Chapter 54 (None)

The rain lessened, but the wind picked up, and the sky darkened.

Huang Liang stood at the entrance of the Imperial Study, a layer of fine, glistening water droplets falling from his turban. He seemed to be frozen; his face was pale and his lips were bluish. He stood there motionless, like a stone statue.

The ministers of the State Council, including the Chancellor and the Minister of Rites, had already taken their leave, but Grand Secretary Wei remained.

"Master, Lady Jiang has arrived." Zhang Shan bowed and stepped forward, smiling obsequiously.

Huang Liang's face was tense, and his neck seemed to have a mechanism installed. He turned his head to look at Zhang Shan, making a clicking sound.

"You bastard!" Huang Liang suddenly sprang up and kicked Zhang Shan.

Zhang Shan instinctively tried to dodge, but stopped in the end, taking the full force of Huang Liang's kick, which made him wince in pain.

Emperor Yuanming was displeased after being advised by Grand Academician Wei, and he was about to suffer a setback.

Huang Liang was unhappy, and his subordinates would suffer as a result.

"Sigh, it's good to let him vent his anger by taking a kick." Zhang Shan pondered. Huang Liang strode towards the palace gate and stood guard at the entrance.

Huang Liang arrived at the door and saw Jiang Ling and Qin Shanggong together. He felt a slight sense of relief and quickly put on a smile: "His Majesty is busy in the Imperial Study. Is there anything urgent for Consort Jiang?"

“It’s not my urgent matter, but if it concerns the imperial heir in Consort Duan’s womb, then that’s a matter of utmost importance.”

Jiang Ling smiled and said politely, "I'll go to my bedchamber to wait. Please trouble Huang Daban to inform him."

Since Qin Shanggong came with Jiang Ling, involving Consort Duan, it must be related to the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau. Qin Shanggong's competence made her realize that this thorny matter was by no means a trivial one.

Although Jiang Ling was favored, she remained polite and well-mannered. Hearing that Emperor Yuanming was busy, she indeed did not, like Consort Duan, openly or subtly intimidate those serving her at court.

Huang Liang's smile became more genuine, and he took the opportunity to curry favor with Jiang Ling, whispering, "According to the rules, concubines in the inner palace are not allowed to come to the front court without being summoned. Consort Duan came before, and Grand Secretary Wei, who values ​​rules the most, will inevitably offer advice and remonstrance in this situation."

It seems that Duan Cairen's visit to the Chuigong Hall earlier had displeased Grand Secretary Wei.

The emperor and the scholar-officials jointly governed the country. Emperor Yuanming could not be considered an autocratic ruler, nor was he incompetent or tyrannical. Regardless of Emperor Yuanming's true thoughts, in front of others, he had to show respect to Grand Scholar Wei.

If Huang Liang didn't go to inform the emperor, and Consort Duan used the imperial pregnancy as an excuse, he couldn't bear the consequences. Going to inform him wouldn't hide it from Grand Secretary Wei. Emperor Yuanming, embarrassed and unable to blame his court officials, could only vent his anger on Huang Liang.

Jiang Ling couldn't help but sigh. Duan Cairen had some skills, but after all, she had been pampered since childhood and couldn't stand the slightest grievance. She was still young and naive.

The whispers in the emperor's ear reached the previous dynasty, offending Emperor Yuanming's close attendants and important court officials.

Huang Liang stepped aside to welcome Jiang Ling into the palace: "Consort Jiang, please rest in Qionghua Pavilion first. When Your Majesty has time, I will report back to Your Majesty."

Jiang Ling nodded his thanks and went with Qin Shanggong to Qionghua Pavilion to wait for Emperor Yuanming. The two sat in the main hall for about half an hour, but Emperor Yuanming still hadn't appeared.

Unable to lie down in the round-backed chair, Jiang Ling's back ached from sitting for so long that he couldn't bear it any longer. So he called Qin Shanggong to go outside and walk along the eaves.

"My beauty, I'm afraid this is against the rules." Qin Shanggong remained seated and quickly reminded Jiang Ling.

“Then I’ll walk around in the room for a bit.” Jiang Ling stood up, lightly stamped her feet, and lifted her skirt to show Qin Shanggong her legs: “Look, they’re all swollen. You should get up and move around too.”

