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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 93 The dead person was just a servant, which brought relief to many, but when it was pointed out that this servant was connected to Song Baolin, who had drowned just days ago, the atmosphere immediately fell into silence. Everyone knew full well that this must be another incident caused by harem struggles. When the Emperor had palace servants escort the noble madams away first, not a single person dared object, fearing they'd be implicated in imperial secrets. Before leaving, the Marchioness cast a worried glance in Noble Lady Zhao's direction. Consort Shu's face turned cold. For such an incident to occur during her banquet was a slap in her face. Naturally, her mood couldn't be good. After a bout of dry heaving, Gu Han was helped up by Jiu Nian. Afraid she couldn't control her emotions, Jiu Nian wanted to look at Rong Bǎolín but kept her head lowered. Gu Han imperceptibly glanced at Rong Bǎolín. She remained demurely lowered, raising her hand to cover her mouth like everyone else, appearing nervous and uncomfortable. Nothing suspicious could be detected. Inside her sleeve, Gu Han slowly clenched her handkerchief, concealing the depth in her eyes. Jiang Zi was just a lowly servant. After her mistress drowned, she couldn't serve any purpose. For her to die here, after thinking it through, Gu Han could only come to one conclusion, what Jiang Zi had said that day was true: she had been silenced. Just as Gu Han's thoughts were in turmoil, Lu Yu couldn't bear seeing her like this: "Someone, escort Noble Lady Zhao back." Gu Han's abdomen was slightly rounded. Though it was summer, she wore loose palace robes, her eyes and brows harboring a pitiable discomfort that made her particularly conspicuous among everyone. Lu Yu already favored her, and at a time like this, he directly let her leave. No matter what the other consorts thought, outwardly they dared not say anything. Gu Han didn't want to linger near the corpse either. She bit her lip and glanced at the Emperor before hesitating, looking back three times as she boarded the palanquin to leave. Unseen by anyone, as soon as the embroidered curtain was lowered, the woman inside the palanquin's eyes darkened. After Gu Han left, Consort Shu bowed to apologize: "This concubine has failed in her management. Please punish me, Your Majesty." In just a few days at the vacation palace, two people had lost their lives. Calling it Consort Shu's dereliction of duty was not excessive at all. Lu Yu looked expressionlessly at Jiang Zi's corpse. Gu Han's words from that day floated into his mind, she'd said no one could use the imperial family's reputation to make a fool of him. He had considered the imperial family's reputation and dealt lightly with Song Baolin's matter, which had allowed whoever was behind this to taste success and dare to use the same trick again so quickly. Lu Yu suddenly smiled coldly. Bypassing Consort Shu and the others, he spoke directly to Liu An: "Liu An, investigate this personally. Anyone involved in this matter shall be executed." Consort Shu looked up in shock. Lu Yu left with one statement: "Have the Imperial Guard Commander impose his own punishment." The Imperial Guards patrolled the vacation palace daily. The Emperor's life was entirely entrusted to their hands. Now, right under their noses, imperial consorts and their palace maids had been consecutively killed. They couldn't escape the charge of dereliction of duty. Having returned to Yuqing Court, Gu Han didn't know what Lu Yu had said. She only sat before the bronze mirror with a somber expression, not speaking for a long time. Jiu Nian and Jiu Si exchanged glances. Their mistress hadn't been this silent in a long while. What was wrong? Finally, Jiu Nian asked: "My lady, today's matter has nothing to do with you." She feared her mistress was blaming herself. Gu Han heard the implication in her words and shook her head. She wasn't blaming herself. She had no obligation to protect Jiang Zi's safety. She was just thinking about something. In the quiet inner chamber, Gu Han said softly: "I've always thought that holding her secret, no matter how much she schemes, I could ultimately control her." So Gu Han had always been somewhat indulgent of Rong Bǎolín's actions. Only when Rong Bǎolín