Chapter 186 Fighting for Her Mother’s Honor, Obtaining the Empress Dowager’s Support

Old General Mu and Mu YingYi almost didn’t sleep for a whole night because Zi You had stayed in the Palace last night to treat the Empress Dowager. They came to Jingyang Palace early this morning.

Because the Emperor’s consorts were in the Empress Dowager’s bedroom, the two men had waited in a hall outside and didn’t come in. But they both heard what had happened in the bedroom.

At this moment, the two men were also tearful. They could no longer remain calm. They suddenly rushed into the bedroom and knelt in front of the Emperor.

Old General Mu kowtowed and said, sadly and angrily, “Emperor, Chen’s granddaughter could have been a noble xiaojie at home. But for the safety of the soldiers, she would rather give up her comfortable lifestyle and suffer together with soldiers in the mountains. But such a loyal and patriotic child is still being suspected. Chen can’t accept this.

“Please allow Chen to retire and return to Chen’s hometown. Chen will bring Chen’s sons and granddaughter to return to civilian life.”

Mu YingYi also kowtowed and said, “Emperor, Chen’s family is loyal and devoted! Chen’s family has never thought about betraying Emperor or the government. Chen’s niece wholeheartedly wants to carry on her mother’s legacy and rescue our Great Yan’s soldiers out of patriotism and loyalty. But she is now slandered like this.

“Please allow Chen to resign from the post of the Commander of five cities’ military forces and the Commander of the front line battalion to return with Chen’s father to civilian life, Emperor.”

Old General Mu and his son were so angry that they resigned.

After hearing Second Wangzi’s words, Xuanwu Emperor had calmed down. His second son was right. If Mu Zi You was really guilty, then she wouldn’t overtly show off her abilities to the world.

For example, take the matter of Imperial Doctor Qin succumbing to the gu. If she didn’t say it, then no one would have found out. But she said it out loud. This proved that she wasn’t guilty in her heart.

Moreover, Mu Junyuan and Mu YingYi have not shown any disloyalty to Zhen as of now. They don’t collude with other officials or wangzis. Zhen cannot make groundless accusations just because Mu Zi You has some special ability like her mother. This will chill their hearts. Zhen cannot lose them now.

Now, this is the time for Zhen to perform. Zhen cannot let the little yatou’s heart be bribed by Boyu and that dandy Shangguan LingRan.

The Emperor thought of this and immediately looked hard at Lin Pin. Although he was reluctant to give up this beautiful and charming little woman, none of that mattered compared to his country.

As long as he was the Emperor, he could have as many beautiful women as he wanted.

“Lin Pin insulted Mu furen, who had performed meritorious service to Great Yan. She is stripped of her “Pin” title and sent to the Cold Palace,” Xuanwu Emperor coldly said.

The Empress Dowager said in dissatisfaction, “Emperor, it’s not enough just to dispose of someone with ulterior motives. How many soldiers’ hearts will be chilled by Nee Lin’s words? Why is it that someone will repeatedly insult Mu furen, who has performed meritorious service to our Great Yan?

“If Aijia is Old General Mu’s family, Aijia will be sad too. If it’s like this, who will devote their lives to the country and the government?”

“Those who perform meritorious service should be rewarded.” Shangguan LingRan shouted, “Rewards will draw out brave men.”

The Empress Dowager dotingly rubbed Shangguan LingRan’s hand. She smiled and said, “Look. Even Ling’er knows this principle.”

The Emperor looked at his mother and nephew in perfect sync. He was so angry that he trembled, but a stiff smile still appeared on his face. He said to Zi You, “Mu furen has done meritorious deeds for Great Yan. She is titled as first-rank Zhongguo Furen. Whoever dares to insult Zhongguo Furen will be killed without mercy.

“Mu Zi You has achieved merit for treating the Empress Dowager. She is rewarded with 1,000 silvers and is titled as a seventh-rank female medical team Commander.”

In Great Yan Country, only wives of first-rank officials whose husbands had contributed greatly to the country would gain a title of something “Guo Furen.” Most of them were just first-rank titled furens, with no designation. For example, Anguo furen was a first-rank titled furen and was usually addressed as “Duke Anguo furen” with no other designation.

Old General Mu’s wife, Zi You’s grandmother, had done great meritorious deeds for Great Yan, so she was titled “Chengguo Furen.”

