A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Chapter 218 The Red Chrysanthemum

The Imperial Concubine brought Fan Yitang forward and bowed slightly to the Empress. Lin Qinghuan and Bai Weian also bowed to the Imperial Concubine.

Looking at Lin Qinghuan who was stunned, their eyes met for a moment. Fan Yitang winked at her and Lin Qinghuan nodded slightly.

"Mother, the autumn chrysanthemums in front are blooming beautifully. Mother just mentioned that they are her favorite scenery."

Fan Yitang stepped forward and saluted the Queen, then spoke sweetly.

"I really like chrysanthemums, why not go and take a look?"

The Queen Mother put away the sadness on her face and regained her usual noble and elegant expression. She then stretched out her hand, and the head palace maid Qiao Ye hurried forward to support her. Fan Yitang deliberately stopped and waited for the two queens to leave first, waiting for Lin Qinghuan to follow side by side.

"My Queen Mother hasn't left the palace these days, how could I have expected to run into her today?"

Fan Yitang whispered to Lin Qinghuan.

"I just wanted to go out with my aunt to get some fresh air because the weather was nice..."

After Lin Qinghuan finished speaking, he looked at the backs of the Empress and the Imperial Concubine with a worried look on his face.

"My mother has not left the palace for a long time to avoid suspicion. I didn't expect these two enemies to run into each other when they went out."

Fan Yitang spoke without restraint. Lin Qinghuan glanced at Bai Weian who was walking in front of her, gently tugged at Fan Yitang's sleeve, and signaled her to be careful with her words.

Lin Qinghuan looked at the Imperial Noble Consort who was admiring the flowers with a heavy heart. She suspected that the person who assassinated Ning Jinyang was the Third Prince Ning Chengxian. However, the third and fourth princes were both the sons of the Imperial Noble Consort. If it was the third prince's plan, everyone felt that the fourth prince must be involved.

But how could Ning Junze do such a heartless thing to harm his brothers? But just because the Lin family believed it didn't mean the Xiao family would believe it, or that the Queen would believe it.

"The chrysanthemums are blooming beautifully this year, and the smell is refreshing."

The imperial concubine smiled, stretched out her slender fingers, touched the red chrysanthemum closest to her, and spoke gently.

"It's only been a short while since I last mourned the crown prince, and the palace is already decorated with red chrysanthemums? Are they celebrating my grief over the loss of my son?"

The Queen said this with an expressionless face, and the gardening maids and eunuchs beside her knelt on the ground in fear, trembling all the time.

"broken!"

Lin Qinghuan heard Fan Yitang mutter something in a low voice, and hurriedly followed her to the two ladies.

"Empress, please forgive me!"

"How dare you! The Crown Prince passed away, and the palace no longer needs white chrysanthemums, yet you actually moved red chrysanthemums into the imperial garden. Are you tired of living?"

The head palace maid Qiao Ye looked down at the palace maids and eunuchs kneeling on the ground and scolded.

"Empress, calm down. It was…it was Sister Lushui who said that the Imperial Concubine loves red chrysanthemums and wants to…to appreciate them…"

The little palace maid raised her eyes and looked pitifully at Lu Shui, the imperial concubine's maid, then crawled on the ground and kowtowed continuously.

Lu Shui's face turned pale and he quickly knelt down.

"My prince is gone, Imperial Concubine. Isn't it a little early for you to celebrate now?"

The Queen frowned, then looked at her lifelong enemy with murderous eyes and slowly asked.

"I am terrified and have no such intention."

The Imperial Concubine withdrew her hand that was touching Juhua, and her gentle smile disappeared. She knelt down helplessly, and Fan Yitang knelt down with her. Lin Qinghuan saw that she was about to explain, but she saw the Imperial Concubine pulling her sleeve and shaking her head.

"Please spare me, Empress. The Imperial Concubine was unaware of this matter. This was an order I gave on my own initiative."

Lu Shui quickly knelt on the ground and kowtowed in reply.

"You really deserve to die..."

The Queen glanced at Lu Shui who was kneeling on the ground.

"I have failed to discipline my servants properly. Please punish me, Your Majesty, but please spare the child's life."

The Imperial Concubine sensed the Empress' murderous intent and immediately looked up and said.

"Then how do you think I should punish you?"

The Queen Mother glanced at the red chrysanthemum in her hand, then looked down at the Imperial Concubine kneeling on the ground and asked.

"I am willing to reduce my salary, observe vegetarianism and worship Buddha for a year, and copy Buddhist scriptures to praise the prince's virtues."

After the Imperial Noble Consort finished speaking, the Empress glanced at her, her frown slowly relaxed, and then she looked at Lu Shui again.

"Lushui is guilty of great disrespect. The Queen is merciful and will spare your life. Send you to the Criminal Law Office for punishment. The rest of you will receive the beating."

The head maid Qiao Ye said loudly, and the maid behind the Queen stepped forward and dragged the green water away. The other maids and eunuchs also retreated with their heads lowered and their waists hunched.

"Chen and concubine retire."

After the Imperial Noble Consort stood up, she led everyone to bow to the Empress and leave.

On the way back to Zhaoyang Palace, Fan Yitang couldn't help but say.

"Mother, this is all my fault. I wanted you to see Hongju and feel at ease, but I didn't expect to implicate Lushui and cause you to be grounded for so long."

"It's okay. Fortunately, Lushui's life was saved. Go and make arrangements to bring her back in a couple of days."

The Imperial Concubine did not blame Fan Yitang, but turned around and instructed the nanny beside her.

"But mother, why did you say you were grounded for a year? That's too long."

Fan Yitang said in annoyance.

"Now is the time for me to avoid her. When you leave the palace, you must tell Ze'er to keep a low profile."

The Imperial Concubine patted Fan Yitang's hand and gave him a gentle reminder.

"Yes, I know."