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Chapter 36
Imperial Garden.
The cold wind had already urged the plum blossoms to bloom.
Gu Han stared dumbfounded at the scene before her. Beauty Zhou lay on the ground, both her hand and cheek scratched with bloody marks. She covered her face screaming like mad, accompanied by miserable cat cries.
That cat was cradled in Consort Shu's arms. After carefully soothing it twice, it finally stopped its sobbing cries.
Gu Han looked warily at the cat in Consort Shu's embrace, imperceptibly retreating several steps. Bǎolín Rong stood beside her, clearly also quite frightened, looking at Zhou Měirén in terror. Little Fangzi, as if afraid the cat would charge over, carefully positioned himself protectively before Gu Han.
Today was a bright, sunny day. Gu Han had stayed in her palace for a long time and was thoroughly stifled. Just when Bǎolín Rong came to find her today, the two had come to the Imperial Garden together. Who knew they would encounter such a scene?
Consort Shu's cat had somehow suddenly scratched at Zhou Měirén. In her severe pain, Zhou Měirén flailed wildly, striking the cat. Startled, the cat immediately scurried back into Consort Shu's embrace. The change happened so quickly that Gu Han nearly didn't react in time.
By the time Gu Han came to her senses, Consort Shu had already sent someone to summon His Majesty.
Gu Han furrowed her delicate brows and pushed aside Little Fangzi blocking her way to step forward. Bǎolín Rong tugged at her: "Sister?"
Gu Han paused slightly, patted Bǎolín Rong's hand, and said in a low voice:
"It's fine."
No one around dared to touch Zhou Měirén. She covered her cheek, blood seemed to flow from between her fingers. As Gu Han drew closer, she could see more clearly. Her heart sank with a thud, her expression suddenly changing:
"Quickly summon an imperial physician!"
Speaking of pain, Zhou Měirén was certainly in pain. But this pain was far less severe than the fear in her heart. When the pain from her cheek came, Zhou Měirén's entire person was in a state of chaos. She only knew to cover her face and scream. Vaguely feeling someone pressing her hand, just as she was about to struggle frantically, she heard a familiar voice.
She heard Concubine Gu having someone summon the imperial physician, then sharply, no longer with her usual gentleness:
"Let go!"
Gu Han didn't want to get involved in this matter, but Zhou Měirén was the Empress Dowager's own niece. No one knew whether the Empress Dowager would take her anger out on others because of this. They were all present at the scene. Gu Han was unwilling to gamble on this possibility. Moreover, Zhou Měirén wasn't particularly favored.
Being on good terms with Zhou Měirén clearly had more benefits than drawbacks.
Though it seemed she had thought a lot, in reality only an instant passed before Gu Han made her decision. She pressed down on Zhou Měirén's hand, paused, and said through gritted teeth: "Don't you want your face anymore?"
During the earlier incident, Gu Han had been at the scene the entire time. She'd watched with her own eyes as Zhou Měirén only covered her cheek after falling to the ground. Who knew how much filth her hands had picked up? Covering her face like this, who knew if it would get infected?
This sentence finally pulled Zhou Měirén's consciousness back. Her crying ceased abruptly. She trembled as she tried to release her hand, but tears still fell uncontrollably.
She was still afraid, releasing only slightly. But Gu Han was close and could see that wound very clearly. Cat claws were very sharp, the wound practically stretched from the corner of her eye down across half her cheek. Even Gu Han's hand holding Zhou Měirén trembled.
Zhou Měirén was beautiful. She was beautifully wealthy, beautifully bold. Only her usual domineering manner made people overlook this point.
But now that wound on her cheek could be described as flesh torn open. Having covered it with her hand, blood was smeared on her face, appearing quite horrifying. Gu Han couldn't bear it and looked away.
Zhou Měirén sensed her momentary pause. Suddenly her whole body stiffened. Not knowing what she thought of, she screamed out in collapse.
Gu Han felt a chill of dread. When Consort Shu's cat had leaped out, she hadn't been far fromZhou Měirén. The cat had been spoiled by its mistress and dared do anything. If not for Beauty Zhou's frantic state frightening the cat away, who knew if it would have come at her instead?