And Mu YingRui was just a small fifth-rank official. His wife could only be a fifth-rank titled furen. But Dier had performed meritorious service to Great Yan, so the Emperor had made an exception to give Dier a titled designation to appease Zi You and Old General Mu.

Zi You also had a rank. Although it was a very low rank, having a rank and not having a rank was incomparable. Having a rank showed that she was an official part of the government.

No one dared to insult wives and officials with titles and ranks. Otherwise, it would be a crime.

Zi You saw that her mother would no longer be despised or insulted. She couldn’t help but smile and shed tears of happiness.

This tearful smile was like a dewy peony in full bloom. It contained national grace and divine fragrance and was extremely beautiful, making everyone’s breath hitch.

The Emperor looked at her smiling so movingly. His mood was finally a lot better. He ordered people to bring Imperial Doctor Qin out and take Lin Pin to the Cold Palace.

Lin Pin was really stunned silly! She cried heartbreakingly and gut-wrenchingly to the Empress, “Empress, save this consort! Empress, save this consort……”

With this shout, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager turned their suspicious gazes on the Empress.

The Empress’ heart jumped. She looked at Lin Pin and pretended to sigh in lament. “Who knew who Lin Pin had listened to so that she targeted Mu Xiaojie? Emperor, blame Bengong for not properly disciplining the sisters. Bengong will never let them casually suspect the officials’ families without evidence. It will really chill people’s hearts.”

These words seemed to say that Lin Pin was wrong, but if one thought deeply, one would think that Old General Mu’s merits surpassed his master’s. He was just being suspected but he forced the Emperor to send his favored consort into the Cold Palace.

She very easily transferred the Emperor’s dissatisfaction back to Old General Mu and his family.

Zi You immediately heard the meaning behind the Empress’ words. She bowed to the Emperor and said, “Emperor, Empress is right. Everything that the consorts in the harem say represents the imperial family. It is easy to misunderstand that they are your words, Emperor. They don’t help establish Emperor’s prestige, but instead destroy your prestige instead. They deserve to be punished!”

Zi You’s words connected some people’s sinister intentions with destroying the Emperor’s prestige. The Emperor remembered how his sons were eager to usurp power and his face immediately sunk.

His focus shifted from whether Old General Mu was threatening him to the wangzis. That’s right. You want to reduce Zhen’s prestige to make you stand out.

At this thought, the Emperor immediately felt uncomfortable. He swished his sleeves hard and reprimanded the Empress, “If Empress is too busy, then hand the matters of the harem over to Liu Guifei.”

The Empress was so angry that she almost fainted! Give more power to that cheap wench Liu? If she is given any more, then Bengong will just be a figurehead Empress. Bengong didn’t expect that the Emperor likes Mu Zi You this much. Just a few words and he longer resents Mu Junyuan threatening him, but instead, points the spear at Bengong.

One wrong move and she lost to this darned yatou Mu Zi You again. How annoying!

The Empress Dowager saw that the Empress didn’t posture anymore. She said, “You are the Empress. You have the responsibility to restrain the consorts’ every word and action. Don’t think that just because you are the Emperor’s woman, you can do whatever you want. Do you want to ruin the relationship between the Emperor and his officials?”

“Yes, Erchen remembers Muhou’s teaching.” The Empress was chastised by the Empress Dowager and it was in front of so many people. Her face turned even uglier.

Zi You saw that she couldn’t pretend to look virtuous and dignified anymore and was secretly refreshed.

On the third day, the Empress Dowager’s wheezing and swelling were significantly reduced. She could lie down flat now and was conscious. But she still had fatigue, sweating, thirst, yellow phlegm, red tongue, and a disordered pulse. Zi You went to get twelve grams of ephedra, trichosanthes, gypsum, tinglizi and reed rhizome, pearl barley, cornus officinalis…… and decocted medicine.

The Empress Dowager was in a good mood. Today was the day of Taizi and Liu Ruixue’s wedding.

No matter how sorry she was, she still had Zi You help Liu Ruixue put on her makeup and bring her a message. “Don’t think too much. After marrying, find a way to quickly give birth to a son for Taizi.”

The Empress Dowager’s words held a very deep meaning. Taizifei had been married to Taizi for almost four years. After giving birth to a doctor, she hadn’t gotten pregnant again. The Empress was anxious and Taizifei was even more anxious.

