Chapter 62: Exchanging Things

Early the next morning, Lan Wu woke up late. Lian Qiao was combing her hair, and on the table was a set of kingfisher-feather begonia flower hair ornaments, which Lan Wu had specifically taken out to look at.

Just as Lian Qiao was about to reach out and pin them in her hair, Lan Wu stopped her.

“Save this set for tomorrow. Today, use the coral bead ones instead.”

Lian Xi, standing nearby, let out a soft chuckle and said, “Tomorrow is Your Ladyship’s birthday. This begonia flower set was specially made by the Palace Workshop for the occasion, so of course it should be saved for tomorrow.”

Having said it all, Lan Wu felt her cheeks flush with warmth and waved her hand, pretending to shoo Lian Xi out.

Lian Qiao also understood immediately, not daring to laugh too obviously.

“Your Ladyship, rest assured. I’ll put this set away shortly and bring it out for you to wear tomorrow.”

Chu Mingheng had left early that morning, and Lan Wu hadn’t heard a sound. It was only while getting ready that she heard Lian Xi mention it.

Thinking back to the events of the previous day, only a faint blush rose to her cheeks, and she didn’t feel anything was amiss.

However, after breakfast, she heard that His Majesty had issued an edict to seal off Lejing Pavilion.

The decree came out of nowhere, with no warning at all. Everyone was even speculating whether Lady Shufei had somehow displeased His Majesty.

Lan Wu’s hand, holding the brush, paused slightly as she asked unhurriedly, “Have you inquired about it?”

Lian Qiao nodded in response. “Yes, Your Ladyship. I’ve asked. They say that early this morning, palace servants first went to uproot the willow tree in Lejing Pavilion before sealing the palace gates. The commotion was quite loud. Lady Shufei was completely unaware at first and angrily demanded to know whose idea it was. But after learning it was His Majesty’s decree, she said nothing more.”

Lan Wu finished writing the characters beneath her brush, then slowly set down the brush and ink. She examined the handwriting she had painstakingly practiced, feeling it was somewhat better than in her previous life.

“Was Consort Shu very angry?” she asked softly.

Lian Qiao nodded eagerly. “Lady Shufei indeed seemed quite displeased.”

Who wouldn’t be upset?

Having a side hall in her own palace suddenly sealed by imperial decree, with a willow tree uprooted early in the morning—His Majesty’s actions seemed laden with meaning no matter how one looked at it. Consort Shu was bound to overthink it, especially given her history of having done quite a few ‘good deeds.’

If Consort Shu was unhappy, Lan Wu was happy.

But why would Chu Mingheng inexplicably seal off Lejing Pavilion?

Of all places, why Lejing Pavilion…

Her eyes fell on the paper beneath her hand, and the more she looked at the handwriting, the less satisfied she became. She crumpled the paper into a ball, tossed it onto the table, and started a fresh sheet, continuing until her mind settled.

The matter passed without further inquiry, and when she saw Chu Mingheng arrive that evening, Lan Wu didn’t ask about it.

The next day was Lan Wu’s birthday.

The birthday banquet was scheduled for the evening, but in the afternoon, the imperial concubines could take a boat to Kongshan Garden.

It was everyone’s first time visiting Kongshan Garden, and curiosity kept them quiet along the way.

Lan Wu wore a new outfit that day—a misty-pink trailing skirt embroidered with silver-thread peonies, paired with the kingfisher-feather begonia hair ornaments she had taken out and arranged the day before. Her face was lightly made up, with white jade earrings dangling from her ears and a white jade openwork carved floral bracelet on her wrist. The ensemble made her appear both charming and dignified, with a touch of grandeur, her striking beauty fully displayed. It was clear at a glance that she was the center of attention today.

Among all the imperial concubines, Lan Wu was undoubtedly the most beautiful.

But she was in no hurry to head to Kongshan Garden. Instead, while everyone else was making their way there, she slipped away to the Imperial Study to find Chu Mingheng.

