Chapter 10 is responsible

Receiving the pleading gaze of Consort Gong, Empress Wang let out a helpless sigh. Consort Zheng observed their interaction closely, increasingly convinced that these two were indeed conspiring against her as she had suspected. Today, she was determined to teach them a lesson; otherwise, everyone in the harem would rise in rebellion.

I had the intention to scold my first wife a few words, but in the blink of an eye, I saw my mother holding my first wife's hand, speaking gently to her, while casting a cold glare at my second wife. With such a stark attitude, it was impossible not to see which side my mother was on; Wanli was just a blind man with his eyes open.

In the Yonghe Palace, both the masters and the servants were taken aback. Do you think the food and supplies in this Yonghe Palace are the same as those in your Chuxiu Palace? Do you think everyone is blind?

This is truly a stroke of bad luck; everyone feels sympathy for the fate of Consort Gong. It is evident that the Emperor has vented all his pent-up anger on her. Who in the palace does not know that once the Shenching Division intervenes, enduring thirty-six forms of severe punishment, a person who emerges alive will be rendered utterly incapacitated.

Holding the letter tightly in her hand, her gaze coldly swept over the Empress Gong, who had been pretending to be invisible in the corner. Upon seeing the small figure of Zhu Changluo, who had been standing beside Queen Wang, Zheng Guifei couldn't help but sneer inwardly. The Queen was protected by that old woman, so for now, she could do nothing to her. Since you all want to band together to plot against me, then do not blame me for being ruthless!

Surprise aside, matters must be resolved. If the Empress and the Imperial Noble Consort were to fight, what would happen if this were to spread? Would the royal dignity still be preserved

The Empress Dowager is resolutely determined to protect the Empress and is willing to admit her own mistakes, so let her do so! Can admitting a mistake cost two taels of meat? On the surface, it seems that the Empress has gained the upper hand today, but in reality, she has suffered a complete defeat. Consort Zheng firmly believes that from today onward, the Emperor will only grow more disdainful of the Empress, while she herself will be favored by the Emperor. Consort Zheng is clear about whether this situation is a loss or a gain.

To act decisively without hesitation has always been the consistent character of Consort Zheng

"Come here, convey my decree. Concubine Wang, born of lowly origins, has opportunistically sought to associate with the noble, showing no gratitude or respect. Instead, she harbors resentment and incites the princes to insult the esteemed one. To not punish her would be insufficient to uphold the principles of governance. Henceforth, she is to be stripped of her title and demoted to a palace maid, and she is to be sent to the Department of Justice for interrogation"

First, she respectfully bowed her head to the Empress. When she raised her face, it was already filled with tears. In an extremely soft, gentle, and pitiful voice, she said, "I have always been straightforward and outspoken, as you know, sister. It is all due to that play script; I intended to seek your guidance, but unexpectedly offended the Empress, alarmed the Empress Dowager, and angered His Majesty. It is a death sentence for me."

What surprised her was that the queen had a temperament of harmony in diversity, and was usually quite capable of enduring humiliation and bearing burdens. Today's incident was neither too big nor too small; even if Consort Zheng had made a few sarcastic remarks, it would have been acceptable to take a step back. But how could it escalate into such a commotion

To thrive in this palace, one must acquire a considerable number of skills. Whether you are a favored child of heaven or a lowly servant, there is one skill that everyone must learn: reading facial expressions! Many people are adept at gauging the emperor's mood, with Consort Zheng being a prime example. Just a glance at Consort Zheng reveals that the objective has been achieved; the emperor is furious!

Afterwards, Queen Wang said to Empress Li, "When that wretched woman held my hand, I felt a chill run through my entire body, and the hairs on my skin stood on end. I would rather have a ghost pull my hand than have her do it again." Empress Li deeply agreed with this sentiment

Mother, what does this letter say?

When Emperor Wanli, Zhu Yijun, first entered the palace, his gaze fell upon Zhu Changluo. To be frank, Zhu Yijun truly did not like Zhu Changluo. In his memory, Zhu Changluo had always been a timid and weak child, lacking any semblance of the demeanor and grace expected of a royal descendant. Thus, his attitude towards Zhu Changluo had consistently ranged from indifference to outright disregard.

With a loud bang, the teacup on the table jumped high! Wanli roared, "Concubine Gong, you have such audacity!"

