Chapter 78: Yue Zhaorong

Another eight days passed, and the weather grew increasingly hot. Previously, His Majesty had ordered Shenxing Si to investigate Yushan Fang from top to bottom. One group of people had lost their lives, but another wave quickly replaced them, making it seem as if nothing had ever happened. The dangers involved were likely known only to a few palace servants who had narrowly escaped.

Zhang Mu went to Shenxing Si and witnessed the bloody methods there, nearly collapsing in fear. Fortunately, his life was spared, and he was only given twenty lashes along with the others, managing to leave Shenxing Si relatively unscathed.

He had thought that helping Zhen Shuyi this time would at best allow him to keep his life, but unexpectedly, upon returning to Yushan Fang, he was promoted by the new supervisor, who praised his loyalty. Zhang Mu pondered this: what kind of person was His Majesty? Very few things in the palace could escape his notice. It was likely that his assistance to Zhen Shuyi had long been discovered.

Yet His Majesty did not kill him and even acknowledged his loyalty—this meant he was to continue serving Zhen Shuyi.

Now that he had His Majesty’s tacit approval, he no longer needed to act with such caution.

Lan Wu was unaware of Zhang Mu’s thoughts, but she herself had confessed her actions to Chu Mingheng. Knowing he wouldn’t punish her, she took advantage of the recent turmoil in the court to inquire about someone through the Inner Court Administration.

She tasked Lian Xi with this, as Lian Xi had been with her the longest and was clever. Lan Wu trusted her to handle the matter discreetly.

However, after two inquiries, there was no news at all. On one hand, the woman Lan Wu described was too ordinary in appearance; on the other, with so many people in the palace, it was truly impossible to find her in such a short time.

When Lian Xi reported the lack of results, Lan Wu simply waved her hand and said to let it rest for now, and to inquire again through the Inner Court Administration in a few days.

“Yes, Your Highness.” This was one of Lian Xi’s best qualities—she never asked unnecessary questions and knew her place.

Just then, someone entered the room, carefully presenting a bowl of chilled dessert.

Lian Qiao smiled and said, “Your Highness, this was just delivered from Yushan Fang. They were worried the heat would spoil the taste, so they sent it in a food box with ice.”

Lan Wu glanced at it—it was her favorite almond milk drink.

She reached for a spoon, idly stirring the contents of the bowl, and murmured softly, “Do I dare drink it now…”

During this period, Chu Mingheng had been too busy to keep a close eye on her, and she had let her guard down. Coincidentally, fresh seafood had recently arrived in the palace, and she had indulged her appetite, eating too many shrimp and crabs. That night, she suffered from stomach pains. When Chu Mingheng questioned her sternly, she stammered and confessed everything.

Chu Mingheng insisted it was the palace servants’ fault for not watching over her properly and ordered everyone in the palace to be punished with beatings.

Lan Wu, believing she should take responsibility for her own actions, stubbornly accepted Chu Mingheng’s punishment.

Chu Mingheng gave her a meaningful look, said “Very well,” and did not proceed with the beatings. Instead, he deducted some monthly allowances.

Lan Wu was somewhat apprehensive. Before Chu Mingheng could actually punish her, she tearfully tugged at his sleeve and protested.

Her attitude made Chu Mingheng smile.

“Both punishments involve deducting allowances, so why must concubine be beaten—Your Majesty can just deduct concubine’s allowance, even if it’s more… concubine has already learned her lesson. Can’t you be kinder instead of playing the villain… always bullying concubine—”

He leaned leisurely against the huanghuali wood chair, watching Lan Wu’s unreasonable antics with amusement.

Lan Wu spoke halfway through, not seeing him respond. A thought crossed her mind, and she covered her face again, hiding her fair, powdered cheeks. Thinking Chu Mingheng couldn’t see her little trick, she added:

“This concubine has never eaten those things before, I just enjoy eating them. You’ve taught me once, and I’ll know not to overeat next time.”

Chu Mingheng only asked her one thing—whether her stomach still hurt.

Seeing her shake her head, he slowly stood up, gently pressing her into his embrace with refined movements. He pulled down her trousers and gave her a light spank.

“I’m not forbidding you from eating, but you know your own condition. You’re still taking medicine, yet you eat without restraint. If you complain of pain to me again, I won’t punish you. Instead, I’ll have everyone in your palace dragged to the courtyard and beaten. Afterward, I’ll replace them with new servants. They’ve grown too indulgent with you, failing to advise you properly.”

Lan Wu gritted her teeth, pushed him away in frustration, and turned her back to him on the couch.

“No one is as unreasonable as you, punishing people and then threatening them. I’ve already admitted my mistake, yet you still scold me!”

After a long silence, she turned her head and saw Chu Mingheng sitting back in his chair, eyes closed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if exhausted and resting.

Watching him, she hesitated to speak, knowing he had been preoccupied with the Sanzhou Canal Embankment matter recently and had only taken time today to reprimand her.

As she watched, she couldn’t help but sit up, quietly moving to the edge of the couch and reaching out to grasp Chu Mingheng’s robe.

Softly, she whispered, “Your Majesty, come rest on the couch. This concubine… this concubine won’t act like this again…”

As she finished speaking, she saw Chu Mingheng release his hand, open his eyes, and gaze steadily at her, a smile in his eyes. He stood up, leaned over her, pinched Lan Wu’s delicate chin, and planted a kiss on her lips.

“Ah Wu, why are you so obedient? It makes me feel… truly unworthy.”

His voice fell softly as he kissed Lan Wu’s forehead and cheeks again. Meeting her dazed, confused eyes, his heart burned with warmth, unable to get enough of looking at her.

—

Remembering this, Lan Wu’s face grew slightly warm. Looking at the bowl of chilled dessert before her, she pushed it away and said, “I won’t eat it. Take it away and share it among yourselves.”

Lian Qiao also recalled the time Lan Wu had upset her stomach from overeating and, hearing this, didn’t press further, taking the bowl away.

Just then, someone entered the hall, bowing to report, “Your Highness, Yue Zhaorong is here.”

Lan Wu’s eyelids twitched, and she instinctively glanced toward the hall entrance, frowning slightly.

She wondered how the investigation into the Yue family was progressing. Over ten days had passed, so there should be some results by now. But at such a critical moment, why would Yue Zhaorong come to see her? Could it be to ask her to whisper in the emperor’s ear?

Lan Wu pondered silently, then found it amusing. How could anyone think so highly of her?

“Invite her to the main hall.”

Lan Wu asked Lian Xi to help tidy her hair before going out.

At the sight of Yue Zhaorong, she was immediately taken aback.

The last time she saw Yue Zhaorong in Kongshan Garden, though she seemed somewhat detached, perhaps free from worries, she appeared spirited and in good health. But now…

Lan Wu observed her as if she had just emerged from a prison cell—not only pale and lifeless but also noticeably thinner, her entire demeanor sickly, as if a gust of wind could knock her over.

Hesitantly, Lan Wu stepped forward slowly, averted her gaze, and prepared to offer a greeting.

“Greetings to Yue Zhaorong—” she began.

Before she could finish, she saw Yue Zhaorong bend her knees as if to kneel before her. Startled, Lan Wu quickly stepped forward to steady her and helped her sit down.

Alright, this is the setup—they really are here to ask her to whisper in Chu Mingheng’s ear.