The wicked imperial concubine is courting death again; the comments section teaches her how to win w

Harassment?

Ning Nishang was taken aback by the question, "The prince... he's alright, he just occasionally sends people over with things."

It's actually far more fanatical than that.

Since that incident, Lu Linbai has been coming to the Qi family every few days under various pretexts—to play chess, enjoy tea, and admire flowers—but in reality, he is just trying to meet her.

Even if Ning Nishang goes out for a stroll, she might just "bump into" him.

There were some things she hadn't even taken a liking to, but after just glancing at them a couple of times, they were delivered to her door the next day. Now, Ning Nishang doesn't dare to look at things randomly anymore.

If it weren't for his second cousin's wife giving birth and being unable to entertain outside men these past two days, he probably would have run into Tangtang.

Ning Nishang couldn't even imagine what that scene would be like.

"Don't worry, Tangtang, I remember you said you wouldn't forgive him easily."

Seeing that Ning Nishang was not easily fooled, Qi Yitang nodded in satisfaction, "That's right, that's how it should be! He made you wait for more than three hours that day, you absolutely cannot let it go so easily and make yourself seem easy to bully."

"Even if he apologizes now and is in a good mood, you should give him some space. Men are all pretty much the same; they have bad tempers and don't cherish what they get easily."

When the time comes, the white moonlight will turn into a grain of rice, the cinnabar mole will become a mosquito bite, and you'll still be trapped in it all, with nowhere to cry.

Her words brought a slight smile to Ning Nishang's lips, and she reached out to pat Qi Yitang's head.

"Okay, I've got it. You and His Majesty take good care of yourselves, don't worry about things at home."

"If the two of you are doing well, what need do you have for villains and princes?"

[The Emperor's Wrath.jpg]

……

Back at Yaotang Palace, Qi Yitang placed the two brocade boxes she had brought back from the Qi family on the table.

One large and one small, placed side by side.

The larger one was a gift from her fourth brother. She didn't need to look to know what was inside, after all, he wasn't a respectable person.

For her coming-of-age ceremony, he secretly gave her a jade... thing, saying that after they got married, her husband might not be able to perform, so it might come in handy. If she didn't need it, she could keep it as a collectible. He had it custom-made at a high price, and it was quite exquisite.

Tell me, is this something a normal older brother would give to his younger sister?

That's pure perversion.

However, Qi Yitang, being from the same stinky ditch as him, gladly accepted it.

But she really couldn't use that thing, so it was put away and stored away. Later, it was moved into the palace, and now it's probably thrown away somewhere out there.

This one probably won't be any better. Qi Yitang peeked through the crack and quickly destroyed the note inside.

How frivolous!

When you open the smaller one, you'll find a delicate safety buckle lying quietly inside.

The jade is warm and lustrous, and the carving is exquisite. The most pleasing part is the lifelike little snake coiled with gold wire, wrapped around a ring. The snake's head is slightly raised, with a proud posture, and it gleams with a lively light under the candlelight.

Qi Yitang was born in the Year of the Snake, and she fell in love with him at first sight.

She held the safety buckle in her palm, turning it over and over to look at it, her eyes sparkling with joy, before finally instructing the palace servants to put it away properly.

Xie Ling saw this and his expression darkened.

Xie Jingyu is all dead and poses no threat, so why are you now wary of women?

……

In mid-October, Shengjing experienced several rain showers, and the chill in the air deepened.

Meanwhile, news of Zhang Zhuo and his men's victory arrived: the remaining Northern Rong forces had been wiped out, those who wished to submit were incorporated into the Great Qian Dynasty, and those who rebelled were killed on the spot.

The army is now temporarily encamped, awaiting the emperor's instructions.

Although the Northern Rong have been destroyed, there are still small vassal states in the surrounding area, requiring generals to be stationed and guarded.

Qi Yitang had only heard a few bits and pieces of these court affairs, and she was now somewhat worried about the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager fell ill on the day the Qin family was exiled and has not recovered since.

Qi Yitang had considered taking care of the Empress Dowager, as she would at least fulfill her duty as a daughter-in-law, but Xie Changqing said that the Empress Dowager was not in good condition and advised her not to go and risk bad luck for the time being.

