12dz Chapter 125 Kneeling as punishment
Chapter 125 Kneeling as punishment
"Back then, you took advantage of your pregnancy to become arrogant, and now you're bullying Concubine Wen, who lives with you. I will fine you three months' salary. Do you accept this?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will remember this and will never do it again!" Noble Lady Fucha stood up and said cautiously.
After saying this, she glared fiercely at An Lingrong beside her. She was sure that it was An Lingrong who had reported her.
An Lingrong smiled bitterly. In order to repay the humiliation of Noble Lady Fucha not standing up to thank her for the snacks she had given her that day, Concubine Hua had used herself as a scapegoat. She gained the reputation of rectifying the palace rules, but she offended Noble Lady Fucha for no reason.
Nian Shilan shouted sternly, "If there are still people who don't learn from their mistakes and continue to follow in Noble Lady Fucha's footsteps, that would be truly unacceptable. Wanpin, do you acknowledge your guilt?"
Zhen Huan stood up.
"Today, all the concubines in the palace have gathered in Yikun Palace to hear the matter. Wanpin is late for no reason and is not obedient to me. Kneel down now!"
The concubines in the palace all changed their expressions and looked at Zhen Huan together.
Zhen Huan thought for a moment, then bowed slowly, "I know I was wrong, and I have just apologized. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Nian Shilan deliberately exaggerated the matter, making it sound serious. "Now you have no respect for the superiors and the inferiors. What will you do if you give birth to a prince in the future? Will the entire harem have to share your surname Zhen?"
Zhen Huan couldn't let such a serious crime be pinned on her head. Not willing to be outdone, she slowly raised her head and said, "Even though the Imperial Concubine is angry, I have to say that when Noble Lady Fucha was pregnant, the Emperor and Empress took good care of her. This was not for Noble Lady Fucha, but for the sake of the ancestral temple and the country. I'm not late for no reason today; I'm simply not feeling well. Even if I've offended you, the Empress Dowager and the Empress are above me. What the Imperial Concubine said just now about all the concubines in the harem taking the Zhen surname really makes me feel uneasy."
The atmosphere on the court was cold, and the two men stared at each other.
Jingpin quickly came out to smooth things over, "Your Highness, it's really hard for you to take care of the chores in the harem. Why don't you have a cup of tea and take a break? Even if Wanpin is wrong, please let her stand up before you speak!"
"A woman's virtue is the most important thing. Concubine Wan Zhen used flattering words and flattering demeanor to offend her superiors and disrespected me. She is punished to kneel outside the Yikun Palace and recite the Female Commandments as a lesson." Nian Shilan could not argue with Zhen Huan, so she simply ordered the punishment.
Upon hearing this, Jingpin quickly knelt down and pleaded, "Your Majesty, it's hot today, and Wanpin is pregnant, how can she kneel there? Your Majesty, why don't you fine her salary or make her copy the palace rules!"
Fang Chunyi also stood up and bowed, saying, "My sister is pregnant, and the emperor loves her dearly. Please, Your Majesty, forgive my sister for the sake of the emperor!"
An Lingrong looked at Fang Chunyi, thinking these words might add fuel to the fire.
Sure enough, Concubine Hua's face became even angrier.
Shen Meizhuang also stood up and looked at Concubine Hua and pleaded, "Wanpin has already admitted her fault. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Nian Shilan looked at her with disdain and said, "When the Empress was reorganizing the harem that day, why didn't you come out to say anything? You were ordered to study the affairs of the six palaces, but what did you learn?"
Shen Meizhuang refused to give in. "I have been taught by the Empress and the Imperial Concubine that the palace rules are meant to maintain order and dignity in the palace and ensure harmony and stability in the harem, not to serve as an excuse or means to punish concubines. Furthermore, the law is based on human feelings, and reason is based on human nature. Wanpin's pregnancy has been difficult, and I believe the Empress and all the sisters can understand!"
Concubine Hua glanced coldly at Shen Meizhuang's belly, her eyes flashing with jealousy. After a moment, she suppressed her anger and said, "I am the harem keeper for the Emperor and Empress, and I only know how to reward meritorious deeds and punish mistakes. How can I understand human nature? Ha, are you kidding me?"
