Entering the palace means entering a high position; I'm His Majesty's cousin, who am I afr

Qing'an was startled upon hearing this.

Under the emperor's extremely oppressive gaze, he dared not delay for a moment and hurried to carry out the task.

Shen Jiayu was also slightly taken aback.

She did not expect that the emperor would not summon Consort Lan for questioning, but would directly order her to be deposed.

Clean and efficient, without any hesitation or fuss.

Or perhaps he was certain that Consort Hui wouldn't lie, and he also understood what kind of person Consort Lan truly was.

Regardless, Shen Jiayu was very satisfied with the result.

After all this was done, it was already broad daylight outside, and it was time for the morning court session.

Shen Jiayu and Consort Hui accompanied the Emperor out of Yihua Palace.

As soon as the two returned to the palace, Consort Hui knelt down directly in front of Shen Jiayu with a "thump".

Shen Jiayu pulled her robe up over her shoulders, sat down on the soft couch, and said calmly, "Consort Hui, what are you doing?"

Consort Hui no longer pretended to be flustered; her expression became calmer, and she kept her back very low.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say to you."

Shen Jiayu took the hot tea, took a sip, and asked, "What did you say?"

Consort Hui prostrated herself on the ground, speaking clearly and solemnly, "Your Majesty, I am well aware of my own limitations. I am not as noble and virtuous as Your Majesty, and I dare not presume to compete with you, nor covet your position and imperial favor. Although Qi Rui is intelligent, he is merely clever in name only and will not amount to much. He would never dare to stand in the way of the future prince. I beg Your Majesty to show my son and me a way to survive. I will be eternally grateful and will recite scriptures and chant Buddhist prayers daily to pray for Your Majesty's well-being."

This is a blatant act of bowing down.

To yield and show weakness in order to protect oneself.

Shen Jiayu set down her teacup with a measured touch, her tone as indifferent as ever: "What kind of monster am I, that I devour people? You all stay quietly in the palace, why would I make things difficult for you?"

These words were both a warning and a reassurance: if you want to live, be law-abiding and don't cause trouble, and you'll have a peaceful life.

Otherwise, don't blame her for being ruthless.

Consort Hui understood what he meant and kowtowed several times, saying, "Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will certainly follow your teachings and dare not disobey."

Shen Jiayu admires intelligent people and enjoys dealing with them; they understand things quickly and require no further explanation.

"Raise Qi Rui well, and I can guarantee him a wealthy and leisurely life as a prince in the future."

Having received the assurance, Consort Hui kowtowed again: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"

Shen Jiayu waved her hand: "Get up."

Consort Hui did not get up. Instead, she straightened up, still having something to say, but seemed reluctant to speak.

Shen Jiayu then let her speak.

Consort Hui hesitated for a moment, her voice low and trembling almost imperceptibly: "Since Your Majesty has given Qi Rui such a promising future, I dare to ask for one for myself."

Shen Jiayu looked at her.

Logically speaking, after receiving her guarantee and feeling grateful, Consort Hui should have stopped there.

Now I still ask for grace...

Consort Hui is not a greedy or opportunistic person.

Seeing her like that just now, I realized she seemed a little timid, and what she wanted was probably not simple.

Shen Jiayu harbored some doubts, but remained outwardly calm: "What do you want?"

Consort Hui hesitated for a moment, then said, "If Qi Rui grows up and is granted a princeship and establishes his own residence, I would like to leave the palace with him and live in his residence. I wonder if Your Majesty would grant me permission?"

Shen Jiayu was somewhat surprised.

I never expected that this is what she asked for.

According to past practices of previous dynasties, there were indeed cases where imperial concubines accompanied princes to live outside the palace.

However, such an honor is usually granted only after the reigning emperor passes away and a new emperor ascends the throne, when the concubines of the six palaces are granted the title of Dowager Consort.

Your Majesty is currently in the prime of your life. Even if Qi Rui is granted the title of King in the future, Your Majesty will likely not encounter any major surprises and will continue to rule the world.

Consort Hui was a palace concubine...

Shen Jiayu hesitated for a moment, but did not immediately agree to Consort Hui's request. She only said, "After Qi Rui establishes his own residence, I will bring this matter up with His Majesty. As for the outcome, I cannot guarantee it."

If she's willing to bring it up, then the matter is more than half settled.

No one knows that His Majesty always defers to the Imperial Noble Consort.