Now that some time has passed, thinking that the Empress Dowager's emotions should have calmed down a bit, Xie Ling and Xie Ling discussed going to Cining Palace to pay their respects together.

Xie Ling nodded.

The Cining Palace was silent. Qi Yitang and Xie Ling went in without being announced.

The smell of medicine was even stronger inside, carrying an indescribable sense of despondency.

Behind the sandalwood screen inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Xie Changqing's voice came, "Mother, this is today's medicine. I will feed it to you. Please drink it and rest well."

"Cough cough..." The Empress Dowager coughed a few times, her voice hoarse. "Changqing, do you think I've done something wrong?"

Xie Changqing paused for a moment, then said, "Mother, you are not wrong."

"It was my uncle who harbored rebellious intentions, disregarded the Emperor's grace, and brought about his own destruction. This has nothing to do with you."

The Empress Dowager burst into tears on the spot, "But what wrong did your maternal grandparents do? At their advanced age, they should have been enjoying their grandchildren and living out their golden years, but instead they ended up hanging themselves... And Shaoxuan, he was only ten years old..."

Her fingers, gripping the corner of the blanket, were bulging with veins, almost as if she were weeping blood. "If only... I hadn't given birth to the emperor, or had helped you ascend the throne, things wouldn't have come to this—"

[My goodness! How dare they say such things so openly? Empress Dowager, you should sit at the same table as a paramecium!]

Xie Changqing's expression immediately changed, and he said anxiously, "Mother, why are you saying such things again!"

This is why Xie Changqing personally took care of the Empress Dowager and dared not let outsiders interfere.

If others were to overhear such words, and they were to reach the ears of the Emperor, what would become of them?

Caught in the middle, Xie Changqing was completely at a loss. "Mother, I am simply not cut out to be emperor, and I have never even dreamed of the throne—I beg you, my brother already dislikes me, so please stop trying to sow discord between us brothers..."

Besides, how can one allow others to snore beside one's bed?

Even if he were to become emperor, could he tolerate his uncle's repeated provocations and countless evil deeds?

Xie Changqing felt he couldn't tolerate even a little bit.

The Empress Dowager's face turned ashen, and the disappointment in her eyes was so deep it was almost overflowing. How could she have given birth to such a foolish son?

"Changqing, your mother is devoted to you... how can you not understand her good intentions at all?"

"Mmm, I know," Xie Changqing nodded haphazardly, holding the medicine bowl to her lips. "Mother, you're tired. Please drink your medicine first, okay?"

He forced the Empress Dowager to swallow a small bowl of bitter medicine, which she did with a frown.

Just as she was about to say something more, her gaze suddenly swept over Xie Changqing's shoulder, her eyes sharpening, "You still have the nerve to come—"

Xie Changqing turned around and saw Xie Ling and Qi Yitang walking in side by side, and his expression immediately changed.

When did Your Majesty arrive?

How much of what you just said did you hear?

Heavens above! If my brother were to believe that I truly harbored designs on the throne, I would be in deep trouble, no matter how hard I tried.

Xie Ling: "Your Majesty is too kind. You are unwell, so what is there to be embarrassed about, as your son, coming to visit you?"

The Empress Dowager coughed violently, her chest heaving. "Cough cough... When my son and I were in decline, it was your uncle who donned armor and fought bloody battles to preserve the honor of the Qin family."

"My brother has made a thousand faults, Your Majesty, why can't you turn a blind eye instead of driving him to extinction?"

"How could I have given birth to such an ungrateful wretch!"

The charcoal fire inside the hall was burning extremely brightly, yet it seemed to have frozen into a thin layer of ice at that moment.

Faced with the Empress Dowager's hysterical cries and questioning, Xie Ling's lips remained straight.

"What an ingrate! Your Majesty, ask yourself, how many outrageous things has Qin Zhenxiong done over the years? Haven't I turned a blind eye to them enough?"

His voice was indifferent, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, as if he were talking about something completely unrelated to himself.

"When I was twelve, my father sent me to the Northwest for training. My father thought that Qin Zhenxiong was my maternal uncle, and he would take good care of me and teach me more diligently. Everyone thought so—including myself."

"But that time, I almost died in the Northwest..."

Qi Yitang's heart tightened. Xie Ling almost died. What happened?