THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER

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

Chapter 85

Gu Han remembered the incident with Lady Liu and deliberately obscured the fact that she'd gone to rescue Xie Chang'an, only saying that Xie Chang'an had been taken away by Consort An.

But even so, Lu Yu was stunned for a moment:

"What did you say?"

Gu Han knew Lu Yu had heard clearly, so she only lowered her eyes and pressed her lips together, not repeating herself.

Lu Yu couldn't help but rub his thumb ring. As for Xie Chang'an, four years ago, this person had enjoyed great popularity in the capital, exceptionally talented and learned. Lu Yu had also appreciated him quite a bit, but due to their different political stances, the two actually had little interaction.

Regarding the Xie family, Lu Yu actually had no personal feelings, and naturally no intention to humiliate Xie Chang'an. So upon hearing of Xie Chang'an's current circumstances, he couldn't help but be startled.

But that was all.

As for why Xie Chang'an had encountered such a tragic fate, Lu Yu only needed to think briefly to roughly guess the reason.

Were incidents and deaths caused by jealousy and resentment in this harem rare?

Jealousy wasn't an emotion exclusive to women. Given Xie Chang'an's reputation back then, there were plenty who envied him. Taking desperate risks to satisfy personal grudges hardly seemed remarkable.

Lu Yu felt slightly regretful, but his focus remained on the woman. He raised an eyebrow slightly:

"So, what made you go to such lengths was because of him?"

Gu Han bit her lip, appearing somewhat anxious and uneasy: "Before Elder Sister's death, all she thought about was him. Moreover, back then Second Young Master Xie truly treated this concubine very well. Hearing he was in trouble, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."

Gu Han grasped Lu Yu's arm and suddenly rose from the bed, slowly bowing. Lu Yu frowned and grasped her wrist:

"What are you doing?"

Gu Han lowered her eyelids: "This concubine acted rashly today, nearly harming the imperial heir and causing Your Majesty worry. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

Lu Yu's eyes drooped as he studied the woman carefully, discovering she was indeed sincerely asking forgiveness. For a moment, he was rather speechless.

After a long while, Lu Yu finally said in a deep voice:

"I rushed here because I heard you couldn't stop vomiting and were being tormented terribly, not because of the imperial heir."

Gu Han barely looked up. Her almond eyes were clear, showing some bewilderment and hesitation at this moment, as if she didn't understand what His Majesty meant, or rather, she didn't dare think too deeply about the meaning behind his words.

Gu Han quickly lowered her head. But from Lu Yu's angle, he could clearly see her hands nervously clutching her handkerchief helplessly.

Lu Yu had no way to deal with her. After averting his gaze, he casually changed the subject:

"Why did Xuanming Palace also summon an imperial physician?"

At the mention of this, a flush of anger appeared on the woman's cheeks, along with some guilt, causing her to speak evasively. Lu Yu coughed lightly, and only then did Gu Han stammer:

"When this concubine arrived, Consort An was torturing Xie Chang'an. In my anger, I just..."

Before finishing her words, Gu Han stopped abruptly.

Lu Yu didn't let her off easily, nodding for her to continue: "Torturing?"

"She hid fine needles in a prayer cushion and made someone kneel in punishment."

Gu Han didn't explicitly say who, but how could Lu Yu not understand? He frowned very slightly, then quickly relaxed, asking instead: "So you gave her a taste of her own medicine?"

The woman entwined her fingers with his and buried her head, saying nothing.

Lu Yu seemed to be contemplating something and didn't speak further. The hall suddenly fell into silence.

Gu Han's mind was in turmoil. She didn't know whether being honest with His Majesty at this moment was good or bad, but things had reached this point, there was simply no way back.

But when His Majesty pulled his hand away from hers, Gu Han's heart still sank to the bottom. She heard His Majesty ask her coldly:

"Xie Chang'an is the descendant of a convicted criminal. If others learned you used private punishment on a palace concubine because of him, what do you think they would say?"

Gu Han wanted to say that Consort An had used private punishment on Xie Chang'an first.

Lu Yu saw through her thoughts, his eyes growing darker. He raised his hand to touch Gu Han's forehead, but his words were exceptionally calm, almost indifferent:

"Han'er, you must understand, the reason you can swagger into Xuanming Palace and punish Consort An is precisely because people are divided into different classes."

