Chapter 76 The Incident
The concubines returned to their respective palaces from Kongshan Garden. On the way, they heard that Consort Rou in Zhaoyun Palace was not well, so they rushed over, only to find that she was fine. They did see Consort Shu and Consort Li walking out one after the other.
"Your Highness, is Consort Rou alright?"
Consort Shu nodded slightly and dismissed them. Gathering in Zhaoyun Palace made it difficult for Consort Rou to focus on her recovery.
"On Consort Li's face..." Consort Wu had sharp eyes. Even though it was late at night, she could still see a strange red mark on Consort Li's face, and she could even faintly see a person's fingerprint.
Who hit this?
Consort Li quickly covered her face and said in a muffled, indignant voice, "It was because I was drunk earlier that I got carried away. If you have nothing better to do, go back home. What kind of mess is this, gathering here like this!"
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what was bothering her.
But now that Consort Rou is alright, it's time to leave. They thought they were going to see some good show, but now—it's truly disappointing.
Consort Rong and Consort Jia lived together in Changying Palace, and they returned together.
While they were walking slowly, Consort Jia couldn't help but exchange a few more words with her.
"I heard that my sister had been staying in her palace all by herself, and only recently started to come out for a walk. My sister is still young, so don't let her think too much and go astray. She still has decades ahead of her."
Rong Shuyi was already aloof and didn't like to talk to people. After her miscarriage, she became even more aloof and quiet. When she went to Kongshan Garden, people thought she wouldn't go because of her personality, but she did go and even got quite close to Consort Rou.
Consort Jia couldn't understand her. After the miscarriage, instead of taking the opportunity to seek the Emperor's sympathy, she kept getting close to Consort Rou. Did she really think Consort Rou was a good person?
Previously, she had passed on all the information about Qiushui Pavilion to Consort Shu, intending for Consort Shu to investigate the matter herself at the Imperial Hospital. She was just a concubine, not Consort Shu's lackey, at most a spectator who enjoyed watching the drama unfold, so naturally she wouldn't do much for her. So much time has passed, and she doesn't know what Consort Shu has found out.
She had some vague suspicions in her mind, but without concrete evidence, she dared not say more.
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. I understand." Rong Shuyi lowered her head and followed beside her. The two walked one after the other towards Changying Palace. The moonlight overhead was bright. Although it was not a full moon tonight, it was still a fine night.
Compared to the seemingly delicate harmony between them, Consort Li seemed excessively impatient. When everyone saw her face, she was furious. She felt that His Majesty was really biased and didn't ask a single question. If His Majesty had asked a single question, she would have definitely exposed that slut Lan Wu.
Back in Jinghua Palace, she sat and rested for a while, finally managing to calm her anger. Suddenly, she heard a commotion outside the palace. When the palace servants inquired, they learned that it was Consort Feng from the side hall, Zhihua Pavilion, who had returned.
"Why did she only just get back?" Consort Li frowned upon hearing this, already displeased and just hoping no one would come forward. "What's she making a scene over there?"
The palace maid replied cautiously, "Your Majesty, Consort Feng seems to be drunk. She's been talking to the other palace servants about the beautiful scenery of Kongshan Garden."
Consort Li curled her lips into a cold smile: "Tell her to come early tomorrow to pay her respects. What an ill-mannered child."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
When the palace maid responded, Consort Li's expression still didn't look much better, so she had someone call Yu Mei over.
Before long, Yu Mei arrived in front of Consort Li.
"His Majesty has ordered me and Consort Shu to jointly manage the six palaces. Go and find out what Consort Shu has been busy with lately, and I'll go and lend a hand." As she spoke, Consort Li casually reached out, glancing down at her painted nails. Today wasn't entirely without good news. She had always been subordinate to Consort Shu and Consort Rou, and this was a rare opportunity to gain power. If only Consort Rou had died in her Zhaoyun Palace today…
Yu Mei said "yes" and then withdrew.
The deep black night seemed exceptionally peaceful, but at dawn, news of a major event spread throughout the court.
The Minister of Personnel reported that the Vice Minister of Works had abused his position to collude with merchants, falsely reporting the use of building materials and using inferior materials to embezzle tens of thousands of taels of silver allocated by the court for repairs the previous year. The repaired Sanzhou Canal was actually weak inside and could not withstand the floods of the summer rainy season.
The emperor was furious and ordered the Ministry of Justice to detain all officials involved in the case, including the Vice Minister of Works, and later transfer them to the Court of Judicial Review for investigation.
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When Lan Wu learned of this, the other concubines in the palace had also heard about it. Since it concerned state affairs, the atmosphere in the palace changed immediately. Although the concubines all wished they could stay far away, this matter had far-reaching implications. The Ministry of Works was so large; how could a mere Vice Minister of Works have embezzled all the silver?
The consequences of her previous life had already been set in stone, with so many people dying. She felt that the most likely cause was the seemingly unrelated but actually most important Minister of Works, who was also Consort Rou's grandfather.
The person sent to repair the canals and embankments was Yue Pingning, but the Minister of Works was not involved at all. It is unclear whether he was truly incorruptible or if his methods were too cunning.
Judging from the previous life, Consort Rou seems to have been unaffected. So, it seems that the Minister of Works is fine?
Consort Rou is still ill, and it's unknown how she will react when she hears this news.
Lan Wu held the pen, absentmindedly scribbling ink onto the paper. Writing is supposed to calm the mind, but she couldn't even write, let alone achieve the goal of calming her mind.
"What was Yue Zhaorong's reaction?" After writing two words, she asked Yue Zhaorong again.
Lian Qiao paused for a moment, then shook her head: "I don't know yet. Does Your Majesty wish me to inquire about it?"
Lan Wu thought for a moment and then decided to give up: "No, of course we can't go. We'll stay in our own palace and be safe and sound. Go and tell the palace servants not to gossip. This is a matter of state. If anyone says anything out of line, don't blame me for being ruthless."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Lian Qiao withdrew.
Once Lianqiao left the palace, only Lanwu remained inside. She took a breath, put down her pen, and then slumped back in her chair, resting her head on the soft pillow that had been placed there for her. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, darting around restlessly.
Although she slept relatively well yesterday, the experience still had a significant impact on her.
She said she was lying to Chu Mingheng about her dream, and Chu Mingheng also said he had dreamed about her... Was she lying to her?
No, no, no, Chu Mingheng would never do such a thing.
That means he really did dream about her.
But I still dreamed of her from my previous life.
Lan Wu frowned, unsure of what to do.
Suddenly, she sat up straight.
Why did Chu Mingheng only dream about her? Couldn't he dream about something else useful? Like the heavy rain in Qiu Nan at the end of August, or who the old palace maid standing outside the door was when he killed her.
Why do I keep having these useless dreams?
If he could dream of the breach in the dikes of Qiunan, she wouldn't tell him any of this. She would have to go to great lengths to find a reason, and might even be suspected by others.
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