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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 82
Regarding His Majesty's words, Gu Han believed him, but she also didn't take herself too seriously. No matter who was pregnant, His Majesty likely hoped for a prince to be born.
Zhou Měirén had slipped away quickly. Lu Yu personally escorted Gu Han back to Changchun Pavilion and only left after lunch.
As for whom His Majesty had originally intended to visit in the rear palace, Gu Han didn't ask, as if she didn't know at all. After His Majesty left, Little Fangzi presented an information:
"I heard Yi'an Palace sent soup to His Majesty's Chambers today."
Gu Han raised an eyebrow with mild interest. Had she intercepted Consort Shu's opportunity?
Recalling the ambiguous words Consort Shu had spoken at Kunning Palace today, Gu Han lowered her eyelids slightly and didn't take the matter to heart. Intercepted or not, Consort Shu had always been fond of competing for favor, so she could surely understand that wherever His Majesty chose to go was His Majesty's freedom.
As for An Cáirén...
Gu Han frowned slightly. Little Fangzi had the most well-informed network in her palace, so she asked: "Have Zhou Měirén and An Cáirén had conflicts?"
Little Fangzi touched his nose and laughed awkwardly:
"Didn't Zhou Měirén already tell Your Ladyship herself?"
Gu Han paused, only then remembering Zhou Měirén's remark, "If they outrank her, she just lies right down on the ground", Gu Han was speechless for a long moment, realizing that after all Zhou Měirén's talk, she had actually been using herself as the example.
No wonder Zhou Měirén so disliked An Cáirén.
Gu Han took note of An Cáirén. From today's observation, An wasn't exactly law-abiding. Add to that her own words causing His Majesty to scold An, who knew if An now harbored resentment toward her.
These days, Gu Han dared not be careless about these seemingly minor figures of low rank.
Setting this matter aside, Gu Han instructed Jiu si:
"Make a trip to the Music Bureau and tell them I need several palace servants skilled in music to compose a gentle, soothing piece. Have them come to my palace in three days."
What Gu Han had told His Majesty today wasn't a joke. She'd actually heard this from Nanny Zhao. Since it benefited the child in her womb, Gu Han didn't begrudge the effort and had happened to mention it to His Majesty at the right moment.
Who knew it would make His Majesty think in the wrong direction?
Gu Han pulled at the corners of her mouth carelessly. It was fortunate His Majesty was often like this, it kept her constantly alert, preventing her from falling into those clichéd romantic entanglements.
Little Fangzi immediately made a trip to the Music Bureau.
When news reached His Majesty's presence, Lu Yu raised an eyebrow imperceptibly. Liu An touched his forehead and asked tentatively:
"Your Majesty, should this servant arrange for the people Noble Lady Zhao requested?"
With Noble Lady Zhao pregnant, Liu An wished he could investigate the ancestry of everyone who frequently entered and left Changchun Pavilion.
Lu Yu came back to himself and nodded lightly: "You arrange it."
After a pause, Lu Yu suddenly set down his brush. Clear traces showed between his brows as he asked Liu An:
"Tell me, is Noble Lady Zhao still angry with me in her heart?"
Liu An was bewildered. He had observed that Noble Lady Zhao's attitude toward His Majesty seemed perfectly appropriate, no different from before.
Seeing him silent for so long, Lu Yu looked at him with considerable disdain. After a moment, he said:
"Otherwise, why wouldn't she mention these trivial matters to me when I was at Changchun Pavilion?"
The corners of Liu An's mouth twitched as he grumbled inwardly, did Noble Lady Zhao not mention it? Wasn't she blocked by Your Majesty's single mention of "Prince"?
But he certainly couldn't say this to His Majesty. Liu An could only phrase it tactfully:
"Your Majesty, you said yourself this is just a small matter. Perhaps Noble Lady Zhao didn't want to trouble Your Majesty."
Lu Yu scoffed lightly.
Liu An didn't understand what His Majesty meant and didn't dare speak carelessly at the moment.
