The concubine is poisonous

Chapter 20
As they headed west day by day, the sky gradually darkened, and it was almost time for meal, Gu Xinning brought Nian Se to the Compassionate Ning Palace.

The lights in the Compassionate Ning Palace have been turned on, and a large round table is filled with all kinds of delicacies, and the Empress Dowager and Concubine Yun have already taken their seats.

Seeing this, Gu Xinning knelt down to pay her respects and said, "My concubine pays her respects to the Empress Dowager, and to Concubine Yun."

The Empress Dowager glanced at Gu Xining from the corner of her eye and said, "Are you Zhao Yuning, the daughter of Zhao Zhongran, Minister of Rites?"

Gu Xinning replied cautiously: "My minister is Zhao Yuning." Gu Xinning straightened up while talking.

Seeing this, the empress dowager winked at the eunuch in charge, and the eunuch in charge immediately understood, stepped forward and pointed at Gu Xinning and said, "Bold, the empress dowager has not gotten up yet, is this empress not taking the empress dowager seriously? "

The Empress Dowager then said coldly: "Hmph, your father is the Minister of Rites, why didn't he teach you the rules in the palace?"

Gu Xinning knew in her heart that this was the Empress Dowager wanting to give her a bad name. If even a eunuch in the Palace of Compassion and Peace could scold her loudly, she would be regarded as a laughing stock by all the concubines. This was undoubtedly the Empress Dowager's establishment of her supreme authority.Although Gu Xinning saw through the empress dowager's mind, she did not intend to refute.

She understands that before her strength is stabilized, she needs to make the enemy look down on her in order to protect herself wisely. It is not enough to rely on brute force to survive in the palace. Generally, there are only two kinds of people who can live in the palace for a long time. One is The one with the background of Tongtian, and the one that poses no threat to anyone.

Gu Xinning, who was upright, quickly squatted down again, pretending to be panicked and said: "The concubine was careless for a while, and only wanted to reply, hoping that the empress dowager will make amends."

Concubine Yun at the side had been looking at Gu Xinning kindly, and she smiled and said to the Empress Dowager, "Mother, Concubine Ning has just entered the palace, and she is not familiar with many things, please forgive her this time."

The Empress Dowager said indifferently: "Tonight, Ai's family specially hosted a banquet to entertain you, and specially invited Concubine Yun to accompany you. Concubine Yun arrived early, but you are only here now. Do you think that the emperor is pampering you?" , can you be lawless and defiant?"

Gu Xinning was flustered, and quickly changed from squatting to kneeling, kneeling on the ground, and kowtowed non-stop while saying, "Your concubine should be damned, I don't know that the dining time in Qinzheng Hall is two quarters of an hour later than that of Compassionate Ning Palace, and my concubine didn't ask When the time is clear, please ask the empress dowager to make amends."

Gu Xinning knew that the empress dowager deliberately moved the time of the banquet earlier to make things difficult for herself, so she went down the wind and didn't say it outright, she only said that it was her fault.

The Empress Dowager saw that Gu Xinning was in a state of embarrassment, she had already achieved her goal, her tone became a little slower and she said, "I think it's the first time you made a mistake, and you are willing to admit it. The Ai family will not investigate further, please sit down."

After Gu Xinning repeatedly kowtowed in thanks, she slowly stood up and walked to her seat.

When she was seated, Gu Xinning glanced at Concubine Yun at the side, and nodded with a smile in her eyes, as a way of expressing her gratitude to Concubine Yun for her excuse just now, Concubine Yun also smiled and nodded to Concubine Gu Xinning, as a return of gratitude.

Gu Xinning heard that Concubine Yun's name was Ran Yunmo, the daughter of Prime Minister Ran Hai. Gu Xinning would never forget the name Ran Hai. It was he who ruined her family and her originally happy life. Si Yepan was thinking about how to make Ran Hai's life worse than death.

The woman in front of her was his daughter. Gu Xinning's face was smiling, but her heart was twisting and burning. She told herself that she must bear it. Killing Ran Yunmo was just a matter of raising her hand, but that would expose herself and ruin her life. With the overall plan in mind, Gu Xinning didn't want her to die too easily.

One day, I want all of you to go to hell rather than die.

After several people were seated, the banquet officially began. During the banquet, Ran Yunmo took the opportunity to approach Gu Xinning and said, "When I was at home, I often heard my father mention that Mr. Zhao Zhongran is an upright and honest official. .”

Gu Xinning smiled and said: "My sister has won the award, but my father just abides by his duty. Prime Minister Ran shoulders the responsibility of the country, and he is really a minister of pillars. My father once praised Prime Minister Ran as half of the country."

Hearing Gu Xinning praise her father as half of the country, Ran Yunmo showed a smug look on his face, which was fleeting, and then said kindly: "I heard that my sister has a younger brother who had a strange illness a while ago. I know whether she has recovered now, if necessary, my sister may wish to ask the emperor to send an imperial doctor to treat her."

Gu Xinning knew that Ran Yunmo wanted to get close to her so that she could get close to her, so she couldn't help but sneered in her heart, but she showed a kind smile on her face and said: "A few days ago, a goddess doctor came to my house and healed my younger brother's illness, thank you My sister is worried, and my sister is really sorry."

Ran Yunmo still said kindly: "Hey, if my sister says this, she will be out of the way. You and I serve the emperor together. We are a family. How can a family talk about two things?"

'Huh, who is a family with you. ' Gu Xinning was thinking like this in her heart, but said with a smile: "What my sister said is that my sister didn't think carefully, and I hope my sister will be more tolerant."

