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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 101
"Foolish!"
Eunuch Cheng's voice, full of disappointment, echoed through the room. The person being scolded on the opposite side merely pressed his lips together and coughed.
His body was weak. The coughing didn't make his face pale, but rather an abnormal flush. Blue veins protruded on the back of his hand, a chronic illness weighing heavily. Seeing him like this, Eunuch Cheng's words immediately stuck in his throat.
After a long while, Eunuch Cheng said in a low voice:
"What kind of person is the Empress? By helping Noble Lady Zhao today and allowing evidence into Zhongsheng Hall, you've placed yourself in danger!"
He wanted to say Xie Chang'an was foolish again, but thinking that all of Xie Chang'an's persistence these years was for Noble Lady Zhao's sake, he couldn't get the words out.
Moreover, Eunuch Cheng was puzzled: "Where did you get that evidence from?"
Only then did the previously silent Xie Chang'an shake his head:
"Eunuch jokes. How could Chang'an have such capability?"
That was Kunning Palace. To quietly bring out so many things from there, how could a servant residing in Zhongsheng Hall accomplish such a thing?
Eunuch Cheng frowned. Xie Chang'an lowered his eyes and said gently: "I merely facilitated someone."
Eunuch Cheng looked up in surprise. Who in this palace had such ability?
Xie Chang'an pressed his lips together and coughed weakly. Eunuch Cheng didn't intend to probe deeper. In this palace, knowing too much might not be a good thing.
He only sighed worriedly:
"You should be clear that regardless of who placed the evidence there, the Empress will notice you."
Zhongsheng Hall held too special a position in the harem. The allocation of palace servants and the allocations for each palace all went through Zhongsheng Hall. The Empress couldn't possibly know Xie Chang'an was Noble Lady Zhao's person and still allow him to remain at Zhongsheng Hall.
Xie Chang'an fell silent.
Eunuch Cheng's heart was blocked: "You… ah!"
Xie Chang'an raised his eyes. Under the candlelight, his features appeared refined and gentle. He looked directly at Eunuch Cheng:
"Chang'an is merely a dying person. If before death I can assist Noble Lady Zhao, it won't be in vain that I've barely survived in this palace for so many years."
Eunuch Cheng was struck speechless. He couldn't persuade someone with a death wish. After a moment, he swept his sleeve and left.
**
In Kunning Palace, the Empress seemed very weary as she pressed her brow. She looked at Mu Qiu beside her:
"I'm much obliged to you today."
Mu Qiu didn't dare claim credit.
Escaping disaster today was all thanks to Rong Bǎolín being dead and unable to confront her face to face.
Mu Qiu had seen that twin lotus bracelet among that pile of accessories and, thinking quickly, pushed everything onto Rong Bǎolín.
Noble Lady Lin was right.
Her Majesty had originally bestowed upon Rong Bǎolín only one of the pair of twin lotus jade bracelets. Who knew that an unintentional act back then could today help clear Her Majesty of suspicion?
Mu Qiu didn't dare claim credit. Mainly, she understood very well the primary reason Her Majesty could escape today. She looked up at Her Majesty's lower abdomen:
"Your Majesty is too kind. Being able to come through safely today is mainly due to the young prince in Your Majesty's womb."
Otherwise, no matter how eloquently she spoke, they couldn't have escaped today.
Xiao Zezi dying tonight was the biggest point of suspicion. How could a dead Rong Bǎolín have killed Xiao Zezi?
They were all clear on this point. But when the Emperor agreed to let them go to Wanxi Hall to find evidence, Mu Qiu knew—the Emperor still valued the legitimate son in Her Majesty's womb.
But even so, the Emperor had stripped Her Majesty of her power to manage the six palaces.
If they hadn't thrown this dirty water on Rong Bǎolín today, how would the Emperor have planned to punish Her Majesty? Mu Qiu didn't dare think deeply about it.
The current focus wasn't this either. She looked up and met Her Majesty's eyes:
"This servant is at fault. This servant always thought Kunning Palace was clean inside, who knew there was still a rat hiding within!"
By the end, Mu Qiu was filled with hatred. Stealing so many things from the palace, fearing they wouldn't trace back to Her Majesty, a traitorous dog! Once she found out who it was, she would definitely flay that person!
The Empress unhurriedly removed her finger guards, not as emotionally agitated as Mu Qiu, but her eyes also harbored coldness:
"I too am very surprised—who has such great ability to plant someone in my palace?"
