THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S RISE TO POWER

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

Translator's note: I would like to give a big shoutout to Stephnora and Anxiousempathx for supporting me. you made me so happy guys. A big thank you to all my dear readers who stayed even with the caotic posting schedule. you all have my heart.

Chapter 150

Gu Han took the slip of paper. Written clearly upon it was an invitation to meet tonight at the third quarter of the Hour of the Pig (approx. 9:45 PM) in the osmanthus grove behind Hanling Palace.

Beside her, Jiu si said with great frustration, "The moment I returned to the palace, I found this note tucked into my sleeve. I have no idea who slipped it to me."

Gu Han remained silent, staring at the note. She had seen the letters Xie Chang'an wrote to her elder sister; the handwriting here was nearly identical. With Xiao Fangzi’s professional confirmation, it was almost certain that this was indeed Xie Chang'an’s script.

However, one detail bothered her: if Xie Chang'an wanted to send her a message, doing so through Jiu si rather than Xiao Fangzi was enough to rouse her suspicion.

Xiao Fangzi added, "The Young Master would not ask to meet Your Ladyship without a serious reason."

Exactly. In the current situation, where the Emperor had just suppressed the scandalous rumors with an iron fist, how could Xie Chang'an possibly invite her to a secret meeting?

Gu Han’s gaze settled on the words "Hanling Palace." This location brought back a memory of something long past.

During the imperial selection, a candidate named Liu had also used a note to lure her to a meeting. Gu Han had "accidentally" pushed her into a well near Hanling Palace. When the incident came to light, Concubine Yuan, who resided there, was implicated and demoted to a Cáirén.

Back then, the Liu girl also believed Gu Han was in love with Xie Chang'an and thought she held a handle over her. The note had fallen into the well with the girl and soaked for days; by the time the body was found, the note was never mentioned. Gu Han had thought the matter ended with Liu's death. Now, it seemed she was wrong.

It appeared Gu Han had finally found the "other protagonist" of the rumors that had been plaguing the palace.

She shook her head mockingly. The person behind this didn't know the truth and assumed Hanling Palace was a place of special significance to her. Ironically, it was the mention of this specific location that confirmed her suspicions of a trap. Even Jiu si and Jiu nian didn't know the truth about Liu falling into the well, let alone Xie Chang'an.

Jiunian frowned deeply. "What does Your Ladyship intend to do?"

Gu Han didn't answer directly. She lowered her eyes and said softly, "I have heard of people who are exceptionally skilled at mimicking others' handwriting. I never saw it outside the palace, but now I'm getting quite a feast for the eyes."

Xiao Fangzi realized immediately. The group exchanged looks. "It seems the one who sent this note is the same person who spread the rumors."

Jiusi spoke up quickly, "Since we know it's a trap, we simply won't go! Let their efforts come to nothing!"

Jiunian and Xiao Fangzi nodded in agreement. But Gu Han remained silent. Sensing something, Jiu nian’s eyes widened:

"Your Ladyship is going?!"

The others were shocked. Jiusi blurted out, "You mustn't, Your Ladyship!"

Gu Han asked calmly, "If that person has the ability to send me a note written by Xie Chang'an, would they not also send him a note written by *me*? And then lead the Emperor there to witness the moment of our 'secret meeting'?"

Otherwise, why bother luring her to the vicinity of Hanling Palace?

Xiao Fangzi fell silent. Xie Chang'an had saved his life; he could not stand by and watch him walk into danger. But he also knew that if the Noble Consort actually went, it would lead to the worst possible outcome for both of them.

He bit his lip. "Your Ladyship should still stay away."

Gu Han shook her head, cutting them off. "No, I must go. Not only will I go, but I will go 'secretly,' exactly as they expect me to."

---

Just as Gu Han suspected, Xie Chang'an had indeed received a note from "her."

When they first met, Gu Han was still a young, mischievous girl. She had been punished by the Marquis to copy books and, finding Xie Chang'an’s handwriting beautiful, she had practiced imitating it. Thus, Xie Chang'an was very familiar with her script.

He pressed a hand to his lips and coughed a few times. His expression was obscured by the flickering candlelight.

Eunuch Cheng watched him with concern. Xie Chang'an unhurriedly folded the note and stood up. "Eunuch, I must leave for a moment."

Eunuch Cheng knew he couldn't stop him, but still tried to advise, "Since the Noble Consort entered the palace, she has never sought to meet you. She is always cautious; this is very likely a trap!"

Xie Chang'an let out a low sigh. "I know."

"You know, yet you still risk your life?!"

Xie Chang'an didn't respond. He knew what the eunuch was worried about; in fact, he had anticipated everything Gu Han had. He didn't need to verify the handwriting. Given the recent rumors, it was obvious a trap lay ahead.

