readytorunbook Chapter 188 Further Promotion
Chapter 188 Further Promotion
Chu Qingyin forced herself to stand up and bow, but was stopped by Pei Yuanling and Empress Wang at the same time.
"You are in poor health, so there's no need for such formalities."
Empress Wang said with a smile, her tone full of affection, "Yes, Your Majesty is absolutely right. We are sisters, why be so formal?"
Chu Qingyin's eyes flickered, and then she looked at Empress Wang with gratitude: "Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. I have troubled Your Majesty and Your Majesty these past few days."
Her voice was weak, and each word seemed to come out with all her strength.
Pei Yuanling sat on the edge of the bed, gently took Chu Qingyin's hand, and turned to Empress Wang, saying, "Empress, now that you're here, there's something I'll tell you as well."
"what's up?"
Empress Wang's heart skipped a beat. Could it be related to the assassination attempt?
"Yinyin has rendered meritorious service in saving the Emperor this time. I plan to bestow upon her the title of Imperial Concubine once she recovers from her injuries."
Pei Yuanling remained calm and composed. This was something he had planned long ago, and this was not just a formality.
"This……"
The smile on Empress Wang's face immediately faded.
Promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine?!
To be promoted from a third-rank concubine to a first-rank imperial consort in one leap of two ranks—isn't that a bit too fast?
However, after a moment of surprise, Empress Wang quickly regained her gentle and dignified demeanor, a perfectly timed smile on her face: "Consort Qiao's merit in saving the Emperor deserves praise, but..."
She paused, then continued, "However, Consort Qiao is a newcomer to the palace. Her rank has risen too quickly, surpassing even Consort Qin and Consort De, two veteran concubines. Isn't this a bit too much of a favor?"
Upon hearing her explanation, Pei Yuanling's brows furrowed instantly. "This is what Yinyin deserves. Why can't I bestow this title upon her?"
He grasped Chu Qingyin's hand and said coldly, "That day, the situation was critical. She disregarded her own life and took an arrow for me, nearly losing her own life. If I don't reward her handsomely for this kindness, how can I convince the people of the world? Do you want the people to think I am an ungrateful person?"
Pei Yuanling's voice was deep and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority and obvious anger.
Empress Wang knew she shouldn't disobey the emperor at this time, but Qiao Qingyin's promotion was just too fast.
She was even more powerful than the previous Consort Chu.
You should know that a first-rank imperial concubine is a rank second only to the empress!
"His Majesty……"
Before Empress Wang could finish speaking, Pei Yuanling turned his back and said, "I have made up my mind about this matter. Yinyin has just woken up and needs to rest well. If the Empress has anything to say, let's talk about it another day."
Empress Wang paused slightly, a fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of something else flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her smile.
"Then I shall take my leave. Sister Qiao, please take good care of your injuries. If you need anything, please feel free to ask. I will have Lin Qing prepare accordingly."
After saying this, she curtsied and left Zichen Palace with Lin Qing.
After Empress Wang left, Chu Qingyin bit her lip and said, "Your Majesty, isn't it a bit too fast for me to be promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine?"
The woman's voice was still weak. She lay half-reclined on the bed, her eyes filled with worry.
"This position of Imperial Concubine was originally yours."
Pei Yuanling said calmly, his large hand gently stroking her small hand, "Yinyin, I don't want you to suffer any more grievances. I only want you to be second only to the emperor in this harem."
"I am not wronged."
Chu Qingyin smiled wryly and said reassuringly, "As long as Your Majesty is with me, that's enough. Other empty titles are unimportant."
What does "second only to one person and above ten thousand others" mean?
Even though she was a concubine in her previous life, she was still poisoned to death.
And the man she deeply loved not only failed to investigate the cause of death, but also claimed to the public that he died of illness.
If it was a misunderstanding before that she committed suicide, but after he came back and cleared up the misunderstanding, why is he still unwilling to investigate the murderer who poisoned him?
Chu Qingyin lowered her eyes, a faint smile on her lips, but her heart was filled with coldness.
Pei Yuanling didn't notice the fleeting self-mockery in her eyes. He gently stroked Chu Qingyin's hair and said softly, "Yinyin, after your investiture ceremony as a Noble Consort is over, I will take you to see your brother, okay?"
"really?"
"real."
Pei Yuanling reached out and pinched the tip of her nose, coaxing her, "So your top priority right now is to get well."
