After the rebellion was successful, I realized that this place was the Red Mansion

Chapter 10 Empress Zhang

"My Lady, My Lady, it's five in the morning, you should get up."

The palace maid Luyan stood outside the red gauze tent and gently called out to the queen who was sleeping on the bed.

She called out twice before a voice came from inside: "Go tell the Queen Mother and the old concubine that I am sick today and will not go to pay my respects to them."

Lu Yan was slightly stunned, then agreed, "Yes, Madam, would you like me to call the imperial physician?"

"No need. I just need to rest for half a day. You can go out now. If anyone comes, please reply a few words to send them away."

After a moment's silence, the Empress continued, "Even if the Emperor comes, this is no exception."

Luyan was very surprised!

In her opinion, the Queen and His Majesty usually treated each other with respect and never had a quarrel, and His Majesty had never scolded the Queen. How could the Queen be sick today and say that His Majesty was not allowed to visit her?

Luyan thought about what happened last night.

The Empress went to the Imperial Study and came out with a bad look on her face. Returning to Kunning Palace, she sat there for half a day and only took a rest after the palace maids persuaded her several times.

I guess he had an argument with the emperor in the imperial study last night.

"Yes, Madam." Luyan agreed and was about to leave when she heard Madam say, "Forget it. The Emperor or the Empress Dowager will come. You can call me again."

Lu Yan responded, walked out of the Queen's bedroom, and sent someone to tell the Queen Mother and the old concubine that the Queen was ill and could not go to pay her respects.

After returning to the Empress's bedroom and waiting outside, Lu Yan's mind was full of random thoughts. She was suspicious of the Empress's strange behavior today, and was also worried about the bandits outside the city.

At noon, more than 20 concubines from the harem, including Imperial Noble Consort Yang, Noble Consort Wu, Virtuous Consort Jia, Shu Consort Wu, Hui Consort Song, and Noble Lady Zhou, came to Kunning Palace together to pay their respects to the Empress and inquire about her condition.

The concubines gathered together. Lu Yan hesitated for a moment, but still tiptoed into the queen's bedroom and called softly:
"Miss."

Seeing that the Queen did not respond for a long time, he guessed that the Queen had fallen asleep again, so he walked out quietly and sent all the concubines away in the name of the Queen.

Before leaving, Luyan saw the virtuous concubine Jia Yuanchun, looked back at her with a worried look on her face.

Lu Yan didn't know what the virtuous concubine meant, so she ignored her and continued to wait outside the empress's bedroom.

It was not until the sun was high in the sky that Luyan heard the queen's voice calling from inside.

She and two palace maids walked in and saw that the empress had already gotten up and was sitting alone in front of the dressing mirror. The empress, who was usually dignified and majestic, now had her long, smooth black hair loose and looked listless.

But even so, the Queen is the queen, the mother of the country, and has a graceful and beautiful appearance. At this moment, sitting in front of the dressing mirror in her pajamas, the Queen looks even more charming.

"Have they been here?"

Queen Zhang asked.

Lu Yan quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Noble Consort, the Imperial Noble Consort, the Virtuous Consort, and others have all come to visit you. Seeing that you haven't woken up yet, I sent them away and will come back to visit you in the afternoon."

After waiting for a while, seeing that the queen did not speak, Lu Yan said again: "My queen, I will call someone to wash you."

So the eunuchs and maids in Kunning Palace became busy.

Half an hour later, the seven princes and princesses of Emperor Yongning arrived and paid their respects to their mother.

Lu Yan saw that Princess Qinghe had also come. She was the daughter of the retired emperor and the only unmarried daughter of the retired emperor. She was engaged and was originally going to get married next month.

"Your son greets your mother."

The young princes and princesses knelt down on the prayer mats and kowtowed obediently.

Princess Qinghe also stepped forward to pay her respects, looking at her with bright eyes: "Is your health better, sister-in-law?"

When she saw Qinghe, Empress Zhang's bright and dignified face showed a slight smile. She asked her to sit next to her. She was very fond of this gentle and well-behaved sister-in-law.

