As the saying goes, everything in the world is for benefit. Pies will not suddenly fall into the world, just like no one will be nice to someone for no reason. All the benefits given have a purpose that is rarely known to others.
Regardless of whether other people's intentions are good or bad, since you accept the benefits given by others as a matter of course, you must bear all the consequences of their benefits.
Therefore, Xiangling had to pay a corresponding price for accepting Concubine He's sudden benefits.
Logically speaking, Xiang Ling is the maid of Concubine He. As long as Concubine He opens her mouth, she will carry out Concubine He's orders whether she wants to or not.
But now, in order to let Xiang Ling do things for her, Concubine He did not hesitate to promise her how to treat Xiang Ling's brother. It can be imagined that this matter is by no means ordinary.
Otherwise, as a noble concubine, why would she do this!
Xiangling has been able to stay with Concubine He for so many years, and she is not a simple novice. Naturally, she can understand the meaning behind Concubine He's words.
The promise made to her was somewhat intended to deal with the consequences. Combined with the panic shown by Concubine He just now, Xiangling guessed that what Concubine He asked her to do would probably lead to a narrow escape from death, perhaps even worse.
Even though she was a slave, when she suddenly realized that she had been tricked by her master, Xiang Ling felt inexplicably resistant and felt more or less disgusted in her heart.
But just now, she had already boasted that she would be driven by her regardless of whether she was on a mountain of swords or a sea of fire.
Now that things have happened, what else can Xiang Ling do besides swallowing this resentment in her heart?
Perhaps seeing Xiang Ling's hesitation, or perhaps in order to ensure the safety of this incident, Concubine He was not as aggressive as before, with a slight smile on her face, giving people a feeling of spring breeze.
Even though his brows were furrowed and his expression was solemn, there was still a slight smile on his face. However, although there was a smile on his face, his facial muscles were slightly stiff, as if he was smiling but not smiling. Xiangling felt panicked when he looked at it.
.
Concubine He's eyes were full of hope, and she asked again, "Xiang Ling, I wonder if you would be willing to help me?"
Concubine He spoke in a very soft voice, and Xiang Ling didn't feel a trace of coercion. However, the more patient and polite she was, the more panicked Xiang Ling felt. She felt trembling all over and her body was as stiff as chaff.
Even though she was panicking, Xiangling could only hide the panic in her heart to prevent Concubine He from seeing through her abnormality. The despair on her face flashed across her face, and then she said in a low mood, "Your Majesty, I am willing."
The reason why Concubine He was able to become a concubine was that she had a powerful background and was also very good at assessing situations. She was not easily deceived. Therefore, the resistance on Xiangling's face, even if it only stayed on her face for half a breath, was ignored by the attentive Concubine He.
Caught.
She lowered her head and thought for a moment, glanced at Xiang Ling inadvertently, and then said seriously, "Xiang Ling, this matter is very critical and extremely important to me. If you don't want to in your heart, I won't force you.
Just find someone else to take your place!”
Xiangling smiled contemptuously in her heart at Concubine He's words, "Look for someone else." These words were said lightly. If she really wanted to find someone else, why would she have to be so persuasive to herself?
And she did not hesitate to mention her brother and let him enter He's house. This was tantamount to using her relatives to coerce her into submission.
Furthermore, it is conceivable that as long as Xiang Ling is not willing, in the future or after she expresses her unwillingness, He Guifei, who is determined to retaliate, will definitely take revenge on her.
All in all, at the moment when He Guifei discussed with her, no matter Xiang Ling refused or not, the outcome was already doomed, and what He Guifei just said was just a test.
Yi Xiangling has been with Concubine He for fifteen years, and she knows how well she behaves. She knows that if the negotiation fails, Concubine He will definitely use her relatives to force her to submit.
Based on their fifteen-year master-servant relationship, if Concubine He had been straightforward and honest with her from the beginning, Xiangling would definitely not refuse any of Concubine He's orders, and at the same time, she would not have any resistance in her heart.
After all, Xiangling has been owed Concubine He for these fifteen years, so even if he asked her to die, she would not frown.
But she should never use her brother as a coercion. What Guifei He just said was, at best, for the sake of her brother. At worst, it was a threat to her brother, who is a compatriot, so that she could not resist.
.
After all, the maids of the ancient officials had freedom, but it was common for them to be plotted and manipulated by others.
Xiangling was stunned for a while, her eyes were lifeless, only infinitely empty, as if her soul had been hollowed out. Her lips subconsciously moved twice, but she did not make any sound.
After being silent for a while, whether intentionally or unintentionally, Xiangling's eyes became firm at this moment. She raised her head to look at Concubine He and said sincerely, "Your Majesty, I am willing. No matter what I want you to do, I am willing to obey you.
It’s just that I have only a small request. I hope that the empress can treat my younger brother well and avoid being bullied by others.”
Hearing this, Concubine He's stiff face suddenly turned into a smile of relief. She said three good words in a row and praised her without hesitation, "Good, good... Xiangling, you are really a good boy, don't worry."
, if anything happens to you, I promise you that I will ensure that you and your brother will have enough food and clothing for the rest of their lives."
After receiving Concubine He's promise, Xiangling turned from sadness to joy. She immediately knelt down on the ground and said with tears in her eyes, "Slave, thank you! Your kindness is so great that I will never forget it."
Concubine He stood up in a hurry and said thoughtfully, "Get up, you have been with me for many years, and to tell the truth, I don't want to see you have an accident the last thing, but apart from you, no one else can do this.
There is no one to help.”
It can be said that Concubine He is extremely skilled in controlling people's hearts. This sentence alone can eliminate Xiang Ling's remaining resistance.
What's more, in order to show his reluctance, he sighed softly and said helplessly, "Xiang Ling, Miss, I really need your help, so I hope that no matter what happens, you will not betray me, do you understand?
"
Having said this, Concubine He no longer called herself her empress, but changed her title.
This can win over Xiang Ling's loyalty and make the resistance she just had disappear.
Sure enough, when Xiangling heard that Concubine He did not hesitate to use the name she used before entering the palace in order to ask her to help, she had mixed feelings for a moment, and she no longer felt resentful about Concubine He using her brother as a coercion.
Then tears filled her eyes, and she sobbed as she promised, "Your Majesty, I know this, and I swear here that I would rather die than betray your Majesty."