bookrandom Chapter 15 Reverse Operation
Chapter 15 Reverse Operation
After the emperor left, Rongyin began to handle the related matters. The investiture ceremony had already been prepared by all parties, but it had been delayed because the emperor hadn't given his consent. Therefore, in just half a day, Rongyin drafted the relevant procedures and details, and then set off for the Hall of Mental Cultivation in her palanquin. Unexpectedly, a sudden downpour occurred en route, making it difficult to move the palanquin. The group had to find a nearby side hall to take shelter temporarily. Shortly after entering the side hall, they saw another group passing through the passageway at the side hall's entrance. Yingluo, with her sharp eyes, recognized the leading palace maid as Ye Xin.
Ye Xin was a palace maid serving Hailan.
Yingluo had a strong impression of this Princess Hai. Princess Hai was originally a servant in the embroidery room. When the Emperor was still Prince Bao, he favored her after drinking and later bestowed upon her the title of Princess. Because of her sister's unjust case, Yingluo deeply resented the Emperor's actions; she also felt indignant on behalf of Hailan. Clearly, she was a victim, yet not only could she not seek justice, but her life was also in the hands of the perpetrator. Hongli, however, did not want to bear this responsibility. She was nameless and without status, making it difficult for her to cope. Even after Hongli gave her the title of Princess, it seemed as if he was declaring her to belong to him. She, on the other hand, had to live day and night with the person who had forced her, and because of her fear of the perpetrator, she was despised by him, who said she was timid and unfit to serve him. She was even accused by Gao Xiyue and others of deliberately seducing him, suffering endless humiliation.
Rongyin was also helpless about this. In the world of Yanxi, the world was already unfair to women, and in this world where the laws of heaven had collapsed, these injustices would only intensify. All she could do was lend a few words of support when Su Luyun and Qingying asked Hongli to give Hailan a title, take care of her clothing and food during her days of being out of favor, stop Gao Xiyue and others from mocking her, and hope that this conferment of the title of Noble Lady would improve her treatment.
However, this passageway was the only way to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Rongyin thought that since Hailan's sedan chair passed through here, she must have gone to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The fact that she sent out the sedan chair meant that at least when she left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, it had already started raining.
Hailan has always been quite afraid of the emperor and would avoid him whenever possible, so why would she go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation on her own initiative?
Rongyin and Yingluo exchanged a glance, both feeling there were some doubts.
The crowd waited a while longer, but the rain still hadn't stopped. The sedan chair passed through the passageway again, with Ye Xin, the palace maid, leading the way.
Having visited the Hall of Mental Cultivation twice in such a short time, the two were basically certain that something was amiss. Rongyin called out to Yuanyi in her mind.
Yuan Yi's voice came through: "So it's Ms. Rong. First of all, please allow me to congratulate you on being crowned Empress in this world. I hope your legs are still healthy. What can I do for you?"
Rongyin: Leg? Thank you for your concern, but my leg is fine. It's like this, may I ask if we can now see the interior of the Hall of Mental Cultivation?
Yuan Yi: In the current situation, I can conduct a live mental broadcast for you. We've detected other people around you, so please be mindful of your facial expressions while watching to avoid giving yourself away.
Rongyin: Okay, we understand.
Images flashed through their minds.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, it wasn't Hailan who appeared, but Qingying. It turned out that Hailan had gone to the Hall of Mental Cultivation twice. The first time, she was in person, but the second time, she secretly switched Qingying at the Prince's residence.
When the two met, they naturally embraced and talked, expressing their longing for each other after a month apart.
When the emperor saw that Qingying was wearing a moon-white satin jacket woven with colorful flowers and butterflies, he smiled and said, "The color of your clothes today is so similar to mine."
Qingying said shyly, "I was in a hurry to leave today and didn't dress up."
The emperor said, "There's no need for formalities; mutual understanding is the most important thing. How long has it been since we last met?"
Qingying replied, "Thirty-five days."
The Emperor sighed, pondering how to tell her he had figured out a way to get her out, when Qingying suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I have prepared some pastries." The Emperor readily agreed. Suxin stepped forward with the food box, and Qingying took out a plate of rose cakes, a plate of peach shortbread, a plate of yam cakes, and a bowl of lotus root starch and osmanthus sugar cake from the food box.
The emperor said, "You're imprisoned, yet you still have the mind to make snacks."
Qingying said, "These three desserts are His Majesty's favorites, and I am used to making them. This lotus root starch and osmanthus sugar cake is the Empress Dowager's favorite, and I am learning to make it, but I haven't had the chance to let the Empress Dowager taste it yet."
When the Emperor heard her mention the Empress Dowager, his face immediately darkened. He couldn't bear to say anything, and only said, "I'm afraid no matter how well you do, the Empress Dowager will not be satisfied."
Qingying said casually, "Don't say everything. Maybe the Empress Dowager will release me in a few days."
The emperor thought to himself that he could indeed release you in a few days, and a smile returned to his face.
Qingying, however, looked at a vase behind the emperor and asked, "What story is told on this vase?"
