After my inner voice was eavesdropped, I became the favorite of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 86

In the harem, Concubine Wei was lying on the bed, pale and weak. She had just given birth to the fourteenth prince, Yonglu, but was too weak to take care of him personally. She was filled with worry and fear, fearing that the queen would take this opportunity to cause trouble for her.

However, Emperor Qianlong's joy was like a ray of sunshine in spring, illuminating the haze in her heart. When he heard that Concubine Wei had given birth to a son, he was so happy that he immediately promoted her to Concubine Ling.

The news spread throughout the harem, and the Queen was filled with jealousy and resentment. She had tried to frame Concubine Wei many times, but failed. Now, Concubine Wei had given birth to a son, which was undoubtedly a threat to her.

She sneered and said to Rong Mama beside her, "Hahaha, that bitch has finally gotten what she deserved! She harmed my Thirteenth Prince, and now her son is getting his comeuppance!"

Rong Mama also echoed, "This is the law of nature, retribution will come. Your Majesty, you have suffered so much, now let Lingpin have a taste of it too."

However, they do not know that all these grievances and hatreds will gradually dissipate in the long river of time in the future with the rise and fall of the country and the changes of history.

In the Great Yan Kingdom, the smooth progress of the imperial examination not only selected batches of outstanding talents for the country, but also opened the door to official careers for women. Li Qingge looked at all this, her heart filled with relief and pride. She knew that everything she did was for the future and hope of this country.

As time went by, the Great Yan Kingdom gradually rose and became a prosperous country. Li Qingge's name was forever engraved on the monument of history and became a model for future generations to admire and learn from.

In the deep and magnificent Forbidden City, the spring sunshine lazily sprinkled on the glazed tiles of Kunning Palace, flashing dazzling light. Inside the palace walls, various flowers competed with each other for splendor, but they seemed to have lost their color, and were not as exciting as the silent competition in Kunning Palace at this moment.

"Ah, this really hits the nail on the head." The Queen's slightly shrill voice echoed in the empty hall. The corners of her mouth curled up into an imperceptible sneer, and her eyes flashed with pride and ruthlessness. She was dressed in a gorgeous phoenix robe, wearing pearls and jade on her head, sitting on a golden chair carved with dragons and phoenixes, as if everything was under control. Looking at Concubine Ling kneeling on the ground, tears rolling down like beads from a broken string, the Queen's heart surged with an indescribable pleasure. She took the tea handed over by Rong Mama. The teacup was made of fine porcelain from Jingdezhen, painted with intricate patterns. The tea was clear and transparent. She took a sip and felt that the tea was sweeter than honey and more nourishing to her heart, as if her mood also became particularly comfortable.

Rong Mama stood aside, expressionless, but her eyes revealed a hint of ruthlessness. She knew the Queen's mind very well and was accustomed to the intrigues in the harem. She watched everything silently, like a silent bystander, but at the critical moment, she always became the Queen's strongest backing.

Perhaps it was because of Li Qingge's virtuous assistance that the queen became more fearless. Li Qingge, a female official who enjoyed a high reputation in the court and the public, was not only talented, but also had extraordinary wisdom and courage. Her presence made the queen's position in the harem more stable, and those calculations and traps were not worth mentioning in her eyes. As time went by, the guards in Kunning Palace gradually relaxed, as if even the air was filled with a sense of laziness.

The queen loved to laugh, especially when she saw others in trouble. When she heard the news that Concubine Ling had lost her child, she was so happy. She laughed so hard that her mouth could not close. Her laughter echoed in Kunning Palace, with a bit of gloating and a bit of complacency. However, this matter was accidentally spread out, and it quickly spread in the harem like wildfire.

When Concubine Ling heard the rumors, she was furious. She thought of the difficulties during her pregnancy, the torment and anticipation she had endured, but now all of it was in vain. She suspected that the queen was behind all this. Concubine Ling was also a drama queen, and she decided to put on a big show in front of Emperor Qianlong to seek justice for her child.