She heard Zhou Měirén ask her:
"...Am I going to be disfigured?"
Tears fell, landing on the back of Gu Han's hand, mixed with crimson blood, exceptionally glaring. For once Gu Han fell silent, not knowing how to answer. She could only manage to say:
"Don't speak, don't cry. Be careful not to pull at the wound."
Gu Han blocked in front of Zhou Měirén. Sensing people around wanting to approach, she raised her hand to shield Zhou Měirén in her embrace, calling out sharply:
"No one comes closer!"
When Lu Yu arrived, he heard exactly this sentence. He saw the woman protecting Zhou Měirén tightly, blocking a group of people with varied expressions outside. He approached and finally saw clearly what had happened in the scene.
Suddenly, Lu Yu's expression darkened.
Those around seeing him quickly knelt in salute. Gu Han heard the commotion, turned to look at him, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She called out: "Your Majesty!"
Lu Yu was about to approach when Gu Han blocked him. Everyone was surprised. Lu Yu also looked at her. Gu Han only shook her head and said softly:
"Zhou Měirén probably doesn't wish Your Majesty to see her current appearance."
Lu Yu paused slightly and looked at her again. The woman's voice was very soft, without her usual gentle compliance toward him. But no one could deny her gentleness at this moment.
Only this gentleness wasn't directed at Lu Yu.
A quarter-hour later, everyone moved to Changning Courtyard. Everyone was blocked outside the hall. Only Gu Han followed into the inner chamber, because Zhou Měirén gripped Gu Han's sleeve tightly. No matter how much Gu Han tried to comfort her, Zhou Měirén wouldn't release her hand.
When palace servants tried to pry her fingers open, she only screamed as if startled.
"Concubine Gu, you should also go in."
Everyone looked back in surprise toward the hall entrance to discover the Empress Dowager had also arrived at some point. Gu Han's eyes flashed almost imperceptibly. Though the Empress Dowager's expression looked as detached as usual, her appearance here already represented something different.
One must know, that day during Mid-Autumn, when the imperial heir nearly had an accident, the Empress Dowager hadn't shown her face from beginning to end.
Gu Han naturally couldn't refuse. Six-panel screens and double pearl curtains completely concealed the inner chamber. For a time, the atmosphere outside the hall was exceptionally oppressive.
Lu Yu also felt somewhat of a headache. How could he have imagined that Consort Shu's mention of having a dispute with someone would be this kind of situation?
He drooped his eyes and took a sip of tea.
If Zhou Měirén were just an ordinary consort in the harem, Lu Yu's anger aside, he wouldn't be so troubled. No matter how disagreeable this Zhou Měirén was, she was still his own cousin.
Even if she hadn't entered the palace as a consort, if someone nearly ruined her face, His Majesty couldn't easily forgive the perpetrator.
Consort Shu knelt in the center of the hall. She knelt with her back still relatively straight, her slender neck lowered: "It was this consort's negligence that caused Zhou Měirén such harm. I beg Your Majesty's and the Empress Dowager's punishment."
The Empress sat steadily on the high platform, imperceptibly sweeping a glance at Consort Shu. She couldn't help covering her lips with a handkerchief.
Even she had to treat Zhou Měirén carefully, her rank was low so punishment couldn't be heavy, her status special so it couldn't be light. Today if Consort Shu's cat had scratched anyone else, by virtue of His Majesty's favor toward her, she could easily have escaped unscathed.
But how unlucky, of all people to scratch, why did it have to be Zhou Měirén?
Consort Shu looked up at His Majesty. The usually exceptionally pampered person now looked at him pleadingly. Lu Yu's eyes flickered slightly. He coughed lightly, about to say something, when he heard a very soft sound.
The Empress Dowager had placed her Buddhist prayer beads on the table, the collision produced that sound.
Lu Yu imperceptibly raised an eyebrow and casually picked up his cup to take a sip of tea.
After a long while, the Empress Dowager's unhurried voice finally rang out in the hall:
"Your Majesty, Ruo'er is your cousin. She's suffered grievance. As her elder cousin, shouldn't you seek justice for her?"
