freenovelworld Chapter 969 [Ashes of Love: Red Mansion Tribulation 39]
Chapter 969 [Ashes of Love: Red Mansion Tribulation 39]
"I am the king of a country, and my words are golden. Once I have issued an order, I will never change it easily! Princess Yuan, if you still insist on doing so, you will bear the consequences yourself. Don't blame me for being ruthless!" The emperor said in a dignified tone with a slightly angry look on his face.
Yuanchun was kneeling on the ground, her body trembling slightly, but she still raised her head, looked at the emperor with a firm gaze, and said softly: "I know that I have committed a serious mistake, and I beg Your Majesty to forgive me. However, my father is always on my mind. He is old, and now he has suffered such a disaster. I really can't rest easy. I also hope that Your Majesty will take into account my years of dedicated service and forgive my father this time, so that he can be reinstated and regain his former glory."
Yuanchun knew very well that her disobedience to the emperor's will might bring serious consequences to herself and her family, but after all, he was her biological father. As a child, how could she watch her father suffer and do nothing? Even if she had to take the huge risk of offending the emperor, she had no choice.
The emperor stared at Yuanchun in front of him and was silent for a long time. Finally, he slowly said: "Empress Yuan, you are really a filial person. Well, considering your filial piety, I will let you go. But you dared to openly disobey my order today and behaved inappropriately in front of the emperor. It is really wrong. From now on, I will remove your title and demote you to a noble. As for your father Jia Zheng, I can restore his original position and appoint him as the sixth-rank official of the Ministry of Works. From now on, you must reflect on yourself, be careful in what you say and do, and don't make the same mistake again!" As soon as the words fell, the emperor waved his sleeves without any reluctance, turned around and strode away, leaving Yuanchun kneeling on the ground alone, crying.
Yuanchun collapsed on the ground like a puddle of mud, her face as pale as paper, her delicate body trembling. Seeing this, Huan'er hurried forward and carefully helped Yuanchun up. Yuanchun's eyes were empty, and she murmured in despair: "It's over... It's completely over now. I'm afraid the emperor will never summon me again. From now on, this Fengzao Palace will be like the cold and piercing cold palace."
"Master! Why are you so stubborn? You clearly know that doing this will make the emperor very angry, so why won't you just give in a little?" Huan'er's face was full of anxiety and confusion, and she couldn't help but persuade him.
Yuanchun shook her head slightly, tears sliding down her cheeks. She choked and said, "I thought that with the love between the emperor and me for many years, he would definitely remember the old relationship and forgive my father and my poor child who died before he was born. I didn't expect the emperor to be so heartless and show no mercy. But it doesn't matter. Although my father can't be reinstated, he finally got a position and the family finally has some explanation. Huan'er, I'm really tired. Please help me go back to the palace to rest."
"Yes, master." Huan'er responded softly, carefully helping Yuanchun to stand up slowly and walked towards Fengzao Palace.
When they returned to the palace, they were surprised to see a group of palace maids and eunuchs busy carrying various items. Huan'er was immediately furious, staring with wide eyes and scolding: "You bunch of bold servants, what are you doing here? Didn't you see the queen come back?"
The leading eunuch said indifferently, "Humph! What empress? The emperor has abolished her position long ago. Now, she is just an insignificant noble lady. Oh, by the way, this noble lady, according to the rules, you are no longer qualified to live in this main hall. You should move to the east side hall."
Huan'er, who was standing by, was so angry that her face turned red, her eyes wide open, and she pointed at the eunuchs and shouted, "You guys are really going too far! Back then, my queen treated you well, but I never thought you would be treated like this today. You are all ungrateful!"
Facing Huan'er's accusation, the leading eunuch remained calm and showed no guilt. He responded calmly: "It has always been like this in the palace. Things change over time. Today you may be the unlucky one, but tomorrow it may be our turn. We, as servants, are only trying to save our lives. I hope you will forgive me."
Yuanchun sighed lightly and said slowly: "Forget it, Huan'er, don't argue with them. Come and help me to the east side hall to rest for a while." She was very clear about the palace's flattery and the fickleness of the world.
Hearing Yuanchun's words, Huan'er's eyes could not help but redden, and she muttered with grievance: "My Queen..." Obviously, she really couldn't accept that her master was treated so unfairly.
