Volume 1 Chapter 121 Slander
"...So the Emperor suppressed the rebellion of Anqing Hou for the sake of Sixth Princess?" Hearing this, Zhen Shiniang sighed and said, "Does that mean after Sixth Princess gets married, the Empress will pass away?"
Throughout history, empresses who were deposed were usually demoted to the rank of imperial noble consort or banished to the Cold Palace. However, once an empress was deposed, the Sixth Princess would lose her status as a legitimate princess.
To ensure her stable position in Qi State, the queen could be killed but not deposed.
Even Old Lady Lian was surprised at Zhen Shiniang's quick reaction.
First, Cao Shangye died, then Shen Zhongke killed several high-ranking officials, and a large number of officials were promoted or demoted one after another. The news came out like an earthquake, but she didn't expect that there was a coup in the palace, nor did she understand why Wan Sui didn't kill An Qing Hou. Zhen Shi Niang, however, could guess Wan Sui's intentions from these few words and phrases, and even guessed his subsequent actions!
Xiao Yu's eyes also showed a hint of surprise, and he was immediately replaced by praise. He nodded, "Because of the rebellion, the Emperor had no choice but to demote General Wang by one rank." Sighing, "It is said that letting the princess marry is the Emperor's cold-bloodedness, but who knows, he truly loves this daughter in his heart..." For the sake of his daughter, he even gritted his teeth and tolerated his father-in-law who wanted to seize his throne. Since ancient times, no king has ever been able to do so.
"Has General Shen been demoted?" Old Lady Xiao sat up straight in surprise, "Wasn't it just a verbal reprimand and half a year's salary deduction?"
"After all, he beheaded the senior officials in the court, and the punishment was too light. The emperor's decree will come down in a day or two...". Xiao Yu looked at Zhen Shi Niang, "Don't worry, General's rank will only be demoted to third-grade, but his actual power remains unchanged, still in charge of Fenggu Great Camp, and the compensation for salary, the Emperor will also provide it to General in the form of military funds."
What is the relationship between him, a low-ranking official, and her?
She just followed his wishes and served him well, as long as he could allocate the expenses of the ancestral house on a monthly basis.
Xiao Yu specially explained these things to himself, Zhen Shi Nang couldn't help but laugh. She didn't pick up the conversation and skillfully changed the subject without leaving any clues.
The old lady repeatedly urged her to stay, thinking that Zuo Youxi would know she would come to the Zhongtang Mansion, so Zhen Shiniang stayed for another day and set off on the 19th of the first month to return to Wutong Town.
When Shen Zhong returned to the General's Mansion, Old Lady scolded Zhen Shiniang severely. "A woman like you, not returning home at night, what kind of virtue is that?!" Her tone was filled with indignation. "If I hadn't discovered she wasn't back in the mansion early this morning and asked Hong Lian about it, who knows when we would have found out she had already returned to Wutong Town without even saying goodbye?! She comes and goes as she pleases, treating the General's Mansion like her own!" As she spoke, Old Lady was so angry that her whole body shook, slamming the table three times.
She actually walked all night?
Shen Zhong was secretly shocked.
That night, he had originally planned to pick up Zhen Shiniang the next morning to pay respects to Cao Xiangye and then find a imperial physician to examine her illness, so he told her that he would return early. However, with the sudden death of two high-ranking officials, the Emperor summoned his ministers overnight to reorganize the cabinet. He was busy plotting to divide and dissolve the power of Anqing Hou, and couldn't extricate himself.
In his heart, he had also been thinking about it, and he specially let Rong Sheng bring people back to the mansion to protect her when she went to the Xiang Mansion to pay her respects. Hearing that Rong Sheng said she had already returned to Wutong Town, although disappointed, he didn't think much of it, plus there were many things on his hands. Soon, he also forgot about it.
Unexpectedly, she had been walking all night!
How come?
If it were five years ago, she might have been possible, but now she is calm and quiet, with a sense of propriety, how could she do such an unseemly thing?