"What does it matter if she used private punishment? To her, Xie Chang'an is just a servant."

"Since entering the palace, your reputation and conduct have been excellent in others' eyes. Things others desperately seek, you obtained easily. Is ruining your reputation over this matter worth it?"

Lu Yu didn't spare Gu Han's feelings. This world was harsh on women. To climb upward, they sought three things: reputation, power, and nobility.

Gu Han came from a marquis household and was carrying the imperial heir. In terms of status alone, she was naturally precious. Whether before or after entering the palace, she'd been praised by all, her reputation needed no elaboration. But she held no power over the palace. Acting this way disrupted the rules.

Others would say she was arrogant from being favored, that her conduct had become reckless.

"You've always acted with propriety. I don't know when you learned Xie Chang'an had entered the palace, but for over a year, you've had no contact with him whatsoever. The Marquis of Rongyang's household has also been desperately trying to distance itself from the Xie family. Don't you realize that today's incident has made all your previous efforts futile?"

Others wouldn't show her mercy. Seeing she had a flaw, they would only desperately try to drag her down.

Gu Han closed her eyes tightly, her lashes trembling slightly with Lu Yu's words.

Of course she understood. But all these considerations were based on the premise that His Majesty deeply detested the Xie family, which clearly he didn't.

Lu Yu couldn't stand seeing her like this. The words about to leave his mouth were immediately swallowed. After a pause, he rubbed his temples with some exasperation:

"I'm speaking to you properly and haven't even blamed you. Why are you acting like this?"

Gu Han's eyes flew open in surprise, somewhat stunned. His Majesty had said so much, was this matter really passing so easily?

Lu Yu glanced at her and said irritably:

"I'm giving you a warning. What do you think I said all that for?"

Since she dared to tell him openly and honestly, it meant she felt no guilt about her relationship with Xie Chang'an. That being the case, what did Lu Yu have to be angry about?

People have seven emotions and six desires. In Gu Han's heart, even a servant by her side was probably more important than An Cáirén.

She wanted to save someone and acted rashly in the heat of the moment, losing her composure. This wasn't difficult to understand.

Lu Yu was simply reminding Gu Han that she had better solutions, there was no need to implicate herself in this matter.

Lu Yu raised his hand to touch the woman's forehead and discovered she was actually breaking out in cold sweat. His movements paused slightly, and he no longer had any intention of scolding her.

She was pregnant. Being emotionally sensitive was perfectly normal.

If anyone was to blame, it shouldn't be her.

As Lu Yu thought this, he didn't feel at all that his favoritism was wrong. No one likes duplicitous women with vicious methods, Lu Yu was naturally no exception.

After leaving Changchun Pavilion, the emotions between Lu Yu's brows finally faded.

Liu An looked at His Majesty strangely. Hadn't everything been fine just moments ago in Changchun Pavilion?

Just as Liu An was puzzling over this, he heard His Majesty sneer coldly:

"Xie Chang'an has been in the palace for three years, yet you, as Chief Eunuch, knew nothing of it."

Liu An had no defense. He immediately knelt down, asking forgiveness: "This servant failed in his duties. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

As he spoke, cold sweat also appeared on his forehead. Xie Chang'an was the descendant of a convicted criminal. Although His Majesty had never paid attention to him, if Xie Chang'an harbored hatred toward His Majesty, during these three years at Zhongsheng Hall, he would have had countless opportunities to strike at His Majesty.

Thinking carefully about this, Liu An couldn't help but feel terrified, cold sweat soaking through his clothes.

Lu Yu glanced at him impatiently: "Kneeling here, are you afraid others won't know you've done something wrong?"

Liu An's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly rose, and as the imperial procession returned to the Emperor's quarters, His Majesty's voice drifted out coldly from the palanquin:

"After returning to Yangxin Hall, accept your punishment."

"This servant obeys your decree."

Liu An smiled bitterly to himself. Self-administered punishment, too heavy or too light, neither would do. But at least His Majesty still remembered his years of service, which let him breathe a sigh of relief.

Otherwise, allowing a convicted criminal's descendant to infiltrate the palace, such a huge oversight couldn't be settled with just a beating.

Just when Liu An thought the matter had passed, he heard a sentence from within the palanquin:

"Investigate whether Noble Lady Zhao has had any contact with Xie Chang'an since entering the palace."

