Chapter 11: The Rod

Having fought with them both openly and covertly for so long in her previous life, how could Lan Wu not understand what Xiuyi Bai was thinking? She wasn’t foolish enough to simply fulfill someone’s wishes so easily.

Just as she was about to step through the entrance of the Music Bureau, crossing the threshold, Lan Wu fell in full view of everyone.

Her foot was already injured, and even the court physician had advised her to rest properly and avoid frequent falls or pressure. Now, having fallen again, she let out a sharp cry of pain.

But she dared not truly cripple her leg. She had softened her knees as she fell, so her foot was relatively fine, with no obvious impact on the wound.

There were many familiar faces in the Music Bureau. As everyone gathered around, before they even realized who the palace maid helping her up was, Lan Wu cried out softly in pain, doing her utmost to distance herself from the situation:

“Please tell Lady Xiuyi that this humble servant is of lowly status and thanks her for her grace. It was my own carelessness that caused the fall—it has nothing to do with you.”

It wasn’t as if the palace maid had intentionally tripped Lan Wu, but seeing how sincerely Lan Wu spoke, the bewildered young palace maid standing there was confused. Thinking she had accidentally bumped into Lan Wu’s foot, she hurriedly apologized, saying she hadn’t meant to touch Lan Wu. Feeling the eyes of everyone around her fixed on her, the young palace maid dared not say more. She hastily excused herself, saying she had to return, then turned and hurried away.

Lan Wu was helped to her feet, and everyone saw her injured foot.

“Where did you get hurt like this? Aunt He will surely sigh when she sees it.”

“Why have you been so plagued by misfortune lately?”

“Didn’t they say Lady Shufei wanted you to dance? How did you end up injured…”

Lan Wu insisted she was fine, but everyone could see otherwise. With such a severe foot injury, how could it be called “fine”? However, having just heard her mention Lady Xiuyi, they were all too lowly to get involved. Moreover, with Lady Shufei also part of the situation, if the punishment had been ordered by Lady Shufei, no one dared to say anything more.

When Lan Wu returned to her room, it wasn’t long before Xia Chu came running over.

Xia Chu’s face was filled with guilt and anxiety. Seeing Lan Wu sitting on the bed with her injured leg, she rushed forward.

“I haven’t thanked you yet—”

“Lan Wu, it’s all my fault.”

Lan Wu had been about to thank her for calling Consort Li over earlier. Although it hadn’t been of much use, it had bought her some time.

Unexpectedly, Xia Chu was the first to sob and apologize, throwing herself forward.

“I… I couldn’t get into Jinghua Palace. They said Lady Lifei wasn’t there, so I went looking for her, but I couldn’t find her…” Xia Chu looked at Lan Wu’s injury and wiped her tears. “It’s all my fault. If I had found Lady Lifei sooner, you wouldn’t have been punished by Lady Shufei.”

So that was it.

So Consort Li hadn’t been summoned by Xia Chu.

Then who had it been?

And Chu Mingheng—from what they said, Chu Mingheng had also come specifically to the Imperial Garden. What a coincidence—the Imperial Garden was so vast, yet he happened to witness Consort Shu tormenting her.

Could it be… they had both planted people around her?

Based on Lan Wu’s own thoughts, Consort Li probably wouldn’t have been so thorough. After all, she had only met her once in private, so Consort Li likely didn’t care that much about her.

But Chu Mingheng…

Would Chu Mingheng have planted someone near her? He even knew she had inquired about Wanshu Pavilion.

Lan Wu instinctively looked up at the beams, then glanced outside the door. Naturally, she saw no one.

“Lan Wu, what are you looking at?” Xia Chu wiped her tears and, seeing Lan Wu’s strange movements, couldn’t help but ask.

Lan Wu simply looked at her.

Could it be Xia Chu?

No, Xia Chu is too foolish.

Chen Kangan carefully presented the prepared hot tea onto the imperial desk, placing it right beside His Majesty’s hand.

On the desk lay the information that Lady Lan Wu had gone to great lengths to investigate a few days earlier—besides Wanshu Pavilion, there were also Linheng Office and Huanyi Bureau.

When this information was presented to His Majesty a few days ago, although the Emperor said nothing, having served by His Majesty’s side for so long, Chen Kangan naturally understood that the more expressionless this Son of Heaven appeared, the deeper his thoughts ran.

Now, having returned from the Imperial Garden, His Majesty had taken out these papers to review once more.

“Chen Kangan, tell me—since I have spared her time and again, what should she do next to repay me?” The Emperor casually released his grip, letting the few sheets of paper in his hand drift onto the desk. Leaning back in his chair with an air of leisure, his fingers lightly tapped the armrest.

Chen Kangan fell silent for a moment, his mind racing as he considered what to say.

“Your Majesty, Lady Lan Wu must be deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s favor. Next…” He hesitated, then ventured cautiously, “Perhaps she should come personally to express her gratitude to Your Majesty.”

“Favor?” Chu Mingheng’s tone remained flat and unreadable before he nodded. “Indeed, it is favor.”

After speaking, he slightly raised his gaze, a faint trace of killing intent flickering in his eyes. “Keep a close watch over there. I do not wish to see today’s incident repeated.”

Chen Kangan promptly and respectfully acknowledged the order. But as he watched the Emperor pick up the teacup, he recalled another matter and said, “When Lady Lan Wu returned to the Music Bureau, it was Lady Xiuyi Bai who ordered her own palace maid to escort her back. However, the maid was clumsy and caused Lady Lan Wu to fall while helping her over the threshold.”

“Many people witnessed it. From what Lady Lan Wu implied in her words, it seems she suggested… that Lady Xiuyi did it intentionally.”

Chen Kangan answered with excessive caution, deliberately avoiding distortion of either party’s meaning. After all, since a few days before the Longevity Festival, His Majesty had often been lost in thought. With so many newly entered imperial concubines in the palace, he had not summoned any to attend him, yet he had ordered portraits of the imperial concubines to be brought one by one—clearly searching for someone among them.

On the day of the Longevity Festival, everything proceeded as usual, just like previous years.

Except for that Lady Lan Wu.

When Chen Kangan saw that face, an inexplicable suspicion arose in his heart, and he silently lowered his head.

Later, when Lady Lan Wu committed a breach of etiquette in the Imperial Presence, His Majesty showed no intention of punishing her. It was then that Chen Kangan offered that reminder to Lady Lan Wu, who was still on the ground.

After nightfall, His Majesty personally went to see Lady Lan Wu.

Later, he had Lady Lan Wu perform a dance, and today, he had all but openly bestowed favor upon her.

All that remained—all that remained was an official rank.

“Fell again?” Chu Mingheng propped his chin on one hand, his tone unhurried.

Chen Kangan could only affirm that it was so.

After a moment, Chu Mingheng seemed to have considered something clearly and ordered, “Bring that rod I had someone find to Taichen Palace.”

His gaze fixed heavily on Chen Kangan, his tone carrying an authority that brooked no argument. “Place it properly.”

Though Chen Kangan did not understand the intention, he knew well that whatever His Majesty wanted must be carried out properly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The stick would certainly have its uses, but its other owner remained completely unaware, preoccupied instead with another worry.