frightfiction Chapter 1396: Moved to the Palace in the Suburbs of Beijing for Rest
Chapter 1396: Moved to the Palace in the Suburbs of Beijing for Rest
Shen Zhinian understood.
Since the emperor needs a step, why should she be a roadblock?
Shen Zhinian's charming eyes were filled with worry.
Her gaze first fell on the Fifth Prince, who lay unconscious in his wet nurse's arms, with a feeling of sympathy. Then, turning to Nangong Xuanyu, her voice soft and clear, "Your Majesty, Master Huichen is a highly accomplished monk. His words are surely true."
"I just heard this and my heart is really uneasy..."
Shen Zhinian frowned slightly and continued, "If the resentment in the cold palace really affects the Fifth Prince's condition, or even... affects the other young heirs in the palace, then it would be a huge matter..."
"Ah Xu and Jin Er are still so young. Whenever I think that what Master Hui Chen said might come true, I... I am terrified..."
"Since Master Huichen said that resolving resentment through good deeds can bring blessings to the imperial heir, in my humble opinion, why not follow Master's advice and seize the opportunity to pardon a few concubines in the cold palace?"
She looked at Nangong Xuanyu, her eyes pure and filled with sincere concern for the royal heir: "This will not only demonstrate your majesty's benevolence, but also pray for the children's longevity and peace of mind."
"After all...what is the fault of this child?"
Concubine Kang looked up at Shen Zhinian in surprise, as if she had not expected her to support her so readily.
Nangong Xuanyu's deep gaze fell on Shen Zhinian's face. After staring for a moment, he nodded: "What the Imperial Concubine said makes sense."
"Since you are praying for the royal heir, I will grant your permission."
"Li Changde."
Li Changde, who had been standing aside with his head bowed, immediately stepped forward and said, "Your servant is here!"
The emperor said, "Order the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Punishment to examine the list of those imprisoned in the cold palaces, select those who are old, have committed minor crimes, or are no longer mentally clear, and draw up a list of regulations."
"After I have reviewed it, I will follow Master Huichen's instructions and grant amnesty, and pray for the princes and princesses."
Li Changde bowed and accepted the order: "I obey your order!"
Concubine Kang burst into tears of joy and kowtowed repeatedly: "I, your Majesty, thank you for your grace on behalf of my wife, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty, the Imperial Noble Concubine!"
Master Huichen also bowed and chanted the Buddha's name: "Amitabha!"
"Your Majesty is wise and compassionate, and your merits are immeasurable."
Shen Zhinian lowered his eyes slightly, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly at an angle that no one could see.
After the blessing ceremony, the emperor and the imperial concubine's ceremonial procession went away.
Master Huichen also left Chuxiu Palace with two monks, led by a eunuch.
As he passed by Concubine Kang, his eyes, full of compassion for all living things, met hers for a brief moment. Both of them looked calm, yet they seemed to convey a thousand words.
Concubine Kang maintained a respectful attitude until everyone disappeared at the end of the palace road, then she took Caiju's hand and walked back to the inner room.
Cai Ju quickly poured Concubine Kang a cup of warm ginseng tea, her face showing an expression of relief that she couldn't hide: "Your Majesty, things are finally going as planned."
Concubine Kang took the teacup but didn't drink it. Her eyes were somewhat deep. "Your Majesty has spoken. The matter of pardoning the criminal woman in the cold palace is settled. But..."
She paused and thought, "The key is how to add Baharguli to the pardon list without leaving any trace."
Cai Ju frowned slightly when she heard this: "Yes, my lady."
"Baharguli was originally banished to the cold palace for poisoning the eldest princess! This crime is not light. Without special reasons, the Ministry of Punishment and the Imperial Household Department would not dare to easily include her on the pardon list."
"Poisoning the Princess..."
Concubine Kang repeated these words softly, and suddenly realized something: "The eldest princess's personality is completely different from her biological mother Liu Shiqing."
She raised her eyes to look at Caiju, a calculating glint in her eyes: "Have you forgotten? In the innocent world of the eldest princess, even if the person she considers to be good is extremely evil, she will still feel that the other person has his or her own difficulties."
"I remember that some time ago, the eldest princess had a few arguments in front of Concubine Zhuang over Baharguli, claiming that Baharguli was wrongly accused."
Caiju's eyes lit up and she immediately remembered: "That's right!"
"The eldest princess had a kind heart and always believed that there were no truly bad people in the world. She was convinced that Baharguli had done no harm to her, and she was even angry with Concubine Zhuang for quite a while."
"If...if we can get the eldest princess to personally plead for mercy, with His Majesty's love for this eldest daughter, and with the reputation of praying for the royal heir, this matter will surely be accomplished!"
Concubine Kang nodded slightly: "Not bad."
"An innocent princess, who sincerely forgave those who had hurt her and pleaded for them... How could Your Majesty not be moved by such pure kindness and generosity?"
"That hypocritical Concubine Zhuang always boasts that she treats the eldest princess like her own daughter and teaches her well. To maintain her image as a loving mother, Concubine Zhuang will probably go along with it and say a few words, even if she's reluctant."
At this point, Concubine Kang instructed, "Cai Ju, pay close attention to what's going on in Changchun Palace these days, and see where the eldest princess likes to go and play..."
"I should find a suitable opportunity to 'accidentally' meet this innocent princess and comfort her."
Caiju understood and bowed in response: "Yes, Madam, I understand."
……
After leaving Chuxiu Palace, Nangong Xuanyu's gaze fell on Shen Zhinian, and he asked casually, "Nian Nian, how do you think we should select and pardon those people in the cold palace?"
There wasn't much emotion in his voice, as if he was really just asking for her opinion.
Shen Zhinian's mind was as clear as a mirror.
The emperor's question was not without purpose.
He had probably already made up his mind, and asking her was just a test, trying to see if she could sync with his thoughts and come up with a reasonable explanation that would pave the way for his subsequent actions.
Shen Zhinian lowered her eyes slightly, pretending to ponder for a moment before raising them and saying, "Your Majesty, I believe the situation in the cold palace is complicated and requires careful consideration. In my humble opinion, it would be better to deal with them separately."
Her logic was clear: "For example, some of the deposed concubines from the previous emperor's time were already old and had wasted decades in the palace. Even if they made some mistakes back then, things have changed a lot now."
"If there are indeed some among them whose crimes are minor, or whose minds are no longer clear, Your Majesty, with kindness, may move them to a palace outside the capital to recuperate and assign reliable caregivers to them so that they can spend their remaining years in peace."
"This will not only fulfill your majesty's benevolence and demonstrate the grace of the royal family, but will also completely resolve the old grievances that have accumulated over the past dynasty."
"As for this dynasty..."
Shen Zhinian paused, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "This involves palace rules and your majesty's decree. The Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Punishment must have detailed records."
"They should be the ones who know best whose crimes are forgivable and whose are serious."