Chapter 98: Who Do You Want to Take Down?
“Where is your mistress?”
Chu Mingheng entered Yilan Hall but saw no one. In the past, although Lan Wu wouldn’t eagerly rush out to greet him, she was always present. Knowing where Lan Wu was brought him some peace of mind.
But now, he had arrived, yet there was no sign of Lan Wu in the main hall.
Chu Mingheng’s expression darkened.
Lian Xi, standing nearby, quickly stepped forward to report upon seeing this. “Your Majesty, Her Ladyship has gone to Jinghua Palace.”
Chu Mingheng calmly scanned the hall, confirming her absence, then sat down, closed his eyes, and pressed his fingers against his temples.
“What is she doing there? When did she leave?”
Lian Xi had no choice but to explain truthfully.
“The Imperial Wardrobe Bureau came today to deliver autumn garments. Her Ladyship originally selected a piece of green Xiangyun gauze, but it wasn’t delivered. Upon inquiry, we learned that the palace maids were clumsy and sent it to Jinghua Palace instead. Lady Lifei sent someone over to say that she had already tried on the garment. If Her Ladyship didn’t mind, she would have it sent over.”
“Her Ladyship then went to retrieve it herself. She left less than half an hour ago.”
As a member of Yilan Hall, Lian Xi naturally spoke in favor of her mistress. Although these words seemed unproblematic at first glance, upon careful consideration, they only made Consort Li appear petty and arrogant for taking someone else’s belongings without reason.
Hearing this, Chu Mingheng glanced up at the sky—it was almost dark.
His expression grew even darker.
That little rascal Lan Wu, if she wanted to stir up trouble, she should at least pay attention to the time. Walking around in the dark, wasn’t she afraid of tripping?
“How did you all persuade her? It’s already dark, yet you let her go out.” Chu Mingheng stood up, his voice cold. “Each of you will receive ten strokes of the cane later.”
Lian Xi’s face paled, but she could only reply, “Yes.”
“To Jinghua Palace.”
“Yes.”
When Lan Wu saw Pan Xi’s face, she guessed what Consort Li was up to.
She let out an unapologetic scoff, coldly staring at Consort Li, thinking to herself how she never changed her foolish ways.
Back then, she had taken a liking to her face, intending to use her to win favor. Although it hadn’t succeeded in this lifetime, in her previous life, after she became an imperial concubine, she had faced no shortage of pressure from Consort Li, both openly and covertly.
Now, seeing that Chu Mingheng only had eyes for her, Consort Li had brought in another beautiful palace maid, attempting to follow the same old path.
“I recall you were originally a palace maid by Consort Zeng’s side.” Lan Wu looked at Pan Xi and asked.
Pan Xi’s hair was still styled, but she had already changed into her palace maid attire. She glanced at Consort Li first before replying to Lan Wu, “Yes, Your Ladyship. This servant is named Pan Xi.”
“How old are you?”
Pan Xi’s appearance was truly lovely, and her demeanor showed no timidity. She answered respectfully, leaving no room for criticism.
“Your Ladyship, this servant is seventeen this year.”
Ah, even her age was similar to hers.
Lan Wu felt somewhat uncomfortable and fell silent. She examined Pan Xi carefully, feeling both pity for her being forced by Consort Li and suspicion that, since she dared to expose Consort Zeng’s past deeds, she might harbor ambitions of her own.
Ambition wasn’t a bad thing, but if she wanted to become an imperial concubine, Lan Wu wasn’t pleased.
“Zhen Zhaorong, staring at Pan Xi like that, could it be that you also find her beautiful?” Consort Li spoke up as if watching a spectacle. “When I first saw her in Zhaoyun Hall, I truly felt her beauty could rival yours, Zhen Zhaorong.”
“Later, seeing her righteous and fearless exposure of Consort Zeng, I admired her passionate heart even more, which is why I called her to my palace.”
Consort Li glanced lightly at the green dress placed on the table, gently stroking the embroidery and patterns of the garment. She clicked her tongue twice, sighing with particular regret, “This dress doesn’t fit me well. Coincidentally, Pan Xi’s figure suits it, so I rewarded it to her.”
At this point, she raised her eyes to Lan Wu and said indifferently, “Only after Pan Xi had already worn this dress did the servants from the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau slowly arrive at my palace, saying they had delivered the wrong garment.”
“You mustn’t blame me, sister.”
She addressed Lan Wu as “Zhen Zhaorong” one moment and “sister” the next, putting on such a lofty air.
But Lan Wu understood clearly that what she truly wanted to call her probably wouldn’t be anything pleasant.
Lan Wu smiled and had someone bring the dress over.
“What a pity, though. Such a beautiful dress, yet it had the misfortune of being delivered to your palace…”
Lan Wu turned back, looked at Dan Shan, and reached out her hand toward her.
Dan Shan stepped forward, not letting Lan Wu touch it, and said, “Better let this servant handle it, to avoid injuring Your Ladyship’s hand.”
Lan Wu leisurely leaned back into her seat, letting Dan Shan take care of it.
“What are you doing?” Consort Li frowned slightly, then saw Dan Shan holding a fire starter. With just a gentle blow, a flame emerged, and that small fire fell onto the dress, instantly igniting the green garment and burning large holes into it.
Consort Li’s hand tightened on the armrest of her chair as she watched the dress being destroyed by fire. Then, looking at Lan Wu’s calm and composed demeanor, she immediately became so angry that her head began to throb. Pointing at Lan Wu, she exclaimed in shock, “How dare you set fires and act recklessly in my Jinghua Palace!”
“Guards! Seize her—”
The surrounding palace servants looked at each other, then had no choice but to step forward.
However, before they could get close, a man’s authoritative and deep voice from outside the hall broke the deadlock.
“Who are you seizing?”
Hearing the familiar voice, Lan Wu instinctively turned her head toward the palace entrance.
Chu Mingheng had already crossed the threshold, his tall figure striding quickly in their direction.
For some reason, she felt Chu Mingheng was angry and quickly lowered her head, curling her hands together with some unease.
It’s fine, Chu Mingheng definitely isn’t angry with her; he must be angry with Consort Li, that woman who actually dared to say she would seize her.
“Your Majesty—?” Seeing the figure enter the hall, Consort Li hurriedly suppressed her previous ferocity and quickly knelt to pay her respects. “Your servant greets Your Majesty.”
Seeing this, Lan Wu also bent her knees slightly, secretly raising her face to observe Chu Mingheng’s expression.
Just in time to see Chu Mingheng looking at her with a cold face.
She took small steps and ran toward him, clinging to his arm, pointing pitifully at the still-burning dress on the ground, and said plaintively, “Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for your servant—”
What a case of the guilty party filing the first complaint.
Even Consort Li had to admit she was impressed.
Lan Wu set a fire in her palace and still had the audacity to complain to His Majesty?
What kind of logic is that!?
“Your Majesty, please investigate clearly. Zhen Zhaorong just ordered someone to set fire to a dress in your servant’s palace. If she dares to set fires in front of your servant today, she’ll dare to kill tomorrow—she completely disregards palace regulations and shows no respect for your servant!”
Consort Li trembled as she pointed at Lan Wu, then gestured toward the Palace Carpet scorched with a hole and the half-burned clothes on the floor. “The evidence is all here, Your Majesty—you can no longer shield her!”
Chu Mingheng was already displeased, and hearing her words, he swept a cold glance at her before speaking calmly, “Must I be taught by you how to act?”