Is the fox’s tail about to be revealed?
Jun Ning pressed her lips together, looking as if she had seen through everything.
The Empress was busy acting and paid no attention to Jun Ning’s expression.
She sniffed and wiped non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, saying, "Ah Ning, you know that recently your Empress Mother has been confined in this Jiaofang Palace, unable to go anywhere, and feeling very frustrated."
As she spoke, she began to sob, her shoulders trembling with her sobs, "What happened before was indeed your Empress Mother’s fault, I have wronged you, and your Empress Mother realizes her mistake."
The Empress was well aware of the source of the conflict between her and Jun Ning, so now she did not avoid it but chose to address it directly.
In her view, only by confronting the problem directly could it be resolved.
But her way of confronting was not through admitting fault or apologizing, but by explaining her grievances to Jun Ning with great effort, hoping for Jun Ning’s understanding and forgiveness, ultimately leading her by the nose and using her.
She looked like a difficult, affectionate mother, "You have to understand your Empress Mother, her actions were meant for Ah Yu’s benefit. After all, Ah Yu has so many outstanding brothers ahead of him, and if he wants to catch up, he must work harder."
"Moreover, Ah Yu is the Empress Mother’s son, destined for greatness."
"The Empress Mother wants Ah Yu to grow quickly into a literate and brave young man, capable of bearing responsibility early. Whether it’s a companion or a teacher for his studies, the Empress Mother wants the best for him."
The implication being, is Jun Ning not the best?
So was she eliminated in such a manner?
Jun Ning wore a puzzled expression, looking quite clueless.
But the Empress only saw the confusion in Jun Ning’s eyes, and quickly explained, "Ah Ning, don’t misunderstand, your Empress Mother didn’t mean you aren’t good. It’s just that my nephew is exceptionally good at studying, at such a young age he can already compose poems, so I was thinking if he could be Ah Yu’s companion to guide him."
"Oh!" Jun Ning seemed to understand and responded to the Empress.
The Empress felt very satisfied with Jun Ning’s reaction, but didn’t show it, continuing her difficult act as an affectionate mother, "So, Ah Ning, you must understand your Empress Mother, right?"
"Mm-hmm." Jun Ning nodded.
If a person doesn’t act for themselves, heaven and earth will destroy them.
The Empress longed for that position, so she plotted for Ah Yu, Jun Ning understood.
But understanding was one thing, Jun Ning did not agree with the Empress’s actions. And the conflicts between them would not disappear simply because of this understanding.
The Empress thought that no matter how clever Jun Ning was, she was still just a child. If she showed weakness and lured her several times, it would surely work. Fınd the newest release on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝙣𝙚𝙩
See, now she said she understood her.
Understanding, doesn’t that mean forgiveness?
It seems her schemes are working.
She was close to walking out of Jiaofang Palace and regaining power over the harem.
The Empress smiled triumphantly and continued, "Ah Ning, since you can understand your Empress Mother, can you help her?"
Having said so much, how could Jun Ning not understand what the Empress wanted her to help with? But she blinked her grape-like big eyes, feigning ignorance.
"How does the Empress Mother want me to help you?"
"Right now, your Empress Mother is not only confined, but the power to manage the harem has been taken away."
"Your Empress Mother has nothing now, even a mere palace maid can mock her behind her back. Your Empress Mother can endure being wronged, after all, as an adult, she can bear more than a child. But it’s different for Ah Yu."