In Chengqian Palace, the imperial concubine sat at the top, expressionlessly looking at Mrs. Qin who was crying towards her.
"Mother, our family is being targeted. Someone must be trying to punish us.
If you don’t believe me, take a look. The night before last, Brother Jiang, Brother Tao, and Brother He had their legs and hands broken.
A few brothers were just injured, and we haven't found the person who did it yet. Something happened again at the Imperial College.
How can there be so many coincidences in the world? Something will happen sooner or later, but something happened at this juncture.
My dear, tell me, isn’t this someone harming us?”
The imperial concubine frowned and asked, "Brother Jiang and the others are injured? How?"
Mrs. Qin immediately told the story of Liu Jinjiang's injuries, wiping her tears while talking.
The imperial concubine glanced at Fang Shanggong, who quickly fetched the warm handkerchief.
The imperial concubine took the handkerchief and handed it to Mrs. Qin, "Madam, don't be sad. Wipe your face first."
Mrs. Qin took the veil and bowed to thank her.
The imperial concubine waited for Old Man Qin to calm down and said: "I know what the old lady said, and I will send someone to investigate. Old lady needs to remember,
You are the head of the family in the Prime Minister's Mansion and the anchor of the Prime Minister's Mansion. The more things happen in the Mansion, the more you must stay calm."
Mrs. Qin's tears fell again. She raised her hand to wipe the corners of her eyes and said, "I understand the truth.
But... But when something happens, the old man has no idea in his mind.
The prime minister was so busy... that he couldn't be seen all day long, so I had no choice but to come to the palace to find my wife for advice."
The imperial concubine endured the impatience in her heart and tried to keep her tone calm.
"Okay, I understand the difficulty for the old lady.
From now on, if something happens, Madam, don't panic, just stay calm first.
The old lady only needs to remember that everything is supported by me and the prime minister.
If the people in the house are in a panic, just scold them with a calm face.
Tell them what to do! I and the Prime Minister are responsible for everything. Do you understand?"
After listening to the concubine's words, Mrs. Qin became more confident and her face was no longer as flustered as before.
"Yes, I have remembered it."
The imperial concubine then said: "The house cannot do without the old lady, so the old lady should go back first.
Remember, do as I say, stay calm and let everyone else do what they have to do.
Furthermore, the servants in the palace are not allowed to talk nonsense. If anyone talks nonsense, he will be rewarded with twenty pieces of paper."
Mrs. Qin nodded in agreement, "Yes, I have written it down."
The imperial concubine turned to Eunuch Deng and said, "Send the old lady off for me!"
Eunuch Deng bowed in agreement, walked to Mrs. Qin's side, bowed and said, "Madam, please!"
After seeing Mrs. Qin off, the imperial concubine raised her hand and rubbed her temples, sighing heavily.
Fang Shanggong came over with tea and asked with concern: "Your Majesty has a headache again? Do you want to ask the imperial doctor to come over and take a look?"
The imperial concubine waved her hand, "No need..."
Halfway through her words, the imperial concubine swallowed the rest of her words and an idea flashed in her mind. At this moment, she needed to take a break.
So he changed his words and said, "I have a severe headache. Please ask Dr. Wen to come over and give me a look."
Fang Shanggong hurriedly put down the tea cup in his hand, "Yes, I will send someone to the Imperial Hospital to ask for Dr. Wen."
After Imperial Physician Wen left for a while, King Chen came to Chengqian Palace. When he entered the palace, he asked: "How is the mother-in-law? What did Imperial Physician Wen say?"
The imperial concubine waved to King Chen and said feebly: "The third child is here."
King Chen walked to the beauty's couch in a few steps and greeted the imperial concubine who was sitting on the beauty's couch. "How do you feel, concubine?"
The imperial concubine looked up at Eunuch Deng and said, "Please step aside first!"
Eunuch Deng leaned forward and took the maids and chamberlains out of the room.
The imperial concubine said to King Chen: "Third brother, please sit down! Is the third child in the palace?"
King Chen leaned forward and said, "Yes, I just came out of the Qinzheng Palace. I heard that my mother and concubine were unwell, so I rushed over."
"The third child is interested!"
King Chen sat down on the brocade stool next to the soft couch, "I heard that my grandmother has been here. Is the mother and concubine worried about my grandmother's affairs, so she has an old illness?"
The imperial concubine sighed and said with a headache: "Your uncle is so unsatisfactory that he fails more than he succeeds in accomplishing anything!"
When this matter was mentioned, the imperial concubine was heartbroken and hated her for not fighting.
King Chen said: "Three consecutive years of assessment have been outstanding.
The king is thinking that when there are personnel changes at the end of the year, he will first be transferred to the Ministry of Rites as a minister, and then take over the position of Kong Lao Shangshu.
Who knew he would do such a thing! This caught me off guard!"
The concubine's words aroused resentment in King Chen's heart.
In order to send Liu Zhongxue to the Ministry of Rites, he planned for many years. He first found Liu Zhongxue an official position as a wine sacrificer, and then looked for talented people to serve as Liu Zhongxue's staff.
He also hired famous teachers for the Imperial College, and even provided financial support to poor students in the name of Liu Zhongxue, establishing an image for him of helping the weak, helping the poor, and caring for the people.
Over the years, he had put a lot of effort into studying for Liu Zhong.
Seeing that the important thing was done, he never thought that Liu Zhongxue would give him a blow in the head.
Not only did all his efforts go to waste, but it also dragged him into the quagmire.
The imperial concubine felt uncomfortable looking at her forbearing son.
Over the years, she has seen everything her son has done for the Prime Minister's Mansion.
She knew how deeply this incident had affected her son.
The imperial concubine hated her mother's family for not living up to expectations, and at the same time she felt heartbroken for her son.
The imperial concubine asked: "Is there any way to break the current situation?"
King Chen looked at the imperial concubine, and after a moment, he asked: "Is the imperial concubine willing to give up?"
The imperial concubine met King Chen's gaze, looked serious, and asked: "What are you willing to give up? The prime minister's palace?"
Third child, what do you want to do? Do you want to abandon the Prime Minister’s Mansion? The Prime Minister’s Mansion is your mother clan.”
King Chen took the words and said, "My mother and concubine have misunderstood. How could I abandon the prime minister's house?"
The imperial concubine looked at King Chen in confusion. A terrible thought flashed through her mind. The imperial concubine asked with a bit of fear: "Then what do you want to do?"
King Chen looked at the imperial concubine for a long time and said: "My mother-in-law understands in her heart that my uncle is useless and I can only give him up."
King Chen's expression told the concubine that her guess was correct.
The imperial concubine said painfully: "But, he is your uncle and the brother of my compatriot. How can I just watch him die?"
King Chen stared at the imperial concubine and said, "Mother, do you know how many memorials were issued to impeach him in court this morning?
If baskets were used to carry it, three baskets would not be able to fit it! Not only were those impeaching him, but also his grandfather was being impeached.
The mother-in-law has been in the palace for many years, so she will not fail to understand the difficulties of the superiors, and will not fail to understand the principle that a small impatience will mess up a big plan.
Mother and concubine know that in the current situation, we have no choice! Don’t we?"
King Chen said the last sentence very softly. The soft voice fell on the imperial concubine's heart, and it was like a thousand pounds pressing down on her.
The imperial concubine was silent!
King Chen did not urge the concubine anymore, turned around, poured a cup of tea, and said warmly: "Concubine, take a sip of tea first."
The imperial concubine took the cup, held it with both hands, lowered her head and looked at the tea in the cup. After a moment, she asked, "Is there any other way?"