"You don't understand her. She's habitually meticulous and careful. People arranged through me to enter Changchun Pavilion are undoubtedly safer. She wouldn't be confused about such matters."
As he spoke, Lu Yu began to taste something unpleasant.
Liu An roughly guessed his meaning and, after pondering, laughed: "Noble Lady Zhao is young. She gained Your Majesty's favor as soon as she entered the palace, and now she's pregnant. You didn't visit her these past days, I'm afraid she feels wronged in her heart."
At these words, Liu An heard His Majesty agree:
"What you say makes sense. She is, after all, pregnant and mustn't let wild thoughts run through her mind. Pass the word, I'll stay at Changchun Pavilion tonight."
Liu An was about to acknowledge when he suddenly realized, his mind going blank: "Your Majesty, Noble Lady Zhao is pregnant?!"
Lu Yu glanced at him, as if asking "What's the problem?"
The problem was enormous, but Liu An didn't dare say so. He could only awkwardly acknowledge the order.
In the evening, when Gu Han received news that Changchun Pavilion would be lit, she couldn't help blurting: "What is he coming for?"
Nanny Zhao looked at her in surprise.
Gu Han hastily reined in her emotions, though she still couldn't suppress her astonishment. After becoming pregnant, His Majesty had never stayed overnight at Changchun Pavilion. After all, the rear palace had many consorts, His Majesty wouldn't lack places to rest.
Moreover, as summer approached, His Majesty was reluctant to enter the rear palace for nearly half the month.
Whatever she thought inwardly, outwardly Gu Han still properly instructed servants to order food from the imperial kitchen. After preparing everything as if for attending His Majesty's bed according to past practice, she stroked her still-relatively-flat belly, muttering to herself, His Majesty surely wouldn't act recklessly, would he?
She was, after all, young. She couldn't taste much pleasure in such bedroom matters and therefore didn't dwell on them. Her mind was now entirely worried that His Majesty might truly lose his sense of propriety.
When Lu Yu arrived, he was met with the woman's somewhat nervous gaze. Lu Yu paused and glared at her irritably, so annoyed in his heart he wanted to turn and leave immediately.
He'd come in good faith to see her, yet she was guarding against him?
Lu Yu was rather speechless: "What on earth are you thinking?"
Gu Han lowered her eyes guiltily. She reached out to tug at His Majesty's sleeve, feeling not the least bit ashamed:
"This concubine was just somewhat worried."
After all, the physicians had said that after three months, as long as one was careful and meticulous, such bedroom matters weren't impossible.
Her soft muttering completely exposed her little thoughts. Lu Yu's temple twitched as he pulled his lips in a cold smile:
"Perhaps I should fulfill your wishes, lest I bear this accusation in vain."
Gu Han hastily shook her head. A pair of limpid almond eyes slowly fell on Lu Yu. Lu Yu paused slightly and imperceptibly looked away. He could say with certainty that before coming to Changchun Pavilion, he absolutely hadn't entertained any such thoughts.
But the moment the woman's gaze fell on him, whether due to her words or because he truly hadn't touched her in quite some time, Lu Yu actually felt a stirring of restlessness.
Candles burned in the chamber, swaying and flickering. Lu Yu's Adam's apple moved slowly. Just then, servants came to report that dinner had arrived.
Lu Yu suddenly stood up. Under the woman's bewildered gaze, he said as if nothing had happened:
"Let's eat first."
Gu Han didn't understand, but eating was eating, why make such a fuss?
Fortunately, during the washing up after dinner, His Majesty showed no signs of touching her. He looked completely ascetic and disinterested. Gu Han completely relaxed. She wore a light, tender-colored undergarment and reclined against the bed, letting Jiu nian gently and carefully dry her dark hair.
Jiu nian's movements were tender. Gu Han felt drowsy.
Lu Yu hadn't stayed overnight at Changchun Pavilion in a long time. Seeing the woman almost forget his existence, her posture nearly falling asleep, he raised an eyebrow with some surprise. He climbed onto the bed from the foot, pressing down one side of the inner bed slightly. The woman showed no reaction at all.
