amaotonovel Chapter 167 The Death of Longkodo
Chapter 167 The Death of Longkodo
The Dragon Boat Festival had just passed, and the shrill chirping of cicadas lingered in the air. The concubines who had some common sense had already started preparing money for the summer.
"The Empress Dowager is not in good health, and the Emperor has no interest in going to the garden. I'm sorry to trouble you sisters this year." Nian Shilan sat in the main seat and said with a sad face.
Concubine Duan sighed, "After all, I was one of the first to enter the palace. When I was ill in the past, it was thanks to the Empress Dowager that I was taken care of. As the saying goes, long illness makes a doctor, and I am half a doctor. I also ask the Imperial Concubine to allow me to stay by the Empress Dowager's side and serve her."
Nian Shilan's eyes gleamed, and she raised her eyebrows and said, "The Empress Dowager is kind and benevolent. Many sisters in the palace admire her reputation. Concubine Duan, you are an old lady, so you must not compete with the sisters below you for the position. I have arranged the attendants according to the ranking. Concubine Duan and I are the first batch, and the rest of you should also prepare."
Concubine Duan ignored Nian Shilan and looked at Jiang Ruyin instead. Jiang Ruyin expressed regret, "I should have served the Empress Dowager together with the Imperial Concubine, but I've been gone for three days. I have to settle Hongxuan before I can serve the Empress Dowager with peace of mind."
Concubine Duan nodded, "It's perfectly acceptable to show filial piety to the Empress Dowager."
Concubine Qi glanced at Concubine Jing secretly. Concubine Jing noticed her gaze and nodded with a smile.
Concubine Qi was discovered and quickly sat up straight. This meant that she and Jiang Ruyin were together. She and I both raised the prince, so I couldn't lose to her.
Thinking this way, Concubine Qi secretly prepared to go back and sleep for three days. After three days, she would show her filial piety to the Empress Dowager. Hongshi would be sixteen years old and it was time for him to marry a wife...
The superiors all had their own ulterior motives. Concubine Qi and Concubine Chun looked around among the superiors in panic as if they had lost their backbone.
Shen Meizhuang seemed to have lost all her strength and means, and her little face was pale.
"What happened to Concubine Shen? The Empress Dowager fell ill on the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival. I heard that she rewarded you with warm wine for several days in a row. It's a pity that the Emperor is busy with palace affairs, so you have been wronged." Nian Shilan leaned forward slightly, staring at Shen Meizhuang with concern.
Shen Meizhuang was tugged at by the spirit beside her on her sleeve. When she came to her senses, she found that all the women in the room were looking at her.
The gazes, whether curious, malicious, or speculative, gave her a chill for no apparent reason. "Your Highness, I was caught in a cold last night and didn't get enough rest, so I'm a little dazed."
"Then Lady Shen must have a good rest." Nian Shilan said indifferently.
Ling Changzai stood up and bowed, "Your Highness, I have something to report."
Shen Meizhuang's hand suddenly tightened on the handle, and the whitening of her finger bones made Jiang Ruyin raise an eyebrow.
Then Ling Changzai continued, "Before entering the palace, I had heard of the Empress Dowager's virtuous reputation. I am already one month pregnant, and the imperial physician says I am in good health and the fetus is safe. Upon learning that the Empress Dowager is not well, I am deeply concerned and would like to serve her once before the fetus grows. Please grant this, Your Highness."
Nian Shilan blinked, and Jiang Ruyin secretly looked at Ling Changzai while drinking tea.
Ling Changzai had a bit of luck on her side. A few days ago, there was progress in the Longkodo case, and a large number of officials were imprisoned, including Ling Changzai's father. Counting the days, it was half a month before the incident.
Seeing that her expression was normal, her bright eyes stared at Nian Shilan, as if she would not give up until Nian Shilan agreed.
Nian Shilan was obviously thinking about the events of the previous dynasty and cleared her throat. "Okay, I understand your filial piety. The heir to the throne is the most important thing. Just rest well in the palace."
Ling Chang opened her mouth, as if unwilling to give in. Jiang Ruyin hurriedly said, "This palace, Concubine Hua, and Concubine Duan, are entrusted with the instructions of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. We dare not be careless. In consideration of your commendable filial piety, tomorrow you will accompany Concubine Hua to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager and then return. The Empress Dowager will be very happy to hear such good news and will miss you very much. I only hope that you will not mind this palace and the Empress Dowager nagging you."
Ling Chang calmed down slightly and bowed again to express his gratitude.
Concubine Duan stared at Ling Changzai's belly, which had not yet shown any signs of pregnancy, and it took a long time before she turned her eyes away.
"Empress Duan, I will accompany you to see Wen Yi." Shen Meizhuang said softly.
"I want to keep a few of you to discuss palace affairs together. Concubine Duan, do you have something to do?" Nian Shilan glanced over lightly.
Shen Meizhuang bit her lip and said, "Palace affairs are important, and I am not someone who doesn't understand things."
......
Three days later, the atmosphere in the bedroom of Shoukang Palace was depressing, the weather was bright and pleasant, every window in the main hall was covered with thick curtains, and the flickering candlelight brought a faint light. This was because the empress dowager was terminally ill and could not bear the slightest breeze. When she saw the light, turbid tears would flow from her eyes.
As soon as Nian Shilan pushed open the door, she hurriedly closed it, fearing that a trace of air from outside would leak in.
"Greetings to the Imperial Concubine." Jiang Ruyin knelt down. "The Imperial Concubine and Sister Duan have been working hard these past few days. I wanted to come over early to see if there's anything I can do to help."
Nian Shilan glanced at her and said, "You are quite filial. Come with me."
As he spoke, he walked quickly towards the back of the main hall, and Jiang Ruyin had no choice but to follow him quickly.
The central and western surrounding rooms are quite spacious, and the whole place is made into a small imperial hospital.
Wisps of green smoke rose from the medicine furnace nearby, and the bitter smell of medicine filled the air.
Nian Shilan coughed lightly and said, "Go help somewhere else. I'll take care of this place. I'll take her to the main hall later."
The maid bowed and left. Just as she took two steps, she heard Nian Shilan say, "You have to learn a lot when serving the Queen Mother. Don't bump into things and make her angry for no reason."
As she said this, she stood around the medicine stove, first looking at the boiling point and then at the firewood underneath, then she took a small fan and gently fanned the fire. The flames did not move at all despite the faint breeze.
Jiang Ruyin understood and walked forward, and began to look at the small medicine furnace seriously.
Nian Shilan lowered her voice and covered her mouth with her small fan. "Look at how anxious Concubine Duan and her gang are. Without the Queen Mother, none of them would be able to earn even a little favor."
Jiang Ruyin looked at her helplessly, "Is that why you said this?"
"Of course not!" Nian Shilan immediately became serious. "The previous dynasty's Longkodo incident involved many things. Ling Chang got pregnant at this critical moment, and the emperor sighed all day long. And..."
Glancing around with shifty eyes, Nian Shilan lowered her voice even further, "The Empress Dowager kept mumbling late at night, and she kept talking about the Longkodo incident. Officially, the Emperor ordered Longkodo to be imprisoned until his death, but the Empress Dowager claimed that she personally solved his case!"
Jiang Ruyin's heart skipped a beat when she heard these words. She quickly turned her eyes and looked around. "This matter is of great importance. You must report it to the Emperor. If someone with ulterior motives gets to know about it, I'm afraid it will arouse the Emperor's suspicion."