dognovel Chapter 45 Cooperation with Consort Fucha
Chapter 45 Cooperation with Consort Fucha
Shen Meizhuang suppressed her resentment and quickly knelt down, "Your Highness, how could we dare to be dissatisfied with the Emperor?"
"Sister Huan has always respected Your Majesty. Today's matter was indeed due to a valid reason, and she had absolutely no intention of disrespecting you."
Zhen Huan could only suppress her discomfort and kneel down as well.
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. It is my poor health that has caused you to neglect Your Majesty."
Nian Shilan snorted coldly, "You make it sound so easy. If everyone were like you, how would I manage the harem?"
At this moment, Cao Qinmo, who had been standing silently to the side, slowly spoke:
"Your Highness, please calm down. In my opinion, Consort Hui and Consort Wan did not mean any harm."
It must be because of the hot weather these days that I'm feeling a little unwell.
Your Majesty is magnanimous; please don't hold it against them.
Nian Shilan raised an eyebrow and looked at Cao Qinmo:
"Hmph, you're such a good person. But what Cao Qinmo said isn't entirely unreasonable."
But today's matter cannot be left unresolved. You are all to be punished by copying the "Rules for Women" one hundred times, as a warning to others.
Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan exchanged a glance, and although they were unwilling, they could only express their gratitude.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
After Nian Shilan led everyone away, Shen Meizhuang said angrily:
"This Consort Hua is too arrogant. Does she really think she's the only one who holds power in the harem?"
Consort Jing hurriedly went to Zhen Huan's side to support her, while lowering her voice to speak to Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan.
"My two sisters, this is not a place you should stay any longer. You should leave now."
Zhen Huan gently tugged at Shen Meizhuang's sleeve, indicating that this was not the place to discuss such matters.
Soon, they left Yikun Palace.
Zhen Huan only began to persuade Shen Meizhuang when they reached a less crowded area.
"Sister, don't be angry. We are outnumbered and outmatched right now, so we can't confront her directly."
Let's do as she says for now, and find another opportunity later.
Shen Meizhuang said helplessly, "You are the one who has been humiliated today, how can you swallow this insult so easily?"
Zhen Huan sighed softly, "Sister, we are still young and inexperienced. If we act rashly..."
We'll only fall into someone else's trap. Consort Hua is just looking for a pretext to suppress us.
Although Shen Meizhuang still felt resentful after hearing Zhen Huan's words, she knew that Zhen Huan was absolutely right.
“Huan’er is right, I acted impulsively. But copying the ‘Rules for Women’ a hundred times is no easy task.”
"It's alright, we can ask Liu Zhu and Huan Bi for help, and we'll be able to submit it on time," Zhen Huan reassured her.
Seeing that everyone had left, Fucha Peiyun showed no sign of urgency.
Instead, he sat comfortably in his original spot, gently picking up a delicate pastry from the table and putting it into his mouth.
The pastries were small and exquisite, with an enticing color and a sweet aroma.
Now, let's talk about Nian Shilan. Although she verbally declared that she wanted to establish her authority in front of all the concubines,
In reality, however, she was quite generous with the items she displayed, showing no stinginess whatsoever.
These pastries alone are not only beautiful in appearance, but also have an excellent taste.
Before long, a young eunuch hurriedly entered and reported to Songzhi:
"Sister Songzhi, Consort Shu is still sitting in the outer room and has not left yet."
Upon hearing this, Songzhi felt puzzled and worried that something might have happened, so she quickly told Nian Shilan about it.
Nian Shilan frowned slightly, her face showing displeasure, and said, "Why hasn't Consort Shu left yet?"
Seeing this, Cao Qinmo, who was standing to the side, quickly spoke softly to comfort her:
"Your Majesty, please do not be angry. Perhaps Consort Shu has something important to discuss with you, which is why she has been waiting outside."
Upon hearing this, Nian Shilan let out a cold snort and said disdainfully:
"Hmph! If she really had something urgent, why didn't she just come in and report it herself? Why did she have to put on such a show!"
However, despite this, driven by curiosity, she continued:
"Very well, I'd like to see what this Consort Shu is really up to."
"How dare you put on such airs in front of me!"
After speaking, Nian Shilan lazily stood up from her chair and walked out gracefully.
Cao Qinmo and Songzhi dared not delay and hurriedly followed behind.
When Nian Shilan went to the outer room, she immediately saw Fucha Peiyun sitting leisurely in a chair.
He savored the exquisite pastries on the table, oblivious to everyone else around him.
Seeing this, Nian Shilan was even more displeased and said sarcastically:
"Oh, Consort Shu is certainly having a very carefree time in my palace!"
Fucha Peiyun stuffed the pastry into her mouth
"The pastries in the Imperial Concubine's palace are truly delicious. I've been prone to cravings since becoming pregnant, and I couldn't resist for a moment."
Nian Shilan's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"Consort Shu is currently pregnant, so she is naturally a person of high status."
But her eating manners were utterly unsightly; she had none of the decorum expected of a palace concubine.
Upon hearing this, Fucha Peiyun gently touched her slightly protruding belly, but her face showed no shame.
"Your Highness is too kind. I am only thinking of the child in my womb."
As long as the child is healthy, what do a few manners matter?
Besides, these pastries were meant to be displayed for people to eat; does Your Highness mean you can't bear to part with such a small amount of food?