When Qianlong entered Lingpin's bedroom, he saw her telling her the pain of losing her child half-truthfully. Her face was as pale as paper, with tear marks on it. She looked like she was crying and her hair was messy like straw. It was heartbreaking to see her. Qianlong's heart softened immediately. He comforted her softly, trying to soothe her pain.

Concubine Ling took the opportunity to hug Qianlong's legs and cried even harder: "Your Majesty, the Queen is so cruel. She attacked me when I was pregnant, causing my child to die of congenital defects. As his biological mother, she not only did not comfort me, but also laughed when she heard that the Fourteenth Prince had died. My child must be so innocent!" There was endless sadness and anger in her voice, as if she wanted to pour out all her grievances to Qianlong.

When Qianlong heard this, his brows furrowed, and he immediately sent someone to investigate. Not long after, Li Yu came back to report: "Your Majesty, the Empress did laugh when she heard the news of the Fourteenth Prince's death, but that was because she remembered the late Thirteenth Prince and felt hatred in her heart. As for murder, there is no conclusive evidence yet."

Qianlong sighed, his eyes flashing with complex emotions. He knew the grudge between the Queen and Concubine Ling, and he also knew that it was difficult to tell right from wrong in the harem. He thought for a moment and said, "Forget it. The Queen was also moved by the loss of her child. It is a serious crime to wrongly accuse the Queen Mother. I understand your pain of losing your child. I said something that should not have been said in the heat of the moment, so I will not pursue it. You should stop brooding over it."

As soon as Qianlong finished speaking, an indescribable fear surged in Lingpin's heart. She understood that although Qianlong was dissatisfied with the queen's gloating, he had to swallow his anger when he thought of the queen's daughter who was so outstanding. After all, Li Qingge was planning to deal with the Aixinjueluo family. If the queen ignored the relationship between husband and wife, the Qing Dynasty would be in danger. Thinking of this, Lingpin became even more anxious and uneasy. She didn't know what her future would be like.

She cried heartbreakingly, as if she wanted to pour out all her grievances and anger: "Even if the death of the Fourteenth Prince has nothing to do with the Queen, as his biological mother, she should not add to the pain of losing my child! Your Majesty, I have served you for so many years. Even if I have done something wrong, I should not have ended up like this. My child died before he was even a month old. What's the point of me living? I might as well let him die!" After that, she cried and shouted that she wanted to hit her head against the wall to commit suicide. The sound made people tremble in their hearts.

When Qianlong saw this, he felt angry and compassionate. He knew Lingpin's temperament very well, and also knew her despair and helplessness at the moment. He quickly asked Li Yu to pass on the imperial decree: "Restore Lingpin's status as a concubine and let her enjoy the treatment of a noble concubine. Also, let the Ministry of Internal Affairs bury the Fourteenth Prince properly, using the etiquette of a prince, and bury her next to the tomb of the late Crown Prince Duanhui."

As Qianlong's decree was passed down, Lingpin's crying gradually stopped. She slumped on the ground, staring blankly ahead, as if she had lost all her strength. She knew that she had lost the battle, but she was unwilling to accept it. She was unwilling to succumb to fate. However, in this deep palace, what could she do?
After this storm, Kunning Palace returned to its former tranquility. The queen still sat on her golden chair, enjoying her glory and power. Concubine Ling silently endured the pain and despair of losing her child, and her heart was filled with fear and anxiety about the future. In this deep palace, they were all just pawns of fate, being ruthlessly manipulated. And what plans and plots did Li Qingge, the female official who silently planned everything behind the scenes, have in her mind? All of this will be slowly revealed in the days to come.

"Okay!" Li Yu responded, and his figure was like an arrow from a bow, quickly shuttling between the palace walls. His footsteps were brisk and powerful, and every step seemed to tell of his loyalty to the emperor.

