C21 The Storm Was Coming

Although the empress dowager was ill and was resting in the Benevolence Palace and did not come out all year round, she was truly in charge of the harem.

If she wanted to gain a foothold in the harem, she would have to protect herself.

Apart from relying on herself, she also needed the empress dowager's support.

Yun Zhiyu was well aware of this. As the head of the six palaces, she was the first to go.

After entering the Benevolence Palace, Wet Nurse Lee lifted the curtain and saw the empress dowager lying on the bed inside, coughing slightly.

"Greetings, Empress Dowager." Yun Zhiyu bowed and slowly helped the empress dowager up.

Seeing that she had arrived, the Empress Dowager smiled weakly, but there was a sense of alienation in her smile. "The Empress is here. Has the palace been peaceful recently?"

"Cough, cough."

She patted the Empress Dowager's back and said gently, "It's still peaceful. The sisters in the palace are getting along well."

Seeing that the room was still lit with incense, she reminded Wet Nurse Lee in a low voice, "Wet Nurse Lee, this incense is not good for the Empress Dowager to cough. You should put it out."

Seeing that she was so attentive, the empress dowager's eyes revealed a trace of admiration.

She was a child who could be reminded. It would be beneficial for her to stay by the emperor's side.

Her Majesty's gaze softened as she thought of King Chinan, the father of the Empress who guarded the border. King Chinan had always been loyal to Monan.

She didn't expect that not only did the daughter he raised have an outstanding appearance, but she also didn't behave like an ordinary general's daughter. She was vulgar and despicable. Instead, she was as meticulous as a needle and dignified and polite.

At this moment, the more she looked at Yun Zhiyu, the more satisfied she became.

As the two of them chatted, the other consorts had also arrived.

They greeted each other one by one, and the quiet room became lively.

Concubine Ren, who was dressed in a rose-red palace dress, was radiant. She glanced at Yun Zhiyu, who was dressed in a plain white dress, and smiled sarcastically.

"The Empress is really filial. She came to visit the Empress Dowager so early in the morning."

After a pause, she quietly looked at Wet Nurse Lee, who was standing next to the empress dowager, and continued, "Well, I also wanted to come over early this morning to pay my respects to the empress dowager, but who would have thought that the one from the Cold Palace last night would cry all night, making my scalp go numb. I wonder if the empress dowager heard anything from here?"

In a word, the Empress was praised for her filial piety, but the Empress was demoted for disturbing Her Majesty's rest in the early morning.

Hearing this, Yun Zhiyu's heart skipped a beat. She had been so tired last night that she had fallen into a deep sleep. She did not even hear the cries of the Palace Woman Ann from the Cold Palace throughout the night.

However, just as she was about to save Palace Woman Ann from the cold palace, Palace Woman Ann shouted loudly last night. If Chi Hongze were to notice that she was the one who secretly saved Palace Woman Ann, with his suspicious personality, he would definitely think too much...

She would not be the only one who would be implicated. Her father would be implicated as well.

The previous dynasty and the imperial harem had always been inextricably linked!

She calmed her mind and looked at the arrogant Concubine Ren.

Her gaze turned and landed on Noble Consort Hui at the side.

Although Concubine Ren was arrogant and despotic, she did not have much of a brain. Previously, she had even fought with Palace Woman Ann openly and secretly.

Thinking about it this way, Noble Consort Hui must have found out that she had gone to the Cold Palace to see Palace Woman Ann. She must have done something behind her back and deliberately leaked the news to Concubine Ren, causing her to be the first to stand out and oppose her.

Noble Consort Hui was a good fisherman!

The empress dowager glanced at Concubine Ren and said with displeasure, "Let's talk about some interesting things today. Don't talk about some unlucky things."

Noble Consort Hui said a few more words, causing the empress dowager's smile to relax.

"Ya, Worthy Lady Lan, why isn't your sister here today?"