When he was at Changchun Pavilion, what he'd said to Gu Han was that the two had never been in contact. But whether they truly hadn't, Lu Yu simply didn't know. If the two really had been in contact, then Lu Yu would have to reconsider some of the incidents that had occurred in the palace.

Lu Yu still needed verification, but for some people, it was completely unnecessary.

In Kunning Palace, wisps of white smoke continuously drifted from the jade incense burner, making the already exquisite palace seem even more like a celestial dwelling above the clouds. Muqiu quietly recounted everything that had happened at Xuanming Palace.

The Empress casually raised an eyebrow. Her fatigue seemed to have lessened somewhat recently, and she laughed:

"This palace was also curious, having entered the palace not long ago, how could she have such connections within the palace?"

Second Young Master Xie, the Empress had also heard of his reputation. If he'd been in the palace for three years, accumulating some connections wasn't impossible. The engagement between the eldest legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Rongyang's household and Second Young Master Xie was known to all. With such a relationship, it made sense that Xie Chang'an would risk everything to make plans for Gu Han.

Thinking of this, the emotions between the Empress's brows suddenly became somewhat desolate. She pulled at the corners of her lips:

"Thinking about it now, she truly is fortunate."

The Marchioness of Rongyang was capable, this could be seen from how peaceful the marquis household's inner quarters were. Gu Han was the youngest legitimate daughter. Her only brother was the heir to the marquis household. Even though her elder sister had died of illness, someone in the palace had paved a path for her.

Outside the palace, she had the marquis household as backing. Inside the palace, she had Xie Chang'an as an ally. No wonder her path since entering the palace had been much smoother than others'.

The Empress also recalled that day when the messenger had stammered that in her grief, Madam had developed resentment. She couldn't help but feel another headache coming on. She raised her hand to her forehead, her whole body feeling somewhat weak. Muqiu cried out in alarm.

The Empress waved her hand, interrupting her:

"This palace is fine."

Muqiu still looked at her with concern. The Empress said unhurriedly: "Tomorrow is the fifteenth. Prepare more medicine."

Muqiu wanted to speak but hesitated. After a long while, she lowered her head:

"This servant will see to it immediately."

Gu Han simply had trouble eating, but the next day's morning greetings, she still arrived on time. Just as she entered Kunning Palace, Gu Han couldn't help but raise her handkerchief to cover her nose, ignoring the probing gazes of the crowd. She took her seat as if nothing had happened.

An Cáirén didn't come today, and the Empress acted as if she knew nothing about yesterday's events at Xuanming Palace, disappointing all those who wanted to watch the drama unfold.

Having just left Kunning Palace, Zhou Měirén caught up with her:

"When Second Young Master Xie first entered the palace, I also heard about it, but nearly four years have passed. If not for yesterday's incident, I would have almost forgotten this person."

She was trying to comfort Gu Han, telling her that the Xie family matter had already passed four years ago and she shouldn't worry too much about it.

Gu Han looked up at her, smiled faintly, and not wanting to dwell on this matter, she subtly changed the subject:

"I feel the medicinal smell in Kunning Palace today seemed heavier than usual. I wonder if it's just my imagination."

There were quite a few people in the Imperial Garden, but they all knew Gu Han was pregnant and wished they could stay ten meters away from her, afraid she might bump into something. Regarding her question, Zhou Měirén gave her a definitive answer.

Lady Zhou shrugged, looked around, then said quietly: "It's not your imagination at all. Not just today, on the first and fifteenth of each month, the medicinal smell in Kunning Palace is always stronger."

"I suspect that person is relying on medicine to keep going."

After all, on the first and fifteenth, the Empress had to attend to His Majesty and couldn't rest on those days. How could the Empress collapse on these two days?

The Empress still had no legitimate son, so she placed great importance on opportunities to attend to His Majesty.

Lady Zhou said this last sentence very quietly, but Gu Han still gave her a light glare: "So careless with your words."

Such talk questioning the Empress's health absolutely could not be spoken.

Having said this, Gu Han also frowned almost imperceptibly. She looked back toward Kunning Palace and said quietly:

"Has the Empress's health really deteriorated to this extent?"

Lady Zhou shook her head disinterestedly:

"Who knows?”

---

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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