Even so, he had to go—because he didn't know if *she* would show up.

He looked out at the deepening twilight and suddenly curled his lips into a relaxed smile.

Watching him, Eunuch Cheng felt a surge of panic. "What exactly are you planning to do?"

Xie Chang'an looked up, his eyes clear in the candlelight. "During this time, I have troubled you to look after me, Eunuch."

With that, he pushed open the door and left. Eunuch Cheng stood frozen. He could have reached out and stopped him, but he didn't. He suddenly remembered something Xie Chang'an once said: *Sometimes, one shouldn't be too smart. Especially those in lower positions.*

Xie Chang'an knew today's trip was dangerous, but he had to go. He had done everything he could for her; only one task remained. As long as he stayed in the palace, he was a permanent risk to her safety.

---

In Yian Palace, as dusk turned to night, Liu An pushed open the doors.

Lu Yu walked along the veranda. When he entered the side hall, he saw Concubine Wei sitting at her dressing table, fully dressed and made up. She wore jade hairpins and a vibrant violet palace dress that made her look exceptionally dazzling.

Lu Yu was silent for a moment. "You knew I was coming."

Concubine Wei looked at him greedily through the mirror. Since her demotion, Lu Yu hadn't visited for a long time. In the nearly six years she had served him, she had never gone this long without seeing his face.

Finally, she stood up, suppressed her emotions, and bowed. "When Your Majesty wishes to investigate something, there is nothing you cannot find out. Since you know the rumors were my doing, how could you not come to see me?"

She praised him highly, but Lu Yu only spoke coldly: "So, you admit the rumors were your doing."

The word "rumors" was grating to her ears; it meant the Emperor didn't believe a word of it.

The sting of her nails piercing her palms kept her grounded. If the Emperor truly didn't doubt her at all, he wouldn't be here now. Lu Yu looked at her with disgust. He hated her lack of remorse.

"What exactly are you trying to achieve? What benefit is there for you to slander the Noble Consort?"

Concubine Wei forced herself not to think about his blatant protection of Gu Han. She looked him in the eye. "How can Your Majesty be so certain it is 'slander'?"

Lu Yu laughed out of sheer anger. "If not slander, do you have evidence to prove the rumors are true?"

She replied steadily, "Seeing is believing. Does Your Majesty dare take a walk with me?"

In the dim hall, Lu Yu narrowed his eyes. Concubine Wei couldn't tell what he was thinking until she heard his deep voice: "I shall go with you."

Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, his calm voice added, "Know this: if you cannot prove the rumors true, no matter what cards you hold, you will not keep your life today."

Concubine Wei had received word that both the Noble Consort and Xie Chang'an were heading to the osmanthus grove. She met his gaze with confidence. "I am at Your Majesty's disposal."

Lu Yu’s lips twitched coldly as he turned to leave. Behind him, Liu An cast a subtle, pitying look at Concubine Wei. She was so obsessed that she failed to hear the terminal chill in the Emperor's words. If the rumors were false, she was dead. If they were true, the Emperor’s current obsession with Gu Han meant he would still take his rage out on the woman who exposed it. Her fate was sealed either way.

As they approached the grove at the Hour of the Pig, it was pitch black, but Lu Yu spotted a faint flicker of light from within the trees—the weak glow of a lantern. His heart sank, and his face turned to ice.

Concubine Wei stopped. "Your Majesty, go see for yourself."

Lu Yu sneered. "See what?"

She couldn't understand why, with the truth right in front of him, he still chose to believe Gu Han. She stopped waiting for him and led her people directly into the grove. The people inside seemed to hear the commotion; the red light dodged a few times before stopping in place.

Liu An stole a glance at the Emperor's terrifying expression, pitying both the person in the woods and Concubine Wei.

Concubine Wei lost all restraint. She rushed into the grove and shouted at the woman in the cloak whose back was turned to them:

"Noble Consort! Why are you still hiding?!"

With Lu Yu’s arrival, the palace servants raised their lanterns, illuminating the grove. Lu Yu immediately recognized the other man as Xie Chang'an. He wasn't as polished as he used to be when he was the talk of the capital, but his innate noble grace still surpassed all others.

Lu Yu’s eyes darkened. He clenched his fists before forcing himself to look at the woman. She wore a carmine cloak—one he had seen in Gu Han's palace. Her height and posture were identical to Gu Han's.

Even so, Lu Yu sensed something was wrong immediately. When Concubine Wei lunged forward and tore away the woman's cloak, the woman turned around with a cry of alarm.

Everyone froze. Liu An’s eyes nearly popped out as he blurted out, "Jiu si?!"

Lu Yu’s tension eased almost imperceptibly. Then, Gu Han’s cool, light voice drifted from behind them:

"It seems Concubine Wei is very disappointed by the person she sees."

---

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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