The Empress Dowager has been quietly watching the two of them chatting back and forth, she does not speak, she is silently observing Gu Xinning's every move, every word and deed.

After the banquet, Ran Yunmo said that there was something to do in the palace, so she stood up and left. Gu Xinning wanted to take the opportunity to leave together, but was stopped by the empress dowager, saying that she still had something to say to her.

After Ran Yunmo left, the Empress Dowager looked at Gu Xinning and said, "The Ai family asked you something, and you have to answer it truthfully."

Gu Xinning bowed her head and saluted, "The concubine must know everything and say everything."

The Empress Dowager nodded and said: "Well, that's the best. On August [-]th, why did you appear in Weiyang Palace? Aijia must listen to the truth!"

Gu Xinning was stunned for a moment, as if she didn't expect the other party's first question to be about this matter, she frowned and pretended to be panic-stricken, knelt on the ground with a plop and kowtowed: "Go back to the empress dowager, the empress dowager's holy candle shines, my minister The concubine dare not hide it, the so-called fairy guide and repaying kindness are indeed reasons that the concubine deliberately fabricated in order to be able to see the holy words, and I ask the empress dowager to make amends."

The empress dowager didn't seem to expect that Gu Xinning would admit it so happily, she couldn't help being stunned for a moment, and then said: "I don't need to pursue this matter, or I don't need to tell the emperor, but you have to confess how you entered Weiyang Palace of."

Gu Xinning said: "That day, the concubines dressed up as maids and sneaked into Weiyang Palace, and then grabbed them. At night, after all the eunuchs and maids left, the concubines changed their clothes and went to the courtyard."

With Gu Xinning's martial arts skills, she naturally didn't have to be so troublesome pretending to be a court lady, but she didn't want others to know that she knew martial arts, so she replied half-truthfully.

After contemplating for a moment, the queen mother asked again: "Do you have any clues about the mastermind who poisoned you?"

"Not yet. Ever since Xiunu committed suicide by poisoning that day, all the clues have been cut off."

The Empress Dowager frowned lightly and asked, "How did Concubine Xin get hurt?"

"That day the concubines and their servants were resting in the palace, and suddenly they heard a commotion outside. When they came out to see, Sister Concubine Xin was already out of date. She heard from her attendant that she accidentally fell down and hit her head. On the door ledge."

The empress dowager suddenly said angrily: "Bold, you still dare to lie in front of Ai's family. You are the one who hurt Concubine Xin. It seems that Ai's family has to be tortured before you are willing to tell?"

Gu Xinning knew that this was the other party's bluff and wanted to scare herself deliberately, so she quickly pretended to be overly frightened and kowtowed: "The Empress Dowager Mingjian, it is absolutely true that Concubine Xin fell and hurt her head. All of your attendants can testify, and my concubines absolutely did not lie."

The empress dowager saw that Gu Xinning's truth could not be detected for a while, so she changed the subject and said: "Don't think that if the emperor dotes on you now, you will have the opportunity to be a queen. If Aijia doesn't nod, you will never be able to be a queen."

"Yes, the concubine never thought of becoming a queen. Regardless of seniority, family background, or ability, the older sisters are several times better than the concubine. No matter what happens, the concubine won't be the concubine." Gu Xinning said duplicity.

The empress dowager nodded and said: "It's good that you understand, the position of empress has been vacant for a long time, it is unavoidable to lose the dignity of the country, since you have the opportunity to accompany the emperor often, you should share some of the work, and talk to the emperor about the empress. "

"The concubine would like to obey the empress dowager's orders, and must persuade the emperor more."

The Empress Dowager nodded again and said, "Well, the Ai family would like to hear who you think is more suitable to be a queen?"

Gu Xinning scolded in her heart, what an old fox, after working around for a long time, she finally got to the point. You just want me to recommend your own niece to the emperor to be the queen, and you said it according to your wishes. Anyway, Ye Junyan wants to make the harem mess up , I happen to be able to help him.

Thinking of this, Gu Xinning quickly replied: "Concubine Yun is the head of all the concubines and Prime Minister Ran's beloved daughter. She is also more beautiful and talented than other sisters, so the concubine thinks that Concubine Yun is definitely the queen. candidate."

The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction when she heard the words, with a smile on her face, but said in a cold voice: "Well, after all, your vision is not bad, but Aijia also wants to warn you, don't play tricks in front of Aijia, and behind the scenes One set, the queen's position is not something you can sit on if you want to."

The implication is undoubtedly to imply to Gu Xinning that she is only allowed to help Concubine Yun become the queen, otherwise no matter how she helps anyone else, it will not end well. At the same time, she also warns Gu Xinning not to have any unreasonable thoughts.

Gu Xinning kowtowed again and said: "The concubine understands that the concubine will definitely try her best to persuade the emperor to make Concubine Yun the empress."

The empress dowager said with an 'en': "It's good to understand, Ai's family is also tired, you can kneel down."

"Yes, the concubine is retiring."

As soon as Gu Xinning left the Ci Ning Palace, there was another person in the Empress Dowager's room. This person was Ran Yunmo, the concubine Yun's concubine who had resigned earlier due to something in the palace.

In fact, there is nothing to do on behalf of Concubine Yun in the Palace, she just pretended to leave so that the Empress Dowager could ask Gu Xinning, otherwise if Ran Yunmo was present, many things would be difficult to say on the spot.

Seeing that Gu Xinning had finished answering and left, Ran Yunmo slowly walked out from behind a hanging veil.

(End of this chapter)