Episode 33: Concubine Rong failed to seize power

Xiao Huayong died while trying to save his life. The imperial court held a grand burial for him in accordance with the highest imperial etiquette. White flags hung on the ground in front of his coffin. All civil and military officials in the court wore plain clothes to express their condolences. The atmosphere in the palace was as heavy as cold water.Just as the memorial ceremony was in progress, Concubine Rong came with a large number of palace officials. On the surface, she wanted to express her condolences to the loyal soul, but in fact, she wanted to take advantage of the chaos to ask Shen Xihe for the power to co-manage the Sixth Palace.Shen Xihe immediately refuted it in public, saying bluntly that it was a national mourning, and it was really against the rules for Concubine Rong to not go to the palace to take care of the traumatized emperor, but to openly ask for authority in the mourning hall.

However, several ministers accompanying him stood up to persuade him, telling Shen Xihe to be more aware of the current affairs and hand over the Sixth Palace token as soon as possible to avoid embarrassing the situation.Shen Xihe looked calm, as if she had expected that Concubine Rong would come here today to press her. She calmly took out the Queen Mother's decree that she had prepared and read it out loud in front of everyone.Yi Zhi clearly stated that Shen Xihe would be given full authority to handle all matters in the Sixth Palace. From now on, all concubines and concubines in the harem must obey her orders.

Concubine Rong did not expect that the Queen Mother had already made arrangements. Her expression changed several times, but she finally did not dare to resist the order. She could only lead everyone to kneel down and obey Shen Xihe's orders.On the second day, Xie Yunhuai handed over two memorials. One was to refuse the imperial court's posthumous title, and the other was to plead to resign from all official positions, just to return to the countryside and not be involved in court disputes.Shen Xihe agreed to his request, turned around, and turned his overflowing thoughts into the motivation to take care of the affairs of the Sixth Palace. He was immersed in the piled files every day, and even the palace attendants were often in a daze when they were adding tea.

One day, when she looked up after being at her desk for a long time, she seemed to see Xiao Huayong standing under the window, looking at her with a smile like before.She subconsciously took his favorite flower tea in the past, slowly grinding it according to his old technique, and the fine petals fell into the white porcelain cup, which was a way to relieve some of the bone-gnawing lovesickness.Late at night, she looked at the empty dragon bed and couldn't bear it anymore. She turned her back to the candlelight in the hall and cried silently. The coldness in the hall was wrapped in longing that she couldn't get rid of.

During these days, Xiao Changqing came to see Shen Xihe every day, but every time he was stopped outside the palace by the palace officials.Shen Xihe deliberately avoided seeing her, fearing that the news of their frequent encounters would spread and leave rumors in the court, which would create many unfavorable criticisms against her and the late Xiao Huayong.But Xiao Changqing couldn't hold it back after all, and directly opened the palace door and walked up to her, saying in a firm tone that what Xiao Huayong could do for her in the past, he, Xiao Changqing, can do the same now.

He didn't want to see Shen tide and Du Lili in a dilemma. As long as she was willing to nod and be with him, he would do his best to protect her throughout her life.Shen Xihe didn't hesitate at all, and then resolutely rejected his overture.This matter soon reached the ears of Gu Qingshu, who became jealous and secretly explored around. She actually discovered an ulterior secret about Shen tide and his life experience.

The next day, Gu Qingshu pretended to kneel in front of Shen Xihe and beg her for protection. As soon as the conversation changed, she directly revealed that Shen Xihe's true identity was the long-deceased Gu Qingzhi. She also took out a gold lock and said that it was her sister's favorite object during her lifetime and that she would return it to her today.But Shen Xihe's expression remained unchanged. Instead of admitting that he was Gu Qingzhi, he saw through the mechanism of the golden lock at a glance - there was a special poison hidden in the lock cylinder. As long as it was opened for a moment, the poisonous gas would be released, and anyone who heard it would be killed on the spot.Seeing that the plan was exposed, Gu Qingshu broke down, took out the hidden dagger and stabbed Shen Xihe. Mo Yu on the side reacted very quickly and stepped forward to restrain her with one move.

Shen Xihe threw the golden lock back in front of her, and when he pulled it, the poison that came out of the lock was inhaled by Gu Qingshu herself, and she died on the spot.Afterwards, Shen Xihe truthfully reported the matter to the emperor, but Gu Qingshu's personal maid suddenly knelt down and said back that Shen Xihe had deliberately killed her master. She also took out a secret letter, which said that the prince Xiao Huayong had known for a long time that someone was going to assassinate the emperor, but deliberately concealed it and even secretly made profits from it in the East Palace.Seeing this, Concubine Rong immediately fanned the flames and was about to pour all the dirty water on the late Xiao Huayong. Shen Xihe then raised his hand and slapped the maid in the face, sternly scolding that the prince's loyal soul was still alive, how could he just make false accusations based on a secret letter of unknown origin?

The emperor was immediately furious and issued a stern order that anyone who dared to make baseless accusations against the late prince in the future would be killed with a cane. Concubine Rong was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she never dared to take a step further.That night Xiao Changqing once again came to Shen Xihe to express his love. His tone was extremely firm, saying that he had already confirmed that she was Gu Qingzhi.Shen Xihe looked at the moonlight outside the palace and whispered softly that she had only had one husband from beginning to end, and Xiao Huayong was the only one in the world who was willing to risk his own life to protect her.

For three consecutive days, Xiao Changqing refused to eat or drink, and kept kneeling in front of Gu Qingzhi's memorial tablet, as if his whole figure had lost its soul.When he finally woke up from his obsession, he went to the court directly on behalf of the emperor, but many ministers complained one after another, forcing him to order the killing of Shen Xihe and take the opportunity to regain all the real power.Xiao Changqing looked at the people below the steps and said categorically every word: Not only would Shen tide and he not kill, but they also wanted to show that the matchmaker was marrying her and welcome her to be his princess.