Chapter 32: The Power to Assist in Managing the Six Palaces

The hall was very quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

Wang Degui was completely dumbfounded. Why did Lady Ning do this? It had nothing to do with you, and if anything happened to Concubine Shun, you would lose your own life.

Lady Ning was risking her life to save Tang Meiren.

What a loyal person!

Helian Qi stared at the woman kneeling before him for a long time, then slowly said, “Since you are willing to use your life as a guarantee, then I will entrust the safety of Concubine Shun to you. If Concubine Shun gives birth safely, I will credit you. If anything happens, your life…”

“Whatever Your Majesty decides.” Ning Wanyin answered decisively.

Helian Qi was truly surprised.

Actually, he didn’t think there was much connection between Ning Wanyin and Concubine Shun.

He just suspected everyone in the palace equally.

But Ning Wanyin was willing to risk her life to save Tang Miaoling, he could be sure that even if Tang Miaoling was the one who did it today, Ning Wanyin would definitely not know.

As long as Ning Wanyin did her best, if anything happened in the future, he wouldn’t really blame her.

After all, even he tried his best to protect her, and Concubine Shun still had an accident.

Ning Wanyin wasn’t a god, how could she guarantee that nothing would go wrong.

“Wang Degui, send an order to Noble Consort Shu, confine Tang Miaoling, don’t torture her.” Helian Qi instructed the person beside him, then looked at Ning Wanyin:

“You can go now. From now on, Concubine Shun will be in your care.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Ning Wanyin bowed to express her gratitude.

…

Back in the warm pavilion.

Lianrui anxiously said, “Madam, Concubine Shun is only two months pregnant, and there have already been two accidents. Who knows how many more things will happen in the future, why did you take on this hot potato…”

“If I didn’t say that, how could I dispel the Emperor’s suspicions? And how could I stop those with ulterior motives from taking advantage of the situation and dragging me down?” Ning Wanyin said calmly:

“If Noble Consort Shu tortures Tang Miaoling, she will definitely say that I instructed her. Even though it’s just one person’s word, it won’t be able to bring me down. But the Emperor will definitely suspect me…”

“Using power for personal gain, bullying concubines, even interfering in politics, the Emperor might not kill me, but the dragon heir is clearly his Achilles’ heel. I can’t let him have murderous intent towards me.”

Lianrui worried, “But… but what if… what will you do then?”

“As long as the Emperor believes that I have no intention of harming her, as long as I do my best, even if something really happens, the Emperor will show mercy.” Ning Wanyin said slowly.

Lianrui couldn’t understand for a moment. Now you are just suspected, and the Emperor might have murderous intent. But if Concubine Shun really has an accident under your care, the Emperor will show mercy?

What kind of logic is that.

It’s very simple, Ning Wanyin gained Helian Qi’s trust through this move.

In Helian Qi’s eyes, she was willing to risk her life to protect Concubine Shun. Why would such a person kill?

“This is the best outcome for now. Firstly, it prevents me from being dragged down and dispels the Emperor’s suspicions. Secondly, it saves Tang Miaoling. Thirdly, it also accumulates some experience in protecting the fetus.” Ning Wanyin analyzed the pros and cons of this matter in an orderly manner, then paused and said:

“After returning to the palace, I have to see Tang Miaoling, to investigate what happened.”

…

After Ning Wanyin pleaded for her, the Emperor confined Tang Miaoling.

For a while, rumors of the ‘enchantress who bewitched the Emperor’s heart’ spread throughout the court and the palace.”

If you want a more literal version while still sounding fluent:

“For a time, news of the ‘enchantress who confused the Emperor’s heart’ spread throughout the court and palace.

The news spread like wildfire.

“Did you hear, Lady? Noble Consort Shu arrested Tang Miaoling and was about to torture her… Ning went to plead for her, and the Emperor actually spared her from torture, only confining her.” Shi’er was indignant:

“Even for attempting to harm the dragon heir, the Emperor can show mercy. The Emperor is truly bewitched…”

Song Qingzhi’s eyes were filled with resentment, “The Emperor favors her, it’s obvious. Even if she killed someone, he would protect her.”

