Chapter 53: Xie Wu's resistance was too strong, and his skin too thick, making him impossible to select...

Guanju Palace

Today is not a court assembly. Emperor Xuanpei usually goes to Hanyuan Hall later in the day, or when there are no urgent reports, he can have some peace and quiet to go to Qianwen Pavilion to pick up some rare books to read, or go to the drill ground to stretch his muscles.

But having gotten used to waking up early every day, Emperor Xuanpei opened his eyes at the usual time, and Azhu was still sound asleep in his arms.

Emperor Xuanpei's body temperature was higher than that of an average person.

Although A-Zhu didn't say it, he wished he could stay far away from her even in his dreams.

When the autumn chill arrived, because A-Zhu had a slight cough, and fearing that burning charcoal would make her feel even worse, hot water bottles were prepared in Guanju Palace.

But when Emperor Xuanpei was alive, these things were obviously unnecessary. Azhu would snuggle up to Emperor Xuanpei and find a comfortable position to fall asleep.

Emperor Xuanpei looked at Azhu, whose cheeks were flushed from sleeping.

These past few days, A-Zhu has been very clingy to him, like she's grown a little tail.

As soon as they see him, they rush over and swarm around him.

When we eat, I stay very close to him and he eats whatever I feed him obediently. As soon as I reach out, he automatically snuggles up to me for a hug, like a vine sprouting tender shoots, taking root in him little by little, impossible to pull off.

When Emperor Xuanpei was reviewing memorials, Azhu would obediently grind ink on the side or snuggle up next to him, letting him rub her whenever he was happy or unhappy.

She's even willing to go to the bathroom with him when she takes a bath now. She's so soft, obedient, and docile. She'll hug his neck and slowly exhale warm breath, her moist eyes filled with nothing but him.

When Ah Zhu, as gentle as spring water, starts to fawn over you, it's enough to make your bones melt.

rule?

The rules have long been so easily confused that they've been basking in a sweet dream.

The more serious Emperor Xuanpei appeared on his face when facing Azhu, the more his wicked thoughts ran rampant like a bottomless pit—how pitiful his Azhu was.

Her pure and honest nature makes you want to hold her in your hands and knead her from head to toe, even bite every part of her body, and hold her tighter and tighter.

Ah Zhu is different from before.

When Azhu first arrived at Hanyuan Hall, he was very "unambitious".

No, she just wanted to stay alive.

They're like beads on an abacus; they make a sound when you turn them, but when you don't, you just let things slide.

Now that A-Zhu has tasted the sweetness, she has started to take the initiative to cling to him; she can't live without him... But isn't this how it should be?

What's wrong with his Ah Zhu liking wealth and luxury, and enjoying fine clothes and food?

That's right.

She should live a beautiful and upright life in the brocade palace he provided for her.

Emperor Xuanpei held the sweet and soft Azhu in his arms, but the dark, despicable, and vicious thoughts in his heart still surged uncontrollably—he liked Azhu very much.

He even wanted Ah Zhu to be more proactive.

It's best to hold his sleeve and plead with him, just look at him.

She begged him to let her stay by his side without ever leaving his side, to get closer to him... no, to cling to him to the bone, to be held and fed during meals, to be carried while walking... to fawn over him without stopping for a moment.

If he just slightly lowered his face and pretended to refuse, Ah Zhu would only have eyes for him. She would not only hold his hand, but also keep saying heartfelt words to make him happy.

She would even whimper, tears welling in her eyes, and reach out to cling to his neck, accepting everything about him...

Outside, the sky was hazy and the wind rustled. Emperor Xuanpei, who was sinking into the soft couch and thinking about these despicable thoughts, became uncontrollably excited.

He tried his best to suppress the urge to kiss... no, more accurately, to bite Ah Zhu.

He gently stroked A-Zhu's back, as if trying to soothe his own emotions, and rubbed her round and lovely shoulders.

Even though she was inside a warm embroidered tent, Ah Zhu felt as if a chilling wind was blowing into her bones.

The sudden sense of alertness forced Ah Zhu to struggle out of her sweet sleep.

She half-opened her eyes and looked sleepily at the person beside her.

Seeing Emperor Xuanpei's unusually bright gaze fixed on her with a deep, dark look... Azhu moved closer, her waist supported, and she simply nestled into Emperor Xuanpei's arms.

She buried her face in Emperor Xuanpei's neck, about to say something, when her body suddenly trembled.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty."

Ah Zhu, her body limp, followed Emperor Xuanpei's movements, her hands resting on his shoulder, a blush involuntarily spreading across her face.

She slowly kissed Emperor Xuanpei's neck, and involuntarily breathed warm air into his ear, whispering softly.

