TICIEC Chapter 10.1

In the Cining Palace, all the concubines had already left, leaving only Xue Jieyu to talk with the Empress Dowager.

Shu Fei and Wang Degui arrived at the Cining Palace together.

“Please forgive me, Empress Dowager. It’s all my fault for being so stupid that I didn’t have time to convey His Majesty’s instructions to you…”

Wang Degui repeated the Emperor’s words, his voice trembling.

“Your Majesty also said… He also said that Ning Guiren paid her respects to you every day, without any disrespect or disobedience. Her occasional absence was due to the Emperor. I hope the Empress Dowager can understand.”

Empress Dowager Xue’s face darkened.

The Emperor clearly protected Ning Wanyin and said that it was his fault. Empress Dowager Xue naturally could not punish Ning Wanyin anymore.

She said coldly, “Since the Emperor has spoken for her, I will show some mercy. You may go down.”

Wang Degui wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly left.

Shu Fei, unwilling to stay to witness the Empress Dowager’s wrath, also bowed and withdrew.

After the outsiders leave, the chief eunuch, Liu Zhen, angrily said, “Empress Dowager, His Majesty has insulted you for a woman! He has completely forgotten that without your support, he would never have ascended to the throne! You must not let this go!”

When Empress Dowager Xue was the empress, she held great power in the harem.

The Emperor, who was still a prince at the time, could only pay his respects to her. How could he dare to go against his stepmother?

Therefore, the people in the Cining Palace felt that they were superior to others, even when facing the Emperor.

“Okay, you also step back. Let me think about it carefully.”

Empress Dowager Xue was furious, but she did not make any impulsive decision. Instead, she waved away the servants.

The winners of the harem of the previous generation were certainly not simple people.

Liu Zhen led the palace servants to retreat.

Empress Dowager Xue looked at Xue Jieyu with a complicated expression.

“Yan’er, we and the Cen family were wrong back then, thinking he was easy to control. The Emperor has been making arrangements in the court over the past three years to compete with us. He’s already established a strong foundation. It’s difficult to change the throne now, so my family specifically allowed you to enter the palace.”

“Yan’er understands. Aunt, you’re saying this now…”

Xue Jieyu felt that today’s events were extremely embarrassing for her aunt, and as a daughter of the Xue family, she was also deeply angry.

“The Emperor is not a puppet, nor will he willingly accept being one. Therefore, you must see beyond the surface to discern the Emperor’s true intentions and not be blinded by anger.”

Empress Dowager Xue instructed patiently, a sneer on her face.

“The Emperor cannot directly break off relations with us, so you are given the title of Jieyu. This is the Emperor’s compromise with the Xue family. He now wants me to take another step back and use this Ning Guiren as a scapegoat.”

Xue Jieyu was a little confused when she heard this.

“Aunt, why are you taking a step back?”

“Didn’t the Emperor say it? Concubine Ning pays respects to me every day…”

Empress Dowager Xue’s eyes were cold.

Greetings, every day. The Emperor had made it clear enough.

Xue Jieyu was startled, then suddenly realized, “His Majesty wants you to be like the previous empress dowagers…”

No longer paying respects every day, only on the first and fifteenth of the month.

Then the Empress Dowager’s control and deterrence over the harem would be greatly reduced.

Now the concubines had to pay respects daily, subject to the Empress Dowager’s lectures and threats.

The Emperor’s concubines, however, had to act according to the Empress Dowager’s mood.

The Emperor couldn’t tolerate this.

“You…” Xue Jieyu looked at the Empress Dowager worriedly.

If she gave up her power, the Xue family’s influence in the harem would be diminished…

“Let’s wait and see. I need to think about it carefully.”

A trace of worry flashed in Empress Dowager Xue’s eyes. If the Emperor continued to disfavor Xue Jieyu, she would be powerless.

They need a prince with Xue family blood!

 

 

You can support your favorite novel by buying me a cup of Ko-fi ( ˘▽˘)っ♨

I will really appreciate it. ♥️♥️♥️