Who Would Understand, Her Ladyship Wrote A Hundred Palace Regulations - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Ning-shi is My Treasure

In Cining Palace.

Empress Dowager Xue rubbed her temples, looking helpless. “Why was my brother so impulsive, ordering those officials to submit memorials?”

“Please calm down, Your Majesty. The emperor’s favor towards Ning-shi is exclusive, and Xue Jieyu hasn’t been able to gain his attention. The Duke is anxious,” Liu Zhen comforted her.

“Ning-shi is nothing but a tool for the emperor to use,” Empress Dowager Xue’s face darkened. “My brother’s move was too impulsive, forcing the emperor’s hand. The emperor promoted her rank, making our Xue family’s face even more unsightly. We can’t delay any further…”

She was hesitant to give up her power.

But the emperor had made it clear that if she didn’t step back, he would continue to promote Ning Wanyin.

“The emperor has left some room for us. I’ll take this opportunity to retreat,” Empress Dowager Xue decided, sighing resignedly.

Liu Zhen didn’t understand. “Your Majesty, the emperor is being so aggressive, promoting Ning-shi’s rank. It’s clearly a slap in our faces. What room is left for us?”

“The emperor didn’t promote her to Jieyu and didn’t let that woman overshadow Yan’er. That’s leaving face for our Xue family. If we continue…”

If they continued to deadlock, it would be hard to say what would happen.

“Ask the emperor to come visit me, saying that I’m not feeling well and want to rest,” Empress Dowager Xue decided, and once she made up her mind, she acted decisively.

…

When the empress dowager was unwell, the emperor visited her immediately.

Filial piety was a virtue, and sometimes it was also a kind of shackle. Even the emperor couldn’t ignore it.

“Today at noon, I felt unwell. Maybe it’s because of my age, and my energy is waning. In the future, I don’t want your concubines to disturb me every day,” Empress Dowager Xue said weakly.

Helian Qi was waiting for this opportunity and immediately cooperated. “Mother’s health is the most important thing. But my concubines should pay their respects to you. Please allow them to come on the 1st and 15th of each month to pay their respects.”

Empress Dowager Xue’s eyes flashed with a complex emotion. If the concubines completely ignored her, the emperor would be accused of being unfilial.

He knew when to stop and proposed a compromise. It was indeed a clever move, leaving no room for criticism.

If her son could be as steady as Helian Qi, the throne wouldn’t have fallen to outsiders.

“You have a strong sense of filial piety, and I’m deeply gratified,” Empress Dowager Xue said, looking at the emperor.
“But there are two things I’m still concerned about. One is personal. Yan’er is my niece, and I’m worried about her now that I’m ill. I hope you’ll take good care of her…”

“I understand, Mother. Please don’t worry.”

Helian Qi agreed. This was what he had expected.

“Another matter is official business. I’ve heard that you’re favoring Ning-shi exclusively. As the emperor, it’s essential to show favor to all your concubines equally. You can’t let her cold-shoulder the rest of the harem. This woman is seducing you with her charm, and her crime is severe! Your harem shouldn’t have such a woman,” Empress Dowager Xue said, her eyes flashing with coldness.

Helian Qi’s face showed no expression, and he said calmly, “Mother, please calm down. I’m just temporarily lost my sense of propriety. Ning-shi is timid and weak, she just follows me obediently.”

Empress Dowager Xue felt indignant. She knew that the emperor didn’t take her seriously. Ning-shi was bold and daring, not timid at all. The emperor was protecting Ning Wanyin?

“Do you want to make me sick with anger over such a lowly woman?” Empress Dowager Xue retorted.

Helian Qi remained calm and composed. “Mother, you’ve said too much. Ning-shi is not worth mentioning. I’ll leave her fate to you. But please inform me of her crimes.”

If the empress dowager wanted to kill someone, it wouldn’t be hard to fabricate charges.

The emperor clearly wasn’t looking for a reason.

This was a trade.

You want to kill Ning Wanyin? Fine.

What are you willing to give in return?

His deal with the empress dowager was that she would give up power, and he would elevate the Xue family. But it didn’t include giving Ning Wanyin a death sentence.

“Ning-shi has won my heart, and I’m reluctant to part with her. But if she’s guilty, I won’t spare her,” Helian Qi said, looking sorrowful.

The implication was clear: Ning-shi was his treasure!

If you want to kill her, you’ll have to pay a price!