What could Lu Yu say?
He could only look up and nod very seriously: "Mother Empress is right."
Below, Consort Shu's hand in her sleeve gripped her handkerchief fiercely. But on her face, she only bit her lip, as if finally realizing His Majesty wouldn't favor her this time. Her face showed a trace of fear.
Even when a beauty only furrowed her delicate brows slightly, it was exceptionally pitiable.
Consort Shu glanced at His Majesty before lowering her head rather unwillingly, her voice carrying a trace of grievance: "This consort accepts punishment."
Some consorts couldn't help muttering in their hearts, Consort Shu was truly severely favored. Having injured Zhou Měirén like this, she actually dared feel wronged at this moment?
The Empress Dowager coldly observed Consort Shu's performance. She knew that even if His Majesty punished Consort Shu, it wouldn't be severe. He had elevated Consort Shu for so many years, how could he so easily abandon her?
But Consort Shu's performance made the Empress Dowager feel exceptionally disgusted. She seemed to see in Consort Shu the shadow of someone who had been dead for twenty years. She coldly withdrew her gaze:
"Where is that beast?"
This time Consort Shu's expression truly changed. She looked up at the Empress Dowager. After a moment, she managed to say: "Ali made a mistake. This consort has already had someone carry it back to my palace."
The Empress Dowager seemed to hear a joke:
"A beast that injured someone, you still want to keep it?"
Consort Shu had raised Ali for two years and had long developed feelings. Hearing this, she had to defend it: "Ali is usually well-behaved. Today was just an accident."
The Empress Dowager stopped speaking, the emotions on her face growing increasingly detached.
Consort Shu panicked and turned to look pleadingly at Lu Yu. Lu Yu paused slightly. He naturally knew Ali's importance to Consort Shu. But having injured Zhou Měirén's face, if he didn't let the Empress Dowager vent her anger, it would be impossible.
He could protect Consort Shu, must he also protect a cat?
In Lu Yu's heart, a beast naturally wasn't as important as a person.
So Lu Yu lowered his eyes slightly, avoiding Consort Shu's gaze.
Consort Shu's heart immediately sank to the bottom. She called out in disbelief: "Your Majesty?!"
"CRACK—"
A sudden sound in the hall startled everyone. They quickly looked toward the source. The Empress Dowager had slapped her prayer beads on the table, her face clearly showing anger. She looked coldly at Consort Shu:
"In your eyes, is that beast more important than Zhou Měirén's face?"
Consort Shu fell silent, unable to answer.
But in her heart, never mind Zhou Měirén's face, even Zhou Měirén's life wasn't as important as her Ali.
Zhou Měirén was His Majesty's cousin, His Majesty's consort, but what did that have to do with her?!
But she couldn't say this.
In just a few breaths, Consort Shu's eyes reddened. She clearly knew what she relied on in the harem. She looked up at His Majesty, calling out pleadingly:
"Your Majesty, Ali has accompanied this consort for two years. You know, Ali is usually well-behaved. In the future this consort will definitely discipline it strictly. I beg Your Majesty's mercy!"
---
In the inner chamber.
Gu Han could only vaguely hear some sounds from outside, but her attention was all on Zhou Měirén. After cleaning, that wound became even more conspicuous. But different from what Gu Han had imagined, looking at it now, it didn't seem very serious.
Gu Han asked the imperial physician the question Zhou Měirén most wanted to know:
"How isZhou Měirén's face?"
Gu Han very easily sensed Zhou Měirén's hand gripping her sleeve tighten.
The one who came was Imperial Physician Dan, head of the Imperial Medical Bureau. When examining the wound, his brows had been tightly furrowed the entire time. Hearing this, he cupped his hands and respectfully replied:
"The injury on Měirén's face isn't deep, only some broken skin. With careful attention, it's unlikely to scar. However, the injury on Měirén's hand is somewhat serious."
Before Gu Han could breathe a sigh of relief, his latter statement made her catch her breath again. Gu Han furrowed her delicate brows and looked at Zhou Měirén with some worry:
"What does this mean?"
Imperial Physician Dan didn't speak, only sighed lightly.
