Chapter 40 (None)

"Your Highness, thank you for your kindness, but the golden toad is too precious for me to accept."

Jiang Ling's heart was bleeding as he reluctantly and with immense difficulty placed the golden toad into Li Jieyu's hand.

When flowers and trees are involved in money, nine times out of ten it's about interests and corruption.

Consort Li presented a golden toad, which bore no palace insignia and could only have originated from the Li family.

Emperor Yuanming reprimanded Minister Xing, and Physician Li couldn't escape the consequences. Consort Li brought the golden toad to Jiang Ling, undoubtedly because she saw Jiang Ling's favor and her control of the Imperial Bedchamber, and wanted Jiang Ling to put in a good word for her.

The only remaining possibility is that the Li family is unharmed. Li Jieyu wants to bring Jiang Ling along to work together and make a fortune.

Regardless of Li Jieyu's intentions, Jiang Ling firmly believed one thing: there's no such thing as a free lunch.

She will have to pay a price for taking the golden toad, and it may even be more.

Jiang Ling felt she couldn't afford to pay this price; she wanted to live a good life.

One golden toad had already made her waver. If it were two golden toads, she probably would have fainted.

What if there were three, or even thirty?

Jiang Ling never overestimated his willpower. Thinking too much now was pointless. He would wait until the thirty golden toads were in front of him before making any decisions.

“Sister Jiang.” Li Jieyu choked out, gazing at Jiang Ling, her bright eyes instantly welling up with tears and becoming misty.

“I didn’t mean anything by it, Sister Jiang, please don’t take it to heart. My brother is in a terrible predicament right now, searching everywhere for flowers and trees. But these flowers and trees can’t just appear out of thin air. If he can’t deliver on his mission and angers the Emperor, he’ll be punished. My mother is getting old, and my sister-in-law is keeping it from her, afraid that if she gets too anxious, her health won’t be able to take it.”

Li Jieyu wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said bitterly, "My mother gave birth to me and raised me, but I can't be by her side to fulfill my filial duty. Whenever I think about it, I feel extremely sad. Sister Jiang and I should feel the same way. It's not for any other reason than for our parents who gave us life and raised us."

She took Jiang Ling's hand, placed the golden toad inside, gently closed it, and earnestly said, "Sister Jiang, I feel that those jade pieces and calligraphy are not as practical as the golden toad. The golden toad is a symbol of wealth and good fortune, not something to slander you. Please don't be offended. Rest assured, Sister Jiang, I only pray that Mother is well and that my elder brother and sister-in-law are safe and sound."

The golden toad was cool, while Li Jieyu's hands were soft and warm, her slender, white fingers adorned with bright red nail polish. A light sorrow veiled her beautiful face, making her appear pitiful. Even the hardest heart softened slightly.

Jiang Ling instinctively became defensive, but for a moment she didn't know what to say, stammering, "No, no, Consort Jieyu..."

"Sister Jiang, don't stand on ceremony with me. We're all sisters in the harem. What's mine is yours." Consort Li's eyes flickered slightly as she held Jiang Ling's hand tightly, keeping the golden toad pressed firmly in her palm.

She leaned closer and said softly, "Sister Jiang, I've given gifts to Consort De before. Consider this golden toad a small gift as a token of our meeting, and I'll surely send you more in the future."

Jiang Ling felt a chill run down her spine. From Li Jieyu's words, it seemed that the golden toad was offering tribute. From now on, they would be in the same boat, and she would certainly reap the benefits, but she would also have to take responsibility for the matter of the flowers and trees.

"Sister Jiang is busy with her affairs, so I won't bother you any longer. I'll come and talk to you again later." Li Jieyu nodded to Jiang Ling and turned to leave.

The golden toad in Jiang Ling's hand became unbearably hot. She was extremely annoyed. Li Jieyu's performance, with her singing, recitation, acting, and persuasion, along with her appeals to emotions and reason, and her promises of great benefits, had left Jiang Ling completely overwhelmed and unsure how to refuse.

Since Consort Zhao had accepted the benefits from the Li family, and the Zhao family was short of money, how could she swallow this insult when these benefits ended up in Jiang Ling's hands?

And then there's Consort Lin, Consort Liu, and Consort Zhao. None of them are easy to deal with.

"Is the beauty resting in the warm pavilion, or should she go inside?" Wenjuan and A'ruo came in to clear away the cups and dishes, and seeing Jiang Ling leaning against the window in a daze, they asked cautiously.

