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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 122
Gu Han simply didn't believe Lu Yu's words.
But her purpose had been achieved. Because she had stepped forward to plead for the Empress, the Emperor felt more guilt and pity toward her. She'd just missed this opportunity, who knew when the Empress could be toppled? She didn't know if it was worth it.
She kept her eyes lowered, lips pressed together without speaking, but at least she'd stopped crying. They returned to Yihe Palace in silence all the way. Just as Lu Yu was about to follow Gu Han down from the palanquin, Gu Han stopped him:
"With the eldest prince's sudden incident, the imperial presence must be very busy. I won't delay Your Majesty's time."
This was dismissing him.
For the first time, Lu Yu felt that being able to understand others' implied meanings wasn't a good thing. He actually wanted to brazenly go down anyway, but the woman gave him no chance. Having said those words, she directly turned and left.
Jiu Nian kept looking back with every three steps, afraid the Emperor would be angered by Her Ladyship's words.
Lu Yu was indeed angry. When Liu An tentatively asked whether to return, Lu Yu suddenly shot him a cold glance. After a long while, Lu Yu managed to squeeze out:
"Her temper is getting bigger and bigger!"
She even dared dismiss him.
Liu An imperceptibly pursed his lips. No matter how big Zhao Xiūróng's temper was, it was the Emperor himself who'd spoiled her. Like now, Zhao Xiūróng had clearly told the Emperor to leave. If it were someone else, the Emperor would probably immediately sweep his sleeve and leave, never setting foot there again.
But now?
The Emperor spoke angry words, but his two legs were like nails planted before Yihe Palace, not moving an inch.
Could you blame Zhao Xiūróng for being confident? Clearly the Emperor had brought this on himself.
Yihe Palace's hall doors weren't closed during the day. The gate-keeping palace servants stole glances at the imperial entourage. Even Liu An felt uncomfortable. He said with an awkward laugh:
"Your Majesty, Her Ladyship is probably just in a bad mood. How about we go back first?"
Inside Yihe Palace, Jiu Nian peeked out the latticed window, somewhat uneasy:
"Your Ladyship, is it really alright for us to leave His Majesty waiting outside the hall?"
Gu Han glanced at her. She showed none of the distress she'd displayed before Lu Yu. Hearing this, Gu Han only frowned and said:
"Don't you think His Majesty is acting a bit strange?"
Jiu Nian was puzzled: "This servant doesn't understand what Your Ladyship means."
Gu Han didn't know how to describe it either. After a long while, she said: "Don't you think His Majesty's temper seems a bit too good?"
Jiu Nian was stunned and asked in confusion:
"Isn't that a good thing?"
It was indeed a good thing, but Gu Han still felt it was strange. She glanced toward the hall entrance and nodded:
"Go outside and look. If His Majesty is still there, invite him in."
Jiu Nian was confused: "Your Ladyship just dismissed His Majesty, so why are you having this servant invite him in now?"
Gu Han felt embarrassed. Dismissing the Emperor was to tell him she was extremely uncomfortable about pleading for the Empress. Having Jiu Nian invite the Emperor was to let him know that she was merely hard-mouthed but soft-hearted—ultimately she couldn't harden her heart against him.
Before entering the palace, her mother had once said that for men, no matter how much they disliked you, knowing you particularly favored them would easily generate some pity.
Puzzled as she was, Her Ladyship not quarreling with the Emperor was ultimately a good thing. Jiu Nian ran out and, to her surprise, the imperial entourage truly hadn't left yet.
Lu Yu also saw Jiu Nian. He immediately glanced at Liu An lightly:
"I knew she was soft-hearted."
Liu An was numb. He could hear what seemed like pride in the Emperor's words, but he didn't understand—what was the Emperor proud of?
Jiu Nian invited Lu Yu inside. Upon entering the hall, he saw the woman glaring at him resentfully, as if quite angry, but she couldn't say anything harsh:
"I told Your Majesty to leave, would Your Majesty really not come anymore?"
