Chapter 49: After the Rain, the Sky Clears

Ning Wanyin had a wound on her forehead, and Helian Qi, out of concern, didn’t do anything.

The two of them changed into clean clothes and sat by the window, playing a game of chess.

Outside, the sky was still overcast with dark clouds, and the rain was pouring down, but inside Lingsxue Pavilion, it was as if the rain had cleared.

“Your Majesty brought this concubine back today, I’m afraid the Empress Dowager won’t be happy?” Ning Wanyin looked at Helian Qi.

Helian Qi’s eyes were cold, “If she ever troubles you again, you can send someone to find me.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Ning Wanyin smiled brightly, then said with a hint of embarrassment, “The Empress Dowager has always disliked me, with Your Majesty’s protection, this concubine can feel much more at ease.”

Ning Wanyin intentionally showed weakness today, but she didn’t plan to be bullied every time.

She had tested the Emperor’s attitude, and it would be easier to deal with things in the future.

It seemed that the fire in Linlang Palace had broken the short-lived peace between the Emperor and the Xue family.

“You suffered today.” Helian Qi looked at the wound on her forehead, a hint of concern flashing in his eyes, “Next time you go out, bring Xia Yong with you. If something happens, even if a palace maid can stop something, even if I avenge you afterwards, you’ll still be injured.”

Ning Wanyin thought, how could you understand my situation if I wasn’t miserable?

Only by letting the Emperor know that she needed to rely on him to survive.

He could then use her with peace of mind.

“Thank you for reminding me, Your Majesty, I understand.” Ning Wanyin nodded obediently.

…

Outside Cining Palace.

The two eunuchs who had done the deed were dragged away by the Department of Punishment.

The eunuch in charge, Liu Zhen, was also about to be taken away, but the Empress Dowager sent a mammy to stop him:

“The Empress Dowager asked Jieyu Ning to pray for blessings, and those two slaves dared to disrespect the Jieyu, it’s only right that they be executed with a hundred lashes. But the eunuch in charge, Liu Zhen, was only supervising Jieyu Ning, he didn’t mean to disrespect her, he should be punished with twenty lashes as a warning to others, please, Your Majesty, be aware of this.”

Wang Degui, of course, didn’t have the power to disobey the Empress Dowager, he could only nod and go to ask the Emperor for permission.

Mammy Tian continued to convey, “The Empress Dowager said that the Emperor was right about the prayer ceremony. So, everything is left to Noble Lady Xue.”

Xue Jinyan’s face turned pale, she didn’t understand why her aunt would rather protect a eunuch than help her…

Seeing this, Wang Degui breathed a sigh of relief.

He was afraid that Empress Dowager Xue would insist on protecting Xue Jinyan, otherwise, this matter would have been a big deal.

Mammy Tian walked in front of Xue Jinyan and said, “Noble Lady is praying for the country, it’s for the country and the people, the Empress Dowager is very pleased. She has rewarded Noble Lady Xue with a jade Buddha and a pair of jade ruyi…”

She listed a bunch of rewards.

Although Xue Jinyan was feeling wronged, she could only accept the order, “Thank you for the Empress Dowager’s reward.”

Seeing this, Wang Degui quickly went to ask the Emperor for permission.

The Emperor didn’t say much, and the matter was settled.

For three whole hours, Xue Jinyan kowtowed until her forehead was bruised and bleeding, her knees were soaked in rainwater and had long lost all feeling…

She was carried into Cining Palace by two maids.

“Quickly go and call the imperial physician.” Empress Dowager Xue immediately ordered.

Xue Jinyan felt very wronged, “Aunt…”

“I know you suffered today…” Empress Dowager Xue didn’t want to save Xue Jinyan.

But she was caught off guard.

Empress Dowager Xue found an excuse to make Ning Wanyin pray for blessings, and the Emperor used this as an excuse to make Xue Jinyan pray for blessings…

She had no grounds to act.

The imperial decree had been issued.

What could the Empress Dowager do?

However, Empress Dowager Xue was not someone to be trifled with. Although she had been outmaneuvered, she had salvaged the Xue family’s reputation as much as possible.

