mtl008 Chapter 218 Exposed
Chapter 218 Exposed
Concubine Jing is a rare kind person in the deep palace full of intrigue and deception, and she gives many suggestions to the new concubines entering the palace.
An Lingrong had a good impression of her.
Moreover, her imperial concubine's dress was tampered with by the Queen. Out of sympathy, An Lingrong would lend her her imperial concubine's dress.
Another point is that Zhen Huan inexplicably tried to get close to her, and An Lingrong was afraid that she would come over to borrow her dress.
After dark, the anxiously waiting Concubine Jing finally received the dress from Yonghe Palace.
Ruyi carefully spread out her gorgeous dress and reported it to Concubine Jing with joy.
"Your Majesty, the dress sent by the Imperial Concubine is intact."
"This embroidery is really beautiful. Come and try it."
"Okay, I'll try it now."
Concubine Jing walked closer and looked at the dress carefully.
Judging from the exquisite material and superb craftsmanship, this dress is obviously a fine product recently made by the Imperial Household Department.
When Concubine Shu gave birth to the Sixth Prince, she was promoted to the throne. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor were watching from behind, so nothing was done to her.
Her seventh prince was adopted, so it was a pleasant surprise that he could be promoted to the position of concubine.
Concubine Jing put on her dress lovingly and walked lightly around the room.
"This dress fits me perfectly."
When Concubine Shu sent it over, she instructed that if it didn't fit, she could modify it herself.
Wearing a formal dress, Concubine Jing's gratitude towards An Lingrong deepened even more.
"Ruyi, hide this dress and don't let anyone see it. Continue to repair the damaged dress sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Concubine Jing, who had changed out of her dress, gave the order in a low voice.
Since she already has a child, there cannot be any mistakes in her enthronement ceremony.
Because of Concubine Jing's request to borrow a dress, An Lingrong sent someone to inquire about it. It turned out that Zhen Huan's dress was still being made and had not been delivered to Sui Yuxuan in advance.
"Bao Que, I'm worried that something unexpected might happen during the ceremony to crown Concubine Jing and Concubine Wan. I'm asking the people in Sui Yu Xuan to stay quiet for a while and not send any news outside."
"Also, the Emperor has gifted the princes and princesses with new ingredients. Tomorrow, please send a plate of osmanthus cake to the Yangxin Palace to express my gratitude."
The reward was sent by Su Peisheng, and it also contained a few pieces of golden silk, which was obviously given to her by the emperor.
How could An Lingrong, who wholeheartedly admired the emperor, not express her feelings?
Three days later, the Yangxin Palace
The emperor was busy handling palace affairs when Su Peisheng came in to add tea and reported in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, Lord Emin has requested an audience outside the palace, saying he has something important to report."
"Emin? Let him in."
The emperor remembered that this man worked in the Inspectorate with Zhen Yuandao, and his face immediately darkened.
If E Min was as ignorant as Zhen Yuandao, he would definitely not tolerate it.
"Your servant E Min pays homage to His Majesty. Long live the Emperor."
"Be flat."
The emperor suppressed his impatience and called people up, his sharp eyes fixed on E Min who was standing in the center of the hall.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace. Your Majesty, I have something to report. This collection of poems is Qian Mingshi's 'Anthology of Ancient Fragrance Pavilion Poems'. The language in it is rebellious and extremely treasonous."
"And this servant accidentally discovered that Master Zhen Yuandao actually secretly kept this collection of poems."
E Min respectfully presented the collection of poems in his hand.
"I also learned about this from Master Zhen Yuandao. He thought this collection of poems was good, so he took it home to enjoy."
"But I know that Qian Mingshi and Nian Gengyao were both candidates for the imperial examination in the same year as the late emperor, and they had a close relationship."
"The Emperor was merciful. After the arrogant Nian Gengyao passed away, he did not pursue his family and accomplices."
E Min, who participated in collecting evidence of the crimes of the Nian family, knew the emperor's frustration.
Nian Gengyao died of a relapse of his old illness, having plotted against the emperor with his own life.
He learned from his daughter's letter that Concubine Hua's favor was not as great as before, and from this he could see the emperor's deep dissatisfaction with the Nian family and their accomplices.
