RPAGF Chapter 1054 Enmity
Chapter 1054 Enmity
“Rong’er, there are rules in officialdom, and this is not how you play the game. We can deal with them, and the outcome depends on our own abilities. We can’t blame anyone else. But what you’re doing now is undoubtedly offending the entire aristocratic family. Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘The aristocratic families are as enduring as the dynasties’?”
“Aren’t we just relying on our own abilities right now?” Cui Rong pretended to be confused.
Then, calmly correcting her, she continued, "Also, although we are father and daughter, etiquette cannot be disregarded. Now that I am the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Father, you should at least address me as Empress Cui!"
"You!" Cui Ling was furious, looking at her daughter's current state as if she were a stranger.
"Alright, Father, don't be angry anymore. What's done is done, there's no point in saying more now!" Seeing this, Cui Rong softened her tone and personally poured Cui Ling a cup of tea.
"We should think about what to do next and how to make the most of this matter. Based on my understanding of His Majesty, no matter what the truth is, he will definitely blame Consort Qian and try to smooth things over by offering the Qian family some benefits."
This will definitely create a rift between him and the Qian family. As long as the Qian family makes any moves behind the scenes, His Majesty will inevitably take back the Qian family's power in the court and reduce their influence in the court and among aristocratic families.
And we can take this opportunity to advance further. His Majesty needs talented people, especially those who firmly stand by his side, and our Cui family is the most suitable choice.”
“Rong’er, you were really born the wrong gender,” Cui Ling sighed, shaking his head, neither saying it was good nor bad. “It’s a pity that your family is small, you don’t have many brothers and sisters, and He’er is useless and can’t help you much.”
Cui Rong breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. It was the best outcome that the two did not have a direct conflict. She still needed her father's help and did not want to completely break ties with him for the time being.
So he smiled and said, "My brother just lacks experience. Given time, he will surely achieve great things. As long as someone supports him, even a pig can become a talent."
"Forget it, just like you said, what's done is done, there's no going back, we can only grit our teeth and move forward," Cui Ling said, feeling somewhat disheartened and not wanting to argue with her daughter. After saying that, she got up and left.
He truly had no idea whether all of this would bring him good fortune or misfortune!
Meanwhile, inside the inner palace, when Master Qian and his sons learned that Consort Qian had hanged herself at midnight the previous night, they were as if struck by a bolt from the blue, and their first reaction was disbelief.
"Your Majesty, I implore you to allow me to see my granddaughter's body. She entered the palace in perfect condition, and now that she has died in the deep palace, her family should be allowed to see her one last time!"
Qian Ying and the others also bowed and pleaded with heavy expressions.
The Qian family's foundation and prestige are here, and Zhou Pu had long been prepared for this. He didn't make things difficult for her, and his face was also full of grief. "Very well, you can go and see Consort Qian one last time. She can go to the afterlife more peacefully. Don't worry, all the funeral arrangements will be handled according to the highest standards. Consort Qian will certainly not be wronged."
Qian Ying's face was blank. "Thank you, Your Majesty, but the person is already dead. No matter how grand the funeral, Wan'er will never see it."
"Shut up!" Grand Tutor Qian immediately scolded in a low voice upon hearing this, then cupped his hands and apologized to Zhou Pu: "Your Majesty, my son was deeply saddened upon hearing this news and was rude. I hope Your Majesty will forgive him!"
The situation was much better than Zhou Pu had anticipated. He had expected a lot of trouble with the Qian family, but it had passed so easily. Therefore, he didn't want to cause any more trouble. Knowing that he was in the wrong, he waved his hand and said, "I understand. Your Qian family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, working diligently for the court. I am also deeply saddened by the death of Consort Qian. Alright, let Eunuch Fu take you there!"
Neither side brought up the witchcraft case again.
After the father and his three sons followed Eunuch Fu to the place where the body was laid to rest, they immediately saw the corpse covered with a white cloth in the center of the sleeping quarters.
After all, she was her own daughter. Qian Ying took a breath, her heart trembling slightly, and then stepped forward to personally lift the white cloth. When she saw her daughter's ashen face and her tongue that hadn't been pulled back, she was shocked.
A sudden pang of grief gripped his heart: "Rong'er!"
"Brother, please accept our condolences," said Qian Jie and Qian Wei, the two brothers, who also felt a pang of sorrow.
Only Grand Tutor Qian remained calm. After carefully examining his granddaughter's face, he instructed, "Alright, eldest son, put the cloth back on. Wan'er is now a member of the royal family, and all matters concerning her funeral should naturally be handled by the royal family. His Majesty just promised us that he would give her a grand funeral. The most urgent task is to go back and inform the clan of this news."
"Father!" Qian Ying called out, trying her best to control her emotions, and covered the white cloth back up.
The old man who brought them here, Fu Gonggong, stood to the side like an invisible man, with a very low presence, but he saw the behavior of the Qian family father and sons.
He was not surprised by the performance of the Qian brothers, but he was particularly impressed by the performance of Grand Tutor Qian. After all, experience counts.
After covering the white cloth back with it, Grand Tutor Qian politely turned around and said that he needed to go back to his clan to inform them first.
Having no reason to keep them, Eunuch Fu politely bowed and ordered the young eunuch to escort them out of the palace.
Only after the figures of the group were out of sight did he return to Zhou Pu to report, "Your Majesty, the Qian family has left. Qian Ying appeared to be in great grief, while Qian Jie and Qian Wei were alright. Grand Tutor Qian was also quite calm, and there was nothing wrong with their etiquette and manners."
"Oh, that's good. It seems we won't need the second plan. The Qian family is smart enough, otherwise Consort Qian wouldn't have had such a grand funeral," Zhou Pu waved his hand, his expression indifferent.
"Although there's nothing wrong with them on the surface, I always feel that the Qian family isn't as simple as they seem," Eunuch Fu said in a low voice.
Zhou Pu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, not taking it to heart. "The Qian family is, after all, one of the most prestigious families. It's normal for them to be resentful that their daughter died so young. As long as they don't make any mistakes on the surface, it's fine. Too much purity will leave no fish in the water. We'll need the Qian family's help in the future. But have Zheng Ping keep a close eye on them. If they make any moves in private, they will not be let off lightly!"
"Understood!" Eunuch Fu nodded.
"Also, go and tell the Empress that she shouldn't think I don't know what she's up to. This is a one-time thing, and there won't be a next time! This time, she'll be confined to her quarters for thirty days. She's not allowed to leave Yonghe Palace!"
"Yes!"
After Eunuch Fu left, Zhou Pu began to slump on the couch and doze off again.
Grand Tutor Qian, accompanied by his sons, sat in the carriage returning to his residence, his face displaying an unusually ruthless expression.