The old lady continued in a hateful voice, "That old woman also scolded me, and used a lot of literature, saying that when benevolence and righteousness flourish, morality flourishes, and when morality flourishes, politics is clear, and when politics is clear, all families are at peace. I didn't understand anything, and was laughed at for nothing."
Zi'an felt that the matter was very serious. What kind of person was the old lady? Even if she really didn't know the palace rules and behaved inappropriately, she could at most be reprimanded. Why was she punished to kneel? She was a military general and meritorious official of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and was loved by the people. It seemed that it was not just a matter of moral etiquette to humiliate her like this.
Zi'an asked softly, "Did you have a grudge against this Empress Dowager in the past?"
The old lady said angrily, "How can I have a grudge against a woman like her..." She frowned and thought for a moment, "What you said reminds me of something, but that thing was just a few words of gossip. Could it be that she holds a grudge against me?"
"What's the matter?" Zi'an asked hurriedly.
The old lady said, "It happened a long time ago. At that time, the emperor had not yet ascended the throne. That day, I entered the palace to see the Grand Empress Dowager, and she knelt in front of her. I wanted to leave, but the Grand Empress Dowager did not avoid suspicion and let me listen. It turned out that the Crown Princess was jealous that Liang Yuan was pregnant with the Crown Prince's flesh and blood, so she poisoned Liang Yuan's food and caused her to miscarry. I couldn't help it for a moment, so I said something. How could this East Palace learn the viciousness of those inner house women and kill a life for nothing? At that time, I felt that the look she gave me was indescribably resentful and vicious. I immediately knew that I had crossed the line, so I sat down and didn't say anything. Later, the Grand Empress Dowager wanted to deprive her of her position as Crown Princess and expel her, but it was the late emperor who pleaded for her, saying that for the sake of her father, he would spare her this time, so later she was only demoted to Liang Yuan."
The old lady frowned, thought about it carefully, and said, "After she was demoted to a concubine, I once entered the palace and met her in the Imperial Garden. At that time, she smiled and said to me, thank you for pleading for her in front of the Grand Empress Dowager. She will never forget this kindness and will definitely repay me. I was confused at the time, thinking that I had never pleaded for her. I hate the dirty things she did the most."
Zi'an sighed, the old lady was a very upright person, how could she think of the twisted thoughts of these women in the deep palace
The Concubine Xi must have hated her for a long time, but she had always been frustrated. In addition, the old lady's power was unshakable, so she could not do anything.
Now that she has gained real power and has been named the Empress Dowager, she is actually suppressing the old lady. Why doesn't she wave this chicken feather as a token of authority to kill the old lady's prestige and vent the stale resentment that has been suppressed in her heart for many years
But what was the emperor's real purpose in rectifying the moral and filial atmosphere? Was it just to catch everyone's faults
However, how could the emperor not know that every family has some of these little tricks? If they were really exposed, what would happen? You can't punish them severely for these inner-house matters, right
However, when the old lady said the following words, Zi'an understood.
The old lady said, "The Emperor also fully agrees with the Empress Dowager's plan to rectify the customs of the rich and powerful families. He even said that if anyone reports it, there will be a generous reward if the report is proven."
After understanding the emperor's meaning, Zi'an felt relieved.
Since there has been a report, there must be many eyes watching each family.
Whether they were nobles or important officials, who didn't have a few political enemies or enemies? Since the emperor had spoken, the best way to vent anger and seek revenge was to keep a close eye on the other party's families. The head of the family would not make mistakes, but it was hard to say for the children.
The emperor used this method to monitor the aristocratic families and officials.
However, it was probably not his original intention to let the old lady suffer injustice.
Liu Liu also frowned, "I haven't learned much about the rules. Should I enter the palace?"
"You don't need to, you don't have a title or imperial edict yet." The old lady said gently.
Liu Liu glanced at Zi'an and said, "Zi'an, I see that you don't understand the palace rules. When you were in the prime minister's residence, did anyone teach you etiquette?"
Zi'an sighed, "I am not favored, how can I have the honor of being taught by someone?"
"Then what are you going to do? You have to go to the palace to pay respects on the 147th, so you have to learn." Liu Liu said.
Zi'an waved his hand and said, "I'll go back and think about it slowly."
The old lady said fiercely: "Those women are more likely to cause trouble than to help. If you have the guts, go out and fight with me."
Zi'an smiled, "Yeah, it would be great if all grudges could be settled with a fight."
The fights in the harem and the competition for favor in the inner chambers are all invisible battlefields of killing. Besides killing a lot of brain cells, sometimes you even have to pay with your life. It is better to fight from the beginning. Life and death depends on your own ability.
After saying these things, Zi'an asked again: "How is the emperor's health now?"
"She looks much more energetic, and her face has some color, but Sun Fang'er is getting more and more emaciated. When I went to the palace to pay my respects to her, she was there too, sitting in a corner without saying a word. At first glance, she looked as pale as a ghost, very scary."
Zi'an has read many books recently because of the epidemic. Among them, Wen Yi's notes mentioned the use of poison to treat diseases.
It’s just that, although poison can cure diseases, the method is extremely vicious.
The person who controls the insect feeds it with his own blood, and then puts it into the patient's body to eat away the source of the disease.
This method seems to be harmful only to the person who raises the Gu, but in fact, if used for a long time, it will also be harmful to the patient.
At the beginning, the Gu worm will secrete a beneficial nutrient that enters the patient's body through the blood. The patient will feel that his vitality has been greatly increased. However, over time, the nutrients of the Gu worm will disappear, and the Gu worm will instead absorb the patient's blood to maintain its own life, because the blood of the person who raises the Gu can no longer provide the Gu worm with enough nutrients at a certain point in time.
There is not much record in Wen Yi's notes, but it is believed that Sun Fang'er used this method to treat the emperor.
The emperor seems to be better now, but it is not yet time for the poisonous insect to backfire.
Now thinking back to when Sun Fang'er talked about the emperor's illness, there was always a look of disdain on her face. She should have understood.
But I wonder if the emperor understands
After understanding the basic situation in the capital, Zi'an stood up and said goodbye.
The capital is still prosperous, and the streets lined with shops exude an atmosphere of prosperity.
However, Zi'an felt that behind this prosperity, there was always a hint of decay, a decay that even the sun could not dispel.
When they returned to the mansion, the door was wide open. When the doorman saw Zi'an coming back, he quickly called for everyone in the mansion to come out and help move things.
The Emperor of Beimo sent many gifts, which all came back in the carriage, and there was a lot of bustle.
Everything seemed to be the same in the mansion, but when Zi'an saw the old women and maids standing at the door of the main hall, he knew that the Regent's Palace had been invaded by foreign enemies.
An old woman wearing a stone-blue dress with dark cloud patterns and chrysanthemums embroidered on it led the group down and bowed to Zi'an in unison, "We, the servants, respectfully welcome the princess!"
(End of this chapter)