Chapter 196 Repatriation

The news reached Lan Wu's ears just as Chu Mingheng came over for his meal.

The palace servant who delivered the message was filled with excitement. Not to mention him, everyone in the palace who heard the news was excited. It would probably be long before the news spread outside the palace.

This is the Empress, His Majesty's only legal wife. Such a momentous event should be a cause for universal celebration.

It was fortunate that these palace servants followed the right person from the start. After all, who could have imagined that this lady would rise from a dancer to such a high position and now be about to sit on the throne of empress?

Lan Wu had already heard Chu Mingheng mention this matter yesterday, and when she heard this, she was taken aback, slowly nodded, and dismissed the person.

Before long, Chu Mingheng arrived.

Chu Mingheng didn't come empty-handed; he had someone bring along the things he had promised to give Lan Wu.

Lan Wu heard the greetings from outside, turned her head and saw him enter the hall, and then she saw the palace servants behind him placing boxes one by one on the wooden table in the hall.

After hesitating for a moment, she got up and walked over.

It's all Chu Mingheng's fault; she still walks a little awkwardly now.

When he tried to pass by Chu Mingheng, he was stopped again.

After the palace servants had put everything away, Chu Mingheng ordered them to leave.

Lan Wu looked up at him in confusion.

Chu Mingheng bent down, picked her up, and led her to the front.

"These are all the things I told you before. See if you like them."

He opened the wooden boxes one by one so that Lan Wu could see them clearly. In addition to the ones that Chu Mingheng had told Lan Wu before, there were also some silks and satins, all in bright colors, which were just right for Lan Wu.

As she looked at him, Lan Wu suddenly asked, "Have you already issued the decree?"

Chu Mingheng took out a glass hibiscus flower and gently placed it in Lan Wu's hand. He nodded slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and said, "It was dealt with during the morning court session. Now it should be handled by the Ministry of Rites."

Lan Wu pondered for a moment, looking down at the hibiscus flower in her hand, her mind seemingly lost in thought.

"Your Majesty, may I visit the Cold Palace?" Finally, she remembered this and asked Chu Mingheng.

Chu Mingheng frowned slightly, then casually put his arm around Lan Wu's waist, seemingly curious: "What are you going to the Cold Palace for?"

Speaking of which, both Consort Rou (née Zeng) and Consort Shu (née Song) were sent to the Cold Palace. After that incident, news about them seemed to have sunk into the sea, and everyone forgot about them.

Lan Wu didn't just decide to meet him on a whim. After all, he was her enemy from a past life, and it seemed like she would feel uneasy if she didn't go.

As for Consort Li...

Lan Wu didn't have time to deal with her. With her personality, things might seem peaceful now, but she would always cause trouble for herself in the future.

She's not in a hurry.

"I just want to go and see..." Lan Wu still had some wicked intentions. She would feel better if she saw her enemies suffering. After all, both of them had harmed her in her past life and this life. It was Chu Mingheng's business to deal with it, and it was up to her to decide what to do.

Unfortunately, Chu Mingheng knew her thoughts best.

"What if you're scared if you go?" he countered.

Lan Wu was clearly taken aback, and for a moment seemed to wonder why she was afraid.

But he quickly remembered how Chu Mingheng had people torture these people in his previous life.

She swallowed hard, looked at him, and said, "You..."

Chu Mingheng did not deny it, but nodded slightly and asked Lan Wu, "Do you still want to go?"

Then I think I'll pass.

Going there will only make me feel worse.

Lan Wu shook her head.

Chu Mingheng kissed her cheek and called someone in to put the things away in the storeroom.

On the fifth day after returning to the palace, the concubines came to Yilan Palace to pay their respects to Lanwu.

Previously, Chu Mingheng had specifically instructed that no one should come to disturb Lan Wu's rest, so the concubines did not come to pay their respects. They waited for five days and only came when they felt it was about time.

Lan Wu was fast asleep and was still a little dazed when she was woken up. She looked at the bedside and saw that Chu Mingheng was already dressed.

"From now on, you will be in charge of setting the rules for the harem. If you don't want to pay your respects, just say you don't want to, but you still have to show your face." Chu Mingheng helped her up, put his arm around her, and whispered in her ear, "These palace affairs shouldn't be too difficult now. With Danshan helping you manage them, if there's anything you can't handle, remember to come and find me."

Lan Wu's eyes were still closed. Upon hearing this, she slightly opened her eyelids, seemingly finding it troublesome, and gave a muffled reply with displeasure.

"Alright, I'm going to the morning court."

Lan Wu finally woke up, albeit reluctantly.

After she finished washing up, she went out to the main hall. When she saw the people in the hall rising up to greet her, Lan Wu instantly became clear-headed, more so than ever before.

She was the youngest among the concubines, yet held the highest rank. After the grand ceremony, she would become the Empress, so she had to project an imposing presence and not let anyone look down on her.

"Get up, everyone." Lan Wu was wearing a lilac-purple brocade today, with cranes embroidered in silver thread on her sash, and delicate jade beads at the hem. Her hair was adorned with a butterfly hairpin, making her look gentle and quiet yet dignified and elegant.

Lan Wu glanced over and noticed something.

Why are there so few people? And almost all of them are familiar faces.

In the few days since returning to the palace, Lan Wu has not specifically asked anyone to inquire about any news, because there is no need. With several precedents to follow, the remaining concubines in the palace should not dare to do evil.

Seemingly noticing Lan Wu's confusion, someone below spoke up softly: "Your Majesty may not know, but His Majesty issued an edict two months ago to send some of the concubines out of the palace to marry on their own."

So now, only these people are left in the palace.

W-what—?

Lan Wu was completely taken aback by this turn of events. She even wondered if the fact that so few people had come meant they were deliberately trying to pull some trick.

Chu Mingheng had never told her about this.

Two months ago?

Wasn't that the month she went to Changyong Mountain?

Lan Wu slowly suppressed the surprise on her face and looked at the remaining people again.

No wonder Chu Mingheng said that palace affairs were not difficult; with only so many people left, it was naturally not a difficult task.

After paying their respects, as was customary, Consort Zhuang and Consort Liang stayed behind.

Last time they stayed to hand over the power in the palace, and this time it's the same.

The two glanced at each other, said nothing else, and showed no interest in the power of the palace. They quickly said what needed to be said.

This time, Lan Wu did not refuse.

After everyone had left, Lan Wu went to the Imperial Study to find Chu Mingheng.

She arrived just after the morning court session, and Chu Mingheng had not yet come over, but the palace servants in the Imperial Study did not dare to stop her from entering the hall and let her in directly.

After waiting for a while, the person finally returned.