Chapter 111

She knew Qianlong’s character very well. If she let him choose his own title, he would definitely choose some extremely exaggerated and shameless words. At that time, all the civil and military officials in the court would think that this was her idea, and that she was in cahoots with Qianlong, vulgar and narcissistic. She didn’t want to bear such a bad reputation.

Qianlong frowned and said, “I have already given you the kingdom. What’s wrong with you choosing a beautiful title for yourself?”

“Did you give me this Great Qing Dynasty? I’m unlucky and have to take over this mess. Look at the urban construction in the north, the ministers in the court, and the lives of the people. If it continues like this, even if I don’t take action, the Great Qing Dynasty will perish.” When Li Qingge said this, he glared at Qianlong with gritted teeth, as if he wanted to stare out all the hypocrisy and selfishness in his heart.

“Yes, I admit that the current situation of the Qing Dynasty does have many unbearable aspects, but it is the foundation of our ancestors after all. I have abandoned so many princes and given you the throne. Isn’t my sincerity enough?” There was a hint of grievance in Qianlong’s voice.

“Haha, you are afraid that I will lead my army north and destroy the Qing Dynasty like the Jin Dynasty destroyed the Northern Song Dynasty, the royal family will be slaughtered, and the Aisin-Gioro family will be extinct, so you have to rely on blood ties to pass the throne to me. After all, you still care about your family and your face, and you don’t want to be a king who loses his country and be laughed at by future generations.” Li Qingge angrily tore off Qianlong’s disguise and pointed out his calculations incisively.

Qianlong’s face turned pale and blue, and he said with a wry smile: “Alas, it’s just a title, what’s the harm in giving it to me?”

Li Qingge rolled his eyes, his tone revealing disdain: “With your limited talent, what proper title can you come up with?”

Qianlong was unhappy and retorted: “I am very talented. Look at the titles of the concubines in the harem, they are all wonderful.” However, his rebuttal seemed so pale and powerless to Li Qingge.

Li Qingge’s words were like a string of cannonballs, each word was sharp and pointed directly at Qianlong’s heart. Her bright eyes sparkled with wisdom, and there was a hint of sarcasm at the corners of her mouth, as if she could expose all the hypocrisy and injustice. Qianlong sat aside, silent, his face calm, but his heart was already surging.

“Stop for a moment! I heard that when Koriyete gave birth to the fifth prince, you issued an edict to promote her to the rank of concubine because of her contribution in raising the prince. If you were happy, you named her ‘Yupin’, and if you were satisfied with Yehenara, you named her ‘Shufei’. Look at the title the late emperor gave to the empress dowager. Although the past is a bit dark, the future is bright, so you named her ‘Xifei’. If you were in another position and saw a bright and glorious future, I’m afraid you would name the empress dowager ‘Lanfei’.” As soon as Li Qingge finished speaking, the entire palace seemed to be shocked by her momentum, and even the air became solemn.

Qianlong’s eyes lingered on Li Qingge for a moment, his eyes showing both helplessness and admiration. He knew that this woman was not only extremely smart, but also had an indomitable tenacity. He sighed softly, trying to ease the atmosphere: “In addition to the posthumous title, the honorific title is very important, and you have to choose a good character. While you are free now, can you choose one first?”

Before Qianlong finished speaking, Li Qingge started laughing, with a hint of cunning and pride in her smile. She thought for a moment and then said, “How about using the word ‘pure’?” Her voice was clear and pleasant, as if it could penetrate people’s hearts.

When Qianlong heard this, his face suddenly turned livid. Pure and Retired Emperor? If such a title were to be spread out, he would be laughed at by the world! He suppressed his anger and stared at Li Qingge with wide eyes, as if he wanted to see through her.

Li Qingge was secretly pleased with herself when she saw this. She knew that Qianlong would never accept such a title, but she just wanted to see how angry he would be. She raised her lips slightly and revealed a smug smile: “Forget it, I was just kidding you. I have already thought of your title, let’s call it ‘Yuanshou’.”

