“It’s still raining outside. I think we should do it another day.” Zhuang Fei suddenly said.
It wasn’t that she wanted to befriend Ning Wanyin, but rather that she owed her a favor.
Helping her three times will repay that favor, and then they will be even.
She still harbored a deep dislike for Ning Wanyin.
“Your Highness Zhuang Fei, one cannot break a vow made to Buddha. Since the vow was made today, the blessing must be offered today.” Shi Meiren declared.
She is one of the four new meirens to enter the palace this year, and also the leader of the Xue faction.
If this were postponed, who knows what might happen later?
Empress Dowager Xue gave her an approving look: “Not bad. For the sake of the fate of the Great Yan Dynasty, this matter cannot be allowed to fail.”
“I presume that Ning Jieyu would not disregard the fate of the Great Yan for her own sake!” Shi Meiren chimed in.
This back-and-forth was a clear attempt to force Ning Wanyin to immediately go out and kowtow.
Lian Rui was extremely anxious and looked at Ning Wanyin with concern.
Ning Wanyin simply curtsied and said, “This concubine obeys the order and will never fail the Empress Dowager’s trust.”
With that, she followed the leading nanny to kneel outside the door to ‘pray for blessings’.
Shu Fei was somewhat taken aback.
Was she really that obedient?
But remembering how she had meekly complied when the Empress Dowager punished her last time, she wasn’t surprised.
Even if Ning Wanyin had some cleverness, she was no match for absolute power; she was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Without the Emperor, could she have managed to linger for so long?
“You may all return.” Empress Dowager Xue said with satisfaction, waving her hand.
The concubines dispersed with varying expressions.
The chief eunuch of Cining Palace, Liu Zhen, flattered, “Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is truly brilliant. With just a few words, Your Highness punished that lowly girl thoroughly. Daring to hit Master Xue, she’s really courting death!”
“Yan’er’s plan this time was excellent. I saw it all, and there was nothing wrong with it. It was just that she acted impulsively at the last moment, which gave Ning Shi the opportunity to embarrass the Xue family… She’s still young and can’t keep her composure.” Empress Dowager Xue shook her head.
Liu Zhen chimed in, “Your Majesty, your effortless skill has subdued everyone. Who would dare to disregard the Xue family now? With your guidance, Master Xue, being such a clever person, is sure to achieve great things!”
“She’s not bad at all.” Empress Dowager Xue said, complementing Xue Jinyan.
In a good mood, she paused, then added, “Go and call her over. She’s ashamed of losing face because she didn’t handle things well, so she’s hiding from me. Take my sedan chair and bring her over.”
“Yes.”
…
Zhuang Fei glanced at Ning Wanyin, who was kneeling and kowtowing in front of the palace gate, and left without lingering, getting into her sedan chair.
The other concubines, due to the heavy rain, also returned to their respective palaces.
“Where is Song Jieyu going?” Wen Meiren asked Song Qingzhi curiously.
She wasn’t heading back toward Mozhu Pavilion.
Song Qingzhi said calmly, “Viewing the lake in the rain is also a beautiful sight.”
Tai Shou Lake is located near Cining Palace.
Wen Meiren thought to herself: What’s so interesting about this…
However, she glanced at the Tingyu Pavilion by Tai Shou Lake and instantly understood—wasn’t the Tingyu Pavilion directly facing Cining Palace?
Sitting in Tingyu Pavilion, one could indeed enjoy a beautiful view.
“Song Jieyu has such refined tastes. I’ll go and take a look, too.” Said Wen Meiren.
The two of them went to Tingyu Pavilion together.
Sitting on the second floor, they had a perfect vantage point to look down at Ning Wanyin, who was kowtowing before the Cining Palace gate.
A palace maid brought in hot tea.
Wen Meiren picked it up, took a small sip, and feigned kindness, saying, “Alas, Ning Jieyu is truly pitiful…”
“Isn’t it because she was arrogant and domineering, and brought it upon herself?” Song Qingzhi retorted. She had deliberately chosen this vantage point to enjoy Ning Wanyin’s sorry state.
Wen Meiren smiled and said, “That’s true. By the way, I just thought that Zhuang Fei was going to help Ning Jieyu…”
“Zhuang Fei only showed concern out of gratitude for saving her life. Seeing her suffer like this, she’s probably secretly delighted.” Song Qingzhi scoffed.
“Before Ning Wanyin entered the palace, she was the most favored concubine in the six palaces.”
Wen Meiren thought so too, but of course, she couldn’t say it directly.
Only someone as arrogant as you would dare to speak so recklessly.
“It is indeed Song Jieyu who has discerning eyes…” Wen Meiren replied with a smile.
Good day, everyone~
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Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152