Chapter 98 Who Are You Going to Take Down?

"Where is your master?"

Chu Mingheng entered Yilan Palace but didn't see anyone. Although Lan Wu wouldn't usually rush out of the palace to greet him, she was always there, and knowing where she was made him feel more at ease.

However, now that everyone else has arrived, Lan Wu is nowhere to be seen in the main hall.

Chu Mingheng's face darkened.

Lianxi, who was standing nearby, quickly stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, the Empress has gone to Jinghua Palace."

Chu Mingheng glanced around the hall without making a sound, and only after confirming that no one was there did he sit down, close his eyes, and press his temples.

"What was she doing there? When did she go?"

Lianxi had no choice but to honestly explain everything.

"The Imperial Wardrobe sent autumn clothes today. Her Majesty originally chose a piece of green Xiangyun yarn, but it wasn't delivered. We found out that the palace servants were clumsy and sent it to Jinghua Palace instead. Consort Li sent someone to say that she has already tried on the clothes, and if Her Majesty doesn't mind, she will have someone send the clothes over."

"Then the Empress went to get it herself, and she left less than half an hour ago."

Lianxi was a member of Yilan Palace, so she naturally spoke in favor of her master. Although her words seemed harmless at first glance, upon closer inspection, they made one think that Consort Li was petty and arrogant for taking other people's things for no reason.

Upon hearing this, Chu Mingheng looked up at the sky—it was getting dark.

His expression darkened further.

That little rascal Lan Wu, she doesn't even know to keep track of the time before going looking for trouble. Isn't she afraid of falling on the road in the dark?

"How did you persuade her? It was already dark, and you still let her run outside." Chu Mingheng stood up and said coldly, "Afterwards, everyone go and collect ten strokes of the cane."

Lianxi's face turned pale, and she could only say "yes".

"Go to Jinghua Palace."

"yes."

-

When Lan Wu saw Pan Xi's face, she guessed what Consort Li wanted to do.

She scoffed without any politeness, coldly looking at Consort Li, thinking to herself that she really couldn't change her foolish ways.

He initially took a liking to her face and intended to use her to curry favor with the emperor. Although he failed in this life, in his previous life she became a concubine and suffered a lot of suppression from Consort Li, both openly and secretly.

Now that Chu Mingheng only has eyes for her, he has brought in another beautiful palace maid, trying to follow in her footsteps.

"I remember you were originally a palace maid serving Lady Zeng," Lan Wu said, looking at Pan Xi.

Panxi's hair was still in a bun, but she had already changed into her palace maid's clothes. She glanced at Consort Li before replying to Lanwu, "Yes, Your Highness, my name is Panxi."

How old are you?

Panxi was very beautiful, and she was not timid at all. She spoke respectfully, leaving no room for criticism.

"Your Majesty, this servant is seventeen years old."

Ah, they're even about the same age.

Lan Wu felt a little awkward, so she kept quiet. She carefully looked at Pan Xi, feeling sorry for her being forced by Consort Li, but also thinking that since she dared to expose what Zeng Shi had done, she might have her own ambitions.

Having ambition is not a bad thing, but if she wanted to become a concubine, Lan Wu would not be happy.

"Consort Zhen, you're looking at Panxi like that, do you also think she's beautiful?" Consort Li said, as if watching a show. "When I first saw her in Zhaoyun Palace, I truly thought her beauty was comparable to Consort Zhen's."

"Later, seeing her righteous indignation in exposing Zeng, I felt even more pity for her passionate heart, and that's why I summoned her to my palace."

Consort Li glanced at the green dress on the tray on the table, gently stroked the embroidery and patterns of the dress, clicked her tongue twice, and said with particular regret, "This dress does not fit me, but it happens to fit Panxi's figure perfectly, so I will give it to her."

At this point, she looked up at Lan Wu and said calmly, "Pan Xi has already worn this dress, and the palace maids from the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau only arrived here slowly, saying that they had delivered the wrong dress."

"Please don't blame me, little sister."

She called Lan Wu "Zhen Zhaorong" one moment and "sister" the next, displaying a haughty and superior attitude.

But Lan Wu knew in her heart that what she really wanted to shout was probably not something nice.

Lan Wu smiled and told someone to bring her clothes.

"It's such a pity, this dress is so beautiful, but it was just too blind to be sent to your palace..."

Lan Wu turned around, looked at Dan Shan, and reached out her hand.

Danshan stepped forward, preventing Lanwu from touching her, and said, "Let me do it, lest you hurt Your Highness's hand."

Lan Wu leaned back in her seat with a relaxed air, letting Dan Shan handle the matter.

"What are you going to do?" Consort Li frowned slightly, and then saw that Danshan was holding a tinderbox. With just a gentle blow, a flame appeared, and then the flame landed on the clothes, instantly setting the green dress on fire and burning large holes in it.

Consort Li gripped the armrest of her chair tightly, watching helplessly as the garment was burned. Looking at Lan Wu's calm and composed demeanor, she was so enraged that her head began to throb. Pointing at Lan Wu, she shouted in alarm, "How dare you set fire to my Jinghua Palace!"

"Guards! Seize her!"

The palace servants around looked at each other and had no choice but to step forward.

However, before they could get close, a deep, authoritative voice from outside the hall broke the stalemate.

"Who are you going to take down?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Lan Wu subconsciously turned her head to look at the entrance of the palace.

Chu Mingheng had already crossed the threshold, and his tall figure was striding quickly toward them.

She inexplicably felt that Chu Mingheng was angry, so she quickly lowered her head, clasped her hands together, and looked quite uneasy.

It's alright. Chu Mingheng is definitely not angry with her. He's probably angry with Consort Li for daring to say he wants to take her down.

"Your Majesty—?" Consort Li saw a figure enter the hall and quickly put away her fierce expression, kneeling down to pay her respects. "Your Majesty, I greet you."

Seeing this, Lan Wu also bent her knees and secretly raised her face to look at Chu Mingheng's expression.

She happened to see Chu Mingheng looking at her with a cold expression.

She ran towards him in small steps, clung to his arm, and pointed pitifully to the still-burnt clothes on the ground, saying, "Your Majesty, you must do justice for me—"

What a wicked person who files a false accusation first!

Even Consort Li had to admit her admiration after seeing it.

Lan Wu set fire to her palace and then complained to His Majesty about her grievances?

What kind of logic is this?!

“Your Majesty is wise. Just now, Consort Zhen ordered someone to set fire to my palace and burn my clothes. If she dares to set fire to my palace today, she will dare to kill me tomorrow—she has no respect for palace rules and no respect for me!”

Consort Li, trembling, pointed at Lan Wu, then at the palace carpet with a hole burned in it and the half-burnt clothes on the ground: "The evidence is all here, Your Majesty—you can no longer protect her!"

Chu Mingheng was already displeased, and upon hearing her words, he gave her a cold glance and said in a low voice, "Do I need you to tell me what to do?"