Chapter 236 Sanshui's Persuasion
The East Palace Garden is divided into several small gardens, and early September is the time when autumn chrysanthemums bloom.
There are many chrysanthemums planted in the chrysanthemum garden. The scenery is beautiful when the flowers are in bloom. Because distinguished people often come to appreciate the flowers, the garden is kept very clean.
In the resting pavilion in the garden, Minglan's face turned pale. Rulan blocked Minglan behind her and glared at Li Liangdi.
Li Liang Di looked at Ru Lan with a smile and said, "Concubine Sheng, you still need to discipline the servants around you. I am just a person with a good temper. I will punish them with a strong warning. If someone else commits a crime, they will not be as easy to deal with as me."
When talking about servants, Li Liangdi emphasized her tone a little.
"Yes."
Li Liangyuan beside him smiled and said, "It's normal to beat a disobedient servant to death. Although the Sheng family is not of high status, it can be considered a scholarly family. How come they don't know any rules?"
"You..." Seeing the two of them singing the same tune, Rulan was so angry that she wanted to curse. Minglan quickly pulled her back and shook her head slightly at her.
"Li Liang Di, you have punished the person. If you continue to make trouble and His Highness hears about it, it will not be good for you." Shu Lan said.
Li Liangdi looked at Shulan, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes.
Shulan was a divorced woman, so she was not afraid, but Shulan was pregnant now.
When the officials heard the news, they all rushed over, and she heard about it too.
She was not afraid of Rulan, and she had the confidence to beat Minglan, but she was very wary of Shulan.
Or maybe he was afraid of the baby in Shulan's belly.
"What Concubine Sheng said is not right. It makes it seem like Sister Li is being unreasonable. It would be better if Your Highness knew. She is just a dowry maid, and she bumped into Sister Li. What's wrong with Sister Li punishing her?" Li Liangyuan retorted.
"What's something I'd better know?"
Just then, Zhao Xing's voice came.
"Your Highness!"
The women who were confronting each other changed their expressions when they saw Zhao Xing coming and hurriedly saluted.
"No gifts."
Zhao Xing waved his hand, walked into the pavilion and glanced at Minglan.
Minglan's face turned pale, and her right hand was supporting her left hand, with her palm facing upwards and a little red and swollen.
Seeing Zhao Xing looking at him, he quickly put his injured hand into his sleeve.
Zhao Xing retracted his gaze, sat down, looked at the women and said, "I just heard you talking from afar, and it seemed like you wanted me to settle the lawsuit. I was idle and ignored you, so tell me what happened?"
"Your Highness, I have nothing to do. I heard that the autumn chrysanthemums in the chrysanthemum garden have bloomed, so I came here with Li Liangyuan to enjoy the flowers.
The maidservant next to Concubine Sheng suddenly jumped out from the side, scaring me. I scolded her a few words, but she still talked back to me. I was so angry that I had her hit with a palm board a few times, a small punishment and a big warning.
I didn't expect that she was actually the sister of Concubine Sheng Zheng and Concubine Sheng. They were unwilling and argued with me." Li Liangdi said with a look of grievance.
"You... you are talking nonsense!" Rulan said angrily, "I was not far away. I came over when I heard the noise. I heard Minglan apologizing to you from a distance. When did she contradict you?"
"After all, Concubine Sheng, you are..." Li Liangdi hesitated to speak.
Zhao Xing had a headache. Rulan was so noisy and Li Liangdi looked aggrieved.
Why does it feel a bit like Madam Wang and Madam Lin?
Shaking his head and putting aside these ridiculous thoughts, Zhao Xing looked at Shulan and said, "Shulan, tell me what happened at that time."
"Your Highness, I have been feeling a little irritated these days. Minglan said that drinking tea made from dried chrysanthemums is very effective. I am not feeling well, so Rulan stayed here to talk to me. Soon I heard Li Liangdi's scolding and Minglan's apology. I didn't see the specific situation." Shulan did not add any exaggeration and only said what she knew.
"Your Highness..."
"I didn't ask you to speak."
Although Shulan did not exaggerate, the meaning of her words proved that what Rulan said was true.
Just as Li Liangdi was about to explain herself, she was stopped by Zhao Xing.
Seeing Zhao Xing's indifferent eyes, Li Liangdi hesitated for a moment, but finally did not dare to speak any more.
Zhao Xing retracted his gaze, looked at Minglan and said, "Tell me!"
"Your Highness." Minglan bowed and said, "It was I who offended Li Liang Di unintentionally and I also offended her with my words. I should be punished."
"Sixth sister, you..." Rulan became anxious when she heard that. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Minglan shaking her head slightly at her.
Zhao Xing looked at Minglan deeply, feeling a little disappointed.
"Since the matter has been made clear and the person has been punished, let's leave it at that. I have something else to do, so I'll leave first." Zhao Xing stood up and left.
Since Minglan herself has backed down, why should he care?
I thought Minglan had changed, but now it seems it was just my illusion.
She was reluctant to say it, of course because she was cautious by nature, but also because she didn't trust him.
She didn't believe that he would blame Li Liangdi, a concubine with a strong background, for her, a concubine's daughter who came with the dowry.
"Congratulations, Your Highness!"
Only after Zhao Xing's footsteps faded away did the women straighten up.
Li Liangyuan glanced at Shulan and Rulan with pride, and just as she was about to speak, Li Liangdi said, "Let's go," turned around and left.