Shen Meizhuang simply explained, "When the Empress was alive, she often exempted Wanpin from her morning and evening visits. Does Your Majesty want to place herself above the Emperor and Empress?"
Xia Dongchun, the last one, suddenly said, "The Emperor and the Empress left the palace. The Imperial Concubine is the master of the harem. She naturally has the power to deal with the concubines. I, the concubines, dare not say anything more."
Jingpin beside her was sweating with anxiety. "Your Majesty, it's a small matter for you to punish Wanpin. But if something happens to the dragon fetus, how will you explain it to the emperor and the empress when they return?"
"The palace rules are not strict and need to be rectified. Even if the emperor and empress knew about it, they would only praise me!"
"Your Majesty wants to revise the palace rules, so naturally, I dare not say anything. But Your Majesty shouldn't use Wanpin as a scapegoat. Those who don't know would think that Your Majesty is taking this opportunity to settle a personal grudge. Wouldn't that be a betrayal of Your Majesty's good intentions!"
Shen Meizhuang stared at Concubine Hua with a sharp gaze.
Looking at her defiant gaze, Nian Shilan recalled the provocative looks the three of them had given her on the day she was really pregnant. However, things were different now. She was the head of the concubines, and she had the Emperor and Empress's decree. "If it weren't for the fact that you were about to give birth, I would never have forgiven you!"
After saying that, she said impatiently, "Wanpin, are you going to walk out by yourself, or should I order someone to help you out?"
Seeing Zhen Huan standing still on the ground, Concubine Hua gave a look, and Zhou Ninghai limped to Zhen Huan's side, "Princess Wan, please!"
When Zhen Huan saw this, she knew that Concubine Hua was deliberately targeting her. If she did not follow her wishes, she would suffer a great loss.
Arriving at the Yikun Palace, Zhen Huan spoke with difficulty, "Of course I must be punished for my mistakes, but I am pregnant with the Dragon Child and cannot kneel for long. Please reconsider, Your Majesty."
This is equivalent to pleading for mercy from Concubine Hua. If begging for mercy can save the dragon fetus in her belly, Zhen Huan is willing to give it a try.
Nian Shilan sneered, "Do you think I'm a fool? Your pregnancy has been fine, and it's already past the first trimester, so it's long been stable. I've also consulted the imperial physician, and he says it's not a big deal for a pregnant woman to kneel for an hour."
Zhou Ninghai stepped forward and pressed Zhen Huan hard to the ground!
Zhen Huan knew at this time that no matter how much she pleaded, it would be useless. Nian Shilan had already inquired about her physical condition and consulted the imperial physician. She had decided to take advantage of the emperor and empress's absence to give her a good warning!
"I am being punished because Your Majesty is in charge of the affairs of the six palaces under the order of the Emperor and Empress. Justice is in the hearts of the people, not in punishment!"
Nian Shilan seemed to have heard a joke, "Alright, I'll let you know whether justice lies in my hands or in your so-called human heart!"
She took the book the maid handed over and threw it into the corridor. "Read it carefully! Read until I am satisfied!"
Shen Meizhuang was extremely anxious and could no longer hold herself back. Just as she was about to step forward, An Lingrong grabbed her arm tightly.
An Lingrong shook her head anxiously and said in a low voice, "Sister, please take care of your own body!"
Seeing Shen Meizhuang stop, An Lingrong quickly pulled Su Ye aside and knelt on the ground together, pleading earnestly, "Princess Wan is pregnant, please have mercy on me, Your Majesty!"
Nian Shilan didn't even look at her, and said lazily, "Just because you're pregnant, you can flout palace rules? Since you're pleading for her, then kneel with her!"
Seeing that another person was about to be sacrificed, Zhen Huan quickly defended An Lingrong, "Concubine Wen is not pleading for me, please don't take your anger out on her, Your Majesty."
Nian Shilan was now unconcerned, not even pretending to be anything. "If I insist on taking my anger out on her, what can you do? Aren't you two sisters very close? Well, kneel down beside her with the book in hand, and let her read. She'll learn some good manners."
An Lingrong took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. "Your Majesty, you act so arrogantly. Aren't you afraid of attracting the attention of the six palaces? We are all the Emperor's concubines, sisters who serve him together. Your Majesty, please at least consider the Emperor's reputation!"