"Your Majesty is so kind to your concubines."
Chu Qingyin chuckled softly. Now that she was ill, Pei Yuanling did everything she asked.
The two chatted for a few more minutes. Pei Yuanling, understanding that she had just woken up and was afraid that she would be tired, considerately helped her to sleep.
"Yinyin, go to sleep. I'll stay here and watch over you."
Chu Qingyin glanced at the man's thin jaw and the bloodshot in his eyes, and her heart stirred slightly.
After thinking about it, I still didn't say anything.
She simply nodded and then closed her eyes to sleep.
***
However, the Empress Dowager ultimately failed to grant Pei Yuanling his wish to be promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine.
Upon learning that he was to be conferred the title of Imperial Concubine, the Empress Dowager summoned Pei Yuanling to Cixi Palace for an afternoon the next day.
The implication of his words was that they were not in accordance with proper etiquette.
"If one could be promoted beyond their rank simply by taking an arrow for His Majesty, wouldn't it create chaos if all the concubines in the palace followed suit?"
Empress Dowager Wang's face was stern, and her attitude was resolute: "Your Majesty is far too biased towards this Qiao woman! You should know that those whose virtue does not match their position will surely suffer calamity!"
That last sentence could be considered a threat.
Pei Yuanling's fingers, which were resting on his knees, clenched involuntarily.
Although he was grateful for the Empress Dowager's nurturing, it did not mean he could tolerate his stepmother's repeated interference in imperial power and his private affairs.
However, now is not the time for it to flare up.
The Wang family is powerful, and there are not many things that warrant the Empress Dowager's personal reprimand. Now, because of Chu Qingyin's matter, the Empress Dowager has summoned him to Cixi Palace twice.
It is evident how much the Empress Dowager disliked Chu Qingyin.
Pei Yuanling knew very well that although Wang Shi did not have the courage to depose the emperor, she was more than capable of dealing with a concubine in the harem.
In the end, after discussions between the two parties, they each compromised.
She will not be granted the title of Imperial Concubine, but will be temporarily granted the title of Consort.
Chu Qingyin didn't feel much about the result.
Whether it's the rank of concubine, imperial consort, or empress, she no longer cares about it in this lifetime.
After several days of rest, Chu Qingyin's health has improved considerably.
The wound on my shoulder blade has scabbed over, but it still aches slightly when I move around.
Because of the advice of court officials that it was unreasonable for the concubines to always live in Zichen Palace and that it would harm the country's fortune, Chu Qingyin moved back to Feixue Palace.
The maids serving him were still the same few: Xianglan, Yuyan, and Yulian, as well as two young eunuchs, Linqian and Linyu.
There were many more palace maids serving outside the palace gates, and Yu Yan and Yu Lian were promoted to senior palace maids, taking charge of these newly arrived junior palace maids.
However, Xianglan still arranged all of Chu Qingyin's private affairs, never entrusting them to anyone else.
Ever since Yu Yan was caught by the emperor while disposing of medicine dregs and got into serious trouble, she has never dared to entrust these matters to others again.
In the past few days, piles of tonics and gifts have been carried into Feixue Palace, as if Pei Yuanling were compensating her for not becoming a Noble Consort.
Because she was recuperating, Pei Yuanling ordered that no one was allowed to come to Feixue Palace to disturb her peace. She also did not need to pay her respects to the Empress, which made her quite happy to be free.
Time passed by unnoticed, and Chu Qingyin was eventually promoted to the rank of Consort, filling one of the four vacant consorts, and was given the title of Liang.
On the day of her promotion, Chu Qingyin sat upright in front of the mirror, dressed in her brand-new imperial concubine robes.
Xianglan combed her hair, her eyes filled with joy: "Your Highness, your promotion to the rank of Consort is a joyous occasion."
Chu Qingyin smiled gently at herself in the mirror, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
Although this position of imperial concubine was hard-won, it was still somewhat inferior to the position of noble consort that Pei Yuanling had mentioned before.
It seems the Wang family's power is far greater than she imagined.
The ceremony for bestowing the title of Imperial Concubine was extremely grand. In comparison, the promotion of Consort Li to the rank of Jieyu seemed particularly meager and was hardly noticed by anyone, not to mention that His Majesty was now spending every day with Consort Qiao.
Oh no, she should be called Consort Liang now.
Who can still remember Li Jieyu?