THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER

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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son..." Today, we join together in remembrance of Jesus’ death on the cross and the profound sacrifice that changed the world forever. Have a blessed and reflective Easter season.

Chapter 75

The moment the words "Cold Palace" were spoken, some people's expressions changed immediately. Before anyone could notice, they lowered their eyes to hide their emotions.

Lu Yu's brows furrowed tightly. Liu An quietly reminded him: "Your Majesty, the Lady He who previously tried to harm Noble Lady Zhao is in the Cold Palace, and Liu Yue was her personal maid."

The person who revealed this information was a palace maid from Suiyue Palace. Her body trembled slightly. The Empress looked at her, contemplated for a long moment, then frowned and shook her head:

"The Cold Palace is quite far from Changchun Hall. Could you have been mistaken?"

Qiu Cáirén couldn't help but push the little maid forward: "The Empress is asking you a question. Speak up!"

The little maid quickly kowtowed several times before daring to speak: "This servant wouldn't dare speak carelessly! This servant accompanied my mistress to Rongcui Hall. On the way, my mistress felt cold and had this servant return to the palace for a cloak. When this servant came back, I encountered Liu Yue."

"This servant has been in the palace for three years and often saw Liu Yue at the imperial kitchens before. I absolutely couldn't be mistaken!"

"Precisely because Liu Yue should have been in the Cold Palace, this servant took note of this matter. I beg Your Majesty and Her Majesty to see clearly, this servant wouldn't dare speak nonsense!"

With the Cold Palace news revealed, everyone immediately stopped paying attention to Rong Bǎolín. Rong Bǎolín imperceptibly lowered her head.

No one would have imagined such a place existed within the rich and magnificent palace. The dark red gates were tightly shut, the inside dilapidated and run-down. During the lightning and thunder, sounds seemed to echo from within the hall.

Liu Yue's face was pale as she waited with her mistress for news.

The Cold Palace conditions were terrible, so terrible that Liu Yue had never dared imagine them before. A wooden bed, not to mention any exquisite luxurious bed curtains—even the dressing table had been obtained by Liu Yue when she first arrived, trading the only jewelry she had left on her.

Actually, there was no need for a dressing table in the Cold Palace. They couldn't see the Emperor, what difference did it make whether they groomed themselves or not?

But when her mistress first arrived, she couldn't adapt at all. Just thinking about waking up every day to such a disheveled state made her feel like breaking down. What her mistress cared about most was romance and that face of hers.

By the time they truly understood what the Cold Palace meant, they had already used up all their remaining silver and jewelry.

They were different from Lady Lin who was also in the Cold Palace. With the Empress looking after her, no one dared slight Lady Lin. But without silver to grease palms, they didn't even get their meals on time. Liu Yue thought no imperial consort could endure this kind of life.

So when an olive branch was extended to them, they immediately grasped it eagerly.

Liu Yue sat curled up on the ground, constantly reviewing whether she'd made any mistakes. There shouldn't be any. Every path in the palace was traveled by countless people daily. She'd deliberately chosen a late hour, how could she be so unlucky as to be spotted?

Liu Yue was thinking this, hadn't yet breathed a sigh of relief, when the Cold Palace gates were crashed open. A group of people rushed in. Liu Yue heard the lead eunuch's shrill voice:

"Seize this slave!"

Liu Yue couldn't resist. She was dragged away in a daze, only one thought left in her mind, it's over!

Candles burned in the inner hall of Changchun Hall. Jiu Nian continuously wiped Gu Han's cheeks. Commotion came from outside. The woman on the bed furrowed her delicate brows, then in the next moment, as if startled, opened her eyes.

Nanny Zhao was attending in the hall. Perhaps grown softhearted with age, seeing this, she couldn't help but say:

"Who knows what evil-hearted person did this, their methods are truly vicious!"

Nanny Zhao was accustomed to seeing the Noble Lady's usual gentle and calm demeanor. Now seeing her like this, as long as she was in Changchun Hall for a day, she would think of Gu Han. Plus with the woman's face so pale, like a delicate flower wilting, what iron heart wouldn't feel some pity?

