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Chapter 59
Lu Yu didn't enter the inner palace until late April. The first place he went was Yian Palace, this was basically routine, and the Harem wasn't surprised.
When Gu Han received the news, she only acknowledged it casually. She was halfway through making a sachet and somewhat absent-minded. A needle pricked her finger, the sharp pain brought her back to herself. She drew a light breath and put her index finger in her mouth.
Jiu Nian had just finished arranging the ice basin. Turning around to see this scene, she immediately frowned:
"What's wrong with Mistress lately?"
This wasn't the first time. Recently, her mistress had been listless, unable to summon energy for anything. If not for the physician who regularly checked her pulse saying her body was fine, Jiu Nian would have suspected her mistress was under some curse.
Gu Han threw down the sachet and needle, raising her hand to pinch the bridge of her nose:
"Perhaps it's the summer heat. I always feel somewhat exhausted."
Jiu Nian was still uneasy, but seeing her mistress's rosy, tender cheeks, she swallowed her worried words. She gathered up the needles and thread to prevent accidentally pricking her mistress, then said:
"Then Mistress should rest a while. The sachet isn't urgent."
Gu Han glanced at her, feeling she was telling blatant lies. His Majesty's birthday was right around the corner, and in half a month she had only finished half, clearly showing how little attention she had paid to this matter. To say it wasn't urgent now, by the Longevity Festival, what she presented would truly be half-finished.
But she really did feel unwell, so she ignored Jiu Nian's actions, tacitly accepting her words. At the evening meal, she unconsciously ate quite a bit more. Jiu Nian kept glancing at her, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Only after Gu Han finished eating, not even seeming overfull, and retired early after washing up did Jiu Nian put the matter away from her mind.
The next day, when Lu Yu came to Changchun Pavilion, he also noticed something off about Gu Han.
He raised his eyebrows and asked: "Have you changed your temperament?"
Half a month ago, over one comment from him, she had practically refused to eat. Now she didn't care about such things. Lu Yu's gaze moved downward, falling on her waist that could barely be grasped in one hand. Her lower abdomen was still extremely flat.
Lu Yu wasn't surprised, but wondered, where had all that food gone?
Gu Han felt somewhat embarrassed by his words. She gave him a slightly reproachful glance before saying quietly:
"This concubine doesn't know either. Recently I just always feel terribly hungry."
Lu Yu laughed, raising his hand to pinch her nose tip, saying warmly: "Others speak of summer's loss of appetite. You've completely reversed it."
From the corner of his eye, seeing the woman about to get annoyed again, Lu Yu added:
"This is good. Like before, looking so thin a gust of wind could blow you away, that was improper."
As Lu Yu said this, he frowned almost imperceptibly. Gu Han caught it and raised her eyebrows, asking somewhat curiously: "Has Your Majesty seen Yu Cáirén?"
Lu Yu said nothing more. Gu Han understood, this was tacit confirmation.
She casually changed the subject:
"Yesterday, hearing Concubine Zhou mention it, the Empress Dowager has been suffering terribly from summer's heat lately, eating less. This concubine wishes to visit, but the Empress Dowager has always preferred quiet. This concubine's heart is unsettled, knowing of this but not visiting seems improper, yet... Your Majesty, give this concubine some advice?"
Lu Yu frowned. Recently, he had caught a slight cold and, afraid of passing it to the Empress Dowager, hadn't visited her in quite some time. The Empress Dowager never liked worrying him, he hadn't known about this news.
He said in a low voice: "You're thoughtful. Tomorrow I'll come fetch you and we'll go together."
Gu Han looked up in surprise. After a moment, she curved her almond eyes and said:
"Then this concubine thanks Your Majesty first."
With His Majesty personally escorting her, visiting Cining Palace would be proper and wouldn't seem like she was disturbing the Empress Dowager or showing disrespect.
