Chapter 106: Leaving the Palace
Lan Wu was to remain in Taichen Palace for half a month. On the surface, it was called confinement, but who would have thought she would be confined right in Chu Mingheng’s own palace?
However, after “interrogating” Chu Mingheng once, she could roughly guess why he wanted to keep her locked away.
The deaths of the two Empress Dowagers in the fire had been a truly sorrowful event. Since it was no accident, it was likely the result of schemes among the imperial concubines, or even court officials.
Chu Mingheng probably wanted to keep her confined because he feared she might be plotted against and lose her life.
But who knew she had already lost one life before?
Lan Wu sat leisurely on the recliner by the window, watching the red leaves fall outside the hall.
She yawned and lowered her head to read a book, bored out of her mind.
It was already the seventh day. Staying here was starting to irritate her.
Lan Wu turned another page when a sudden gust of wind swept into the hall from outside.
She abruptly looked up and saw the fallen leaves swirling wildly under the bright sunlight outside.
What fine weather.
On a normal day, with such strong winds, she would have gone to the Imperial Garden with the palace maids to fly kites. But now, stuck here, she felt suffocated.
Mujin entered the hall just in time to see her sulking expression and thought to herself: His Majesty didn’t come for the midday meal, and Her Ladyship was already displeased then. Now, who knows how she’ll need to be coaxed?
“Your Ladyship has just woken up. Why not take a stroll outside? I heard the red maples in the rear hall are at their most vibrant. Would Your Ladyship like to paint?” Mujin kept suggesting ways to relieve her boredom.
Lan Wu glanced up at her, then gently shook her head, pointing to the palace regulations on the table. “His Majesty ordered me to copy the palace rules during my confinement.”
Mujin found it amusing. When had His Majesty ever truly insisted that Her Ladyship copy those rules? All these days, she hadn’t seen Her Ladyship touch them, and His Majesty never mentioned it. Instead, Her Ladyship kept the palace regulations on the table as if hinting at something.
Just as she was about to say something, Luo Yun called softly from outside the hall door.
“Your Ladyship, His Majesty asks if you are awake.”
Lan Wu leaned out and replied, “I’m awake. Come in.”
Only then did Luo Yun enter the hall.
Lan Wu glanced suspiciously behind her but saw no one else. However, Chu Mingheng wouldn’t send Luo Yun to ask such a question for no reason—there must be something else planned.
“What is it?”
Luo Yun replied calmly, “His Majesty said that Your Ladyship has been restless these past few days. Since the weather is fine today, he wishes to take Your Ladyship out of the palace to relax and sent me to see if you were awake.”
Lan Wu straightened up from her chair as if struck by joyous news. She stood up, delighted and surprised, looking at Luo Yun and asking repeatedly, “Really? Is it true?”
Luo Yun patiently assured her it was.
Palace maids entered the hall to style Lan Wu’s hair and help her change clothes.
Although the weather was sunny, the wind was blowing, making it dry and chilly. Lan Wu wore a snow-blue patterned robe with a skirt hemmed in pink-purple and embroidered with cloud patterns. Over it, she draped a milky-white rabbit fur cloak. Adorning her temples were silver hairpins inlaid with white jade, delicate and exquisite. On her wrist, she wore a purple jade bracelet, and around her neck hung a tasseled necklace. At her waist dangled a small gold-carved sachet. At a glance, she looked every bit the pampered noble lady.
“How do I look? Is this pretty?” Lan Wu twirled in front of the palace maids after dressing up, unable to hide her joy. As if realizing this might undermine her dignity, she quickly slowed down and looked at herself in the mirror.
Luo Yun smiled as she fastened the earrings onto Lan Wu’s ears, saying, “This servant has never seen anyone more beautiful than you, my lady.”
Just as everything in the hall was prepared, someone arrived from the Imperial Presence to escort her.
Lan Wu boarded the small sedan chair, which was carried all the way to the palace gate. The sedan was enclosed, preventing those outside from seeing inside, while those inside could only glimpse the outside by lifting the curtain.
She had only taken the route out of the palace once before, a distant memory from her past life, and she could no longer recall it.
As the sedan chair gradually moved into unfamiliar territory, Lan Wu belatedly realized she had been somewhat careless.
Although no one in the palace would dare openly impersonate the Emperor’s decree to take her away, her mind was now racing with the thought—what if this was a trap? A scheme specifically designed to lure her in, using Your Majesty’s name, and who knew where they intended to take her.
The more Lan Wu thought about it, the more her brow furrowed. She instinctively tightened her grip on the corner of her cloak and gently lifted the curtain to glance outside.
They were still on the palace pathway.
“My lady?” Mujin, seated beside her, noticed her unease and called out softly.
Lan Wu gestured for her to remain silent, then whispered, “Have you ever left the palace? Is this the way out?”
She couldn’t help but worry that someone might be taking them elsewhere.
Mujin also peeked outside through the curtain and finally understood Lan Wu’s concern. She quickly reassured her, “My lady, rest assured, this is indeed the way out of the palace. However, this route passes through the Chenghua Gate, which is a bit farther. It will likely take a little longer to arrive.”
“These palace attendants are also ones I have seen in the Imperial Presence. There is no need for you to worry.”
Only then did Lan Wu breathe a sigh of relief. She nodded and smiled, saying, “I thought it was…”
Before she could finish her sentence, a voice outside the sedan chair suddenly called for them to stop.
“Didn’t you hear? Her ladyship ordered you to stop!” The eunuch’s voice carried a tone of suspicion, followed by a sharp reprimand.
The sedan chair beneath them gradually came to a halt but remained suspended in the air.
Immediately afterward, Lan Wu heard Zhaoyi Wen’s voice outside. “Who is inside?”
This path had just left the rear palace and was heading toward the palace exit. Zhaoyi Wen had noticed the small sedan chair earlier. Though inconspicuous, its presence on the palace pathway made it impossible to ignore.
Her attendants hadn’t recognized these as the Emperor’s attendants, and when their call to stop went unheeded, they grew suspicious.
Seeing the sedan chair remain unmoved, Zhaoyi Wen’s expression turned cold. She thought to herself, “How presumptuous! I wonder which noble lady this is, putting on such airs.”
Before she could question them again, the attendant leading the sedan chair stepped forward and spoke in a measured tone, just loud enough for Zhaoyi Wen to hear.
“Please forgive us, Zhaoyi Wen. We are acting under imperial orders and fear punishment if we are delayed.”
Lan Wu was currently under house arrest. Although few took this restriction seriously, she couldn’t openly appear before Zhaoyi Wen. If Consort Shu’s people seized upon this to cause trouble for her, it would only add to her troubles.
Zhaoyi Wen stared at the sedan chair, her expression revealing a flicker of understanding. She said softly, “It seems one of my sisters has received His Majesty’s favor. Very well, I shall not delay her any further.”
With that, she ordered her procession to turn and depart.
Inside the sedan chair, Lan Wu and Mujin exchanged glances. They couldn’t tell whether Zhaoyi Wen had guessed who was inside, but since it was His Majesty who had sent for her, even if she had guessed… she likely wouldn’t dare to spread the news openly.
“Your Highness, shall we continue on our way?” Outside the small sedan chair, the eunuch inquired respectfully.
“Please, let’s proceed.”
The small sedan chair continued its swaying journey toward the palace gate.