THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER

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

Chapter 89

Knowing Lu Yu wasn't having her stay at the vacation palace until delivery, Gu Han's tense body relaxed. But on the surface, her pair of almond eyes remained fixed tightly on Lu Yu. After a long moment, she finally said quietly: "Alright."

This made Lu Yu's heart ache terribly.

He insisted on waiting until evening, accompanying her on the painted boat to watch musicians dance until the sun had completely darkened, before returning to the imperial palace.

As for Liu An, Gu Han had declined, but perhaps her appearance made Lu Yu unable to rest easily, Liu An ultimately stayed.

Gu Han had to admit, Liu An staying gave her heart a layer of reassurance.

To put it bluntly, Liu An had served the Emperor for nearly twenty years and could be called the Emperor's right-hand man. His weight in the Emperor's heart might even be more important than some consorts.

One could call it habit, just like Gu Han, she could go ten days or half a month without seeing the Emperor, but if Jiu Nian left her for three days, she'd unconsciously call Jiu Nian's name. This was a habit accumulated day by day.

When Lu Yu left, Gu Han saw him off to the front of the vacation palace . She stood in place, hands wringing her handkerchief. Before boarding the carriage, Lu Yu looked back at her, somewhat heartbroken but also finding it amusing.

How had he never noticed her being so clingy before?

Lu Yu said: "Go back. In at most seven days, I'll come fetch you back to the palace."

Gu Han responded with muffled agreement.

Liu An urged:

"Your Majesty, there's still Morning court tomorrow. We can't delay any longer."

Lu Yu paused slightly. All the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat. He shot Liu An a cold glance—he talked too much.

But Liu An wasn't wrong. Lu Yu ultimately boarded the carriage. After it traveled far, Liu An watched Noble Lady Zhao standing motionless in place. He sighed inwardly, no matter how calm Noble Lady Zhao usually was, being left alone at the vacation palace now, her heart was probably uneasy.

So Liu An said quietly:

"Rest assured, Noble Lady. His Majesty will come fetch you very soon. The night is deep with heavy dew, let's return."

If you asked him, Noble Lady Zhao should have more confidence in herself. Setting aside the Emperor's emphasis on the imperial heir, just speaking of how the Emperor treated Noble Lady Zhao, there was indeed some cherishing and difference. Before these special feelings were exhausted, the Emperor wouldn't forget Noble Lady Zhao.

Gu Han seemed to force a smile, agreeing without much enthusiasm. After turning, she left with three backward glances.

Arriving at Yuqing Courtyard, seeing the several palace robes and dresses that had been sent to the inner room, Gu Han immediately knew the Emperor had premeditated this long ago.

Gu Han imperceptibly furrowed her delicate brows. She began to doubt the Emperor's real reason for having her stay at the vacation palace . As for the Emperor's nonsense about it being beneficial for her pregnancy, Gu Han believed at most thirty percent.

Gu Han glanced at Liu An waiting respectfully to the side, thoughtful. After a slight pause, she hugged her knees and asked softly:

"Can Gonggong tell me why His Majesty thought of bringing me to the vacation palace ?"

Her question was clever, not asking why the Emperor left her behind, only asking how the Emperor suddenly thought of the vacation palace .

Liu An pondered inwardly. Indeed, those the Emperor cared about were no easy lamps to light.

Grumbling aside was grumbling. After thinking for a moment, Liu An still did Noble Lady Zhao a favor:

"That day at Kunning Palace, the Empress proposed that this year's summer heat was severe, why not come to the vacation palace to escape it?"

He stopped there, not saying half a word more.

But even so, it was enough to make Gu Han's heart skip a beat. Liu An had said just one sentence but revealed much information. For example, the Emperor actually hadn't grown tired of the Empress.

Then why the Empress's division of power?

Gu Han didn't continue questioning Liu An. She always remembered Liu An was the Emperor's person, just like Nanny Zhao, she never let Nanny Zhao participate in any of her plans.

She didn't know what the Empress wanted to do that made the Emperor prefer leaving her at the vacation palace rather than avoid her for a while.

The Emperor took Noble Lady Zhao out of the palace. When he returned, he was alone.

Those with designs quickly received the news. When everyone was speculating what Noble Lady Zhao had done wrong, Consort Shu was assisting with the six palaces, she learned the news fastest. Seeing Ya Luo hesitating to speak, she raised her eyes:

"What words are you finding difficult to speak?"

