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

The Empress Dowager didn't not want to, but... dared not.

Although she was the emperor's birth mother and the head of the harem, and dealing with concubines was a piece of cake for her, the empress dowager really didn't dare to take action. They had underestimated Qi Yitang's importance in the emperor's heart.

The emperor's feelings for her far exceeded those of a mother and son, or brothers.

Despite being confined to her quarters, Qi Yitang was more at ease than anyone else, always disguising herself as a eunuch or palace maid to secretly meet with the emperor, all lovey-dovey and affectionate...

The Empress Dowager wasn't unaware of these things; she simply turned a blind eye.

He himself punished Qi Yitang by "confining her to the house," and then regretted it, so he has no one to blame but himself.

If I were to interfere and force Qi Yitang to go to the Cold Palace, the Emperor would definitely go mad.

Thinking back to that year...

He said he wanted to marry Qi Yitang, but she didn't agree, and the two had a big fight, neither willing to give in.

She was doing it all for his own good. At that time, he was just a prince, and his power was unstable. He couldn't be too immersed in love, which was his weakness and flaw.

But Xie Ling seemed to have gone mad, and directly used candlelight to set the curtains ablaze, igniting a raging fire in the palace.

He said that if he couldn't marry Qi Yitang, the throne was worthless to him, and since there was no point in living anyway, he wanted her to die there with Changqing, to be buried with his dead love.

A madman! A complete and utter madman!

The Empress Dowager was so frightened that her expression became chaotic. She grabbed Xie Changqing and ran outside. When she turned around, she could still see Xie Ling's cold and ruthless eyes, which were like a leech.

It was as if they were not his own flesh and blood, but enemies who were preventing him from being with his lover.

—Even though Qi Yitang never even glanced at him back then.

Not giving up until the goal is achieved, what else can you call that but madness?

The Empress Dowager was truly frightened.

So after he ascended the throne, he forcibly married Qi Yitang as his concubine and favored her exclusively for two years. He violated many taboos, but the Empress Dowager only occasionally nagged him and never really interfered.

Even now, thinking about it still makes me feel lingering fear.

The Empress Dowager said sternly, "Yue'er, the Emperor will make his own decision regarding Qi Yitang's matter. You are not allowed to have any ulterior motives."

"Otherwise, even I cannot protect you!"

A hint of resentment flashed in Qin Lianyue's eyes. "Aunt, things have already escalated to this point. You know Father's temperament; if we don't punish Qi Yitang, he will absolutely not compromise. Qi Yitang is the quickest way to break through..."

But the Empress Dowager seemed determined and refused to agree no matter how much Qin Lianyue pleaded.

Helpless and disappointed, Qin Lianyue returned to the palace.

But before she could come up with any other solution, a major piece of news spread outside the palace the next day.

It is said that Qi Yitang's fourth brother and Qin Shaoxuan, the young master of the Chengen Duke's Mansion, got into a fight on Zhuque Street, which escalated to the point of reaching the Emperor's court.

The specific reason is unknown, but it is said to be for a girl.

Qin Lianyue almost clapped her hands in approval. At this critical moment, Qi Yitang's family was so troublesome; heaven was going to kill her!

An investigation revealed that Qin Shaoxuan had run into Qi Jiyun in the market. Seeing that Qi Jiyun's maid was tall and burly, he inadvertently said some unpleasant things.

Qi Jiyun immediately exploded and took action, beating Qin Shaoxuan so badly that he walked straight out the door and back sideways.

Although Qin Lianyue felt sorry for her younger brother, she was not entirely without reason for being beaten up this time because she was able to bring Qi Yitang down.

As expected, upon hearing this, the late Duke Cheng'en went to the palace that very night. The next day, ministers submitted a memorial impeaching the Qi family for failing to live up to the emperor's favor and pleading with the emperor to punish them severely.

The emperor did not attend the morning court session on the second day.

He simply ordered Qi Jiyun to be arrested and imprisoned, but no further action was taken for the time being.

But everyone knows that this is the limit. The Qi family is in such a mess, making mistakes every few days. Even an emperor cannot ignore the opinions of the people.

Inside the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager was extremely agitated.

If it were just Qi Yitang, that would be one thing, but why is her brother causing trouble at this time? Can't he just behave himself?

Remembering Qin Lianyue's suggestion, the Empress Dowager had no choice but to summon Qi Yitang to Cining Palace.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty enjoy endless happiness and longevity."

After being confined for half a month, Qi Yitang appeared calm, reserved, and much more well-behaved when she came out again.

The Empress Dowager cut to the chase, "Consort Qi, are you aware that your fourth brother beat Xuan'er so badly in broad daylight that he can't get out of bed?"

Qi Yitang seemed shocked, "Impossible, how could Fourth Brother..."

"The current turmoil in the court is all because of your Qi family. Do you know how to quell it?" the Empress Dowager asked.

Qi Yitang lowered her eyes, "Mother, I am but a woman confined to the palace for a long time, and I do not understand these things..."

The Empress Dowager knew that she wasn't very bright, so she spoke frankly, "Your fourth brother's matter is ultimately just a quarrel. The military situation in the Northwest is the real issue of national importance. Because of the rift between you and Consort Li, General Qin is now unwilling to fight with all his might. The war in the Northwest is at a stalemate, and the Emperor is also in a dilemma... I believe you should know what's important."

Qin Lianyue smiled and said, "Sister Qi, as long as you suffer some injustice, your fourth brother's matter will not be investigated, and my father will wholeheartedly help His Majesty to sweep away the Northern Rong."

Qi Yitang remained silent for a long time.

After a long pause, she sobbed, "It's all my fault. I've put Your Majesty in a difficult position. I'm not worthy of being a Noble Consort..."

"In that case, I will bear full responsibility for the mistakes of myself and my family..."

Qi Yitang cried even harder, "I'm afraid only in the next life can I continue my relationship with His Majesty!"

After saying that, she pulled the hairpin off her head and was about to stab it into her neck.

"Quickly, have someone stop her!" The Empress Dowager's eyes were bloodshot.

Sending someone to the cold palace is one thing; once things calm down, the emperor can always find a reason to get them out. But if someone gets their throat slit while they're in her palace, then it's all over.

Xie Changqing was also there. Seeing Qi Yitang about to commit suicide, he felt his head buzz, as if half of his soul had left his body. "!"

Although he disliked Qi Yitang, he knew better than anyone that Qi Yitang was his elder brother's lifeblood.

She absolutely cannot die.

If she dies, my brother will absolutely go mad, absolutely!

The entire Cining Palace was in chaos. Xie Changqing, along with other eunuchs and palace maids, finally managed to subdue Qi Yitang and throw the hairpin far away.

"Don't stop me, just let me die!" Qi Yitang was still struggling and crying.

Qin Lianyue only regretted that she was so slow, wondering if she really wanted to die.

Just then, a palace maid rushed in from outside the hall, "Your Majesty, I have something extremely urgent to report!"

The Empress Dowager suppressed her patience and said, "Speak."

The palace maid glanced at Qin Lianyue, then, as if she were going to make a desperate decision, declared, "This servant will accuse Consort Li of adultery and defiling the inner palace; her crime is unforgivable!"