Chapter 48: The Instruction Matron

Lan Wu turned away, lifting her sleeve to wipe her eyes, and asked him with aggrieved reluctance, “Wasn’t it Your Majesty who intended it? Yesterday, Your Majesty even said… you wouldn’t let this concubine leave the bed. Have you forgotten already?”

The intimate words spoken on the bed were now being used by Lan Wu as leverage, recounted with convincing logic.

Chu Mingheng’s deep gaze held a faint smile as he lightly tapped the jewel box on the nearby table, reminding Lan Wu, “I haven’t yet asked you to explain yourself clearly. Are you sure you want to bring this up now?”

Better not, then.

Lan Wu fell silent, hesitantly climbed down from the bed, and without even glancing at Chu Mingheng, tried to pass by him. But an arm straightforwardly pulled her back, and she ended up sitting on the table.

“Ouch—” Lan Wu was startled. The movement was rather abrupt, and as she sat down, a chill and a slight pain shot through her, making her unable to hold back a quiet gasp.

“Ah Wu, you truly are disobedient.” Chu Mingheng’s knuckles gently brushed Lan Wu’s cheek. His tone was exceptionally natural and intimate as he spoke these words, but it carried a weight when he finished, exuding an air of admonishment without anger.

Even if he hadn’t known yesterday, he should have realized today. No one had informed Lan Wu about the jewels sent by the Yu Yue tribe, yet she knew about it and even acted as if it were perfectly natural. When he exposed her, she was the one who ended up startled.

He thought Lan Wu was probably just too idle. She really ought to have an Instruction Matron come and teach her properly.

Lan Wu stubbornly raised her head. If not for the tears brimming in her eyes, anyone would have thought she was a bold and defiant person who could not be subdued by force.

“Your Majesty… you must not speak carelessly.”

Chu Mingheng raised an eyebrow, observing Lan Wu’s tearful yet restrained expression. His gaze drifted downward, catching sight of her legs, still trembling beneath the light gauze.

“Do you think you’re obedient?” Chu Mingheng reached out and pressed his hand against Lan Wu’s quivering leg, his lips brushing against hers—just a touch before pulling back slightly, looking down at her.

He had already issued an edict forbidding anyone from discussing Rong’s miscarriage, yet Lan Wu had secretly bribed someone from the Yushan Fang to investigate, sneaking around behind his back.

Lan Wu’s breathing grew slightly rapid, her face flushed. She pursed her lips softly and leaned in to kiss Chu Mingheng.

Once their lips met, she even tried to deepen the kiss.

Chu Mingheng took control, cradling the back of Lan Wu’s neck and kissing her until she was breathless.

“Alright, I’ll pretend I don’t know. Go and amuse yourself.”

Lan Wu didn’t know which matter he was referring to, assuming it was about the Yu Yue tribe, and felt a wave of relief.

By the next day, just as the hour of Chen arrived, Lan Wu was awakened.

Chu Mingheng had already left, and standing before her was an unfamiliar matron.

“This servant is Gu Min. Your Ladyship may call me Nanny Gu.”

The woman appeared stern and meticulous, her attire impeccable and her hair neatly combed.

But none of this had anything to do with Lan Wu—who this person was, where she came from, or what she intended to do. It didn’t concern her at all—she just wanted to sleep.

Yesterday, Chu Mingheng still hadn’t let her off. Only afterward did she realize that his words about not leaving the bed for three days might have been serious.

Now, having her peaceful sleep disturbed, Lan Wu was furious and threw Chu Mingheng’s pillow.

“No talking! Get out!”

Nanny Gu had not expected Lan Wu to be so utterly disrespectful. Her eyes widened immediately, and she soon said, “Your Highness, this servant has been ordered by His Majesty to instruct you in palace etiquette. At this hour, you should be rising to wash and dress.”

“According to palace regulations, you should rise before His Majesty to attend to him. His Majesty dotes on you, but now, you should be awake.”

Lan Wu’s head ached from the disturbance, and she could no longer sleep. She took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and gritted her teeth, silently cursing Chu Mingheng’s name in her heart.

Chu Mingheng truly was a scoundrel.

Lan Wu called Lian Xi in, quickly washed, and dressed.

While Nanny Gu was outside the hall giving orders, Lan Wu hurriedly asked Lian Xi what was going on with this woman.

Lian Xi also wore a pained expression and said, “Your Highness, this morning His Majesty indeed gave orders that an Instruction Matron would be coming. That Nanny Gu originally served by Empress Dowager Jingwen’s side. Even the other consorts show her some respect.”

Lan Wu, having slept poorly, was seething with frustration. Unable to find Chu Mingheng now, she still had to deal with that little “Buddha” outside. She slammed the table fiercely and told Lian Xi, “Watch for the right moment later and summon Court Physician Chen.”

“Your Highness?” Lian Xi was momentarily confused but soon nodded and agreed.

During breakfast, Lan Wu grew drowsy again. Nanny Gu stood to the side, her mouth never ceasing as she lectured Lan Wu on how she should behave, ruining Lan Wu’s appetite entirely.

She simply pushed the bowl away. “I won’t eat.”

Nanny Gu glared at her coldly but ultimately lowered her head and said, “If Your Highness will not eat, this servant will have the attendants remove these things.”

“Next time, if Your Highness does not wish to eat, there is no need to push the bowls and chopsticks away. That is truly discourteous.”

Lan Wu shot her a cold glance, took the handkerchief offered by an attendant to wipe her hands, and then deliberately threw it onto the table in front of Nanny Gu before rising and walking inside.

In just a short while, Nanny Gu entered again, holding a ruler in her hand, saying she would teach Lan Wu proper posture.

Seeing what she held, Lan Wu suddenly let out a cold laugh and asked, “What right do you have to order me around? I will not stand. What do you intend to do?”

Gu Min, relying on her service to the Empress Dowager and the respect she commanded, knew Lan Wu came from a servant background. She had expected her manners to be poor, but poor manners were one thing—such arrogance and defiance were truly unimaginable.

“This servant acts under His Majesty’s orders—”

Before she could finish, Lan Wu stepped forward, snatched the ruler from her, and smiled. “Then let His Majesty come and see for himself.”

With that, she raised the ruler high and brought it down hard on her own left arm without the slightest hesitation. The sound of the strike was loud enough to be heard even outside the hall.

Lan Wu had always been capable of being harsh with herself, and this time she was truly furious. This wretched Nanny Gu had better return to wherever she came from as soon as possible.

Witnessing Lan Wu’s act, Gu Min was terrified out of her wits. Immediately after, her hand was forced open, and the ruler Lan Wu had snatched was shoved back into her grasp.

“Your Highness!” Lian Xi was the first to rush in with others. Seeing Nanny Gu holding the ruler and Lan Wu on the floor, clutching her arm in pain with a pale face, she hurried forward to support Lan Wu.

“Quickly, summon the Court Physician!”

Lian Xi glared at Nanny Gu and said sternly, “Nanny Gu, His Majesty ordered you here to instruct in palace etiquette, not to dare privately inflict punishment upon Her Highness.”

“Nonsense!” Gu Min snapped back to her senses, clutching the ruler and pointing it at Lan Wu and Lian Xi, then quickly throwing it away. “These injuries were clearly inflicted by Zhen Jieyu herself—what does it have to do with me—”

Lian Xi shielded Lan Wu, showing no fear, and said solemnly, “Save those words for when you explain yourself to Your Majesty.”