After the replacement of the delicate imperial concubine, my emperor will never come to court again

Chapter 405: The Queen Mother’s Chrysanthemum Party
Ren's mother hesitated for several days and did not tell Ren Yuhuan, because if she did, she would reveal the secret in her heart.

All these are secrets that cannot be revealed. If they are revealed, even if a little prince is born, Ren Yuhuan's life cannot be saved.

Nanny Wang seemed to have not made any move. She didn't even leave Yikun Palace every day, and her plans were completely unclear.

Ren's mother suspected that Nanny Wang probably couldn't find a solution. After all, the harem was controlled by the Queen Mother. Who could do anything under the Queen Mother's nose?
"My lady, I heard that Concubine Qi persuaded the Queen Mother to hold a chrysanthemum appreciation meeting in the Imperial Garden, and all the ladies in the harem have been invited."

Zijuan said this as she handed over the invitation.

"I also heard that some people made excuses not to go. Shall we go?"

Ren Yuhuan picked up the post and looked at it and said, "Of course I have to go. After all, it's hosted by the Queen Mother. I have to go and listen to her opinion no matter what."

Zijuan exclaimed, "So this flower-viewing party was not hosted by Concubine Qi, but by the Queen Mother?"

Ren Yuhuan nodded: "There is no reason for Concubine Qi to hold a banquet at this time."

Zijuan thought for a moment and said, "Or maybe she wants to increase her influence? After all, only the Queen can host such a banquet. She wants to be the Queen, so this is possible, right?"

Ren Yuhuan pursed her lips and smiled: "What you think makes sense, but you don't know a piece of news."

Zijuan was puzzled: "Madam, please tell me."

Ren Yuhuan smiled and said, "Today, Wang Lian sent me a letter saying that during the morning court session, His Majesty dealt with several ministers who recommended Concubine Qi as the empress."

"Wang Lian has been here?"

"Wang Lian didn't come. He just mentioned it casually when he sent one of his men to deliver something."

"Isn't it normal for His Majesty to punish the minister?"

Ren Yuhuan smiled and said, "I heard that they only found some minor excuses to deal with them, but the punishment was not light. Both of them have been dismissed from their posts."

Zijuan nodded suddenly: "Your Majesty is warning those ministers not to get too close to the people in the harem, otherwise, this will be the fate!"

Ren Yuhuan glanced at Zijuan and said, "You have made progress!"

Zijuan was very happy to hear this: "I must make progress!"

Ren Yuhuan stood up and said, "Get ready to change your clothes. You can't be late for the Queen Mother's banquet."

Zijuan immediately went to prepare, and while changing her clothes, she asked Ren Yuhuan, "Have you guessed what the Queen Mother meant?"

Ren Yuhuan said calmly: "The Queen Mother's mind is unfathomable. You won't know unless you go."

The imperial garden is filled with chrysanthemums, including all kinds of rare varieties.

Many of the concubines who arrived earlier were already enjoying the flowers.

Ren Yuhuan went there and found that the empress dowager had not come yet, so he stood in front of a pot of green chrysanthemums to admire them and wait.

"Sister, when did you arrive? I didn't even notice it."

Concubine Qi came towards her with a smile. She was wearing a red dress, which made her stand out even among the clusters of chrysanthemums.

Ren Yuhuan was dressed elegantly and did not want to be the center of attention. Although he knew that Concubine Qi was trying to show off her superiority, he did not fall for it and did not accept the provocation.

"Greetings to Madam Qi Fei."

The palace maid beside Concubine Qi hurried over to support her.

"Sister, why are you so polite?"

"The Queen Mother is here!"

Concubine Qi immediately left Ren Yuhuan behind and went forward to greet him.

The concubines in the harem stood in rows and saluted the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother raised her hand, and the old nanny said, "No need to be polite."

The Queen Mother sat on a carved agarwood chair placed high up, looking at the concubines present.

"Do you know why I am holding a chrysanthemum party?"

The concubines looked at each other, not understanding what she meant. Concubine Qi smiled and said, "We don't really know what the Empress Dowager meant. Please explain it to us, Empress Dowager."

The Queen Mother snorted, and stood up with the help of the maid: "How about the chrysanthemums today?"

Everyone followed the Queen Mother to admire the flowers.

Concubine Kong wanted to show her face, so she immediately said, "The red chrysanthemum in front of the Empress Dowager complements the Empress Dowager perfectly."

When the Queen Mother heard this, she just glanced at her and said nothing.

Concubine Kong was bored, but she didn't dare to do anything and could only stand back angrily.

"Your Highness, look, this is the most valuable variety today, the blue chrysanthemum."

The Queen Mother just glanced at it and said, "This color is really strange."

Concubine Qi immediately glanced at the palace attendant in charge, who immediately stepped forward to explain, "Reporting to the Queen Mother, this is a breed from the Western Regions that has been bred several times."

"Humph, you made the chrysanthemum so gorgeous. Do you think this color is worthy of the reputation of being one of the four gentlemen among flowers?"

The palace servant immediately knelt down and apologized.

The old nanny beside the Queen Mother stepped forward and pushed the pot of blue chrysanthemums to the ground.

Ren Yuhuan knew that there were probably only a few pots of chrysanthemums like this, and the ones offered as tribute must be the best of the best. Given the scarcity and uniqueness of this flower, its value might be greater than that of an entire courtyard in the capital.

The Queen Mother didn't like such flowers, so she just tore them down.

Concubine Qi quickly followed and echoed: "The Queen Mother is right on time. What Western Regions variety? Our Daliang ones are the best!"

The Queen Mother nodded to Concubine Qi, giving her enough face.

When the concubines in the harem saw this, they all knew that the Queen Mother valued Concubine Qi.

Ren Yuhuan sneered in his heart. Concubine Qi had a good eye.

In the past, she pretended to be carefree, but that was all fake. In fact, she was more meticulous than anyone else.

The Queen Mother sat down again and ordered, "Don't surround me. Today is a flower viewing event. Go enjoy the flowers."

Ren Yuhuan turned around and followed the crowd forward. Ling Ji was not at the banquet.

This was within Ren Yuhuan's expectations.

But I still don’t understand the Queen Mother’s intention in holding the Chrysanthemum Party.

"Are all the concubines in the harem here?"

When Concubine Qi heard the Queen Mother's question, she immediately replied, "Your Majesty, there are still a few concubines who are not convenient to come."

The Queen Mother snorted coldly: "Chrysanthemums only bloom once a year, how can we miss it? Let them all come!"

When the old nanny heard this, she immediately went downstairs to give orders.

All the concubines in the harem gathered together to discuss.

"The Queen Mother is planning to gather all of us here. Do you have anything to say?"

Ren Yuhuan felt confused when he saw that the people he had invited were not palace ladies or maids but guards.

What is the Queen Mother planning to do by trapping them all here?
Ling Ji and Xian Fei are here.

Ren Yuhuan was very surprised to see Concubine Xian.

You have to know that Concubine Xian's once beautiful voice like a yellow warbler turned into the hoarse voice of an old woman, all thanks to the Empress Dowager.

The virtuous concubine was very calm. She walked among the flowers, not looking at anyone and not talking to anyone.

Ren Yuhuan resisted the urge to go over and say hello. It was obvious that Concubine Xian didn't want anyone to disturb her.

Ling Ji also came silently, without saying a word, and stood in an inconspicuous place.

This was the first time that Ren Yuhuan met Ling Ji in person.