Qin Shanggong was also feeling uncomfortable sitting. Seeing that the palace maids and eunuchs were all outside, she quietly got up and, imitating Jiang Ling, tiptoed around.

"Jiang Meiren is truly a wonderful person." Qin Shanggong's stiff legs eased a bit, and she gestured for Jiang Ling to sit down, speaking in a low voice with a smile.

“I think so too.” Jiang Ling didn’t understand why Qin Shanggong suddenly praised her, so she simply accepted it seriously.

"The most important thing for those who serve before the Emperor is to keep their mouths shut. Huang Liang's mouth is so tight that even an iron hammer couldn't break it open," Qin Shanggong said.

Jiang Ling realized that Huang Liang's revelation of Consort Duan's affair with Grand Scholar Wei was a gesture of goodwill towards her.

Huang Liang didn't shy away from speaking frankly to Qin Shanggong, indicating that the two had a close relationship. Qin Shanggong's honesty also suggested a deep and open communication.

Jiang Ling was secretly overjoyed; finally, she had some reliable help in the harem!

"Please rest assured, my lady, His Majesty will not make things difficult for you," Qin Shanggong said confidently.

Jiang Ling blinked, utterly astonished: "Why would Qin Shanggong think that way?"

"Jiang Meiren is a wonderful woman; even I, your servant, adore her."

Qin Shanggong's smile faded, a hint of melancholy crossing her face. "In all my years in the palace, I've never served under Consort Jiang with such ease. As servants, we all obey our masters' orders. If a mistake is made, I'm punished first. A kind master will say a few kind words and take the blame herself—that's truly... Consort Jiang's willingness to step forward and seek His Majesty's help is something I'm deeply grateful for."

"You flatter me, Qin Shanggong. It's all thanks to your hard work that I have time to roast oranges," Jiang Ling said sincerely.

When Jiang Ling was a corporate slave, she hated bosses who lacked responsibility and shirked their duties. Although she was a hands-off manager, with Qin Shanggong handling all the work in the Imperial Bedchamber, she would never hesitate to step in when it was her turn.

Jiang Ling also had his own ulterior motives. Duan Cairen was aggressive and eyeing Fanying Pavilion with covetous intent.

Jiang Ling could tolerate being overly aggressive, but he would never yield to Fan Ying Pavilion!

Seeing that no one was around, Jiang Ling whispered to Qin Shanggong about the matters they had previously discussed. When the greetings sounded from outside, the two quickly rose to greet them.

Emperor Yuanming's expression was not good. He walked to the head of the table and sat down, saying, "What do you want? Speak quickly!"

Qin Shanggong hurriedly bowed and explained in detail why Bai Qin had come to the Shangqin Bureau, saying, "This servant cannot make the decision herself, so I had to ask Consort Jiang for advice."

Emperor Yuanming frowned and looked at Jiang Ling. She looked helpless and said directly, "I can't do it either, so I can only ask Your Majesty for a decision."

"It's just a few beeswaxes, you can give them to me as you see fit. If you can't find fresh mint, the Imperial Hospital has dried mint, go to the Imperial Pharmacy and pick some up, it will have the same effect."

Emperor Yuanming, already annoyed by Grand Secretary Wei's constant nagging, had already scolded Huang Liang and punished him for bothering him with trivial matters by Jiang Ling and Qin Shanggong.

Jiang Ling has always been lazy and irresponsible. Qin Shanggong has been working for him for many years, and he actually bothered him with such a trivial matter!

Emperor Yuanming's expression darkened, and he was about to reprimand Qin Shanggong when Jiang Ling suddenly rushed forward, startling him so much that he swallowed back the words he was about to say. He glared at her and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Your Majesty, I don't want to manage the Imperial Bedchamber anymore. Please let someone else manage it," Jiang Ling said tearfully, picking up a handkerchief and wiping her eyes with a little force, her eyes gradually turning red.

"Why did you suddenly stop managing the Imperial Bedchamber?" Emperor Yuanming asked, completely bewildered.