Over there, in the Yanxi Palace, the flickering candlelight illuminated the gentle and lovely face of Concubine Ling. She was leaning on the emperor's shoulder, and her soft voice was trembling with an imperceptible tremor, as if she were a delicate flower swaying in the wind, making people feel pity and love. Her tears were like pearls that had broken off the string, falling one by one on the emperor's clothes, and her aggrieved look made people feel distressed. However, if you look closely, you can see that there is an imperceptible smile on the corner of her mouth, which contains pride and cunning, as if everything is under her control.

The emperor gently patted Concubine Ling's back and comforted her, his eyes full of doting and love. He always had special feelings for Concubine Ling. Her weakness and tenacity, her intelligence and wit, all made him fall for her.

At this moment, in Kunning Palace, the queen was sitting alone in front of a bronze mirror, her eyes were cold and angry, as if they could shoot fire. She heard that Concubine Ling took this opportunity to not only restore her position as a concubine, but also let the Fourteenth Prince have a grand funeral, and suddenly an indescribable anger surged in her heart. She remembered the desolation when her daughter died, without even a decent funeral, a title, a mausoleum, or a celebration. Then the Thirteenth Prince also died, and the funeral was also deserted. And now, Concubine Ling's son is gone, but the emperor treats him so well, which makes her feel more and more unfair and angry.

"This vixen, she only knows how to act pitiful, why doesn't she go to sing an opera!" The queen gnashed her teeth and clenched her hands into fists, as if she wanted to vent all the anger in her heart. Rong Mama stood aside, also with a look of indignation on her face. She looked at her queen's angry look and felt sad. Her queen's legitimate son was treated worse than a concubine's son. This world is really unfair.

Just when the Queen was gritting her teeth in anger, Xiaoyanzi jumped out to make trouble again. When she heard that the Queen laughed at the Fourteenth Prince's matter, she suddenly felt an indescribable anger in her heart. She decided to go to the Queen to argue and seek justice for Concubine Ling.

In the Imperial Garden, Xiaoyanzi pointed at the Queen's nose and started to curse: "Sister Ling Fei just lost her child, how can you have the heart to provoke her? You are so heartless, shameless, cold-blooded, hateful..." Xiaoyanzi's words were like a string of cannonballs, one after another, making the Queen dizzy. She was so angry that she was shaking all over. Just when she wanted to have someone slap Xiaoyanzi's mouth, Rong Mama quietly pulled the corner of her clothes.

Rong Mama leaned close to the Queen's ear and whispered, "Your Majesty, don't argue with her. Let's pretend to faint!" The Queen was stunned, then her eyes rolled back and she fainted on the ground gorgeously. Her body fell limply to the ground, like a withered flower, which made people feel pity.

Back in the Yanxi Palace, Qianlong was comforting Concubine Ling. He gently stroked her hair and said softly, "Don't cry, I will take care of it for you." Although Concubine Ling was wearing plain clothes and no makeup, her eyes were as clear and bright as autumn water, and her smile was even more charming. She looked at the emperor with a squinting look, which was so seductive. This dress was in line with the old saying: "Women in mourning clothes have a unique flavor." Qianlong was lustful to begin with, and now he was fascinated by Concubine Ling and felt that she was even more charming at this time.

Just when the two were getting ready to get intimate, Li Yu came in hurriedly. He said anxiously, "Your Majesty, it's bad, the Empress has fainted!" Qianlong was stunned when he heard it. He looked at Concubine Ling, and saw a worried look on her face, but a hint of imperceptible pride flashed in her eyes. Concubine Ling was secretly proud of herself. She had asked Erkang to provoke Xiaoyanzi and let her anger the Empress, hoping that something bad would happen. If the Empress really died, then although Concubine Ling, who was of humble origin, could not become the Empress, she could be promoted to Imperial Noble Concubine and take charge of the affairs of the six palaces.

