Chapter 71: Disappointing This Emperor
Consort Li truly did not dare to test it.
Not to mention Lan Wu’s status as a favored consort, just the slap Lan Wu gave her—with the thumb ring bestowed by His Majesty still on her finger—how could she dare to strike back?
Though she dared not retaliate, she could expose Lan Wu’s true nature to His Majesty. Lan Wu acted one way in front of His Majesty and another behind his back. Once His Majesty learned of her true face, he would surely cease to favor her!
Thinking this, Consort Li covered her cheek and turned her head back to sneer at Lan Wu, “Even if you have something given by His Majesty, such an act of insubordination—this consort will report it truthfully to His Majesty.”
She gritted her teeth as she spoke these words, only to see Lan Wu turn away as if it mattered little, instructing the palace attendants behind her to escort her back to Yilan Hall.
Consort Li could hardly conceal her fury. Watching Lan Wu truly leave so indifferently, she had nowhere to vent her anger. Just then, a palace maid at her side stepped forward to remind her, “My lady, Lady Shufei is urging you inside.”
Consort Li turned and was about to slap the palace maid across the face. As the maid closed her eyes in panic, Consort Li’s hand suddenly halted mid-air, slowly withdrawing. Her gaze toward the maid flickered with a hint of scrutiny.
This palace maid was truly lovely, appearing delicate and charming. Her timid, fearful face even stirred a sense of pity.
“This consort is aware,” she said, examining the girl closely. “Are you a servant of Zhaoyun Hall?”
Pan Xi lowered herself slightly, not daring to look at Consort Li’s face, and answered timidly, “Replying to my lady, this servant is named Pan Xi, a palace maid who just entered Zhaoyun Hall a few days ago.”
A few days ago?
Consort Li silently repeated the phrase but said nothing more, passing by her and striding directly into the hall.
Inside Zhaoyun Hall’s Inner Palace, drafts were blocked everywhere. According to the Imperial Physician, Consort Rou’s illness could not be exposed to wind, hence the precautions. Yet it was summer, and with such poor ventilation, the air was stifling and hot. Even with ice in the hall, it was difficult to relieve the heat.
As Consort Li moved inward, she saw His Majesty seated to the side. The bed curtains were drawn, obscuring Consort Rou’s face.
But she recalled the face she had seen earlier in the hall, nearly scratched to shreds, and couldn’t help but shudder.
“Consort Li, what happened to your face?” Consort Shu caught sight of the red mark on her cheek and asked softly.
Though her voice was low, the hall was quiet, and her words were audible to all present. If Consort Shu truly hadn’t wanted others to hear, she could have asked later. But she deliberately asked in front of His Majesty, clearly delighting in stirring trouble.
Consort Li looked expectantly at the Emperor’s expression, only to see him still seated in his chair, showing no reaction whatsoever.
“Just now, outside the hall, I exchanged a few words with Sister Zhen. She seemed angered and… struck me.”
As soon as she spoke these words, Consort Shu’s face filled with disbelief, nearly mirroring Consort Li’s expression when she had been slapped.
Was Lan Wu insane? She was merely a Shuyi—how dare she slap Consort Li in front of everyone?
After her shock subsided, Consort Shu turned her gaze to the Emperor.
Chu Mingheng leaned back in his chair, one hand propped lightly against his temple. He was reviewing the Imperial Medical Academy’s medical records, which noted that the Anluo Fruit had been delivered to the Imperial Medical Academy half a month earlier. However, according to protocol, the Imperial Medical Academy needed to test it for a full month before determining whether such a new item could be safely consumed by the palace’s masters.
Now, after only half a month, Yushan Fang couldn’t resist overstepping the Imperial Medical Academy, attempting to gain favor through such means.
Was it mere recklessness, or… had someone suggested such a “brilliant idea”?
Chu Mingheng sighed slightly, rubbing his temples before calmly closing the book in his hand and issuing a quiet command: “Summon the guards. Take the head of Yushan Fang to Shenxing Si for strict interrogation.”
“If any irregularities are found, all those involved shall be executed by beating.”
Chen Kangan acknowledged the order from the side and quietly withdrew, leaving only Luo Yun remaining by the emperor’s side.
Suddenly, Chu Mingheng’s gaze shifted toward Consort Shu and Consort Li. His indifferent eyes swept over them as if they were nothing, then he asked lightly, “What were you discussing?”
After a moment of silence, Consort Shu replied, “Your Majesty, this concubine merely noticed the red mark on Consort Li’s face and grew curious.”
Consort Li dared not speak further, her lips trembling slightly. “This mark on my face will fade soon, Your Majesty. It is nothing serious.”
Earlier, word from Zhaoyun Hall had suggested that Consort Rou was on the brink of death, yet upon entering the hall, she was found lying peacefully on her bed, with the Imperial Physician reporting that her condition had improved.
Consort Rou had regained consciousness just in time to hear the emperor’s command. Anxious to speak, she found half her face swollen, itchy, and painful, rendering her unable to utter a word.
Yushan Fang was a place where she had painstakingly planted her own people, supporting them discreetly over the years until one finally rose to the position of supervisor. She had hoped he would serve her well in the future, never expecting such an outcome.
No… this couldn’t be. Had all her efforts been in vain?
Consort Rou reached out to grasp the curtain but hesitated, unwilling to let the emperor see her current state. As she wavered, a palace maid entered the hall with medicine.
The young maid kept her head bowed, the medicine bowl in her hands clearly scalding. She approached the curtain and spoke softly, “Your Highness, it is time for your medicine.”
Consort Li’s eyes sharpened, recognizing the maid as the one named Pan Xi.
How interesting. Consort Rou kept such a beautiful maid by her side yet remained silent about it. What was she planning?
The curtain remained closed. Pan Xi leaned close to Consort Rou, listening to her whispered words before turning to relay them faithfully: “Your Majesty, Her Highness says that the people of Yushan Fang merely sought to gain favor. She hopes Your Majesty will show leniency in light of today being Zhen Shuyi’s birthday.”
Chu Mingheng glanced toward the figure behind the curtain and suddenly smiled. “Consort Rou, your kindness is noted, but palace regulations hold the highest authority. Having assisted in managing the rear palace for so long, surely you understand this principle.”
“I must now consider whether your temperament is suitable for entrusting you with the authority to assist in managing the six palaces.”
“You have truly disappointed me.”
With that, Chu Mingheng rose from his seat, his earlier smile vanishing entirely, replaced by a cold expression as he instructed the Imperial Physician to attend carefully to Consort Rou’s health.
He strode out of the hall.
“We bid farewell to Your Majesty.”
Consort Shu and Consort Li in the hall bowed in unison, rising only after confirming the emperor had indeed departed.
Turning their gaze toward Consort Rou on the bed, though the curtain obscured her face, they could well imagine the unsightly expression she must now be wearing.
Consort Li stepped forward, offering words of comfort to Consort Rou: “Sister Rou, please don’t worry. His Majesty has just issued an edict, entrusting me with the task of assisting Lady Shufei in managing palace affairs. Though I may not be as experienced as you, I am willing to learn. You can rest assured.”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but let a smile slip, gently lifting the curtain to glance at Consort Rou before immediately closing it again. Startled, she patted her chest and said, “Sister, you should focus on recovering. I shall take my leave now.”
Consort Shu watched Consort Li’s performance from the side without intervening.
Consort Li was a fool, and fools were nothing to fear.
Consort Rou had suffered a setback now, but who knew if she might rise again in the future? She was a woman who held grudges.
When that time came, it might be worth considering how to set them against each other…