latelenovela Chapter 97 He was unwilling, and he knew that Bai Qiongzhu was equally unwilling.
Chapter 97 He was unwilling, and he knew that Bai Qiongzhu was equally unwilling.
Before he could take more than a few steps outside, Wan Chun, who was serving him in the inner room, rushed out.
"Her Majesty was awake for a moment just now."
"What!" Emperor Longyun immediately walked inside, and Lin Shiming and Lu Yuxi followed anxiously.
Inside the room, several imperial physicians bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Your Highnesses, the Empress suddenly woke up just now. When she learned that Your Majesty was outside, she only said one sentence before falling asleep again."
Emperor Longyun strode to the bedside and took Bai Qiongzhu's hand, "Why did you fall asleep again?"
The imperial physician explained, "We have already examined Her Majesty's pulse. She woke up suddenly to give some instructions because she had something on her mind. As for falling asleep again, it's because she is still weak and has no strength. Her Majesty will fully wake up in an hour after the medicine takes effect."
Emperor Longyun stared intently at Bai Qiongzhu's pale face. "What did Zitong just say?"
Wan Chun stepped forward and said, "The Empress said, 'Do not disturb His Majesty's plans for the great affairs of the world.'"
Do not disturb His Majesty's plans for the great affairs of the world. Bai Qiongzhu had long been aware of Emperor Longyun's schemes and did not want Emperor Longyun to kill someone in anger over today's events, thus rendering all his plans futile.
Indeed, although Bai Qiongzhu was deeply troubled, she was the Empress chosen by the royal family and Emperor Longyun's bedmate. How could she be completely unaware of Emperor Longyun's plans?
Emperor Longyun's scalding tears fell onto the hands he was clasping with Bai Qiongzhu's.
Lu Yuxi and Lin Shiming behind them also had red eyes and were filled with grief.
"This person is so vicious, are we just going to let this go? I can't swallow this insult!"
Who can swallow this?
Emperor Longyun had been bowing his head for a long time. He kept asking himself if the most decisive outcome would have been to simply kill Empress Dowager Qin and the entire Qin clan.
But he was unwilling. He was unwilling that the old woman could only be assassinated, unwilling that she could be enshrined in the imperial ancestral temple after death and be worshipped by future generations. He couldn't kneel down before that memorial tablet!
They were even more unwilling to accept that in the future anyone would imitate this old woman's methods to humiliate the imperial heirs.
He was unwilling to accept it, and he knew that Bai Qiongzhu was equally unwilling.
But now...
Emperor Longyun slowly raised his head, then stared blankly at Bai Qiongzhu's tightly closed face. Would Zitong still be able to see the day his plan succeeded?
"Wait a little longer. I will tell you when Zitong wakes up."
He didn't want to plan alone with Lin Shihe anymore; it was too slow. Letting Lu Yuxi and Lin Shiming know wasn't a bad thing. Even if Zitong might not live to see that day, he didn't want to wait even a day longer if it could be done sooner.
Lu Yuxi was stunned. "Father?"
Emperor Longyun took a deep breath and wiped away his tears. "Since Zitong does not want to affect important matters, then let's not affect them for now. The Empress Dowager's actions are indeed impeccable, and any further action from us would only be counterproductive. However, I still want to teach her a lesson first."
"Princess Consort, go and do it. As long as the Empress Dowager is safe, the rest is up to you."
Lin Shiming gave a crisp bow, then pulled Lu Yuxi around and left the inner room.
*
"Zhao Lei".
"The slave is here."
"The Empress Dowager is unwell, and none of the concubines are here to attend to her. Where have they all gone?" Lin Shiming's expression was unusually cold, as if he were on a battlefield. "Go, have everyone come here and kneel outside the Phoenix Palace to atone for their sins and pray for the Empress Dowager's well-being."
"And the Empress Dowager. Just ask her, the Empress Dowager is her daughter-in-law and the mother of the nation. How can she, as the Empress Dowager, not come? Not to mention that the incident happened on her premises today. If she, as the head of the household, doesn't come, is she waiting for the court and the public to say that she dares to do something but doesn't dare to admit it and is shirking responsibility?"
"The slave obeys."
Zhao Lei bowed respectfully, then called to a few eunuchs and hurried away.
Lin Shiming then turned to look at Lu Yuxi, "How much do you know about the affairs of the Prince Ding's residence?"
“Prince Ding was the youngest son of the late emperor. Princess Ding was the empress dowager’s cousin. She married into Prince Ding’s household by taking advantage of the empress dowager’s influence. She had two sons and one daughter. The eldest son was Prince Ding’s heir. In addition, Prince Ding had many concubines and secondary wives. Not to mention his illegitimate daughters, he also had nearly ten illegitimate sons. I don’t know much else. I mainly focus on the court.”
