The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 203 Disposal Fourteen
Nian Shilan giggled, but considering her own face, she covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief.

"Empress Dowager, please be careful with your words. The master of the former dynasty is the emperor, and the master of the harem is the empress. However, the world belongs to the emperor, and the affairs of the harem are ultimately decided by the emperor. You said that this concubine in the harem is surnamed Nian. Aren't you pushing me into a trap of usurping the throne? The emperor will be unhappy if he hears it."

Empress Dowager De raised her eyes and was about to speak, but Yinzhen spoke.

"Shilan, don't be unreasonable. Hurry up and apologize to your mother. Now you have to take care of all the trivial matters in the inner palace. You should be more calm."

Nian Shilan curled her lips, but still bowed respectfully to Empress Dowager De.

"Your Majesty, calm down."

But he refused to say another word.

Yunli watched as Empress Dowager De protected Yunzhi everywhere, and thought of how his own mother had locked herself up in her palace day after day since the death of the previous emperor, and she was not allowed to even go out.

Yunli hasn't seen his mother for a long time, let alone waiting for her support.

Besides, even if his mother was present, she was just a concubine with a low status and would not be a match for Empress Dowager De.

Yinzhen looked at Empress Dowager De and said to Zhuxi.

"The Queen Mother is tired. She has been bedridden these days and has been working so hard today. Aunt Zhuxi, please help the Queen Mother go in and have a rest. As for Fourteen, I will teach him."

Zhuxi quickly responded yes and half pushed and half supported Empress Dowager De into the inner hall. Empress Dowager De was still indignant in the inner hall, so Zhuxi hurriedly said.

"Your Highness the Queen Mother was too obviously partial to him just now. The Emperor is not close to you, so why did you always say something that favored the Fourteenth Master? Well, just say less. The Emperor and the Fourteenth Master are brothers, so you don't have to worry too much."

Yinzhen just felt annoyed when looking at Yunzhi.

"You are already fourteen years old, not an ignorant child. When you get married in two years, you will have to set up a new residence and live in your own house. Do you want to act like this when you have a daughter?

Because your mother is the Queen Mother, you should be more careful with your words and actions. I want you to apologize to the mother and daughter of the noble lady, and to your seventeenth brother. In addition, I will order you to be confined to the prince's residence for three months, and you are not allowed to enter or leave the inner palace without the emperor's order."

Nian Shilan said slowly.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, it is not appropriate for the Fourteenth Brother to live with the Seventeenth Brother day and night anymore. It would be better for Your Majesty to let them live separately, so that the two brothers don't fight again when you can't see them, which would damage the harmony between the brothers and make them enemies for life."

Yinzhen pondered for a while, ordered Su Peisheng to change Yunli's residence, and ordered Yunli to apologize to Jing Guiren and Yunli.

Yunli looked dissatisfied, but he didn't dare to disobey the order. He hastily bowed to Jing Guiren and apologized, and nodded reluctantly to Yunli. Even though he apologized, he hated Nian Shilan from then on.

Yinzhen gave many gifts to Concubine Jing to appease her. However, Kang Le's face was swollen and red for several days, and Concubine Jing gritted her teeth every day.

But Yinzhen had already punished Yunli, so she could not hold on to it any longer.

Yunli also received a reward from Yinzhen. He looked at the things and asked the servants to put them away. He wanted to wait until he saw his mother and give all the rewards to her.

Concubine Duan has stayed in Yanqing Palace since her miscarriage and has not left the house. It is not advisable to go out after a miscarriage.

But she sent people to Jingren Palace every day to pay respects and ask about her well-being. When she learned that Ulanara's pregnancy was stable and her complexion was very good, Concubine Duan wrinkled the brocade quilt under her.

Jianqiu brought a tonic to Ulanara and told her what happened in Yonghe Palace. Ulanara drank the tonic in one gulp, wiped her mouth and smiled.

"Hua Fei should never, ever, offend the Empress Dowager of Yonghe Palace. I heard that Hua Fei went to Cining Palace quite often recently. Isn't this trying to please the Empress Dowager of Yonghe Palace?