"Consort Duan wants fresh mint, how could I possibly ask her to settle for less? The dried mint from the Imperial Pharmacy is a medicinal herb; if I give Consort Duan medicinal herbs, wouldn't that be a curse upon her? The beeswax supply in the Lantern Keeper's Office is limited; if Consort Duan takes more than she deserves, the Lantern Keeper's Office won't be able to provide the other ladies who are entitled to it. I could take some of my own rations and give it to Consort Duan, but I'm afraid the smell would make her feel suffocated, affecting the imperial fetus in her womb. At that point, I couldn't bear the consequences; even jumping into the moat wouldn't clear my name."

Jiang Ling's eyes were red, and she choked up from time to time, but she spoke clearly: "Your Majesty should issue an imperial decree to allow Consort Duan to use dried mint from the Imperial Pharmacy and beeswax from the Imperial Palace. With Your Majesty's true dragon aura protecting her, Consort Duan will surely be safe and sound and bear Your Majesty children."

Emperor Yuanming snorted, staring intently into Jiang Ling's eyes, still suspecting she was feigning sadness: "It's just a few beeswaxes, let them come from my palace. I've never heard of the taboos you mentioned, they must be your nonsense."

"Your Majesty, I dare not! I am innocent! Please, Your Majesty, see the truth!" Jiang Ling said fluently.

She was indeed talking nonsense, but she wanted to completely pass the trouble of Consort Duan from the Imperial Bedchamber to Emperor Yuanming.

When Emperor Yuanming heard her fluent and perfunctory response, he couldn't help but laugh in anger, saying, "You're really something, pushing all the tasks assigned to you onto me."

Jiang Ling lowered his head and remained silent, but inwardly he was cursing: "Your little darling, if you don't care, who will? She's like a pile of dung, whoever gets involved with her is doomed. What a match made in heaven!"

Emperor Yuanming had never heard Jiang Lingru so angry before. He was stunned for a moment, carefully examining her reddened eyes.

For some reason, Emperor Yuanming began to panic, thinking to himself, "Could she really have been wronged? Well, she's always been afraid of trouble and avoids problems like the plague. Consort Duan provoked her first, and she was bullied so badly that she barely managed to retaliate and scare Consort Duan. Among the concubines in the harem who have been pregnant, none are as troublesome as Consort Duan. She is well-mannered and polite. If Grand Secretary Wei sees her again, I will truly become a foolish emperor."

The more Emperor Yuanming thought about it, the more heartbroken he became. Qin Shanggong was present, and there were some things he found difficult to say, so he said with a stern face, "You may leave."

Qin Shanggong respectfully withdrew, and Emperor Yuanming immediately smiled and said gently, "Alright, alright, I won't hold it against you, I'll grant your request."

"Huang Liang!" Emperor Yuanming smiled at Jiang Ling, called Huang Liang in, and gave instructions regarding the beeswax and mint: "Summon Wu Shishan to give Consort Duan a proper pulse diagnosis."

Huang Liang bowed and accepted the order, glancing discreetly at Jiang Ling, inwardly filled with admiration for her.

With just a few words, she easily extricated herself from the Shangqin Bureau. If Consort Duan were to try and cause trouble again, even Emperor Yuanming would likely grow weary of her.

With the matter settled, Jiang Ling happily curtsied and expressed her gratitude, saying, "Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, and I dare not disturb you. I will take my leave now."

"It's lunchtime, why are you in such a hurry to leave? Do you think I'll neglect your meals?" Emperor Yuanming looked at Jiang Ling with resentment, complaining about her fickle attitude.

Jiang Ling could only agree, thinking to himself, "After lunch, it would be best if I could return to Fanying Pavilion. I don't want to sleep with you."

Emperor Yuanming was drinking tea when he almost choked. He glared at her inwardly and thought to himself, "She has indeed suffered a great injustice and is still angry. I must coax her properly."

After washing his hands, the palace maids and eunuchs had already prepared lunch. Jiang Ling sat down at the table, waiting for Emperor Yuanming to start eating.

Emperor Yuanming's heart skipped a beat. She appeared composed, but in reality, she was impatient with all this. He raised an eyebrow and said affectionately, "It's just the two of us, no need for formalities. Since you're hungry, just pick what you like to eat..."

"vomit!"

Emperor Yuanming's tender feelings were interrupted by Jiang Ling's sudden retching.