Jiu nian seemed to feel awkward and lowered her head embarrassedly.
Lu Yu's gaze fell on Gu Han's belly. It was very flat, showing no sign of pregnancy whatsoever. But Lu Yu recalled the palace dress Gu Han had worn today, the loose style, unlike others who wished to pinch their waists as slender as possible.
Lu Yu's eyes darkened with obscure emotion. He suddenly reached out to touch the woman's belly. He'd always known the woman was habitually sensible and measured. Only in certain moments, when Lu Yu recalled some of her thoughtful gestures, his heart couldn't help but stir slightly.
Gu Han had grown somewhat accustomed to sharing a bed with Lu Yu. Even sleeping somewhat groggily, she could still remember the familiar scent behind her. She habitually turned over, nestling into Lu Yu's embrace. Her cheek nuzzled against his neck, finding a comfortable position before falling into deep sleep.
Her breath sprayed against Lu Yu's neck. Jiu nian exclaimed softly, about to say something when Lu Yu looked up and interrupted her. He reached out to touch the woman's hair, and after confirming the moisture was dry, Lu Yu nodded for Jiu nian to withdraw.
Strange to say, before dinner, Lu Yu had felt somewhat restless. Now with the woman's soft, fragrant body in his arms, Lu Yu was instead calm and peaceful. As the woman's breathing gradually steadied, he too felt his eyelids growing heavier.
In Changchun Pavilion, the two had gone to bed early. But this night was a sleepless one for who knows how many others.
Yi'an Palace.
Upon learning His Majesty would be going to Changchun Pavilion today, Consort Shu had washed up and retired early. From the bed, the slight sound of movement could be heard from time to time.
Yaluo, keeping night watch, opened her eyes. When the bed rustled with movement for the third time, she sighed silently:
"Can't Your Ladyship sleep?"
The movement from the bed stopped abruptly. For a long time, no one spoke.
But Yaluo had already risen, removed the lamp shade, and relit the red candle. When she pulled back the bed curtain, she indeed saw Her Ladyship had sat up, not a trace of sleepiness in her eyes.
Consort Shu raised her hand to her forehead, lowering her eyes and pulling slightly at the corners of her mouth:
"Am I very laughable?"
She was asking Yaluo, but she had no intention of having Yaluo respond.
Yaluo only felt a choking dryness in her throat. She lowered her head, concealing the soreness in her eyes: "It's only human nature. What's laughable about it?"
The tragic events in this world were countless. Her Ladyship's sorrow lay in the fact that, knowing full well His Majesty's favor toward her was nothing but exploitation, she had still lucidly fallen in love with His Majesty.
Yet Yaluo couldn't say Her Ladyship was wrong.
During that period, Her Ladyship had been tormented by Concubine Chen beyond recognition. His Majesty's favor toward Her Ladyship had indeed been calculated, but undeniably, His Majesty had also truly pulled Her Ladyship out of the abyss.
His Majesty was, after all, Her Ladyship's husband. He treated Her Ladyship with utmost favor. Even knowing it was false, that Her Ladyship would fall in love with His Majesty during this time wasn't anything difficult to understand.
The bitterness was that Her Ladyship understood everything.
She knew exactly what position she held in His Majesty's heart. She also knew her willful behavior could only exist within His Majesty's permitted range.
Her Ladyship didn't even dare let His Majesty discover these feelings.
Because the human heart was unfathomable, no one could predict what someone might do under the influence of emotions.
Yaluo secretly wiped away a tear and forced a smile: "No matter what, His Majesty values Your Ladyship the most."
Consort Shu stared blankly downward, not taking Yaluo's words to heart at all. She said in a low voice:
"Even when the late Emperor was alive and His Majesty needed heirs to win over court officials during the succession struggle, he never stayed overnight during Concubine Chen's pregnancy."
Consort Shu suddenly covered her face:
"Is it that her beauty is exquisite, or that I've grown old, not as fresh and tender as them?"
Yaluo's nose suddenly stung sharply. She'd served Her Ladyship for many years and had never seen Her Ladyship look so insecure.
---
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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