Liu An paused, gaining some vague understanding of the Emperor's earlier pride.
Lu Yu wouldn't acknowledge these words. He stepped forward to grasp the woman's hand. She tugged but didn't break free, so she let Lu Yu hold her. The emotion in Lu Yu's eyes eased somewhat before he explained gently:
"If I truly didn't want to come, why would I wait outside the palace gates?"
He squeezed the woman's hand, asking softly: "Are you less angry now?"
Gu Han hadn't been angry at all. What was there to be less angry about?
She hummed vaguely, and the matter was let pass. Lu Yu's heart softened. Clearly the woman had made a fuss, but when this matter truly passed, Lu Yu instead felt the woman was too easy to coax.
Lu Yu embraced the woman as they lay on the soft couch. The imperial presence was busy, but at Yihe Palace, he rarely thought about those things, instead greedily enjoying some peace and pleasure.
He rested one hand on the woman's waist. Actually, his mind was still thinking about today's events when suddenly the woman's small voice sounded against his chest:
"Your Majesty should take Ze'er back to the imperial presence."
The hall was very quiet, so even though Gu Han's voice was small, Lu Yu heard it clearly.
Lu Yu lowered his eyes, his brows knitting together: "You also think today's incident was the Empress's doing?"
Gu Han didn't want to definitively say today's incident wasn't the Empress's doing. Let the Emperor suffer on his own. Suspicious people were destined to think more than others. Gu Han didn't believe the Emperor didn't suspect the Empress at all.
"I don't know who was behind today's incident. But if it truly was the Empress, then she can't tolerate the eldest prince, so naturally she can't tolerate Ze'er either."
Gu Han glanced at him before continuing: "If it wasn't the Empress, that person could make Xiao Chongzi betray the Empress—how difficult would it be to do something at Yihe Palace?"
After all, she'd helped the Empress plead today, which also blocked that person's path.
Lu Yu's eyes darkened. He knew Gu Han was right.
Gu Han wanted to sit up. Lu Yu habitually helped her, only then seeing clearly the transparency in the woman's almond eyes. Her voice was light and clear, making one subconsciously listen carefully to her words: "I know Your Majesty values the imperial heir in the Empress's womb."
Otherwise, after so many incidents, he wouldn't have suppressed everyone's complaints and kept the Empress's punishment lukewarm.
Lu Yu wanted to say something but she pressed down on his hand:
"I can understand Your Majesty, but the person behind this may not let it rest."
"So Your Majesty should still take Ze'er back to the imperial presence."
Gu Han lowered her eyes listlessly. These words were also very difficult to say. When the young prince was in the side hall, she went to see him several times a day. How could she bear to send him to the imperial presence?
As for why she didn't mention the young princess, it was naturally because this trouble was aimed at princes.
Lu Yu's eyes darkened. Even though Gu Han hadn't said a word about it, he could hear what the woman meant—she feared she couldn't protect Ze'er.
The Empress was acting recklessly relying on the imperial heir in her womb. Lu Yu had hoped for a legitimate son for many years and had always been very tolerant toward him. The day the woman nearly miscarried, he clearly knew the Empress was suspicious but still turned a blind eye, only thinking he would compensate the woman afterward.
He didn't know what Gu Han thought, but during that period the woman's complete silence clearly showed her disappointment in him.
That Gu Han could safely give birth to an imperial heir was because she'd taken good care of herself during pregnancy.
That the eldest prince wasn't in mortal danger today was because the palace servants around him had protected him in time.
He couldn't even give them justice afterward, so now Gu Han made no attempt to hide her fear and anxiety.
Gu Han tugged on his sleeve, asking hoarsely:
"Your Majesty will keep Ze'er safe and sound, won't you?"
Lu Yu's heart suddenly felt uncomfortable. He finally realized that precisely because of his tolerance, the Empress dared to strike at imperial heirs again and again.
He said in a deep voice:
"I won't let today's incident happen again."
Gu Han only looked at him once and said nothing.