The warm room felt cramped and oppressive to Jiang Ling. She stood up, using her sleeve to conceal the golden toad, and said, "Let's clean it up."

Back in the side room, Jiang Ling sat on the couch. Fang He came in carrying a small stove, poured a cup of tea and placed it on the table, saying, "This servant will go to the kitchen. What would you like to eat for lunch, my lady?"

Jiang Ling was taken aback and asked, "Does this mean we can choose the dishes now?"

Fanghe laughed and said, "When you were resting earlier, someone from the kitchen came and said that they had fresh shrimp. Would you like some shrimp wontons? Fresh shrimp are scarce in winter, so we need to prioritize you. Not only can you choose your dishes, but you can also go to the kitchen whenever you are hungry, no matter what flavor you like."

In the past, one could choose dishes in the imperial kitchen, but it required paying with silver. Flattery and snobbery are everywhere, and the same applies in later generations. While not everyone necessarily snobbish, those with even a little influence certainly receive different treatment.

Jiang Ling chuckled self-deprecatingly. Now, she was considered a favored concubine in the eyes of everyone in the harem. Things had come to this point; hiding or being afraid was useless.

"No mutton or fatty meat, just fish, shrimp, and light dishes. Take whatever you like," Jiang Ling said.

Fanghe agreed and went out. Wenjuan tidied up the warm pavilion and went inside. Jiang Ling took out the warm golden toad she had been holding and said, "Go and put it away first."

Wenjuan was shocked for a moment, then quickly took the box and put it away. After locking the box, Jiang Ling came out and said to her, "This was forced on me by Consort Li earlier. There's something fishy going on with Huamu; Consort Li definitely has something to gain."

Previously, only Consort Li had come, and Wenjuan knew that the golden toad must have been sent by her. After a slight hesitation, she said, "This servant understands Your Highness's concerns. Your Highness is in charge of the Imperial Bedchamber, and Consort Li is trying to bribe you with money to make you turn a blind eye to the matter concerning the flowers and trees. Before I entered the palace, a neighbor of mine grew flowers, and a single branch of Wei Zi or Yao Huang would cost five taels of silver! Although Wei Zi and Yao Huang are precious, peony cuttings are not guaranteed to survive, and it takes several years to grow them to bloom. A pot of blooming Yao Huang and Wei Zi would cost at least three or four hundred taels of silver. The palace uses many rare flowers and plants, peonies in spring and summer, chrysanthemums in autumn, and flowers and trees all year round. In this courtyard, different flowers and trees are planted every spring, and people dig and tamper with them every year. A golden toad is really nothing. This servant thinks that, given Your Highness's current status, it is indeed a bargain."

Jiang Ling didn't know the exact price of the flowers and trees, only that the palace was very expensive. She smiled and said, "Who can say for sure what my status is now and what it will be in the future? Once I fall from grace, what I do today will be evidence of my crimes in the future. Besides, I turned a blind eye to the flowers and trees, which meant that the flowers and trees sent in by the imperial gardens were of inferior quality and the quantity didn't match. The portions for the unfavored concubines were deducted."

She thought of the wild chrysanthemums in the courtyard when she was at Xiefang Pavilion. Feeling tired, she lay down, rubbing her weary brow, and sighed deeply: "Wenjuan, everyone loves gold and silver treasures. But one must take them with a clear conscience and a peaceful mind."

Wenjuan was taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly apologized, "It was my blindness that led me to believe that you, my lady, were as greedy as I am. Please don't take offense, my lady."

Jiang Ling waved her hand. She wasn't exactly upright and virtuous either. Now that she was a favored concubine, she had to try to make as few mistakes as possible to avoid giving others a handle to use against her.

Besides, she didn't want to forget where she came from. Once she gained power, she immediately abandoned her companions who had been ignored along with her, ultimately becoming the very people she once hated.

"If we return it, we'll offend Consort Jieyu, and also the officials of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Agriculture. What does Your Excellency intend to do?" Wenjuan asked worriedly, at a loss for what to do.

Jiang Ling did not answer. She felt dizzy and couldn't think of a good solution for the time being.

Chuigong Hall.

When Emperor Yuanming woke up from his afternoon nap, Huang Liang served him tea and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Li is requesting an audience and has been waiting for you in the side room for quite some time."

Nothing of great importance was on his mind that afternoon. Emperor Yuanming frowned and said, "Summon them."

