novelaction Chapter 1015: Use the other person's way to repay the other person's kindness
Chapter 1015: Use the other person's way to repay the other person's kindness
After all, he was still young, so how could he hide his thoughts from Xiaoyuer?
So before giving his lecture, Xiaoyuer casually recounted the rumors circulating in the capital and his recent meeting with the emperor.
Hearing that his father, Emperor Zhou Pu, didn't care about the rumors in the capital and instead encouraged the Zhang family father and son, Zhou Ding's eyes changed and his expression softened slightly, but he still had some doubts.
Seeing his expression, Xiaoyuer knew it was inappropriate to bring up the matter of her cousin becoming empress again today, and she would have to find another opportunity.
He will not let the person who started this rumor get away with it; he has always been a vengeful person.
Just when Cui Rong seemed to have gained the upper hand in this matter of choosing an empress, another wave of rumors arose in the capital.
This time it's about Cui Rong.
With connections and money, it wouldn't be difficult for the Zhang family to find people to spread rumors in the capital.
The day after the rumors began to circulate, Cui Ling received the news and sent people to investigate and suppress them in secret.
But this time, his grandson's matter crossed Zhang Ping'an's bottom line. Therefore, he fully supported his son's actions. With his intervention, the rumors intensified, becoming even more dramatic than his grandson Zhang Miao's predictions about fate.
After all, the main characters in this incident are a baby who is not even a month old and a current imperial concubine. It is obvious who has a higher level of public attention and who has a lower level of public attention.
When Cui Rong found out, she couldn't maintain her usual elegant and arrogant expression. Her fingers, which were adorned with nail polish, scratched the palace maid who was serving her. "What? You mean there are rumors in the capital that I want to follow in the footsteps of Empress Lü and take over the Zhou family's empire?"
Peony nodded tremblingly, "Yes...that's what they said, and they even made up a rhyme about it. Even three-year-olds in the capital know it. What are we going to do, Your Majesty? If His Majesty finds out, he will definitely become suspicious."
Cui Rong flicked her sleeve, her chest heaving with anger: "This is clearly nonsense! Someone is framing me. Anyone with a brain wouldn't believe it, and I refuse to believe His Majesty would believe such nonsense!"
“But…but…a lot of people believe it,” Peony carefully reminded, “Back then, didn’t many people believe the eight-character saying of Lord Zhang’s grandson? Rumors spread like wildfire, and ordinary people just follow the crowd without being able to distinguish right from wrong.”
"Hmph, outrageous! Zhang Heming, you've really used a vicious trick!" Cui Rong slammed her hand on the table in a fit of rage. Her face contorted with rage as she spoke.
Peony looked a little scared and subtly moved her feet away.
After venting her anger, Cui Rong calmed herself down again and coldly questioned, "Where's my father? Didn't he think of any way to help me?"
"In the message sent by Lord Cui, he said that he had already sent people to help suppress the rumors when they first came out, but the rumors can't be suppressed. People can't stop talking."
"Heh, you think you can bring me down with a baseless rumor? Impossible. If that father and son can stage a ruse in front of His Majesty to escape this calamity, why can't I?"
Although Cui Rong was angry, she didn't forget to think and quickly came up with a solution.
Peony was probably the person in the entire Yonghe Palace who understood Cui Rong the most. She had been with Cui Rong since she first entered the palace, and she was there for her during the years when Cui Rong was disfigured and neglected. It wasn't that she was particularly loyal, but rather that she didn't have the money to use connections to transfer Cui Rong away.
Seeing the glint in Cui Rong's eyes, one knew she had come up with a new idea.
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Now that she's by Cui Rong's side, although she receives many rewards, Cui Rong's unpredictable temper and violent nature, which includes a penchant for killing palace servants, is gradually becoming too much for her to handle.
She both loved and feared Cui Rong.
Just as she was lost in thought, Cui Rong's voice came again, this time in a calm and unhurried tone, "By the way, has the Zhang family's child who was sent to Jiming Temple right after birth been dealt with yet?"
“Oh, well, Lord Cui said we should wait two more days until things have calmed down a bit before taking action, otherwise it might arouse suspicion and cause trouble. His Majesty seems to agree as well. Anyway, it won’t make a difference if we wait a day or two,” Peony quickly replied, pulling herself back to reality.
"They're all useless. Expecting them to do anything is a waste of time. Forget it, I'll settle this matter first. I'm determined to become Empress. Once I'm Empress, this harem... humph!" Peony understood the unspoken meaning in Cui Rong's words and just hoped everything would go smoothly.
Originally, Cui Rong wanted to follow the method of Zhang Ping'an and his son. She was confident that she still had some charm in front of Zhou Pu, and at the same time, she was the person in the harem who understood Zhou Pu the most.
The alchemy room, located in the inner courtyard of the palace, was accessible to only her among all the concubines in the harem, because she would also take the pills while serving Zhou Pu.
That evening, she dressed up carefully and arrived at the time when Zhou Pu usually inhaled the hibiscus ointment. The guards at the gate recognized her and usually let her through, but today they blocked her way and wouldn't let her in.
His attitude was still fairly polite: "Your Majesty has ordered that if Your Majesty comes, you are not allowed to enter. His Majesty wishes to be alone."
It's clear that not only Zhou Pu, but even the guards have heard the rumors circulating in the capital.
Cui Rong paused for a moment, then raised her eyebrows and said calmly, "I want to see His Majesty and explain to him in person."
"Your Majesty, please return. We beg you not to trouble us," the guard said, bowing firmly with no room for negotiation.
Cui Rong wasn't stupid; she knew she really couldn't get in. She pinched her palm until it bled with her fingernails to suppress her anger.
She said gently, "In that case, I will return now. I will come back another day when His Majesty is willing to listen to my explanation."
After saying this, he ordered someone to leave the midnight snack he had brought for Zhou Pu, and then left leisurely.
Only after he turned his back and walked away did the sinister look in his eyes become apparent.
Peony was a little nervous. "Your Majesty, what should we do? His Majesty won't see us, and we have nowhere to explain ourselves!"
"Hehe, I was confused. This rumor is different from the previous ones. My position is also different from the Zhang family's position in the court. It is only reasonable for His Majesty to ignore me like this."
"Oh no, what should we do?" In that instant, Peony had already imagined the scene of being hated by everyone in the harem after Cui Rong lost power.
Previously, relying on His Majesty's favor, the two were too arrogant and domineering in the harem, offending many people. If they were to fall from grace, they would probably have no choice but to die.
Upon hearing this, Cui Rong glanced at Shaoyao, then adjusted the gold hairpin and her sideburns, and said calmly, "No rush, I still have one last trump card to use!"