Gu Han looked around, seeming to just realize she had returned to Changchun Hall. She closed her eyes, placed her hand on her lower abdomen and gently rubbed, barely suppressing that panic. Her voice was somewhat hoarse:

"Where is His Majesty?"

She spoke very slowly, her throat uncomfortable. Jiu Nian quickly poured her a cup of water to soothe her throat before answering: "His Majesty is outside investigating for my lady."

Jiu Nian quietly recounted everything that had happened while Gu Han was unconscious. When she heard the words "Cold Palace" and "Liu Yue," Gu Han imperceptibly furrowed her delicate brows. Only when she caught sight of Nanny Zhao from the corner of her eye did confusion and surprise appear in her expression:

"How could it be her?"

This surprise carried several degrees of authenticity. She truly hadn't expected this matter would be related to Lady He.

After Lady He was confined to the Cold Palace, Gu Han hadn't paid her any attention. Who knew that at this time, she would actually emerge again?!

She just didn't know who the mastermind behind this was.

When Lady He was still a third-rank Concubine, she wasn't favored and had poor access to information. She simply didn't have the capability to scheme against her to this extent. Who was manipulating her, or rather, who was using her?

Gu Han lowered her head, hiding the flash of coldness in her eyes. After a moment, she took a deep breath and stopped discussing this matter. Instead, she looked past everyone, her gaze falling on Zhou Měirén, smiling bitterly:

"I've implicated you."

Zhou Měirén didn't like hearing this: "What do you mean 'implicated'? Grievances have their source, debts have their creditor. Whoever spilled that oil on the ground is the real culprit who harmed me. Why are you rushing to take responsibility?"

Zhou Měirén cut off Gu Han's words, then remembered this Liu Yue:

"When we first entered the palace, Lady He targeted you several times. Now she's at it again. But where would she get such capability? If not for Lady Yu's death, you wouldn't have even left the palace. How could a maid from the Cold Palace accomplish this?"

Perhaps the fall had knocked some sense into her brain. She curled her lips with a look of disdain:

"Who knows who helped her, using all their schemes on such crooked paths. As if anyone but you could get pregnant!"

The atmosphere in the inner hall eased somewhat due to her words. Gu Han also lowered her eyes and said very quietly:

"I want to know who it is too."

She wasn't even three months pregnant yet, and they were already so eager to strike at her.

Those with such capability, there were only so many people. Did they truly fear her this much?

Beneath the brocade quilt, her nails nearly pierced her palms. The pain made her increasingly clearheaded and increasingly filled with hatred for the person behind this. But to outsiders, she still appeared to be someone who hadn't yet recovered from the fright.

Liu Yue was pressed down in the hall. With a thud she knelt, her knees hitting the jade stone, the pain making her face turn pale. She'd been dragged here directly, her whole body soaked by rain.

No one cared about any of that.

Lu Yu only asked her one question: "Who ordered you?"

Just as Zhou Měirén had said, Lady He didn't have this capability. Lu Yu couldn't possibly believe Lady He was the mastermind.

If Gu Han hadn't been especially careful all along, what would today's outcome have been? When Lu Yu thought about it—that he might have arrived to see the woman's dress stained red with blood, the vein at his temple couldn't help but throb.

Liu Yue said hoarsely: "This servant doesn't know what Your Majesty is saying..."

Lu Yu suddenly lifted his eyelids. He curled his lips, almost laughing aloud. This demeanor made the Empress beside him imperceptibly furrow her brows. Her gaze deepened for a moment before returning to normal.

Lu Yu was thinking that in the past he'd been too good-tempered in the palace, which led these people to repeatedly try to deceive him like a fool.

His fingers tapped on the armrest, his voice so calm it was almost emotionless:

"I'll ask one more time. Who ordered you?"

Liu Yue was about to continue her excuses when Liu An sensed something wrong and immediately asked: "You're a slave from the Cold Palace, why were you running around in front of Changchun Hall in the dead of night for no reason?"