"Sister Li, wait for me!" Li Liangyuan hurriedly chased after her.
"Sister Li, why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Li Liangyuan asked in a low voice after catching up with Li Liangdi.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ignored the matter. They had the upper hand, so he should at least vent his anger by making sarcastic remarks. Zhao Xing usually rested in Zhang Guifen's room the most.
The next place was Yu Yanran and Rulan's room. Shulan was similar to them, but she was pregnant and it was not convenient for her to serve.
Even when he went to stay at Jinmingchi Villa for a short stay, he did not take them with him.
Zhao Xing's partiality naturally made Li Liangyuan feel very uncomfortable.
"Sister Li, didn't I tell you not to provoke Concubine Sheng Zheng? Just now, when Concubine Sheng Zheng was talking, I ignored her, but you went to answer her. What do you mean?" Li Liangdi said coldly.
Li Liangyuan's eyes flashed with an unnatural look, and she whispered, "Sister Li, what are you afraid of her for? Now the Crown Princess is not pregnant, but she is pregnant, how can it be good? The Crown Princess didn't touch her, because she wanted to wait for her to give birth to a child. If it's a girl, it's okay, but if it's a grandson, do you think the Crown Princess can tolerate her?"
"Whether the Crown Princess can tolerate it or not is her business. I told you before not to provoke her, but you still did. Do you want to use me as a pawn? Do you think you are the only smart person in the world?"
"Sister, I..."
Li Liangdi didn't listen to her explanation at all and left.
She joined forces with Li Liangyuan and Chen Liangyuan, somewhat intending to use them as pawns.
It's ridiculous that Li Liangyuan wanted to take the initiative.
Just now, Li Liangyuan seemed to want to help her, but she also had the intention of making things worse.
She was not afraid of Shulan, but Shulan was pregnant. If Shulan got hurt during the quarrel, she would not be able to take the responsibility.
"Hmph, you have the guts to compete for favor?" Li Liangyuan said disdainfully as she looked at Li Liangdi's back.
…………
Zhao Xing was a little angry because of Minglan's attitude. He did not rest at Zhang Guifen's place at night. He stayed alone in the bedroom of Chaoyang Palace and did not ask anyone to sleep with him.
After taking a bath and preparing to go to bed, Sanshui walked in and said, "Your Highness, Miss Sheng Liu wants to see you."
"No, tell her I'm asleep and let her go back." Zhao Xing said lightly.
Sanshui walked out after hearing this, and came back in a few moments later, saying, "Your Highness, I told you, but Miss Sheng Liu is kneeling at the entrance of the palace, saying that she won't get up unless Your Highness sees her."
"What? Does she want to force the emperor to abdicate?" Zhao Xing said coldly, "Since she wants to kneel, let her kneel outside."
After saying that, Zhao Xing put down the tent and lay down.
Sanshui had no choice but to walk out.
"Sixth Miss Sheng, His Highness has gone to bed, you should go back."
"Thank you, Eunuch Sanshui. You can go and have a rest." Minglan knelt there with no intention of getting up.
Sanshui wanted to persuade her again, but seeing Minglan's determined expression, he sighed, turned around and walked inside.
He walked a few steps and turned back.
"Sixth Miss Sheng, I am a servant, and there are many things I shouldn't say. But I feel bad, so I still want to say a few words. I have been with His Highness for ten years. His Highness has many concubines, but he cares most about the Crown Princess and you.
Today, when I heard that you were beaten by Li Liangdi, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince rushed over immediately. But you...sigh..." Sanshui said, and turned to enter the palace.
"Manager Sanshui, is the palace door still closed?" asked the two eunuchs standing at the door.
"Wait a minute." Sanshui said.
…………
Zhao Xing lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He sat up and opened the tent.
"Go and call Sanshui." Zhao Xing said to the palace maid standing by.
Upon hearing this, the palace maid hurried away, and soon Sanshui walked in.
"Your Highness." Sanshui saluted.
"Has the person left?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Your Highness, the person is still kneeling outside." Sanshui replied.
Zhao Xing hesitated for a moment and said, "Go and call her in."
Sanshui stepped out upon hearing this and soon led Minglan in.
"Greetings, Your Highness!" Minglan bowed.
Zhao Xing ignored her, looked at Sanshui and said, "All of you retreat!"
"Yes!"
Sanshui and the palace maids serving in the room bowed and left.
"What? Do you want to force the emperor to abdicate? Or do you think I am soft-hearted, so you act recklessly?" Zhao Xing asked coldly.
"I dare not!" Minglan said, "I just have something to say to His Highness."
"Go ahead, I'd like to hear what you want to say." Zhao Xing said calmly.
"I am just a concubine's daughter, and my father doesn't care much about me. I have a legitimate sister and a favored concubine's sister above me, and my situation is difficult. Your Highness pities me, and I am very grateful and happy.
But I was a little scared. I was afraid that the concubines in the East Palace would be jealous because Your Highness was so good to me. I was also afraid that Your Highness was just being so good to me on a whim.
But Your Highness is so good to me, and I am willing to serve you sincerely.
The reason why I didn’t say anything about Juyuan today is because Li Liangdi’s grandfather is now the Minister of Personnel, holding a high position of power.
If I tell His Highness, His Highness will definitely punish Li Liang Di, and I don’t want to cause trouble for His Highness.” Minglan said.
(End of this chapter)