Chapter 45: Which Outsider
Lian Xi washed the grapes and brought them into the main hall, just in time to see Lan Wu leaning against the crabapple window behind the beaded curtain, reading a book. As summer grew hotter, the screen in front of the crabapple window had been removed and replaced with a beaded curtain to let the outside breeze in.
“Your Highness, these are fresh grapes sent by the Inner Court Administration. I washed a plate for you to try.”
Lan Wu looked at the plate of dark, glossy grapes—not very large, they appeared sour.
She took one, peeled it, and tasted it. To her surprise, there was no sourness at all; it was just the right balance of sweet and tart.
“Are grapes ripe at this time of year? I remember they should be later,” Lan Wu said, peeling another one to eat.
Lian Xi smiled and replied, “Ordinary grapes would still need another month or two to ripen. I heard from the Inner Court Administration that these were offered by the Yu Yue tribe. They just arrived, and the Inner Court Administration promptly distributed them to the palaces of the various consorts.”
“…The Yu Yue tribe.”
Lan Wu ate the grapes and remembered.
This small tribe in the western borderlands, due to its proximity and lack of military strength, often offered tributes to seek protection.
“Besides grapes, is there anything else?” Lan Wu asked her.
Lian Xi nodded, though somewhat uncertain. “There should be some other fruits. Would Your Highness like to try them? I can go to the Inner Court Administration to ask.”
Lan Wu coughed lightly and shook her head. “No need, these are enough.”
She wasn’t asking about fruits.
The Yu Yue tribe also produced various gemstones—pure, beautiful colors, unadorned. These gemstones were either kept in the Inner Court Administration to be crafted into jewelry or stored away.
Everyone wanted beautiful things.
That night, Lan Wu asked Chu Mingheng for those gemstones.
Chu Mingheng felt that Lan Wu was unusually clingy today, actively approaching him and agreeing to whatever he said.
Such obedience seemed all too calculated.
Chu Mingheng patted Lan Wu’s leg, signaling her to sit up.
Unaware of the time, Lan Wu had just caught her breath and was feeling drowsy. Hearing Chu Mingheng’s words, she gritted her teeth and sat up, supporting herself on the bed.
Swallowing the sound in her throat, she slowly exhaled, wrapped her arms around Chu Mingheng’s neck, and whispered softly in his ear.
“Your Majesty, won’t Your Majesty reward this concubine…?”
Chu Mingheng immediately scoffed. He had never seen anyone ask for a reward like this, yet Lan Wu did it with such innocence and directness, as if he owed her whatever she wanted.
He pinched the back of her neck and asked what reward she wanted.
Lan Wu’s eyes lit up, and she whispered softly in his ear about the beautiful gemstones.
“This concubine likes… gemstones, Your Majesty. This concubine… this concubine will wear them for you to see, alright?” Her voice was soft, and though she struggled to finish her words, they carried a sense of joy and eagerness. Yet, she received no response from Chu Mingheng.
A moment passed, and as Chu Mingheng remained silent, the warmth in the bed seemed to fade.
Lan Wu’s arms grew slightly cold, and she shrank back, catching sight of Chu Mingheng’s face.
Chu Mingheng’s expression was thoughtful, with a hint of barely perceptible coldness.
Wh-what’s wrong?
Chu Mingheng flipped her over without a word, then pressed down on her back.
“Your Maj—” Lan Wu opened her mouth to call him, but in the next moment, she was struck.
It didn’t hurt, but it was so sudden that Lan Wu couldn’t react immediately.
“I ask you this,” Chu Mingheng’s voice carried a probing tone. “This is the first time the Yuyue tribe has presented tribute. How did you know what was inside?”
What!?
Lan Wu had assumed the Yuyue tribe’s tribute was a routine matter—was this truly their first time?
She stammered, unable to utter a word. Chu Mingheng pressed closer, his tone impatient as he exerted force, warning her, “If you explain clearly, I won’t interrogate you further. But if you try to deceive me…”
He paused, his posture imposing and lofty, leaning down to continue admonishing Lan Wu, “For the next three days, don’t even think about leaving this bed.”
A blatant threat.
Lan Wu’s throat tightened. How could she have known this was the Yuyue tribe’s first tribute? In her past life, she had received those gemstones every time afterward.
“Mmm—this concubine heard… heard it from others…”
“Which others?” Chu Mingheng wasn’t fooled.
Lan Wu covered her head, her voice muffled and tinged with distress, “I don’t remember…”
Chu Mingheng slapped her twice more. “A’wu, it’s one thing to overreach, but you should at least have the sense to cover your tracks.”
“You’re so foolish—how can I trust you?”
Lan Wu tried to dodge the pain, but Chu Mingheng lifted her up, leaving her no escape.
Biting her lip, her voice still unclear, she hurriedly said she didn’t want the gemstones anymore.
“Give? Of course I’ll give them to you. After all the trouble A’wu went through to deceive me, I’ll give you as many as you want.” With that, Chu Mingheng kissed her flushed cheek, lifted the curtain slightly, and added, “Get some air, then we continue.”
…
The night went on until Lan Wu fell into a deep sleep.
She didn’t wake until nearly noon the next day, finding several exquisite wooden boxes on the table beside her bed.
She knew what was inside without opening them.
Lan Wu pushed back the covers and stepped down, her legs trembling, her toes barely touching the ground before she lost her balance.
Leaning against the bedpost, she carefully stood up, regretting her lack of caution the day before. If only she had asked the palace servants more about the Yuyue tribe—yesterday, Chu Mingheng had caught her red-handed and taught her a lesson…
Her bottom still ached.
Lian Xi, hearing movement outside, gently knocked on the Inner Palace door and asked if she was awake.
Lan Wu opened her mouth, but only a hoarse sound emerged.
She coughed repeatedly while holding onto the bedpost. Lian Xi, anxious outside, heard her call to enter and pushed the door open.
A cup of warm water was handed to Lan Wu. She drank it all, finally quenching the dryness in her throat.
Then she lay back down on the bed, staring at the ceiling and sighing.
“Your Highness?” Lian Xi, seeing her discomfort, grew uneasy. “Are you unwell? This servant will go fetch Court Physician Chen at once.”
“No need—” Lan Wu quickly stopped her, her face flushing as she pulled the covers over herself again.
“I’m fine, I just… don’t feel like getting up. Hmm… I’ll sleep a little longer. Don’t call for me…” In her current state, she could barely walk steadily. If the Court Physician came, she would immediately know the reason—Lan Wu couldn’t bear the embarrassment.
Lian Xi hesitated, speaking softly, “Even if Your Highness doesn’t rise, you must still eat… and the medicine the Court Physician said you must take daily can only be consumed after the midday meal.”
Reminded of this, Lan Wu took a deep breath and threw off the covers. “Then I’ll get up.”
This medicine cannot be skipped. Not only was Court Physician Chen watching her take it, but Chu Mingheng was also keeping an eye on her. Yesterday, he even inquired about her health. If she dared to miss a single dose today, she would have to make up for it with two doses later.