Chapter 60 Yunqing

As Lan Wu walked from the Imperial Study toward the Longyu Pavilion, she still seemed somewhat dazed.

Lianqiao followed her carefully and saw that she almost stepped onto the steps several times, so she quickly stepped forward to help her.

“Your Majesty, why don’t we rest for a while before we go? There are tables and chairs over there where we can sit,” Lian Qiao suggested.

Lan Wu noticed the stone table and chairs over there and nodded, saying "okay."

The stone tables and chairs are placed under the shade of trees, where a gentle breeze occasionally brings a sense of coolness.

Lan Wu sat down, pondering the information she had just learned from Chu Mingheng.

She never expected that the person in charge of repairing the Sanzhou Canal two years ago was Yue Zhaorong's father—Yue Pingning, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works.

With such a huge blunder, the first family to be investigated during the reckoning should be the Yue family.

In her previous life, Consort Yue...

"Your Majesty, Consort Wen and Consort Bai are here," Lian Qiao whispered to her.

Lan Wu followed her gaze and saw the two people walking towards her.

These two really do love getting together, just like always.

She only stood up slowly when the others approached, looked at them, and bowed gently.

The gift was flawless, and neither of them were as ruthless as Consort Li, so they called for them to rise.

"Where did you come from, Sister Zhen?" Consort Wen asked curiously.

Lan Wu glanced at the only path she had come from and smiled, "I just came from His Majesty's place and was sitting here for a while because I was tired, when I ran into you two sisters."

Bai Xiuyi had met her before. At that time, she specially arranged for someone to send Lan Wu back to the music hall. Unexpectedly, Lan Wu fell. Now, she naturally knows about these events. Lan Wu deliberately fell down back then.

She's quite cunning.

Lan Wu is currently enjoying great popularity, having been promoted and receiving the Emperor's favor. His Majesty even visits her palace frequently, which is truly enviable.

"Then please rest a little longer, sister. Consort Bai and I would like to go and see the flowers and trees, so we won't chat with Sister Zhen any longer." With that, Consort Wen smiled slightly at Lan Wu and prepared to leave.

Lan Wu bowed to them and watched them walk away.

Turning her gaze back, Lan Wu thought of Consort Shu.

"Last time we met, you said you knew Yunqing, a palace maid who served Consort Shu. Tell me about her."

Lianqiao had already told her, but unfortunately she was interrupted, and then she was worried about the dam, so Lanwu didn't remember.

Lian Qiao gently fanned her and replied, "Your Majesty, both Yun Qing and I come from the Inner Palace. However, I heard that before Yun Qing entered the Inner Palace, she served the late Emperor's concubines, but later she somehow returned to the Inner Palace. Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, Yun Qing has been assigned to Consort Shu's palace."

After she finished speaking, seeing that Lan Wu was still looking at her, she racked her brains to think of something else: "Yun Qing is a bit older. When she was in the inner palace, she knew the palace rules best and could teach the younger palace maids from time to time. Logically, she should have been released from the palace when she reached the appropriate age, but she is highly valued by Consort Shu..."

Normally, palace maids should leave the palace when they turn twenty-five, but those who are close to the concubines are given important responsibilities and are generally not allowed to leave the palace.

Just like Yun Qing.

Back at Longyu Pavilion, Lan Wu still felt a bit hot, but fortunately, ice was used in the hall, and it cooled down after a short while of quiet sitting.

She spoke softly to Lianxi, "Lianqiao is quite useful; arrange for her to serve in the palace from now on."

She wasn't speaking in secret. Lianqiao and Mujin entered Longyu Pavilion together. Now that Lianqiao has been summoned to serve in the hall, Mujin should take action if she is dissatisfied.

As soon as she finished speaking, Lian Qiao knelt down before her, happily expressing her gratitude.

Lan Wu smiled, but only slowly suppressed her smile after Lian Qiao had left.

"In a few days, His Majesty will hold a birthday banquet for me at Kongshan Garden. Lianxi, go and do something for me."

Lianxi looked up at her mistress's deliberately serious and rather profound face, and had a bad feeling.

"Your Majesty?"

Lan Wu is not the kind of person who can settle things peacefully. On the contrary, she can tolerate others plotting against her for a while, but she can never tolerate it forever. In her previous life, she was restricted by Chu Mingheng in every way and dared not do evil. But in this life, she is determined to make a scene. Just wait and see, she will not let anyone get away with it.

-

As Lanwu's birthday drew closer, news spread throughout the palace that His Majesty would be holding a birthday banquet for Consort Zhen at Kongshan Garden.

What kind of place is Kongshan Garden?

That garden was built by the late emperor for Empress Dowager Jingwen. Now that Your Majesty has chosen to hold a birthday banquet here for Consort Zhen, does that mean that Consort Zhen is now superior to the three consorts in Your Majesty's eyes?

After all, even the three high-ranking concubines had never set foot in Kongshan Garden.

These thoughts remained unspoken; no one dared to voice them openly.

However, from time to time, some concubines would come to Lanwu's palace to try to get closer to her.

Lan Wu didn't give her any face at all, either saying she wasn't in the palace or that she wasn't feeling well, refusing to let her in the door.

The concubines were all turned away, and they were furious, but they couldn't do anything about Lan Wu. So they went to a high-ranking concubine and said that Lan Wu was ignorant of etiquette.

Currently, the people in charge of the palace are Consort Rou and Consort Shu. The two do not usually meet, but they always have to get together to discuss matters of the harem. It was at this time that several concubines jointly accused Lan Wu.

“Your Majesty, Consort Zhen’s words were too harsh. That day, I merely happened to be wearing the same color dress as her, and she immediately accused me of being a poor imitation…”

Xia Shurong wiped away her tears, biting her lip, and finished her sentence: "They even said that I, a toad, am trying to eat swan meat!"

"I...I can't live anymore!"

That's not all.

Yun Zhaorong, who was watching the commotion from the sidelines, thought to herself, "Back then, Zhen Shuyi clicked her tongue in disdain and said with a smile that Xia Shurong's dress was about to burst, and asked her if she wanted someone from the Imperial Wardrobe to sew it up for her."

"Yes, Your Majesty. And last time, when I was admiring the scenery by the lake, I happened to see Consort Zhen passing by. She actually said that I looked like a ghost, which frightened her—I didn't dare to go any further, Your Majesty!"

One after another, the concubines complained, as if Lan Wu was a troublemaker who had suddenly started causing chaos in the harem. However, Consort Shu and Consort Rou were in charge of the affairs of the harem and did not believe everything the concubines said. Moreover, Lan Wu's birthday was approaching, and since Lan Wu had won the Emperor's favor, she could not cause trouble here.

"Alright, shut your mouths." Consort Shu coldly reprimanded.

The sobbing that had been coming from below had ceased, but the concubines were still putting on an act, wiping away barely noticeable tear tracks from the corners of their eyes.

"The day after tomorrow is Consort Zhen's birthday banquet. If you have any grievances, you can report them to His Majesty then. His Majesty will not sit idly by." These were the words of Consort Rou. She spoke lightly, seemingly offering advice, but in reality, she did not want to get involved.

The people below looked at each other and suddenly fell silent.

Who would dare to go?