Concubine Tian Shu secretly gritted her teeth and had to force out a smile: "What the empress is saying is, this bitch, maidservant, I will kill her sooner or later! Otherwise, if everyone in the palace is learned and good, how can we still do it?"
After a pause, he sighed again: "I have suffered so much today, and I can't tell you how miserable I am. The empress's sweet spring palace should be investigated carefully, so as not to cause anything to happen in the future and implicate the empress."
Concubine Cao's eyes flashed and she said calmly: "Sister reminds me that there are nearly two thousand people in the harem, and there are many quick-thinking ones. It's time to put things in order."
The few words he said lightly conveyed a chilling chill.
Those with the Phoenix Palm Seal are so majestic!
Concubine Tian Shu felt sour in her heart and echoed a few words.
Concubine Cao despises Concubine Tian Shu from the bottom of her heart. Concubine Tian Shu was the foot-washing palace attendant next to Empress Liu back then. What was the difference between what she did and betraying her master?
In the palace, the most taboo thing is to go beyond one's master to flatter the emperor.
Concubine Tian Shu was lucky enough to be pregnant with a dragon seed, gave birth to King Zhao, and was promoted to the title of concubine.
Empress Liu was so angry that she fell ill. Concubine Tian Shu was still shy and wanted to raise Prince Zhao with the childless Empress Liu. As soon as she opened her mouth, Empress Liu kicked her out unceremoniously.
Not a few people knew about this old incident in the palace. Concubine Cao naturally knew it well and looked down upon Concubine Tian Shu.
She is a noble concubine in charge of palace affairs, and is only one step away from the phoenix throne, so she naturally has to behave like a noble concubine. When I heard that Concubine Tian Shu was unwell, she had to come to visit her in person.
"You have a good rest." Concubine Cao patted the back of Concubine Tian Shu's hand and said in a gentle voice, "Don't take those messy things to heart."
"I'll come see you another day when I have some free time."
After Concubine Cao "comforted" Concubine Tian Shu, she stood up and left.
Instead of going back to Ganquan Palace, I went to Cining Palace.
Empress Dowager Cao is seventy-eight years old, which is a rare longevity in this age.
The Empress Dowager Cao had silver hair, a face full of wrinkles, and many brown spots on her face. However, the Empress Dowager Cao was very fond of beauty, and would apply a thick layer of powder every day to cover all the spots before she would see anyone.
Moreover, Empress Dowager Cao also likes to wear red.
Think about it, he is so old, his body is stooped, he walks tremblingly, his face is painted pink, and he is wearing a red palace dress... This scene is so eye-catching!
Fortunately, Concubine Cao could still boast with a smile: "The red dress the Queen Mother is wearing looks particularly beautiful today."
Empress Dowager Cao was praised for her physical and mental comfort, and she grinned, showing a few scattered teeth.
A turbid smell rushed towards me.
Concubine Cao quietly held her breath.
As an old man who is nearly eighty years old, it is inevitable that he smells old. Empress Dowager Cao also likes to sprinkle toilet water on her clothes. The aroma is mixed with the stench, and the smell is really tolerable.
Empress Dowager Cao did not leave Cining Palace, but she knew everything about the goings-on in the palace: "What's going on over there in Cuiwei Palace?"
Concubine Cao held Empress Dowager Cao's arm and replied in a low voice: "Concubine Shu was so angry that she vomited blood. The imperial doctor is taking care of her. After a period of rest, she should be fine."
Empress Dowager Cao's words were leaked, her voice was a little unclear, but the dissatisfaction in her tone was clearly visible: "You shallow-eyed bastard! For a little money, you dared to reach outside the palace. This time I just chopped off her hand!"
"That's not a little bit of silver." Concubine Cao's lips curved sarcastically: "In the past ten years, Tian Kun has sent seven to eight hundred thousand taels of silver to the palace."
She was in charge of the harem, worked hard, and only had three or four hundred thousand taels of money in her private house.
Concubine Tian Shu has a big appetite, and she is not afraid to hold on to it even after taking so much money.
Empress Dowager Cao snorted heavily, her dissatisfaction evident: "What a shame!"
Concubine Cao felt happy after hearing this, and said softly: "It's okay not to talk about these annoying things. Speaking of which, King Yan is very capable. I don't know what means he used to bribe Lu Yi who is beside Concubine Shu."
It is taboo for a prince to put his hands into the harem.
However, to Empress Dowager Cao, this was nothing. The King of Han was his grandson, and King Yan was also his direct grandson. Empress Dowager Cao was partial to the King of Han, and she also loved the King of Yan very much.
"The King of Yan is in charge of the Ministry of Justice. What can he do without some means?" Empress Dowager Cao actually opened her mouth to praise the King of Yan.
Concubine Cao felt uneasy in her heart.
Her current status is largely due to her surname Cao. Empress Dowager Cao is the big tree above the Cao family and the biggest supporter for her and the King of Han.
However, although Empress Dowager Cao was kind to their mother and son, she did not support the King of Han in his fight for the throne.
After all, no matter who becomes the crown prince, he is the grandson of Empress Dowager Cao, and must obey the imperial grandmother respectfully.
Empress Dowager Cao is too old to get involved in these matters.
"What? Do you want to use this matter to suppress the harem?" Empress Dowager Cao glanced at Concubine Cao and asked casually.
Even though Empress Dowager Cao is old and shabby, she is not confused at all, and she speaks to Concubine Cao's thoughts right away.
Concubine Cao was slightly frightened and hurriedly whispered: "I have no such intention."
Empress Dowager Cao's cloudy old eyes couldn't see the subtle changes in Concubine Cao's expression, but she could imagine it. Empress Dowager Cao lightly reminded: "Wait a few days and see what the emperor's attitude is."
If Emperor Long'an was dissatisfied with King Yan, it would be logical for Concubine Cao to clean up the harem.
Otherwise, Concubine Cao would only offend the emperor if she acted in vain.
Concubine Cao responded softly.
…
In the evening of that day, the news that Lu Yi committed suicide in the prison of the Ministry of Justice spread to the palace.
Emperor Long'an didn't care about the life or death of a mere palace servant and didn't even ask.
When the news reached Cuiwei Palace, Concubine Tian Shu not only did not feel relieved, but became even more angry. The slave who betrayed her master should die at the hands of her master.
Lu Yi died in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment, which would only make everyone in the palace laugh at her.
King Zhao stayed in the palace for a day. When he heard the news, he was so angry that he laughed: "I took him away in the morning and died in the prison before it got dark. It's a shame he could do it!"
Concubine Tian Shu still held on to her last glimmer of hope: "Do you think King Yan asked Lu Yi to fake his death, but actually sent him away secretly?"
King Zhao snorted from his nose: "He is so impeccable in his work, how could he leave such flaws? Lu Yi's body has been sent back to her home, and a generous sum of money has been given for burial."
Concubine Tian Shu said bitterly: "Can we just forget about this matter?"
A haze flashed in King Zhao's eyes, and he whispered: "Tian Kun has been sentenced to death and will be executed by Queen Qiu. His family property was also confiscated. It's lucky that my mother and concubine were not involved in the case."
"Lu Yi died again."
"We should not act rashly now."
Concubine Tian Shu looked unhappy and sighed.
King Zhao changed the topic and said: "However, I have written down this account, and I will settle it clearly with him in the future."
