Chapter 97: Double Promotion

Zheng Jiejue’s face turned white instantly, she looked at Concubine Shu for help.

Concubine Shu cursed Ning Wanyin in her heart for being difficult, she smiled and said, “Zheng Jiejue, what you said is indeed inappropriate… Right, about the Empress Dowager’s memorial service…”

She abruptly changed the subject.

Since they weren’t forcing Wei Yingya to kneel, Ning Wanyin wasn’t forcing Zheng Jiejue to admit her guilt.

Both sides took a step back.

On the surface, everything was peaceful.

Wei Yingya looked at Ning Wanyin with gratitude.

Ning Jie, you are truly my god!

Please don’t die, please, please.

I will definitely make a wish for you to live a long life for the next three birthdays, it must be one of them!

In a moment, Wang Degui arrived with an imperial decree.

“Please, Cen Jiejue, receive the decree!” Wang Degui smiled.

The concubines all bowed, Cen Jiejue knelt at the front.

Family merit was an important way for concubines to be promoted.

In Great Yan, where the concept of family was strong, if one person had merit, their wife and children would be rewarded.

It was common practice to reward the family members of meritorious officials. The Cen family had such great achievements, Cen Jiejue would definitely be promoted, no one was surprised.

“Imperial decree, Cen Jiejue is virtuous, kind, and respectful, she is promoted to Zhaoyi.”

Cen Jiejue had known this would happen, she calmly thanked him, “Your concubine thanks Your Majesty for his great kindness!”

The concubines were about to get up…

Wang Degui immediately reminded them, “His Majesty has another decree.”

“Imperial decree, Ying Meiren is from a distinguished family, she is intelligent and virtuous, she is promoted to Jiejue.”

Wang Degui finished reading.

The concubines were all stunned.

The most stunned was Wei Yingya, she was dazed as she accepted the decree, “Your concubine thanks Your Majesty for his great kindness.”

Concubine Shu asked in surprise, “Wang Gonggong, I wonder, why is Ying Meiren being promoted this time…?”

“The southwest has won a great victory, the Wei family has made great contributions, so His Majesty has bestowed this favor.” Wang Degui also secretly clicked his tongue.

The emperor’s favor was very unexpected.

The Wei family did have great achievements…

Wei Yingya was indeed a daughter of the Wei family.

Putting it all together, there was nothing wrong with it.

Ning Wanyin had heard the words “from a distinguished family”…

She understood the emperor’s meaning, Ying Meiren’s promotion was due to her family’s merits.

Using the Wei family’s merits to promote the person the Wei family most wanted to kill…

How cruel of you.

The emperor had always been a man who believed in rewarding good and punishing evil.

He promoted Wei Yingya, slapping the Wei family and the Cen family in the face.

Could it be that this great victory was problematic?

The Cen faction, after hearing Wang Degui’s answer, felt as if they had swallowed a swarm of flies, it was disgusting.

They were extremely disgusted.

Even with Cen Zhaoyi’s usual good temperament, seeing this newly promoted Ying Jiejue, she only felt annoyed.

“Some people are really good at taking advantage of things…” Zheng Jiejue was extremely sour.

She was an old servant from the prince’s residence, she had been promoted to Jiejue after several years. Wei Yingya had gotten lucky, she was now above her, how could she not be sour?

Although Wei Yingya was very confused, she smiled brightly at Cen Zhaoyi, “Thank you!”

Cen Zhaoyi: …

…

Leaving Jingxi Palace.

Wei Yingya was gloating. Seeing the Cen faction unhappy made her happy.

But she also felt a little sentimental.

She had used all her tricks and worked hard to be promoted, the emperor had only given her a title…

She was still stuck at the rank of Meiren.

Now she was promoted to Jiejue so easily…

It was truly, the more you try to plant flowers, the less they bloom, the more you try to plant willows, the more they grow.

Wei Yingya had just returned to…

In the palace, Shi Meiren paid a visit.

“Congratulations, Ying Jiejue!” Shi Meiren said with a smile, “Among the new beauties, besides Cen Zhaoyi, only you have the highest rank now.”

