mtl008 Chapter 170: Granted Marriage
Chapter 170: Granted Marriage
Spare your life?
What is this nonsense?
Nian Shilan frowned unhappily and looked at the other person, "Is that so?"
The man moved his lips and nodded.
Jiang Ruyin gently waved her beauty fan and walked out from behind Nian Shilan. She looked around Qingying twice and said, "Why are you here alone at such a young age? Don't worry, tell me what happened."
Qingying knelt calmly, "Mother was in the main hall talking to the ladies. A few sisters came over and told a few jokes, then burst into laughter. I don't know what happened."
Jiang Ruyin turned around and saw a young woman leaning her head out with a worried look on her face.
Jiang Ruyin nodded and pointed here, "Did you hear what just happened here?"
She looked at the palace maids standing on both sides of each palace.
The maid quickly turned around and saluted, "In reply to your Majesties, I vaguely heard several ladies mention the Empress."
So that's how it is. The four people were all wearing luxurious clothes and jewelry, and one of them even had something given by the emperor on his head.
"Oh? The Empress is ill and recuperating, and you all seem to miss her very much. In that case, why don't I report to the Emperor and send you all to the Old Summer Palace to serve the Empress?" Nian Shilan's tone carried a hint of hostility, and she squinted her eyes as she scanned the four people one by one.
The four of them said they dared not and begged for mercy.
Nian Shilan snorted coldly, "Don't you dare? Just now, you guys teamed up to deceive me. I heard it all!"
Nian Shilan turned to face the ladies standing in the courtyard and said in a stern tone:
"The Empress is seriously ill, and the Emperor has decreed her retirement. However, officials from the previous dynasty and their families have engaged in shameful discussions and brought these rumors into the palace. They disregarded the Imperial edict and publicly deceived me, Concubine Jing, and others. They deserve death!"
As soon as these words were spoken, four women immediately knelt in the crowd, and the people around them also willingly made way for them.
Unexpectedly, Nian Shilan suddenly became friendly and said, "Hongshi, I have interrupted your banquet. It is indeed because some villains have deceived their superiors and subordinates, and I am very angry. Your good day does not deserve bloodshed. I will punish these people by making them kneel in front of Jingren Gate and slap their faces twenty times. They can't stand up after kneeling for two hours!"
After saying that, he directly ordered the guards outside to drag the few people out.
At this moment, a clear female voice, overflowing with enthusiasm, came over, "The Emperor has decreed that the Third Prince and Consort Hua, Consort Qi, and Consort Fang be invited to the Yangxin Palace for lunch."
The female voice slowly came behind Nian Shilan and the others. She was wearing a green shirt with beautiful and intricate silver-red patterns embroidered on the cuffs. Her black hair was tied up in a bun. Apart from two small crabapple silk flowers, she only had a plain silver flat rose hairpin.
Jiang Ruyin squinted her eyes and looked at it. It seemed to be a replica of the red gold rose hairpin that the emperor had given to Zhen Huan. The emperor and she had chosen that rose hairpin together.
Huanbi smiled as she scanned the faces of Jiang Ruyin and the others, each with their own different expressions. Finally, she knelt between Nian Shilan and Concubine Duan and said, "The Emperor invites the three ladies and the Third Prince to have lunch in the Yangxin Palace."
After that, she turned around and said with a smile:
"The Emperor has ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare lunch for everyone to enjoy. Concubine Duan and Concubine Jing are kindly requested to accompany you. There will be a dinner in the palace tonight, and all the ladies and princesses are welcome to join us!"
After she said this, the female members of the family were confused, but with several empresses present, they did not dare to falsely convey the emperor's decree and shouted "Long live the emperor".
Huanbi was satisfied, and she forced down the corners of her mouth that were about to turn upwards. She turned around and bowed, saying:
"My ladies, it's time. Please follow me to the Yangxin Palace."
Hongshi said goodbye to Dong E and came to Concubine Qi's side, and saw Nian Shilan looking at Huanbi with contempt.
He looked at his mother with some confusion. Concubine Qi also looked unhappy. She said goodbye to everyone with Hongshi and left first.
On the road to the Anchang Palace, Concubine Qi and the Third Prince were leading the way, and Huanbi was running to the front in small steps.
Nian Shilan slowly fell behind.
Jiang Ruyin ordered Fu Qiu to send someone to guard the talking palace maid, then she tidied her clothes and left quickly. When she caught up with Nian Shilan, she saw Huanbi running in front of her and stopped in front of Concubine Qi and Hongshi.
Jiang Ruyin lowered her voice and said, "Those women are daughters of high-ranking officials and nobles. It's rare that you would offend others by standing up for the women of the Ulanara clan."
Nian Shilan rolled her eyes. "People change. Besides, isn't this exactly what he wants to see me do?"
When Concubine Qi and her son saw Huanbi, they silently fell behind by a few steps and also fell behind. Jiang Ruyin could even vaguely hear Concubine Qi's voice, which she tried hard to suppress but still carried far away.
"...Tian's father is particularly respected. With the two of them, you will be even more powerful. Then, won't you be able to have as many Wuyas as you want?"
Jiang Ruyin and Nian Shilan looked at each other.
Su Peisheng was guarding the door of the Yangxin Palace. He saw Huanbi coming back with a proud smile, while the others were standing far away from her. He shook his head secretly.
Several people filed into the hall. Huanbi wanted to follow in, but Su Peisheng quickly held her back and said, "Until the emperor gives us any instructions, we'll just wait."
"Okay." Huanbi stopped and stood guarding the palace gate with Su Peisheng on the left and right.
Su Peisheng looked at Huanbi, who was standing beside him with her chest puffed out and looking very proud and confident, then looked at the smooth ground in front of him and sighed silently, "I will go to prepare the meal for the emperor."
As Concubine Qi was bowing, she saw a short figure running to the side.
It turned out that Hongxuan jumped off the emperor's legs and ran to the side to wait quietly.
When the emperor called him, Hongxuan bowed in a baby voice, "Greetings to Empress Hua, Empress Qi, and Mother. Hello, Third Brother."
Hongshi smiled at Hongxuan. Seeing this, Concubine Qi looked at Hongshi with some disappointment.
Nian Shilan's eyes lit up, and she personally helped Hongxuan up and sat with him on the right side of the emperor.
Jiang Ruyin had no choice but to follow, and she and Nian Shilan sat on either side of Hongxuan.
Concubine Qi was delighted and pulled Hongshi to sit on the left side, and even let him sit next to the emperor.
The emperor's face remained calm, and he only added, "Today is a family dinner, so please be at your leisure. Let's eat."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Qi was even more delighted and secretly asked Hongshi to pick up some food for the emperor.
Jiang Ruyin took a casual look around and saw crucian carp and tofu soup, Dongpo pork, four-happiness meatballs, quail stewed with dried shrimp, abalone stewed with pearls, ham stewed with fish maw, duck with bird's nest, roasted lamb, fresh mushrooms and Chinese cabbage, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, three fresh vegetables, toon stew, crab roe pastry and hibiscus pastry, and the tea seemed to be Pu'er.
Jiang Ruyin paid special attention to the crucian carp and tofu soup. Hongxuan observed it carefully and showed a smirk on his face.
Jiang Ruyin laughed and picked up a piece of soft Dongpo pork with chopsticks and gave it to him.