"Your Highness, I must go to Kunning Palace today to pay my respects."

As long as A-Zhu doesn't refuse and only clings to him in a soft and pleading manner, Emperor Xuanpei becomes very easy to talk to, and this time is no exception.

"good."

Ah Zhu clung to Emperor Xuanpei, her voice soft and gentle as she spoke in his ear.

"Since autumn began, the mornings have become increasingly dark and cold..."

"Your Majesty, I would like to ask you to speak to the Empress. I have always held the Empress in high esteem and have always been mindful of paying my respects to her every day."

"But... but I feel that serving His Majesty wholeheartedly is the most important thing. In addition, it is cold, and even if I rush to Kunning Palace, I am sometimes too late. It is really not my intention to be late."

"Could you please plead with Her Majesty the Empress on my behalf?"

"good."

"Your Majesty is so kind."

A-Zhu added, "I'm feeling a bit tired while taking the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician. If I ever behave inappropriately outside, please don't be angry, Your Majesty."

"good."

Emperor Xuanpei held Ah Zhu's slender waist. After Ah Zhu finished speaking softly, he would think about it and then seriously agree to her request.

Ah Zhu is his adopted son, so what mistakes could his Ah Zhu possibly make?

There can't be any mistake.

It's just a little bit of harmless shyness; who would take it seriously and hold a grudge against her?

Ah Zhu let Emperor Xuanpei massage her from the inside out without feeling embarrassed at all.

After all, she knew herself perfectly well.

She is a sycophant at heart.

If we don't take advantage of this moment of "being a bully because of its master's power" to show off our strength and make others afraid to provoke us, when will we ever get another chance?

As long as she wasn't a "loyal and devoted" servant and just getting by, A-Zhu was very clear-headed—Emperor Xuanpei hadn't promoted many palace women before, and even if he had, they were just palace maids or selected concubines.

Empress Wang addressed her as a lowly servant, a foot-washing maid... That's her background. No "noble lady" in the palace would ever stoop to her level and "befriend" her.

If not for the purpose of promoting their families, or for wealth and glory, who would come to the palace?

With another woman desperately clinging to the emperor and squeezing out the vested interests of others, it's no wonder the others are unhappy.

But Azhu couldn't possibly let that happen.

If she were to have a princess in the future, the princess's marriage would depend on the whims of those "nobles," and might even be used as a means of appeasement or reward to win over court officials...

Or she might have a prince, but she and her son would have to serve as dogs for the other "noble ladies" in the palace just to survive... It would be better not to have him in the first place.

Ah Zhu entered the palace alone with no one to rely on, and the so-called family background was just empty talk.

If she doesn't get involved herself and try to stir up trouble in the palace, how can she bring down those high-ranking "nobles" and climb up herself?

Empress Wang was impulsive and easily angered; there was really no better candidate than her.

New grudges and old grievances, the masks that weren't torn off before, are now being ripped off all at once.

In this palace, a mother's status depends on her son, but even more so on her son's status. If she can't find a way out, she would rather die in glory.

......

Kunning Palace

In the past, whenever it was time to pay respects, Consort Zhang was always the last one to arrive.

Now, Ah Zhu has gone even further.

She arrived neither early nor late, almost at the last minute, to pay her respects to Empress Wang at Kunning Palace.

Empress Wang only resented that Azhu was her foot-washing maid, and felt that arguing with her in public would be very undignified, so she picked some concubines from below to deal with her.

Consort Zhao was the head of Changli Palace, and she wholeheartedly clung to Empress Wang's coattails, as did the other concubines in her palace.

Consort Yun and Noble Lady Fang are the two cannon fodder that Empress Wang recently picked out to gossip with Ah Zhu.

Seeing that Ah Zhu had arrived so late, Consort Yun spoke first.

"That's really strange. Could it be that the rules in this palace are different from those of Consort Jiang?"

Consort Fang followed closely behind, saying, "Who can argue with that? Paying respects to superiors morning and evening is a rule in the palace. How can anyone dare to violate the palace rules time and time again, and be so disrespectful to superiors?"

Ah Zhu glanced at the two people singing in unison, then raised her head slightly, revealing a contemptuous smile that was extremely hateful, and drew out her voice.

"This is......"

Before anyone else or the two people chatting could reveal their identities, A-Zhu, looking disdainful and unwilling to know, turned to look at Empress Wang, who sat high above her with a very aggrieved expression.

"Your Majesty, you must do justice for this concubine!"

Empress Wang looked at Consort Yun and Noble Lady Fang, who were standing there dumbfounded, and knew something was wrong. Sure enough, she saw that lowly maid Jiang wiping away non-existent tears.