Gu Han fell silent, clearly understanding the answer. Zhou Měirén's face might not scar, but the marks on her hand would likely be difficult to remove completely.
This was already a blessing in misfortune.
Beauty Zhou bit her lip hard to keep from crying. The imperial physician had sprinkled medicinal powder on the wound on her face and just finished bandaging it. Now her entire face was wrapped in cloth. She still remembered what the physician said—tears couldn't flow onto the wound.
Only her eyes showed. Now learning the injury on her face wouldn't scar, Beauty Zhou's clarity finally returned somewhat. She looked toward Gu Han standing beside the bed, whom she had pulled to stay.
She remembered, when she was injured, everyone feared getting involved in trouble and stayed far away from her. Only Gu Han alone had come forward to stop her.
When others wanted to see her humiliated, it was also Gu Han who had blocked those people for her.
Zhou Měirén's nose tingled. After a long while, she managed to say through gritted teeth:
"What kind of bleeding heart are you? Trouble others don't dare touch, you step forward to take it all on?"
She still remembered that day during Mid-Autumn, Gu Han had also desperately protected Miao Měirén. Unfortunately, Miao Měirén didn't appreciate her kindness. Until now, she probably hadn't even heard a word of thanks from Miao Měirén.
If not for Cousin His Majesty remembering her kindness, going three months without attending bed, she would long since be forgotten somewhere in the harem.
Today was the same. If she also didn't appreciate Gu Han's kindness, even felt Gu Han had seen her disgrace, what good could Gu Han possibly gain?
Gu Han froze before looking up at her, somewhat helplessly shaking her head:
"You'll be ruined by that tongue of yours sooner or later."
If you want to thank someone, just thank them. Why must you speak so sarcastically?
Moreover, Gu Han's eyes flashed almost imperceptibly. She tilted her head slightly and said: "I didn't really want to help you either. I was just afraid that if you were badly injured, the Empress Dowager would take her anger out on me."
She spoke the truth, but it depended on who was listening. Beauty Zhou bit her lip, saying neither that she believed nor disbelieved. After a long while, she finally forced out:
"Aunt isn't that kind of person."
Gu Han wasn't crazy enough to contradict this statement.
The hall immediately quieted. Sounds from outside finally transmitted clearly. Especially Consort Shu's voice. Zhou Měirén instinctively raised her hand to cover her face but came to her senses as she neared her cheek. She very carefully touched her cheek through the gauze, her eyes filling with hatred.
Gu Han acted as if she'd seen nothing.
Actually, she now felt some faint regret in her heart. After this incident, Zhou Měirén would clearly oppose Consort Shu. Having helped Zhou Měirén today, who knew if Consort Shu would remember it in her heart?
Gu Han looked discreetly at Zhou Měirén, also not knowing if this matter was worth it?
Ever since the Bǎolín Liu incident, she and Consort Chen had friction. That message Xie Ang'an conveyed had made Gu Han always wary of the Empress. Now adding Consort Shu, Gu Han felt a headache coming on.
The harem only had three women of consort rank, and it seemed they all stood in opposition to her.
For once Gu Han felt somewhat vexed and distracted.
After a moment, seeing Zhou Měirén had now recovered her reason, she imperceptibly extracted her sleeve and said softly: "Zhou Měirén, rest well and recover. I'll go out first."
Zhou Měirén hadn't expected her to leave now. Her eyes widened slightly. Perhaps because only Gu Han had protected her in the Imperial Garden, she inevitably developed a trace of dependence on Gu Han. Still shaken, she instinctively didn't want Gu Han to leave.
"This matter has nothing to do with you anyway. What are you going out for?"
Gu Han imperceptibly pulled at the corner of her lips. With the Empress Dowager personally coming today, Consort Shu would definitely not fare well. Why was she going out? Naturally so Consort Shu wouldn't bind her together with Zhou Měirén in her resentment.
But she certainly couldn't say this. She only looked up in surprise: "Your injury needs quiet rest. If I stay here, I'll only disturb your recovery."
Zhou Měirén fell silent. She cared about face, having asked Gu Han to stay once, she couldn't say it a second time.
