Chapter 47: Forcing Her to “Pray for Blessings”

It was the fifteenth of May, and the rain was pouring down.

“Mistress, the rain started in the middle of the night, and it looks like it won’t stop for a while. Be careful, don’t get wet…” Lianrui held an oil-paper umbrella and helped Ning Wanyin into the sedan chair.

Ning Wanyin softly hummed in agreement.

The concubines gathered at Jingxi Palace as usual. Those with colorful sedan chairs were fine, but the others were somewhat disheveled.

“It seems Lady Ning has the Emperor’s favor. She hasn’t even reached the position of Lady Zhao, and she’s already riding in a sedan chair.” Lady Fang said sarcastically, “Sisters, you should learn from Lady Ning.”

She was slowly enjoying the sight of the lower-ranking concubines arriving in the rain, and she found it annoying that Ning Wanyin’s clothes were clean.

“Lady Fang, you flatter me. If Lady Fang needs to ask me for advice, I will definitely not hesitate to teach you.” Ning Wanyin replied calmly.

Lady Fang snorted, “I wouldn’t learn your low-class tricks…”

“Lady Zhao, it’s too early to say that. It’s not like you won’t have another chance in your life. Learn more, so you don’t repeat the same mistakes, right?” Ning Wanyin smiled faintly.

Lady Fang was almost driven mad by Ning Wanyin, but she had no words to say. Ning Wanyin was good at hitting where it hurt.

Wei Yingya saw this scene and silently recited in her heart, in palace intrigue dramas, those who are so arrogant don’t live past three episodes. I must learn from this!

“Sisters, we’re all here, we should go to the Empress Dowager’s palace to pay our respects.” Noble Consort Shu said with a smile.

Xue Jinyan was absent due to illness, she was ashamed of being slapped in public. No one from the Xue faction dared to provoke Ning Wanyin, their morale was low.

Noble Consort Shu thought, Ning Wanyin had severely damaged the Xue family’s reputation, if the Empress Dowager didn’t save face, how would the Xue faction survive?

There should be a good show today.

…

The concubines entered Cining Palace and paid their respects to the Empress Dowager.

“It’s hard for you to come here in such heavy rain to pay your respects to me, your filial piety touches me deeply.” Empress Dowager Xue said with a kind expression.

The concubines all said in unison, “It is our duty to be filial to the Empress Dowager.”

“Very good, very good… You are all filial children.” Empress Dowager Xue praised, her gaze fell on Ning Wanyin in the crowd, “Jieyu Ning, I heard that your grandmother is praying for blessings for me at the Buddha Pagoda, I forgot to thank you.”

Ning Wanyin stepped forward, “It is an honor for the Ning family, Empress Dowager, you flatter me.”

“I have another matter to trouble you with today. The abbot of the Buddha Pagoda told me that someone needs to perform a prayer ceremony in the palace to show sincerity. It would be even better if this person is related to the person praying at the Buddha Pagoda.” Empress Dowager Xue had a troubled expression, “This might be a bit much for you, but for the sake of Dayan, you are the most suitable candidate.”

Ning Wanyin readily agreed, “As you command, Empress Dowager.”

“Good child, I didn’t misjudge you. Then I’ll leave the matter of praying in the palace to you.” Empress Dowager Xue praised with a satisfied expression.

A mammy beside Empress Dowager Xue stepped forward and said, “The prayer ceremony requires Jieyu Ning to stand in front of the Empress Dowager’s palace gate and face…

The direction of the Buddha Pagoda, silently reciting scriptures, kowtowing for three hours, each sound hitting the ground.

The concubines were shocked. Kowtow for three hours? And they had to hear the sound? Ning Wanyin’s forehead would be bleeding!

“It’s still raining outside, I think we should postpone it to another day.” Consort Zhuang suddenly spoke.

She wasn’t trying to befriend Ning Wanyin…

But she owed her a favor. After helping her three times, the favor was repaid, and they were even.

She still disliked Ning Wanyin very much.