"Your Majesty, as you know, I have always been utterly loyal to you and have never dared to show the slightest disrespect."

"Moreover, I have always been in poor health... Your Majesty is aware of this."

After choking back two sobs, A-Zhu's face flushed red again.

"But these past few days I've been serving the Emperor and spending a lot of time with him. His Majesty is kind and considerate of my poor health, so he originally granted me the privilege of not having to pay my respects."

"But I know the rules of the palace, and I always remember my place."

"I also remember that it was because of your appreciation and recommendation that I was able to rise from a lowly palace maid in the inner palace to a tea-serving lady in front of the emperor, and that I have the respectable position I have today."

"Your Majesty, I will never forget your great kindness and virtue in this lifetime. How could I dare to be arrogant and disrespectful to you, the Empress?"

Not giving anyone else a chance to speak, A-Zhu gazed "affectionately" at Empress Wang, her expression a mixture of shyness and resentment at her loyalty being buried.

"Even if I have to crawl, I will crawl to Kunning Palace to pay my respects to you every day... I'm afraid His Majesty will secretly blame me for not knowing how to be virtuous."

"But these two treacherous, vicious, and wicked villains—!"

Ah Zhu was heartbroken and pointed angrily at Consort Yun and Noble Lady Fang.

"Not only have they slandered my feelings and trampled on my loyalty, but they have also tried to sow discord between Your Majesty the Empress and me."

"Your Majesty, you must do justice for me!!!"

Ah Zhu covered her face and sobbed.

The concubines in the hall had all sorts of expressions as they watched A-Zhu's tearful plea, while Consort Zhang on the same side desperately turned her head away and covered her mouth to suppress her laughter.

Consort Yun stared in disbelief at A-Zhu, who had no shame whatsoever, twisting the truth like this.

Consort Fang pointed a trembling finger at A-Zhu, "You, you..."

"Your Majesty." A-Zhu wiped away her tears, looked up at Empress Wang, and threatened in a soft voice, "His Majesty often says, 'Without rules, there can be no order.'"

"If you do not properly deal with such a deliberate provocateur, as a warning to others, you will be in serious trouble."

“I’m afraid not everyone in the palace is as loyal as I am… They will all follow suit, gossiping and sowing discord around His Majesty.”

Empress Wang clenched her fists tightly, her eyes dark and brooding as she looked at A-Zhu, while A-Zhu, with tears in her eyes, met her gaze fearlessly.

What's the point of playing around? Ah Zhu, who had been holding back, was also finding excuses to unleash her ultimate move.

If Empress Wang does not do as she wishes today, she will go back and whisper in Emperor Xuanpei's ear.

She had to try, even if it was extremely risky, even if she would be punished for it... even if it made Emperor Xuanpei feel disgusted with her!

She couldn't keep trying so hard to please the emperor without ever reaping any real benefits.

She needs to see hope for the future.

Otherwise, if Empress Wang's biological son, the Crown Prince, were to ascend the throne in the future, she would likely be dragged away by Empress Wang and subjected to a thousand cuts and the most severe punishment.

Ah Zhu's gaze was too resolute, even as if he had a fearless, eager, and reckless impulse to do anything, regardless of the consequences... Empress Wang let go of his hand.

“Consort Yun’s words were disrespectful and her conduct was improper. She is hereby fined two months’ salary and ordered to copy and recite palace rules for one month.”

Empress Wang spoke.

Instead of reprimanding A-Zhu as expected, or immediately disciplining A-Zhu in public, as one might expect.

“Consort Fang is disrespectful to her superiors and is extremely jealous. She shall be fined three months’ salary and ordered to copy and recite palace rules for two months.”

"Your Majesty the Empress!"

"Your Majesty the Empress..."

Consort Yun and Noble Lady Fang stared in disbelief at Empress Wang, who had just punished them.

Empress Wang looked down at them and asked only, "Do either of you have any objections?"

What is Empress Wang's status? What are Consort Yun's and Noble Lady Fang's statuses?

They didn't even dare to complain about Empress Wang. They could only glare at Azhu with resentment and hatred before kneeling down and swallowing their anger.

"This humble concubine dares not presume, but humbly accepts Your Majesty's instruction."

Ah Zhu followed closely behind, showering Empress Wang with praise that was downright disgusting.

"Your Majesty, you are truly kind and benevolent, with a compassionate heart. With you as the mother of the nation, guiding the six palaces, and with such clear distinction between rewards and punishments, it is truly a blessing for us concubines."

Consort Zhang, who had witnessed this unexpected punishment, was no longer smiling.