Wen Baolin, who was also preparing to return to the palace, heard the news:

“My father was right, Ning Wanyin has such favor, I should indeed befriend her. And she was willing to plead for Tang Miaoling, she is a person of loyalty. As long as she also considers me a sister, I will have another helper in the palace.”

…

Helian Qi returned to the imperial palace and immediately interrogated Tang Miaoling.

Tang Miaoling had watched Qiu Xia, who was perfectly fine, enter the Department of Punishments, but was carried out covered in blood. She was terrified.

“Your Majesty, I am innocent. I really didn’t harm Concubine Shun…” Tang Miaoling stammered as she kowtowed.

Helian Qi’s sharp eyes stared at her, “Then what evidence do you have?”

“I… I didn’t harm Concubine Shun…” Tang Miaoling really didn’t know how to prove it, and when the Emperor asked her, she could only stammer out this sentence.

A flash of annoyance crossed Helian Qi’s eyes.

What’s the use of repeating the same sentence over and over again.

According to his usual temper, he would directly send Tang Miaoling to the Department of Punishments, but this time he just waved his hand and said, “Drag her away.”

“Yes.” Wang Degui immediately led a few eunuchs to drag Tang Miaoling away.

Tang Miaoling was scared out of her wits, thinking that she was being dragged away to be beheaded, she immediately cried her heart out, struggling and shouting: “Your Majesty, spare me, I am innocent! I really didn’t harm Concubine Shun…”

Helian Qi: …

Wang Degui dragged Tang Miaoling away and came back to report, “Your Majesty, Noble Consort Shu and the others are waiting in the side hall.”

The Emperor returned to the palace, and the concubines had to greet him. Especially after the incident with Concubine Shun, Noble Consort Shu, as the one in charge of the Six Palaces, should also come to apologize.

“Let them all come in.” Helian Qi said indifferently.

Noble Consort Shu led the concubines in to pay their respects.

Ning Wanyin and the concubines who had just returned to the palace were also among them.

Everyone didn’t know what the Emperor had said to Tang Miaoling, but seeing her being dragged away crying…

They all secretly guessed that if it weren’t for Ning Wanyin’s plea, Tang Miaoling would definitely be dead.

“This concubine begs Your Majesty’s forgiveness, I failed to take good care of Concubine Shun, it was my negligence.” Noble Consort Shu bowed to apologize.

Helian Qi glanced at her coldly, “I put you in charge of the Six Palaces, but you let Concubine Shun almost have an accident, it is indeed your negligence.”

“Your Majesty, there are many things to manage in the palace, Noble Consort Shu has always been in charge of everything. You can’t guard against everything, and even a family thief is hard to guard against. That palace maid was Concubine Shun’s person, and even in her own palace, something happened, Noble Consort Shu is also powerless.” Concubine Cen interjected.

The implication was that it was Concubine Shun’s own fault.

Helian Qi said, “Noble Consort Shu is busy with her affairs, I will choose someone to assist her in managing the Six Palaces.”

Everyone fell silent, especially Noble Consort Shu herself, her whole body stiffened.

“Lady Ning—” Helian Qi called out.

Ning Wanyin stepped forward and bowed, “This concubine greets Your Majesty.”

“From today onwards, you will assist Noble Consort Shu in managing the Six Palaces. Since Noble Consort Shu can’t manage it, I will entrust Concubine Shun’s fetus to you.” Helian Qi ordered.

Ning Wanyin bowed respectfully, “This concubine accepts the decree.”

Noble Consort Shu immediately looked at Ning Wanyin, the soft hands hidden in her sleeves instantly clenched. She had known that Concubine Xue and Concubine Cen were aiming for the position of Empress, and the “power of the Empress” in her hands might be taken away.

But she never expected that the first person to take away her power would be Ning Wanyin, whom she didn’t even take seriously.

“Your Majesty, Lady Ning is a very good person, and this concubine also likes her very much. But she has only been in the palace for a month, she is still inexperienced, I’m afraid she won’t be able to command respect?” Lady Fang smiled and raised an objection.