Chapter 61

Chapter 61: Do You Want to Kill Me? Shen Meizhuang responded with a "Yes," her footsteps slowly moving outward, when she heard the Emperor ask: "With the spring rain bringing dampness, why were you standing properly at the doorway?" 【The flowers and blossoms of Yikun Palace have become spirits, luring This Consort to stand at the doorway. Is that not allowed?】 【In your past life, you braved wind and rain to secretly meet that wretch Zhen Huan, claiming it was to fulfill filial piety for the Empress Dowager. This Consort stayed up night after night to care for you without complaint, only to be scorned by you. That was This Consort's own foolishness.】 【Now that This Consort is ill, you merely come to visit a couple of times and still find fault with This Consort.】 Nian Shilan was so angry she couldn't even speak in her Xinsheng. She also wanted to use the excuse the Emperor had given her in her past life to brush him off now, but a flash of inspiration struck her clever mind: "The two pots of white chrysanthemums under the eaves have just sprouted new buds. Your servant was thinking of presenting the flowers to Your Majesty when they bloom. Unexpectedly, heavy rain suddenly arrived. Fearing the new branches couldn't withstand the wind and rain, I grew anxious and went to move them in myself. Who knew I would catch a chill?" Chrysanthemums were one of the Four Gentlemen among flowers, and at that time, they held no other meaning. She learned the new implication of white chrysanthemums because of Shen Meizhuang's Cunju Hall, when the screens were filled with mourning hall imagery. The Emperor didn't know any of this, taking it only as Shilan's sincere gesture, and deliberately used her inner thoughts to tease her. "Those who know would think it's your affection for me. Those who don't would think the chrysanthemums became spirits, leading you to move them." Nian Shilan: "..." Shen Meizhuang paused her steps for a moment, then exited. "There are many flowers and blossoms that have become spirits in the Imperial Garden. Your Majesty can go see something new," Nian Shilan said. 【Before you go, remember to change into casual clothes and wear your melon-skin cap—a green one. Your temperament can carry it well.】 The Emperor was still wondering why he should wear a melon-skin cap, but upon hearing "green," he understood: A green hat. "Not much of a reader, but quick with retorts." 【This Consort is only quick with retorts. How could I compare to Your Majesty? So well-read, every sentence can take a life.】 "Your Majesty, forgive my offense. Your servant has taken medicine and feels somewhat weary. I wish to rest early." The Emperor tucked the blanket around Nian Shilan and said gently: "Sleep. I will wait until you fall asleep before leaving." 【Having a brother is truly good.】 The Emperor was puzzled—what did this have to do with Nian Gengyao? 【Even though his heart is now filled with Xiao Chunyuan, for the sake of the Northwest Campaign and to reassure Brother so he can fight with peace of mind, he can still restrain his temper and pretend to be deeply affectionate.】 Since there was no need to speak with him anyway, Nian Shilan closed her eyes. The Emperor was not pretending to be affectionate. He wanted to extract words—her inner thoughts—without needing her to answer verbally. When she was half-asleep, if he said something, she would surely respond. And without any guard or concealment. Songzhi lit a stick of incense and brought it in, placing it beside the bed before going to guard outside the hall. Gazing at the curling wisps of smoke, the Emperor spoke to Nian Shilan's "sleeping face" as if talking to himself: "A few days ago, I saw a woman in the Imperial Garden..." 【Stop pretending! You know it's Zhen Huan!】 "About the same age as when you entered the palace." The Emperor intentionally used Nian Shilan as a cover to avoid arousing her suspicion. 【The same? Same as what? If you want to imitate, imitate Chunyuan, not This Consort. This Consort is one of a kind between heaven and earth. That wretch isn't fortunate enough to resemble This Consort!】 【Old fool, when you saw Fuzi, you could still remember This Consort entered the Prince's Mansion at seventeen. How come when it comes to Zhen Huan, your mind gets muddled? She's eighteen this year!】 Hearing Consort Hua's bold cursing, the Emperor knew she had let down her guard and went straight to the point. "I want to promote her to Noble Lady, but I fear you would be hurt upon hearing it, so I haven't favored her yet." ["Afraid this consort would be heartbroken?"] "Promoting Noble Lady Wan beyond her rank before she even attended the Emperor, disregarding the eyes of palace servants, carrying her all the way back to Suiyu Pavilion, lighting red candles high, plastering walls with pepper mud, scattering the bed with raw dumplings—treating her directly as the principal wife, as the Empress to be doted upon, and even meticulously preparing birthday surprises for her." Nian Shilan's voice grew increasingly faint, as if unwilling to accept it, or perhaps something else: "My Nian family is loyal to the court, my father and elder brother are both meritorious officials. This consort is Consort Hua, yet my mother only received a third-rank title. She is merely a low-ranking consort, yet her mother also received a third-rank title. You disregarded all rules and protocols—when have you ever been afraid this consort would be heartbroken?" Indeed, these were wedding customs reserved for marrying the principal wife, and the pepper chamber favor—only Nian Shilan had ever received it before. Birthday surprises, titles for mothers... The Emperor never imagined he had doted on Zhen Huan to such an extent in his past life. "If I favor her, will she treat me with wholehearted devotion in the future, just like you?" He intentionally emphasized the words "wholehearted devotion," giving Nian Shilan an opportunity to refute or explain. Without having given sincere affection first, he already wanted the other to repay him with complete loyalty. ["She..."] She what? Why not continue? "Will she bear children for me?" ["..."] "Whose child is it?" This concerned his dignity. ["..."] Steeling his heart, the Emperor asked, "Will I grant honors to Zhen Yuandao?" This involved court politics. ["..."] "Shilan, when you learned the truth, did you ever harbor thoughts of killing me?" To avenge your child, to avenge the Nian family? Too eager for that woman who resembled Wanwan, yet afraid the consequences would spiral out of control, the Emperor grew impatient. Thinking she deliberately refused to answer, he wanted to provoke her. As he spoke these words, a genuinely fierce glint flashed in his eyes. Given his suspicious nature, even evasive answers, ambiguous words, or even a few heavy heartbeats would be taken as affirmative responses. If the person by his pillow harbored disloyal thoughts, and behind her stood a brother holding military power—no matter how hard Nian Shilan tried to conceal it in the future, it would hold no meaning for the Emperor. It could be said that the fate of the Nian family rested on this answer in her heart. The hall was so quiet one could hear a drop of water fall. Yet Nian Shilan still made no sound. Feigning sleep couldn't possibly mean remaining silent even in her heart. The Emperor's clever plan was well-laid, but what he didn't anticipate was— Earlier, Shen Meizhuang had left slowly, hearing the Emperor chattering and disturbing Consort Hua. Consort Hua, ill and weary of speech, also had no desire to deal with him, so she instructed Songzhi: "The Consort has recently caught a chill, coughing at night and unable to sleep soundly. She just took medicine and seems somewhat drowsy. Go light another burner of tranquilizing incense for the Consort, so she may sleep well." She specifically added, "If the Emperor asks, say it was the imperial physician's orders." When ill and fatigued, having taken medicine for a cold, drowsiness comes easily. With the addition of tranquilizing incense, sleep comes even faster. Huanbi waited outside Yikun Palace for over half an hour before finally seeing Shen Meizhuang emerge. "Greetings, Lady Shen." "Why have you come?" Shen Meizhuang asked curiously. "Does your lady have a message for me?" "Replying to my lady, my lady invites you to the Imperial Garden to admire flowers together." Clearly, this wasn't about admiring flowers—there was something to discuss.