Consort Hui was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

*

When Qing'an arrived at Xianchun Palace.

Consort Lan was applying medicine to the eldest prince's knee.

The eldest prince's leg injury was serious, and Consort Lan was worried about him, so she didn't let him return to the prince's quarters last night, but let him rest in her palace instead.

Upon hearing the report, Consort Lan paused in her actions.

Her eyelids twitched, and she had a bad feeling.

Why is Chief Eunuch Qing here so early? Does His Majesty have something to instruct him on?

The eldest prince looked up at Consort Lan: "Mother, is it because of the fight in the Imperial Study that Father is still angry with me?"

Because of this, he knelt for two whole days and two nights.

Because it was his study companion who made the first move, the emperor made him kneel for six more hours than Qi Rui.

Now that Chief Steward Qing has been sent, are we going to punish him?

Consort Lan calmed herself down and put the ointment down.

She straightened the prince's clothes and comforted him, "Go with Jinshu to have breakfast first. Your mother will be right back."

She gave Jinshu a wink, signaling her to take the eldest prince to the side hall.

Only then did he get up and leave the main hall.

She had just stepped forward, intending to ask His Majesty what his decree was, when she saw Grand Eunuch Qing raise his hand towards her.

Someone immediately restrained Consort Lan.

Suppressing her shock, Consort Lan asked in a deep voice, "Chief Eunuch Qing, what do you mean by this?"

Qing'an remained expressionless and loudly read the imperial decree: "Consort Lan, of the Chu clan, has lost favor and virtue, and is unfit for her position. Effective immediately, she is demoted to a commoner and imprisoned in the Cold Palace."

Consort Lan stopped struggling, as if struck by lightning, and froze there.

How could His Majesty issue such an edict...?

What exactly is the reason...?

At first, she was so shocked that Consort Lan did not react until the palace servants helped her outside, at which point she suddenly realized what was happening.

That vile Consort Hui actually dared to scheme against her.

Consort Lan had considered this possibility before taking action, but she felt the probability was very small.

The reason for this view is that Consort Hui has turned the tables on her without any evidence, and His Majesty may not believe her. If she insists on denying it and says that Consort Hui has framed her, there is no way to reach a conclusion or judgment on this matter.

But why?

Why did His Majesty condemn her without even summoning her?

Consort Lan was completely baffled.

She was always gentle and refined, but the grotesque and twisted expression on her face at this moment looked terrifying.

As the palace servants were dragging him away, a small figure suddenly rushed out – it was the eldest prince.

He stood in front of the palace servants, shouting, "What are you doing? Let go of my mother! Let her go!"

Qing'an bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness, this is His Majesty's decree."

The eldest prince spread his arms, still protecting Consort Lan, and retorted, "Impossible! Father wouldn't do this to my mother!"

Qing'an sighed and gestured with his chin toward the eunuch beside him.

Two young eunuchs stepped forward and pulled the eldest prince away. The prince struggled desperately but to no avail, and could only watch helplessly as Consort Lan was taken away: "You bunch of dog servants, let me go! Let my mother go! When I grow up, I will never let you get away with this!"

The two eunuchs looked at Qing'an with slight unease.

In this palace, it's incredibly easy for masters to take the lives of their servants.

Qing'an gave the two of them a reassuring look, then sighed to the eldest prince, "This servant was only acting under orders, please forgive me, Your Highness."

The eldest prince clenched his fist.

His face flushed with rage, and he glared at the group of people standing in front of the main hall, his eyes filled with a murderous intent that seemed to want to devour them alive.

Qing'an ignored them and asked the palace servants around him, "Who are the servants who serve the First Prince?"

Jinshu, fighting back tears, stepped forward.

Qing'an looked at her: "Weren't you the head maid who used to serve Consort Lan?"

Jinshu curtsied and said, "The maid who used to serve the First Prince has passed away due to illness, so I was assigned to the First Prince's side."

Qing'an didn't pursue the matter further. Consort Lan had already fallen, and a mere servant girl couldn't cause any trouble.

"Take His Highness back to the Prince's quarters to recuperate. Do not enter the inner palace for now. We will wait until a suitable foster mother has been found for His Highness."

The eldest prince was so angry that he trembled all over.

He doesn't want any foster mother!

He only wants his mother!

Just as he was about to retort sharply, Jinshu pulled him aside and bowed to Qing'an, saying, "This servant obeys the decree."