Those two shameless people didn't feel the slightest bit embarrassed.
Especially Ling Shan. She was almost about to blurt out, "What is the Queen Mother's reward?"
The Queen Mother felt a sudden pang in her heart again. She had suffered too many shocks today.
It must be the scorching sun above. Otherwise, why would she feel as if she was on the verge of fainting, with her vision going black again and again?
The Queen Mother pinched the palm of her hand and looked at Ling Shan with a smile.
"The Emperor is indeed considerate. Ling Shan did save the Emperor, so I will surely reward her handsomely."
Surely, she wouldn't keep pestering her about what the reward was now?
"However..."
Jun Wuyuan raised his eyebrows and let out a long breath, trailing off. The Queen Mother's eyelids twitched involuntarily.
She was just thinking about whether she should pretend to faint, for she couldn't bear to stay in this accursed place for a single moment longer.
Unexpectedly, Jun Wuyuan changed the subject.
"Queen Mother, if I remember correctly, Concubine Xian was placed under house arrest by you. Why is she here, openly bullying the concubines? I don't remember when the concubines in the harem were allowed to be so unseemly when facing the Emperor."
[The one who fainted seems to be from the Cui Grand Tutor's family. This will surely give that old hag another headache.]
Wang Chengbi's eyes welled up with tears instantly. She looked at Jun Wuyuan in disbelief.
She never expected that Jun Wuyuan would actually question her on behalf of that cheap woman who pretended to be weak.
Not only Wang Chengbi, but even the concubines, whose heads were already dizzy, were shocked.
The tyrant, who never regarded them as human beings, actually showed some conscience and spoke up for them. Their drowsy minds instantly cleared up.
They were also born into noble families. Although they couldn't compare to the Wang family in power, they were still raised in luxury.
In the past, they could endure Wang Chengbi's bullying. But today, the humiliation and physical discomfort, combined with someone standing up for them, made them feel a bit more confident.
They thought that the Queen Mother shouldn't openly protect her niece today.
The Queen Mother's face stiffened for a moment. She cast a cold glance at the stupid woman who was still mourning.
"Concubine Xian, for her unruly behavior, wantonness, and bullying of the concubines in the harem, shall have her monthly salary deducted for six months, and her period of house arrest shall be extended."
The Queen Mother made a final decision. "Noble Lady Hua is gentle and graceful, virtuous and chaste... As a special case, she shall be promoted to the fifth-rank Consort."
"Aunt..."
"Your humble concubine thanks the Queen Mother. Thank you, Queen Mother, for making things right for your humble concubine."
"Your humble concubine/your servant thanks the Queen Mother. Farewell, Queen Mother!"
The Queen Mother didn't want to stay any longer. After giving a hasty explanation, she led the people away in a grand manner, taking the still restless Wang Chengbi with her.
Otherwise, if she stayed any longer, she really didn't know if she would lose her temper and do something out of control.
Moreover, the Queen Mother really didn't want to see Jun Wuyuan's face for a long time.
And...
---
Back in the Taiji Palace, Ling Shan, who had been a bit absent-minded all the way, experienced what it meant to be treated like a VVVVIP.
Perhaps the act of saving his life had touched Jun Wuyuan's conscience. Not only did he send the imperial physician to examine her personally, but he also ordered the senior maids in the Taiji Palace to take care of her. Even Granny Yang personally stewed soup to nourish her body and replenish her qi and blood.
Happiness came so suddenly that Ling Shan was still a bit dazed.
Jun Wuyuan seemed to have gone crazy. Although Ban Chun and her people took care of things like applying medicine and bathing, he actually did the crucial task of feeding her medicine.
As expected, he did a great job of feeding the medicine, not a single drop was spilled.
Ling Shan, who was "flattered", lay obediently on the dragon bed after drinking the medicine and watched Jun Wuyuan leave for the study.
The Zichen Hall, as the residence of the successive emperors of the Great Yan Dynasty, was naturally magnificent and exuded a noble and elegant atmosphere.
Even the bed was much more comfortable than the one in her shabby room.
Ling Shan lay in the soft brocade quilt. If it weren't for the injuries on her body, she would probably have rolled around with the quilt twice.
Ling Shan was not a quiet sleeper.
Unfortunately, the bed in the small bamboo house in the peach orchard was too small and narrow, which restricted her movements.
However, Ling Shan had a feeling that she would have more opportunities to sleep on this dragon bed in the future.
But this was not the most important thing now.
For some reason, now that it was quiet, the look in the Queen Mother's eyes before she left flashed through Ling Shan's mind.
Although it was a small victory to see the Queen Mother lose face today, she should have been happy.
But the meaningful look in the Queen Mother's eyes before she left...
It was as if the Queen Mother was looking down on everyone from a high position.
In the Queen Mother's eyes, she was like an ant, unable to escape her grasp.
It was a cold and creepy feeling.
Ling Shan thought carefully. The only thing about her that was easy to control was...
Damn it! Could that old hag still have a trick up her sleeve?
Ling Shan was so anxious that she sat up directly from the soft brocade quilt. She reached into her sleeve and took out the antidote.
According to the previous pattern, the poison would flare up on the night of the full moon every month.
She had gone to great lengths to flatter that old hag, but never expected to be tricked like this.
This antidote looked exactly the same as the one in her memory, but Ling Shan felt that there must be something fishy about it.
That damn old hag!
"Miss?"
Ling Shan's face suddenly darkened. She held the antidote tightly as if she wanted to eat someone.
Ban Chun was passing by with a basin of hot water. From a distance, she saw the figure sitting in the dragon curtain and stopped.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
The gloomy look on Ling Shan's face disappeared instantly. She coughed weakly.
"Sister Ban Chun, don't worry. I'm fine."
"If you have any instructions, Miss, just call this servant."
Realizing that Ling Shan didn't want to talk more, Ban Chun bowed her head respectfully. "This servant will wait outside. You can rest in peace."
Ling Shan lay down again and put the antidote away.
There were still ten days. She had to think carefully about how to make good use of this antidote.
In the study on the other side, Jun Wuyuan walked around the nearly human-sized bronze pomegranate tree and kept exclaiming in wonder.
[That old bastard Wang Yuyao really deserves to die. A birthday gift like this is so rare. He is richer than the Emperor himself. Who else deserves to die if he doesn't?]
Liang Jiusi was like a country bumpkin. He leaned in and looked at it again and again.
The bronze trunk seemed to be a natural work of art, dotted with red pomegranates, symbolizing good fortune and many children.
Humph.
Jun Wuyuan sneered. His eyes swept over the ruby red stones the size of fists, and his eyes were filled with cold and fierce killing intent.
Such a precious thing, was that old bastard Wang Yuyao worthy of it?
An old man on the verge of death, with one foot already in the coffin, giving a birthday gift of a bronze pomegranate tree?
And many children and grandchildren?
That old bastard would be lucky if he didn't end up childless!