bayedsolid Chapter 817 [Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 7]
Chapter 817 [Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 7]
Qingying walked lightly into the palace where Yixiu was. She bowed respectfully to Yixiu and said softly, "Aunt, your niece has come to see you."
Yizheng was sitting on the couch, her eyes somewhat dim. When she heard Qingying's voice, she raised her head slightly and revealed a bitter smile.
Qingying looked at her aunt's haggard face and felt a pain in her heart. She quickly comforted her, "Aunt, please rest assured. As long as you can live out your remaining years in peace in this palace, you will be able to receive the supreme honor of being buried with the late emperor in the future."
However, Yixiu shook her head gently and said with a wry smile: "My child, you don't know that this honor is not easily obtained. Niuhulu has already told me that this is what you paid for with your life."
When Qingying heard this, her face turned pale as paper in an instant. She widened her eyes and looked at Yixiu in disbelief.
Yixiu sighed deeply and continued, "I know what Niu Hulu is thinking. Her target has always been me. I don't want to see you take risks for me, and I don't want to live under her oppression."
As he spoke, Yixiu slowly picked up a porcelain bottle on the table, with a look of determination in his eyes. Seeing this, Qingying hurried forward to stop him, but it was too late.
Yixiu put the bottle mouth to her mouth without hesitation and drank it all in one gulp. The poison took effect quickly, her body began to tremble, and a trickle of black blood flowed from the corner of her mouth.
Before dying, Yixiu tightly grasped Qingying's hand and said with her last bit of strength: "Qingying, you are the only hope of our Ulanara family. Remember, never harbor hatred, learn to use the power of the Niuhuru family, and one day you will ascend to the throne!"
Qingying was heartbroken, tears welled up in her eyes like a flood. She threw herself on Yixiu and burst into tears.
At the same time, the Queen Mother received news that the man in Jingren Palace had passed away. After careful consideration, she decided to keep Qingying for the time being.
The emperor frowned upon hearing the news of Ulanara's death. When he learned from the eunuch that she had committed suicide by taking poison and that the empress dowager had also been to Jingren Palace, the emperor could not help but feel doubtful and uneasy. He stood silently in front of the window, staring into the distance, as if thinking about something.
When Fucha Langhuan learned about the death of Ulanara, she could not help but feel emotional. As the heir of a country, Ulanara should have enjoyed her old age and wealth. However, her fate was unfortunate. First, the prince she gave birth to died young, and then the favored concubine took power, which made her difficult. Now she has passed away miserably.
Recalling her own personal experience, Fu Cha Lang Huan knew that if the legitimate son could grow up smoothly, even if the favored concubines gave birth to illegitimate sons, it would be difficult to shake the legitimate son's status and inheritance rights. After all, in this deep palace, status and orthodoxy always occupy a crucial position.
At the same time, the emperor ordered the careful renovation of the Cining Palace. During this period, the empress dowager had to temporarily move to the Shoukang Palace and live with other concubines. The emperor, considering Ulanara's status as an empress during her lifetime, intended to bury her with the ceremony of an empress, but the empress dowager disagreed.
At this time, Zhang Tingyu, an important official of the court, came to see the emperor. He advised the emperor that whether Jingren Palace should be honored and enthroned had attracted widespread attention from the court and the public, and that this was a matter of national importance, and he begged the emperor to be cautious and clear-headed. For a time, the atmosphere in the court was tense, and Zhang Tingyu and the empress dowager each held their own opinions and argued endlessly.
Just as the two sides were deadlocked, Qingying came in a hurry. Her face was solemn, and she said earnestly: "Your Majesty, Queen Mother, I can testify that my aunt was indeed too sad about the death of the late emperor, which caused her physical and mental damage, and eventually she passed away. There is no hidden story or twists and turns here."
After listening to Qingying's words, everyone fell into deep thought. After a while, the Queen Mother finally made a decision and ordered that Ulanara be buried according to the etiquette of concubines and placed in the concubine mausoleum.
At this point, the controversy over the specifications of Ulanara's funeral came to an end.
The room was completely silent, with only the emperor and Qingying standing opposite each other. The emperor stared at Qingying sharply and asked again, "How did the person in Jingren Palace die?" His voice was deep and majestic, as if it could penetrate Qingying's soul.
Qingying took a deep breath, raised her head, and replied with a firm look in her eyes: "Your Majesty, every word I said is true, not a single word is false." Her tone was sincere and firm, leaving no room for doubt.