She did not go empty-handed; passing by Caiping Pond, she casually plucked two lotus flowers and arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Study at a leisurely pace.

“Your concubine pays respects to Your Majesty.” Lan Wu gave a slight curtsy, holding two pink lotus flowers in full bloom, delicate and vibrant, exuding the fresh fragrance of lotus, complementing her graceful and elegant figure, pure and refined.

Ah, here to seduce him again.

Chu Mingheng glanced up at her, sweeping his eyes over the lotus flowers in her hand, thinking to himself what wicked scheme she must have concocted to come find him.

He remained silent, so Lan Wu had no choice but to lift her head and meet his gaze, her expression a mix of confusion and annoyance, as if asking why he hadn’t yet allowed her to rise.

Chu Mingheng withdrew his gaze and responded indifferently, “Come here.”

Lan Wu rose and walked toward him in small steps, soon leaning into his embrace of her own accord.

“Why come to me instead of going to Kongshan Garden?”

Sitting beside him, Lan Wu lightly covered her lips and said, “With Your Majesty absent, your concubine would be alone among so many imperial concubines. They would surely tear me apart.”

Chu Mingheng took her hand down, looked at her rouged red lips, wiped them with a handkerchief until the color faded, then leaned in to kiss her.

Lan Wu struggled slightly. She was wearing new clothes and new jewelry today; she couldn’t let her garments get wrinkled.

Moreover, that wasn’t the purpose of her visit.

Tilting her head back, she barely broke away from Chu Mingheng’s lips, her gaze drifting downward to linger on the lotus flowers in her arms. Before Chu Mingheng could grow angry, she pressed another light kiss on his lips and handed him the lotus flowers.

“Your concubine searched for a long time in Caiping Pond to find such beautiful lotus flowers. Your Majesty must take good care of them.” As she spoke, she handed over the flowers, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Chu Mingheng knew well that once these two lotus flowers were in his hands, he would inevitably have to give Lan Wu something as a ‘reward.’

He relaxed his posture and accepted the two lotus flowers with interest.

Sure enough, he saw Lan Wu’s eyes brighten even more.

“Your Majesty, look at your concubine’s hands…” She spread her palms and the backs of her hands for Chu Mingheng to see—smooth, fair fingers and soft, pink palms, perfectly complementing her.

For some reason, seeing her actions, Chu Mingheng immediately understood her intentions.

“Two lotus flowers, and you want to exchange them for something of mine.” He curled his lips slightly, pinched Lan Wu’s fingers, shook his head, and casually placed the lotus flowers on the table. “Not enough.”

He offered Lan Wu a suggestion nonchalantly: “A Wu, show some sincerity.”

Sincerity?

Lan Wu pondered the word for a moment before, as if having made up her mind, she lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and mumbled a few words.

“Your concubine paints?”

Chu Mingheng said, “Not sincere enough.”

He was truly too difficult to please. Lan Wu shot him a frustrated glance, then decisively buried her face in the crook of his neck and whispered:

“Your concubine has a soft gold-woven belt… it can, um…”

Chu Mingheng raised an eyebrow, lifted her face to look at him, confirmed the last few words she had spoken, and asked in return: “It can be used to tie? Right, I didn’t mishear.”

In her heart, Lan Wu wanted to trample Chu Mingheng into the ground, thinking how shameless he was—he had clearly heard her but still asked.

He clearly enjoyed playing dirty and rough games…

“…You must have misheard.” At the last moment, she regretted her words and spoke softly, then pressed her lips together. Yet her eyes remained stubborn and unwilling as they fixed on the gold-inlaid jadeite thumb ring on Chu Mingheng’s finger.

Chu Mingheng wore two thumb rings—one of white jade, and the other this gold-set jadeite one, though he seldom wore the latter.

Whichever thumb ring it was, both symbolized imperial authority.

Lan Wu wanted that jadeite one—not for Chu Mingheng to give it to her, but simply to flaunt it for the day would have been more than enough.