imitated her, which disgusted her somewhat, did she act, but even then, she hadn't really punished her. Gu Han had even harbored a thought, the higher Rong Bǎolín climbed, the more useful she would become. Until today, Gu Han suddenly awakened: "She's bold and also very cautious. Such a person, as long as you give her an opportunity, will survive like weeds no matter what." Jiu Nian was speechless. Though her mistress hadn't said it explicitly, she could guess who she meant. Rong Bǎolín had caused the deaths of two people consecutively—wasn't that too bold? Yet nothing had been traced to her so far, which sufficiently demonstrated her caution. Gu Han pressed her brow with some headache: "I forgot, raising a tiger invites disaster." And the leverage she thought she had might not be able to control Rong Bǎolín at all. Jiu Nian looked around, and only after confirming no one was present did she frown and say: "But no matter what, these matters have nothing to do with us." No one expected that after Jiu Nian's words fell, Gu Han would unexpectedly fall silent, contrary to her usual self. After a long while, she murmured softly: "Does it really have nothing to do with us?" There was one thing Gu Han had never told anyone, that she had pushed Lady Liu down the well with her own hands. Now the more capable Rong Bǎolín appeared, the more wary Gu Han became of her. She even had a feeling that Rong Bǎolín had become a hidden danger. When Lady Liu's death came to light, she had deliberately obscured the timeline. In her panic, Rong Bǎolín hadn't thought much about it and had indirectly provided false testimony for her. But Gu Han couldn't guarantee that Rong Bǎolín truly hadn't noticed any irregularities. Jiu Nian looked at her mistress uncomprehendingly. In her view, no matter how capable Rong Bǎolín was, she couldn't affect her mistress. Why had her mistress suddenly become so concerned about Rong Bǎolín? Gu Han suddenly remembered something: "His Majesty once told me to stay away from Rong Bǎolín." The Emperor had long since lost all favor for Rong Bǎolín. Knowing she was at the vacation palace, he wouldn't have put her on the summer retreat list. Then who—who had arranged for Rong Bǎolín to enter the vacation palace? Jiang Zi had said Rong Bǎolín's purpose in coming to the vacation palace was to get pregnant. Even if Song Baolin had been wrong about the medicine's properties, the information itself wouldn't be false. On what basis did Rong Bǎolín think that coming to the vacation palace would result in being summoned to the Emperor's bed? Jiu Nian's mind worked quickly, and she blurted out: "Someone is helping Rong Bǎolín from behind!" Gu Han's eyes suddenly darkened somewhat. Being perceptive, Jiu Nian keenly noticed that her mistress seemed somewhat wary of Rong Bǎolín. She lowered her voice: "What does my lady want to do?" Gu Han looked at herself in the bronze mirror and said softly: "She's always cautious. Unless it goes through Xiao Jiu's hands, she rarely consumes anything. Such a person is very difficult to act against behind her back." In the flickering candlelight, Jiu Nian couldn't quite make out her mistress's expression. She only heard her say softly: "Then we'll just have to cut the Gordian knot." Gu Han's hand still rested on her lower abdomen, her eyes and brows gently lowered in her usual tender, water-like appearance, but for that one instant, Jiu Nian lowered her eyes, not daring to let her gaze fall on her mistress. When news came from Panting Lake, Jiu Si said puzzledly: "How did she move so quickly?" Gu Han and Jiu Nian exchanged a glance: "Without evidence, create evidence." Gu Han removed the jade hairpin from her bun, her dark hair cascading over her fragrant shoulders: "Those who walk by the river often can't avoid getting their shoes wet. That day Jiang Zi asked me to help avenge her mistress, and since I agreed, I won't go back on my word." Jiu Nian had Jiu Si attend to their mistress and bowed to withdraw. Jiu Si watched Jiu Nian leave in confusion, wanting to ask her mistress, when words Jiu Nian had said to her long ago surfaced in her mind—as servants, sometimes it's unnecessary to know too much. The gathering at Panting Lake didn't disperse until half an hour later. The Imperial Guard Commander received his punishment and volunteered to investigate the matter together with Liu An. Lu