The emperor frowned slightly, and after a moment's silence, he said: "Well, in that case, you should not walk around during this period of time, so as not to cause unnecessary criticism." After that, he waved his hand to signal Qingying to leave.
Qingying bowed respectfully and left, then turned and slowly walked out of the hall. However, when she stepped out of the hall, she unexpectedly saw the Queen Mother standing not far away.
Qingying hurriedly stepped forward to pay her respects, then said softly: "My aunt has lost the heart of the late emperor after all. Even if she gets the honorable status of Queen Mother, what can it do? In fact, the only one who can save my life now is you, the Queen Mother!" A trace of worry flashed in her eyes.
The Queen Mother listened quietly, without much expression on her face, but she understood Qingying's meaning in her heart. Qingying continued, "My aunt passed away right before my eyes. I'm sure there will be some rumors that are unfavorable to the Queen Mother. So I must live well so that I can testify for you in the future."
At the same time, the coronation ceremony was being held solemnly. With drums and music playing and colorful flags flying, the entire palace was immersed in a festive atmosphere. The emperor, wearing a gorgeous dragon robe, ascended the high platform to accept the worship of all officials. Afterwards, he solemnly issued an edict to honor Niuhulu as the Holy Mother Empress Dowager and his first wife, Fucha, as the Empress.
The Queen Mother, carefully escorted by a group of palace maids, slowly entered the palace gate. Along the way, the palace maids all lowered their heads and dared not make any sound, for fear of disturbing the extremely noble Queen Mother.
Finally, the Queen Mother and her entourage arrived at the residence assigned to her this time - Shoukang Palace. When the Queen Mother stepped into the palace gate, her originally elegant and noble face instantly became gloomy. Although this palace can be regarded as spacious and luxurious, with carved beams and painted buildings, and magnificent gold and jade, it is far from the Cining Palace, which symbolizes supreme authority.
The Queen Mother was as clear as a mirror in her heart. She knew that the current emperor Hongli said that he made such an arrangement out of filial piety to his mother, but in fact, his true thoughts were hard to guess. However, with the wisdom and ruthless means accumulated by the Queen Mother over the years, how could she just give up? At this moment, the Queen Mother secretly made a vow in her heart that she must seize a great opportunity no matter what, and with the help of that powerful force, move into the Cining Palace that she had been thinking about day and night as soon as possible.
At the same time, Hongli learned that Qingying, who was in Jingren Palace mourning for the late queen, was feeling a little unwell, so he personally ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare a bowl of Polygonatum odoratum soup and sent it to Qingying.
Not only that, Hongli also specially sent a message to Qingying, saying that he had never forgotten the affection they once had for each other, and told Qingying to keep these words in mind.
On the other hand, Fu Cha Langhuan respectfully went to the Queen Mother's bedroom and humbly asked how to determine the positions of the concubines.
After a brief thought, the Queen Mother said expressionlessly, "Then Qingying will stay in the residence for the time being and mourn for the late Queen, her aunt, for three years. During this period, she is not allowed to step out of the courtyard without the Emperor's order!"
When Hongli heard the news, his anger was instantly ignited. Over the years, although the relationship between him and Qingying was not as close as glue, it was definitely not a casual friendship. Now, he was forced to be restrained by the Queen Mother. How could he swallow this breath! If he gave in easily this time, wouldn't he have to obey the Queen Mother's orders in everything in the future?
At this time, Fucha Langhuan came to ask Hongli about the titles of the concubines. Hongli frowned slightly, thought for a moment and said: "Now the staff have not arrived yet, and they cannot all enter the palace. Let's put this matter aside for now."
Upon seeing this, Fu Cha Langhuan suggested softly, "Your Majesty, I think it would be better to arrange for the Queen Mother to move to the Cining Palace as soon as possible. This way, the Queen Mother will be in a good mood, and perhaps she will show leniency and release Qingying." However, Hongli shook his head firmly, indicating that he was unwilling to compromise with the Queen Mother.
Although the Cining Palace had been renovated long ago, Hongli still insisted: "In order to ensure that the empress dowager can be satisfied, the palace must be renovated more carefully and must not be rushed."
Afterwards, Hongli ordered someone to send the precious Ruyi knot and the carefully composed music score in the bedroom to Qingying. In return, Qingying gave her a beautiful handkerchief embroidered by herself to express her love.