According to Shun Dynasty regulations, the emperor's daughters were called princesses, his sisters were called princesses, and his aunts were called princesses of the 11th century. Therefore, Chen Yuzhen, who was to marry next month, was given the title Qinghe, the 17th in line, also known as the 17th princess. The daughters of Emperor Yongning were known as Princess Hanyang, Princess Huainan, and so on.

After chatting with them for a while, Empress Zhang saw that the princes and princesses all looked uneasy, so she comforted her children and fulfilled her responsibilities as a legitimate mother.

"Royal sister-in-law."

Princess Qinghe's pretty face showed a hint of panic as she whispered, "Will the thief king Chu Yan attack the city in three days?"

Empress Zhang's heart tightened and she looked at them. If the enemy army entered the city, none of the three young princes would survive. The four princesses might still have a chance to survive. The bandit king Chu Yan would let the palace servants raise them, and then give them, as princesses of the previous dynasty, to his ministers.

As for Princess Qinghe, she was originally going to get married next month, and her husband was the son of Marquis Anyuan. If the imperial city could hold out until next month, she could still escape the disaster and share life and death with her husband and his family.

But if Qinghe can't wait until next month, she might be noticed by the thief king and forcibly taken into the harem.

According to the records in the history books she had read, Qinghe... might be granted the title of concubine. For example, one of the concubines taken in by Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty was from the Sui Dynasty.

Or perhaps, Qinghe would be rewarded to King Qian's subordinates as a slave or concubine.

Whether they will be good or bad in the future depends entirely on the decision of King Qian!
"Don't worry too much, Qinghe."

Even as she thought about all sorts of bad things, Empress Zhang smiled softly and comforted her: "Your brother will find a way. Rest well when you return home and learn to respect your parents-in-law from the maids in the palace. When you get married next month, the Empress will prepare a generous dowry for you."

Qinghe frowned for a while before slowly relaxing his brows. He smiled at her and said, "Qinghe thanks the Emperor's sister-in-law."

"Go, all of you, go back. Although the situation is tense right now, don't forget your daily homework."

"Yes, Queen Mother!"

The princes and princesses stood up, bowed, and left in order.

Looking at them, Empress Zhang slowly put away her smile and made a decision in her heart.

Everyone is afraid of death, and she is just trying to find a way to survive.

……

In the afternoon, Imperial Noble Consort Yang, Noble Consort Wu, Virtuous Consort Jia, Shu Consort Wu, Hui Consort Song and other concubines gathered in Kunning Palace again to pay their respects and visit the Empress.

Empress Zhang chatted with them for a while, mentioned the bandit Chu Yan, and then issued an order: "The enemy army has besieged the city, causing unrest both inside and outside. All palaces must be strictly guarded and have eunuchs on duty to guard them. All palace affairs must be reported to me by the eunuchs on duty."

The concubines did not dare to disobey, and all stood up and saluted, obeying the Queen's order.

After ordering them to return, Empress Zhang called Lu Yan into the warm room alone. She looked at her for a while before asking, "Lu Yan, how many years have you followed me?"

"My lady, it's been ten years."

"There's something important going on right now. Are you willing to do it for me?"

"My lady, please give me your orders!"

Luyan knelt down, feeling nervous, not knowing what the big thing the queen was talking about.

"Okay." Empress Zhang said coldly, ordering her to stand up. "Eunuchs on duty in each palace, go pick out a few untrustworthy people and tell them to prepare three feet of white cloth for later use."

Lu Yan was shocked and looked at the Queen in horror, but saw that the Queen had a resolute expression.

"Remember, I'm picking a few people who are not very trustworthy. Don't make any mistakes. Tell them exactly what I said, and don't say anything else."

"...Yes, my lady, I know what to do!"

Lu Yan had been in the palace for many years and was naturally not a person without vision. After she was shocked, she quickly figured out everything and knew why the queen sat there for a long time last night.

The Emperor...seems to be planning to commit suicide by burning himself or hanging himself to die for his country!
(End of this chapter)