He was reminding Liu Yue that her behavior couldn't possibly be innocent, she should stop struggling.

Liu Yue had long prepared her excuse. She said tremblingly:

"My mistress hasn't been well recently. This servant only asked someone I used to know to get some medicine for me. Afraid of being seen, that's why I chose this time to meet her."

She was from the Cold Palace, and Lady He was at odds with Noble Lady Zhao. Noble Lady Zhao was the palace's new favorite, others didn't want to offend her, so acting discreetly made sense too.

Lu Yu kept his eyes lowered. No one knew whether he believed Liu Yue's words or not.

Liu An also sighed. He believed that if they investigated, there would certainly be a palace maid, and they would certainly find medicine. But did Liu Yue understand, no matter what reasons she had, the Emperor wouldn't believe her?

Because it was too coincidental.

Even if Lady He truly was sick, so what? You just happened to choose today to get medicine, just happened to walk this path. Too many coincidences bundled together, even if every coincidence had an explanation, people still had to believe her.

Liu An fell silent and stepped back. His speaking up wasn't to help Liu Yue, but because he didn't want to make a big fuss. The Emperor clearly thought the same, which is why he'd tacitly allowed his actions.

Unfortunately, someone didn't know what was good for them.

Liu Yue was about to cry and plead when Lu Yu leaned back, not even glancing at her, coldly issuing an edict:

"Send word to the imperial guards. Lady He plotted to harm an imperial heir, arrest everyone in the He household and bring them to justice."

Liu Yue was completely stunned, and Lu Yu's words weren't finished. He raised his hand pointing at Liu Yue: "Execute this slave's family members immediately. Drag her away."

Lu Yu didn't even want to hear Liu Yue's testimony anymore. If he wanted to check who had entered the Cold Palace, who had contact with Lady He, he would find out sooner or later. The only reason to interrogate Liu Yue was that it would be faster this way.

Liu Yue finally realized what was happening. She immediately cried out frantically:

"Your Majesty! Please no! This matter has nothing to do with this servant's family! I beg Your Majesty!"

Lu Yu seemed unable to hear her voice. He instructed Liu An to continue the investigation. As Liu Yue was about to be dragged away, she desperately clutched the threshold, raising her voice: "This servant will talk! This servant will talk! This servant will tell everything!"

The palace servants' movements paused. Liu Yue scrambled and crawled back into the hall. She tried to grab the Emperor's hem but was kicked aside by Liu An. Liu Yue didn't dare move recklessly again, kowtowing with dull thuds:

"It was the Empress!"

As soon as the words fell, the entire hall erupted. Everyone looked at the Empress in shock.

Liu Yue continued kowtowing: "It was the Empress! May Your Majesty see clearly! This servant didn't dare confess earlier because I feared the Empress would silence me. I beg Your Majesty to spare this servant's family!"

The Empress being accused only furrowed her brows slightly, showing no trace of nervousness.

The Emperor looked up at the Empress, his words ambiguous in emotion:

"Does the Empress have anything to say?"

The Empress met the Emperor's gaze directly, her eyes completely candid: "Does Your Majesty believe her one-sided words?"

Without waiting for the Emperor's answer, the Empress bowed slightly, exceptionally respectful yet neither servile nor overbearing:

"This consort doesn't know why this slave would accuse me, but this matter has nothing to do with me. If this consort wanted to harm Noble Lady Zhao, would I use such methods?"

Her words seemed to carry hidden meaning, making Lu Yu's eyes darken as he looked at her deeply.

Liu Yue hadn't expected the Empress to be so calm. Afraid the Emperor would doubt she was speaking nonsense, she cried:

"It was Lady Lin in the Cold Palace who personally contacted my mistress. Who else but the Empress could command Lady Lin?"

"If not for the Empress, how would this servant and my mistress dare take such a risk?!"

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Translator's note: guys please i am looking for a volunteer editor, chat me up on dis cord if you are interested. Discord: d_ladypresident

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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