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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 113: The Price of Loyalty
The night was heavy with dew, especially as November had arrived. Gu Han did not ask the midwives to bring the infants back to her; the exhaustion from her earlier weeping took its toll, and she soon drifted back into a deep sleep.
Lu Yu stayed by her side all night. It was only when Liu An came to remind him of the morning court session that he finally rose to leave.
The news that Zhao Xiūróng had safely delivered and been personally attended to by the Emperor spread like wildfire. That night, countless women in the harem found it impossible to sleep.
When Gu Han woke the next day, she learned of the Princess's title. Propped up against the headboard, she repeated the name "Feng'an" softly to herself, her brow relaxing.
A Princess was inherently in a weaker position than a Prince. Even though Lu Yu had hoped for a son during her pregnancy, it was clear now that he held a deep affection for the little girl.
Gu Han finally saw her children. Wrapped in swaddling clothes, the palm-sized infants slept with their eyes shut tight. To any outsider, they were wrinkled and "ugly" newborns, but to Gu Han, there was no more beautiful sight in the world.
She gently touched the Princess’s cheek, the skin was so soft it felt as though it might break under a heavy touch. Jiu Nian whispered, "If Your Ladyship hadn't still been crying out in pain, the midwives might have overlooked the Princess in their excitement over the Prince."
Gu Han pulled the Princess into her arms. The little girl was lighter than her brother and remarkably quiet; even when hungry, she only let out soft, delicate cries.
"The Princess is blessed with great fortune," Gu Han murmured.
She noted the contrast: the Eldest Princess (daughter of Consort Lady Ling) had been born with a weak constitution and only received a title on her first birthday. Her own daughter had been granted one at birth, a signal that no one would dare look down on her.
As for the Prince, Gu Han understood why he had no title yet. There were two older princes ahead of him; to grant him a title now would be to skip the line, painting a massive target on his back. Even if the Emperor were willing, Gu Han was not.
Jiu Nian lowered her voice. "Yesterday, His Majesty sent Eunuch Liu An to retrieve the Empress's Records and Seal."
Gu Han handed the baby back to the midwife and gave a calm instruction: "Serve them well." Her calm exterior masked her fatigue as she asked: "Where is Xie Chang’an?"
"Master Xie has returned to Zhongsheng Hall."
Gu Han was silent for a long time. "Do you think... it would be better for him to leave the palace?" she asked softly. Even if they escaped this time, she feared she would eventually drag him down.
Jiu Nian hesitated. "I have something to say, though I know not if I should. Master Xie might not want to leave the palace."
He was no longer the proud Second Young Master of the Xie family. To a man like him, living in disgrace for so many years was a fate worse than death. The Xie family had fallen due to a political miscalculation, but their centuries-old reputation remained untarnished. If the world found out what had become of their golden boy, the ridicule would be unbearable.
Gu Han's head ached, but she knew Jiu Nian was right. She also knew she couldn't ignore Xie Chang’an’s wishes. If he chose to stay, her only option was to eliminate anyone who tried to use him against her.
"Tell Eunuch Cheng," Gu Han declared, "that if anyone attempts to transfer Xie Chang’an again, they must say it is my order: he is to stay safely in Zhongsheng Hall."
She was moving their connection from the shadows into the light. By claiming him openly, she was warning the harem: to touch Xie Chang’an was to provoke her.
---
In the Zhongsheng Hall, Eunuch Cheng entered Xie Chang’an’s room and snorted. "You truly have no regard for your own life!"
He knew the truth: the "premature" birth was a calculated move by Xie Chang’an and Gu Han. They had baited the Empress. The Empress had been lured into a trap, and a servant in Kunning Palace had died as a result.
"You used yourself as bait," Cheng hissed. "Were you not afraid you wouldn't come back?"
Xie Chang’an coughed into his hand, his face pale and elegant. "That... would have been for the best," he whispered.
Cheng was furious. He realized Xie Chang’an had never intended to survive. If he had died in Kunning Palace, Gu Han could have used his death to force the Emperor to take drastic action against the Empress.
"If Her Ladyship knew what you were planning, would she have let you go?" Cheng asked.
Xie Chang’an smiled faintly. "Her Ladyship is kind-hearted; she would never permit it. So, I beg you, Eunuch Cheng, do not tell her. Let me have my way."
---
In Kunning Palace, the Empress stood by Mu Qiu’s bed. Under the Emperor's orders, no physician dared to treat the maid. Mu Qiu was a spent candle, her life force flickering out.
"Your Ladyship..." Mu Qiu gasped. "I fear I can no longer accompany you. Please... take care of yourself."
The Empress held her hand in silence. Mu Qiu, knowing her time was short, struggled to speak. "It was my fault... I should have warned you not to nourish a tiger cub. Now, it is too late."
The Emperor had considered deposing the Empress for the sake of Zhao Xiūróng. Mu Qiu’s eyes began to glaze over. "Your Ladyship... She is too ambitious... she cannot be used by you... you must remove her!"
Blood welled up in Mu Qiu’s throat. Her eyes went wide. "Your Ladyship... remove her... find... Ling Zhāoróng—"
The words stopped. Mu Qiu’s hand went limp. She had spent her final breaths strategizing for her mistress.
The Empress sat frozen. She remembered when Gu Han first entered the palace; Mu Qiu had urged her to suppress the girl's favor. But the Empress had been arrogant, thinking she could use Gu Han to take down Consort Shu.
She had toyed with Gu Han, occasionally tripping her up to make her more "useful." Now, the tiger was grown, and the Empress had no leash left. She had spun her own cocoon and trapped herself within it.
The Empress sat there until sunset. When her maid, Fu Ling, finally entered the room, she gasped.
"Your Ladyship... it is time for dinner."
The Empress didn't respond for a long time. Finally, her voice came, hoarse and hollow: "Help me up."
As she walked out into the fading sunlight, she said simply, "Give her a proper burial."
---
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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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