Qianlong was stunned. He didn’t expect Li Qingge to suddenly change her attitude and give him such a steady title. He looked at her in confusion and asked, “Yuan Shou? How did you think of these two words?”

Li Qingge chuckled and explained, “Isn’t Yuanshou your childhood name? These two words have great meanings and are perfect as a title.” Her voice was gentle and firm, as if it could calm the anger in Qianlong’s heart.

Hearing this, Qianlong was inexplicably moved. He had not expected that Li Qingge would know his childhood nickname, and even less that she would use this name to give him a title. He looked at her, with a complex light flashing in his eyes, as if he was looking at someone who was both familiar and unfamiliar.

“How do you know my nickname is Yuanshou?” Qianlong couldn’t help asking. This question had been bothering him, and he wanted to know how Li Qingge knew this secret.

Li Qingge smiled and shook her head: “It wasn’t the Empress Dowager who told me. I learned it through special channels. Not only your royal secrets, but also the dirty deeds of the civil and military officials in the court, nothing can be hidden from me.” There was a kind of confidence and pride in her voice, as if she was the person in the world who knew Qianlong best.

Qianlong felt a chill in his heart when he heard this. He knew that Li Qingge was very skilled, but he didn’t expect that she was so powerful that she could even find out his secrets clearly. He looked at her, and an indescribable fear and awe surged in his heart.

At this moment, Baran rushed in in a panic, breaking the tranquility of the palace. He looked nervous and said in a hurried tone: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, something is wrong, something happened in the Cining Palace!”

As soon as these words came out, Qianlong and Li Qingge’s faces changed. They knew that the Cining Palace was the residence of the empress dowager, and if something happened there, the consequences would be disastrous. Qianlong stood up suddenly and asked in a stern voice, “What’s the matter?”

Baran said with a sad face: “The Queen was beaten.”

“What did you say? The Queen was beaten. Who did it? How dare you!” Qianlong was furious, his voice was deafening.

“Empress Dowager!” Although Baran’s voice was low, it was like a thunderclap exploding in the ears of Qianlong and Li Qingge.

Qianlong’s expression changed drastically, and he turned to look at Li Qingge. Li Qingge’s face was ashen, and her eyes were flashing with anger. She stood up suddenly and shouted loudly: “Shi Shuyu!”

As she called out, a bloody figure appeared in front of her like a ghost. It was her personal bodyguard Shi Shuyu, a man of great skill and loyalty.

“Surround the Cining Palace and don’t allow anyone to enter or leave!” Li Qingge’s voice was cold and firm, as if it could penetrate all obstacles.

Upon hearing this, Shi Shuyu immediately took the order and left. His figure cut through the sky like a flash of lightning and disappeared outside the palace.

……

Time goes back to before Qianlong and Li Qingge discussed the abdication. At that time, the queen was preparing for a nap, but Gui Mama brought the Queen Mother’s order to summon her to the Cining Palace for a reply. Although the queen was a little nervous, she knew that this trip was more dangerous than good, but she was not afraid. Her daughter had already arrived in the Forbidden City, and no matter how big the storm was, it would not shake her in the slightest.

However, the moment she stepped into the Cining Palace, she felt the oppressive atmosphere here. The stuffy air seemed to be able to strangle people’s breathing and make people feel afraid. She looked up and saw the Queen Mother sitting in the main hall with an angry face. On the left and right stood the embarrassed and resentful Princess Hejing and the fat, smiling but cold-eyed Concubine Ling.

The queen’s heart sank. She knew that today’s storm was probably aimed at her. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner waves, and then stepped forward and knelt down to salute: “I pay my respects to the old Buddha. I wish the old Buddha good health and longevity.”

It stands to reason that after the Queen saluted, Princess Hejing and Concubine Ling should salute her. However, the two people were indifferent, as if they didn’t see it. Although the Queen was a little unhappy, she didn’t show it. She quietly observed the actions of the two people and had guessed a little in her heart.

The Queen Mother looked at the Queen coldly, her voice revealing endless anger: “Queen, you are the master of the harem. If it is not a big deal, I will not summon you.”

