Chapter Sixty-Seven Warning
Inside Weiyang Palace, Jiang Huan had just finished plating her last dish of jade shrimp. The shrimp were crystal clear, coated in a bright green sauce, and gleamed with an enticing sheen.
"My lady, everything is ready," Xiao Zhao whispered. "We can set off to find the Emperor now."
Just as Jiang Huan was about to respond, a palace maid rushed in in a panic, not even caring about etiquette.
"Your Majesty... Consort Chang went to Qianqing Palace, saying that she was sent by the Empress Dowager to serve the Emperor."
These words were like a needle, gently piercing Jiang Huan's heart.
She sighed softly and slowly closed the food box in her hand.
The more I think about it, the angrier I get!
"That's perfect, saves me the trouble of making this trip."
As he spoke, he arranged the dishes one by one, covering the entire table.
Xiao Zhao was taken aback: "But didn't His Majesty say..."
"His Majesty is busy."
Jiang Huan forced a dry smile and plopped down on her seat.
"We'll eat it ourselves."
Ah, men.
They're all two-faced scoundrels.
She's just a heartless cooking machine, phew, she's not angry.
Jiang Huan put the shrimp into her mouth, but couldn't taste any flavor at all.
During the day, he said he loved her desserts the most, but in the blink of an eye, he went to eat other people's 'desserts'.
She ate faster and faster, as if she wanted to swallow all her grievances.
Jade shrimp, honey-glazed ham, stir-fried seasonal vegetables... she picked up every dish.
"Please take your time, my lord."
Xiao Zhao watched with bated breath, fearing that Jiang Huan might choke to death if she didn't exert herself properly.
But Jiang Huan seemed not to hear. She remembered Huo Lin's words that afternoon, "I won't let the Empress Dowager succeed," the warmth of his fingertips brushing against her lips, and the tenderness in his eyes when he said the almond pastry was delicious...
"fraud."
She muttered to herself, then plunged her chopsticks into a piece of honey-glazed ham.
A man's words are deceitful.
"My lady," Xiao Zhao said tenderly, handing her a handkerchief.
Jiang Huan waved her hand, then ladled out another bowl of rice and mixed in the remaining vegetable sauce.
Eat! Eat it all!
Anyway, the Emperor is probably feeding Consort Chang grapes right now!
Jiang Huan didn't put down her chopsticks until her stomach ached from being so full.
Outside the window, the direction of the Qianqing Palace was brightly lit.
She imagined Consort Chang laughing sweetly as she nestled in Huo Lin's arms, and her heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
She was both annoyed and angry; it was only natural for the emperor to favor his concubines.
What am I being so awkward about?
Jiang Huan's eyes stung terribly. She slammed the window shut and turned to walk toward the bed.
"Lights out, go to sleep!"
The following morning, Consort Chang's sedan chair slowly departed from the Qianqing Palace.
Consort Chang lay limp in the sedan chair, her legs already numb. Her carefully styled hair was disheveled, and her gauze dress was soaked with cold sweat, clinging to her body in a particularly wretched state.
All night long.
The Emperor actually made her kneel outside the palace all night!
What's even more infuriating is that we don't know who leaked the news.
As dawn broke, the concubines of the various palaces got up very early and all "happened" to pass by the Qianqing Palace, where they witnessed her in this state.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived." The palace maid outside the sedan chair said in a trembling voice.
Chang Guiren tried to stand up, but her knees felt like they were being pricked by thousands of needles, and she gasped for breath in pain as soon as she moved.
Finally, she was supported by two nannies before she could barely get out of the sedan chair.
"Oh, isn't this your esteemed sister?"
A charming voice rang out.
Consort Chen waved her round fan and looked her up and down with feigned surprise.
"Is your sister... having trouble walking?"
Consort Chang bit her lower lip hard, the taste of blood spreading in her mouth.
She knew that within half a day, news of her falling out of favor would spread throughout the palace.
At that time, even more people will rush to criticize and ridicule her.
"Get out of the way." She forced herself to straighten her back, her nails digging deep into the old woman's arm.
Consort Chen persisted: "I heard that you went to serve the Emperor last night. What happened? Did your legs go weak from serving him?"
The palace maids around Consort Chen covered their mouths and snickered, showing no mercy to Consort Chang.
A hint of resentment flashed in Consort Chang's eyes, but she forced a smile onto her face.
"Sister is joking. I just twisted my ankle by accident."
Consort Chen glanced at Consort Chang's knees, her gaze carrying a pointed meaning.
"In that case, little sister should rest well and not run around."
Consort Chang snorted coldly: "No need for you to trouble yourself, sister."
After she finished speaking, she left with her entourage.
Every step he took felt like walking on a knife's edge, yet he stubbornly maintained the demeanor of a nobleman until he stepped into the bedchamber and collapsed to the ground.
Meanwhile, inside the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager was having breakfast.
Bang--
The palace doors were suddenly pushed open, and Huo Lin strode in, followed by trembling palace servants.
The Empress Dowager slowly raised her eyes, a sharp, cold glint flashing in them.
"Your Majesty is in a very impressive manner today."
Huo Lin raised his hand, and the palace servants behind him retreated like a tide.
He walked up to the Empress Dowager, his eyes chillingly cold.
"What a good thing Mother did last night."
The Empress Dowager chuckled softly and slowly put down her silver chopsticks.
"I was merely concerned about His Majesty's health. What, is Consort Chang not serving him well?"
"Mother." Huo Lin stood not far in front of the Empress Dowager, looking down at her with an imposing presence, "You are meddling too much; it will only lead to irreversible consequences."
The Empress Dowager sneered, "Huo Lin, are you speaking to me like that?"
"Then what would Your Majesty like me to say?"
Huo Lin pulled a secret letter from his sleeve and slowly played with it between his fingers.
"Or do you wish for me to make this secret report public?"
The Empress Dowager's pupils contracted slightly: "You're investigating me?"
Huo Lin suddenly chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in his laughter.
“It’s not an investigation.” He flicked the secret letter lightly with his slender fingers. “Someone came to us of their own accord. Your cousin got drunk at Zuixianlou and said some interesting things.”
"He said..." Huo Lin raised his eyes, staring into the Empress Dowager's eyes, and said slowly and deliberately, "You have a son who doesn't have the surname Huo."
"Nonsense!" A flicker of panic crossed the Empress Dowager's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. "Huo Lin, you'd rather believe a stranger's drunken ramblings than your own mother?"
"Your subject has already verified it."
Huo Lin's voice was icy, and his tone left no room for doubt: "My third brother's birthday is two months earlier than the day you entered the palace."
He slowly walked around to the Empress Dowager's back. "This is a serious crime. If any court official were to submit a memorial to this, I would be able to execute him without hesitation."
The Empress Dowager trembled all over, and her carefully maintained face aged ten years in an instant.
Her thin, bony fingers gripped the edge of the table tightly, her knuckles turning white.
What do you want?
Huo Lin straightened up and slowly adjusted his cuffs.
“It’s very simple.” He turned and walked towards the palace gate, paused at the door, and gave a cold glance. “From now on, do not interfere in my harem.”
The palace doors opened, and blinding sunlight poured in, casting his shadow long and sharp.
The Empress Dowager slumped in her chair, looking at her once frail young son, who had now become a giant dragon.
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