Chapter 126 Rose

The information Lan Wu received from Master Huifan was ambiguous. On the one hand, she felt that he knew something, but on the other hand, she felt that he would not say much to her.

Aren't these things the most taboo in Buddhism?

They said it was... a revelation of heavenly secrets?

Lan Wu leaned against the edge of the bath, while a palace maid washed her hair behind her. A faint floral fragrance filled the bathhouse.

It was already a cold winter, and the flowers in the Imperial Garden had all withered, and even the leaves had turned yellow and fallen, but the fragrance of the flowers was particularly pleasant.

"Does Your Highness find the fragrance of these flowers pleasant?" Lian Qiao asked softly with a smile behind her. "The roses cultivated by Lin Heng's Office, though they are roses, have a different fragrance; they are much stronger than ordinary roses."

Lan Wu looked around and saw vases on the shelves in the four corners, filled with pink and white flowers.

"It smells nice."

"As soon as the roses bloomed, the Lin Heng Bureau rushed to send them to our Yilan Palace," Lian Qiao said with a grin. "They're quite perceptive."

Lan Wu hadn't taken it to heart, but upon hearing her say that, she hesitated for a moment and asked, "Was it only sent to our palace?"

Lian Qiao quickly shook her head and replied, "We didn't cultivate many flowers this time. Four were sent to our palace, and two were sent to Consort Shu's palace."

Consort Shu...

Lan Wu carefully calculated in her mind that, apart from Yue Zhaorong and Mu Xiurong who came to her palace that day, she hadn't seen any other concubines in the palace for about half a month.

"Is there any movement in the palace?" These days she had been focused on the truth of her past life and had also rushed to see Master Huifan. Although she had some free time occasionally, Chu Mingheng told her not to go outside in the wind until she was fully recovered. She had almost forgotten that there was a Consort Shu in the palace who was eyeing her covetously.

Thinking back to her previous life, Consort Shu was waiting outside the door, and then the door was closed...

"Nothing else is wrong, but a few days ago, Consort Wen sent her personal maid to Consort Li's Jinghua Palace to inquire about Consort Li's recent situation. She said a lot of unpleasant things there, and the maid probably told Consort Wen the truth when she returned. Consort Wen fell ill the next day."

As Lianqiao spoke, she poured hot water on Lanwu's hair to rinse it. The empress's black hair was like overlapping dark waves. She was a simpleton and didn't know how to describe how beautiful it was, but she felt that such beautiful hair deserved such a beautiful woman.

With these thoughts in mind, Lianqiao's movements became even gentler.

When Consort Li was mentioned, Lan Wu frowned slightly, clearly disliking her.

"Why would Consort Wen send someone to Consort Li's Jinghua Palace for no reason?"

Asking about your recent situation?

It would be more appropriate to kick someone when they're down.

"On the day His Majesty brought the Empress back to the palace, didn't the Empress develop a high fever and summon the imperial physician? Many concubines came, but Consort Li didn't. Perhaps Consort Shu felt humiliated and didn't want Consort Li to have an easy time either." Lian Qiao guessed these were all her own guesses. Although the harem was so large, it was still quite easy to guess what the mistresses of each palace were up to, as long as they didn't hide it from others.

After all, Consort Wen didn't seem to have any intention of giving Consort Li any face.

Lan Wu nodded, then asked, "Where is Consort Shu?"

Currently, Consort Shu is the only one in charge of the palace. Logically, she should be feeling proud, but she's been so quiet all this time. Could she be plotting something bad?

"I have not heard any movement from Yifang Palace."

-

Consort Wen was lying on her bed, ill. Unlike Lan Wu, who had a high fever all night, Consort Wen only had a dry, sore throat and a persistent cough. Several of the palace servants in her palace also fell ill with her illness, and for a time, no one in Hanlu Palace dared to visit her.

Consort Bai wanted to visit her, but she still had to go to Consort Shu's place. She was afraid of catching the disease herself and causing Consort Shu to fall ill, so she only sent a message saying that she would visit her in a few days when she felt better.

"Her health is too weak; she gets sick even while staying in her own palace." Consort Shu frowned as she listened to Consort Bai's words, clearly showing some dissatisfaction.

Consort Bai looked a little embarrassed, but still smiled and said, "Perhaps it's because of what Consort Li said a few days ago. You know, she's the kind of person who takes things to heart."

"Consort Li..." Consort Shu propped her head up and sneered, "Her mouth is really foul. Since her mouth is so foul, she doesn't need to eat too well."

"I'll have the imperial kitchen prepare her daily meals properly another day, so she won't have the energy to talk too much."

Bai Xiuyi was about to agree with something when she saw someone come in through the door.

Yun Qing entered from outside the palace, followed by two palace maids carrying two pots of roses. The flowers were in full bloom, and a fragrance wafted over.

Bai Xiuyi immediately turned her attention to the two pots of flowers and exclaimed in amazement, "It's already winter, yet the roses are still blooming so well."

Consort Shu also turned her attention to the two pots of flowers and asked Yun Qing, "Where did these flowers come from?"

"Your Majesty, these flowers were sent from Lin Heng's office. They say they are newly cultivated and have a stronger fragrance," Yun Qing replied calmly, instructing the two women to bring the flowers forward for Consort Shu and Consort Bai to examine closely.

Bai Xiuyi leaned closer to smell it and indeed detected a stronger, more delicate floral fragrance. She couldn't help but laugh, "Lin Hengshu is truly ingenious. They are quite sensible; they know to send any good things to Your Highness first."

Consort Shu reached out and gently stroked the petals, but she didn't seem to be very interested; she didn't particularly like flowers and trees.

But after waiting for a while and not hearing Yun Qing reply, he realized something was wrong.

"Who else has this flower?" She narrowed her eyes slightly, her fingers gently pinching the petals, and asked Yun Qing in a cold voice.

"Your Majesty, Lin Hengshu also sent four pots to Yilan Palace." Yun Qing bowed and answered without any concealment.

Consort Shu curled her lips into a cold smile and crushed a petal.

"Lin Hengshu is really... so obsequious to this Zhen Zhaorong." After saying that, she plucked another flower, looked at it in her palm for a moment, and then gently threw the flower at Yun Qing. "Take it to the Cold Palace for Zeng Shi. She used to love these flowers and plants, but they're not presentable."

Bai Xiuyi didn't dare to breathe loudly, and then heard her change her words.

"One pot for Lady Zeng, and one pot for Consort Li. That's just right, so the two of them won't have to fight over it."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Yun Qing said, then led her people away.

Only two people remained in the hall.

Consort Bai reached out to take the teacup; the hall was somewhat quiet.

She had just taken her first sip of tea when she suddenly heard Consort Shu ask her a question.

"Bai Xiuyi".

Bai Xiuyi stiffened, immediately put down her teacup, and bowed slightly in reply, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Although you and Consort Wen are both at my service, to be honest, the usefulness of the two of you is not as great as that of a dead Consort Liu. Oh, you still remember Consort Liu, don't you?"

Consort Bai nodded and replied slowly, "Your Majesty, I remember."

"So, you should show me your loyalty more often, and I can ensure that you won't be persecuted to death by others like Consort Liu."

Consort Bai suddenly raised her head to look at her, and seeing the coldness in Consort Shu's eyes, she subconsciously swallowed: "Your Majesty, I will remember."