At this point, Empress Wang naturally displayed extraordinary magnanimity. As a result, later on, those concubines from various palaces who came to witness the spectacle were treated to a miraculous scene before their eyes. ... Empress Dowager Li, the Emperor, Empress Wang, and Concubine Zheng were engaged in a warm, friendly, and intimate conversation amidst a harmonious atmosphere ... ... Good heavens. ... ... What a commotion this is.

At the age of only five, Luo Er has not yet entered school to study, so how could he possibly write such nonsensical poetry! It must be that Concubine Gong harbors jealousy in her heart, inciting the prince and stirring discord in the harem, which is truly detestable

All matters should be approached with a heavenly heart, observing the sentiments of the people below, and harmony should be held in high regard. The home of the Son of Heaven is no different from that of the common people. Even those who are closely related may have their disagreements. Today's events appear to be a misunderstanding, Mother, as you know, Empress Zheng has a straightforward nature and speaks her mind. I believe she did not truly intend to offend the Empress.

During the reign of Wanli, Zhu Yijun secretly complained: Should I be too biased? A single hand cannot clap; how can one person be blamed when two are fighting? However, despite the complaints, the emperor governs the world with filial piety. Since I have spoken, the emperor cannot say anything in response

It is not only Consort Zheng who can read, but also Empress Wang. In contrast to Consort Zheng's cheerful demeanor, Empress Wang appears troubled. She is unaware of what Zhu Changluo wrote in the letter that could provoke such anger in the Emperor. With a heart full of worry, she glanced at Zhu Changluo, her mind racing as she contemplated how to protect Consort Gong and her son

The Son of Heaven, in a fit of thunderous rage, brings forth bloodshed for a hundred paces and leaves corpses for a thousand miles. Even though Concubine Gong had been mentally prepared, she was so startled by this roar that she could not stand, hastily rising from her seat and kneeling on the ground

It is said that this matter should have reached a satisfactory conclusion at this point. Regardless of whether it is genuine or feigned, everyone appears to be quite satisfied on the surface, yet not a single person feels truly content internally

It was just the anger of Consort Zheng; that old woman. How could she be so biased, demanding that I apologize to the Empress? However, upon receiving a glance from the Emperor, Consort Zheng suddenly understood

The Noble Consort Gong can no longer be protected; fortunately, the fire set by Consort Zheng only burned the Noble Consort Gong. Thankfully, Zhu Changluo is unharmed. Is this the saying that even a tiger does not eat its own cubs? Empress Wang suddenly found it particularly amusing. In any case, Zhu Changluo is safe, which brings her considerable comfort

Consort Zheng is quite pleased with herself; if you do not believe it, there are others who do

On the left is the stern-faced Empress Dowager Li, and on the right is Zhu Yijun, who looks heartbroken, while Concubine Zheng kneels in the middle. The words exchanged in this farcical scene, devoid of any truth, along with the tone, manner, expression, and complexion, would lead anyone to believe that Concubine Zheng is undoubtedly wronged and coerced.

The Empress Dowager, lying on the ground, trembled all over, her clenched teeth unable to be controlled. At some point, she had bitten her tongue, and blood flowed down from the corner of her mouth. What is the use of speaking? Is there anyone who listens? The Empress Dowager resigned herself to her fate

Consort Zheng is a clever woman; once she has made up her mind, she immediately puts it into action

The Emperor stated that harmony in the family leads to prosperity in all affairs. In my view, today’s matter is ultimately due to the rashness of Consort Zheng! The Empress holds the position of the highest authority in the palace, embodying maternal dignity for the world. As the Imperial Noble Consort, Zheng should speak with discretion. Ignorance in the face of authority must be acknowledged as a mistake. The wise elder has made a clear judgment; it is entirely Consort Zheng's fault

At that moment, Consort Zheng was in tears and promptly presented the letter in her hand. Wanli shook his head, glanced at the letter, then at the tearful Consort Zheng, and finally at the small figure he had never paid attention to. Strangely, the child who usually acted like a mouse seeing a cat was now lifting his little face, grinning and looking at him.

The emperor's anger was unrelenting, and his gaze towards Concubine Gong seemed ready to shoot fire. Empress Li took the letter, and the queen, sitting nearby, quickly stretched her neck to look over. The letter contained exactly ten characters, written in a crooked manner that was unmistakably the handwriting of a child. However, the content was astonishing!