Now, Liu Ruixue was marrying Taizi. If Liu Ruixue had a son before Taizifei did, then he would be the eldest son. As such, everything would change. When Taizi ascend the throne, with the Empress Dowager still alive, who would the position of Empress go to would be hard to say.

Sure enough, after Zi You delivered the Empress Dowager’s words, Duke Anguo furen and Liu Ruixue’s expressions were a lot better.

Zi You added a pair of very valuable gold and red hairpins.

Liu Ruixue was very touched. She grabbed her hand and apologized to her again. “You’er, don’t blame me for being selfish. Actually, I really did not want you to marry Taizi not because I’m afraid that you will compete with favor with me, but because I don’t want you to be like me and have regrets.

“Remember: Rather be a lower-status wife than a high-status concubine. If you can find a wholehearted and loyal person like your grandfather and uncle, then it is worth it if you give everything up for him.”

Zi You saw that she was sincere and forgave her. She patted her hand and said, “I know. Xue jiejie needs to be careful after marrying Taizi. I heard that Taizifei isn’t a simple person. I have two things for you. You cannot take even one of them off.”

Liu Ruixue nodded and sighed. “Which big prominent families’ xiaojie is simple? Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. What do you want to give me?”

Zi You took out and handed her a sachet and a piece of paper. “You must wear this sachet on your person. Even if you’re taking a bath, you should keep it next to you and not more than two feet away. The medicinal herbs inside can prevent poison and gu. Even if you accidentally ingest poison, you can take a granule out to detoxify.

“Take the medicine according to this prescription. It will let you conceive quicker and give birth to a son. Put it away and don’t tell anyone about it.”

“Thank you, You’er!” Liu Ruixue was so touched that tears gathered in her eyes. “I did that to you last time, but you’re still helping me so much. I really don’t know what to say. You’er, I will remember your kindness and never forget you.”

Zi You shook her head. “We’re sisters. Don’t say these polite words. They’re so distant.”

Zi You helped Liu Ruixue with her makeup and returned to the Palace.

The Empress Dowager saw her return and asked in surprise, “Why didn’t you go to the wedding?”

Zi You pretended to shake her head in worry. She looked at Shangguan LingRan and said, “Chennu came back so that Shizi Ye can go to the wedding. Chennu and Shizi Ye worry that no one is serving Empress Dowager.”

“Good child.” The Empress Dowager reached out to hold Zi You’s hand. She smiled dotingly at Shangguan LingRan and said, “You’er is back. You can rest assured and go to your Taizi gege’s wedding. Come back and tell imperial grandmother all about the wedding ceremony.”

“What is there to tell?” Shangguan LingRan pouted and acted spoiled. “Imperial grandmother, your grandson also wants to get married.”

While speaking, he blinked his magnificent phoenix eyes and looked at Zi You.

Shangguan LingRan dared to blatantly express his feelings for Zi You in front of the Empress Dowager because he and the Empress Dowager had reached a consensus on him marrying Zi You.

This was what happened: After the matter with Imperial Doctor Qin was taken care of, the Emperor had wanted to punish Shangguan LingRan, but was stopped by the Empress Dowager.

The Emperor had angrily and impolitely said to the Empress Dowager, “He even dares to hit Zhen’s consort. Does that mean that he will be presumptuous every time that Zhen doesn’t do what he wants?”

The Empress Dowager had immediately retorted, “You know that he’s reckless. He saw that Lin Pin insulted Aijia’s savior, so of course he wasn’t happy. What? Are you dissatisfied with the person who saved Aijia’s life? Aijia think that Nee Lin is probably the mastermind behind Imperial Doctor Qin.”

The Emperor was blocked by the Empress Dowager’s words. He had to soften his tone to say, “Nee Lin has been banished to the Cold Palace. Muhou……”

“So what if she’s banished to the Cold Palace?” The Empress Dowager had immediately interrupted him. “She has ulterior motives and wants to kill Aijia. Her whole family should be executed!”

The Emperor had defended Nee Lin. “When did she want to murder you, Muhou?”

“When did she not?” The Empress Dowager had righteously said, “Who is Mu Zi You? She is the savior who healed Aijia’s illness. Nee Lin wants to kill Aijia’s savior. What if Aijia gets sick again?

“What if the other imperial doctors can’t treat Aijia? Does she want Aijia to die? She is really vicious. She deserves to die! Banishment to the Cold Palace is too cheap for her!”

The Empress Dowager’s words stemmed from Shangguan LingRan’s analysis of the situation for her.

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