Moreover, Gu Han's rank was higher than hers. She couldn't possibly stop Gu Han. So she could only watch helplessly as Gu Han left, pounding the soft pillow in vexation and attributing all these emotions to Consort Shu.
---
The moment Gu Han emerged, she attracted everyone's attention.
The Empress Dowager also turned to look at her and asked: "How is Zhou Měirén?"
Gu Han could hear the tension in the Empress Dowager's words. She made no attempt to hide it, with her status, she truly didn't need to conceal her emotions. Gu Han lowered her eyes to hide the fleeting emotion and bowed lightly, somewhat hesitant:
"The imperial physician said Zhou Měirén's facial injury shouldn't scar, only the injury on her hand may leave some marks."
From the corner of her eye, Gu Han glanced at Consort Shu. Hearing her say Zhou Měirén's facial injury was fine, Consort Shu seemed to relax somewhat and recover a bit of confidence. Gu Han didn't know what had happened earlier, only hearing Consort Shu say with reddened eyes:
"Your Majesty! Since Zhou Měirén is fine, can Ali continue to stay by this consort's side?"
Gu Han imperceptibly stood to the side. Bǎolín Rong was right beside her but didn't speak to her, only keeping her head lowered. Only when Gu Han walked over did she look up at her, her expression somewhat complex.
Gu Han could guess the reason.
Zhou Měirén disliked Bǎolín Rong and had embarrassed her in public multiple times. Bǎolín Rong had a soft temperament but wasn't a magnanimous person, she had long held resentment toward Zhou Měirén. Yet today, she'd helped Zhou Měirén.
By rights, she and Bǎolín Rong were allies. This behavior, how could Bǎolín Rong's feelings not be complex?
To this, Gu Han only quietly lowered her eyelids.
She had no interest in sisterly devotion in the harem. Everything she did only needed to benefit herself.
No matter how complex Bǎolín Rong's emotions toward her were, as long as their interests aligned, they would remain bound together. But if interests conflicted, Bǎolín Rong couldn't possibly sacrifice herself to help Gu Han just because the two had once been allies.
Gu Han felt she didn't yet have the ability to manipulate hearts to that degree.
Just then, Gu Han noticed Bǎolín Rong's sleeve had pulled threads and seemed stained with some dark red. Gu Han paused slightly. She suddenly recalled that when the incident occurred, Bǎolín Rong had been the person closest to Zhou Měirén.
Some details surfaced in her mind. Gu Han's eyes grew somewhat stagnant.
At that time, Consort Shu had been relatively far away, separated from them by several steps. Zhou Měirén had been coming to speak with her, which brought her closer to the two of them. This meant the positions of everyone at that time should have been: Consort Shu, Zhou Měirén, Bǎolín Rong, and finally herself.
The situation had been chaotic at the time, so Gu Han had momentarily forgotten these details.
Bǎolín Rong and Zhou Měirén had never gotten along. Moreover, with Bǎolín Rong's lower rank, whenever she encountered Zhou Měirén, Bǎolín Rong would always hide behind her with lowered eyes, saying nothing.
Gu Han imperceptibly swept her gaze toward Bǎolín Rong's damaged sleeve. A suspicion suddenly arose in her heart, at that time, had that cat been charging at Zhou Měirén, or at Bǎolín Rong?
If it was unintentional, when the cat pounced on Zhou Měirén and was frightened by her, why did it still insist on scratching Bǎolín Rong?
If that cat had been heading for Bǎolín Rong but was coincidentally blocked by Zhou Měirén, then the cat would have fiercely tried to get past Zhou Měirén. Only being hit painfully by Zhou Měirén would it cry miserably as it returned to Consort Shu's embrace.
Gu Han's thoughts were somewhat chaotic. She felt she might be overthinking. But then she recalled that today she had left Changchun Pavilion specifically because Bǎolín Rong had come to find her.
When she was injured, the fact that Zhou Měirén occasionally visited Changchun Pavilion to see her wasn't a secret in the harem.
So when seeing her in the Imperial Garden, it was natural for Zhou Měirén to seek her out to talk. Without her, Zhou Měirén wouldn't have paid any attention to Bǎolín Rong.