The new emperor ascended the throne, and there are two empress dowagers in the harem. This is the first time for our emperor in the Qing Dynasty. You say, even if there is no such incident today, can the empress dowager of Yonghe Palace allow her daughter-in-law to serve the Cining Palace but not herself? "Jianqiu handed the empty bowl to Randong who was standing behind him, tucked the brocade quilt covering Ulanara's legs, and said.

"Your Highness, just rest assured and take care of your pregnancy. You are carrying the Emperor's legitimate child. No matter how glorious Concubine Hua is now, she is just your servant. She will take care of those trivial matters for you temporarily. When you give birth safely, you will have the final say in everything in the harem.

Today, Concubine Duan sent someone to pay respects again. Concubine Duan is pitiful. She used to be indifferent to everyone, but after her miscarriage, she seemed to have figured it out and knew who was the real master in the harem. I think she wants to ask for your blessing."

Ulanara smiled, closed her eyes, leaned back slightly, and half-lying on the imperial concubine couch in a comfortable posture.

"People can never teach people. Things can teach people once and for all. When I give birth to a legitimate son, I will have nothing to worry about. Whether they want to ask for my protection or want to get some benefits from me, it all depends on my mood."

The New Year in the palace passed by because the Queen was pregnant and Concubine Duan had a miscarriage and many celebrations could not be attended.

The day Fei Yunyan entered the palace was the second day of February. Yinzhen didn't care much about her and only gave her the title of a noble lady and asked Nian Shilan to take care of her.

In the first three days after entering the palace, she was not allowed to sleep with the emperor, nor was she allowed to walk around. Concubine Fei was placed in Qixiang Palace by Nian Shilan, waiting for the emperor to summon her.

Cao Changzai was in a daze in her room. The emperor hadn't thought of her for more than two months. Even the new women who entered the palace were given the title of noble ladies. She was still only a Changzai from the time she came to the palace until now, and she lived a tight life every day just by living on a little monthly salary.

She stood up and went to Yikun Palace with her personal maid Yinxiu.

"I greet Her Majesty Hua Fei. May Your Majesty be blessed with good fortune."

Nian Shilan was feeding the white-feathered parrot. Cao Changzai saluted her, but she just waved her hand casually and asked her to get up.

"Cao Changzai suddenly came to my place. What's the matter?"

Cao Changzai was silent for a moment, looked around at the palace servants who were serving her, and Nian Shilan waved away the servants around her.

"Well, there's no one here now."

"Yes. I came here today because I heard about the story of the noble lady Jing and her daughter. Your Majesty is kind-hearted and protected the noble lady Jing and her daughter. I admire and envy her very much."

Having said that, Cao Changzai stopped talking and looked at Nian Shilan's reaction.

But Nian Shilan held a few melon seeds in her hand and fed them to the parrot one by one without even turning her head.

"Then what? Keep talking."

Cao Changzai was intimidated by Nian Shilan's aura. She could not learn that kind of leisurely and nonchalant attitude, but she had to bite the bullet and state her purpose.

"I, your concubine, would like to seek the protection of Her Majesty Hua Fei and serve Her Majesty at all times."

Nian Shilan stopped feeding the parrot and turned around with a smile on her face.

"Why do you think you can ask for my blessing? What can I do for you? I just want to live a peaceful life and I don't want to compete with you for favor. I will go to whoever the emperor wants. You all deserve my favor based on your own abilities. What do you need me to do?"

Cao Changzai gritted his teeth, hesitated for a moment, and said.

"I know that Your Majesty is doubting my loyalty. I also know that Your Majesty is not as indifferent to worldly affairs as she appears to be. Everything Your Majesty does is to obtain something. As for what it is, I don't know, but this thing must be very important to Your Majesty. Otherwise, Your Majesty would not have placed people in Yonghe Palace and paid attention to the every move of Empress Dowager De."

Nian Shilan instantly stared at Cao Changzai.

"You know what you said is extremely treasonous. If you frame me, I will make you wish you were dead or alive."