Nian Shilan's face changed with anger, and she was about to explode when Cao Qinmo quickly smiled and smoothed things over.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Consort Shu is just being straightforward. She must have something to tell me today."
Nian Shilan suppressed her anger and said, "Oh? Then Consort Shu might as well speak frankly and stop beating around the bush."
Fucha Peiyun then put down the pastries in her hand, slowly stood up, supporting her stomach, a sly glint in her eyes.
"Actually, it's nothing serious. It's just that I've been feeling unwell lately."
After examining the patient, the imperial physician said that she was restless and needed to find a quiet place to rest and recuperate.
After much deliberation, I believe that Your Majesty's Yikun Palace is the most suitable.
"Your Majesty, would you allow me to stay here for a few days?"
Nian Shilan stared wide-eyed, her face filled with disbelief.
Upon seeing this, Fucha Peiyun laughed and said, "Oh, I was just joking."
Seeing this, Cao Qinmo instructed the other palace servants to move away.
Nian Shilan looked at Fucha Peiyun and said, "Just say what you have to say."
Fucha Peiyun asked, "Does Your Highness want to protect the Nian family?"
Nian Shilan's expression changed. "Our Nian family is doing just fine. What nonsense are you spouting, Consort Shu?"
Fucha Peiyun said, "Your Highness, why are you angry? Haven't you already sensed something?"
Fucha Peiyun slowly approached Nian Shilan and lowered her voice, saying:
"Your Majesty, please don't deceive yourself. His Majesty has been quite critical of General Nian Gengyao lately."
The number of memorials impeaching the Nian family in the imperial court was also increasing daily.
Nian Shilan was startled, but remained defiant:
"Hmph, they're nothing but clowns. My brother has a distinguished military record; how could they possibly bring him down?"
Fucha Peiyun gently shook her head, "Your Majesty, the bigger the tree, the more the wind will blow."
The Emperor has long harbored resentment towards the Nian family; they are only useful to him now. What will happen when the Nian family is no longer of use?
If Your Majesty does not find a way to deal with this, I fear a great calamity will befall you.
Nian Shilan bit her lip, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "Then why are you telling me all this? And what is your purpose?"
Fucha Peiyun smiled slightly, "Although I had some disagreements with Your Highness in the past, we now share the same interests."
The concubine was from the Fuca clan, and her family did not want to see the Nian family fall from power, thus allowing the Empress's family to become too powerful.
Nian Shilan raised an eyebrow, a disdainful sneer curling at the corner of her lips:
"Hmph! Didn't you praise that old woman, the Empress, to the skies before? Why are you saying this now?"
Fucha Peiyun sighed softly, a hint of helplessness and sorrow in her eyes.
She said slowly, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but our Fucha family originally had no intention of sending our daughter to the palace."
Therefore, I have always been spoiled and pampered, which has led to my innocent and naive nature.
She paused slightly at this point, as if recalling the past.
Then he continued:
"It's a pity that the Fucha family chose the wrong side in the power struggle at court back then."
Therefore, in order to pledge allegiance to the Emperor, the Fucha family had no choice but to send me to this deep inner palace.
Fucha Peiyun raised her head and looked into the distance.
She continued, "And the Empress, like me, came from the Manchu Banner."
My elders advised me to get closer to the Empress in order to gain her protection and support.
However, the Fucha family never expected that...
"Because I also come from the Manchu banner, the Empress cannot tolerate me becoming pregnant with the Emperor's child."
Nian Shilan couldn't help but think of that flower-viewing banquet, and the time that fool Consort Qi poisoned her.
"That old woman, the Empress, is always treacherous and vicious; only you would believe her."
And that self-righteous fool Zhen Huan is one of them too.
Nian Shilan's words were full of disdain.
"Consort Shu, you have good taste to come and seek cooperation with me."
Tell me what good ideas you have.
Nian Shilan walked over and sat down next to Fucha Peiyun.
Fucha Peiyun didn't mind Nian Shilan's arrogance and leaned in to whisper a few words in Nian Shilan's ear.
Nian Shilan's expression changed several times.
At this moment, Fucha Peiyun did not pay attention to Nian Shilan's reaction.
Instead, he casually noticed the exquisite pastries on the table and praised them again:
"The pastries in Your Majesty's palace are truly excellent in color, aroma, and taste; they taste really good."
Nian Shilan was pulled back to reality by Fucha Peiyun's words. After she came to her senses,
He shouted angrily at Songzhi, who was waiting to the side:
"Songzhi, quickly pack up several packages of those pastries for Consort Shu, and then tell her to take them and leave as soon as possible."
Songzhi said, "This servant will go right away."
Cao Qinmo knew they had finished speaking, so she walked over as well.
Before long, Songzhi handed the packaged snacks to Fucha Peiyun.
Fucha Peiyun accepted the pastries that Songzhi had packed, and then left Yikun Palace in a sedan chair with her palace servants.
Watching Consort Shu's departing figure gradually disappear from sight, Nian Shilan gently waved her handkerchief.
Then he turned around and led Cao Qinmo slowly into the inner room.
Upon entering the inner room, Nian Shilan first sat gracefully on the couch.
She picked up a cup of fragrant tea, took a small sip, and then put the cup down.
She recounted to Cao Qinmo everything that Consort Shu had just said to her.
In the past, Nian Shilan might have had some doubts and reservations about Cao Qinmo, and wouldn't have been able to fully trust him.
However, after a period of time, Shilan has developed a complete sense of trust in Cao Qinmo.