The reason Baorin Rong would want to harm Zhou Měirén needed no thought. If Bǎolín Rong truly had a way to make the cat go mad, then Bǎolín Rong only needed to lure Zhou Měirén before Consort Shu. And she was that lure.
Once you began suspecting someone, many questionable points would appear.
For instance, at this moment, Gu Han even felt that the path to the Imperial Garden to view plum blossoms had been guided there intentionally or unintentionally by Bǎolín Rong.
Speculation had no evidence, but Gu Han's heart still sank. She looked up, as if just now noticing Bǎolín Rong's damaged sleeve. She furrowed her delicate brows lightly and said with gentle concern:
"You're injured too?"
Bǎolín Rong followed Gu Han's gaze. Seeing the damage to her sleeve, her expression immediately changed. She quickly lowered her eyes to hide her emotions and said in a low voice:
"Mm. Sister needn't worry. It's just a minor injury, nothing serious."
Her emotions were somewhat downcast and complex. If Gu Han hadn't noticed that momentary change in her expression, she probably would have truly believed she had no problems.
Gu Han silently pulled at the corner of her lips.
This incident sounded an alarm for Gu Han. Even if she didn't want to admit it, she had previously relaxed her vigilance toward Bǎolín Rong because of their alliance.
Even having been injured several times since entering the palace, because things could be called smooth sailing all along, she had become somewhat complacent.
Bǎolín Rong had easily used her to scheme against Zhou Měirén. But if today Bǎolín Rong had harbored ill intent toward her, could she have avoided it?
…No.
In this harem, at any moment, one could never relax. Any oversight could lead to irredeemable disaster.
Gu Han closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she was the same as usual. She said very softly:
"After returning, remember to apply medicine to the wound. If it accidentally gets infected and scars on your hand like Zhou Měirén's, that would be terrible."
Whether from a guilty conscience or not, hearing Sister Gu mention Zhou Měirén, Baorin Rong's heart jumped fiercely. She looked up at Sister Gu but only saw a trace of concern between her brows and eyes. The hand in her sleeve trembled before she could barely lower her head:
"...I know.”
Author's Note:
Kunning Palace: Empress
Yi'an Palace: Consort Shu
Xianleng Palace: Imperial Consort De
Zhaoyang Palace → Main Hall: Xiuyi He
Zhaoyang Palace → Side Hall: Rong Baolin
Yihe Palace → Changchun Pavilion: Female Lead
Rongcui Hall: Beauty Miao
Cuizhu Pavilion: Beauty Lin
Changning Courtyard: Zhou Meiren
Hanleng Palace → (Main Hall transferred to Side Hall): Talented Lady Yuan
Also appearing: Noble Lady Lin, Liu Baolin
Here are the ranks of imperial consorts:
- Empress (皇后 Huánghoù) — Head of the Imperial Harem
- Imperial Noble Consort (皇贵妃 Huáng Guìfēi) — Rank 1
- Noble Consort, Pure Consort, Virtuous Consort, Worthy Consort (贵妃、淑妃、德妃、贤妃 Guìfēi, Shūfēi, Défēi, Xiánfēi)** — Senior Rank 1 (The Four Consorts, with Noble Consort as the highest)
- Consort (妃 Fēi) — Junior Rank 2
- Bright Deportment, Bright Countenance (昭仪、昭容 Zhāoyí, Zhāoróng) — Senior Rank 3
- Cultivated Deportment, Cultivated Countenance (修仪、修容 Xiūyí, Xiūróng) — Junior Rank 3
- Noble Lady (贵嫔 Guìpín) — Senior Rank 4
- Imperial Concubine (嫔 Pín) — Junior Rank 4
- Beauty (美人 Měirén) — Senior Rank 5
- Talented Lady (才人 Cáirén) — Junior Rank 5
- Precious Grove (宝林 Bǎolín) — Senior Rank 6
- Imperial Woman (御女 Yùnǚ) — Junior Rank 6
- Palace Maid (宫女子 Gōngnǚzǐ) — Senior Rank 7
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