After that, she pointed at Princess Hejing and continued, “Today, Hejing went to the Imperial Garden to appreciate plum blossoms and met you by chance. Even if you didn’t care about the late Empress Xiaoxian, you should have been more tolerant of Hejing for the emperor’s sake. Who would have thought that you were so cruel and pushed Hejing out in public, causing her to fall in the Imperial Garden and her hands were all rubbed raw.”

Before the Queen Mother finished her words, the Empress sneered in her heart. Murdering the legitimate daughter of the Empress Yuan? Such an accusation is really ridiculous! She knew that this was a lie deliberately made up by the Queen Mother to suppress her. She looked up at the Queen Mother with a firm light in her eyes: “Old Buddha, you are wrong. I did not murder Princess Hejing, let alone push her down. This is completely someone spreading rumors behind my back to try to destroy my reputation.”

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother slammed the table in anger and said, “As the successor, you should treat the children of the original wife well! Not only do you not love them, but you harm them! I am so blind. Why did I choose you as the successor?”

An indescribable grief and anger surged in the heart of the queen. She knew that the queen mother had always disliked her and always tried to suppress her. But she never thought that the queen mother would be so wrong and frame her out of nothing. She took a deep breath, tried to calm her anger, and then said: “My Lord, please calm down. I know that you have always been dissatisfied with me, but I have never done anything to let you and the emperor down. For today’s incident, I am willing to accept the investigation and clear my name.”

After she finished speaking, she turned and looked at Princess Hejing and Concubine Ling, with a cold light flashing in her eyes: “Princess Hejing, Concubine Ling, do you dare to confront me? Let’s see who is spreading rumors and causing trouble today?”

Princess Hejing and Concubine Ling looked grim upon hearing this. They knew that the storm today was deliberately stirred up by the Queen Mother to suppress the Queen, but they did not dare to confront the Queen. Because they knew that once they confronted her, their lies would be exposed.

The Queen Mother looked at the Queen’s back, and an indescribable anger surged in her heart. She didn’t expect the Queen to be so cunning and could easily resolve her attack. She took a deep breath, tried to calm her anger, and then said, “Okay! I’ll give you this chance! But if you can’t find out the truth, don’t blame me for being rude!”

Hearing this, the Queen felt a strong conviction in her heart. She knew that this was a battle concerning her reputation and status, and she had to fight with all her might. She turned to look at the Queen Mother, and her voice revealed endless determination: “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I will definitely find out the truth and clear my name!”

Well, if you think so, you are totally wrong. Deep in the Forbidden City, every word and every look hides turbulent emotions and political schemes.

The queen sat on the gorgeous phoenix chair, her face was as calm as water, but it hid unknown waves. She was wearing a gorgeous dress embroidered with a phoenix spreading its wings, and the golden silk thread sparkled dazzlingly in the sun, as if she herself was the most arrogant person in the harem. She spoke slowly, her voice cold and firm: “Old Buddha, I did have a grudge against Princess Hejing, but there was a reason. The princess was disrespectful to me first, and then she made a fuss and blocked my way. I had no choice but to push her. Where did I go wrong? I hope the old Buddha can see clearly.”

Lingpin stood aside, with a sneer on her face, her eyes full of disdain and provocation. She was wearing a lavender cheongsam with delicate butterfly patterns embroidered on it, which swayed gently with her movements, as if it would flap its wings and fly away at any time. She said contemptuously: “You murdered the princess, everyone saw it, what are you still arguing about?”

The queen’s eyes shone when she heard this. She stood up suddenly and said in a stern voice like the cold wind in winter: “I am talking to the queen mother. How can a concubine like you interrupt? You are just a lowly maid from a bannerman family. How dare you be so presumptuous.”

Lingpin was so angry at the Queen’s words that her face turned blue, and her chest rose and fell violently, as if she would have a miscarriage at any time. She bit her lower lip tightly, as if to suppress the anger that was about to burst out, and cursed in her heart: When did this bitch of the Nara clan become so sarcastic?

