THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER

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

Chapter 90

Drowned?

Lu Yu's eyes turned cold as he rose to his feet. Without bothering to pursue Gu Han's transgressions further, he hastily instructed "Dry your hair" before leaving with a somber expression.

Gu Han's steps, about to follow, came to a halt. Jiu Nian hurriedly said:

"My lady, let this servant dry your hair first."

Gu Han had no choice but to sit before the bronze mirror. In just a brief moment, she heard some chaotic footsteps. Her heart skipped a beat, on her way back, she had encountered Song Baolin.

But in just a quarter of an hour, how could Song Baolin have fallen into the water?

Gu Han suppressed her thoughts, involuntarily recalling Rong Baolin, who had been right beside Song Baolin at the time. Her delicate brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Jiu Nian worked quickly. After drying her hair, she helped her change into proper palace attire before carefully supporting her as they left Yuqing Court. Following the noise, they found the path growing increasingly familiar.

Upon reaching their destination, Gu Han pressed her lips tightly together.

The place where Song Baolin fell into the water was precisely where she had encountered Gu Han.

When Gu Han arrived, she saw the Emperor's face dark with anger. Her breathing hitched momentarily, and she immediately shifted her gaze to Song Baolin lying on the ground. She was soaked through, her hair wet and disheveled, her face deathly pale as she lay there, her chest showing no sign of movement whatsoever.

Jiu Si rushed over and gave Gu Han a small shake of her head.

Gu Han couldn't help but widen her eyes. It had been barely half an hour since the imperial entourage arrived at the traveling palace, and Song Baolin was already dead?

Just as everyone covered their mouths in shock, Lu Yu was also interrogating the palace maid:

"How did your mistress fall into the water?"

The palace maid knelt on the ground, trembling violently: "This servant doesn't know, this servant doesn't know! My mistress instructed this servant to go arrange the courtyard first while she took a look around the vacation palace. This servant hadn't yet finished arranging the courtyard when she heard the terrible news of my mistress's drowning. Your Majesty, please see clearly, this servant knows nothing!"

Having served Song Baolin for many years, the maid wasn't without grief at her mistress's death, but at this moment, she was more afraid of being charged with dereliction of duty.

After hearing the maid's words, Gu Han's delicate brows knit together. According to her account, when Song Baolin drowned, there had been no witnesses present?

At this moment, someone said:

"The banks are slippery, perhaps Song Baolin accidentally lost her footing and fell into the water."

Noble Lady Shu's courtyard was quite far away, and she had only just arrived. She glanced at the Emperor's expression and at the speaker, thinking to herself that this was the best outcome. Otherwise, if a harem struggle resulted in death and the matter became known among the court officials, that would be truly embarrassing.

Lu Yu also fell silent for a moment before asking coldly:

"Before Song Baolin fell into the water, whom did she encounter?"

Just as some consorts were hesitating whether to step forward, Gu Han took a step ahead: "On my way back, I encountered Song Baolin."

Gu Han paused before adding:

"At that time, Song Baolin was right here."

Lu Yu's brow furrowed extremely quickly. He hadn't expected this matter to involve Gu Han, especially with that additional remark she made. Didn't she know that saying such things would increase her own suspicion?

Of course Gu Han knew, but she wasn't guilty because she wasn't the last person to see Song Baolin.

Gu Han slowly turned her gaze toward Rong Baolin. Rong Baolin still kept her head lowered, eyes downcast. As if sensing something, just as Gu Han looked over, she happened to raise her head, and their gazes collided. Gu Han's expression remained unchanged as she stated calmly:

"When I left, the only person beside Song Baolin was Rong Baolin."

As soon as the words fell, everyone's focus shifted to Rong Baolin.

Rong Baolin's figure seemed slightly more delicate than usual, and her features looked less and less like Gu Han's. She bowed low, her voice soft and timid yet also clear and logical:

"Song Baolin has never liked me. That Noble lady Zhao would see me together with Song Baolin was merely a chance encounter. After Noble lady Zhao left, I parted ways with Song Baolin."

She concealed the mocking remark Song Baolin had made after Gu Han departed.

Rong Baolin seemed somewhat frightened and nervous, barely managing to say in a low voice: "If Your Majesty doesn't believe me, you may question the palace servants in the area."

This statement was practically a joke. If there had been people around at the time, how could the inquiry have reached such a dead end?

Rong Baolin's appearance didn't seem false, it could even be called frank. In a way, her words also cleared Gu Han of suspicion. Without eyewitnesses, no one could prove that Rong Baolin had pushed Song Baolin.

Nor did anyone admit to encountering Song Baolin after Rong Baolin. This matter, it seemed, could only be defined as Song Baolin accidentally falling into the water.

When Gu Han saw the Emperor's gaze shift away from Rong Baolin, she knew the matter had been settled. She looked deeply at Rong Baolin, compared to when she first entered the palace, Rong Baolin had become much more composed. At least in this matter, Gu Han could detect no flaws in her.

In the end, it was Lu Yu who made the final judgment:

"Song Baolin accidentally fell into the water. She shall be given a proper burial."

The crowd dispersed sporadically. The Emperor was clearly in a foul mood, and no one dared to court misfortune at such a time. Song Baolin's body was also carried away by palace servants. A person who had been alive and well just half an hour ago was now gone, Gu Han didn't know what to think.

When the area was clear and Gu Han was about to leave, from the corner of her eye she glimpsed Song Baolin's maid still wiping tears in the same spot. She frowned:

"You should return early."

She sighed softly, saying only this, but the maid suddenly looked up and asked: "Is Noble Lady Zhao certain that before you left, the only person beside my mistress was Rong Baolin?"