This thought flashed through his mind, and Shen Zhongjue suddenly remembered that night when she didn't want to sleep with him. His face turned bright red, then quickly turned dark and gloomy.
He's not a pervert, you stupid woman!
After two days and nights, his eyes were already filled with red threads, and at this time, the blue veins on his forehead burst out, suddenly looking over with a fierce gaze, which scared Old Lady, and the words that insulted and slandered Zhen Shiniang rushed to her tongue but were swallowed back.
“...Madam has always had her own ideas, it was the same five years ago, you're not just finding out now, so don't be angry.” Seeing the situation wasn't good, Biyue hurriedly poured a cup of tea and handed it to the old madam, glancing at Shen Zhongge, “The general hasn't rested for two days.”
The old lady hummed and took over the teacup.
"She's been living in the countryside for too long, she's forgotten her manners. Her mother is also not used to seeing her like this, and it's making her anxious. Shen Zhongge couldn't sit still any longer, he stood up and said, "Mother, you rest first, I'll go wash up." Having not slept for two nights, Shen Zhongge was so tired that he wished he could just fall asleep right there on the spot."
He's still speaking up for that despicable person even when I'm already furious!
The old lady's hand holding the tea was shaking violently.
However, with a guilty conscience, she thought that Zhen Shi Niang was driven out after all. Now Shen Zhong Ge didn't suspect anything and it seemed smooth sailing for her, but she couldn't pressure him too hard. As long as Zhen Shi Niang couldn't stay this time, in a few days, she would find a few more beauties to send into the Hao Ran Residence, and Shen Zhong Ge would be coaxed into agreeing to divorce.
She's not in a hurry, this thing will come slowly.
At this thought, the old lady waved her hand, "You can go." The impatient tone still revealed a few threads of suppressed anger.
Shen Zhong's heart felt a wave of powerlessness.
As he stepped out, a gust of cold wind hit him straight on, causing Shen Zhongjie to shiver and tremble. He stood up straight, took big strides towards the gate, but suddenly stopped in his tracks:
Anqing Marquis secretly plotted a rebellion. On the night of the Shangyuan Festival, the Nine Gates Commander-in-Chief Gu Quan had sealed off all city gates at dawn, and even the sparrows flying around couldn't fly out. If he hadn't made preparations in advance, deploying 3,000 elite soldiers to hide inside the city, that night he wouldn't have been able to mobilize a single soldier or guard.
Zhen Shiniang, how did you get out of the city again!
Thinking of that night in Beijing, Shen Zhongge felt a faint sense of fear rising up in his heart as he saw people everywhere.
"General......" Seeing Shen Zhongke staring blankly at the bare paulownia tree in front of him, Rong Sheng called out to him in a low voice.
"Go......" Shen Zhongjie came back to his senses, "Immediately contact Ji Huaifeng and ask if Madam has returned safely to Wutong Town."
……
Chu Xinyi changed into a five-colored silk jacket with gold embroidery and sat elegantly in front of the red sandalwood carved copper mirror. Chunhong was combing her hair, smelling the faint fragrance emanating from her body, and sighed repeatedly, "This scent is really good, things from the inner palace are indeed extraordinary, ordinary bathing with half a bucket of flower petals isn't enough to be fragrant, this time just using a small drop and the whole room is filled with fragrance."
"...Don't look at this small perfume bottle, but it's from the famous perfumer Bai Su's hand, and you can't buy it on the market for a thousand two silver coins." Chu Xinyi said with a hint of pride.
Nanyue presented a batch of newly developed fragrances, and the emperor rewarded each palace concubine. Shen Fei specially sent two bottles to her mother and brother, and Shen Zhongxiao rewarded her and her elder sister. When she thought of the other four aunts looking at her with envy, Chu Xinyi's eyes and eyebrows were full of pride.
"It smells so good without even using incense, I've never seen anything like it before." Chun Hong's face was full of envy and admiration, "The scent is so natural and refreshing." She lowered her head to sniff the nape of Chu Xinyi's neck. "It's just like the fragrance emitted by a noble lady, General will definitely love it tonight."