Ya Luo observed her expression and said hesitantly: "Eunuch Liu isn't there either."

Bang…

The jade ruyi the beauty had been playing with accidentally fell to the ground, shattering into jade fragments everywhere. Half a section rolled to Ya Luo's feet, hitting her somewhat painfully. But Ya Luo couldn't care about this, looking worriedly at her mistress:

"My lady!"

Consort Shu lowered her eyes for a long moment before saying: "...It's nothing."

"I've long known His Majesty treats her differently."

She didn't know who she was speaking to, murmuring again quietly: "I've known all along..."

Whether it was because Liu An wasn't by his side and other servants were awkward to use, or because the woman's uneasy appearance before departure kept weighing on his mind, the very next morning Lu Yu gave orders to go to the vacation palace to escape the heat.

After this news spread, everyone immediately guessed where Noble Lady Zhao was.

Especially Zhou Měirén who had waited in vain for so long yesterday. She was at Cining Palace at the time, pursing her lips with extreme dissatisfaction:

"Noble Lady Zhao and I had agreed to dine together yesterday to celebrate her birthday. But Cousin took her away and she hasn't returned yet. I waited an entire day for nothing."

She hadn't even had time to give Noble Lady Zhao the birthday gift she'd prepared.

She was somewhat livelier than usual. The Empress Dowager's features, extremely similar to Lu Yu's, showed a smile:

"His Majesty is going to the vacation palace to escape heat. Since you miss Noble Lady Zhao, go along and play. The vacation palace is cool and comfortable, truly a good place."

Zhou Měirén looked at the Empress Dowager: "Isn't aunt going?"

"I'm old. My body can't endure the exhaustion of travel. I won't go with you all."

Zhou Měirén didn't like hearing her say this. She frowned and lay glumly on her lap:

"If aunt isn't going, I won't go either. I'll stay in the palace to accompany you."

Zhou was very clear, she had been able to enter the palace as she wished because her aunt had fulfilled her wish. Now she could live so comfortably in the palace also entirely relying on her aunt. So she was willing to accompany her aunt daily to relieve boredom.

Her filial piety, the Empress Dowager ultimately couldn't bear to refuse her.

Nanny Wu watched from the side, beaming with joy. With Zhou Měirén in Cining Palace, compared to the deathly stillness of the past, there was so much more laughter and vitality. Nanny Wu looked forward to Zhou Měirén every day.

It must be admitted, for Gu Han, these days at the vacation palace passed very comfortably.

The vacation palace had mountains and water all around. Compared to the imperial palace, the temperature was pleasant. She was the only mistress here. All the vacation palace 's servants and remaining imperial guards followed her orders completely. This meant Gu Han didn't need to maintain the caution and extreme carefulness she had in the imperial palace at all times.

Lu Yu said he would fetch her in at most seven days. Gu Han also knew leaving the palace involved cumbersome formalities. She assumed he would come after seven days. After playing at the vacation palace for several days, she learned from Liu An that the vacation palace had hot springs, and she couldn't help but be tempted.

Since Gu Han remained at the vacation palace , Lu Yu naturally arranged everything properly. On Gu Han's second day at the vacation palace , the physician arrived. The daily pulse check never failed.

When Liu An mentioned the hot springs, the physician was checking Gu Han's pulse. Hearing this, he said respectfully:

"Noble Lady Zhao is now over four months pregnant. She can appropriately soak in hot springs, but the time shouldn't be too long."

These days of relaxation had made Gu Han somewhat lazy and languid. When she spoke, it was soft and leisurely: "Thank you for the reminder, Physician."

The physician lowered his head even more, not daring to let his gaze fall on her.

After the physician left, Jiu Nian and Jiu Si went to prepare for the hot spring bath. When Liu An followed behind Gu Han as they set out, he couldn't help feeling puzzled, this Noble Lady Zhao clearly looked like she was enjoying herself too much to think of returning. Where was half a trace of uneasy emotion?

As Noble Lady Zhao entered the hot spring, Liu An was about to return when someone came hurrying to report: "Gonggong! The imperial procession is arriving!"

Liu An immediately widened his eyes:

"When did this news come?"

"Eunuch Wen said the edict just arrived. The procession departed at chen hour."

Liu An anxiously slapped his leg. From the imperial palace to the vacation palace was just an hour's journey. It was just past noon now. No wonder the messenger said the procession was arriving soon. Liu An looked back at Noble Lady Zhao. There was no time now to go in and notify her. He instructed the messenger to wait here for Noble Lady Zhao while he hurried away.

