Chapter 91: Uncovering the Person

“But Yue Zhaorong stopped them.”

Yue Zhaorong arrived just in time. She did not publicly embarrass Consort Li, but she had already sent someone to Yifang Hall to inform Consort Shu as soon as they left the gates of Yilan Hall.

While the two groups were engaged in a back-and-forth exchange, Consort Shu arrived with her entourage.

At that point, it was no longer a matter between Consort Li and Mu Xiurong, but between Consort Shu and Consort Li.

Lan Wu listened with great interest and asked Lian Qiao, “And then?”

“Then Lady Shufei accused Lady Lifei of being intolerant, saying she had damaged harmony among the imperial concubines over a trivial matter.”

“Lady Lifei retorted that Lady Shufei was always trying to win people over… Although they did not openly break ties, everyone present could sense the tension between them.”

At this point, Lian Qiao cautiously patted her chest. “Later, Yue Zhaorong ordered Mu Xiurong to apologize to Lady Lifei, and she was punished by copying palace regulations in her quarters.”

After hearing all this, Lan Wu nodded thoughtfully.

Consort Li’s temperament naturally made it difficult for her to command respect, but Chu Mingheng had assigned her and Consort Shu to manage palace affairs together. Consort Shu tolerated her, likely waiting for the day when she would cause a major incident herself. That way, Consort Shu would be the only one left in the consort rank in the rear palace.

In the evening, Chu Mingheng came to have dinner.

Lan Wu planned to ask him directly today.

Wine was set on the table.

When Chu Mingheng saw it, he merely smiled.

“If A’Wu wants to know something, just ask me directly,” he said, stepping forward and gently setting the wine cup aside. “I can’t get drunk anyway.”

Lan Wu looked up in surprise. “You can’t get drunk?”

Her cheek was lightly touched, and only then did she hear Chu Mingheng’s voice. “A thousand cups won’t make me drunk.”

That was troublesome.

No wonder in her previous life, she always saw Chu Mingheng drinking at banquets but never getting drunk. She had thought it was because the wine wasn’t strong or because he drank little.

It turned out he truly couldn’t get drunk.

“Then, if concubine asks something, will Your Majesty tell concubine?” Since this method wouldn’t work, she might as well ask him directly.

Unexpectedly, Chu Mingheng shook his head and calmly told Lan Wu, “No.”

Wasn’t this just teasing her?

Lan Wu’s face flushed red as she stared at Chu Mingheng, as if trying to bore a hole through him.

“Why won’t you tell me?”

“Hmm, it’s not the right time yet.”

What more time did he need?

Lan Wu looked at him suspiciously again. “Do you know what I want to ask?”

Chu Mingheng ordered the wine to be taken away and replaced it with soup for Lan Wu.

“Eat first, and we’ll talk slowly after you finish.”

After dinner, Chu Mingheng asked Lan Wu to wait in the hall.

“Bring the person in.”

Shortly after, a familiar figure entered the hall.

Seeing that person enter and bow, Lan Wu felt her mind go blank.

It was Mujin!?

Chu Mingheng stood to the side, flipping through the storybooks Lan Wu had been reading lately, saying nothing. Only Mujin spoke from below, her voice soft but clearly audible to Lan Wu.

“This servant originally served in the Imperial Presence. By His Majesty’s order, I was specially sent to serve Your Ladyship.”

After Mujin finished speaking, Lan Wu couldn’t help but feel her face grow warm.

So that was it. No wonder she had specifically ordered someone to keep an eye on Mujin but found nothing unusual. It turned out Mujin was from the Imperial Presence.

“I thought you were short on help, and I was afraid you’d think I was always having someone watch you, so I didn’t tell you about Mujin’s identity. I never expected…”

His tone was leisurely, and he glanced down at Lan Wu with a light, indifferent expression.

I never expected Lan Wu to be so wary, simply unwilling to use Mujin, preferring to keep a foolish palace maid by her side all day rather than the clever Mujin.

“You… get up first, I…” Lan Wu turned to look at Chu Mingheng.

Only after seeing her troubled expression did Chu Mingheng set down his book, walk over, and address Mujin: “From now on, stay by your mistress’s side at all times. If anything happens to her, I will hold you accountable.”

Mujin knelt, performed a respectful bow, and then withdrew.

Seeing him approach, Lan Wu asked somewhat puzzled, “Only Mujin? What about Lian Qiao?”

“Only Mujin.” He sat behind Lan Wu, removing the hairpins from her bun and placing them on the low table. “I also feel it’s a bit insufficient. How about I assign more people to follow you tomorrow?”

Lan Wu thought this couldn’t be blamed on her foolishness—it was just that the people in the Imperial Presence were too capable. Choosing the unproblematic Lian Qiao was actually a clever move.

“I don’t want that. Having a crowd follow me is so uncomfortable.” She shook her head, rejecting Chu Mingheng’s perfectly timed suggestion.

Chu Mingheng felt a bit regretful; he had almost finished selecting the people.

“What skills does Mujin have?”

Lan Wu thought carefully. In her previous life, the subtle schemes she had planned within her own palace were discovered by Chu Mingheng before she could even execute them. It was likely Mujin who had informed on her.

But if Mujin had been serving by her side, why was she inexplicably taken to Luoying Court in the end?

“She has practiced martial arts since childhood.” Chu Mingheng pinched Lan Wu’s cheek and said, “It’s different from your dancing.”

Lan Wu was annoyed. Of course, she knew it was different—there was no need for Chu Mingheng to remind her.

“Tomorrow, I’ll have Mujin teach me. I’ll learn too.” She snorted lightly and turned her head away.

“There’s no need for her to teach you. If A’wu wants to learn, she can learn from me. Rise before dawn to stretch your muscles, starting with horse stance.” Chu Mingheng spoke seriously, his hands caressing Lan Wu’s body inch by inch, whispering, “A’wu’s physique is weak. Start with half an hour of horse stance—this step is for building endurance.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lan Wu turned over and hit him.

“I’m not learning anymore.”

“Giving up already?”

Seeing Lan Wu about to run, Chu Mingheng quickly wrapped his arms around her. By taking the initiative, he made Lan Wu forget what she had originally intended to ask him after setting out the wine, completely leading her by the nose.

“Mujin told me you’re investigating someone.”

Lan Wu stiffened and silently lowered her head.

“What are you investigating an old palace maid for in your free time?” Chu Mingheng lifted her face, his dark pupils gazing into her eyes. “A’wu, is there something you haven’t told me?”

After some thought, Lan Wu glanced toward the palace door and muttered softly, “And you said you weren’t having someone watch me.”

She had already been very careful, having Lian Xi investigate this matter. How was it still discovered by Mujin?

It seemed she truly had some skills.

But now Chu Mingheng knew.

“Yes, I am watching you. Now tell me, why are you investigating that old palace maid?”

Since things had come to this, Lan Wu decided to reveal a little, vaguely hinting to Chu Mingheng.

“Well… I think I saw someone like her in a dream… an old palace maid…” She hesitated. “Not that old, really—her hair wasn’t white yet.”

“What did she do to you?” Chu Mingheng’s words hit the key point.

Lan Wu pursed her lips, instinctively shrinking her neck and nestling closer into Chu Mingheng’s embrace, yet she said, “I forgot… probably hit me.”

Silence lingered around them for a moment.

Lan Wu tugged at Chu Mingheng’s clothes, unwilling to let it go, and said, “So Your Majesty, you must help this concubine drag her out, you can’t let her hit me.”

Chu Mingheng let out a soft sigh and agreed, “Alright, I’ll drag her out.”