She glanced at A-Zhu, who seemed reckless and defiant, and then at Empress Wang, who was remarkably calm at the head of the table. Consort Zhang felt a sudden tightness in her chest; Wang Yu-Shu had already decided to kill.

The two pawns that had just been chosen were suppressed by A-Zhu in a swift and decisive manner. Empress Wang was not in the mood to say much to A-Zhu, and simply moved out to Shou Kang Palace.

"Now that the Empress Dowager is bedridden and suffering from a long-term illness, it is only right and proper that all the concubines go to Shou Kang Palace to take care of her."

Empress Wang said unhurriedly, "It's just that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has been ill for quite some time, and we're afraid of offending her while she's still ailing. We need to first consult the auspicious signs of the palace concubines. Yesterday..."

Just as Empress Wang was getting to the crucial point, a strange noise suddenly came from inside the hall—

"vomit--!"

It was Ah Zhu who vomited.

As soon as Empress Wang mentioned Shou Kang Palace, A-Zhu knew she was up to no good.

Anyway, this time, whether it's copying scriptures or some other strange and torturous methods, A-Zhu doesn't want to play along.

So she picked up the teacup, took a big gulp of tea, and stopped in her mouth. Just as Empress Wang was busy calculating, A-Zhu spat it out.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, what's wrong?" Qingliu quickly patted Azhu's back. "But you feel unwell somewhere?"

Consort Tang, who was closest to the woman, also looked puzzled. "Consort Jiang, are you burned?"

Empress Wang, sitting at the head of the table, also looked at Azhu, who was in all sorts of trouble.

"Consort Jiang?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, I... I have been disrespectful."

Just moments ago, Ah Zhu was full of energy, quick-witted and aggressive, but now he leaned weakly against Qing Liu's chest.

Qingliu had a bitter face and looked like she was about to cry.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty the Empress."

“Our Empress was overwhelmed with grief because of the child in her womb, and she cried every day. After that, she rushed to Kunning Palace to pay her respects to you. Perhaps she did not rest well during her postpartum period, because she is not feeling well right now.”

Ah Zhu reached out and clutched her lower abdomen, her face contorted in pain.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me... I am in unbearable abdominal pain."

Empress Wang no longer cared about appearances.

She wanted nothing more than to point her finger at A-Zhu and curse her—"Heaven has no eyes! Why didn't it kill you, you liar, cunning, pretentious lowly servant?!"

Not only did Empress Wang not believe it, but all the concubines in the palace also did not believe it.

Given how arrogant and domineering Ah Zhu was just now, as if she wanted to fly to the sky, who would believe that she would suddenly become sickly, especially when Shou Kang Palace was mentioned?

Empress Wang was still not giving up. She took a deep breath and was still trying to use the "big hat" to force Azhu to go to Shou Kang Palace to seek his own death.

"Consort Jiang, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is currently unwell and has been suffering from a prolonged illness. The matter of attending to her in her illness cannot be delayed in the slightest. You..."

"Your Majesty, rest assured!"

A-Zhu struggled, her face filled with righteous indignation, yet tears streaming down her face, as she said, "Your Highness, I have only lost one of your sons."

"Your concubine..."

"I only had a short postpartum period and didn't take good care of myself. I am of lowly status and have little fortune... If so many people in the palace can't serve the Empress Dowager well, how can I rest in bed?"

"It seems that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is also suffering from this because she cannot bear to see the suffering, and feels truly guilty. This is why she has been ill for so long and has not yet recovered..."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I am most loyal and devoted to you, and I have the utmost respect for you."

"As long as Your Majesty gives the order, I will crawl to Shou Kang Palace to attend to the Empress Dowager's illness, even if it means crawling on my own. I will keep my word!"

That's right, as long as Empress Wang dares to nod, A-Zhu really intends to crawl to Shou Kang Palace while crying.

Don't mention anything about the sedan chair to her.

She was going to care for the ailing patient, not to enjoy herself. Riding in a sedan chair like that is inappropriate! It shows a complete lack of sincerity!

Ah Zhu is shameless. She was born into the inner palace as a maid, a slave, and has a reputation as a seductive vixen who bewitches the emperor... Her reputation is already rotten to the core, how much worse can it get?

But Empress Wang is no good, Empress Dowager Shu is no good, and the royal family's reputation is even worse!

"Your Majesty, is it that the Empress Dowager urgently needs someone to attend to her illness?"

A-Zhu started to lie on the ground, and Qing Liu quickly helped A-Zhu up. A-Zhu struggled to look at Empress Wang.

"Your Majesty the Empress... is the person whose zodiac sign is very compatible with that of the Empress Dowager, perhaps a concubine?"

