Concubine, she rises step by step

"Are you saying that Imperial Concubine De has privately adjusted the salaries of the palace maids and eunuchs?" The queen was sitting in the main hall of Jingren Palace, surrounded by account books that had recently failed to reconcile.

"Yes!" Ai Xiang said calmly.

The queen looked at these account books, compared them with what Ai Xiang said, and said with some seriousness: "In the past, Concubine De Gui would report to the palace any matters that needed adjustment. This time, she made the decision herself..."

It was obvious that the queen's tone was displeased.

Ai Xiang poured the queen a cup of summer-relieving black plum soup and comforted her: "Concubine De Gui may have forgotten it for a moment."

"Forgot? Why did she remember it before?" the queen said coldly.

Ai Xiang had to express the Queen's worries, "My Lady, do you think Concubine De Gui doesn't take you seriously?"

The queen glanced at Ai Xiang, and immediately felt that the luxurious Jingren Palace had become eclipsed. Her eyes were dull and she said: "There are rumors from the outside world that I am getting weaker. This is undoubtedly for Concubine De Gui to do this. Ambition."

Ai Xiang always felt that the queen was calm, but now, there is no calm at all. All she has is the uneasiness that drives her crazy, and she is in constant panic all day long...

"Empress, are you worried about——?" Ai Xiang whispered.

The queen smiled bitterly, and even Ai Xiang could see it. It was obvious that Concubine De Gui's obvious ambition was too obvious.

"Before, Concubine Sheng could still share some power, but now, Concubine De is really in charge of all the power..." Ai Xiang couldn't help but sigh.

The queen looked at the many account books and her head began to hurt again. "The mistakes here alone can already explain the problem!"

Ai Xiang looked at these account books and finally understood why the queen wanted to do the calculations herself.

"Let Yan Hongbin from the Ministry of Internal Affairs come to Jingren Palace!" Queen Suo Yaoyi ordered.

Then, the queen took a good look at the account book.

About an hour later, Yan Hongbin bowed and walked in.

"Yan Hongbin meets the Queen!"

Suo Yaoyi did not go straight to the topic, but looked at Ai Xiang, "Ai Xiang, give me a seat for Master Yan."

Yan Hongbin, who originally thought it was just a routine inquiry, became alert and replied more respectfully and carefully: "Thank you, Queen."

While talking, Yan Hongbin glanced at the queen's expression. It didn't seem like a daily inquiry. He couldn't help but feel his heart pounding, wondering what was going on...

"How long have Master Yan been the head of the House of Internal Affairs?" Suo Yaoyi's voice gradually deepened.

Yan Hongbin said cautiously without knowing the reason: "Going back to the Queen, I have been the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for eight years."

Suo Yaoyi murmured with deep meaning: "Well, eight years... is indeed not a short time. However, why do I feel that Master Yan is becoming more and more lax?" When Yan Hongbin heard this, he immediately sat down. Unable to hold on any longer, he immediately stood up, approached Suo Yaoyi, knelt down solemnly, and said in a deep voice: "Please give me a clear explanation from the Queen!"

Seeing Yan Hongbin's expression, Queen Suo Yaoyi leaned forward slightly, her eyes fell on a bundle of account books on the table, and said, "Look, what are these?"

Faced with the scolding, Yan Hongbin had a hundred doubts. He quickly knelt and moved forward to the table, looking through the account books that the Queen was staring at one by one.

After opening the first page, Yan Hongbin frowned and looked at every marked place. Yan Hongbin's originally calm expression gradually became nervous and cramped, and his hands began to shake unconsciously...

After reading all the account books, he broke into a cold sweat on this hot day. A chill in his heart made him tremble violently, "I am guilty!"

"Bang!" Suo Yaoyi slammed the table and said sternly: "Guilty? You are using your power for personal gain! You are bullying the emperor and ignoring your superiors!"

At this time, Yan Hongbin was so frightened that he quickly kowtowed and denied: "I really don't know how this could happen..."

Suo Yaoyi had already calculated it several times in her mind, so she calmly accused: "You don't know? As the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, how could you not verify Concubine De Gui's account books? She embezzled, enriched herself, and practiced favoritism. You How was it verified? Or are you also her accomplice?"

Faced with such a fatal accusation, Yan Hongbin said that he could no longer admit it. He denied it again and again: "I am loyal and devoted to the emperor. No matter how brave I am, I don't dare to have any different intentions! Please give me a warning from the Queen!"

The queen naturally understood Yan Hongbin's remarks, but at the moment, she needed a knife to help her regain power. If Yan Hongbin recognized current affairs as a hero, there might be a way out.

"Then how can I believe this?" The queen's fingers tapped the ledger lightly.

Yan Hongbin gradually understood the key to the matter in the queen's staring eyes.

These account books were issued by Concubine De Gui. In the past, it was just a matter of turning a blind eye or closing an eye. Which leader does not need to take care of it?Which leader doesn’t need to fawn over?No matter what the method is, as long as it's almost passable, the most important thing is that the queen signs and approves, and then it goes.But the biggest problem with these ledgers right now is that the Queen didn’t sign!

The leader knows and signs, this is called a report, and it is also a benefit!
The leader did not know and did not sign. This is called overstepping and stealing money!
Now, the queen is seizing this excuse and starting to ask questions, which means that the queen is going to make a fuss about this matter.

Thinking of this, Yan Hongbin immediately understood the key point of the problem: the queen wanted to deal with Concubine De Gui!
Now, it became a multiple-choice question in front of Yan Hongbin. If he chose Concubine De, he would have to bear all the responsibilities; if he chose the queen, he might be able to keep his wealth and glory.Which one to choose depends on Yan Hongbin himself to judge which force is more beneficial to him.

Queen Suo Yaoyi looked at Yan Hongbin quietly. The sense of oppression and powerlessness pulled Yan Hongbin deeply, trying to read something from his face.

After thinking about it, Yan Hongbin kowtowed and said, "Queen Qi, these account books of Imperial Concubine De were my fault and I am willing to accept all punishment!"

Only then did Queen Suo Yaoyi finally let go of her worries, "Since it was your oversight, you should report it to the Emperor."

Yan Hongbin looked at the Queen in astonishment, feeling that the Queen today was too calculating...

"I—I obey your order..." Yan Hongbin looked bitter as a pot came from the sky.

Suo Yaoyi looked at Yan Hongbin who looked desperate and comforted him softly: "Don't worry, as long as you do this seriously, I can guarantee that your wife and children at home will be properly taken care of. But if you have other ideas, then I can only——"

Yan Hongbin was reading Suo Yaoyi's words, and suddenly thought of that sentence in his mind: One mountain is not as good as two tigers...