Chapter 53: Thinking of Whom
Lan Wu hadn’t heard such shameless words in a long time, and for a moment, she even felt a sense of nostalgia.
Her expression was dazed, her dark, bright eyes looking at him as if she were seeing someone else.
Chu Mingheng didn’t receive Lan Wu’s thanks; instead, he saw her staring at his face in a trance.
Such an obvious gaze made it impossible to ignore.
It was the first time Chu Mingheng had been so clearly regarded as “someone else,” and a hint of displeasure rose in his heart.
Before he could say anything, Lan Wu’s arms had already wrapped around him, encircling his neck as she leaned in to kiss the side of his face, smiling brightly as she said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Was he to be dismissed with such a perfunctory kiss?
Chu Mingheng’s expression remained unchanged as he asked Lan Wu, “Who were you thinking of just now?”
Just now?
Lan Wu blinked, her face full of earnestness: “I was thinking of Your Majesty.”
After all, it was Chu Mingheng either way—she wasn’t lying.
Lan Wu leaned in again to kiss the other side of his face and said, “Your Majesty, this concubine is tired. Please accompany me for a nap.”
Chu Mingheng frowned slightly, wanting to press further, but Lan Wu nearly collapsed against him.
“Your Majesty, please stay with me,” Lan Wu continued to coo.
“Who were you thinking of?” Chu Mingheng persisted.
Lan Wu grew angry first.
She released Chu Mingheng’s hand, leaning back into the chair, her voice tinged with grievance: “I was clearly thinking of Your Majesty, yet Your Majesty still doubts me.”
“Does Your Majesty not know that I grew up in the Music Bureau since childhood and have never met anyone else—”
“If I wasn’t thinking of Your Majesty, then let it be that I was thinking of some stray cat or dog. As long as it wasn’t Your Majesty, Your Majesty would be satisfied, wouldn’t you?”
Her words carried a hint of temper, and by the end, Lan Wu even picked up a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, her wide eyes fixed unwaveringly on Chu Mingheng before letting out a dissatisfied huff.
Chu Mingheng had witnessed her little tricks before, but even now, he couldn’t help but marvel.
He recalled how, back then, Lan Wu would tremble with fear at the mere sight of him.
Knowing he was in the wrong today, she had put on a grand display, her temper flaring.
Chu Mingheng composed himself, lightly brushing past the matter as he picked Lan Wu up from the chair and carried her inside, as if he hadn’t heard her earlier words at all, only responding to her earlier request: “I’ll accompany you for a nap.”
Lan Wu knew when to stop. Once they reached the bed, she pointed to the inner side and said softly, “This concubine wants to sleep on the inside.”
Chu Mingheng set her down and let her remove her outer robe herself, saying, “When have I ever made you sleep on the outside?”
Imperial concubines typically slept on the outer side to better serve the emperor, but with someone like Lan Wu—who neither knew palace rules nor cared to learn them—it was different.
Chu Mingheng had a feeling that if Lan Wu were to sleep on the outside, no one would have a moment of peace.
The palace was rigidly structured, and though its walls were high, they couldn’t stop gossip from spreading. Moreover, today’s incident hadn’t been suppressed at all, so many were aware of it.
Early in the morning, when everyone heard that Nanny Gu, who had once served Empress Dowager Jingwen, was going to Longyu Pavilion to teach etiquette, they all waited to see Lan Wu become a laughingstock.
But before noon arrived, instead of witnessing any mockery, they saw the emperor’s protection of Lan Wu.
By noon, news spread that an imperial decree had been issued, promoting Zhen Jieyu to Zhen Shuyi.
This coincided with Rong Shuyi’s miscarriage.
Consort Shu, who had been feigning illness for so long, had long since recovered. When she heard the news from the palace servants in the afternoon, she showed no unusual reaction.
As the heat of June grew increasingly oppressive, the sweltering weather could easily make one irritable.