The Queen looked at Lingpin’s reaction and a smug smile appeared on her lips. She sat back on the Phoenix Chair, her posture elegant and calm: “This is how I always speak. It’s just that due to the palace rules, as the Queen, I can’t speak rudely, so as not to leave a reputation of being mean, so I have been forbearing until today.”

Princess Hejing stood aside and said sarcastically, “Your Majesty is of humble origin and indeed has no right to interrupt, but I am the legitimate daughter of Empress Yuan and have sufficient qualifications.” She was wearing a gorgeous red Manchu dress embroidered with intricate gold thread patterns, looking noble and arrogant.

The queen smiled and replied, “The princess is a royal daughter, so she is naturally qualified. But you are the younger generation, and it is not appropriate for the younger generation to interrupt when the elders are talking. Otherwise, if it gets out, people will laugh at the royal family for not knowing etiquette and raising such a daughter who does not know the difference between respect and inferiority.”

Princess He Jing was furious at the Queen’s words. She widened her eyes as if she was about to spit fire: “You——”

Lingpin interrupted Princess Hejing with a gloomy face, saying, “Empress, your eloquence is useless. You attacked the princess because you were jealous of the emperor’s obsession with Empress Xiaoxian. The evidence is irrefutable and you cannot deny it.”

Hearing this, the Queen raised her lips slightly and said disdainfully, “I will not offend others unless they offend me. This time, the Princess was rude first. Even if I report it to the Emperor, I will have a clear conscience.”

“Queen, you—” The Queen Mother sat on the high throne, watching the dispute below, her heart filled with dissatisfaction and anger. She finally couldn’t help but yelled, “Queen, I have always known that you have a strong temper and don’t tolerate any grain of sand in your eyes, but I didn’t expect you to be so cruel and crazy that you would not even let go of the princess who did no harm to you. No matter how bad the princess is, I will discipline her. When will it be your turn as a concubine to meddle in other people’s affairs? You really disappoint me.”

Princess Hejing was very proud when she heard the Queen Mother’s words. She sneered and said, “Queen, you should confess your guilt now, otherwise it will be too late when the Emperor gets angry.” She thought to herself: This poor girl from the Nara clan has stolen my mother’s position as Queen for many years. Today I must make her pay the price.

Lingpin also echoed, “Empress, no one is perfect. As long as you are willing to admit your mistakes, the old Buddha will not have the heart to punish you severely for serving the emperor for many years.”

The queen turned a deaf ear to him, and her eyes were full of determination and resoluteness. She said calmly: “If you want to accuse someone, you can always find a pretext. I am the queen appointed by the emperor himself. If the old Buddha wants to depose me, he must have the emperor’s order…”

At this point, she revealed a strange smile, which was full of confidence and arrogance: “Now the emperor’s heart is all on me, and he obeys me in everything and takes good care of me. Why don’t we make a bet and see if the emperor will depose me as the queen for the princess and you?”

The Queen Mother was so angry at the Queen’s words that her hands began to tremble. She pointed at the Queen’s nose and scolded: “What a Nara, you are so sharp-tongued and arrogant. Do you really think that there is no one in the harem who can subdue you?”

The Queen smiled like a blooming flower. Her voice was clear and pleasant, but it was firm and unquestionable: “Old Buddha, perhaps you don’t understand the Emperor’s temperament. Mother and true love are nothing but clouds in front of the vast country. The confidence of this palace is neither favor nor the relationship between husband and wife, but absolute power and strength. This is something you cannot understand.”

The Queen Mother was the most honorable elder in the royal family. She sat on a high throne, looking down at the Queen and concubines below. Her eyes were full of majesty and dissatisfaction, as if she wanted to take in everything in the harem.

