Entering the palace means entering a high position; I'm His Majesty's cousin, who am I afr

Consort Li's heart skipped a beat, and her tone involuntarily carried a hint of panic: "Did the Empress Dowager summon me?"

The summons was issued at this time.

It must be because of what happened yesterday that they came to give her a warning.

Ci Xin stepped over the shards of porcelain scattered on the ground and reached the throne, helping her up: "The Empress Dowager's ladies-in-waiting are already waiting outside. Your Highness, please change your clothes, wash up, and go see the Empress Dowager."

Consort Li knew that this trip would not end well, and she was in a state of utter confusion.

She racked her brains for a solution, but couldn't come up with a good one.

Sitting down at her dressing table, she hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "Cixin, just say that I am ill and cannot see the Empress Dowager."

That excuse is so flimsy.

He was perfectly fine when he went to the Zichen Palace this morning, but he got sick when he came back. Who would believe that?

Consort Li knew this principle, but now she was filled with irritability and only wanted to escape.

Ci Xin sighed and advised,

"Under normal circumstances, it would be fine to say this. But today, the Empress Dowager has clearly made up her mind to avenge Consort Chen, so she will not let this matter go easily."

Ultimately, it was the Zhu family who stirred up the storm. Now that they're dead, the matter is mostly over. We were just implicated. Once we get to the Empress Dowager's side, we'll lower our stance, apologize, and appease her anger, and that'll be the end of it.

If we keep hiding and avoid seeing her, it will anger the Empress Dowager, and that would be bad.

"Now in the palace, the Empress is imprisoned, and the only real masters are His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. If the Empress Dowager really takes action, I'm afraid even the Empress's position will be in jeopardy..."

The consequences were extremely serious, and Consort Li's whole body stiffened upon hearing this.

She has lost her power in the palace. If she can't even keep her rank, she will truly become a laughing stock in the palace.

She knew very well that the concubines who fawned over her were only relying on her power and status, and had no sincerity at all.

Once she falls from grace and becomes so destitute, these people will leave without mercy, and may even turn around and trample on her in order to curry favor with the new master.

Many of these concubines knew about her power-grabbing and greedy activities, and if these were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Consort Li gritted her teeth and made up her mind: "Do my hair and makeup."

She would accept whatever the Empress Dowager scolded her for a while.

She hadn't done anything seriously wrong, and the Empress Dowager couldn't keep making things difficult for her.

With this thought in mind, Consort Li calmed herself down, dressed herself up, and then took a sedan chair to Lingxingzhou.

Upon entering the palace, Consort Li knelt before Empress Dowager Shen with a sorrowful expression, saying, "Your Majesty, I greet you."

Empress Dowager Shen was reciting Buddhist scriptures with her eyes closed on the couch when she heard the sound. She stopped turning her prayer beads. "Is Consort Li here?"

"It is your concubine." When Consort Li heard her call her name, her heart jumped again, and she immediately became weak. "This morning, your concubine went to apologize to His Majesty. His Majesty rebuked your concubine for being foolish. After hearing this, your concubine felt ashamed and realized that what happened yesterday was all your concubine's fault. It was truly unfair to Consort Chen..."

As she spoke, Consort Li wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, looking extremely remorseful and regretful.

This strategic retreat makes it difficult to say anything about her.

Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager didn't even raise her eyelids when she heard this. She simply said indifferently, "I have never interfered in matters of the inner palace, nor do I wish to. Since His Majesty has made his decision, then so be it. I do not wish to be a busybody and cause trouble."

These words took Consort Li by surprise.

She originally thought that the Empress Dowager had come to punish her because of Consort Chen.

Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager had this attitude.

Not interfering in the harem?

Why was she summoned?

Consort Li had a feeling something was wrong; this matter couldn't be that simple.

She lowered her gaze and asked respectfully, "Did Her Majesty the Empress Dowager summon me here today for any specific instructions?"

Empress Dowager Shen placed the Buddhist prayer beads on a sandalwood table beside her, glanced at Consort Li with her eyes raised, and sighed, "Over the years, as I've grown older, I've longed for a quiet life, to worship Buddha, calm my mind, and cultivate my character. Things have been going smoothly and peacefully for me. But recently, my health has deteriorated, and I'm unable to continue my Buddhist practice. So I've been thinking of finding someone trustworthy to help me."