“Lady Zhuang, making a vow to the Buddha cannot be broken. Since it was promised for today, then it must be done today.” Lady Shi said loudly.

She was one of the four new beauties who entered the palace this year, and she was also the leader of the Xue faction.

If it was postponed, who knows what might happen.

Empress Dowager Xue looked at her approvingly, “Good. For the sake of Dayan’s national fortune, this matter cannot be delayed.”

“Jieyu Ning wouldn’t put her own interests above Dayan’s national fortune!” Lady Shi continued.

They were singing in unison, forcing Ning Wanyin to go out and kowtow immediately.

Lianrui was about to die of anxiety, she looked at Ning Wanyin with worry.

But Ning Wanyin just bowed, “This concubine accepts the order, I will not disappoint the Empress Dowager.”

Then, she followed the mammy who was leading the way and went outside to kneel and “pray for blessings.”

Noble Consort Shu was a little surprised. She was so obedient? But thinking about how the Empress Dowager punished her last time, she also obediently accepted it, so she didn’t find it surprising.

Even if Ning Wanyin was a little clever, in the face of absolute power, she was just a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Without the Emperor, how long could she last?

“You all go back.” Empress Dowager Xue was satisfied, she waved her hand.

The concubines dispersed with different expressions.

The eunuch in charge, Liu Zhen, flattered her, “Empress Dowager, your methods are truly brilliant, you disciplined this lowly woman with just a few words. She dared to hit Lady Xue, she was truly asking for death!”

“Yan’er planned this very well, I saw it all, there was nothing wrong. It was just that she was impulsive in the end, giving Ning a chance to slap the Xue family’s face… She’s still young, she can’t hold her temper.” Empress Dowager Xue shook her head.

Liu Zhen continued, “Empress Dowager, you used a clever strategy, you subdued everyone, who would dare to disrespect the Xue family? With your guidance, Lady Xue is so intelligent, she will definitely achieve great things!”

“She’s not bad.” Empress Dowager Xue was in a good mood after disciplining Ning Wanyin, she paused and said, “Go call her over. She’s afraid of losing face for doing a bad job, and she’s hiding and won’t come to see me, use my sedan chair to pick her up.”

“Yes.”

…

Consort Zhuang glanced at Ning Wanyin kneeling and kowtowing in front of the gate, she didn’t stop and got into her sedan chair.

The other concubines also went back one after another because of the heavy rain.

“Where is Jieyu Song going?” Concubine Wen looked at Song Qingzhi curiously.

She wasn’t going back to Mozhu Xuan.

Song Qingzhi said calmly, “It’s also a beautiful sight to see the lake in the rain.”

Cining Palace was near Taishou Lake.

Concubine Wen thought, what’s so beautiful about that…

But she glanced at the Tingyu Xie by Taishou Lake, and she instantly understood, wasn’t Tingyu Xie facing Cining Palace?

Sitting in Tingyu Xie, you could indeed see a beautiful view.

“Jieyu Song, you have such good taste, I’ll go with you to take a look.” Concubine Wen said.

The two of them went to Tingyu Xie together.

Sitting on the second floor, they could overlook the scene of Ning Wanyin kowtowing in front of Cining Palace.

The maids brought hot tea.

Concubine Wen picked up a cup and took a sip, pretending to be kind, “Oh, Jieyu Ning is so pitiful…”

“Isn’t that because she’s arrogant and domineering, and she’s getting what she deserves?” Song Qingzhi asked back, she deliberately chose a place with a good view, just to enjoy Ning Wanyin’s humiliation.

Concubine Wen smiled, “That’s true. By the way, I thought Lady Zhuang was going to help Jieyu Ning…”

“Lady Zhuang just asked out of courtesy because of the life-saving grace, she must be very happy to see her suffer.” Song Qingzhi sneered, “Before Ning Wanyin entered the palace, she was the most favored concubine in the six palaces.”

Concubine Wen thought, she thought the same, but she couldn’t say it directly.

Only you, who are arrogant and self-righteous, dare to speak without thinking.

“Jieyu Song, you are truly insightful…” Concubine Wen said with a smile.