Abdicating the throne is both a state affair and a family affair. Logically, the emperor should have told the empress dowager so that she could be prepared and stop targeting the queen. However, Qianlong was worried that the empress dowager would find it difficult to accept, so before proposing the abdication, he first mentioned the fifth princess who died young. The queen dowager originally thought that Qianlong mentioned the queen’s deceased daughter in order to speak well of the queen and ask her to pity the queen and stop targeting her. However, the queen dowager interrupted Qianlong in anger and asked him not to mention the queen again. Seeing that his mother was very angry and worried that she would fall ill, Qianlong stopped mentioning it.

Therefore, until now, the Queen Mother still does not know that the Queen is about to become the mother of the new emperor. This secret is like a huge bomb, hidden deep in the harem, and it may explode at any time.

When Princess Hejing heard the queen’s words, she said in a trembling voice, “Queen, are you crazy? What are you talking about absolute power and might? The whole world belongs to the king. Are you planning a rebellion by saying this? If you want to become the queen mother by virtue of your son’s status, it depends on whether you have this blessing.”

Lingpin also sneered, her voice was sharp and mean: “First you pushed the princess and got her injured, then you contradicted the Queen Mother and tried to seize power. You and your son have evil ambitions, your crimes are obvious and cannot be denied. Why don’t you kneel down quickly?”

The queen smiled contemptuously, her eyes full of disdain and ridicule. She said slowly: “Wei, you have been flattering the emperor for many years, scheming everywhere. Even the fifth prince was harmed by the fake princess Xiaoyanzi set up by you and the Fu family, and lost the emperor’s favor. It’s a pity that your vision is too narrow. You only see the harem, not knowing that the outside world has already undergone earth-shaking changes. You want to be the Holy Mother Empress Dowager, it’s just a foolish dream.”

Lingpin’s thoughts were exposed, her face flushed, she stared at the queen, as if she wanted to cut her into pieces. She clenched her teeth and said in a low and angry voice: “Nara, you plotted to murder the princess and contradicted the queen mother. You are no longer tolerated by the royal family.”

The queen shrugged and said indifferently, “It doesn’t matter whether the royal family can tolerate me or not. Anyway, the Aixinjueluo family’s rule will be over sooner or later, and my future is already settled. It’s ridiculous that you ignorant people are still scheming and barking here. It’s really a joke.”

After saying this, the queen burst into laughter, her body shaking with laughter. Her laughter echoed in the empty hall, sounding particularly harsh. Rong Mama also laughed, her laughter was sharp and strange, as if it merged with the queen’s laughter.

“You, you…” The Queen Mother was so angry that she pointed at the Queen, her fingers trembling uncontrollably. She had originally intended to use the Princess’s matter to dampen the Queen’s spirit, but now that she heard these words, she was furious.

The Queen Mother shouted angrily, “Queen, you are too presumptuous! Do you really think that I can’t punish you because the Emperor loves you? How dare a queen from a poor family be so arrogant in front of me?”

The queen had been used and suppressed by the queen mother for many years, and she had been fed up. Now that Li Qingge has returned to the Forbidden City, she seems to have found a harbor to rely on, and she is running fearlessly on the road of rebellion. She retorted mercilessly: “Although my family, Nara, is from a poor family, isn’t your family Niuhuru? You are just a branch of a branch of a branch of Niuhuru, and your family is extremely poor. When you entered the palace for the selection, you were pointed to the late Emperor Yongjun by the Emperor Shengzu, and you didn’t even become a concubine, so you could only serve as a princess.”

The queen’s words were like a sharp knife, piercing the queen’s heart. The queen was so angry that she was shaking all over. She clenched her teeth, as if trying to suppress the anger that was about to burst out. She stared at the queen with wide eyes, as if she wanted to cut her into pieces.

However, the queen didn’t care. Her eyes were full of determination and resoluteness. She knew that she had already embarked on this road of no return and could not turn back. She could only move forward and use her power and wisdom to fight for her own future.

She kept sneering, her voice was sharp and mean, like icicles in the cold winter wind, piercing people’s hearts: “What kind of princess are you talking about? She’s just like a maid in a Han family, not even as good as a concubine. Think about it, I was married to the emperor by the late emperor. Even if I was born in a humble family, I was only a concubine. Now, I sit on the honorable throne of the mother of the country, enjoying a position that even the late emperor’s concubine Chao Xi once envied. Are you still envious now?” A smug smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and her eyes flashed with pride and provocation, as if she was showing off her current honor.

