The fake daughter of a fallen ghost is reborn

A big case like the Xue family's will not be tried too quickly.

These days, Xue Zhiyi only followed Chai Yue to learn palace rules and etiquette. Fortunately, she had lived as the legitimate daughter of the Shangshu Mansion for two lifetimes, so she learned these things very quickly.

Although someone had deliberately plotted to harm her on the first day she entered Jianzhang Palace, the people in the palace were human beings after all, and most of them were kind and friendly when their interests were not involved.

Without the curiosity of the first few days, the discussions in Xue Zhiyi's ears gradually disappeared.

Huo Zhiyu was most delighted about her arrival. She originally lived in Yuhua Pavilion of Jianzhang Palace, which was close to the West Wing. She would often pull Xue Zhiyi aside to chat and have fun.

With Huo Zhiyu around, the empress dowager regained her usual appearance as a kind and gracious elder, with no trace of the secret conversation that day.

But Xue Zhiyi was still afraid of the Queen Mother.

At this moment, in the main hall of Jianzhang Palace, the empress dowager was holding the handkerchief she had embroidered for Huo Zhiyu and praising it highly.

She had been taught needlework by Yuzhi, and her skills were excellent. Huo Zhiyu liked her skills and showed them to the empress dowager.

This made Lan Ying, who was standing by, even more jealous and resentful.

Xue Zhiyi glanced at her and said nothing.

She could use the love between men and women to confuse Huo Wuyou, but in order to make the empress dowager trust her, she still had to fulfill her promise as soon as possible and successfully overthrow the Dali Temple Minister.

……

On the first day of every month, concubines from all palaces would come to Jianzhang Palace to visit the empress dowager as scheduled.

Xue Zhiyi got up at daybreak and arranged this matter with Chai Yue.

Each concubine had her own seat, and there were regulations for the arrangement of tables and chairs, as well as incense and snacks.

This was Xue Zhiyi's first day on duty after his instruction in etiquette. Even though he had to get up early, he was still extremely alert.

After everything was settled, daybreak came.

The empress dowager had not arrived yet, and Chai Yue was accompanying her. At this moment, only Xue Zhiyi and a group of Jianzhang palace maids were standing beside the main seat with their hands crossed, waiting for the concubines to arrive.

After about a cup of tea, the concubines came one after another. There were more than ten of them, some of them were concubines of lower rank, and some looked even younger than Xue Zhiyi. Several of them were yawning quietly because they couldn't bear the laziness of getting up early.

On the contrary, several high-ranking concubines were almost the same age as the emperor, except for An Zhaoyi, who was promoted frequently under the emperor's great favor. Her young face stood out among the high-ranking concubines.

At this moment, a loud shout was heard: "The Queen is here!"

Everyone stood up and knelt to greet him, and Xue Zhiyi also knelt down.

The woman who walked in looked to be nearly fifty years old, with clear and peaceful features, but she looked a little tired.

It was the person who presented the Wutanzun to the Queen Mother, Queen Jiang Hanzhao.

The queen sat down on the right side of the main seat and said softly, "Everyone, get up."

Before everyone stood up, they heard another voice: "The imperial concubine has arrived!"

Everyone had no choice but to kneel down to greet him.

After the last blow, Concubine Ge seemed to have regained her usual elegance and grace. She was supported by Yun Shuang, and her eyes stayed on Xue Zhiyi for a moment, and then she saluted the queen nonchalantly: "Your concubine greets the queen."

Concubine Ge had held power over the six palaces for more than ten years until she was stripped of it a few days ago. In addition, she was born in the Duke Dingguo's Mansion and was proud of her favor. She looked down on the Empress and even wanted to seize her throne and replace her. Naturally, she had little respect for the Empress and was perfunctory in her greetings.

The Queen seemed to be used to Concubine Ge's contempt and just said, "Sit down."