Wei Yingya looked at her warily, “Shi Meiren, what brings you here today?”

“Your concubine is here to speak up for Ying Jiejue. You used to be on equal footing with Ning Jiejue, but after you sided with her, you haven’t been summoned to sleep with the emperor again. This Ning Jiejue, she monopolizes the emperor’s favor, she doesn’t know how to share some with her good sisters…” Shi Meiren sowed discord.

Wei Yingya thought, do you think I want to?

But she said politely, “Shi Meiren, please speak freely.”

“Xue Guizhu values you highly. Now your rank is higher than Ning Wanyin’s, you have a brighter future. There’s no need to follow her lead, why not side with Xue Guizhu?” Shi Meiren said with a smile.

Wei Yingya: ??? Isn’t Xue Jin’yan’s rank lower than Ning Shen’s?

But she also understood that Xue Jin’yan, as the representative of the Xue family, didn’t look at her current rank, but at the Xue family behind her.

“Your concubine is foolish, I’m not worthy of being entrusted with important tasks…” Wei Yingya declined politely.

Shi Meiren smiled ambiguously, “Ying Jiejue, you have to see the situation clearly. The Cen family has a blood feud with you, today you have offended them severely, you will surely be doomed. Ning Wanyin is going to die at the hands of our Xue Guizhu, if you follow her, you’ll be walking on two paths to death.”

“Those who know the times are heroes, if you side with Xue Guizhu, you naturally don’t have to fear the Cen family.”

Wei Yingya would never side with the Xue family.

In terms of emotion, Ning Wanyin had been kind to her, she couldn’t repay kindness with betrayal, for someone who grew up under the influence of socialist core values, she couldn’t do it.

In terms of benefit, I just joined the heroine’s team! What kind of ending do people who betray their sisters in the protagonist trio have, she had watched TV dramas!

But she suddenly had an idea.

She could actually go undercover for the Xue family!

On the one hand, she could use the Xue family’s power to take revenge on the Cen family. On the other hand, she could learn about their plans to deal with Ning Wanyin in advance and give Ning Wanyin a heads-up.

Wouldn’t this be a win-win situation?

Ning Shen and I both win once!

“Shi Jiejie, what you said makes sense! The Cen family harmed my father, I will never forgive the Cen family. Siding with Ning Jiejue was a helpless move, if the Xue family is willing to help me, I would naturally be willing to serve the Xue family with all my heart and soul!” Wei Yingya immediately looked like she had met a kindred spirit, she said excitedly, “Everyone knows that the only ones who can deal with the Cen family are the Xue family! I believe the Xue family will definitely avenge me!”

Shi Meiren wasn’t surprised by her reaction at all.

Most people in the world, when faced with a choice between the Xue family and Ning Wanyin, would choose the former.

Especially since Wei Yingya’s current situation was precarious.

She needed a patron to survive.

And everyone knew that the only ones who could protect her from the Cen family were the Xue family!

“As long as you serve Xue Guizhu, the Xue family will naturally protect you.” Shi Meiren didn’t mention how to deal with the Cen family specifically, she avoided the important points.

This was just a promise, dealing with the Cen family wasn’t a simple matter.

They just wanted to use Wei Yingya to deal with Ning Wanyin.

“You continue to stay by Ning Wanyin’s side, pretend that everything is normal, and cooperate with Xue Guizhu’s plan.” Shi Meiren instructed.

Wei Yingya was stunned. Ah? She was already prepared to pretend to turn against Ning Wanyin, but you want me to continue acting like good sisters?

That would be, a natural performance.

“No problem.” Wei Yingya nodded, and then pledged her loyalty, “Your concubine will follow Xue Guizhu’s arrangements.”

Come on, tell me, how do you want to deal with my Ning Shen?

Heh.

Wei Yingya, to prevent the Xue faction from suspecting her, didn’t go to see Ning Wanyin immediately.

She held it in for three days…

Then, when Tang Miaoling asked her to play, she went to see Ning Wanyin with her.

She immediately spilled the beans about Shi Meiren’s visit to her, she told her everything.