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a sharp knife that tore apart the originally peaceful atmosphere in the Cining Palace. The Empress Dowager’s face and dignity were ruthlessly trampled on the ground, as if the exquisite silk was ruthlessly torn, revealing the mottled cracks inside.

For a moment, the servants in the Cining Palace were so frightened that their faces turned pale, as if they had seen something horrible, and they dared not even breathe. Princess Hejing, Concubine Ling, and Qing’er, who had remained silent, were also terrified. Their eyes wandered back and forth between the Empress and the Queen Mother, and their hearts were filled with shock and anxiety.

They had never thought that the queen would be so bold as to expose her past in front of the queen mother. Wasn’t this courting death? You know, the queen mother was the most powerful woman in the harem. Her words could determine a person’s life or death.

The Queen Mother’s old face was filled with anger like a dark cloud, ready to turn into a thunderous rage at any moment and destroy everything. Her eyes flashed with cold anger, as if she wanted to burn the Queen to ashes.

After a while, she shouted angrily: “Slap her! Hit her hard until her mouth is broken!” The voice was like a sharp blade in ice, which made people shudder.

As soon as the words fell, two young eunuchs stepped forward and tried to grab the queen. They had ferocious smiles on their faces, as if they had seen the queen’s miserable state after being slapped in the face. Nanny Gui was also ready to strike, with a fierce light flashing in her eyes, as if she wanted to put the queen to death.

However, at this moment, Rong Mama suddenly screamed, and like a hen protecting her chicks, she stepped forward to block the queen. Her eyes were full of determination and resoluteness, as if she was willing to protect the queen with her own life.

The queen’s eyes were wide open, filled with anger and unwillingness. She glared at the queen mother, as if she wanted to burn everything about her to ashes. She said sternly, “Who dares! I am the queen, the mother of the country!” Her voice was full of majesty and unquestionable power.

Nanny Gui was about to slap someone, but she hesitated when she heard this. After all, the queen was the most honorable woman in the harem, and her status and position could not be violated.

However, the Queen Mother sneered, and her laughter was full of ridicule and disdain. She said: “Although you are the Queen, I am the Queen Mother. You are the daughter-in-law, and I am the mother-in-law. It is natural for a mother-in-law to teach a daughter-in-law who is not filial!” Her eyes flashed with cold anger, as if she wanted to destroy everything of the Queen.

Qing’er watched coldly from the sidelines, thinking about the Queen’s actions in her heart. She felt that the Queen’s sudden disrespectful behavior was definitely not stupid, and there must be a deep reason behind it. She saw that the Emperor doted on the Queen, just like how Shunzhi treated Concubine Dong E. If the servants of the Cining Palace really insulted the Queen, the consequences would be disastrous.

Thinking of this, Qing’er could no longer bear it. She walked around to the Queen Mother, knelt down and begged, “Your Majesty, please calm down. The Queen is the Emperor’s wife. If this matter is not handled properly, it will definitely hurt the mother-son relationship between you and the Emperor. Your Majesty, don’t you feel bad?” There was a bit of anxiety and earnestness in her voice, as if she was really thinking about the mother-son relationship between the Queen Mother and the Emperor.

When the Queen Mother heard this, her heart tightened. Although she was extremely powerful, the only thing she feared was to hurt the relationship between mother and son and repeat the tragedy of the previous emperor. She was silent for a while, as if weighing the pros and cons.

However, Concubine Ling hurriedly said: “What are you talking about the emperor’s wife? It was you who supported Nara to become the empress. In the emperor’s heart, only Empress Xiaoxian is his only wife.” There was a hint of sarcasm and provocation in her voice, as if she looked down on the empress’s background and status.