Ze'er still remained at Yihe Palace. After Lu Yu left with a grim face, Jiu Nian asked anxiously: "Why did Your Ladyship provoke His Majesty?"
Gu Han didn't even lift her eyelids, saying calmly:
"Did I say anything wrong?"
The legitimate son hadn't even been born yet, and the Emperor was already this tolerant of the Empress. Gu Han couldn't imagine after the legitimate son was born—who in the Emperor's heart could compare with the legitimate son?
It would be best if the Emperor could truly have a great awakening.
Otherwise, would he really wait until the Empress had destroyed all the other princes?
At Chonghui Palace, Fu Ling frowned heavily, holding back her anger:
"Her Ladyship's plan was about to succeed, what's Zhao Xiūróng doing playing the good person?"
Ling Zhāoróng had a wooden expression. She also hadn't expected the error would appear with Zhao Xiūróng. But Zhao Xiūróng was a smart person. She wouldn't do this for no reason. There was only one possibility, she was following the Emperor's wishes.
Ling Zhāoróng closed her eyes, saying hoarsely: "I was too hasty."
Fu Ling shook her head:
"It's clearly Zhao Xiūróng's fault—what does it have to do with Your Ladyship?!"
Ling Zhāoróng suddenly broke into a fit of coughing, her whole body trembling, interrupting Fu Ling's words. Fu Ling nervously patted her back. After a long while, Ling Zhāoróng's coughing gradually quieted.
Fu Ling felt sorry that Her Ladyship's efforts had been wasted, and she'd lost such an important chess piece as Xiao Chongzi. Xiao Chongzi had served the Empress for nearly ten years and had long gained some of the Empress's trust.
Now without Xiao Chongzi, trying to frame the Empress this easily again wouldn't be so simple.
Fu Ling saw the trace of dark red on the handkerchief Her Ladyship had hidden. She imperceptibly wiped her eyes before asking softly:
"Your Ladyship, what should we do now?"
Even though the plan had failed, Ling Zhāoróng remained very calm:
"The Empress is on guard now. His Majesty will also be vigilant against anyone trying to harm imperial heirs again. Trying to act as we did today is simply impossible now."
Fu Ling was anxious and couldn't help wanting to blame Zhao Xiūróng again, but Her Ladyship's next sentence surprised her:
" Zhao Xiūróng reminded me of something today."
"This servant doesn't understand. Please enlighten me, Your Ladyship."
Ling Zhāoróng pulled at her lips, saying mockingly: "It's Zhao Xiūróng who reminded me that even with conclusive evidence, as long as His Majesty doesn't want to convict the Empress, all my efforts are in vain."
Today it was Zhao Xiūróng pleading for the Empress. Tomorrow it could be Yè Xiūróng, or even someone else taking the blame for the Empress.
Ling Zhāoróng closed her eyes. What she wanted was the Empress's downfall, the Empress's life.
Why beat around the bush?
Ling Zhāoróng coughed and beckoned Fu Ling closer, saying weakly:
"...Send a message to Zhao Xiūróng for me."
After Her Ladyship finished speaking, Fu Ling instinctively shook her head, saying in alarm: "Why would Your Ladyship tell her these things?"
Ling Zhāoróng looked at Fu Ling with gentle eyes. Hearing this, she only smiled peacefully:
"My... cough cough... time isn't long. But the princess must have someone to look after her."
Fu Ling didn't understand: "Zhao Xiūróng has both a son and a daughter, she won't care about the princess at all!"
Fu Ling didn't want to belittle the princess, but the facts were thus. The princess was frail. Zhao Xiūróng lacked neither children nor imperial favor. To her, the princess would only be a burden.
Ling Zhāoróng laughed softly, revealing her weakness:
"...I know..."
What she wanted wasn't for Zhao Xiūróng to raise the princess as her own. She only wanted Zhao Xiūróng to look after the princess somewhat in the future, in gratitude for solving a problem for her.
Ling Zhāoróng raised her eyes, looking toward a certain direction in the harem. Her gaze was tender to an unusual degree:
"I've long since arranged a place for the princess to go."
---
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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