January 14th was Chu Xinyi's day, as Zhen Shi came and Shen Zhong didn't. He didn't come for the next two days either, but tonight he finally returned. He must be coming here, so Chu Xinyi specially used the imperial gift perfume, after hearing Chunhong's words. A red flush rose to her cheeks, "Hmph...!" She spat out a mouthful, "Who cares if he comes or not!"
Chun Hong covered her mouth and giggled.
Wiping her hair dry, Chun Hong had just finished styling a beautiful bun when Chun Lan knocked on the door and came in.
"Where is the general?" Chun Hong asked, putting a plum blossom hairpin on Chu Xinyi's head.
"What's wrong?" Seeing Chunlan's expression was off, Chuxinyi turned her head back.
"The general came out of Yangxin Temple and returned to Haoran House... " Chunlan carefully looked at Chu Xinyi's face, "Honglian said. The general didn't even eat dinner before going to sleep, but was just woken up by Rongsheng and rushed out again."
"What's wrong?" Chun Hong asked, seeing Chu Xinyi's changed expression.
"...the maids in the house were all driven out by Rong Sheng, and Hong Sang and Hong Lian didn't know what was going on." Chun Lan shook her head, "I heard from Hong Lian that General listened to Rong Sheng's report and smashed the tea table with one punch."
"Maybe something has happened in the palace again." Chun Hong comforted Chu Xinyi, who looked unhappy.
Chu Xinyi suddenly pulled out the newly inserted plum blossom hairpin and slammed it to the ground.
……
"What...". He was reviewing the memorial, and Wan Sui couldn't believe it as he lifted his head, "Shen Zhongjie is transferring troops?"
"Yes." Zhu An nodded, "I had a secret letter inserted in the Fenggu Valley camp, sent by carrier pigeon. General Shen returned to the Fenggu Valley camp early this morning and mobilized 5,000 elite soldiers to rush towards the imperial city..."
"What does he want to do?" Wan's face turned slightly pale.
"I don't know..."
"Pass on the order: Vice Admiral Li Wei!"
"Yes..." Fu Gonggong responded with a single word and gave a signal with his eyes to the small eunuch, who lifted his leg and left immediately.
"Long live... " Zhu An's voice was somewhat hesitant.
"What else?" Wansui's voice was laced with a hint of annoyance.
"...I've heard that General Li secretly sealed off all the city gates last night."
He recalled that Li Wei was Shen Zhongjie's old subordinate, and with a sudden surge of anger, he jumped up, "… Does he want to rebel?!" A palm slapped on the dragon case, and his five fingers, which were spread out, couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Anqing Marquis has been plotting a rebellion, relying on Shen Zhongjie. Now that Shen Zhongjie is about to start an uprising, who can protect the emperor?
A coup has just occurred, and now all the guards in the Forbidden City are under Shen Zhongjie's control!
This news came too suddenly and too quickly, even if one's emotions were normally well-controlled, their face would still change color at this moment.
The eunuchs and palace maids on both sides were all pale with fear, their lips frozen in silence.
This hat is too big for anyone to guess, and Zhu An was so frightened that he didn't dare respond.
After pacing back and forth on the ground for a few rounds, Wan Sui suddenly stopped and ordered Zhu An, "You personally lead the guards to summon Li Dudu to see me. If he dares to resist..." He narrowed his eyes slightly, saying word by word, "Kill him without hesitation!"
Zhu An shuddered and nodded in response, then quickly got up and walked out.
"Summon Old Lady Shen and Madame Shen to enter the palace!"
Xuan Zheng Ge Lao, Xiao Zhong Tang entered the palace...
……
He had issued several oral orders before he finally let out a sigh of relief.
"What is Shen Zhongjie trying to do?" Walking around in circles, Wanxiang couldn't believe that the straightforward and loyal Shen Zhongjie would suddenly rebel.
But he privately mobilized troops and secretly closed off the city; if he's not planning a rebellion, what is he doing?
PS: The chapter is a bit messy and can't be changed, so I'll just move on to the next one. Please take a look, it doesn't affect the content.