His Majesty had resolved her difficulty. Gu Han reciprocated, at the evening meal there was sweet and sour fish. Gu Han remembered His Majesty liked fish. She specially selected the most tender piece from the fish belly, dipped it in sweet and sour sauce, picked it up and placed it on the plate before His Majesty.
As the fish meat was lifted and passed before her eyes, the fishy smell was somewhat strong. Gu Han's delicate brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. She paused, and only after feeling more comfortable did she set down the fish meat, saying with a smile:
"This concubine specially had the small kitchen prepare this. Your Majesty, taste how it is?"
Lu Yu enjoyed her thoughtfulness in his heart and ate the fish meat without hesitation, then said unhurriedly: "Not bad."
After the evening meal was cleared, palace servants brought hot water for them to bathe. Calculating carefully, the two hadn't been intimate for some time. When the woman's fragrant, soft body entered his embrace, Lu Yu nearly lost control for an instant.
Waves of passion rose. The chamber was tinged with coy charm. By the time the commotion subsided, who knew how much time had passed.
Gu Han was exhausted, nestled in Lu Yu's embrace. She weakly clung to Lu Yu's shoulders, eyes closed as she nuzzled vaguely. Her body fatigued, she fell asleep quickly. Before consciousness faded, she seemed to feel somewhat unwell.
A dreamless night.
The next day, Gu Han was awakened by Jiu Nian. Lu Yu hadn't yet left. Seeing Gu Han sit up somewhat groggily, he frowned with some confusion:
"What are you getting up for?"
The hour of the dragon hadn't arrived yet. Outside, the sky was still somewhat dim. A trace of coolness crept into the bedding, chilling Gu Han into greater wakefulness. Hearing Lu Yu's question, she put on an outer robe over her undergarments, got up, and reached out to receive the sachet Jiu Nian handed over.
The sachet hadn't been finished yesterday, today it was complete. Naturally, this couldn't all be Gu Han's achievement, but no one knew. Gu Han approached quite shamelessly.
Lu Yu watched her movements without stirring, guessing what she was doing, somewhat exasperated:
"Just for this, you had to specially get up?"
The man's finger flicked her forehead. Gu Han, barefoot on the carpet, deliberately cried out in pain. Lu Yu ignored her, he knew exactly how much force he'd used.
Gu Han opened a pair of almond eyes not yet fully awake, looking at him groggily, her voice soft and drowsy from just waking:
"In two days, who knows how many beauties will give Your Majesty gifts. By then, Your Majesty will have forgotten this concubine."
Such nonsense, Lu Yu could only pretend he hadn't heard.
He let Gu Han remove the sachet from his waist sash and tie on the one she'd just prepared. A light, delicate orchid fragrance drifted over. Lu Yu paused slightly, suddenly remembering from some days ago when the woman had come to Yangxin Hall and asked him, "This concubine has had flowers sent to Your Majesty daily. Does Your Majesty have a favorite?"
His answer at the time had been perfunctory. She had forcibly extracted an answer from him before leaving.
Lu Yu had originally thought she was just being temperamental and making a fuss with him at the time. Now, with the orchid sachet tied at his waist, Lu Yu suddenly realized, from the very first day flowers were sent to Yangxin Hall, she had perhaps already been planning to prepare a birthday gift for him.
He had seen too many fine things. Whatever exquisite, precious items, personal clothing, people handled all of it for him. When he learned Gu Han was preparing a sachet for him, Lu Yu actually hadn't felt much. But now, he suddenly realized the careful thought she'd put into it.
Lu Yu didn't know what to say. Perhaps because he had already developed feelings for the woman, at this moment his heart felt impossibly soft.
Liu An looked at the sachet casually removed by Concubine Zhao, wanting to speak but hesitating. But when his peripheral vision caught His Majesty's expression, he immediately lowered his head.
Lu Yu raised his hand to stroke the woman's hair, his voice low and gentle:
"I've received it. I'll wear it. Quickly go back to sleep."
