Who Would Understand, Her Ladyship Wrote A Hundred Palace Regulations - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Emperor’s Grudge

Wang Degui was nervous as he attended to the Emperor.

Although the Emperor’s face was usually expressionless, making it hard to gauge his emotions, Wang Degui had been serving him since he was young and could sense that the emperor’s demeanor was particularly cold today.

Moreover, this bad mood seemed to have started after leaving Mozhu Pavilion.

Could it be that Song Meiren didn’t serve him well?

But he dare not pry, so he had to muster up the courage to ask, “Your Majesty… should we reward Song Meiren according to the standard for a Meiren?”

This was a routine practice.

Whenever a concubine attended to the emperor for the first time, they would receive rewards the next day.

The rewards varied depending on their rank, and if the emperor was particularly fond of them, he might add more.

Helian Qi’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Song Meiren was well-read but didn’t know how to adapt or read between the lines, and she lacked foresight.

She wasn’t someone he could entrust with important tasks. However, she was the daughter of his trusted and loyal minister, and she had shown him affection.

Although he felt somewhat annoyed, he wouldn’t take it out on her.

“Yes,” Helian Qi replied curtly.

Wang Degui immediately bowed and retreated, preparing the rewards. It seemed that Song Meiren indeed didn’t gain the emperor’s favor; otherwise, with the emperor’s strict nature, he would have certainly given her more rewards.

…

Although Song Meiren had gained favor, she didn’t become arrogant.
She arrived early at Jingxi Palace.

Consort Shu, known for her kindness and generosity, asked her a few questions with concern.

Consort Zhuang, as usual, looked displeased with everyone and made a few sarcastic remarks.

The two Jieyu, Xue and Cen, didn’t say much, and the atmosphere was unusually harmonious.

Everyone gathered and went to Cining Palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.

“You are Song Meiren, the one who attended to the emperor last night. You are indeed beautiful. No wonder the emperor likes you; I also find you pleasing to the eye,” Empress Dowager Xue said, scanning Song Meiren with a calm demeanor.

“You stay here and help me read Buddhist scriptures. Everyone else can leave.”

The concubines bowed and took their leave.

Song Meiren spent the entire day copying Buddhist scriptures in Cining Palace…

She had just gained favor the previous night and was already delicate. After leaving Cining Palace, she stumbled and almost fell.

Her personal maidservant quickly supported her, saying with concern, “Mistress, you have suffered. The Empress Dowager is clearly trying to make things difficult for you…”

“It’s just setting rules for me. The emperor didn’t choose Xue Jieyu, so the empress dowager is naturally unhappy,” Song Meiren said, shaking her head slightly.
“Let’s go back to the palace.”

The maidservant was angry and said, “The emperor doesn’t even care…”

“Don’t speak nonsense!” Song Meiren rebuked her coldly, her downcast eyes showing a hint of disappointment.

…

The entire palace was watching quietly, wondering if the emperor would intervene to save Song Meiren.

But until the sky grew dark, Song Meiren returned to Mozhu Pavilion, and the emperor hadn’t done anything.

Ning Wanyin was also paying attention to the news outside, her eyebrows tightly furrowed in concern. What was going on?

If the emperor wanted to cultivate his own people and suppress the noble forces in the harem, he would definitely protect Song Meiren.

Unless…

The emperor abandoned her.

But, he had chosen her to attend to him last night, and he was already abandoning her today?
Was there something unexpected?

The emperor’s temperament was truly unpredictable and hard to grasp.

“The Emperor was interested in Song Meiren last night, but today he doesn’t even care about her. He’s so ruthless, you…” Lian Rui’s eyes were full of concern for her mistress.

Ning Wanyin came back to her senses and said, “The emperor is not someone who would be swayed by emotions.”

Whether the emperor cared about Song Meiren or not had nothing to do with being ruthless or not.

It depended on what position he wanted to put Song Meiren in.

Favoring someone didn’t mean he loved them. Not caring about someone didn’t mean he didn’t care at all.

The emperor’s heart was hard to read.

…

Earlier, in Qianxin Hall.

“Your Majesty, Song Meiren was left in the palace by the empress dowager to copy Buddhist scriptures…” Wang Degui reported softly.

Helian Qi’s eyes were deep and profound. He knew that the emperor’s favor could bring trouble.

So, being smart was crucial to being a favored concubine.