Qianlong asked Li Yu angrily: "The Queen was in good health, how could she suddenly faint?" Li Yu replied: "When the Queen was admiring flowers in the Imperial Garden, she met Princess Huanzhu. The two had a quarrel and the Queen fainted." "It's Xiaoyanzi again! Does she have any manners?" When Qianlong heard that it was Xiaoyanzi who did it, he was furious. He had warned Xiaoyanzi not to conflict with the Queen, so why didn't this girl listen?
Qianlong hurriedly changed his clothes and prepared to go to Kunning Palace. Although he was somewhat dissatisfied with Xiaoyanzi's behavior, he was more worried about the queen's health. After all, the queen was his first wife and the woman he once loved deeply. Although Concubine Ling advised the emperor not to rush, she was so proud in her heart that she couldn't describe it. She looked at Qianlong's hurriedly leaving back, with a smug smile on her lips, as if everything was under her control.

Upon hearing this, Li Yu's face froze and he quickly responded, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will go and invite all the most skilled doctors in the Imperial Hospital to come here, and they will do their best to treat the Empress!" After that, he turned around and left in a hurry, his steps brisk and firm, as if every step carried the Emperor's trust.

The emperor looked at Li Yu's receding back, his brows furrowed, his eyes full of anxiety and worry. He knew very well that the queen's illness was no small matter. If she could not be treated in time, it might cause unrest inside and outside the court. Thinking of this, he could no longer suppress his anxiety and hurried to Kunning Palace.

Concubine Ling stood aside and witnessed the emperor's series of anxious actions, and her heart could not help but ripples. She stared at the emperor's hurried back in a daze, her heart full of surprise and confusion. She knew the relationship between the emperor and the empress very well, which had always been cold and distant. Empress Nara was able to sit on the throne because of the support of the queen mother. Now, why did the emperor suddenly care so much about the empress's health? Could it be that there was really some kind of love between them?
Concubine Ling was filled with doubts and uneasiness, fearing that her good days would end. So she quickly put on her clothes and rushed to Kunning Palace to find out what was going on.

In Kunning Palace, the flickering candlelight illuminated the pale and haggard face of the queen. She was lying on the bed, following the acupuncture method taught by Barang, holding walnuts under her armpits and pretending that her pulse was disordered. Several imperial doctors were standing around the bed, each with a frown on their face, obviously at a loss as to what to do for the queen's condition.

As soon as the emperor entered Kunning Palace, he saw this scene. He was extremely worried and pulled Doctor Hu's sleeve and asked, "Doctor Hu, you are the chief of the Imperial Hospital. Tell me, what happened to the queen? Why hasn't she woken up yet?"

Doctor Hu sighed and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the Empress is suffering from a heart attack caused by anger, which has damaged her heart and lungs. In addition, she is old, so she is slow to wake up. But please rest assured, Your Majesty, we will do our best to treat the Empress."

When the emperor heard this, his face turned pale instantly. He was almost fifty-two years old, and the empress was his concubine when he was in the palace. She was about the same age, and both of them were almost half buried in the ground. The ancients said that sixty years old was considered a long life. They were almost fifty, and their health was not as good as when they were young.

Thinking of this, the emperor was filled with fear and helplessness. He was not afraid of being alone without the queen, but he was afraid of Li Qingge. Li Qingge and he had no father-son relationship at all. If it weren't for the queen, he would have brought his army to fight. The queen was the bond between the Yan Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty. If she had any misfortune, the relationship between the two dynasties would be completely over. What's more terrifying is that Li Qingge might blame him for the queen's death, and then he would not show mercy to the Aisin-Gioro family.

The emperor couldn't help shaking when he thought of this. He held Doctor Hu's hand tightly and said in a trembling voice: "Doctor Hu, you must find a way to save the queen. I can't live without her!"

Doctor Hu quickly responded, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will do my best."

Concubine Ling watched this scene from the side, and her heart was filled with joy. She thought to herself: "If the queen can't wake up, then I can take the opportunity to take charge of the affairs of the six palaces, and maybe I can even be promoted to imperial concubine." Thinking of this, she couldn't help but curl up a smug smile on the corner of her mouth. However, Concubine Ling's pride did not last too long. Two days later, the queen finally woke up. Doctor Hu said that she had to rest well for a while, but the emperor was also frightened these two days, and he almost cried when he saw the queen wake up. He held the queen's hand tightly, and said in a choked voice: "Queen, you finally woke up, I was really worried about you!"

