eurekapd Chapter 222 Persuasion
Chapter 222 Persuasion
After achieving his goal, the imperial concubine left the Yangxin Palace. The emperor sat quietly in the palace. When the light footsteps gradually faded away, the emperor raised his eyes slightly and called Jinzhong in.
Jinzhong walked into the Yangxin Palace respectfully, with his head lowered, waiting for the emperor's instructions.
The emperor pursed his lips slightly and said in a deep voice, "Tell the queen that I will prepare a family banquet in the palace for the Dragon Boat Festival. In addition to the princes and princesses who have left the palace to set up residences, there will also be relatives and royal relatives. Tell her to prepare it well and make sure it is grand and decent. If she is truly worthy of being a queen, then I will forgive her previous disrespect and let Rong Pei and Sanbao return to Yikun Palace to serve. Otherwise..."
The emperor paused for a moment, his eyes half-closed, showing no patience for the queen. His gaze revealed a mixture of authority and indifference, as if he were examining a chess piece that could be discarded at any moment.
This is the last chance he gives.
The emperor knew in his heart that the empress and he would never be able to go back to the way they were before.
But considering their years of marriage and her past efforts, he decided to give her another chance.
This time is also the final ultimatum.
"the last time."
The emperor repeated these words silently in his heart.
His eyes became even colder, and he had already prepared for the worst. If the queen was not qualified to be the empress, he would not hesitate to choose someone else.
The thing this palace has the most of is capable concubines.
"Well, I'll do it right away."
A dark light flashed in Jinzhong's eyes, and he left quietly.
Wouldn't that make him happy? If the Queen messed up this time, the one in Yongshou Palace would be the most powerful person in the palace.
What is there to be afraid of a queen who is just an empty shell?
They have been preparing for many years, and good days are coming soon.
For the past six months, Ruyi seemed to have been forgotten by time. She always stayed in the Yikun Palace, the vermilion palace gates tightly closed, isolating her from the outside world.
Inside the Yikun Palace, there was complete silence. Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Ruyi often sat alone in front of the window, looking at the small piece of sky, her eyes full of loneliness and contemplation.
Once the ban was lifted, countless thoughts surged in Ruyi's mind.
She originally wanted to go see Rong Pei, Ling Yunche and others. They had been her friends for many years, and now they were in trouble because of her. Ruyi felt very upset.
But she had angered the emperor at that time, and she was afraid that if she went to see him, the emperor would become even more angry and would take his anger out on them.
It would be better for her to suffer alone, and she couldn't implicate them again and again.
All the servants around her had been replaced. Looking at these unfamiliar faces, Ruyi felt a sense of sadness in her heart.
She knew without thinking that the Yikun Palace was now full of leaks, and that there must be many spies from the Yongshou Palace.
Originally, this palace was full of Wei Yanwan's people. Now that her surroundings have been reshuffled, I'm afraid she took the opportunity to squeeze in a lot of people.
She is now walking on thin ice and taking every step carefully.
Therefore, not seeing them is the best protection for them.
A shrill voice disturbed Ruyi's mood.
"This servant pays my respects to the Queen."
Jinzhong saluted respectfully, with a hint of coldness in his voice.
He has been very successful all the time, and over the years, the image of the little eunuch in front of the emperor has long disappeared.
Although his actions were respectful, he exuded arrogance from the inside out.
"How did you come."
Looking at Jinzhong's smug look, Ruyi felt it was dazzling and missed Li Yu even more in her heart.
It was like this in the palace, some were happy and some were sad.
Once she fell into poverty, there were many people who took advantage of her misfortune.
Ruyi sat on the chair with an upright posture and a cold look in her eyes.
Her gaze slowly fell on Jinzhong. The purple and gold python robe gleamed luxuriously in the sunlight, but it aroused a complex emotion in Ruyi's heart.
The purple-gold python robe he was wearing should have belonged to Li Yu...
Li Yu has always been loyal and efficient. He has served the emperor for many years, working diligently and conscientiously without making any mistakes.
