Chapter 51: Understanding
Lan Wu’s heart skipped a beat, and she inexplicably felt a slight pain in her lower abdomen. Upon closer attention, it seemed to be just an illusion.
After a miscarriage, one should naturally rest and recuperate. It was reasonable for Rong Shuyi not to step out of her palace. However, Lan Wu had heard that Jia Pin, the primary occupant of Changying Hall, had also been turned away when she went to Qiushui Pavilion to visit Rong Shuyi.
When this news spread throughout the palace, everyone assumed that Rong Shuyi had forgotten her manners in her overwhelming grief, and Jia Pin did not take it to heart.
Lan Wu had initially thought the same.
But now, after hearing Chen Li’s words, she felt that something was off.
What exactly was it?
Lost in thought, Lan Wu rested her chin on her hand.
Rong Shuyi detested the smell of offal, yet Yushan Fang sent her such dishes every day.
Lan Wu thought that Yushan Fang would not dare to openly torment someone like this. After all, although Rong Shuyi had miscarried, she had been promoted in rank. Yushan Fang had no grudge against her, so they wouldn’t go looking for trouble.
Could it be… that someone was behind this?
Who?
Consort Shu? Consort Li? Consort Rou?
No, no, none of them seemed likely.
Consort Shu had been quiet and well-behaved since the incident with Cairen Liu was resolved. Consort Li showed no intention of getting further involved in Rong Shuyi’s affairs. As for Consort Rou…
After careful consideration, Lan Wu thought it shouldn’t be Consort Rou either.
Wasn’t Consort Rou trying to win Rong Shuyi over?
If it wasn’t any of them, could it be another imperial concubine who had a grudge against Rong Shuyi?
Looking at it this way, wasn’t she herself the most likely person to have ordered Yushan Fang to do such a thing?
Lan Wu’s thoughts circled back—but she had never given such an order.
Lian Xi stood to the side, while Chen Li sat below. Neither spoke, allowing Lan Wu to think things through without interruption.
The tea placed nearby was growing cold. Lian Xi was about to quietly take it away and replace it with a fresh cup.
Lan Wu spoke up, “No need to change it. I don’t care for this tea. Later—”
Suddenly, her voice faltered, and she frowned, her expression turning serious.
She glanced at the teacup, and her mind suddenly cleared.
That’s right. If Rong Shuyi didn’t like the food, why was half of it returned every day? If she didn’t want to eat it, she could simply say so and ask Yushan Fang to prepare different dishes.
But she hadn’t.
She had no choice but to eat those things.
Who had the authority to force her to eat them?
Chu Mingheng’s face flashed through her mind.
Lan Wu swallowed hard.
Yes, it could only be Chu Mingheng.
Recalling how Chu Mingheng had ordered someone to select a new personal palace maid for Rong Shuyi in the hall that day, it hadn’t seemed significant at the time. But now, thinking about it, wouldn’t someone chosen by the Imperial Presence be under the command of those in the Imperial Presence?
Rong Shuyi’s miscarriage was a sorrowful event. Without a reason, Chu Mingheng wouldn’t have allowed this to happen.
Could it be that Rong Shuyi had angered the Emperor?
What could have made Chu Mingheng so furious?
Lan Wu buried this doubt in her heart and looked up at Chen Li.
“Your Majesty only assigned Xu Tai Yi to take care of Rong Shuyi’s health. I wonder if Xu Tai Yi can manage it all…”
“After all, Chen Yi Nv is already exhausted just looking after my health.”
Lan Wu smiled and turned to Lian Xi, saying, “Go and fetch the mother-of-pearl inlaid box from the antique shelf.”
Chen Li’s heart tightened, guessing what Lan Wu intended to do. She was just wondering how to refuse when she saw Lian Xi swiftly return with the item.
“I happen to have some fine things here. If Court Physician Chen does not find them beneath her, please take them.” Lan Wu handed the box to her.