Those who weren’t smart would be left alone, and that was a form of protection.

“What is Wen Meiren doing today?” Helian Qi asked.

Wen Meiren was smart and might be more useful than Song Meiren.

Wang Degui immediately replied, “Wen Meiren is having tea in Cen Jieyu’s palace.”

“Cen Jieyu?” Helian Qi’s eyes suddenly turned cold.

“Yes! Cen Jieyu invited Wen Meiren to her palace for tea, and Wen Meiren stayed for a while. To thank Cen Jieyu, she sent a generous gift.”

Helian Qi’s eyes turned icy cold.

Cen Jieyu was trying to win over Wen Meiren, and Wen Meiren actually went!

It was normal for concubines in the palace to seek refuge with one of the noble families. Having a powerful backer was better than having none.

But Wen Langjun was someone he had promoted himself!

This was a blatant betrayal to the emperor.

Helian Qi’s anger grew, and his face became increasingly sinister, “Issue an imperial edict, Wen Meiren’s behavior is improper, demote her to Baolin.”

Wang Degui knelt down to receive the edict, his face turning white with fear.

This Wen Meiren must have offended the emperor somehow. Without even seeing the emperor, she was demoted two ranks.
How tragic!

Just at this moment, the chief eunuch of the Attendant Department led the palace servants to bring in the Jade Book of the concubines. “Please, Your Majesty, take a look!”

Helian Qi’s face was gloomy. He didn’t want his harem to become like his father’s…

Someone had to be able to suppress the Xue and Cen families.

But the person he liked was either arrogant and didn’t know how to adapt, with too shallow thoughts.

Or she was too clever and scheming, to the point of seeking refuge with outsiders.

Since he couldn’t find a suitable person right away, he could only think long-term.

Since Empress Dowager Xue liked to make things difficult for his concubines so much, he would choose a few unlucky ones from the noble families and let her deal with them.

Helian Qi thought about this and randomly flipped over a jade token.

…

In Lingxue Pavilion.

“Mistress, the emperor suddenly scolded Wen Meiren and demoted her to Baolin,” Xiao Guizi hastily reported the latest imperial edict, trembling with fear.

“The Imperial Garden is empty now…”

After the first concubine to attend to the emperor, Song Meiren, was left to copy Buddhist scriptures by the empress dowager, half of the people in the Imperial Garden disappeared. No one dared to gain favor in front of Xue Jieyu.

When the news of Wen Meiren’s punishment spread, the other half of the foolish ones also hid back in their palaces.

Without even seeing the emperor, they could be demoted.
Who wouldn’t be afraid?

At first, everyone was eager to attend to the emperor, but now they were afraid of offending both the emperor and the empress dowager. No one dared to attend to the emperor so quickly…

Ning Wanyin was also surprised. She had thought that Wen Meiren would definitely attend to the emperor tonight.

Why did…

The emperor suddenly punish his own people. This was unusual.

“What did Wen Baolin do today?” Ning Wanyin immediately asked.

Xiao Guizi was still feeling fearful and thought for a moment before replying, “I heard that Wen Meiren… no, Wen Baolin went to Cen Jieyu’s palace for tea today…”

Hmm?

Wasn’t this like throwing herself into the arms of the enemy instead of clinging to the emperor’s leg?

No wonder the emperor demoted her.

This emperor seemed to hold grudges.

However, Ning Wanyin could understand Wen Baolin’s thoughts.

The emperor didn’t even protect Song Meiren today. Who knew if he would protect her?

Choosing to seek refuge with the Cen family wasn’t more reasonable than hoping for the emperor’s favor?

But Wen Meiren seemed to have overlooked one thing.
The current status of the Wen family came from the emperor.

Before making a decision, she should have thought it through more carefully.

Oh wait, maybe in Wen Meiren’s eyes, her family’s high-ranking position was something her father deserved due to his outstanding achievements?

Ning Wanyin was silent for a moment and didn’t think about it anymore.

The most important thing now was that with Wen Meiren out of the picture, who would the emperor choose to attend to tonight?

No matter who was chosen, attending to the emperor before Xue and Cen Jieyu would make them a thorn in their eyes.

Whoever was chosen would be unlucky.

Ning Wanyin was still thinking about this when a chief eunuch walked in with a big smile on his face.

“Congratulations, Ning Guiren. The emperor has flipped your token. Please prepare to receive him.”

Ning Wanyin: ???