“It’s truly pitiful for Rong Shuyi—she lost her child and gained no imperial favor either.”
The hall was cooled with ice, though not much, it was still quite refreshing.
Consort Shu glanced down at the tea leaves settling in her cup and, upon hearing this remark, slowly replied, “What is there to pity about her? If anything, she has only herself to blame for being restless and wandering about.”
Zhaoyi Wen promptly chimed in, “Your Ladyship speaks wisely.”
“But the boating excursion was an accident after all, and it was Consort Rou who invited the imperial concubines to join. Yet, Your Majesty hasn’t uttered a single word of blame toward Consort Rou.”
“Your Ladyship, do you think… Your Majesty intends to favor Consort Rou…?” Zhaoyi Wen frowned, her tone strained as if the words were difficult to voice.
Back when Cairen Liu schemed against Lan Wu, even though Your Majesty said nothing directly, he showed no kindness to Consort Shu either. Now, Consort Rou organized the boating trip, which resulted in Rong Shuyi’s miscarriage—isn’t that even more serious?
Yet Your Majesty dismissed it lightly as an accident and forbade further discussion of the matter.
From every angle, it seemed as though Your Majesty was deliberately shielding Consort Rou.
Xiuyi Bai glanced at Zhaoyi Wen, subtly shifting her gaze to signal her to stop speaking.
Even without the warning, Zhaoyi Wen had said enough. Any more, and she feared Consort Shu might drive her out.
“His Majesty is most discerning. That woman Consort Rou may hide her true nature well, but sooner or later, her flaws will be exposed.”
“We shall wait and see.”
With that, Consort Shu noticed Yunqing entering and waiting by the doorway. She gently massaged her temples and issued a dismissal:
“Very well, it’s getting late today. You may leave now.”
Zhaoyi Wen and Xiuyi Bai exchanged a glance, then rose and took their leave.
Not long after they departed, Consort Shu instructed Yunqing to bring a fresh pot of tea.
When the new tea arrived, Yunqing was followed by a young palace maid.
“This humble servant, Zi Zhu, pays respects to Lady Shufei.” The young palace maid knelt and bowed.
Consort Shu looked at her but did not bid her rise. Instead, she asked, “How has your mistress been lately?”
Upon hearing this, Zi Zhu smiled respectfully and replied, “In response to Your Ladyship, my mistress is well in all matters. However, she remains concerned about Rong Shuyi in Qiushui Pavilion and often says she wishes to see her in person to set her mind at ease.”
Consort Shu’s expression turned enigmatic as she drawled, “Your mistress is a kind soul. To see her… indeed, it is time she paid a visit.”
The hall fell silent for a moment before Zi Zhu leaned closer and whispered to Consort Shu, “Your Ladyship, my mistress says Qiushui Pavilion is heavily guarded, and no outsiders can enter. The palace maid she placed there cannot send messages out, but at dusk, she occasionally sees white smoke rising from the direction of Qiushui Pavilion.”
Hearing this, Consort Shu’s expression grew solemn.
White smoke—could it be something burning?
Qiushui Pavilion had no small kitchen, so it couldn’t be for preparing meals. The most likely explanation was that they were burning clothing.
After a miscarriage, there were occasional signs of bleeding—a symptom Consort Shu had observed in other imperial concubines who had miscarried in the palace. Bloodstained garments were considered inauspicious and were usually burned.
But it had been nearly a month. Why was Rong Shuyi still bleeding?
At this thought, Consort Shu tightened her grip on the armrest of her chair. She looked at Zi Zhu and asked if there was anything else.
Zi Zhu shook her head gently. “My mistress says that is all she knows. She cannot enter Qiushui Pavilion, so she has no way of learning more.”
After a moment of silent contemplation, Consort Shu spoke slowly, “Go back and tell your mistress that I will find a way to get her into Qiushui Pavilion. I hope she won’t disappoint me too much.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”