Princess Hejing also echoed loudly: “That’s right, my mother and the emperor have a deep relationship and they live in harmony. She is the only wife in the emperor’s heart, his only wife.” Her voice was full of pride and pride, as if she was winning honor for her mother.

The Queen Mother nodded, as if she was convinced by their words. She said, “Yes, Nara was able to become the Queen because of my support. I was able to make her the Queen back then, and I can also dethrone her today. Beat her hard!” Her voice was full of determination and unquestionable strength.

Qing’er shouted anxiously: “My Lord Buddha, please ask the Emperor to handle this matter. If these servants are allowed to hurt the Queen’s reputation, it will also damage the dignity of the royal family!” However, her plea seemed to be ignored by the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother said sternly: “Qing’er, I raised you, how dare you turn your elbow outward? Get out of here quickly! If you plead for the Queen again, I will really be angry.” Her voice was full of majesty and irresistible power.

After saying that, she ordered the people around her: “Pull Princess Qing aside.” Two young eunuchs immediately stepped forward and pulled Qing aside.

“Madame Gui, beat him!” the Queen Mother ordered sternly. Her eyes flashed with cold anger, as if she wanted to destroy everything.

“Yes!” Nanny Gui responded, rubbing her hands together and preparing to take action. Her eyes flashed with a fierce light, as if she wanted to put the queen to death.

Madam Rong suddenly grabbed her wrist and said sternly: “Don’t hurt the queen!” Her voice was full of firmness and determination, as if she was willing to use her own life to protect the queen.

However, Madam Gui snorted coldly and said, “Not allowed? Humph, in the Cining Palace, no one can disobey the orders of the Empress Dowager!” There was a flash of cold anger in her eyes, as if she wanted to destroy Madam Rong as well.

After she finished speaking, she winked, and two young eunuchs stepped forward to pull Rong Mama away. Then, they slapped the queen’s well-maintained face hard.

“Pa!” The crisp sound of the slap seemed to tear the air apart. The queen’s cheeks swelled up quickly, and her eyes flashed with anger and unwillingness. She had been married to the royal family for many years, and although she had suffered countless grievances, such as kneeling, copying scriptures, house arrest, and frame-ups, this was the first time she had been humiliated by being slapped in the face in public.

The queen’s rage erupted like a volcano. She glared at the queen mother’s distorted face, her voice filled with endless anger and unwillingness: “How dare you hit me! How dare you hit me!” Her voice was full of despair and anger, as if she wanted to burn everything to ashes.

The Queen Mother sneered, her laughter was full of ridicule and disdain. She said: “I am the Queen Mother, so what if I hit you? Even if I sentence you to death, you have to accept it!” Her eyes flashed with cold anger, as if she wanted to destroy everything about the Queen.

“You——” The queen’s words were choked in her throat. She couldn’t believe that the queen mother would treat her like this. She felt as if she was pushed into an endless abyss and couldn’t extricate herself.

This slap completely tore the relationship between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law. The endless quarrel between them seemed to overturn the entire Cining Palace.

At this moment, a eunuch’s loud shout suddenly came from outside: “The Emperor has arrived!” The sound was as deafening as spring thunder, shocking everyone in the hall.

When the Queen Mother heard that Qianlong was coming, she knew that he was here to support the Queen, and her face became even gloomier. She cursed this unfilial son in her heart, saying that he forgot his mother after marrying a wife. However, she also knew that Qianlong’s arrival meant that this matter could no longer proceed according to her wishes.

Princess Hejing was very happy. She didn’t know how important the Queen was in Qianlong’s heart. She just thought that the Emperor’s arrival would be a good opportunity for him to issue an edict to depose the ignorant Nara clan. Her eyes were shining with anticipation and excitement.

Lingpin was also very happy. She felt that the power of the Queen Mother and the Princess was enough to overwhelm the Queen. Once the Queen was deposed, although it would be difficult for her to continue to be the Queen due to her status as a bondmaid, she could be given the title of Imperial Noble Consort who was in charge of the six palaces. The status of the Imperial Noble Consort was equivalent to that of the Vice Queen, and the children she gave birth to were also considered half-legitimate children. In this way, her children would have the possibility of inheriting the throne. Her heart was full of expectations and ambitions.