The emperor said, "You've even forgotten this? Lao Laizi dressed up in colorful clothes to entertain his parents."
As if remembering something, Qingying said, "It is the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, the first one is Min Ziqian serving his parents with a single garment."
The emperor laughed: "You're wrong again. The first story is about Yu Shun's filial piety moving Heaven."
Qingying said solemnly, "His Majesty remembers it so clearly because he has filial piety in his heart. The first story is about Yu Shun's filial piety moving Heaven, which shows that in people's minds, filial piety is the most important of all virtues, especially the monarch, who is the model for promoting filial piety."
The emperor's face had completely darkened.
Qingying seemed oblivious and continued, "Your Majesty has just ascended the throne and is busy with state affairs. Has he already forgotten about the Empress Dowager in Shou Kang Palace?"
Yingluo, who was in the side hall, was shocked when she saw this: Are you some kind of demon? Do you think that if you help the Empress Dowager get permission to live in the Cining Palace, she will remember your kindness and release you?
The Emperor said angrily, "Your aunt has just passed away, and your Empress Dowager is forcing you to stay home and observe mourning, completely disregarding my feelings. Your Empress Dowager is so ruthless, I..."
Qingying still insisted: "The Empress Dowager and my aunt have been at odds for many years. Please, Your Majesty, do not consider my aunt and me, so as not to harm the harmony between mother and son."
She knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I only ask that you set an example for the world and earn the respect of the people. Please do not worry about my personal safety."
Yingluo: The Empress is kind-hearted and thinks that she is covering for the Empress Dowager in order to save her own life. In fact, she is just a spineless person in front of the Empress Dowager!
The emperor suppressed his agitation and said in a gentle tone, "There's always a thorn in my side, my dear mother..."
Qingying interrupted, saying, "The Emperor's only biological mother is the Empress Dowager. She is currently living in Shou Kang Palace, waiting for the Emperor to come and take her to Cining Palace."
The emperor's heart, which had been filled with joy at Qingying's arrival, had now turned completely cold.
His birth mother was of humble birth and died early. His birth mother's background caused him to suffer neglect during his childhood. Even after he recognized Consort Xi as his mother and his life became a little better, he always had a sense of inferiority and resentment in his heart. He was inferior to his birth and resentful that his birth mother died without a name or status.
At noon, the Empress's unintentional remark reminded him that he was now the supreme ruler, capable of making absolute decisions, which slightly lessened his inferiority complex. He had even drafted an imperial edict ordering his domineering foster mother to "recuperate" in the Shou Kang Palace. In the afternoon, his childhood sweetheart, in the name of the people, pressured him, demanding that he yield to the person who had separated them against his will, and completely deny the existence of his birth mother. She even said not to consider her and her aunt, making it seem as if she herself had sacrificed herself for others, like Yu Shun, who, despite being murdered by her stepmother, still remained filial! Aunt, aunt... If Qingying hadn't insisted that her aunt had died suddenly, he could have already used the Empress Dowager's alleged killing to launch an attack, making today's situation even easier!
"Enough!" the emperor roared. Qingying trembled in surprise, her eyes blinking rapidly.
"Wang Qin, come in! Convey my imperial decree! Since the late Emperor's passing, the Empress Dowager has been overwhelmed with grief and has fallen ill with delirium. I hereby order Qi Ru, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, to go and treat her. The Empress Dowager is staying at Shou Kang Palace to recuperate properly! The Empress and I will visit her day and night, and personally taste her medicine to demonstrate our filial piety!"
"Draft another decree: Cining Palace was originally the place where Empress Dowager Zhaosheng lay in state. Empress Dowager Zhaosheng supported two emperors and made unparalleled contributions to the Qing Dynasty's entry into the Central Plains, the overthrow of the Ming Dynasty, and the suppression of the Three Feudatories. She was also humble and self-disciplined, without any desire to cling to power. Such virtuous conduct is a model for our Great Qing! Qin Li, the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Department, and the Ministry of Works are hereby ordered to carry out a major renovation of Cining Palace and to recast a golden Buddha statue to be placed in the palace, so as to commemorate the wise and virtuous Empress Dowager Zhaosheng and comfort her spirit in heaven!"
Qingying exclaimed in surprise, "No, Your Majesty, you cannot be so unfilial!"
The emperor turned to her, his gaze icy: "As for you, Qingying, since you are so filial to the Empress Dowager, from today onwards, you will go to Shou Kang Palace and keep the Empress Dowager company for me!"
Qingying stood straight, her lips pouting, tears welling up in her eyes.
At this moment, the three people watching the live broadcast in the side hall exclaimed: Wow, amazing!
Yuan Yi's voice came through: "Congratulations! You've temporarily resolved the contradictions in this world: centralized imperial power, the emperor's absolute control over life and death, and the emperor's many fears. Your efficiency is truly astonishing. Would you like to consider taking the Ghost Messenger exam afterward?"
Yingluo: No, it's not that we're efficient, it's that Qingying is too good at stirring things up from the opposite direction!