The woman didn't move. She raised her fair face, looking at him hopefully, tugging at his sleeve, voice soft and low:
"Then even if other sisters give Your Majesty sachets, Your Majesty must not change it."
She said "must not", as if her attitude was firm. Lu Yu heard it as a light, teasing tickle at his heart. His eyes darkened for an instant. After a moment, he pinched the woman's cheek. Seeing her brows furrow in annoyance, he said:
"Understood."
Getting a satisfactory answer, Gu Han finally stopped detaining him. Lu Yu turned to leave. Liu An had already followed along, then discreetly went back, bringing the sachet that had been removed, before bowing out.
Lu Yu stood before the imperial palanquin, lowering his eyes to glance at the sachet at his waist. When Liu An caught up, panting, he frowned and looked up:
"Why so slow?"
Liu An smiled bitterly, presenting the sachet in his hand: "This servant went back to bring the sachet, so I was a step slow."
Lu Yu looked up, regarding him suspiciously. Just a sachet, was it worth going back for?
Liu An moved his lips. After a slight pause, he lowered his voice to say:
"Has Your Majesty forgotten? This was personally made by the Empress last month."
If it were any other sachet, not wanting it would be fine. But this was personally made by the Empress, even if His Majesty had forgotten the sachet's origin, Liu An dared not forget.
Lu Yu paused, his gaze resting on that sachet for a moment before lowering his eyelids, his tone calm:
"Take it back. Store it properly."
Liu An acknowledged the order.
Gu Han knew none of this. She'd originally thought after such a fuss, she certainly wouldn't be sleepy. But who knew, the moment she lay on the bed, within a few breaths, she had fallen deeply asleep again.
Seeing this, Jiu Nian shook her head somewhat helplessly and quietly lowered the bed curtains.
Right after morning respects dispersed, Gu Han hurried to return to her palace. Concubine Zhou was about to call to her when she saw the woman already on her palanquin. She pursed her lips helplessly:
"Don't know what the rush is."
She had no patience for chatting with others and directly ordered the palanquin carried toward Cining Palace.
On the other side, when Gu Han returned to her palace, as expected she saw His Majesty's palanquin stopped outside Yihe Palace. Lu Yu was reclining on her soft couch, unhurriedly drinking tea. Seeing her covered in sweat from the heat, he said somewhat helplessly:
"There's no rush. Have some tea and rest."
Gu Han took small sips of tea before saying: "This concubine feared Your Majesty would grow impatient waiting."
Lu Yu truly wasn't anxious. After morning court dispersed, Liu An had gone to the Imperial Medical Bureau, so he knew Cining Palace's situation clearly. Naturally he wasn't anxious about this brief moment.
After Gu Han recovered, Lu Yu took her to Cining Palace.
At Cining Palace.
Hearing the news that His Majesty and Concubine Zhao were coming together, Concubine Zhou, who was conversing with the Empress Dowager, immediately humphed: "I wondered why she rushed back so quickly after morning respects dispersed. Turns out she knew Cousin was waiting for her."
The Empress Dowager tapped her forehead reprovingly and exchanged glances with Wet Nurse Wu before saying:
"This is quite the rare visitor."
The moment the words left her mouth, Lu Yu stepped inside. Hearing this from afar, he called out:
"Your son hasn't come in only half a month. How has he become a rare visitor?"
They all knew who the Empress Dowager meant, but after His Majesty picked up this thread, no one denied it. The Empress Dowager gave him a light, dismissive glance, too lazy to deal with him, and instructed Wet Nurse Wu:
"Grant Concubine Zhao a seat."
Gu Han curtsied respectfully: "Hearing the Empress Dowager was unwell, this concubine begged His Majesty to bring me. Please don't blame me, Empress Dowager.”
Translator's note: guys please i am looking for a volunteer novel editor, chat me up on dis cord if you are interested. d_ladypresident
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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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TRANSLATOR
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