Chen Li immediately knelt, bowing her head respectfully as she declined: “This humble official dares not accept anything from Your Ladyship. Caring for Your Ladyship’s health is my duty. Even if Your Ladyship did not say a word, I would naturally exert my utmost effort. How could I possibly deserve the words ‘fatigue’? Your Ladyship flatters me too much.”
Lan Wu had known she wouldn’t agree directly.
Pressing her lips together, Lan Wu opened the box to show her its contents.
“It’s nothing of great importance, just some pretty stones. I thought most women would like such things. If Court Physician Chen does not care for them, I can offer something else instead.”
Chu Mingheng had given her quite a few gemstones, and she was generous with them.
She couldn’t give gemstones to just anyone, but she was willing to part with them for Court Physician Chen. She remembered Court Physician Chen had a daughter. This gemstone could be crafted into a hairpin or hair ornament, useful later when Court Physician Chen adds to the girl’s dowry.
Lan Wu couldn’t casually give away her own hairpins and ornaments, but an uncut gemstone like this was quite practical.
Seeing Chen Li was about to say something more to refuse,
Lan Wu feigned a thoughtful expression: “I recall His Majesty gave me a fine, high-quality inkstone some days ago. Court Physician Chen must use brush and ink regularly when writing prescriptions in the Imperial Medical Academy. What do you think of that inkstone?”
Chen Li was thoroughly silenced by her words.
How could she dare accept an item bestowed by the Emperor?
Hesitant and pondering for a long moment, Chen Li finally accepted the small box, taking the gemstone: “This humble official thanks Your Ladyship for your gracious reward.”
Lan Wu helped her up, smiling: “No need to thank me. Just make my medicine less bitter on my tongue in the future.”
“Your Ladyship, good medicine tastes bitter…”
Lan Wu’s face fell slightly with disappointment, then she brushed the matter aside, reminding her of the key point: “Then I must trouble Court Physician Chen to pay extra attention from now on. Imperial Physician Xu, while attending to Shuyi Rong’s health, is bound to overlook some matters. Court Physician Chen must help out.”
Chen Li bowed her head in a salute: “Yes, Your Ladyship.”
After seeing Court Physician Chen off, Lan Wu returned to the bed in the Inner Palace to sleep, but her mind was already unsettled, and she couldn’t fall asleep no matter what.
She felt she had been far too imprudent. She couldn’t let the favor she received from Chu Mingheng in her previous life make her speak recklessly in this one. After all, Chu Mingheng had only been with her for less than two months.
If Chu Mingheng had been enraged today and deposed her, it truly would have been a loss outweighing the gain.
Yet half of it was an act, and the other half was her genuinely unable to hold back those words.
Who told Chu Mingheng to bully her.
Anyone else could bully her, but Chu Mingheng could not.
Thinking of this, Rong Shu Yi’s face flashed through Lan Wu’s mind again.
She turned over, her hand unconsciously resting on her lower abdomen.
She had never been pregnant and hoped such a situation would not occur for the time being.
Having slept too late last night, even though the morning’s events had given her a headache, she had cried herself weak, and her heart was weighed down with many matters, after lying on the bed for a long while, she still drifted into a heavy, drowsy sleep.
But this sleep was not restful; she felt her body heavy and had many dreams.
The dreams kept coming, yet she did not wake.
Until nearly noon, when Chu Mingheng arrived with the imperial decree he had promised Lan Wu.
He did not have anyone announce him, entering the Inner Palace on his own.
The curtain over the bed in the hall was drawn aside. With a slight reach, it revealed Lan Wu lying on her side upon the pillow where Chu Mingheng usually slept.
The flush at the corners of Lan Wu’s eyes had not yet faded, and even in sleep, she looked as though she were still aggrieved.
What more was there to be aggrieved about?
Little liar.
Chu Mingheng sat at the edge of the bed, reaching out to touch her forehead. Finding no fever, he withdrew his hand.