Ning Wanyin had a wound on her forehead, and Helian Qi, being mindful of this, did not do anything about it.
The two changed into clean clothes and sat down by the window to play a game of chess.
Outside, dark clouds still hung heavy, and rain poured down, but inside Lingxue Pavilion, the rain had stopped, and the sky had cleared.
“Your Majesty has taken me away today. I’m afraid the Empress Dowager will be displeased.” Ning Wanyin looked at Helian Qi.
Helian Qi’s eyes were icy cold: “If she makes things difficult for you again in the future, just send someone to find me.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Ning Wanyin replied with a beaming smile.
Then she said with an embarrassed expression, “The Empress Dowager has never liked me. With Your Majesty protecting me, I feel much more at ease.”
Ning Wanyin intentionally appeared weak today, but she had no intention of being bullied every time.
By testing the Emperor’s attitude, it would be easier to deal with things from here on out.
It seemed that the fire at Linlang Palace had shattered the brief peace between the Emperor and the Xue family.
“You’ve suffered today.” Helian Qi said, a hint of concern flashing in his eyes as he looked at the injury on her forehead.
“From now on, take Xiao Xiazi with you when you go out. If something unexpected happens, what can a palace maid do to stop it? Even if I avenge you afterwards, you will still be injured.”
Ning Wanyin thought to herself: If I don’t suffer a bit, how can you understand my situation?
Only by letting the Emperor know that she needs to rely on him for survival, will he feel comfortable using her.
“Thank you for reminding me, Your Majesty. I understand.” Ning Wanyin nodded obediently.
…
Outside Cining Palace—
The two eunuchs who had made the move were dragged away by the Ministry of Justice.
The chief eunuch, Liu Zhen, was originally supposed to be taken away as well, but Empress Dowager Xue sent a nanny to stop them.
“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager instructed Ning Jieyu to pray for blessings, yet those two servants dared to disrespect her. It is only right that they be beaten to death. However, the Chief Eunuch Liu Zhen was merely supervising Ning Jieyu and had no intention of disrespecting her. He will be given twenty strokes of the cane as a warning to others. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly.”
Wang Degui, of course, did not have the ability to disobey the Empress Dowager, so he could only nod and then go to ask the Emperor for instructions.
Nanny Tian continued to relay the message: “Her Majesty the Empress Dowager said that His Majesty’s words about praying for blessings make a lot of sense. Therefore, everything is entrusted to Xue Guiren.”
Xue Jinyan’s face turned pale. She didn’t understand why her aunt would rather protect a eunuch than help her…
Upon seeing this, Wang Degui breathed a sigh of relief.
He was afraid that Empress Dowager Xue would insist on protecting Xue Jinyan; otherwise, this matter could escalate further.
Nanny Tian walked up to Xue Jinyan and read aloud: “Your Excellency’s prayers for the nation are for the good of the country and its people, and the Empress Dowager is very pleased. She hereby bestows upon Xue Guiren a jade Buddha statue and a pair of jade ruyi scepters…”
A long list of rewards was read out.
Although Xue Jinyan felt wronged, she could only accept the order and say, “Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
Upon seeing this, Wang Degui quickly went to consult the Emperor.
The Emperor didn’t say much, so the matter was settled in this way.
For a full three hours, Xue Jinyan’s forehead was bruised and bleeding from the bumps, and her knees, soaked in the rain, were numb and had lost all feeling.
She was carried into the Cining Palace by two maids.
“Quickly, fetch the imperial physician.” Empress Dowager Xue immediately ordered.
Xue Jinyan felt extremely wronged, “Aunt…”
“I know you have suffered an injustice today…”
It wasn’t that Empress Dowager Xue didn’t want to save Xue Jinyan.
But rather, she had been caught off guard.
Empress Dowager Xue found a pretext to have Ning Wanyin pray for blessings, and the Emperor used this pretext to have Xue Jinyan pray for blessings…
The action lacked a legitimate reason, and the imperial edict had been issued.
What could the Empress Dowager do?
However, Empress Dowager Xue was not one to be easily defeated. Although she had been outmaneuvered, she did her best to salvage the Xue family’s reputation.
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Meow meow On TPH Chapter 26.1