The Apo Master dressed up as Concubine Ling and killed the Ruyi sisters

Ling Yunche, once the imperial guard of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, became Xiao Lingzi, a eunuch doing menial tasks in the Yikun Palace.

The news quickly spread throughout the palace.

On the day of paying respects, Yanwan was worried that Maoqian would have a conflict with Ruyi and Rongpei, so she did not take Maoqian to Yikun Palace.

When Mao Qian heard the news, she immediately went to find Yan Wan to confirm, "My dear, everyone in the palace says that Ling Yunche has become a eunuch. Is this true?"

Yan Wan said: "Of course it's true, why, do you regret it?"

Mao Qian smiled and said, "Regret? How could that be! Ling Yunche betrayed me, and becoming a eunuch is his retribution! Ling Yunche deserves death, but I am not satisfied with becoming a eunuch. I am keeping this life just to see what happens to them."

"Master, can I go to Yikun Palace to see what Ling Yunche looks like now so that I can vent my anger?"

Yan Wan said, "That day, the Queen exempted the concubines from the daily morning and evening visitation rules, but I have something to discuss with the Queen, Chunchan and Maoqian, please follow me to Yikun Palace."

Mao Qian said happily: "Yes, Master!"

As Yan Wan brought Chunchan Maoqian into the gate of Yiku Palace, they heard several palace maids and eunuchs who were cleaning the courtyard and scrubbing the doorposts, whispering to each other while they worked.

"Have you seen the new Xiao Lingzi? I heard that he used to be a guard in the Yangxin Palace. How did he become a eunuch?"

"I have been in Yikun Palace for several years, so you don't know. Ling, no, little Lingzi used to come to Yikun Palace often to ask to see the Queen. We would often talk for half an hour. Rong Pei was always very polite to little Lingzi. I heard that the Queen even sat on the steps under the moon and talked with little Lingzi!"

"So, there really is a secret affair between the Queen and Xiao Lingzi?"

"Of course not. Otherwise, why would the emperor punish Xiao Lingzi so severely and send him to the Yikun Palace to be a eunuch? Wasn't it just to warn the queen?"

"Didn't the Emperor come to Yikun Palace for three consecutive days before? Why hasn't he come these days? I thought the Empress had regained her favor."

"Don't you know what the Queen's temper is like? What else can she do besides making the Emperor angry and withholding our monthly salary? Alas, I think this Yikun Palace is not much worse than the Cold Palace. We are so miserable!"

"Why don't we have the good fortune to serve Concubine Ling or Concubine Shu?"

……

"Your servant pays respect to Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine Ling!"

Mao Qian's mind was on searching for Ling Yunche, and Yan Wan ignored her and took Chun Chan to pay her respects to Ruyi.

"I invite you to the queen..."

Before Yan Wan finished speaking, Ruyi was a little impatient, "Hasn't this palace exempted the morning and evening visit rules? Why is Concubine Ling coming to Yikun Palace instead of taking care of the princes and princesses and handling palace affairs?"

Yan Wan smiled and said, "The New Year is coming soon, and the palace is going to hold a grand banquet. I am afraid that I have not considered it carefully, so I came to ask the Queen for advice."

Ruyi knew that what Yanwan said was just an excuse, and her real purpose was probably to make fun of her.

"Noble Concubine Ling has been in charge of the six palaces for many years. She has hosted countless banquets and never made any mistakes. The Emperor has praised her a lot. Even if the palace banquets are busy, with the help of Noble Concubine Shu, Noble Concubine Yu and others, how can Noble Concubine Ling be too busy? If Noble Concubine Ling has nothing else to do, please go back to Yongshou Palace first!"

After hearing Ruyi's order to expel the guests, Yan Wan said, "I have another matter to ask the Empress. As the New Year is approaching, I want to open porridge stalls inside and outside the palace so that the poor people and the palace maids and eunuchs who serve in the palace and cannot go home can get some food."

"This will show the kindness of the Emperor, the Empress Dowager and the Empress. What do you think, Empress?"

Ruyi intuitively thought that Yanwan was trying to win people's hearts again and brought it up in front of her specifically to demonstrate the power she held.

"What's a bowl of porridge worth? Isn't Concubine Ling always kind to you? Why don't you use your own money to pay the palace servants an extra month's salary? Wouldn't they be more grateful to you, Concubine Ling?"

"I am a little tired, please leave!"

Yan Wan was not angry either, and responded, "I will not disturb the Queen's rest, I will take my leave first!"

Mao Qian walked to a corner and looked at the eunuch who was scrubbing the pillars alone. She taunted him, "I've been in Ling's Mansion for so many years, but I've never seen you do any work at home. Now you're willing to do anything in Yikun Palace!"

When Ling Yunche heard the familiar voice, he froze.

Ling Yunche felt ashamed and didn't want to look back at Mao Qian's sarcastic face, but Mao Qian would not let Ling Yunche have his way.

"When we were in Ling Mansion, you deliberately ignored me and didn't care about me. How come you still can't change this bad habit after becoming a eunuch in Yikun Palace?"

"Thanks to the favor of the Imperial Concubine Ling, I was made a maid in the Yongshou Palace. You are just a small eunuch, how dare you not answer my questions?"

In the past, Ling Yunche was the head of the family. He could treat Mao Qian as if she were air and order her to do things to serve him.

But now the situation has reversed, and they no longer have a husband-and-wife relationship. In terms of status, Mao Qian is even higher than him.

Ling Yunche had no choice but to stand up and ask, "Aunt Maoqian, what do you want?"

Mao Qian looked at Ling Yunche's humble and submissive appearance and said sarcastically, "Your heart has never been on the right path. Now that the emperor has fulfilled your wish, why are you still so dead-faced and still harboring resentment towards the emperor?!"

Ling Yunche didn't know how to answer. Ruyi heard the noise and was afraid that Mao Qian would cause trouble for Ling Yunche, but it was not convenient for her to step forward, so she asked Rong Pei to support Ling Yunche.

Rong Pei limped out and scolded Mao Qian, "Ling Yunche is from Yikun Palace. What qualifications do you have to act so presumptuously in Yikun Palace?!"

Yan Wan came out at this time and heard Mao Qian's blunt retort, "You tried your best to distance yourself from Ling Yunche in the Yangxin Palace that day, so how come you are now openly saying that Ling Yunche is from your Yikun Palace?"

"Don't worry, Queen, he's just a eunuch. No one in the palace looks down on him. Why do you have to ask a maid who is also injured and hasn't fully recovered to support you? The rules of Yikun Palace are really different from those of other places!"

Mao Qian humiliated two people with just one sentence, which made Rong Pei very angry. However, she was injured and didn't dare to make any big moves. She couldn't stand the humiliation, so she left Ling Yunche and went back directly.

When Yanwan came out, Maoqian immediately stepped forward to support her.

Yan Wan said, "Since we are from the same hometown, I would like to give you a piece of advice. The Queen is an ominous person. Anyone who gets close to her will suffer disaster. If you don't want to die, you'd better stay away from her!"