The Empress Dowager and the Queen exchanged a glance, both somewhat bewildered. Upon seeing the two of them at a standstill, the Emperor felt even more justified in his stance

Even the Empress dares not speak, so who would dare to provoke trouble? Just as the eunuchs came to drag Concubine Gong away, someone shouted, "Who dares to lay a hand! Father, that letter was written by me, and has nothing to do with Mother. One person should bear the consequences for their actions; if someone is to be sent to the Ministry of Justice, then let it be me!"

Your Majesty, let us speak calmly. What is the reason for such great anger?

Such a tiny child, and yet he even wrote a letter to Consort Zheng? ... Emperor Wanli suddenly felt that today was an extraordinary day, and he thought he should consult the Imperial Astronomical Bureau ... ? ... Why is everything so incredible?

The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows and cast a sidelong glance at Consort Zheng. First, she relied on her favored status to become willful, and then she instigated trouble and discord. Such a person must not be allowed to dominate the imperial harem and stir up unrest

Only Zhu Changluo appeared unfazed, as if nothing had happened. On the contrary, he seemed quite excited. I am not afraid you won't bring it up; rather, I am hoping you will, Empress Zheng. You are presenting yourself for me to strike; do not blame me for being impolite.

"Your Majesty, there is a letter here, delivered by the Crown Prince through Guizhi to me," said the official. "What? The Crown Prince sent a letter?" The Emperor was taken aback upon hearing this. The Empress Dowager and others were also stunned. Meanwhile, Concubine Gong felt as if the world was spinning, and her body suddenly swayed unsteadily.

Son, he is wielding a shovel to mix mud. As for what happened today, Empress Dowager Li knows without looking that it must be Zheng Guifei, who, relying on her favored status, is clearly challenging the Empress. Having experienced the inner palace through three reigns and weathered many storms, the Empress Dowager has honed her skills in navigating such waters. It is only a matter of time before Zheng Guifei's capricious nature clashes with the Empress, and this old lady is well-prepared for it.

As soon as the queen opened her mouth a few times, the emperor's cold and piercing gaze fell upon her. He stared at her and said word by word: "If anyone speaks on behalf of the Wang family, I would not mind her taking a trip to the Ministry of Justice."

The Concubine Gong does not pay attention to the Emperor's expression, but she is very observant of the face of Concubine Zheng. She knows very well who Concubine Zheng is and what means she possesses. Today, whether she faces death or is sent to the cold palace is of no concern to her; what matters is how she can ensure the safety of Luo'er.

Queen Wang rolled her eyes. "Your servant? Is it not this palace? Sister? That is your elder sister! It seems that the acting skills of Concubine Zheng are far beyond those of Queen Wang. The main reason for this disparity in skill is that Queen Wang is quite concerned about her reputation.

Who would dare to speak again? It is known that the Emperor has already harbored resentment in his heart. At this moment, if one were to stand out, the Emperor, in his fury, would surely ensure a dire outcome for that person. Indeed, nothing is more ruthless than an emperor! In his eyes, what are the bonds of marriage and familial affection compared to a smile from Consort Zheng? Thinking of this, Empress Wang felt an inexplicable sense of despair.

Consort Zheng once again showcased her exceptional acting skills at the appropriate moment, tears streaming down her face as she said: "Your Majesty, Sister Gong is originally one of my people in the palace. Thanks to Your Majesty's favor, I have the honor to accompany the imperial carriage and have given birth to a prince, contributing to the world. For this reason, I have always treated her with utmost care, ensuring her food, clothing, and necessities are on par with what is provided to me, not daring to show any disdain. I never expected that human hearts are insatiable, like a snake swallowing an elephant. Perhaps seeing Your Majesty treat me slightly better, Sister Gong has come to hate me to such an extent."

With a helpless sigh, I suppose it is best to just smooth things over

The art of imperial governance revolves around the concept of balance. In simpler terms, it is about smoothing over conflicts. As the leader of this dynasty, Emperor Wanli is naturally quite professional and skilled in this field. Since he took over the reins of power, he has been tirelessly engaged in managing state affairs, which have become quite chaotic. Unexpectedly, the inner court has also joined the fray, with the first wife and the concubines embroiled in disputes, leading to unpleasant exchanges. Emperor Wanli feels deeply embarrassed by this situation.

The brilliant smile was like the warm sunlight, illuminating Wanli's heart. Instantly, he became curious about the content of the letter, but little did he know that upon reading it, he nearly had his nose bent out of shape from anger!

The Emperor Wanli, adding fuel to the fire, shouted: "Noble Consort Wang, do you have anything to say?"