Everyone in the hall was waiting for Qianlong’s arrival, each with their own thoughts. However, when Qianlong strode in, everyone except the Empress Dowager saluted: “May Your Majesty be blessed with good health!” The voices were uniform and loud, as if they were expressing their respect and loyalty to Qianlong.

Qianlong walked in with a sullen face. Before he could ask everyone to excuse themselves, he greeted the Empress Dowager: “Your son greets the Empress Dowager!” There was a hint of respect and filial piety in his voice, as if he was expressing his respect and concern for the Empress Dowager.

However, the empress dowager said angrily: “Emperor, you came at the right time. The queen plotted to murder the princess and also talked back to me. You should quickly depose this vicious woman, I…” Before she finished her words, she caught a glimpse of a beautiful woman standing behind Qianlong from the corner of her eye, and she couldn’t help but exclaimed: “This woman… is a monster… a monster…” Her voice was full of shock and uneasiness, as if she had seen something horrible.

The queen mother lost her composure because the woman in front of her was too beautiful to be a mortal. Her skin was as smooth and delicate as cream, her eyebrows and eyes were like paintings, her lips were red and her teeth were white, as if she was a fairy who walked out of a painting. She exuded a faint fragrance that made people intoxicated. There was such a beauty in the harem, and she was accompanying the emperor. Wouldn’t the harem be in chaos in the future?

The Aixinjueluo family was full of romantics. Although the empress dowager had never seen Dong Efei, Hai Lanzhu and others, and did not know how beautiful the previous favorite concubines were, she dared to assert that those favorite concubines were not as beautiful as this woman. Her heart was filled with jealousy and uneasiness, as if she saw that her power and status were threatened.

No one knows a son better than his mother. Qianlong was both sentimental and fickle. He would fall in love with any woman in the harem who was slightly pretty. Alas! It’s really sad! In this magnificent palace, every inch of air seemed to carry endless joys and sorrows, which made people sigh at the impermanence of the world.

Fortunately, she, the mother of the queen who was gentle and virtuous but had an unfortunate fate, had passed away long ago. Otherwise, seeing such a stunningly beautiful woman involved in disputes for favor in the harem, she would have been so heartbroken that she would have been unable to control herself, and would have eventually withered like a dead leaf and died!
Li Qingge, this name seems to be born to amaze the world. Her beauty is truly unparalleled, like the first rays of morning light, dazzling. Whenever she walks, no matter where she is, it seems to be shrouded in light and becomes unusually bright. In the hall, everyone is shocked by her incomparable beauty. Except for the aloof Emperor Qianlong, the dignified and virtuous queen, and the experienced and calm Rong Mama, everyone else is moved and secretly amazed.

Everyone was worried: once this beautiful lady entered the palace, would the tragedy of Emperor Shunzhi giving up his kingdom for a beautiful lady repeat itself? Would the wheel of history run over her again, leaving a deep mark?

Only Lingpin, a woman who had met Li Qingge once before, was also amazed by her beauty, but she did not worry at all. She knew Li Qingge’s true identity very well, and her calmness and composure made her stand out among the crowd.

Lingpin reacted quickly. She turned around and bowed solemnly to Li Qingge. Her voice was full of respect and determination: “Your Majesty, the Queen, long live Her Majesty!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly exploded and everyone looked at him in surprise.

“Your Majesty?” There was a hint of disbelief in the Queen Mother’s voice. She widened her eyes as if she wanted to see the woman in front of her clearly.

Princess Hejing, Qing’er and the others were all stunned. Although they did not often get involved in the affairs of the previous dynasty, they had heard about the Great Yan Dynasty in the south, which was founded by a woman. In that era when men were superior to women, it was easy to imagine the hardships and efforts behind a woman’s establishment of such a huge empire.

They had only heard of her name but had never seen her, but they had never imagined that this legendary Queen of Dayan would be such a stunningly beautiful woman.