Yuanchun shook her head slightly and said in a gentle voice, "Good Huan'er, from now on, you must not call me your Madam anymore. I am of low status now, just a noble lady. You can either call me Little Master or Master."
Huan'er held back her tears and choked up as she replied, "Yes, master..." Looking at Yuanchun's lonely figure, she felt as if her heart was being torn apart, and she felt extremely distressed for this master who had once been so glorious.
The leading eunuch said with a big smile on his face: "Everyone, please be gentle! These items must be carefully registered and all taken back to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. My dear master, please don't be angry. It's really not that we are deliberately making things difficult for you. The main reason is that according to the rules, these things can only be used when you are promoted to the position of concubine. Now... hehe, you really can't use them with your status, so I was ordered to take them back."
Huan'er, who was standing at the side, raised her eyebrows and shouted angrily, "Listen to me, everyone. Some of these things are my master's personal property, and many others are gifts from His Majesty. If you accidentally bump into them, I'll see how His Majesty will punish you, you blind fellows!"
The leading eunuch hurriedly smiled and said, "Don't worry, Miss Huan'er. I understand this principle very well. There is no need to trouble you to explain it to me." After that, he turned around and continued to direct his men to carry the items.
Huan'er carefully supported Yuanchun to the east side hall and said softly, "Master, please sit here for a while, and let me go to the main hall to see if those people have damaged our things." Yuanchun nodded slightly to indicate her agreement. After getting the master's permission, Huan'er immediately ran to the main hall, her beautiful eyes fixed on the eunuchs who were busy moving things, fearing that they would do anything inappropriate.
After the eunuch left like a gust of wind, the main hall had become a mess. Huan'er was so angry that her face turned red, her chest rose and fell violently, and the anger in her heart was burning. She muttered indignantly: "There has never been such a scene in the past! What a bunch of guys who look down on others, only know how to cling to the powerful and step on the weak and flatter the strong. Humph, I don't need to think to know that this must have been caused by Concubine Li!"
Thinking back to the past, my queen and Li Fei were still on an equal footing. However, since then, Li Fei has been displeased with my queen, and has been trying to trip her up. What's more annoying is that Li Fei and the previous De Fei were the closest sisters. This behavior must be Li Fei's intention to vent De Fei's anger. If De Fei hadn't secretly plotted that year, causing the fetus in my queen's belly to die, how could she end up like this now? Whenever Huan'er thought of this, she gnashed her teeth in hatred.
After calming down a little, Huan'er began to pack up the items that had not been snatched away by the soldiers. She carefully sorted them out one by one, then walked hurriedly towards the east side hall with her arms full of items. At this time, Yuanchun was sitting quietly on the couch, staring at the scenery outside the window, looking a little lonely. When she saw Huan'er coming in, the corners of her mouth rose slightly, and she said softly: "Okay, our Huan'er, don't be angry anymore. I know the warmth and coldness of the people in this palace, and those who curry favor with the powerful have always been like this. From now on, I'm afraid it will only be you and me who will be together."
Hearing her master's comforting words, Huan'er quickly put down what she was holding, walked quickly to Yuanchun's side, knelt on her knees, and said with a firm face: "Master, please rest assured, no matter what happens, I will never betray you. Even if the world ends, I am willing to stay by your side for the rest of my life, and I will never have any second thoughts!" After saying that, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Silly Huan'er!" Yuanchun stroked Huan'er's hair gently and said with a gentle smile: "When I find a good opportunity in the future, I will definitely let you marry in a grand and decent way, and I will personally prepare a generous dowry for you."
After hearing this, Huan'er hurriedly shook her head and said, "Master, I don't want to get married. I just want to stay with you forever." Her clear eyes were full of determination.
Yuanchun sighed slightly and said earnestly: "Girl, you should think more about yourself. Do you really intend to spend your whole life with me in this deep palace? The world outside is vast and exciting. Don't waste your good time."
However, Huan'er still responded stubbornly: "Wherever the master is, there I will be. No matter how long and difficult the years in this palace are, as long as I can serve the master, I will be satisfied."
Seeing Huan'er's persistence, Yuanchun shook her head helplessly and said softly: "Forget it, since you have made up your mind, I will not force you anymore. But this promise will always remain. If you change your mind one day, come find me."