even put herself in her eyes, Ning Shi was incredibly bold, how could she be timid?

The Emperor was actually protecting a mere Ning Wanyin?

“Are you going to make me sick with anger for such a lowly woman?” Empress Dowager Xue asked back.

Helian Qi

He remained calm and composed. “Mother, you’re exaggerating. Ning Shi is insignificant, do with her as you please. But please tell me her crimes.”

The Empress Dowager, if she wanted someone dead, could easily fabricate charges.

The Emperor clearly wasn’t asking for a reason.

This was an exchange.

You want to kill Ning Wanyin.

Fine.

Then what will you give in return?

His deal with the Empress Dowager was that she would relinquish power, and he would elevate the Xue family, but it didn’t include giving away Ning Wanyin’s life as an extra.

“Ning Shi is very dear to me, I’m very reluctant to part with her. But as long as her guilt is established, I will never condone her.” Helian Qi continued with a pained expression.

The implication: Ning Shi is my treasure!

Kill her? You’ll have to pay extra!

Empress Dowager Xue was almost driven mad by him. What was Ning Shi? She was merely a source of disgust to her.

There were many ways to take Ning Shi’s life.

She was hardly worth the Xue family sacrificing any benefits for.

“Since the Emperor is reluctant, then forget it.” Empress Dowager Xue quickly changed the subject, resuming her maternal demeanor:

“I’ll entrust Yan’er to you…”

Helian Qi responded gently. He knew clearly that the Empress Dowager wouldn’t add any chips for Ning Wanyin, but in fact, even if she did, he wouldn’t kill Ning Wanyin.

If the pawns who fight for you can be given to your enemy, who will serve you faithfully in the future?

He wouldn’t, of course, tell the Empress Dowager the truth. Why would he let her know his true intentions?

…

Wang Degui waited outside the Cining Palace.

Seeing the Emperor come out, he immediately stepped forward. He inexplicably felt that although His Majesty seemed to have a pained expression, he was in a good mood.

“The Empress Dowager is unwell and needs to rest. Pass the Empress Dowager’s decree, from now on, except for the first and fifteenth, the concubines are not to disturb her.” The Emperor ordered.

Wang Degui was startled, quickly accepting the order, “Yes! I’ll immediately pass the decree to the Six Palaces!”

The Emperor returned to Qianxin Palace to review memorials.

As dusk fell, the eunuch from the Yiqin Si presented the concubines’ register, “Please, Your Majesty, review.”

Helian Qi’s gaze habitually fell on Ning Meiren’s jade tablet. He went to Lingxue Pavilion every day, and had grown accustomed to looking at the position of her jade tablet.

But his gaze only lingered for a moment, Helian Qi casually picked up another jade tablet—Xue Jieyu.

Xue Jieyu?

Wang Degui was shocked and quickly went to Qionghua Garden to announce the decree.

Though shocked, on closer thought, it wasn’t unexpected. The Emperor might have a temporary preference, but Xue and Cen, the two Dukes, were the pillars of Dayan, the Emperor wouldn’t neglect these two Jieyus.

On the night the Empress Dowager announced her illness, the Emperor went to Qionghua Garden.

The next day, Xue Jieyu was promoted to Xue Zhaoyi, becoming the highest-ranking concubine among the newcomers.

The limelight Ning Wanyin had enjoyed was immediately split in half by Xue Zhaoyi.

In the following days, the Emperor favored several of the newcomers, but he didn’t go to Lingxue Pavilion.

But none of these newcomers were promoted like Xue Zhaoyi, nor were they favored for five days like Ning Wanyin.

The two of them became the most favored among the newly promoted concubines.

On the fifteenth of March, it was the first time the concubines went to pay their respects since the Empress Dowager fell ill.

“Mistress, should we keep the makeup simple?” Danli asked. Last time the Mistress paid her respects, she dressed very inconspicuously.

“No, the Emperor bestowed these ornaments on me, I should wear them properly.” Ning Wanyin casually took a butterfly jade pendant from her dressing case and handed it to Danli.

No matter how she dressed, she would be the focus of the entire palace.

A favored concubine should look like one.

Ning Wanyin chose a crimson Shu brocade flower skirt, paired with a gold butterfly headdress, beautiful and imposing, radiant.

The maids and eunuchs of Lingxue Pavilion were stunned.

Ning Wanyin was originally a stunning beauty, and with this attire, she was truly breathtaking, peerless.

Ning Wanyin came out from the right hall and happened to meet Li Jieyu from the left hall.

Li Jieyu had moved in a few days ago.

Tang Miaoling applied to the Noble Consort for a change of palace, the Noble Consort was very surprised. Ning Wanyin was favored every day, such a good opportunity to see the Emperor, many concubines coveted it.

Why was Tang Miaoling being foolish?

The Noble Consort readily agreed. Now Yonghe Palace was a place many people coveted, and in the end, Li Jieyu moved in.

Ning Wanyin had prepared for three years to enter the palace, and she also knew something about the old concubines in the palace.

After a little thought, she understood why the Noble Consort chose her.

Li Jieyu was the most favored among the old concubines, besides Consort Zhuang.

Moreover, after Xue Zhaoyi entered the palace, she immediately sided with her and followed her lead.

New and old favorites, and also deadly rivals, living under the same roof, wouldn’t they be jealous?