The queen smiled slightly and said weakly, "Your Majesty, I am fine. I am sorry to have worried you."

Concubine Ling saw it and was anxious. She was even more convinced that the emperor had a place for a queen in his heart. The people of the Aisin-Gioro family were just sentimental! In the past, Huang Taiji and Hai Lanzhu, Shunzhi and Dong Efei, and now the emperor and the queen, are all the same. In the emperor's heart, in addition to Empress Xiaoxian, there is probably already a place for a queen.

When Concubine Ling thought of this, she could not help but feel a deep hatred in her heart. She secretly vowed that she would never let the Queen succeed! If she wanted her son to ascend the throne, she would have to rely on her son to gain status, but it also depended on fate. However, she had already made up her mind and decided to make good use of Xiaoyanzi to ruin the Queen's good fortune.

Although Xiaoyanzi is naughty and loves to get into trouble, she also has her uses, especially when dealing with the Queen. Concubine Ling decided to find an opportunity to have a good talk with Xiaoyanzi and ask her to help her.

So, one day after the Queen recovered from her illness, Concubine Ling secretly found Xiaoyanzi. She held Xiaoyanzi's hand and said affectionately, "Xiaoyanzi, you see how seriously ill the Queen is this time, and how worried the Emperor is. I know you and the Queen have always been at odds, but this time, can you help me and give me a chance to take charge of the affairs of the six palaces?"

When Xiaoyanzi heard this, her eyes widened and she said in surprise, "Empress Ling Fei, what do you mean by this? Do you want me to help you deal with the Queen?"

Concubine Ling smiled slightly, shook her head and said, "It's not about dealing with the Queen, but helping me to gain some opportunities. You know that the Queen and I have always been at odds with each other, but now that she has recovered from her illness and the Emperor values ​​her so much, I'm afraid my life will be difficult in the future."

Xiaoyanzi thought about it, nodded and said, "Okay, Concubine Ling, I promise you. But I will only do what I can and will not hurt the Queen."

Hearing this, Concubine Ling was overjoyed. She held Xiaoyanzi's hand tightly and said, "Thank you, my dear child! Don't worry, I won't let you do anything to hurt the Queen. We just need to prevent her from managing the affairs of the six palaces smoothly."

So, from that day on, Xiaoyanzi began to help Concubine Ling secretly. She would occasionally create some small troubles for the Queen, so that she could not manage the affairs of the six palaces wholeheartedly. Concubine Ling took the opportunity to show her virtue in front of the Emperor and gradually won the Emperor's trust.

As time went by, the queen recovered from her illness, but she was still weak. She could not manage the affairs of the six palaces as wholeheartedly as before, and could only hand over some of her power to Concubine Ling. Concubine Ling took the opportunity to expand her sphere of influence in the palace and gradually became a force that could not be ignored in the palace.

However, all this did not escape Li Qingge's eyes. He had been secretly observing the movements in the palace and knew what Concubine Ling and Xiaoyanzi were doing. However, he did not act rashly, but quietly waited for the opportunity. He knew that as long as the time came, he could defeat Concubine Ling and others in one fell swoop and regain his power.

This time, the Queen fainted from anger. Concubine Ling couldn't help but sneer in her heart. The arc of her mouth was full of pride and calculation. She thought, this is just the beginning. Maybe he can take her life in the future. However, this has to be done slowly. She is best at killing someone with a borrowed knife. Concubine Ling's eyes flashed with a cold light. In her heart, she was quietly calculating how to use Xiaoyanzi's hot temper to anger the Queen again and make her die in anger. She would sit aside and enjoy the success. She was calculating loudly, as if she had foreseen the dawn of victory.