Huang Liang withdrew, and shortly after, Consort Li entered the hall. She stepped forward to pay her respects, and Emperor Yuanming raised his hand to greet her. Seeing her red and swollen eyes, he was taken aback: "What happened to you?"

Consort Li forced a smile, called out "Your Majesty," and her eyes began to redden again. She lowered her head, slowly knelt on the ground, and kowtowed: "Your Majesty's grace is boundless. Your Majesty has granted my elder brother permission to serve in the Yu Department. However, my elder brother has made a mistake in his duties and has failed Your Majesty's kindness. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

Emperor Yuanming frowned and said unhappily, "What does your elder brother's mistake have to do with you? This is utter nonsense!"

Consort Li rose, dragged her knees forward two steps, and leaned her head against Emperor Yuanming's lap, gently stroking it with affection. She closed her eyes, and crystal tears slid down her cheeks.

"I know that Your Majesty treats me well. I am not doing this for myself, but for my mother. My eldest brother is the only filial son in my mother's eyes. What will my mother do if something happens to him?"

Emperor Yuanming looked down at Consort Li, his expression gradually becoming complicated. He had reprimanded Minister Xing for the unclear accounts of the gardens and trees in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Agriculture, ordering him to investigate. Consort Li, fearing her elder brother would be punished, had come to him to plead her case.

During the festive season, peace and harmony should be the primary focus. In addition, the incident involving Cai Wanfeng of the Imperial Treasury implicated many eunuchs and officials. Emperor Yuanming, prioritizing stability, only touched upon the matter briefly.

Li Jieyu was beautiful and gentle. Her cat-like eyes and the tenderness in her eyes when she nestled against him melted his heart.

"The ground is cold, get up quickly. It's not a big deal, look at you, your eyes are all red from crying." Emperor Yuanming raised his hand to stroke Consort Li's face and said softly.

Consort Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then stood up and leaned against Emperor Yuanming. She sobbed twice and said, "Your Majesty, if my elder brother has made a mistake, I dare not defend him. Whatever Your Majesty decides for him, he deserves it. I went to see Sister Jiang earlier and apologized to her on behalf of my elder brother. Sister Jiang is in charge of the Imperial Bedchamber, which has made things difficult for her. How could I pretend not to know? This year, there are not enough flowers and trees in the palace, so my Cuiwei Pavilion will not be needed. I will give it to the other ladies."

Upon hearing Jiang Ling's name, Emperor Yuanming's expression softened, and he calmly asked, "How will Consort Jiang respond?"

Consort Li hurriedly said, "I went to sit for a while, but perhaps because Sister Jiang is quiet and doesn't like to talk much, she hardly said anything. I was afraid of disturbing Sister Jiang and displeasing her, so I left."

Emperor Yuanming couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth, secretly scoffing. He thought to himself, "That scoundrel! She's not exactly quiet. She seems honest and quiet on the surface, but she's actually noisy, spouting nonsense endlessly, lazy and fierce!"

However, Emperor Yuanming narrowed his eyes, sizing up Consort Li, who nestled obediently against him. She was considerate, caring, respectful, and loving towards him.

He couldn't hear her true thoughts, so he had no way of knowing what she was really thinking.

The other concubines were the same; he couldn't tell whether their feelings for him were genuine or feigned, or what their motives were.

Of all the women in the harem, only Jiang Ling allowed him to have a complete view and control over them.

Thinking of this, Emperor Yuanming gradually grew displeased. He raised his hand and expressionlessly pushed Consort Li away: "I am very busy, you may leave!"

Caught off guard, Consort Li was suddenly pushed to the side. Looking at Emperor Yuanming's dark face, her heart sank; she couldn't understand why he had suddenly turned hostile. She bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately dared not say another word, quickly curtsying and taking her leave.

Stepping out of the main hall, a gust of cold wind made Consort Li shiver, and she began to ponder deeply.

After entering the palace, she did not say much, and Emperor Yuanming treated her as before, showing her great favor.

Except when Jiang Ling was mentioned, Emperor Yuanming seemed to have changed, paying special attention to her reaction.

Li Jieyu clenched her fists tightly, her eyes turning icy cold.

No wonder she refused to accept the golden toad; she is currently favored by the emperor, and a mere golden toad is no longer enough for her.

Who knows, she might be trying to take this opportunity to make a big scene and seize the Li family's position in the Yubu Garden!