Gu Han's gaze fell upon her, uncomprehending:

"Since I said so before His Majesty, it naturally cannot be false."

Who knew that after she spoke, the maid would say with absolute certainty: "It must have been Rong Baolin who harmed my mistress!"

Gu Han's eyebrow raised almost imperceptibly:

"Why are you so certain the culprit is Rong Baolin?"

"Because my mistress discovered Rong Baolin's secret!" the maid blurted out.

Gu Han straightened slightly. When she looked at the maid again, her expression seemed somehow different, but she said nothing. After a long while, the maid seemed to have made up her mind. She kowtowed heavily in Gu Han's direction:

"This servant recognizes that if I hadn't left early, my mistress would never have met such a tragic fate. This servant is willing to tell Noble Lady Zhao everything my mistress discovered, only asking that one day, Noble Lady Zhao might avenge my mistress!"

Gu Han didn't accept immediately but instead asked: "Why didn't you say these things before His Majesty?"

The maid gave a bitter smile, tugging at her lips. She said in a low voice:

"Noble Lady Zhao jests. Setting aside that this servant has no proof whatsoever, even if I did, with court officials and their wives present, His Majesty would not wish my mistress's death to be attributed to harem struggles."

Having spent many years in the palace, they understood what they needed to understand. Otherwise, why had all those consorts remained silent earlier?

Gu Han's eyes flickered slightly. She glanced in the direction the Emperor had departed, wondering whether His Majesty knew how he appeared in the eyes of the harem, that imperial face mattered far more than truth.

Once everyone thought this way, no one would ever seek justice again. Their fear of the Emperor would forever outweigh their respect.

Gu Han said nothing, only looking at the maid. The maid wiped her tears and said in a hushed voice:

"Rong Baolin has a medicine that can make someone conceive. Rong Baolin's purpose in coming to the traveling palace was to become pregnant with an imperial heir."

Gu Han's delicate brows drew together. Worried she wouldn't believe her, the maid hurried to add: "This information was personally overheard by my mistress's secret contact hidden in Wanxi Palace, it absolutely cannot be wrong. The reason my mistress was with Rong Baolin was for this medicine."

"Though this servant doesn't know what transpired between my mistress and Rong Baolin, most likely, my mistress's death was Rong Baolin silencing her!"

Under the maid's pleading gaze, Gu Han finally only said: "I understand."

After returning to Yuqing Court, Gu Han's mood was somewhat complex. Jiu Nian attended to her washing up, and only when no one else was around did Jiu Nian say in a low voice:

"Does my lady truly believe that maid's words?"

When the maid spoke her first sentence, Jiu Nian's reaction had been, absurd.

If such a miraculous medicine truly existed, why would anyone still pray to gods and Buddhas hoping for an heir? No one in this world would worry about being childless.

Gu Han neither said she believed nor that she didn't. She only asked with dark, unfathomable eyes:

"Do you still remember what Little Fangzi said when Rong Baolin miscarried?"

Jiu Nian paused slightly, her expression immediately changing drastically.

Rong Baolin did indeed have a medicine, but that medicine wasn't for conceiving—rather, it damaged one's constitution and foundation. The mistress had known this information long ago but had never exposed Rong Baolin.

It wasn't that the mistress still harbored any affection for Rong Baolin, but rather that she knew this was a trump card that could be used to control her.

Using it too early would simply be wasteful.

Gu Han shook her head: "That maid probably didn't lie to me. They simply misunderstood somehow and ended up losing their lives over a medicine meant to harm people."

For a moment, Jiu Nian didn't know what to say.

Gu Han had no particular feelings for Song Baolin, but the maid's words gave her pause for thought. She rested her chin on her hand, narrowing her eyes slightly:

"Tell me, why would she be willing to ruin her health just to bring out this medicine again? What is she trying to do?"

Jiu Nian pursed her lips:

"This servant doesn't know. Whatever it is, she must be harboring thoughts of harming someone again."

Gu Han frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy. After a while, she ordered:

"Have someone watch her."

******

That evening, the Emperor came to Yuqing Court again, but unlike at noon, he had no intention of settling scores with Gu Han. Clearly Song Baolin's drowning death had affected him as well.

The vacation palace's food was light. Lu Yu only used his chopsticks a few times before setting them down. His mood subdued, he instructed casually:

"These days, you should avoid going near the lake."

Gu Han didn't trouble him at such a time and obediently agreed: "I understand."

After the meal, the two sat resting on the soft couch. Lu Yu glanced at Gu Han, paused, then glanced again, making Gu Han quite uncomfortable. She looked toward the Emperor, puzzled:

"Does Your Majesty have something to say?"

Lu Yu remained silent for a long time. Just when Gu Han thought he wouldn't speak, he finally said heavily: "Do you think that in handling Song Baolin's matter, I was heartless?"

Gu Han paused almost imperceptibly.

In truth, she didn't understand the significance of the Emperor asking her this question. Since he was asking, he must already have an answer in his heart.

But even so, he had already made his decision, so whether others thought him heartless or not didn't matter.

The Emperor was still waiting for her answer. Gu Han hesitated for a moment before choosing to be honest:

"I don't know."

Lu Yu raised his eyes to look at her.

Gu Han said: "Your Majesty valuing the imperial family's reputation is not wrong. In Song Baolin's drowning, there truly is no evidence of foul play. Your Majesty handling it this way is perfectly reasonable."

Lu Yu waited quietly for her words. Sure enough, Gu Han continued:

"But as for the truth, Your Majesty may well continue investigating privately."

Gu Han handed a handkerchief to Lu Yu, saying unhurriedly in a soft voice: "I believe in Your Majesty, no one can use the imperial family's reputation to make a fool of Your Majesty.”

---

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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