This time, while pulling Zhen Yuandao down from his horse, he also did not forget to make things difficult for Concubine Hua, who had mocked his daughter.
The emperor opened the poetry collection in his hand with an uncertain expression.
"How did Zhen Yuandao get this collection of poems? Is it possible to buy it on Qipan Street?"
The people sent by Xia Jian followed Zhen Yuandao for a while and knew that he liked collecting books.
"This collection of poems has not been published. I think I need a special relationship with Qian Mingshi to obtain it."
"I also stumbled upon it at Master Zhen's house, and only then did I go to great lengths to obtain a copy."
E Min explained the origin of the poetry collection in his hand.
The emperor flipped through a few pages of the poetry collection randomly. "I remember that Zhen Yuandao and Nian Gengyao had no contact with each other."
"I think so too. Perhaps Master Zhen admires Qian Mingshi's literary talent or for some other reason. I don't know yet."
"But the poetry collection that Master Zhen has collected is very meaningful."
"Among them, there are many works that flatter Nian Gengyao, and they also vigorously praise the Western Expedition of the Fourteenth and Tenth Princes who were imprisoned by the emperor."
"Are you saying that Zhen Yuandao collected this poem out of sympathy for the two imprisoned people?"
The Fourteenth Prince is a thorn in the emperor's heart.
He was a child favored by both the late emperor and the empress dowager.
Especially the empress dowager, when she saw the late emperor's edict of succession, not only did she not show any joy, she even suspected that the emperor had tampered with the imperial edict.
When the emperor heard E Min's words and thought of Zhen Yuandao's insistence on pleading for the literati under the Fourteenth and Tenth Princes, his face turned dark.
"I don't know whether Master Zhen sympathizes with the Fourteenth Prince, but it is true that Concubine Wan was once close to the Tenth Lady and once asked the Emperor to confer a title on the Tenth Prince's son."
"E Min, you and Zhen Yuandao both work in the Inspectorate, why did you reveal this to me?"
The emperor's suspicious eyes kept scanning E Min, as if he wanted to see through his official uniform to see into his heart.
"It is true that Lord Zhen and I were both watching from the Inspection Office, and we have a good relationship. However, I am under the Emperor's grace and am loyal to Him. I would never dare to show favoritism."
E Min was afraid that the emperor would be dissatisfied with his reporting on his superiors, so he added more.
"I suspect that Master Zhen is kindhearted and perhaps hasn't come around yet. Why don't I go back and try to persuade Master Zhen?"
"I heard from Noble Lady Qi that Concubine Wan is pregnant with the dragon fetus. If Lord Zhen is reprimanded, I'm afraid..."
"Okay, I'll give you a few days to persuade Zhen Yuandao."
"Kneel down."
E Min bowed and left the Yangxin Palace, thinking about sending a letter home to his daughter. When the time comes, the former court and the harem will work together to suppress the Zhen family so that they will never have a chance to turn things around.
The emperor stroked the poetry collection in his hand and gave orders loudly.
"Su Peisheng, prepare to drive to the Suiyuxuan."
"May your Majesty be blessed with peace and prosperity."
Zhen Huan, holding her belly, bowed with a smile.
"Hurry up and get up. I got a collection of poems and brought it here for Huan'er to enjoy."
Zhen Huan took the poetry collection handed to her by the emperor and asked curiously.
"Who is this Qian Mingshi?"
"You'll see."
Zhen Huan, who was unaware of the inside story, sat on the couch and flipped through the poetry collection. She glanced at it casually and frowned.
“It’s not a very good poem.”
The emperor asked slowly.
"You said this poem isn't very good, and it's not often seen out there. Who would go out of their way to find it and treasure it?"
"Perhaps it was a letter from a friend or relative who truly loved me. Why would Your Majesty ask me about this today?"
Zhen Huan felt that the emperor, who had not been seen for a few days, was a little strange.
"I stumbled across this poetry collection today, and I wanted to show it to you."
"You are pregnant, go to bed early. I will go to see Lady Qi."
"I respectfully send you to your Majesty."
Holding the poetry collection tightly, Zhen Huan watched the emperor enter the east wing hall. She sensed a sense of alienation from the emperor.
Zhen Huan touched her slightly protruding belly and thought that she might be overthinking it.