Empress Dowager Xue was furious. What was Ning Wanyin, anyway?
Just a nuisance.

There were many ways to take Ning Wanyin’s life.

She wasn’t worth the Xue family giving up benefits for.

“Since the emperor is reluctant, let’s forget about it,” Empress Dowager Xue said, changing the subject and reverting to her role as a loving mother.
“I’ll entrust Yan’er to you…”

Helian Qi responded warmly, knowing that the empress dowager wouldn’t give up anything for Ning Wanyin. But even if she did offer something, he wouldn’t kill Ning Wanyin.

If a pawn that served him could be handed over to the enemy, who would be loyal to him in the future?

But he couldn’t tell the empress dowager what he was really thinking. He couldn’t let her know what he was planning…

Wang Degui was waiting outside Cining Palace.

When he saw the emperor come out, he immediately went to greet him. He felt that the emperor’s face looked serious, but his mood seemed good.

“The empress dowager is unwell and needs to rest. It’s her Majesty’s order that from now on, except for the 1st and 15th of each month, the concubines are not allowed to disturb her,” the Emperor instructed.

Wang Degui was shocked and quickly accepted the order. “Yes! I’ll immediately transmit the order to the six palaces!”

The Emperor returned to Qianxin Hall to review the memorials.

At dusk, the eunuch in charge of the Attendant Department brought the registry and said, “Please review it, Your Majesty.”

Helian Qi’s gaze habitually fell on Ning Meiren’s jade token. He visited Lingxue Pavilion every day and had gotten used to looking at the position of her token.

But his gaze only lingered for a moment before he picked up another token – Xue Jieyu’s.

Xue Jieyu?
Wang Degui was shocked and quickly went to Qionghua Courtyard to announce the imperial decree.

Although he was shocked, he thought it wasn’t unexpected. The emperor might have a temporary preference, but the Dukes of Xue and Cen families were the pillars of the Dafeng Empire. The emperor wouldn’t neglect these two Jieyu.

On the night the Empress Dowager announced her illness, the emperor visited Qionghua Courtyard.

The next day, Xue Jieyu was promoted to Xue Zhaoyi, becoming the concubine with the highest rank among the new consorts.

The attention that Ning Wanyin had been receiving was immediately halved by Xue Zhaoyi. Over the next few days, the emperor visited some new consorts, but he didn’t visit Lingxue Pavilion again.

However, none of these new consorts were promoted like Xue Zhaoyi, and none received the same level of favor as Ning Wanyin had for five days.

The two of them became the most favored concubines among the new consorts.

On the 15th of the third month, it was the first time the concubines went to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager since she had announced her illness.

“Should I keep your makeup simple, Mistress?” Dan Li asked. Last time, Mistress had dressed very plainly for the occasion.

“No, I should wear the jewelry the emperor gave me,” Ning Wanyin said, picking up a jade butterfly hairpin and handing it to Dan Li.

Now, no matter how she dressed, she would be the center of attention.

A favored concubine should look like one.

Ning Wanyin chose a bright red dress with golden butterfly ornaments, which made her look stunning and radiant.

The palace maids and eunuchs in Lingxue Pavilion were stunned.

Ning Wanyin was already a beautiful woman, and dressing her up like this was like adding flowers to brocade, making her look extraordinary.

When Ning Wanyin came out of the right side of the palace, she ran into Li Jieyu from the left side.

Li Jieyu had moved in a few days ago.

Tang Miaoling had asked Consort Shu to switch to a different palace, and Consort Shu was surprised. Ning Wanyin was favored by the emperor every day, and many concubines would jump at the opportunity to be close to the emperor.

Why would Tang Miaoling want to move?

Consort Shu agreed generously. Now, Yonghe Palace was a place many people wanted to live in, but it was Li Jieyu who ultimately moved in.

Ning Wanyin had prepared for three years to enter the palace, and she knew a thing or two about the old concubines.

After thinking for a moment, she understood why Consort Shu had chosen Li Jieyu to move in.

Li Jieyu was one of the most favored old concubines, aside from Consort Zhuang.

And after Xue Zhaoyi entered the palace, Li Jieyu had quickly pledged her allegiance to her.

It was natural for there to be tension between old and new favorites, especially when they were rivals.

It would be especially intense living under the same roof.
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T/N – shi is used after a name to indicate that is the woman’s clan/maiden name.