The emperor actually believed the slander of those people, beat Li Yu severely and sent him to the palace.
Now, this dragon robe is worn by Jinzhong.
Jinzhong was a flatterer and cunning man who would do anything to achieve his goals. He climbed to a high position step by step through flattery and intrigue.
He is now wearing this purple-gold python robe, which makes him look particularly dazzling.
Ruyi looked at Jinzhong and couldn't help feeling sorry for Li Yu.
Her thoughts returned, and Ruyi sighed slightly. The sigh seemed to carry endless sorrow and helplessness, and then she slowly shifted her gaze away from Jinzhong.
Ruyi sat at the top, her posture still upright and dignified. She tried hard to hide the loneliness in her eyes and not let any trace of vulnerability show.
"Tell me, why did the Emperor send you here?"
She spoke in a steady and powerful voice. Even after losing power, she still maintained the dignity of a queen.
Ruyi watched coldly, but she could not bear the slightest bit of the queen's power.
She is old, and no amount of makeup can hide her tiredness. Her eyes are dull and lifeless, and she is surrounded by the aura of old age.
"In reply to the Empress, the Emperor has issued an order that a family banquet be held in the palace on Duanwu Day, and that the Empress be fully responsible. He also stated that if the banquet goes well, Sanbao and Rong Pei will be allowed to return to the Yikun Palace to serve. Your Majesty, the Emperor is willing to seek peace with you..."
Jinzhong lowered his head slightly, speaking in a respectful yet cautious tone. His words were like falling petals, seemingly gentle but holding a sharp edge.
His eyes flickered, and beneath that respectful exterior, a glint of cunning flashed through them. That cunning was like a barely perceptible flash of lightning, fleeting yet impossible to ignore.
When Ruyi heard Jinzhong say that the emperor was willing to seek peace, her originally frown showed signs of loosening.
Is he...seeking peace?
Seeing her expression hinting at something, Jinzhong's heart stirred, keenly sensing that this might be the perfect opportunity. He narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then decided to add fuel to the fire.
"Empress, please forgive me for being so nosy. Ever since the incident in the Yangxin Palace, although the Emperor appears angry, he is still thinking about you in his heart. Otherwise, the Yikun Palace would not have served you as well as usual. A husband and wife are bound by a hundred days of grace. Your Majesty, why don't you back down from this situation and bring Rong Pei and Sanbao back first? I heard that Guard Ling is not having a good time in the cold palace..."
Who is Jinzhong? He has been struggling in the intrigues of the palace for many years and has long developed a pair of eyes that can see through people's hearts.
He knew very well what Ruyi was thinking and was well aware of her weaknesses and pain points.
The slightly furrowed brows revealed Ruyi's inner turmoil and concerns.
Jinzhong knew that the name Ling Yunche had a special place in Ruyi's heart. This name was like a huge rock thrown into Ruyi's heart, causing ripples.
The corners of Jinzhong's mouth rose slightly, revealing an imperceptible smug smile.
At the mention of Ling Yunche, Ruyi's heart suddenly tightened, as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly. That familiar name, like a sharp thorn, pierced the softest part of her heart.
He could have lived a good life as a second-class guard in front of the emperor, a glorious position that ordinary people would never reach in their lifetime.
He has a bright future, a stable life, and a warm family.
However, now, in order to help her, he suddenly fell from the clouds to the mire. The respected Lord Ling was once again reduced to a small guard in the cold palace.
Decades of hard work, all in vain.
Ruyi's heart was filled with guilt and pain. She knew that Ling Yunche's sacrifice was so heavy, but she was unable to repay him. She looked into the distance, her eyes filled with helplessness and sadness.
What Jinzhong said makes sense.
Where there is life, there is hope.
She must hold onto her throne as empress to redress the injustice done to Li Yu and Hai Lan. Li Yu's loyalty and kindness, Hai Lan's steadfastness and companionship, are her warm support in this cold palace. They have suffered injustice because of her, and she must seek justice for them and restore their rightful dignity and honor.