Princess Consort Ding, abusing the Empress's name, acted with impunity in the Prince Ding's residence, yet she later conspired with the Empress Dowager to coerce her cousin. It's unbelievable how such a vicious person could have the audacity to live so long in this world.
"What are the character and abilities of this Prince Ding's heir, and his other two legitimate children?"
Lu Yuxi thought carefully for a moment, "I've never seen them in the court. My mother and the Princess Consort of Ding didn't get along, so I haven't seen them much in the inner palace either."
"However, the wives and concubines of the Prince Ding's mansion have always fought and persecuted each other, which has also led to the brothers killing each other. Bad news about the Prince Ding's mansion comes out from time to time, but every time the Empress Dowager wants to issue an edict to reprimand them, the maternal grandmother is persuaded by the maternal grandfather to take the maternal great-aunt to the palace to plead with the Empress Dowager."
Lin Shiming scoffed, "So, there isn't a single good person left in the Prince Ding's mansion?"
"I only heard my mother mention a concubine's son, saying that he was a rare gem who came from a humble background. However, he was of low birth and was always suppressed by the Princess Consort of Ding."
Lin Shiming nodded, having a general idea of what was going on. He raised his hand and called Lianqiu over, "Aunt Lianqiu, tell me what Princess Ding said today."
Lianqiu was extremely indignant. "Princess Ding said that the loss of Crown Prince Huamin was retribution for Her Majesty. It was the evil accumulated by Her Majesty stealing the glory of her own sisters. She also said that she herself has two sons and a daughter and is very fortunate, but Her Majesty could not protect her own children. It is clear that she is not blessed and should not have entered the Eastern Palace in the first place."
"In addition, she also heard rumors from who-knows-where, telling the Empress in detail how tragic and painful the death of Crown Prince Hua Min was. It must have been taught by the Empress Dowager."
"How dare she speak so recklessly about Crown Prince Hua Min? Isn't she afraid that the Empress Dowager will be so angry that she will order her to be executed?"
Lianqiu lowered her eyes, "It seems that Princess Ding feels that with her uncle's help, she always thinks that Your Highness can't do anything to her, so she doesn't take Your Highness seriously at all. Not to mention that she is allied with the Empress Dowager today."
"Alright." Lin Shiming twirled the teacup in his hand. "Auntie, go back and check on Mother Gu first. I'm all settled here."
Lian Qiu bowed deeply and withdrew silently.
Lu Yuxi turned her head. "What are you planning to do?"
Lin Shiming slammed the teacup down on the table. "Just wait and see."
The mastermind, the Empress Dowager; the concubines who stood by; and the accomplice, Princess Ding—today I will make them pay the price!
*
Two quarters of an hour later, the concubines arrived at Fengyi Palace one after another.
But Lin Shiming did not rush out to see them. Instead, he waited for another quarter of an hour until Empress Dowager Qin arrived slowly in her imperial carriage. Only then did Lin Shiming leisurely put down his teacup and stride out of the main hall.
Empress Dowager Qin did not dismount from her imperial carriage, but sat there arrogantly watching Lin Shiming walk over quickly.
"Your Highness, what have these concubines done to deserve this punishment of kneeling here?"
Lin Shiming casually cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "The Empress Dowager was once an empress herself, so she should understand the duties of concubines, which are to have children and serve their master and mistress. Now that the Empress Dowager is unwell, it is their honor to have them here to keep watch and pray for her."
"Moreover, I heard that these people turned a blind eye to the fact that the Empress was forced to vomit blood today. A subject should die for his sovereign's humiliation. The fact that they were not given white silk and poisoned wine as well is already an act of leniency to accumulate blessings for the Empress. What is the point of making them kneel now?"
"How dare Your Highness speak so recklessly!" A troublemaker suddenly emerged from among the kneeling concubines, looking directly up at Lin Shiming. "We are all His Majesty's concubines. How can Your Highness dispose of us as you please?"
Empress Dowager Qin smiled dismissively and echoed, "Yes, do you have the final say?"
"Ah."
Lin Shiming sneered, and the concubines kneeling on the ground immediately lowered their heads even further.
"who are you?"
He doesn't even remember who I am?! Wu Shuangwan thought to herself with resentment. It doesn't matter. I heard that His Majesty is also in Fengyi Palace. Once I've made a name for myself today and caught His Majesty's eye, let's see if this man will still disregard me!
Wu Shuangwan raised her head high, "This humble mistress is His Majesty's Consort Wu!"