frightfiction Chapter 533 A Last Resort
Chapter 533 A Last Resort
The Empress did not place high hopes on Consort Qi, but she did intend to use Consort Qi's youth and beauty to distract the Emperor from Zhen Huan, thereby weakening the status of Zhen Huan and others in the harem.
At the same time, with her biggest rival, Nian Shilan, already banished to the cold palace by the emperor, the empress now has no rivals in the harem.
Although the Empress did not directly reveal her true nature, she no longer maintained her previous magnanimity and virtue when dealing with the concubines.
Faced with the Empress Dowager's reprimand, the Empress could no longer hold back!
She wouldn't openly contradict the Empress Dowager or violate filial piety, but the Empress would just let the Empress Dowager's words go in one ear and out the other, and wouldn't take them to heart at all.
The Empress dared to do this because the Empress Dowager couldn't do anything about it.
Whether for the sake of Uya or Ulanara, the Empress Dowager needed to secure her position as Empress.
Once her position as empress is threatened, no matter how many means the empress dowager tries, she will not be able to influence the emperor's selection of a new empress.
Moreover, since the Empress's throne had always been passed around among her own family members, even if the Empress occasionally "rebelled," the Empress Dowager could do nothing about it.
Everything was developing in a direction that the Empress believed was good.
She had even begun to fantasize about suppressing Zhen Huan and others in the future, then trying to enthrone the Fourth Prince as the Crown Prince, and in a few years, she would become the unique "Mistress of the Harem".
But at this very moment, Consort Qi, whom the Empress regarded as a tool to suppress Zhen Huan's faction, unexpectedly failed to perform her duties!
"I truly don't understand what's wrong with her brain. Why would she go and provoke Consort Hui, right in front of the Empress Dowager? Isn't that just courting death?"
The Empress did not go out to see Consort Qi.
The reason why the other party had to kneel outside Jingren Palace was not because the Empress was punishing Consort Qi.
Originally, the Empress immediately sensed something was wrong after learning about Consort Qi's actions.
Although she was secretly vying with the Empress Dowager, she dared not make the slightest mistake on the surface, lest someone find fault with her and displease the Emperor.
Therefore, the Empress naturally wanted to distance herself from the matter.
Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager, in her fury, ordered Consort Qi to be taken to Jingren Palace, where the Empress resided, and forced her to kneel outside the palace gates to reflect on her actions.
Although it was the Empress's palace, Jingren Palace was one of the six palaces, with many people coming and going. The palace maids and eunuchs all saw this scene and inevitably started to gossip.
Even if they didn't dare say it in front of those nearby, the rumors had already spread throughout the inner palace.
Unconsciously, the Empress felt that her dignity had also been trampled underfoot by the Empress Dowager, and she felt anger towards the Empress Dowager and even more disgust towards Consort Qi.
"So, Your Highness, what do you mean? Should I go and send her away?"
Seeing that the Empress was getting angrier and angrier, Jianqiu, who had been ordered to go and check the situation, immediately and cautiously offered her own thoughts.
Since the Empress dislikes Consort Qi now, making her kneel outside won't help and will only exacerbate the Empress's displeasure. It's better to get rid of her quickly!
"No need."
The Empress shook her head, her tone icy, "Since it's the Empress Dowager's order, I'll see how long this farce lasts!"
Although she was very unhappy, the empress was still the empress after all.
After calming her anger, she thought of another key point.
That is, the Empress Dowager's anger stemmed from Consort Qi's disrespect towards Shen Meizhuang!
Perhaps, in the Empress Dowager's view, this was still at her behest, given to Consort Qi.
In any case, the empress felt that she would not be able to get rid of this "blame" anytime soon.
Since that's the case, she might as well continue to remain silent.
If we keep making Consort Qi kneel like that, it will only make everyone look bad!
"But, Your Majesty, if we do that, what will happen to His Majesty..."
Seeing this, Jianqiu became anxious and quickly reminded the Empress.
It has nothing to do with arguing with the Empress Dowager, but if the Empress is blamed by Emperor Yongzheng because of this, then it would be a loss!
"Heh, at a time like this, do you think I still care about these things?"
The Empress seemed completely unconcerned about Jianqiu's reminder.
Or rather, how could the Empress not know?
However, since the Empress Dowager wanted to use this incident to reprimand her, and Consort Qi herself had caused such a mess, the Empress had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure!
……
"Empress Huang, calm down!"
In the Shou Kang Palace, the emperor was paying his respects to the empress dowager.
Emperor Yongzheng could not possibly be completely unaware of what was happening in the inner palace.
Therefore, after dealing with matters of state, he came upon hearing the news.
Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager was truly furious this time.
Even after punishing Consort Qi and scolding the Empress, he still felt unsatisfied.
Facing her son who had come to apologize, the Empress Dowager's face was ashen, and she could not muster a smile.
Seeing his own mother in this state, Yongzheng immediately realized that the Empress Dowager was still not appeased.
The emperor knew perfectly well how to appease the Empress Dowager's anger.
"Consort Qi is still young and spoke inappropriately. Moreover, she has only recently entered the palace and has offended Your Majesty. Please forgive her!"
The emperor first offered a reason to exonerate Consort Qi, then said, "The Guarjia clan contributed greatly to suppressing the rebellion of Nian Gengyao; after all, she is the daughter of a meritorious official..."
"So what if she's the daughter of a meritorious official?"
The Empress Dowager snorted coldly and said, "Even if the Guarjia clan has made meritorious contributions, it is not because of her that she has worked for the Emperor alone. Since she has married into the imperial family, entered the palace, and become a concubine, she should abide by the palace rules and etiquette and know the order of rank!"
The Empress Dowager's words left the Emperor speechless, and he could only listen silently.
The emperor didn't actually have much affection for Consort Qi.
However, the other party was beautiful, and the Guarjia clan was still of use.
Emperor Yongzheng naturally did not mind spoiling such a concubine.
On the other hand, he didn't actually treat Consort Qi any special way, yet she caused such a mess in the Empress Dowager's palace, which shows that she is an extremely unstable person.
"This time, I watched from the sidelines, and I saw it all clearly and heard it perfectly!"
As the Empress Dowager finished speaking, her anger, which had just subsided slightly, surged up again, and she immediately slammed her hand on the armrest.
"The Emperor is usually very busy, and I dare not disturb him. The Empress is also ill and cannot even leave the palace eight times in ten days. Looking at the concubines in the six palaces, how many of them remember me and come to show their filial piety from time to time?"
In the end, the Empress Dowager's tone was no longer as cold and hard as before, but instead revealed a trace of sorrow.
"Yes, this matter has also caused Hui Pin and her daughter to suffer. When I find out, I will naturally find a way to make it up to them."
Upon hearing this, Yongzheng understood that the Empress Dowager was not only dissatisfied with the challenge to her authority, but also felt indignant on behalf of Shen Meizhuang and her daughter.
Now that he knew what the Empress Dowager would care about in the future, the Emperor naturally said what she wanted to hear.
"Compensation alone is not enough!"
The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes and immediately got to the point. "Since the Emperor said that the girl has just entered the palace and is not yet familiar with the rules and regulations, and the Empress has recovered, she is probably too busy to attend to such trivial matters. I happen to have nothing to do, so let me teach this arrogant girl a lesson!"