She pushed away the finger guards and looked at Mu Qiu through the bronze mirror: "Whoever it is, ferret her out. I want to personally interrogate her."
The sky had long since grown light. Someone awakened after the storm had passed.
"Bang—"
A jade object fell to the ground and shattered. Jiu Si and Jiu Nian immediately looked up, gazing worriedly at their mistress.
Gu Han sat expressionlessly on the bed. From the moment Jiu Nian told her what happened last night, she had remained motionless with lowered eyes, until the jade ruyi beside her hand was thrown down, the crisp sound startling everyone in the hall.
Noble Consort was habitually gentle in temperament and approachable. Those who could serve in Changchun Hall were envied by other servants.
They had almost never seen Noble Consort lose her temper. The palace servants in the hall exchanged glances. This was the first time.
Jiu Nian dismissed the palace servants and stepped forward worriedly:
"My lady, you just disturbed the fetal energy yesterday. The physician said you mustn't be emotionally agitated."
A bitter medicinal smell filled the hall, and even some bloody smell hadn't dissipated. Gu Han closed her eyes. Just from Jiu Nian's few words, Gu Han could imagine yesterday's situation.
The bone-chilling pain still seemed to follow her like a shadow, but now, Gu Han only felt a chill in her heart.
Since entering the palace, how much had the Emperor favored her on ordinary days? Everyone in the harem knew. In the past when people mentioned the Emperor's favored consorts, they only thought of Consort Shu. At some point, they always included Noble Lady Zhao as well.
But even so, in yesterday's situation, she still had to yield to the legitimate son in the Empress's womb!
She suddenly gave a low scoff:
"...How laughable."
Jiu Nian and Little Fangzi exchanged glances, not knowing what their mistress was saying and not daring to respond.
Gu Han bit her tongue hard, controlling her emotions. She only felt that the Emperor's recent constant scheming for her safety seemed like a complete joke.
The Emperor was always like this, constantly treating her well, and when she was almost convinced the Emperor had a trace of genuine feeling for her, he would make her fall hard from on high.
So what if she was carrying an imperial heir?
Not as good as the eldest son's deep bond with the Emperor, not as important as the legitimate son in the Emperor's heart.
What right did she have to be complacent?
Consort Shu was so favored, yet in the Emperor's eyes was merely a chess piece. What was so special about her?
In this harem, not recognizing one's position was the most pathetic thing.
She had almost made a grave mistake!
Gu Han's heart was mad with hatred. Such an elaborate scheme, just to harm the imperial heir in her womb? Gu Han pulled her lips in a cold smile. If yesterday the Emperor hadn't inexplicably had her accompany him on a walk, and over time her health naturally deteriorated, probably no one would have been able to find the true cause.
What excellent scheming!
Gu Han's eyes were tempered with coldness as she bit out two words:
"Em—press!"
Jiu Nian's breathing hitched as she looked at her worriedly.
After who knows how long, Gu Han finally calmed her emotions. She looked up at Little Fangzi: "Tell him, from now on regarding my affairs, he is not permitted to interfere!"
Xiao Fangzi naturally knew who this "him" was and agreed with a bitter smile.
If he could truly persuade the young master, that pile of evidence concerning the Empress wouldn't have appeared in Changchun Hall yesterday.
After a while, Jiu Nian stepped forward and quietly asked:
"My lady, what should we do?"
Gu Han indeed hated the Empress, but the Lin family's power at court was at its zenith. The Empress was the legitimate wife bestowed upon the Emperor by the late Emperor—she couldn't be easily deposed!
Gu Han was very clear on all this, but it still didn't prevent her from wanting revenge against the Empress.
At court, the Marquis of Rongyang's manor indeed couldn't withstand the Lin family, but in the harem, even if she was the Empress, she couldn't remain perpetually at ease.
Gu Han took a deep breath, her eyes calm and collected:
"Since this pregnancy of hers was obtained through scheming, she'll have to pay something for it. Even if I do nothing, this pregnancy of hers can't possibly go smoothly."
Children obtained through medicinal means always damaged the body somewhat, especially in the Empress's situation. Having been unable to conceive for so many years, the price she paid for this pregnancy was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
Gu Han looked expressionlessly at the person in the bronze mirror:
"Last night's incident, at the very least we know that Rong Bǎolín was the Empress's person."
Rong Bǎolín was dead, but Ding Cáirén's pregnancy was still a hidden danger.