However, just as the conspiracy was about to be put into practice, an imperial decree from Emperor Qianlong came as a bolt from the blue, shocking Concubine Ling so much that she almost fainted on the spot. The emperor's voice was steady and majestic, penetrating the entire palace: "The queen is the mother of our Qing Dynasty. She is not feeling well and cannot be left unattended. From today on, all the concubines in the six palaces will take turns to serve the queen in Kunning Palace until she recovers." As soon as these words came out, Concubine Ling was immediately panicked, and the other concubines and the imperial doctors were also shocked. None of them expected such an arrangement, as if they had lost the ability to react for a moment.

You know, in this harem, only the emperor, the empress and the queen mother can be the masters. As the emperor's legal wife, it is reasonable for the empress to let the concubines serve her when she is sick. But in the past, people served elders like the empress dowager, which was a kind of filial piety and respect. Moreover, the empress often declined, asking the concubines to concentrate on serving the emperor in order to gain a reputation for virtue. Even when Empress Xiaoxian lost her two sons and was almost unconscious due to her illness, the emperor did not let the concubines serve her. Now the empress is just angry, why is it the turn of all the concubines to serve her? This is simply the treatment that only the queen mother can enjoy! Although the empress is the emperor's wife, the empress dowager is the emperor's biological mother. Can their status be the same?

The concubines discussed privately, wondering why the emperor was so kind to the queen all of a sudden? Was it because the queen's illness was really so serious? Or did the emperor secretly notice something? For a while, all kinds of speculations came one after another, but no one could give a definite answer.

In fact, the emperor was also forced to do so. The Queen Mother was in poor health, so he was naturally sad; but if something happened to the Queen, the Qing Dynasty would be in danger. The emperor knew very well the grievances between the Queen and Li Qingge, as well as Li Qingge's power that could not be underestimated. Once something happened to the Queen, Li Qingge would never give up, and then the Qing Dynasty would face internal and external troubles one after another, with disastrous consequences. Therefore, the emperor had to make such a decision to show his attention and concern for the Queen.

Moreover, the emperor did not doubt that the queen was pretending to be sick. Because Xiaoyanzi's ability to provoke people was indeed unmatched by ordinary people. Her straightforward and impulsive character often touched the queen's sore spot inadvertently and made her furious. This time the queen fainted from anger, most likely because of Xiaoyanzi. Thinking of this, the emperor could not help but sigh. He was also troubled by the fight between the two women.

At this time, Madam Rong saw the right opportunity and stepped forward to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I have served the Empress for many years and know her living habits very well. Now that the Empress is seriously ill, I am willing to arrange shifts for the concubines to serve her to ensure that the Empress can get the best care." The emperor thought it made sense and agreed to Madam Rong's request.

So, Rong Mama took the chicken feather as a command and began to arrange the shifts for the concubines to serve the sick. Her sharp eyes swept over the concubines, as if she could see through their minds. Those who had a good relationship with the queen, such as Concubine Chun and Concubine Jia, were arranged to serve during the day; while those who had a distant relationship, such as Concubine Ling and Concubine Ying, were arranged to serve at night. Such an arrangement undoubtedly made Concubine Ling and others more dissatisfied and resentful.

When Concubine Ling heard that she was scheduled to be on duty in the middle of the night, her face suddenly turned livid. She knew that the concubines served the emperor at night, and if she was on duty, her green card would be withdrawn. How could she have the chance to be favored by the emperor? The fourteenth prince died again, and she had hoped to have another son to consolidate her position. Now she was busy serving the sick all day, how could she have a child? And getting up in the middle of the night to serve her enemy was simply the hardest job of all. Thinking of this, Concubine Ling couldn't help but feel an indescribable anger and unwillingness in her heart.

