Chapter 28: The Emperor Wants to Fish for Information

【Look how nervous you are, afraid you’ll never have descendants in this lifetime.】

Emperor: She really takes every chance to curse me in her heart, doesn’t she?

Nian Shilan glanced at him, with a hint of tattling in her tone:

“Empress also gifted me some incense, called Linyi Incense.”

The Emperor didn’t know which “Lin” or “Yi” it was, nor did he care, because if the Empress had sent this incense, it meant Huanyi Incense would no longer be a problem—

Even if there were issues, they could all be blamed on Linyi Incense.

“The Empress is thoughtful~”

The pieces on the chessboard had already been cleared away. “It’s rare to see you in the mood for chess. I’ll play a game with you.”

“Your Majesty flatters me. I don’t know how to play Go. If Your Majesty enjoys it, you could seek out…”

【Zhen Huan, Shen Meizhuang, Feng Ruozhao, Qi…】

Everyone ran through Nian Shilan’s mind, but none were good choices.

Finally, she said: “Empress.”

The Emperor didn’t think she would recommend him to go there out of gratitude for Linyi Incense, so he calmly waited for her to continue.

【Old and faded, meeting an untimely end—there’s no better choice than the Empress.】

So it was because the Empress posed the least threat to her that she chose the Empress, but… the Empress meeting an untimely end?

She is so virtuous and uncontentious—was she harmed by someone?

“It’s fine if you don’t know. I can teach you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Nian Shilan took white and made the first move.

【A lousy player, only able to put on airs in front of me.】

Lousy… player…

It’s fine, it’s fine. She also called the Empress Fat Orange and said she smelled like an old woman.

The Emperor’s expression remained unchanged, but his words were deliberately leading:

“The Empress is frail, constantly plagued by illnesses. Matters of the inner court must rely on you. With many people and complicated affairs, it’s inevitable to feel troubled. In truth, the Empress is virtuous and has been in the Prince’s Mansion for a long time. If you have any questions, you can always seek her advice.”

【Why bother saying such insincere words in front of me? If the Empress were truly that virtuous, why would you vow never to see her again in life or death?】

Never to see her again in life or death…

The Emperor pondered briefly. The Empress must have interfered in politics in the future; otherwise, it wouldn’t have come to this.

【It was that bitch Zhen Huan who became Empress Dowager and had you buried separately.】

【If it were me, I’d put you both in the same coffin. The more you don’t want to see each other, the more I’d make you face each other every day, unable to push away, just to infuriate you back to life!】

Infuriate you back to life…

Angered to death while alive, angered back to life after death, is that it?

Since he was being cursed, he needed to know more, more detailed things.

For example, who exactly was Shen Meizhuang’s adulterer?

This was extremely important to a man, to an emperor.

“You assist in managing the affairs of the Six Palaces and participated in the Palace Selection. In your opinion, among the newcomers, who deserves the highest honor?”

Nian Shilan knew it was Shen Meizhuang, and the Emperor knew she knew it was Shen Meizhuang. So, in plain terms, the Emperor’s question meant:

Please describe Shen Meizhuang’s life in detail, with a minimum of eight hundred words.

But Nian Shilan’s temperament was more suited to the Empress’s direct questioning. The Emperor couldn’t directly ask about things that hadn’t happened, and she didn’t understand subtlety.

“Your Majesty should favor whomever you like. I dare not speak recklessly.”

【Every word spoken now could become a sharp blade that stabs me in the future. Don’t ask—if you ask, I don’t know!】

The Emperor was in no hurry and said slowly:

“The Empress thinks Sun Changzai is quite good. The Sun Family and the Nian Family are related by marriage. By reason and sentiment, Sun Changzai should receive the highest favor.”

