RPAGF Chapter 108 Vicious Rumors
Chapter 108 Vicious Rumors
The weather was getting colder. With a stroke of his pen, the emperor approved the memorial submitted by the Ministry of Rites as per the rules, and the clothing of the harem and court officials began to change to a unified style for the new season.
The changes in the palace are not only about changing clothes with the seasons, but also about some rumors that have been circulating in the palace in recent days.
At first, it seemed that only the palace maids and eunuchs were spreading the gossip, but as time went on, even the concubines began to spread the gossip in vivid detail.
"Your Majesty, when I went to the Clothing Bureau today, I heard some very annoying gossip. Moreover, these gossips have been spread behind our backs for a long time!"
Shijin puffed up his cheeks and frowned, obviously very angry.
The queen was copying the Diamond Sutra. If it were in the past, Shi Jin would never have disturbed her, but now no one cared about her. She was so angry that her lungs were about to explode!
"Haven't you heard enough rumors? How can they make you so angry?" The queen slightly raised her pen, shook her head and smiled.
"It's all about that Concubine Jin!" Shi Jin said angrily, "It's been rumored in the palace recently that Concubine Jin is both virtuous and talented, with extraordinary talent and beauty. She was able to invent the saddle and stirrup, and relieved the emperor's worries. She is highly valued by the emperor. In the future..."
Although Shijin has begun to like Shen Zhiyao, the Queen is his real master after all. If he violates the Queen's interests, Shijin can turn against him at any time!
Shijin hesitated for a moment, and seeing that the queen looked fine, he continued, "It is said that in the future the emperor might...maybe he will depose the current queen...and appoint a new one..."
After Shijin finished speaking, he realized that he had violated a taboo and immediately knelt on the ground.
"Get up! I am not afraid of these things...just think they are just rumors. Shijin, although you have followed me for many years, you still act like a child sometimes." The queen shook her head helplessly.
"Empress, don't you think that this rumor is too much? How can people tolerate it?" Shi Jin said angrily.
"If it's not excessive, would people in the palace have the energy to spread it so enthusiastically? Although I haven't heard it with my own ears, I can smell that there is a hint of old age in it." The queen sneered, and a hint of cruelty flashed in her eyes.
"Master, what does the smell of old people mean?" Shijin was very confused.
The Queen ignored her and continued, "What's the use of being angry? It's better to move a finger than to be angry for ten days."
After saying this, the queen moistened her pen and continued copying the Diamond Sutra without even looking at the assorted materials.
At this time, in Changdeok Palace, the emperor was reviewing memorials while listening to Eunuch An reporting the news he had heard from the harem.
"How long has this kind of talk been circulating?" Bo Muxi raised his eyebrows and glared at Eunuch An and Lin En.
The emperor was obviously not very satisfied and complained that the pair of glasses were not very useful.
"In reply to Your Majesty, when the news first spread, it was not so outrageous, so I did not take it seriously." At this time, Eunuch An had cold sweat on his forehead.
"It is I who deserves to die. I was careless." Lin En was also very scared.
In this palace, who would not be afraid of being disliked by the emperor?
"How many years have you followed me?" Bo Muxi asked after putting down the memorial.
"I have followed you for fifteen years." Eunuch An bowed.
"I'm a younger servant, but it's been eleven years." Lin En said timidly.
"I used to have this most useful paperweight, but one day I suddenly felt that its bottom was not flat enough to hold the paper, so I threw it away." Bo Muxi raised his eyes and glared at them again, saying coldly, "If you do it again, you can go work somewhere else!"
Bo Muxi never clings to useless things, no matter how used he is to them. He will give them away if necessary.
"I will never do it again! Please forgive me, Your Majesty!" Eunuch An and Lin En were shocked when they heard this and quickly knelt down to beg for mercy.
"Is there any movement from the Queen's side?" Bo Muxi asked.
"It's quite quiet over there, Her Majesty the Queen." Eunuch An bowed and replied.
Bo Muxi originally wanted to go to Fengyi Palace to help the young concubine.
