readytorunbook Chapter 518 Form Reversal
Chapter 518 Form Reversal
"Wanpin, as you said, you accidentally discovered that the auspicious dress for the day of consecration was damaged while chatting with Yipin. Why didn't you check it carefully when you received it?"
After Zhen Huan told the Queen Mother and the Empress all the details about how she received the auspicious dress and how An Lingrong discovered it was damaged, the Queen Mother did not immediately express her opinion.
But the Queen obviously could no longer hold back, so she questioned Zhen Huan.
"Empress, I have always believed that the people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs are very thorough and careful with the imperial gift. After receiving it, I did not even take a closer look at it before ordering someone to put it away. I did not expect to be careless because of this. It was not until Concubine Yi arrived that I discovered my mistake. This is also my oversight. Please punish me, Empress Dowager and Empress!"
As early as when she met the Queen, Zhen Huan had already realized that this meeting with the Queen Mother would definitely not be a simple chat.
Therefore, when the Queen questioned her from a tricky angle, Zhen Huan did not explain too much and just stated the facts silently.
Immediately afterwards, Zhen Huan knelt down in front of the Queen Mother and the Empress, acting as if she knew she was wrong and was waiting for their punishment.
Seeing Zhen Huan's reaction, the Queen frowned.
Although she really wanted to take advantage of the situation and put the blame of the damaged wedding dress on Zhen Huan.
However, in Concubine Duan's previous "interrogation", it was clearly stated that this matter was a mistake made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Even if the queen wanted to protect Jiang Zhongmin, she couldn't confuse right and wrong in public.
What's more, Zhen Huan is currently in the emperor's favor. If I act rashly towards her, the emperor will probably be dissatisfied with me!
When he thought about the chain reaction that might be triggered if he punished Zhen Huan, he suddenly felt something was wrong.
Originally, the Queen did have the idea of taking action against Zhen Huan first to prevent herself from missing the opportunity.
Having said that, when the Queen was summoned by the Queen Mother, she was actually very confused.
Because the Queen herself used the excuse that she was injured by Nian Shilan before and therefore claimed to be ill and could not go out, and left all the trivial matters to Concubine Duan and others to handle. In fact, it was mainly to avoid suspicion.
After all, when Nian Shilan was at the peak of her power, she even put the queen under great pressure.
Once the situation changes, if the queen takes this opportunity to take all the power in the harem into her hands, it may not only arouse the emperor's fear, but also be detrimental to the "compassionate" personality that she has painstakingly cultivated.
It would be better to use health preservation as an excuse and delegate power at the same time. This would reduce the emperor's suspicion of himself, and at the same time, it would be easier for him to observe the concubines in the harem by going from open to covert.
This was the Queen's original plan.
In contrast, the empress dowager showed some concern for the affairs of the harem in her early years, but as she grew older, she no longer cared to deal with those messy things, so she just worshipped Buddha sincerely in Shoukang Palace.
This time, it was actually the Queen Mother who took the lead, and there was obviously something unusual about it.
On the way here, the queen was thinking about this matter in her heart.
After some speculation, the queen immediately concluded that the empress dowager must have received a request from the emperor.
Otherwise, given the Queen Mother's character, she would never ask about such matters.
"Madam, I know Wanpin very well. She is the most cautious and careful person."
Because Zhen Huan was still kneeling down and the Queen Mother remained silent, the Queen had no choice but to step in and smooth things over.
Originally it was the Queen who attacked Zhen Huan, but now because of the situation, she had to take the initiative to rescue her. This made the Queen feel quite aggrieved, but she could do nothing about it.
"So, the Queen wants me to punish you lightly and warn you severely?"
The Queen Mother glanced at the Queen calmly with an inexplicable tone.
Although in the eyes of outsiders, the Ulanara and Uya clans shared honor and disgrace, he, the empress dowager, and the queen were also closely related in weal and woe.
However, the Queen Mother and the Empress have had differences on some issues for a long time. The Queen Mother is well aware of the Empress's methods. Without Nian Shilan's suppression, some of the Empress's true nature gradually broke out.
After several attempts at admonition had failed, the Queen Mother appeared to have let it go, but in fact she was trying to find a way to check and balance the Queen.
Take the Emperor's desire to make Zhen Huan a concubine, for example. This also had the approval of the Empress Dowager.
It was precisely because this royal mother and son reached an agreement that the empress had no way to persuade the emperor to take back his decision.
At this time, the Queen Mother seemed to be asking for the Queen's opinion, as if she favored her cautiousness.
But in fact, whether the queen speaks words of pleading or words of severe punishment, it will not affect the queen mother's original intention.
"I hope that the Empress Dowager will show some mercy to Wanpin because she has served the Emperor for a long time."
The Queen had a generous smile on her face and her voice was very gentle, as if she could tolerate and forgive all of Zhen Huan's faults.
However, if we go by what the Queen said, then it actually proves that it was Zhen Huan's carelessness that caused the auspicious dress to be damaged.
It was just that the Queen felt sorry for Zhen Huan because she had served the Emperor and given birth to a princess for him, continuing his bloodline and having made great contributions, so she spoke well of her in front of the Queen Mother and spared her from punishment.
Even though it seems that there are no substantial consequences, this is very different from Chen Shu before Zhen Huan, and the nature of the two is completely different.
Zhen Huan had just taken advantage of the situation and admitted her mistake. Her main point was that she didn't believe the Queen would dare to judge her in front of the Empress Dowager.
Hearing the Queen's words, Zhen Huan felt a chill in her heart.
I made a mistake after all!
The Queen did not dare to lie in front of the Queen Mother, but her attitude of admitting her mistake just now gave the Queen a handle.
Now that the initiative has been lost, we must find other ways to break the impasse!
Zhen Huan thought so in her heart, and subconsciously looked up at the Queen Mother, but saw that her eyes were deep, and the surging spirit in them made Zhen Huan feel cold in her heart.
Although the old lady has always tried to stay out of the matter, she has not been misled by the rumors from the outside world or the different opinions expressed by Zhen Huan and the Queen. It seems that she has already seen through all the twists and turns.
But the Queen Mother is not speaking now. Without her to make the final decision, no matter how much the Queen and Zhen Huan say here, it will only be a war of words between the two sides.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Just when the atmosphere was a little tense, the young eunuch outside suddenly came with a report.
When she heard that the emperor was coming, an inexplicable smile appeared on the empress dowager's face, as if she had finally waited for the result she wanted to see.
The Queen and Zhen Huan were both stunned, but the feelings that emerged in their hearts were completely different.
Zhen Huan was surprised that the emperor would come at this time, and she analyzed the reasons.
But for the queen, she thought more about her future situation.
Now that the emperor is here, it means that everything has to be rewritten, and the situation will directly lead to a direction that is more favorable to Zhen Huan.