Consort Li's premonition grew increasingly ominous, and a thought flashed through her mind: "So, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has chosen me?"

Empress Dowager Shen nodded slowly, her eyes gentle and loving: "Yes. Currently, the Empress is recuperating in the palace, while Consort Hui and Consort Lan are taking care of the two princes. I had considered having Yu'er come over, but... I heard her say today that His Majesty has given her a position in the Shanggong Bureau, so she'll probably be extremely busy from now on. Among the remaining concubines, I don't know any of the younger ones and I don't trust them. After thinking it over, the only one in the palace who is both relaxed and reliable is you."

These words nearly made Consort Li vomit blood.

Consort Chen is busy with her duties at the Shanggong Bureau.

That was originally her palace power!

The Empress Dowager was clearly mocking her, but the Empress Dowager was the Emperor's birth mother, the most honored woman in the palace and even the whole country, and she had no way to disobey or refute her.

Consort Li could only swallow her anger and say, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is right. It's just that I am ignorant and don't know much about Buddhist rituals and spiritual practices. I'm afraid I won't do it well and will offend the Buddhas."

She did not refuse directly, but instead said that she was not capable enough, and tactfully suggested that the Empress Dowager find someone else.

Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Shen said, "Whether you know it or not doesn't matter. The most important thing in worshipping Buddha is to have a sincere heart. I know you are always the most considerate and filial child. You won't let me down, will you?"

Consort Li's heart tightened.

This matter is indeed not that simple.

Regarding the incident at Wangyue Tower yesterday, the Empress Dowager only said that she would follow His Majesty's decision and would not interfere in the inner palace.

But now they're using filial piety to force her to worship Buddha. It's just a different pretext!

Ultimately, it was all for Consort Chen.

But ironically, this title leaves no room for anyone to refute or object.

Da Jing governs the world with filial piety.

Leaving aside the common people, even among the royal family, which one of them didn't show the Empress Dowager the utmost respect? Regardless of His Majesty, even the princes and dukes regularly came to the palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.

In fact, serving the Empress Dowager was considered a great honor.

Everyone who knows this will envy her!

Consort Li had no way to express her suffering.

She knew this too, and there was no way to refuse, so she could only say, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I will do my best."

Empress Dowager Shen nodded in satisfaction and gave a wink to Li, the old nanny beside her.

Understanding, Granny Li immediately helped Consort Li up, saying, "Your Highness, please come with me."

Consort Li forced a smile and followed her out of the main hall.

Following the guidance of Granny Li, Consort Li passed through the covered corridor, bypassed the flower garden, and arrived at a secluded side hall.

Granny Li explained, "This is the small Buddhist hall on Lingxing Island. In previous years, the Empress Dowager would worship Buddha here."

Consort Li looked around the hall; the furnishings were simple and serene, with a solemn and dignified golden Buddha statue in the center. She couldn't help but ask, "I wonder what Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has instructed me to do by offering prayers to the Buddha?"

Granny Li laughed and said, "It's nothing serious. It's just copying scriptures and reciting them a hundred times a day, that's all."

Consort Li's tense nerves finally relaxed.

But after a short while, she looked at the long pear wood table in front of the Buddha and a hint of doubt appeared on her face: "Granny, why is there nowhere to sit?"

Granny Li explained, "The Empress Dowager said that only with a sincere heart can one copy the true scriptures. Your Majesty also said earlier that you know nothing about Buddhist rituals. Therefore, only by kneeling and copying can one truly express one's piety. Otherwise, Buddha will be displeased."

Upon hearing this, Consort Li turned pale.

Kneeling to copy?

How could her knees withstand it?

As if she hadn't noticed her expression, Granny Li called out, "Someone, bring Consort Li a prayer mat."

Immediately, a palace servant presented a thin prayer mat and placed it on the table.

Granny Li smiled and said, "Your Highness, please."

Consort Li clutched her handkerchief, remaining motionless for a long time.

Li Mama's smile turned cold: "Consort Li, do you harbor some resentment towards the Empress Dowager? You can't even muster this much filial piety?"

The reprimand brought Consort Li back to her senses. She swallowed the dryness and pain in her throat and said with difficulty, "You're overthinking it, Granny. How could I possibly have such thoughts?"

After speaking, Consort Li took a deep breath, slowly knelt before the long table, and picked up the pen with trembling hands.