ebookland Chapter 93 Qin Wanyue's Self-Destructive Act
Chapter 93 Qin Wanyue's Self-Destructive Act
"Lvqiao, how is the Empress Dowager these days?"
Shen Sangning put down the rattle drum in her hand and asked softly, her eyes unwilling to leave the little princess on the small bed for even a moment.
Green Qiao shook her head, looking troubled, and said, "Your Majesty, you don't know this, but now the people in Renshou Palace are all sent by the Emperor. It's harder than climbing to heaven to get any information."
Shen Sangning remained silent, her beautiful brows furrowed tightly.
Now the emperor is completely infatuated with Consort Qin, indulging in nightly revelry. The Right Chancellor is no pushover either, secretly forming cliques, but the emperor doesn't believe him and is easily fooled with a few words.
Now that Helian Yue is gone, those bandits on the border are restless. Giving military power to Consort Qin's cousin, who is just a showy guy, is like children playing house!
If it weren't for the late emperor's decree, would she have coveted the position of empress?
Now, Consort Qin comes to her palace every day, showing off her power and disturbing her daughter's peace.
However, after punishing that wretched woman by making her kneel for half an hour, Jun Shuyan actually placed her, the Empress, under house arrest and appointed Consort Qin to manage the six palaces in her stead.
Her father merely spoke up for her in court, and he was immediately sent to Jingzhou. Now, she, the empress, is a laughing stock.
Such a monarch is utterly foolish! She's even starting to doubt whether there was something wrong with the original will that passed the throne to him.
As her personal maid, Lü Qiao was furious. That Consort Qin had come back late at night and her sharp tongue had scared the little princess to tears. It was only with great difficulty that she managed to coax her to sleep.
"Tomorrow, I will be going to Huaqing Palace."
Shen Sangning narrowed her eyes slightly. She could leave the palace tomorrow. Could a mere imperial concubine really make her so arrogant?
She wanted to see how a woman who rose to power through seduction could maintain her position as a concubine.
"Yes, Your Highness, I will prepare your clothes right away!"
Green Qiao happily stepped back, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Why did Consort Qin have to come and bother the little princess of all things? There's going to be a good show tomorrow!
The next morning, all the concubines came to pay their respects, but Qin Wanyue was the only one missing.
After all the concubines had left, Qin Wanyue led her entourage to her Jiaolan Palace in a grand procession.
"Sister, I'm so sorry, but last night His Majesty insisted on..."
Qin Wanyue blushed slightly as she said this, "I hope you won't blame me for being late, sister."
Actually, she was just too sleepy to get up in the morning. Considering that she was a favored concubine, she wouldn't dare to do anything to herself.
Originally, it was thought that the Empress, with her cowardly nature, would surely let it go, but Shen Sangning's eyes sharpened and she shouted, "Kneel down before me!"
Qin Wanyue was startled by her sudden imposing manner, but she still stubbornly raised her head and said, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten that His Majesty said I don't need to kneel!" Her face was full of smugness.
Shen Sangning, seated in the superior position, looked down at her and said with a slight parting of her red lips, "Some things seem beautiful and vibrant when viewed through a hazy, dreamlike lens, but upon closer inspection, they are nothing more than a pile of withered bones."
Her eyes were contemptuous and her face showed sarcasm. She really couldn't understand how Qin Po, an extremely shrewd Right Prime Minister, could raise such a pretty face.
Although Qin Wanyue didn't understand what she meant, she knew it wasn't a good thing as soon as she heard "withered bones".
She pointed at Shen Sangning on the high seat and shouted, "You're just an unfavored empress who only gave birth to a princess. What gives you the right to act so arrogantly in front of me!"
Upon hearing this, the people she brought all lowered their heads, wishing they could bury their heads in the ground.
I wish I hadn't come today!
Shen Sangning stood up and smashed the teacup in her hand straight at Qin Wanyue, startling her into screaming.
The teacup landed on her hair bun, and the warm tea flowed down her hair and onto her face, leaving streaks on her delicate makeup.
"The Prime Minister's daughter is truly well-mannered! As a concubine in the harem, she sleeps until the sun is high in the sky! Even the Emperor wouldn't dare to do that, let alone a mere concubine like you?"
"How can you be so shameless and rude in front of so many people!"
"I am the Empress! What kind of decorum is this, with you and me?! Did the Right Chancellor's wife not teach her younger sister about the proper order of rank?!"
"Why? Because I was the Empress appointed by the late Emperor! And you are just a concubine who climbed up the social ladder through despicable means!"
Qin Wanyue was already furious when she was hit, and now that she heard her being scolded for being a concubine, she couldn't hold back anymore.
She grabbed a cup from the table, intending to throw it at him, but Shen Sangning quickly took a few steps and kicked her.
Lü Qiao stepped forward, pulled her up, and kicked her in the knee, forcing her to kneel in front of Shen Sangning.
"If Consort Qin is ignorant of propriety and shame, then let her copy the 'Admonitions for Women' two hundred times in Huaqing Palace. She can only come out when she's finished copying it."
"As for the offense of being late to pay respects, disrespecting me, and speaking rudely..."
Shen Sangning pondered for a moment, then deliberately sighed, "Then punish Consort Qin by making her kneel before this palace for two hours every morning, until she finishes copying the 'Admonitions for Women'."
Qin Wanyue was unwilling to submit and struggled to stand up, but the wet nurse behind her persuaded her to stop, "Miss! Miss, please don't cause any more trouble for the master!"
If the Prime Minister finds out about what happened today, all of us servants will be punished. If the young lady causes any more trouble and offends the Empress, then we're really doomed.
Although she was an unfavored empress, she was still the one the late emperor had assigned to the emperor, so it was not easy to offend her!
Qin Wanyue glared at Shen Sangning with displeasure but didn't dare to say anything more.
Her father was busy with important matters right now, and if she caused any trouble, he would definitely abandon her without hesitation. She knew him too well!
Shen Sangning glanced indifferently at the servants behind her. "You servants are truly raised to eat for free. You can't even serve your own mistress properly. Look at what your Consort is wearing."
She clicked her tongue, her eyes revealing undisguised disgust.
How is this any different from the prostitutes in the brothels outside? Well, what clothes can't she wear to cater to Jun Shuyan's tastes?
The palace maids and nannies who were called out trembled and lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to make a sound.
"Go down and receive twenty strokes of the cane. The palace is not some filthy place like outside. Don't embarrass the royal family for nothing."
The palace maids and nannies breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, it was only twenty strokes of the cane.
When I came today, I advised Consort Qin not to dress like that, but she wouldn't listen. She even said that the Empress is old and faded, and that she couldn't do anything to her even if she dressed like that.
Following such a stupid master, they're just risking their lives to serve her; besides being a little pretty, they're really useless.
Outside, there was a chorus of wails. Qin Wanyue knelt before the Jiaolan Palace, clenching her fists in hatred.
It was hot and sunny outside, and even though she was wearing light clothing today, she could feel the pain on her skin.
Unfortunately, the Emperor had many things to attend to and couldn't care less about her. By the time he received the news and rushed over, she would probably have already fainted from the heat!
Shen Sangning sat inside surrounded by several bowls of ice, yet she felt no heat at all. She would occasionally look up at Qin Wanyue outside.
As soon as she started to lean, the nanny would straighten her up, and gradually a look of regret and despair appeared on her face.
Shen Sangning looked at her long nails over and over, thinking that this would save her trouble and she wouldn't have to go there herself.