But when he turned around to polish his pen, he suddenly remembered the scene a few days ago when the young concubine tortured herself during her menstrual period.
A sense of evil suddenly welled up in Bo Muxi's heart, and he temporarily gave up the idea of going to the queen.
He curled his thin lips, then lowered his head and continued to review the memorials.
In Cuiweixuan, Chuan, Qiuyue and Zheni also had worried looks on their faces. They stood in front of Shen Zhiyao, staring at her eagerly.
"Why are you all staring at me like that? It's creepy." Shen Zhiyao joked.
"Master, it's already this late and you still have the mind to make jokes! I haven't seen the Queen looking for you alone recently. Could it be that she is angry? Shouldn't you also think about how to explain it to the Queen as soon as possible?" Qiuyue said anxiously.
"Master, it's all my fault for not being vigilant enough. However, these people are really bad! They deliberately spread this kind of groundless gossip behind my back at first, and then it was brought to my face after people started to follow suit!" Chu An said with a frustrated look on his face.
"Look at you, you're so anxious. What are you panicking about? Others haven't even made a move yet, but you're already losing your composure. I don't really want to replace the queen, so why should I rush to explain now?" Shen Zhiyao took a sip of tea and said slowly.
"If I don't explain, what if the Queen takes it seriously?" Qiuyue said anxiously.
After all, Qiuyue was the maid that Shen Zhiyao brought in from the mansion, so she was bolder than the maids who were taken in later. It was only because she was really considering Shen Zhiyao that she dared to ask so closely.
"It's not that I don't want to explain to the Queen, but, can the rumors be stopped by explaining to her? Explaining right away is not very useful, and it cannot completely eliminate the knot in the Queen's heart. A suitable opportunity is still needed." Shen Zhiyao said.
"But……"
"Master! Master! Eunuch Li from Renshou Palace is here, saying that the Queen Mother wants you to come over and talk to her!"
Qiuyue wanted to ask more questions, but was interrupted by Qiuling who rushed in to report the news.
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhiyao stood up calmly and said with a smile: "Perhaps, the opportunity has come!"
"Master..." Zhe Ni looked at Shen Zhiyao with worry in her eyes. After all, she had served Concubine Zhang and had witnessed the cruelty of Queen Mother Zhao. She always felt that it was not a good thing for the Queen Mother to invite Shen Zhiyao without any reason.
"Qiuyue will accompany me. Those of you who are left behind, stop having any random thoughts and just wait for me to come back."
Shen Zhiyao looked in the bronze mirror and adjusted her appearance. Her makeup today was fresh and simple, which was very suitable for attending the Queen Mother's "Hongmen Banquet".
Shen Zhiyao took Qiuyue to the front hall and saw Eunuch Li sitting at the table drinking tea, with Chuan serving him and chatting beside him.
Seeing Shen Zhiyao coming, Eunuch Li hurriedly stood up and saluted: "Your servant greets the Empress Jin Jieyu, may the Empress live a thousand years."
Eunuch Li is not good-looking, he is a fat white man, with a chubby face, but his facial features are very delicate and full of humor.
This person had a pair of droopy eyebrows and triangular eyes, which narrowed into slits when he smiled.
Shen Zhiyao could still feel, from the gleam of light in those squinting eyes, that this person was definitely going to have a difficult childbirth.
"Please come out, father-in-law." Shen Zhiyao smiled warmly, "You can just ask a young eunuch to call me, why did you make such a special trip?"
"Your Majesty, you are different from ordinary people! It is an honor for me to come here." Eunuch Li said with a smile, his voice was sharp and very recognizable.
"We can't keep the Empress Dowager waiting for too long. I'd like to trouble you, Eunuch, to lead the way." Shen Zhiyao seemed very polite.
"Your Majesty, you are too polite. Please follow me." Eunuch Li bowed and said with a smile.
Shen Zhiyao nodded slightly, then took Qiuyue's hand and went out, got on the sedan chair, and went towards Renshou Palace.