Chapter 59: Speak Some Good Words
After Lan Wu told Chu Mingheng about the embankment matter, it felt like a great weight had been lifted from her heart. Yet, she didn’t know whether Chu Mingheng had actually sent anyone to investigate the Sanzhou Canal Embankment. Several times when she saw Chu Mingheng come to her palace, she nearly couldn’t resist asking, but fearing exposure, she could only keep silent.
Her anxiety grew as the days passed, meaning the rain at the end of August drew ever closer.
Finally, she could bear it no longer and made another trip to the Imperial Study.
Chu Mingheng was not surprised by her visit. His expression remained calm, which only highlighted Lan Wu’s agitation.
Unable to focus on reading, and seeing that Chu Mingheng was ignoring her, Lan Wu stood up, ready to announce her departure.
“Stay,” he said, setting down the booklet in his hand and lifting his gaze to Lan Wu, who stood with her head lowered, looking rather displeased.
Lan Wu stopped in her tracks, idly fiddling with the gemstone beads on her wrist.
Today she wore a silver-red brocade gown embroidered with hibiscus flowers. The fitted waist cinched her slender figure, making it seem as if one could hold it in a single hand. Her face was flushed like peach blossoms, with bright eyes and gleaming teeth, though she still appeared somewhat pouty.
From Chu Mingheng’s perspective, he could only see the lower half of her face. Her lips, tinted with rouge, were lightly pursed, and she seemed to be muttering something silently, her mouth moving faintly.
“I recall your birthday is approaching,” he said softly, his words prompting Lan Wu to lift her head and reveal her delicate, charming face.
Lan Wu’s heart skipped a beat. She opened her mouth, remembering something, and a blush spread across her cheeks.
In her previous life, Chu Mingheng had held a banquet for her birthday at Xu Garden.
Would he do the same in this life?
Lan Wu responded softly, glancing at Chu Mingheng. “It’s coming soon. This concubine will soon turn seventeen.”
Chu Mingheng motioned for her to come closer.
When Lan Wu was nestled in his embrace, he kissed her flushed cheeks and placed a booklet in her hand.
“I had the Inner Court Administration arrange this earlier, without involving the other imperial concubines. Since it’s your birthday, let’s make it lively.”
“A’Wu likes lively occasions, doesn’t she?”
Lan Wu opened the booklet and saw the arrangements. The scale of the birthday banquet for a Shuyi like her was nearly on par with that of the Three Consorts.
But that wasn’t the main point. The key was that this time, it wasn’t being held at Xu Garden. Due to the summer heat, the banquet was planned for Kongshan Garden.
Lan Wu looked at the unfamiliar name with unease and glanced at Chu Mingheng.
Kongshan Garden was built in the center of Bì Wēi Lake, accessible only by boat. It was constructed by the Late Emperor for Empress Dowager Jingwen. However, after its completion, Empress Dowager Jingwen visited only once, and the garden was left unused thereafter. The Late Emperor never returned either.
The place was beautiful, but without imperial decree, no one dared to set foot there. Only the daily cleaning staff maintained Kongshan Garden as if it were newly built.
Even during Consort Rou’s previous lake excursion, when the boat passed near Kongshan Garden, they could only view it from afar and were unable to disembark.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you not like it?” Chu Mingheng tilted his head slightly, his tone carrying a hint of amusement, though his words held no real question.
Lan Wu tightened her grip on the booklet and said she liked it.
In both her previous life and this one, she had never been to Kongshan Garden.
Her unease stemmed from Chu Mingheng.
When it came to this young, noble, and emotionally detached emperor, she truly knew far too little.
It is known that Chu Mingheng was born as the crown prince. Empress Dowager Jingwen gave birth to him but did not raise him much. By the time the crown prince was three years old, his birth mother fell seriously ill, and the Late Emperor ordered the crown prince to be entrusted to the then-Guifei, later Empress Dowager Cimin, to be raised by her side. Five years later, a great fire burned down Kunning Palace, and both empress dowagers perished in the flames.
After that, the crown prince was raised by the Late Emperor’s side until the Late Emperor passed away and Chu Mingheng ascended the throne.
“If you like it, that’s good. Kongshan Garden is cool. In other places, I worry you might tire yourself out playing and act wild.”
Lan Wu, having been unjustly tarnished in reputation by him, couldn’t help but retort, “When would this concubine ever… ever act wild?”
“Your Majesty always knows how to speak ill of this concubine. Can’t you say something good about me?”
“They say that if you speak ill of someone too often, in the eyes of the speaker, even someone who isn’t like that will come to be seen that way.”
At this point, Lan Wu looked up at Chu Mingheng, her tone both aggrieved and helpless. “Please say something good about this concubine.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Lan Wu’s lips were sealed. She tilted her head back, her neck lacking support, and just as she was about to fall backward, Chu Mingheng reached out a hand to steady her. With her lips parted, she allowed him to do as he pleased.
Muffled murmurs escaped her mouth, and her body was enveloped in the scent of another before she was finally released.
Her eyes, glistening with moisture, were kissed, and Chu Mingheng complied with her request, speaking kind words.
“Ah Wu is truly beautiful.”
“Such a master of coquetry.”
In a daze, Lan Wu remembered the purpose of her visit today and hurriedly pushed him away a little. The sunlight outside the window was brilliant, streaming in and illuminating the palace carpet, making the golden threads woven into it exceptionally beautiful.
With just a sidelong glance, she couldn’t help but murmur softly:
“Last time, there wasn’t any…”
She had thought Chu Mingheng would ignore her, but instead, she heard him casually remark with a hint of disdain, “Didn’t you complain that the floor of my imperial study was too hard? Now it’s soft.”
For a moment, Lan Wu didn’t know what to say, but she was happy nonetheless. Without even realizing it, a smile graced her face. She took a sip of tea to moisten her throat, her eyes darting around as she pondered how to broach the subject.
After thinking for a while, seeing that Chu Mingheng was about to attend to state affairs, she quickly turned around, wrapped her arms around his neck, and with no other choice, spoke directly.
“Your Majesty, that embankment… have you sent anyone to inspect it?”
Lan Wu then released her arms, pressing a hand to her chest, and said timidly, “Whenever this concubine thinks of that dream, my heart fills with fear, Your Majesty…”
Chu Mingheng narrowed his eyes slightly, looking down at her act.
As Lan Wu nuzzled her head against him, he suddenly spoke up and asked, “Does Ah Wu know which minister was responsible for repairing the Sanzhou Canal Embankment the year before last?”
Lan Wu stiffened, quickly searching her memory.
In her previous life, at that time, she had only sensed tension in the palace atmosphere because the emperor’s wrath had made all the officials tremble with fear, and even the rear palace had become unusually subdued.
Chu Mingheng rarely visited the rear palace, and whenever he came to her quarters, his demeanor remained as usual. She dared not ask too much, remaining as obedient as ever. Yet, at night, she could still sense the emperor’s displeasure, which left her in tears. Perhaps Chu Mingheng enjoyed this—even when she cried, he wouldn’t let her go.
But whenever she grew truly sad or upset, Chu Mingheng would always notice immediately, stop, and comfort her.
After that, some more time passed, and the atmosphere in the palace grew even more oppressive, as Chu Mingheng had issued an edict to behead many people. The matter was of great significance, and many in the court and beyond were busy trying to protect themselves.
Recalling the present situation, Lan Wu frowned deeply. She knew nothing of court affairs and naturally had no idea who was involved.
Not a single word came to mind, so she simply shook her head and said, “This concubine does not know.”