Sitting down slowly, Concubine Ge seemed to have forgotten the person kneeling on the ground. She just stroked her hair and chatted with the queen: "Ying'er is now at an active age. I saw that he was studying hard, so I agreed to accompany him to fly a kite today. But early this morning, he made a fuss and asked me to fly a kite. I coaxed him and said that I would accompany him after his brother entered the palace today. Ying'er stopped making a fuss. But after all this trouble, I came a little late. I hope the queen can understand."

There was undisguised boasting in her tone.

Xue Zhiyi glanced at the queen quietly, only to see that the queen had no expression on her face and just listened to what she said quietly.

Everyone knows that the eldest prince born to the Queen died young and she has had no more children since then. In front of the Queen, Concubine Ge talks about her two sons every other sentence, just to hurt the Queen's heart.

The queen just smiled and said, "As the mother of these children, I should be considerate of the hard work that the noble concubine has put in taking care of the prince for me and His Majesty."

No matter how noble Concubine Ge was or how many children she had, in the final analysis, only the Empress was the principal wife of the Central Palace and the mother of the princes.

After that, the queen said to the crowd whose legs were sore from kneeling, "Sit down first."

Only then was Xue Zhiyi able to stand up and slightly relax his tense legs.

Concubine Ge understood the meaning of the Queen's words. She rubbed her forehead and said, "What kind of hardship is this? I am happy to see the princes grow up day by day."

This sentence attracted everyone's attention.

If what he said just now was just showing off, this sentence was a blatant mockery of the Queen's inability to raise the prince.

Before the Queen could speak, An Zhaoyi suddenly smiled and said, "Half a month ago, I heard from Your Majesty that Prince Gong is not young anymore and the wedding date should be set this year. If the Imperial Concubine knew this good news, she would be even more relieved."

As she spoke, she also uttered, "Is the Princess Gong, who was granted marriage by His Majesty, in the palace now?"

Mentioning Xue Zhiyi at this time was undoubtedly seeking death in front of Concubine Ge. Concubine Ge sneered: "How can you be the Concubine of Prince Gong if the marriage is not completed? An Zhaoyi, please don't lose your manners."

An Zhaoyi just smiled and said, "Your Majesty has granted the marriage, and it is up to His Majesty to decide whether the marriage can be held. Until His Majesty changes his decision, the marriage will naturally stand."

As she spoke, her eyes fell on Xue Zhiyi: "Xue Zhiyi, since you are in the palace, why don't you pay your respects to the Imperial Concubine?"

Xue Zhiyi and An Zhaoyi had no grudges or hatred in the past or present, but today, in order to disgust Concubine Ge, the war inexplicably spread to her.

Everyone looked at Xue Zhiyi and saw that although she was a little childish, her demeanor was gentle and demure. Although her appearance was not outstanding, she had an inexplicable nobleness, but she did not make people feel arrogant. Even though she was being teased and humiliated with ill intentions, she did not seem to be shaken at all.

Everyone couldn't help but think: Maybe Xue Zhiyi has his own unique qualities, otherwise how could he win the favor of the Queen Mother in such a chaotic time and become the only hope for the entire Xue family.

Xue Zhiyi only bowed and said, "An Zhaoyi is too kind. I am of humble origin and not the legitimate daughter of the Xue family that Your Majesty has arranged for Prince Gong to marry. This matter still needs Your Majesty's decision. I dare not marry someone too high."

Looking at Xue Zhiyi, Concubine Ge became more and more angry: he had been stripped of all his glory and was left with nothing, yet he could still remain calm. He really didn't know how to live or die.

How could An Zhaoyi miss any opportunity to disgust Concubine Ge? She said jokingly, "What a good marriage it was originally? What a pity! Concubine Ge's good daughter-in-law is no longer a daughter-in-law, and her family is still unconvinced. The Xue family is imprisoned in the Dali Temple and is waiting for the emperor's judgment. I wonder if His Royal Highness Prince Gong is worried about his unmarried princess in the face of such a change?"

Obviously, what Xue Zhiyi said at this moment was not important at all, An Zhaoyi just wanted to use her to humiliate Concubine Ge.