Among the concubines, it was unknown who said this, but the empress dowager did not mind, "Perhaps she was delayed by something. When she comes, there is no need to blame her."

The room was full of laughter, and the consorts were all telling funny stories to amuse the empress dowager.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a palace maid rush in and whisper a few words into Concubine Ren's ear. Concubine Ren's expression suddenly changed, and she quietly walked out alone.

"I'm afraid the Empress is worried about Worthy Lady Lan."

Noble Consort Hui revealed a strange smile.

Yun Zhiyu suddenly felt a sense of danger in her heart and hurriedly bowed to the empress dowager, "Mother, I am not feeling well. I will come and visit you another day."

The empress dowager gave her a few words of concern before letting her go.

Seeing her leave in a hurry, the smile on Noble Consort Hui's face became wider and wider.

After making a trip to the Bright Moon Court, Worthy Lady Lan quietly told her that she was pregnant and that she didn't go to the Benevolence Palace because she was so sick. She heaved a sigh of relief.

He repeatedly told Worthy Lady Lan not to leak the news of her pregnancy. In the evening, he saw that there was nothing unusual in the Bright Moon Court.

Taking advantage of the darkness, she went to the Cold Palace alone.

Although Palace Woman Ann had recovered from her madness, she was curled up in the corner of the room with her messy hair.

Hearing that someone had entered, her eyes immediately lit up.

"Empress, can I leave the Cold Palace now?"

She hurriedly stood up and rushed in front of Yun Zhiyu.

Yun Zhiyu sneered, but her gaze was as cold as ice. "Speak! What exactly do you want to do?!"

Palace Woman Ann was confused and took a step back in fear.

"Chenqie... What did you do?"

"I was kind enough to save you, but last night, you cried and cried the entire night, attracting the attention of the entire harem!"

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Palace Woman Ann, "You want me to frame you after saving you!"

Palace Woman Ann's face turned pale as she took a step back, "Chenqie... Chenqie is afraid that once we leave the Cold Palace, if the Empress wants to kill me, it will be easier than killing an ant, so..."

"That's why you thought of this method to alert the people in the palace, and even attract the attention of the Emperor!"

"I'm afraid that if I really save you from the Cold Palace, you will turn the tables on the Emperor and collude with Noble Consort Hui. Then, you will ruthlessly suppress and frame me!"

"As for your previous framing, I will let bygones be bygones. This is not an excuse for you to push your luck!"

"If I really wanted to hurt you, I could have done it while you were out of your mind. Why would I need to save you?"

Yun Zhiyu pressed forward step by step and asked angrily, forcing Palace Woman Ann to kneel helplessly on the ground.

"It's Noble Consort Hui... After the Empress left, Noble Consort Hui came to find me. She said that the empress dowager had been unwell recently, and if I cried all night, it would definitely cause the empress dowager's head injury to relapse, which would cause the empress dowager to pity me and let me out of the cold palace... "

" Humph! "

Facing the cold face of the Empress, Palace Woman Ann's heart turned cold. She suddenly threw herself over, pulled out her hairpin, and shouted out in a shrill voice.

"Empress, I was wrong. Please save me from the Cold Palace, Empress. It's better for me to stay in the Chamber of Commerce as a maid than to stay here and die."

The golden hairpin quickly cut his face and blood started to flow out.

The face had been cut into a bloody mess and it was hard to tell what it looked like.

Yun Zhiyu's eyes were filled with shock. "You..."

"Please save me, Empress. I am willing to serve you for the rest of my life."

Seeing Palace Woman Ann like this, she thought of the days she spent in the Cold Palace in her previous life. A trace of sympathy rose in her heart, and she said, "I'll believe you one last time."

Dadada ~ ~ ~

A series of hurried footsteps sounded from outside the Cold Palace.

Before he could see who it was, he heard Lianye's anxious voice.

"Empress, something happened to Worthy Lady Lan!"