Other concubines like Concubine Ying and Concubine Yu, who also had a bad relationship with the Queen, were full of complaints when they first heard that they had to work the night shift. They thought they could take the opportunity to avoid the tediousness of serving the Queen and the Queen's difficulties, but they didn't expect to be assigned such a job. But when they heard that Concubine Ling was even worse and had to get up in the middle of the night to be on duty, they felt much more balanced. Although they couldn't serve the Queen in the first half of the night, at least they could go back to sleep after serving for a while, which was better than Concubine Ling. People's hearts are like this, and once compared, there is a distinction between high and low. Concubine Ying, Concubine Yu and others suddenly felt that they were not so unlucky, at least it was better than Concubine Ling.

Concubine Ling was so angry that her teeth itched, but on the surface she had to pretend to be delicate and said, "The Queen's illness is actually caused by Princess Huanzhu. Your Majesty, you also know Princess Huanzhu's temper. She makes people angry at the slightest thing. I think she should be allowed to take care of the sick for a few days, so that she can learn how to serve people." Concubine Ling's words were a bit provocative and gloating, as if she couldn't wait to see Xiaoyanzi being tortured. However, what she didn't know was that all these conspiracies and calculations would eventually come to nothing. Because in this harem, the only person who can really decide everything is the emperor. And the emperor already had his own plans and arrangements in his heart.

Xiaoyanzi, you really got yourself into trouble this time, and the queen was so angry that she fainted. The scene was so thrilling that the palace maids and eunuchs were in a panic. Some were busy asking for the imperial physician, some were busy helping the queen to calm down, and some were standing aside trembling with fear, fearing that they would be implicated in this storm.

Xiaoyanzi was also very scared. She didn't expect that her impulsiveness would lead to such consequences. She stood aside, at a loss, feeling regretful and scared. She knew that the Queen had always disliked her, and this time, a big grudge had been formed.

Everyone was wondering, why did Concubine Ling have to stay with the Queen in the middle of the night, while Xiaoyanzi could be free and easy as if nothing had happened, without any responsibility? In fact, the rules and intrigues in the harem were not easy for outsiders like them to understand. If Xiaoyanzi was really asked to serve the Queen, wouldn't the Queen be tormented by her mischievous skills? At that time, hey, that scene would be interesting, but it would also be even more out of control.

The queen was so angry that her eyes were wide open, as if they could spit fire. She thought to herself: "You want to use Xiaoyanzi to mess with me? No way! My doors and windows are all tightly closed. Let's see how you can come in and make trouble!" She lay on the bed, her face pale, but her eyes were extremely firm, as if she was ready to face any challenge.

The queen gave Rong Mama a look and she understood her intention. She stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Highness needs to recover from her illness. Princess Huanzhu is as lively as a wild horse, which may be detrimental to your recovery. It would be better to let her learn more rules in Shufangzhai and copy some scriptures to pray for you, so that the Buddha can bless you with good health."

When Qianlong heard this, he was delighted. He nodded in agreement, but secretly thought in his heart: He was not unaware of the grudge between the Queen and Xiaoyanzi. This time, letting Xiaoyanzi continue to learn the rules and pray for the Queen would not only give the Queen a way out, but also allow Xiaoyanzi to temporarily avoid the limelight, which could be said to kill two birds with one stone. So, he smiled and said, "It's a good idea. Let Xiaoyanzi continue to learn the rules and pray for the Queen. I hope she can sincerely repent, and I also hope that the Queen can recover soon."

The emperor knew clearly that the queen had long disliked Xiaoyanzi, and this fainting was probably because of her. He sighed and thought: The women in the harem would do anything to win favor and power. However, he also knew that Xiaoyanzi was an innocent child, without a mother to love her or a father to care for her, and she was alone and helpless in the harem. How could he bear to let her be bullied by the queen like this?
The Queen hated Concubine Ling so much that her teeth itched. She knew that Concubine Ling had been secretly plotting against her and wanted to take away her position as Queen. In order to disgust her, the Queen deliberately adjusted her schedule, sleeping during the day and staying awake at night, and taking medicine at night. She wanted to let Concubine Ling know that even if she fell ill, she was still the master of the harem and no one could look down on her.

