Chapter 86: The Emperor’s Favoritism

“What are you doing?” Concubine Shu, caught off guard, fell to the ground, clutching her chest in pain, her face pale with cold sweat.

The surrounding nannies and eunuchs rushed to protect her.

Ping the Nanny and the others also hurriedly stopped Empress Zhuang.

“This maid has been in Linlang Palace for three years, besides you, who else would have placed someone in my Linlang Palace three years ago! It’s you! It’s you who did this!” Empress Zhuang glared fiercely at Concubine Shu.

If Ping the Nanny and the others hadn’t desperately stopped her, she would have charged forward to continue beating Concubine Shu.

Concubine Shu was unable to get up after being kicked, the intense pain and the humiliation of being beaten in front of the entire palace made her want to strangle Empress Zhuang to death.

She immediately looked at the Emperor, tears streaming down her face, “Your Majesty, this concubine is innocent! This concubine doesn’t know this maid at all, Empress Zhuang is falsely accusing this concubine and assaulting this concubine…”

“Your Majesty, Empress Zhuang assaulted a higher-ranking concubine, acting below her station, she should be severely punished!” Concubine Cen was shocked by Empress Zhuang’s recklessness and stepped forward to speak for her.

The concubines from the Cen faction all came forward to accuse her, “Without any evidence, Empress Zhuang is making up a story that it was Concubine Shu, doesn’t that mean she can falsely accuse any innocent person!”

“Concubine Shu is so innocent, Empress Zhuang is so arrogant. Please punish her severely, Your Majesty!”

Empress Zhuang ignored these words, she just stared at Concubine Shu with cold, piercing eyes, her anger surging.

Helian Qi didn’t expect Empress Zhuang to suddenly attack Concubine Shu…

He also suspected Concubine Shu.

The new concubines had only entered the palace this year, the person who could have planned this three years ago and had the means to do so could only be Concubine Shu.

But without any evidence, he couldn’t punish her.

“Empress Zhuang is acting out of excessive grief because of the Princess’s incident, her love for her daughter is understandable.” Helian Qi openly showed favoritism, “Empress Zhuang will be fined one year’s salary and confined to her palace for two months.”

Disregarding rank and acting below her station, such a serious crime, and she was only fined and confined to her palace.

The new concubines were all stunned.

Even Xue Jin’yan and Concubine Cen were surprised by the Emperor’s favoritism towards Empress Zhuang.

No wonder she had the title of the most favored concubine in the past.

The new concubines were seeing the Emperor’s favoritism for the first time, but Concubine Shu had known for a long time.

In the Emperor’s eyes, even if Empress Zhuang beat her, it wasn’t a crime…

Of course, she wouldn’t make a scene with the Emperor, she maintained a virtuous and gentle demeanor, “Your Majesty is right, this concubine can also understand Empress Zhuang’s sister, after all, under her care, the Princess almost had an accident… My sister must be very self-blaming…”

After a pause, Concubine Shu changed the subject, “Empress Zhuang’s sister has never had any experience raising children, asking her to take care of the Eldest Princess is really asking too much. Please reconsider for the sake of the Eldest Princess’s safety, Your Majesty.”

“Besides you, there is no one else in the palace who has experience raising children. But you already have the Eldest Prince, it’s not convenient for you to take care of the Princess.” Helian Qi directly refused.

He couldn’t possibly let Concubine Shu take care of the Eldest Princess.

“Your Majesty, there is also the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager is now enjoying her retirement, she should experience the joy of having grandchildren…” A cold glint flashed in Concubine Shu’s eyes.

To target Empress Zhuang, she could give the Eldest Princess to the Xue family.

Taking a child away from its mother was the most cruel move for any concubine.

Although Empress Zhuang didn’t like the Eldest Princess, Concubine Shu knew very well that the Eldest Princess…

“You’re trying to take her away from me?” Concubine Shu was furious. “You’re trying to take her away from me!”

Concubine Shu was furious. “You’re trying to take her away from me!”

She had already planned her next move. First, she would take the child away from Empress Zhuang. Then, she would deal with Empress Zhuang, to avenge today’s humiliation.