Yu agreed. Unable to find evidence for the time being, everyone was finally allowed to leave, but even so, they couldn't help feeling alarmed. Even Gu Han's Yuqing Court was searched once by Liu An with servants. Liu An was respectful in his attitude, afraid Noble Lady Zhao might overthink, and explained at length. Moreover, the servants' movements were all much gentler. When the group left, the ornaments in Yuqing Court remained undisturbed. After Liu An left, the Imperial Guards came again, almost turning over all the soil in the courtyard. Gu Han stood under the covered walkway, looking at the Imperial Guard Commander's grim expression, knowing that this time the Emperor intended to find the culprit even if it meant digging three feet underground. The Imperial Guard Commander had always been the Emperor's confidant. Now such a major problem had occurred under his jurisdiction—he felt utterly disgraced and investigated the matter far more diligently than Liu An. Moreover, having fewer connections to the harem, he was much more forceful than Liu An when requesting searches. Gu Han let him search. Whether it was because of her cooperative attitude or because he felt the Emperor valued her, the Imperial Guard Commander was quite respectful toward her, bowing from afar and never glancing at those around Gu Han. After witnessing Jiu Nian's return with her own eyes, Gu Han withdrew her gaze and turned back to the inner chamber. Far from Yuqing Court, Rong Bǎolín returned to her courtyard. As soon as she entered the inner chamber, she noticed Xiao Jiu's supporting strength give way, and she collapsed limply to the ground, her face full of terror. Rong Bǎolín's face darkened: "Get up!" Startled by her tone, Xiao Jiu quickly wiped her face and scrambled up, but her speech was still trembling: "My—my lady, will His Majesty trace this to us..." She bit her lip tightly, too afraid to continue. Rong Bǎolín's eyes turned fierce. She gripped Xiao Jiu's shoulders, making her stand straight, and said word by word: "What are you panicking about? That night was pitch dark, and there was no one around. Don't lose your composure. If anyone detects anything, we'll both lose our lives!" Xiao Jiu stared at her blankly. Rong Bǎolín paused, released her, and kept murmuring: "From the moment I boarded Her Ladyship's boat, there was no turning back." She gripped Xiao Jiu's hand tightly, like clutching a lifeline, tears falling pitifully: "Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu... in this palace, I only have you..." Seeing her like this, Xiao Jiu's heart ached. She had no choice but to wipe her face clean and pull herself together: "This servant understands." She helped her mistress wash up, but when tidying the vanity table, she suddenly searched frantically. Rong Bǎolín looked at her: "What's wrong?" Xiao Jiu looked at her in terror, asking tremulously: "My lady is missing a silver hairpin." Xiao Jiu couldn't help wondering—which jade hairpin had her mistress worn that night? Her words struck like a thunderbolt, shattering Rong Bǎolín's rationality. Her whole body trembled violently. Clinging to a thread of hope, she said: "Could it have been left behind in the palace?" Tears kept falling from Xiao Jiu's eyes. She couldn't speak. Rong Bǎolín's hands shook badly. She suddenly slapped herself twice, hard and loud. Her cheeks quickly reddened, but at the same time, her hands finally stopped trembling. She said coldly: "Go ask if anyone entered the inner chamber today!" Xiao Jiu hurriedly wiped her tears and went out to ask. She returned quickly and shook her head at Rong Bǎolín. Rong Bǎolín's body suddenly staggered back several steps, collapsing onto the soft couch. Her heart sank to the bottom. After a long while, she said hoarsely: "That place is remote and rarely visited. Liu An and the Imperial Guards might not find it so quickly." This wasn't false. Otherwise, Jiang Zi wouldn't have been dead for two days before her body was discovered today when it floated up. Rong Bǎolín didn't dare make a big commotion. She could only search for it herself. She stared woodenly at Xiao Jiu and said: "After the evening meal, I'm going out for a walk to aid digestion.”
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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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