The Self-cultivation of a Salted Fish Concubine

Chapter 333: Demotion by 2 Positions

Xie Run handled the situation with considerable experience: "I'm wondering if the Emperor, greedily using too much ice, is enjoying the heat. I'm also thinking about how busy he is with the government affairs of the previous dynasty, and how he shouldn't be overworking himself. And then there's the fact that it's been a while since the Emperor visited me and Taotao, and I wonder if he still remembers what Taotao looks like."

The two of them can be considered an old married couple.

Xie Run could talk about this for a long time.

The emperor was very satisfied with what he heard and played with her hand. "I have to bear with you for a while, but I will never forget you and your son."

Xie Run felt that the grievance the emperor was talking about was because he had always stayed in Fanghua Palace and had never come to her palace.

Xie Run thought about it and decided to keep quiet.

In the imperial study, the emperor did not have any other evil thoughts.

The emperor felt bored for a moment and patted Xie Run's hand. "If your handwriting is not good, come and grind ink for me."

Xie Run smiled and said, "This is a good job."

"What's a good idea?"

"I can always accompany the emperor without being bored by him."

The emperor was very happy to be coaxed.

After thanking Runmo for half an hour, Eunuch Shi'an came in with someone, "Your Majesty, the Empress has punished Consort Wen and Concubine An."

The emperor lowered his head, concentrating on reviewing the memorials, and said in a deep voice, "Speak."

Eunuch Shi'an: "Concubine Wenxian treated her subordinates badly, so she is demoted to Concubine and confined for one month. Concubine An committed insubordination and disrespect for her superiors, so she is demoted to Concubine."

Xie Run paused while grinding ink.

The punishment imposed by the Queen was very severe.

The two of them just had a small conflict, but they were both demoted.

An Jieyu was demoted two ranks, from Jieyu to Meiren.

Concubine Wenxian was directly dropped out of the four concubines and became an ordinary second-rank concubine.

If the empress were to punish everyone in this way, I wonder how many times the emperor's concubines in the harem could withstand being demoted.

Will everything be reset to zero and start over?

The emperor kept writing, and only raised his hand after finishing the last stroke, "Go."

That is, there is no objection to the punishment of the Queen.

Xie Run didn't hold back and asked softly, "Your Majesty, Concubine Wen and Concubine An are probably jealous of each other and plotting against each other. Is a demotion too severe a punishment?"

"You want to plead for them?"

"Of course not." Xie Run said with a smile, "I'm just a little curious. This doesn't seem like the Queen's character."

The emperor looked at her with a smile for a long time before saying, "It's not serious."

He touched Xie Run's hand and suddenly asked, "When will Sui Sui give me another prince?"

Xie Run was stunned, not knowing how the topic had turned here.

She smiled lightly and said, "Things like this still depend on fate."

In fact, Taotao is only over one year old now, and is at the age when she needs the most careful protection. Xie Run does not want to get pregnant now.

If she gets pregnant, I'll need protection, and with Taotao added to the mix, won't I really become a target?

The emperor saw through her thoughts at a glance and did not make things difficult for her: "Forget it, there is no rush."

"It's just that I really want to promote you, but I have no excuse."

Xie Run: “…”

A sentence suddenly popped up in Xie Run’s mind: If you really love someone, why do you need an excuse to promote him?

There is no need to look for deeds in other dynasties, just look at how the retired emperor favored Concubine Rou and Concubine Chen.

But it only took a moment.

Xie Run didn't want to become Concubine Rou. She fell out of favor after being favored. She spent half her life in love and half her life in power.

Not to mention Concubine Chen.

But she also knew that given the emperor's character, this statement might not be false.

He wanted to promote her, but he had no reason.

Xie Run was confused for only a second, and then he got the answer instantly.

The Queen's punishment of Concubine Wen and Concubine An might be a warning to others, to intimidate the other palaces and keep them in line.

If they wanted to promote her, perhaps they needed her high position to help the queen suppress the concubines below.

It can be seen from the fact that the emperor seemed to value Princess Cirui and gave her the title of a first-rank concubine, but still let Xie Run surpass her.

Xie Run smiled and said, "Your Majesty, are you teasing me on purpose?"

Just as he finished speaking, he suddenly saw Eunuch Shi'an coming up with someone serving tea, followed by a little palace maid in pink palace dress.

Xie Run glanced at it casually and then looked away.

Suddenly, I heard Eunuch Shi'an shout "assassin".

She was stunned.

After being here for so long, this was the first time Xie Run heard the word "assassin".

After being pampered for a long time, my reaction has become slower.

When he looked up, he saw the palace maid stabbing the emperor with a dagger.

The guards at the door also rushed in with their swords drawn.

Xie Run's brain reacted faster than his body, and he subconsciously shouted, "Your Majesty, be careful!"

She leaned sideways into the emperor's arms, facing the assassin with her shoulder.

Although he seemed to be protecting the emperor, Xie Run actually had his own selfish motives.

At this moment, Xie Run thought that even if the assassin wanted to kill her, he could only stab her shoulder and would never hurt her heart.

As long as her heart is not injured, she won't have to die.

She cannot die, and neither can the emperor.

In a flash, Xie Run was also surprised at how many things flashed through his mind.

When the emperor saw Xie Run standing in front of him in panic, he could not hide the surprise in his eyes, but then he calmed down in an instant.

Protecting the person, he walked backwards.

In the panic, the assassin was quickly subdued.

Xie Run's right arm was cut by a dagger.

The emperor held her in his arms and called the imperial physician to bandage her wound quickly.

In fact, the injury was not serious, but the emperor looked furious, which frightened the imperial doctors so much that they trembled.

By the time everything was done, the sun had already set.

The emperor said to Xie Run, "You should take a good rest. I will definitely bring the murderer to justice."

Xie Run said softly, "I'm fine."

The emperor's voice became heavier: "I told you to rest, so rest. You are so badly injured, don't move!"

Xie Run looked at the cut on his arm and fell silent.

Is the injury really serious?

The emperor was furious and punished many people, and asked Jing Wu to investigate.

A group of imperial doctors and palace maids stood outside, all with their necks hunched.

Xie Run was just dozing off when Xiao Shu suddenly lifted the curtain and came out, tears in her eyes and a smile on her face: "My Queen, good news!"

Xie Run lazily opened his eyes: "What good news?"

"The Emperor said that you have made great contributions in saving him, and he has promoted you to the rank of Virtuous Consort."

Xiao Shu said excitedly, "Also, the Emperor has discovered that the assassin is related to the Xia Dynasty envoy and has ordered his arrest!"

Xie Run lowered his head and looked at the wound on his arm again, feeling even more strange.

I didn't have time to think about it before, but when I heard that the assassin was related to the Xia Dynasty, it was as if everything clicked.

The imperial study is heavily guarded, and the maids inside are also strictly selected and will not be easily replaced.

Today, Eunuch Shi'an suddenly came in with that unfamiliar little palace maid.

During the assassination, there was not much panic on the emperor's face.

Xie Run thought back to what happened during the assassination attempt today, and felt more and more that there was something else going on.

Xie Run smiled weakly, "Go and thank the emperor for me, and tell him that I'm too badly injured to go in person."

Xiao Shu was obviously stunned, but still nodded.

Soon, Xiao Shu came back with the emperor's words.

"The Emperor said that your injuries are too severe to move to another palace for the time being. You should stay in Zichen Palace first and return to Zhaohe Palace when your injuries are better."

"The Emperor also said that you don't need to see anyone else during this period, so as not to disturb your recovery."

After hearing these words, Xie Run was certain that the assassination was staged by the emperor himself to frame the people of the Xia Dynasty.