Seeing Ah Zhu's "loyal and devoted" appearance, as if he were about to crawl on the ground to Shou Kang Palace to attend to the sick, Empress Wang's usually straight shoulders slumped slightly.

She sighed deeply, having given up on all her plans due to Ah Zhu's shameless madness in trying to drag everyone down with him.

Your Majesty, what is it about this shameless, nonsensical, and madwoman Jiang that you prefer?

What's so good about her besides her face?

The election year is just around the corner... Queen Wang closed her eyes and waved to Ah Zhu.

"Consort Jiang, since you are unwell, you should return to the palace to recuperate. Among the many concubines in the palace, we can surely select a few who are capable of serving the Empress Dowager."

"Thank you for your kindness, Empress."

A-Zhu started crying again. She covered her eyes with a handkerchief and choked out, "Your Majesty is so kind and compassionate, you are like a clay bodhisattva in the palace. I really don't know how to thank you enough."

Sitting on the upper side, Consort Tang looked at A-Zhu, who was putting on airs and acting all smug in the palace today, and felt quite resentful.

"Consort Jiang is unwell and needs to rest properly. Shouldn't this ivory token be taken down?"

Upon hearing this, A-Zhu removed the handkerchief covering her eyes and asked in a pretentious manner, "Has Consort Tang gone to the Office of State Affairs to check?"

Startled, Azhu asked Consort Tang a question in return.

"Has the concubine's nameplate been hung up since her postpartum period?"

"Please forgive me, Consort Tang, I truly knew nothing about this."

"His Majesty is truly kind and compassionate. Because he could not bear to see his concubines lose their son and be all alone in the palace, weeping, he showed them special mercy and compassion... He often accompanied them in Guanju Palace."

"So much so that the question of whether or not these 'toothplates' will be removed..."

A-Zhu looked at Consort Tang with a half-smile, "If it weren't for Your Highness's reminder, I would never have noticed."

Consort Tang's face changed from pink to purplish-blue, and then from purplish-blue to crimson.

Seeing Ah Zhu collapse into the palace maid's arms again, clutching her lower abdomen and feigning distress, Consort Tang swallowed her anger and turned her head away in a huff.

Today's greetings were ruined again by A-Zhu.

Ah Zhu, looking sickly, was helped into the sedan chair.

She hadn't gone far when she saw Consort Zhang ahead of her, seemingly waiting for her.

Just as Azhu was about to get out of the sedan chair to pay her respects, Consort Zhang waved her hand.

“You are weak and have just recovered from your confinement. Just sit still and don’t move around too much.”

Since Consort Zhang had said so, A-Zhu naturally sat down steadily, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Consort Zhang."

“Consort Jiang, our Empress comes from the Langya Wang clan, a prestigious and distinguished family. She can tolerate a moment of anger, but she cannot tolerate a lifetime of anger.”

Ah Zhu nodded repeatedly, his face full of "respect".

"Your Majesty's birth is so extraordinary that I feel ashamed and cannot compare to you. I will serve you faithfully and dare not disrespect or disobey you in the slightest."

Consort Zhang glanced at A-Zhu with a smile and shook her head.

"Since you are so loyal, I have nothing more to say. But Consort Jiang, you must take good care of yourself and rest well."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I appreciate it."

Consort Zhang and A-Zhu were both thinking about A-Zhu, and Empress Wang was also thinking about A-Zhu, sparing no expense and mobilizing the entire Wang clan to do so.

Deeply entrenched and powerful families, when they put their full effort into their operations, always possess extraordinary abilities.

Moreover, given the horrific bloodshed in the palace back then, how could we dare to stake the entire clan's resources to assist Emperor Xuanpei in ascending the throne without thoroughly investigating the matter?

The letter delivered to Empress Wang this time was written in Old Master Wang's own handwriting.

Empress Wang looked at the letter and slowly smiled.

“Painting the Moon”.

"This servant is here."

Empress Wang watched as Huiyue took the letter and lit it over the candlelight.

"In five days, it will be the day of the Autumn Orchid Hunt."

Empress Wang looked at the letter, which had been burned to ashes, and rose with a smile.

"Before you go to Hanyuan Palace to help me with my toilette, you must ask His Majesty which concubines he wishes to take with him so that I can make the necessary arrangements."

"yes."

......

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Author's Note: Hugs to all my little darlings! Haha, thank you so much for your support, thank you for the "throwing flowers" (likes), thank you for the "nutrient solution" (likes), thank you for subscribing, and thank you for the encouraging comments. Hugs everyone! [Fist bump][Fist bump][Fist bump]