allonlinenovel Chapter 313: Receive Needle Punishment on Your Own
Chapter 313: Receive Needle Punishment on Your Own
An Lingrong looked carefully and found that the person who spoke was an elder from the Uya clan.
In terms of kinship, he should be the emperor's cousin and Uya Sulan's cousin.
No wonder he had the courage to question the emperor in court.
Concubine Lan felt nervous. She was already walking on thin ice in the palace. Why would her cousin do something stupid at this time?
She quickly apologized in a gentle voice before the emperor could speak.
"Your Majesty, I noticed that my cousin drank quite a bit of wine, so...?"
"Lan Fei, you don't need to be too cautious."
The emperor smiled reassuringly, his smile concealing a subtle yet profound meaning.
"The Empress Dowager is unwell and is recuperating in Shoukang Palace. I didn't want to bother her with the New Year's Eve banquet today. Since you asked about her, I will certainly offer you my respects to her when I pay my respects to her in Shoukang Palace later."
This person jumped out at the perfect time, saving him the trouble of explaining himself later.
The clever minister in the hall quickly and loudly praised the emperor's filial piety, and said that with his care, the empress dowager would surely recover soon.
After receiving An Lingrong's gaze, Concubine Hua was not willing to be outdone, and a string of compliments popped out of her honey-smeared little mouth.
The emperor thought of Concubine Hua who was holding the Phoenix Seal on his behalf, so he raised his glass to her.
Concubine Hua did not expect that the emperor would praise her in public. As soon as she came to her senses, she raised her wine glass with both hands and reciprocated.
When she looked at the person she wanted to express her gratitude to, she found that An Lingrong was busy cooking hot pot for Zhao Hua.
Anle, who was sitting on a high stool, obviously saw the movement on the table opposite. She gently tugged at Concubine Hua's palace dress and asked in a baby voice.
"Mother, Anle also wants to eat the same hot pot as my sister."
"Okay, mother, I'll prepare some food for Anle right away."
Today is New Year's Eve, and there is really no reason to send Anle to Yongshou Palace for a free meal, which resulted in her not eating much of her lunch.
Her daughter finally had an appetite, and Concubine Hua quickly agreed with great surprise.
She had good eyesight, and her bright big eyes would stare at the table opposite from time to time to see what dishes An Lingrong was boiling, and then she would imitate her and boil some for her daughter.
The emperor, who was observing everyone, saw that Concubine Hua had been taking care of Anle but she didn't eat a single bite, and his opinion of her changed.
Shilan is also a good mother who loves her children!
Less than two quarters of an hour after the banquet began, the emperor spoke in a loud voice.
"I have to go to Shoukang Palace to visit the Queen Mother, so I'll leave first. My dear ministers, please enjoy yourselves and don't be too restrained."
Everyone quickly stood up to see the emperor off.
This has always been the case for palace banquets. The emperor, empress dowager, queen and others would leave first to avoid making others feel uncomfortable.
Not long after, Concubine Hua found an excuse to leave first, and the other concubines followed suit.
Although there were lanterns on the road, An Lingrong was worried about the children walking alone.
Baoque, Baoli and Xiaolinzi each held one and headed steadily towards Yongshou Palace.
As soon as they entered the palace, Bao Ge came forward to support his master.
When An Lingrong felt the force coming from her palm, she knew that the matter in Jingren Palace had reached Su Peisheng's ears.
At this time, Su Peisheng, who was guarding outside the back hall, was indeed very conflicted. The emperor came back specifically to change clothes in order to meet the empress dowager.
But such news came from Jingren Palace.
As he was pacing outside the store, Xiao Xiazi came up to him with a smile.
"Master, the kitchen just sent a few boxes of snacks to the west room, saying they were a gift from the master."
"I understand. I'll go in and kowtow to express my gratitude."
Su Peisheng's voice was full of gratitude.
But Xiao Xiazi felt a little tragic looking at his back.
Su Peisheng can't be beaten during the New Year, right?
Xiao Xia Zi shook her head quickly. Su Peisheng has always been highly regarded by the emperor, so he must be overthinking it.
About two quarters of an hour later, the emperor, wearing a black fox hat, strode out of the main hall. Behind him, Su Peisheng was holding a long small box.
Vaguely feeling that there was something wrong with the aura surrounding the Emperor and Su Peisheng, Xiao Xiazi shrank into the darkness.
Sure enough, Su Peisheng casually selected a few eunuchs guarding the corridor and four guards on duty at the Yangxin Gate to accompany him.
Since the emperor came in person, the guards outside the door quickly let him in.
As soon as Sun Zhuxi heard the noise, he came out to investigate.
"My slave, please pay your respects to the Emperor!"
The emperor, who had something on his mind, didn't say a word of greeting and went straight to the point.
"Where is the Queen Mother?"
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is praying for the Qing Dynasty in the small Buddhist temple."
Sun Zhuxi replied respectfully.
She felt that the emperor's visit to the empress dowager on New Year's Eve showed that he still cared about the mother-son relationship.
Just as she was about to ask someone to wait in the main hall, she found that the emperor walked directly past her.
As soon as Sun Zhuxi discovered the emperor's intention to go to the small Buddhist temple, he wanted to step forward to dissuade him.
Su Peisheng, who was quick-witted and quick-handed, stopped the man and tried to persuade him with a forced smile.
"Aunt Zhuxi, the Emperor has come specially to accompany the Empress Dowager to celebrate the festival. As servants, we should not disturb the master's leisure, don't you agree?"
Sun Zhuxi glanced at the four tall and strong guards passing by her, and she smiled and discussed.
"Your Majesty must have traveled all the way here from the night banquet. I'll go make some tea."
"Aunt Zhuxi, I won't bother you with such a small matter."
Su Peisheng was determined not to let Sun Zhuxi out of his sight.
The old people in Shoukang Palace are not simple people, so he has to keep a close eye on them.
The Empress Dowager's small Buddhist temple was located in the eastern warm room, guarded outside by two elderly maids.
The emperor gave a look and the two guards following him covered the nanny's mouth, dragged her into a dark place and knocked her unconscious.
"Stand guard at the door and wait for my orders at any time."
The guards who guarded the Yangxin Gate at night were drawn from the Blood-Guillotined Dagger by the emperor and were completely under his command.
After receiving the order, the four men stood outside the door with expressionless faces.
The sound of the wooden fish coming from the room struck the emperor's heart heavily. The closer he got, the more upset he felt.
The Queen Mother, who was beating a wooden fish, heard the approaching footsteps and scolded without even turning her head.
"Zhuxi, didn't I say I would pray for Little Fourteen? What are you doing here?"
"It is forbidden to be disturbed when praying. You will receive the acupuncture punishment yourself!"
"Empress Dowager, Zhuxi has been with you for many years. Isn't it too cruel to torture her with acupuncture?"
The emperor gasped when he saw the empress dowager's stern look for the first time.
Needle punishment involves fixing the prisoner's hands so that his ten fingers are stretched out, and then the torturer inserts long needles into the prisoner's nails.
As the saying goes, "the fingers are connected to the heart." Even a middle-aged man cannot bear this kind of pain, let alone Sun Zhuxi's old age.
When the Queen Mother heard the sound behind her, she paused playing the wooden fish in her hand.
"When did the Emperor come? Why didn't he let anyone know?"
"Ever since moving into Shoukang Palace, the Empress Dowager has devoted herself to worshipping Buddha. Only today have I had the honor of seeing the true face of the small Buddhist temple."
The emperor ignored the empress dowager's words and instead made an ambiguous sigh.