【Sun Miaoqing?】

【The Emperor is wary of powerful court officials. If I recommend first, the Emperor will be suspicious, and Sun Miaoqing will surely not gain favor. But if the Empress recommends first and deliberately mentions that the Nian and Sun families are related by marriage, and then I agree…】

【Whether the Sun family lives or dies doesn’t matter. The paranoid dog Emperor will likely implicate my brother and our entire Nian family.】

【That old hag of an Empress!】

【I even felt some goodwill toward her today and thought of reminding her not to test the Emperor’s patience, lest she become a nuisance. And what does she do? Stabs the Nian family in the back!】

【Quite swift, isn’t she?】

【Sun Miaoqing publicly displeased me during the joint palace audience, and I sent her a signal. She immediately turned around to curry favor with the Emperor.】

【She wants Sun Miaoqing to gain favor and compete with me, so she can reap the benefits while we fight, doesn’t she?】

【Thankfully, the dog Emperor can’t keep his mouth shut, or the Nian family would have fallen into the Empress’s trap tonight!】

“Since my stepsister married into the Jiangnan region, she has had little contact with the family. I only learned of Miaoqing’s entry into the palace during the Palace Selection.”

This was to distance the Nian family from the Sun family.

Nian Shilan observed the Emperor’s expression and continued with a smile:

“Your Majesty bestowing this first favor upon Sister Sun is naturally out of affection for her. However, if you leave Yikun Palace tonight and then summon Sister Sun, she might misunderstand and think Your Majesty favored her because of me.”

The Emperor had anticipated this response. He gazed at the chessboard, made a move, and remained silent.

【Are you deaf or mute? I’m speaking to you!】

【Playing dead every single day!】

The Emperor was waiting for her to answer the earlier question voluntarily.

The matter involved the court and the Nian family, and Nian Shilan wanted to avoid complications. She compromised, deciding to follow the course of her previous life.

“I find Noble Lady Shen reminiscent of Consort Jing in her dignified and upright character.”

“Is it merely her character?”

【I know you adore that virtuous and dignified ‘green-hatted sister,’ wanting to give her exclusive favor. Later, you’ll gift her all the Green Chrysanthemums from the Flower House and grant her the honor of learning to Assist in Managing the Six Palaces.】

【You love her all you want, but must you force everyone in the world to praise her? Is that amusing?】

【Great Physician Wen’s acupuncture skills are unparalleled. He should give you a needle or two!】

It was rare for Nian Shilan to speak with hidden meaning, but the Emperor failed to grasp the reference to acupuncture.

He simply assumed she was jealous, hence her mention of having the physician needle him, and thought nothing more of it.

The Emperor remembered how, back in the Prince’s Mansion, she would wait from dusk till dawn, heartbroken, whenever he visited other consorts’ quarters.

Today, with new consorts entering the palace, he didn’t want her to be too disappointed.

If he couldn’t get an answer tonight, there would be other days. There was no need to rush.

The Emperor took hold of Nian Shilan’s hand as she made her move.

Nian Shilan looked up at him. 【What madness is this now? If we’re playing chess, play chess. Why are you touching my hand?】

【Ugh! Taking advantage of me!】

【If you weren’t the Emperor, I’d chop off this paw of yours and feed it to the dogs!】

See how jealous my Consort Hua has become?

The Emperor soothed her, saying, “In my heart, no one in the Six Palaces can compare to you.”

Nian Shilan: “…”

【May liars die a miserable death, and may those who deceive be left without heirs!】

The Emperor: “…”

The Jing Shi Fang had already escorted Shen Meizhuang to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

After all, this was her first night of service, and as the daughter of Shen Zishan, it wouldn’t do to leave her waiting after her plaque had been chosen.

No matter how poor the Emperor’s chess skills were, defeating Nian Shilan was still effortless.

He quickly concluded the chess game. “There are matters to attend to in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. I shall return first.”

Nian Shilan glanced at the chessboard, which was almost devoid of white pieces, and felt a surge of anger.

“Your Majesty, farewell.”

“I shall come to you for a meal tomorrow after court.”

Shen Meizhuang, curled up in a ball, felt her back go numb and was nearly asleep when she heard the announcement from outside, “The Emperor has arrived,” and immediately snapped awake.

She remained the first among the new consorts to receive favor. Everything seemed no different from her previous life, yet there were always a few unexpected twists.

Early in the morning, Shen Meizhuang came to Yikun Palace to pay her respects.