It was not so bad to attend to the sick during the day, just sit there and do nothing. The maids and eunuchs only needed to change the medicine for the queen occasionally, pass her water, etc., and they could get by easily. But it was miserable to attend to the sick at night. The queen slept well during the day and was very energetic at night, so she started to make all kinds of troubles. She wanted to drink water, take medicine, and have a midnight snack. The maids and eunuchs were busy all over, but they did not dare to complain at all.

Ying Fei and Yu Fei were relatively okay. Although the Queen didn't like them, she didn't go too far. They just had to follow the rules and they could barely get by. But Ling Fei was miserable. As the "leader of villains" in the palace, she had always been a thorn in the Queen's side. This time when the Queen fell ill, she became the focus of torture by the Queen and Rong Mama.

The Queen and Rong Mama's methods of dealing with Concubine Ling were unique in the palace. They asked Concubine Ling to boil medicine, clean the room, and serve the Queen. Moreover, they deliberately changed the medicine package to bitter and smelly, which made Concubine Ling almost faint. What's more, they secretly added some strange things to the medicine, which made Concubine Ling vomit after drinking it.

There was something even more outrageous. When the queen drank the medicine, she knew that the medicine had been replaced with sugar water, but she pretended to feel bitter. She sprayed the medicine all over Concubine Ling's face, and pretended to apologize and said, "Oh, I'm so sorry, my old eyes are blurry, and I didn't see that it was sugar water. You should go and wash it quickly, so that I don't infect you with my illness."

Concubine Ling was furious, but she had to pretend to be respectful on the surface. She endured the nausea, wiped the medicine off her face with her sleeve, and whispered, "Thank you, Your Majesty." After that, she quickly retreated, fearing that the Queen would find fault with her again.

Concubine Ling was really fed up with this kind of torture. She couldn't sleep well every night, and was always woken up by the various torments of the Queen and Rong Mama. Her health was getting worse and worse, and her mind was getting more and more confused. She knew that if she continued like this, she would be tortured to death sooner or later.

One night, she walked to the Queen with medicine in her hand, and was suddenly stabbed in the back by Rong Mama. The needle made her shiver in pain, and her hand shook, and the medicine bowl fell. The medicine splashed all over her and the Queen. When the Queen saw this, she was furious. She pointed at Concubine Ling's nose and cursed: "You shameless vixen, you wanton bitch! How dare you splash the medicine on me!"

Concubine Ling was also furious. She had been holding back for so long, and finally exploded. She retorted a few words, saying, "Your Majesty, please don't go too far! I am also a human being, and I have dignity! Aren't you afraid of retribution for torturing me like this?" The Queen became even angrier when she heard this, and she shouted loudly, "Madam Rong, quickly teach this ignorant slave a lesson!"

"Yes!" Rong Mama responded, but she knew the rules of the harem. She couldn't hit her in the face, lest she be criticized. So, she used other methods to punish Concubine Ling. She asked the maids and eunuchs to pin Concubine Ling to the ground, and then whipped her hard with a whip. Concubine Ling screamed in pain, but she didn't dare to resist. She knew that the rules and intrigues in the harem were not something she could easily challenge. She could only endure it all silently and wait for her fate to turn around.

So, Rong Mama's hands, which were covered with traces of time, gently waved and used her best tricks to severely punish Concubine Ling. The punishment seemed severe, but in fact it cleverly avoided all places that would leave traces, leaving Concubine Ling with endless pain and humiliation. Tears welled up in Concubine Ling's eyes instantly, like pear blossoms knocked down by a sudden rain in spring, with a bit of beauty and helplessness. She stumbled all the way to the Yangxin Palace, her thin figure looking particularly thin in the night.

In the Yangxin Palace, the candlelight flickered, and Emperor Qianlong was reviewing memorials, his brows revealing a powerful aura without anger. As soon as Concubine Ling entered the room, she threw herself at Emperor Qianlong's feet and sobbed as she told him how the Empress had treated her harshly, her words full of grievance and sadness.