A quarter hour later, at the front of the vacation palace .

Lu Yu descended from the imperial procession. Seeing Liu An respectfully waiting ahead, his gaze looked around but didn't see the woman who should have been present. He immediately frowned, his heart involuntarily rising with concern. When Liu An came forward, he asked:

"Where is the Noble Lady?"

Facing the Emperor's suddenly darkened expression, Liu An stammered:

"The edict came late. Noble Lady Zhao is soaking in the hot springs. This servant didn't have time to notify her."

Lu Yu's movement to step into the vacation palace froze. He only felt his earlier worry seemed fed to dogs. The vein at his temple twitched. When Consort Shu came over, what she saw was this scene, the atmosphere between the Emperor and Liu An was awkward.

Consort Shu imperceptibly raised an eyebrow. Like Lu Yu, she also looked around. Not seeing Noble Lady Zhao, she roughly guessed the reason: "What's happened?"

Lu Yu kept a straight face, unwilling to elaborate:

"Nothing."

Consort Shu's eyes flickered slightly as she casually passed over this matter.

The Empress was claiming illness. Consort Shu had to assist with the six palaces. Logically, Consort Shu shouldn't have come to the vacation palace this time. But the Empress said that many consorts were going to the vacation palace this time, without a leader, chaos might erupt. Since Consort Shu had the authority to assist with the six palaces, with her present, the other consorts could also settle down.

Though Consort Shu didn't know what the Empress wanted to do, between staying in the imperial palace or accompanying the Emperor to the vacation palace to escape heat, for Consort Shu, this wasn't a difficult choice.

Groups of people gradually entered the vacation palace, not just imperial consorts but also imperial relatives and court ministers, residing in separate areas.

Gu Han was completely unaware of all this. She unhurriedly finished her hot spring soak until even her bones seemed soft. When she emerged, she saw the anxiously waiting servant and was completely confused:

"Where's Eunuch Liu? Why are you here?"

"Noble Lady, you've finally emerged! The imperial procession has arrived. Eunuch Liu already went to greet them!"

Gu Han was shocked. She no longer appeared lazy, her spine instantly straightened. She lightly furrowed her delicate brows: "How long ago did they arrive?"

"Not long after you went in, Noble Lady, Eunuch Liu left."

Gu Han didn't know who had come to the vacation palace this time. Not daring to delay further, she hurried back. Along the way, she heard noisier sounds than usual and immediately knew the imperial procession had entered the vacation palace .

Gu Han cursed her bad luck inwardly. Why did it have to be today?

The thought had just passed when she heard someone call:

"Noble Lady Zhao?"

The voice was shocked, as if not expecting to encounter her here. Gu Han looked up. The first person she saw was Rong Bǎolín, then she saw Song Bǎolín who had just spoken.

Seeing her look over, Song Bǎolín hurriedly concealed the shock on her face and bowed: "I haven't seen Noble Lady Zhao for many days in the palace. So Noble Lady Zhao came to the vacation palace before us."

Gu Han's hair was still loose and damp. Not wanting to chat with her here, her gaze flashed past Rong Bǎolín without a moment's pause. She responded blandly, not warmly.

After she left, Song Bǎolín glanced at Rong Bǎolín and laughed quietly:

"Some people just love weaving cocoons around themselves. Now seeing Noble Lady Zhao, do you still have the face to affectionately call her 'sister'?"

Rong Bǎolín lowered her head, her bangs hiding her eyes. No one could see her expression clearly.

As soon as Gu Han entered Yuqing Courtyard, she ran into Lu Yu reclining on the cushioned couch. He seemed to smile yet not smile, his emotions unclear as he said:

"Has Noble Lady Zhao been living comfortably these days?"

Gu Han caught sight of Liu An behind him cowering with lowered head. She immediately stepped back, realized what she was doing, and stopped the movement at once. But it still couldn't hide that trace of guilt.

Lu Yu was almost provoked to laughter. He had worried she would be uneasy at the vacation palace. He had continuously handled state affairs without stopping. In just three short days, he had brought a crowd back to the vacation palace . The result? He learned Gu Han had been living quite comfortably at the vacation palace?

Gu Han hadn't yet figured out how to explain when someone came rushing to report:

"This is terrible! Song Bǎolín has drowned!"

Author's Note:

Gu Han: Perfect timing.

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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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