Helian Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The concubines looked at each other, their ambitions to be promoted to a consort and take care of the Eldest Princess were extinguished by his words.

Who would be more suitable than Empress Dowager Xue to take care of the Eldest Princess?

“Your Majesty, it was this concubine’s fault for not taking good care of her today, please do whatever you see fit.” Empress Zhuang suddenly looked at Helian Qi and said in a deep voice, “Please allow this concubine to continue taking care of the Eldest Princess, this concubine will be more careful in the future!”

Concubine Shu was stunned. Didn’t you dislike the Eldest Princess? You’ve become quite clever at this moment?

Helian Qi’s gaze fell on Empress Zhuang’s face, their eyes met, and he said gently, “Empress Zhuang has taken care of the Eldest Princess for three years, diligently and responsibly. Today’s mistake cannot be entirely blamed on her. Empress Zhuang will be fined one year’s salary as a warning.”

Helian Qi brushed over the matter, then turned to Concubine Shu and said, “The imperial physician will accompany Concubine Shu back to the palace, take good care of yourself. Wang Degui, give Concubine Shu a hundred-year-old ginseng.”

“Yes.” Wang Degui accepted the order.

“You are all dismissed.” Helian Qi turned to the concubines.

The concubines accepted the order, “This concubine takes her leave.”

Concubine Shu was unwilling, but the Emperor had already “punished” Empress Zhuang and “soothed” her, there was no point in continuing to argue.

Concubine Shu’s expression showed no displeasure, she said softly, “This concubine thanks Your Majesty for your concern.”

Ning Wanyin left Linlang Palace with the other concubines.

As soon as they left the palace gate.

Wei Yingya leaned against the maid, her legs weak, “I was so scared… I thought I was going to die just now…”

She then excitedly looked at Ning Wanyin, “Thank you, Consort Ning, for your help, you saved my life!”

“You’re welcome.” Ning Wanyin replied.

She thought to herself, the other party actually attacked the Eldest Princess, they must not know that Doctor Sun went to check…

This matter wasn’t deliberately concealed, anyone who investigated carefully would know.

The other party must have acted on impulse, without much preparation.

They were hasty and reckless, thinking they had everything under control, this kind of behavior didn’t seem like Concubine Shu.

She had some other suspects in mind.

But the clues had been broken, suspicion without evidence was just suspicion after all.

…

In Linlang Palace.

The concubines had dispersed, the imperial physician took the Eldest Princess to her palace.

In the main hall, only the Emperor and Empress were left standing face to face.

“Empress Zhuang, you’ve worked hard these past few years.” Helian Qi looked at Empress Zhuang.

Why did Empress Zhuang, who clearly disliked the Eldest Princess, keep the child?

Because three years ago, when Helian Qi ascended the throne and decided to have her raise the child, Empress Zhuang was the first to suggest giving the child to Empress Dowager Xue.

“She is a daughter of the Xue family, she is family with Empress Dowager Xue, why should I, an outsider, take her?” Empress Zhuang had refused at the time.

Helian Qi looked at her and said, “Because I don’t trust the Xue family, and I don’t trust anyone else in this palace. Only by entrusting her to you can I feel at ease.”

All of Empress Zhuang’s reluctance was suppressed by those words, “I feel at ease.”

He could entrust his daughter to her, trust that she wouldn’t use the Princess, wouldn’t harm the Princess.

This trust, unique to her, made her willing to do anything.

And these past few years, the tense relationship between the Emperor and the Xue family was obvious.

Even though she wasn’t particularly smart, she could see that if the Princess was raised by Empress Dowager Xue, she would become another daughter of the Xue family, someone who would stand against the Emperor for the Xue family’s interests.

Back then, she raised this daughter for the Emperor.

But now, she had a second reason.

She didn’t want the Princess to end up like that.

“Your Majesty still allows this concubine to raise the Eldest Princess, this concubine should thank Your Majesty for still trusting this concubine a little.” Empress Zhuang’s words were laced with sarcasm.

Helian Qi looked at her quietly for a moment, then turned and said, “I’ll go see the Princess.”