Chapter 37: Fruits

Others might not dare to leave, but Lan Wu dared.

It was just that her spirit was willing but her flesh was weak—all day long, her back ached, her legs were sore, and her bottom hurt, all thanks to Chu Mingheng.

In the afternoon, Lan Wu curled up on a soft chair reading storybooks, but before long, drowsiness overcame her again.

Before she could sleep for long, the Inner Court Administration sent over some items.

“Cherries?” Lan Wu blinked, trying to shake off her sleepiness. Her words were sluggish, and she didn’t pay much attention.

Lian Xi replied, “Yes. They delivered the goods and left immediately, saying they still had to go to other palaces. I checked—the whole basket is filled with good fruit. They must have picked them carefully.”

Leaning back in the soft chair, Lan Wu glanced toward the door. Though her view was limited and she couldn’t see the entrance, the warm, gentle sunlight streamed in from outside.

“This season only offers these kinds of fruits. I don’t care for cherries. Pick some to wash and clean, and distribute the rest.”

The palace servants rarely got to eat fruit; usually, they only had a taste when their masters bestowed it upon them.

Lan Wu didn’t care for cherries herself and ordered them to be given away. She didn’t think much of it, but word spread and caused discontent.

In Beauty Rong’s Qiushui Pavilion, half a basket of cherries also arrived from the Inner Court Administration. However, these cherries were clearly the leftovers—small, not very red, and sour to the taste.

Zhi Lan washed the cherries, arranged them on a plate, and brought them to Beauty Rong without uttering an extra word.

Though she remained silent, she couldn’t control the gossipers.

Banxia entered the hall to serve freshly brewed tea. Seeing Beauty Rong dressed in a light, plain blue gown, looking gentle, serene, and graceful, a surge of indignation welled up in her heart.

“Your Ladyship, please have some tea to ease the sourness. This is freshly brewed.”

Beauty Rong had already recovered from her illness, but she was unwilling to leave her palace, at most only gazing out the window at the small courtyard outside.

The cherries sent by the Inner Court Administration were sour and astringent. After eating just a few, she stopped.

Holding the teacup, she slightly raised her head and noticed the resentful expression on Banxia’s face. Though she guessed the reason, she still asked, “What’s wrong?”

Zhi Lan gently pressed Banxia’s arm, hoping to stop her from speaking, but Banxia had already spoken up: “I just heard from the Inner Court Administration that they sent a whole basket of cherries to Longyu Pavilion, and that Zhen Jieyu didn’t even like them, so she gave them to the servants.”

“I feel indignant on Your Ladyship’s behalf.”

As she spoke, Banxia muttered angrily and clenched her fists.

Beauty Rong looked at her and suddenly smiled. Instead of addressing the matter, she asked, “Do you know how Wang Qiu died?”

Hearing this, Banxia’s entire body tensed. Finally, she suppressed the resentment on her face and timidly nodded, replying, “Your Ladyship, Wang Qiu… she was given thirty lashes by His Majesty and died from them…” It was said that each lash struck her spine, breaking the bones one by one.

“And do you know why His Majesty gave her thirty lashes?” Beauty Rong’s expression turned serious, her eyes shadowed with darkness.

Banxia swallowed hard and immediately fell to her knees, kowtowing and begging for mercy: “Your Ladyship, forgive me! I was wrong! I won’t speak carelessly again—”

Beauty Rong sighed and ordered her to kneel on the corridor outside the hall: “You and Wang Qiu are both talkative people. Now that Wang Qiu is gone, I should at least prevent you from making a misstep. Kneel there and reflect on your actions.”

“Yes, Your Ladyship. I understand my mistake.” With that, Banxia went outside the hall door and knelt down.

Zhi Lan stood by silently, saying nothing.

That night, the imperial carriage went to Zhaoyun Hall.

Although Lan Wu had known early on that Chu Mingheng would not come to her palace, and she had not deliberately waited for him, she still felt somewhat troubled upon hearing that the imperial carriage had headed to Zhaoyun Hall.

Although she had managed to bring down one of Consort Shu’s allies due to Lady Liu’s self-destructive actions, the path from Jieyu to the rank of Consort was still a long one. In her previous life, she had only climbed as high as Shuyi. Chu Mingheng was not fond of promoting people’s ranks, and she wondered if this life would be any better.

“Your Ladyship?” Lian Xi called out softly beside her, fearing she might be upset.

Lan Wu hummed in response and instructed someone to prepare water for her bath.

Inside Zhaoyun Hall, Consort Rou washed her hands and personally brewed a cup of calming tea for the Emperor.

The hall was exceptionally simple and elegant, without any extravagant decorations. Even the cold breeze passing through the hall felt particularly pleasant.

Chu Mingheng glanced around the hall, his expression indifferent. Only when Consort Rou presented the calming tea did he speak: “You still prefer to handle things personally.”

Consort Rou smiled gently and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty, it is a habit of mine.”

On the table were some loquats and cherries, fresh and vibrant, yet the mistress of the hall seemed to have barely touched them.

“Your Majesty, I heard that Consort Shu is ill,” Consort Rou said softly. “Today, I intended to visit her, but she seemed to be suffering greatly. I only caught a glimpse of her from outside the hall.”

“However, I also took the opportunity to visit Sister Rong. She has fully recovered but is unwilling to go out. I comforted her a few words, and I believe Sister Rong will come to understand.”

“Is that so?” Chu Mingheng said unhurriedly, his meaning unclear.

Consort Rou’s gentle smile remained unchanged as she spoke the truth: “Sister Rong is proud and young. Now that Your Majesty has gained such a beauty as Sister Zhen, Sister Rong has become somewhat flustered. But I believe she must realize her mistake.”

Speaking of youth, the newly entered imperial concubines were at least seventeen years old, while the truly young one would not turn seventeen for another two months.

Thinking of Lan Wu, Chu Mingheng inadvertently recalled her audacity from the previous night.

Last night, Lan Wu’s buttocks had been beaten crimson. When it was over, he had peeled her out of the blankets to apply medicine. By then, Lan Wu was half-unconscious, still murmuring his name.

How could such a sight not evoke pity?

But pity was one thing; Lan Wu’s sheer disobedience was another.

“Since Consort Shu is ill, you should handle more affairs,” Chu Mingheng said after a moment, setting aside his thoughts. He did not mention Beauty Rong again but instead looked thoughtfully at Consort Rou before him and added an unrelated remark: “I have always trusted you in managing affairs.”

Consort Rou took two steps back, bowed, and said, “I understand. Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.”

“Rise. This hall is still too plain. Tomorrow, I will have some items sent over,” Chu Mingheng spoke leisurely once more.

Consort Rou lowered her head and acknowledged.

“Rest now.”

Consort Rou was taken aback. Seeing Chu Mingheng set down his teacup and rise to leave, she hurriedly followed: “Your Majesty…”

Chu Mingheng turned around. Consort Rou understood his gaze, stopped in her tracks, and curtsied to him: “I respectfully bid farewell to Your Majesty.”

Chen Kangan followed the Emperor’s steps and hurriedly asked, “Your Majesty, are we going to Longyu Pavilion?”

Chu Mingheng shot him a sidelong glance, and Chen Kangan immediately realized he had asked the wrong question. He slapped himself and offered an apologetic smile, saying, “This servant knows his offense. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

“Return to Taichen Palace,” Chu Mingheng commanded calmly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”