Chapter 197: Good Intentions
“You sent the imperial concubines out of the palace?” Lan Wu asked as soon as Chu Mingheng led her into the inner chamber after entering the hall.
Chu Mingheng hummed in acknowledgment, spotting some dried fruit nearby. He picked one up and fed it to Lan Wu’s lips.
Lan Wu instinctively opened her mouth to eat it, listening as he said:
“Before you went to Changyong Mountain, rumors were already spreading in the palace that I was on the verge of death. I didn’t spread those rumors for no reason.”
“The matters concerning the Late Emperor, Wen Shi, and Prince Wei have caused me great distress. After much thought, I realized it was ultimately due to having too many concubines.”
“That’s why I came up with such a clever solution.”
Lan Wu’s eyes widened, as if to say how cunning he was.
The court officials would never have imagined that Your Majesty could truly allow such rumors to spread. After that, everything proceeded exceptionally smoothly, so much so that Lan Wu noticed very few people at the morning greetings today.
“With fewer people in the palace, there will be fewer schemes. Managing the rear palace won’t be as tiring for you.” As he spoke, Chu Mingheng led her to sit at the desk, then looked at Lan Wu and corrected himself, “But if you don’t want to manage it, that’s fine too. Leave it to the subordinates. I don’t want you to tire yourself out either.”
Lan Wu felt a warmth in her heart under his gaze, slowly shifting her eyes away before turning back after a moment to meet his stare firmly.
In truth, Chu Mingheng was completely overthinking it. Lan Wu had initially found palace affairs unfamiliar and difficult to handle, but after being taught a few times, she became proficient.
Moreover, with Dan Shan overseeing things, nothing could possibly go wrong.
April passed, May approached, and early summer arrived.
At this time, the Ministry of Rites finally selected a date for the grand ceremony.
Needless to say, everyone knew how much Your Majesty valued this Empress, so the date for the ceremony had to be chosen with great care.
It couldn’t be too rushed, as there were many preparations to be made before the ceremony, and haste could lead to mistakes.
Nor could it be too delayed. They had previously submitted a date for the end of next year, but as soon as it was sent up, Your Majesty rejected it. His stern expression made their hearts skip a beat, and they hurriedly went back to revise the date.
Thus, they changed it to the end of this year.
“The seventh day of the twelfth month—still over half a year away.”
Lian Qiao told Lan Wu the date set by the Ministry of Rites, but Dan Shan, standing nearby, remarked, “It sounds like a long time, but it’s actually quite tight. In these six months, we must prepare the ceremonial robes, the imperial seal and treasures…”
“But these are not matters for Her Majesty to worry about. Her Majesty only needs to wait for the arrival of the seventh day of the twelfth month.”
After she finished speaking, the palace maids in the hall all smiled.
Half a month after returning to the palace, Lan Wu and Chu Mingheng went to Nanli Temple to see Master Huifan.
On the carriage ride to Nanli Temple, Chu Mingheng learned something from Lan Wu.
“You said he saw you?” he suddenly blurted out, looking as if he were grinding his teeth in frustration.
Well, this old monk Huifan! In his previous life, even when he was about to strangle him to death, he never said a word about being able to see Lan Wu. Now it seems—had he always been able to see Lan Wu, or did he only gain the ability on the day he died?
Seeing his displeased expression, Lan Wu quickly patted his hand and said seriously, “Master Huifan must have had good intentions. Isn’t it said that heavenly secrets must not be revealed? There must be a reason for it.”
Chu Mingheng grabbed her hand and pulled her into his embrace, whispering, “I couldn’t see you, so why should he be able to?”
Lan Wu listened, then reached out to cup his face: “Then look at me properly now, look carefully, for a lifetime.”
Their eyes met, and Chu Mingheng was the first to laugh: “Then I shall listen to you, Ah Wu. Don’t block my view.”
Knowing he was becoming increasingly shameless, Lan Wu quickly withdrew her hand, glaring at him with annoyance in her eyes.
At Nanli Temple, Master Huifan was still waiting for them at the entrance of the hall.
Seeing them arrive, he first bowed in greeting.
The three entered the main hall, and Lan Wu was the first to speak: “Thank you, Master, for your efforts regarding my and His Majesty’s matters.”
Lan Wu’s words of gratitude were sincere. In her view, this Master Huifan was truly mysterious, and she deeply respected him.
“Your Majesty and Your Highness are a destined match, not to be interfered with by others. This humble monk merely followed the natural course.”
No matter what Lan Wu said, Huifan maintained an air of knowing nothing, as if he had not helped in any way.
“Then, will His Majesty and I face any further troubles?” Lan Wu lowered her voice, speaking with unease as she gently grasped Chu Mingheng’s fingers. “What I mean is, will His Majesty still face misfortune—like you mentioned before—in the future?”
When mentioning that word, Lan Wu felt a lingering fear and instinctively changed her phrasing.
To this question, Huifan answered promptly, giving Lan Wu a clear and reassuring answer: “Your Highness need not worry. The tribulation has passed. As long as Your Majesty and Your Highness remain at ease, all will be well.”
Hearing these words, Lan Wu felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted from her heart. In that moment, relief spread throughout her body, leaving no room for further worries. Unconsciously tightening her grip on Chu Mingheng’s hand, she turned to look at him and couldn’t help but smile: “That’s wonderful, Your Majesty.”
Chu Mingheng met her gaze, his expression gradually softening.
After Lan Wu had finished speaking and meeting with Huifan, Chu Mingheng took her around Nanli Temple, where they paid respects to the deities before returning to the palace.
Summer had arrived, and on the day of Lan Wu’s birthday, Chu Mingheng took her out of the palace.
Lan Wu’s birthday fell during the peak of summer heat. To find relief from the warmth, one could only venture into the mountains and forests.
However, Lan Wu was carried out of Yilan Hall in the middle of the night, wrapped in her quilt. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a different place, with the sound of flowing water from the mountains echoing in her ears.
Fortunately, Chu Mingheng had opened the door before Lan Wu fully regained her senses, or she might have thought she had been kidnapped in the middle of the night.
This place… is so cool.
Lan Wu examined the bamboo house with curiosity.
Though called a bamboo house, it wasn’t entirely accurate. While most of the structure was built with bamboo, it was supported by wood and walls, and the furnishings and decorations inside were exquisite and luxurious.
Seeing her step off the bed and walk toward him, Chu Mingheng was about to approach and say something when Lan Wu unhesitatingly passed him by. Like a little bird, she joyfully skipped toward the door.
Lan Wu reached the doorway and saw an open space outside, covered in blooming flowers. Not far away was a dense bamboo forest, with a wide path winding through it…
Before Lan Wu could finish taking in the view and step outside for a closer look, an arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back forcefully as the door closed.
Chu Mingheng’s gentle, amused voice sounded beside her ear: “Ah Wu, do you not wish to leave the bed for the next few days?”
Ignoring him right in front of his face and running outside in her nightgown—if there were anyone else in the room besides them, he would have made sure Lan Wu understood her mistake.
Lan Wu had already figured out his temperament. Besides, today was her birthday, and on her birthday, she called the shots. Chu Mingheng couldn’t scare her with such words.
“Where is this, Your Majesty? Your Majesty, where have we come to?” She opened her mouth, resting her arm on Chu Mingheng’s shoulder, her eyes brimming with excitement. “Did Your Majesty bring me here to play?”
Her tone was unmistakably confident. If Chu Mingheng weren’t still holding her, she would have likely been dancing around in delight.