Liu Zhen couldn’t die.

If the eunuch in charge of Cining Palace died, then Cining Palace’s reputation would be completely ruined.

Moreover, he hadn’t actually done anything himself, and the Empress Dowager would naturally protect those she could.

As for the prayer ceremony, since it had already been decided, let it become a “merit.”

In this way, although the Xue family had lost ground, they hadn’t lost face too badly.

“…Go back and rest well. In two days, I will promote you to the rank of Beauty for your merit in praying for blessings.” Empress Dowager Xue comforted softly.

Xue Jinyan was unwilling, “Should we just let Ning Wanyin be so arrogant?”

“The one who is arrogant is the Emperor.” Empress Dowager Xue’s voice was icy.

Xue Jinyan was startled, she bit her lip tightly, “Yan’er understands.”

She would remember today’s humiliation and repay Ning Wanyin a hundredfold!

Xue Jinyan was sent back to Qionghua Garden.

Empress Dowager Xue looked at the heavy rain outside and muttered to herself, “I didn’t expect the Emperor to protect Ning Wanyin so much…”

This was unexpected.

But even knowing this, she would still target Ning Wanyin.

Because, the Xue family’s face could be lost to the Emperor, but not to Ning Wanyin.

Ning Wanyin dared to hit Xue Jinyan, she must be punished.

Now that the Emperor was protecting Ning Wanyin, and the Xue family was suppressed by the Emperor, it wasn’t really a loss of face.

“It’s useless for you to protect her.” A cold glint flashed in Empress Dowager Xue’s eyes.

Using power to intimidate was the simplest method.

There were many ways to kill without bloodshed in the palace.

…

In Tingyu Xie.

Jieyu Song and Concubine Wen watched in shock as the Emperor carried Ning Wanyin onto the imperial sedan chair…

While Xue Jinyan was forced to kowtow and pray for blessings in the rain.

“The Emperor actually came to pick her up… Didn’t he ignore her last time?” Song Qingzhi felt a pang in her heart.

She remembered being left to copy scriptures last time…

Why did the Emperor care so much about Ning Wanyin!

Concubine Wen was also deeply shocked. Her father was right, Ning Wanyin had become the Emperor’s favorite concubine by stepping on the Xue family’s face!

She could completely replace Ning Wanyin.

With the Emperor backing her, what was she afraid of the Xue family for?

Song Qingzhi left in a dejected mood.

Concubine Wen stayed and continued to enjoy the scene for a while, then instructed her maid, “From today onwards, secretly keep a close eye on Noble Lady Xue’s every move.”

“Yes.”

…

Two days later, the Empress Dowager promoted Xue Jinyan to the rank of Beauty.

Everyone was very tacit, no one dared to say anything more. The Xue family could only be suppressed by the Emperor, the Cen family could play against them, everyone else had to stay away.

This matter quickly turned a page in the palace.

The concubines’ minds were now focused on vying for the Emperor’s favor.

Because Ning Wanyin’s jade tablet had been removed from the Department of Palace Etiquette.

Her forehead was injured and needed to rest, she wasn’t suitable for sleeping with the Emperor.

Ning Wanyin didn’t want to affect her wound recovery for the sake of sleeping with the Emperor, she took the initiative to send someone to remove her jade tablet.

The concubines wouldn’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they all tried their best to stand out!

“Your Majesty, this is a new ice drink that this concubine has recently developed, ice cake and suxue.” Wei Yingya presented two snacks.

These were checked by the imperial physician and the poison tester before they could be brought to the Emperor.

A white object, like cheese, was placed in a delicate bowl, sprinkled with melon seeds and almonds, crispy.

It was “ice cream,” Wei Yingya named it suxue.

The other dish was an ice cake made with watermelon juice, with a honey bean filling.

Helian Qi had never seen such a novel food before, he picked up a spoon and took a bite of suxue, it was sweet and refreshing, with a rich milky flavor.

He then used chopsticks to pick up a piece of ice cake and took a bite, it was crisp and refreshing.

“Very good.” Helian Qi nodded slightly, very approving.

Wei Yingya’s heart leaped with joy, Chinese cuisine is truly invincible…