Gu Han lowered her eyelids, concealing the coldness in her eyes, saying coldly word by word:
"I also want to know, for this legitimate son, how much can the Emperor tolerate!"
.......
After that day, perhaps because the Emperor felt guilty, he basically came to see Gu Han daily. Gu Han didn't complain and didn't even mention yesterday's events. She remained gentle toward the Emperor. When she spoke with lowered eyes, it was the demeanor Lu Yu most commonly saw.
But somehow, Lu Yu just felt something was off, nothing seemed right no matter how he looked at it.
Lu Yu's face was somber. Looking at the woman sewing small garments, he took a sip of tea before asking as if casually:
"How has your health been recently?"
Gu Han hadn't expected him to suddenly ask this. She paused before looking up at him with a smile: "Your Majesty's concern is appreciated. The physician says I'm recovering well and my health is no longer seriously affected."
After speaking, she lowered her head again, busy with the needlework in her hands, not lifting her head. Her tone seemed concerned:
"Why has Your Majesty had so much time to come to Changchun Hall recently? Aren't matters at court busy?"
Lu Yu replied: "Still manageable."
Then he didn't know what else to say. Clearly the woman's attitude toward him was very normal, but precisely because it was too normal, Lu Yu felt something was wrong.
Anyone with eyes could see that day's incident couldn't possibly have been done by Rong Bǎolín. Gu Han had always been clever, she couldn't fail to guess. But she hadn't made a fuss with him, hadn't complained to him, and hadn't asked him to investigate the truth.
Just like nothing had happened. The peach grove behind Changchun Hall had been razed to the ground, and she acted as if she didn't see it.
Lu Yu glanced at the woman, paused, glanced at her again, and after a long while, he suddenly stood up and said:
"There's a matter at the imperial presence. I'll head back first."
Gu Han raised her eyes: "My condition is inconvenient, so I won't see Your Majesty off."
Lu Yu was blocked by her response. He frowned and looked at her for a long time. Only when the woman showed a bewildered expression did he suppress his breath and turn to leave. The moment his figure disappeared, the emotion in Gu Han's eyes and brows became indifferent. She lowered her eyes again to look at the small garment in her hands, completely unwilling to guess what the Emperor was thinking.
Lu Yu left Changchun Hall with a breath stuck in his chest, unable to rise or fall, blocking him most uncomfortably.
He suddenly tapped the edge of the palanquin. Liu An hurriedly had it stop. Lu Yu lifted the curtain, his tone unpleasant as he asked:
"Do you think she's blaming me?"
Liu An didn't dare respond. Putting himself in her shoes, if he were Noble Lady Zhao, he would definitely resent the Emperor in his heart.
But he certainly couldn't say it like that. Liu An gave an awkward laugh:
"Isn't the Noble Lady treating Your Majesty the same as before?"
If it were him, he definitely couldn't achieve what Noble Lady Zhao did—smiling at him daily. What more did the Emperor want?
Lu Yu was speechless. He didn't know what to say either. After a long while, he raised his hand to pinch his brow, saying wearily in a low voice:
"I've already stripped the Empress of her power to manage the six palaces. Isn't that enough to appease her anger?"
Liu An fell silent.
Lu Yu didn't want him to answer either. His heart felt rather uncomfortable. He knew this matter was unfair to Gu Han, but there were few fair things in this world. Stripping the Empress of power was giving Gu Han an explanation. When she gave birth to the imperial son, he would also compensate her.
Having had no legitimate son for many years, he naturally couldn't truly disregard the child in the Empress's womb and severely punish her.
Lu Yu was accustomed to doing as he pleased. He also thought that during this period when Gu Han felt uncomfortable, he would give her the cold shoulder and she would naturally know that in this palace, she couldn't make a fuss with him. But thinking about truly treating the woman coldly, that she would be slighted by others and feel wronged, he couldn't harden his heart.
Lu Yu lowered the embroidered curtain. He said helplessly:
"Among the many consorts in this harem, she alone makes me feel I have no way to handle her."
The palanquin was lifted again. Lu Yu's voice came from inside:
"Is the birthday gift being prepared for Noble Lady Zhao ready?"
"Your Majesty, the people at the kiln say it's almost done."
Lu Yu's fingers tapped on the side rail. With lowered eyelids, he said:
"I've let her suffer a grievance. This belated birthday gift is still too meager.”
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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