Chapter 37 Fruit
Others dared not leave, but Lan Wu dared to leave.
However, she was willing but unable to do so. She suffered from backache, leg pain, and buttock pain all day long, all because of Chu Mingheng.
In the afternoon, Lan Wu nestled in a soft chair reading a storybook, but she became sleepy again as she read.
Before she could even get some sleep, the Imperial Household Department sent over some things.
"Cherry?" Lan Wu opened her eyes to shake off her drowsiness, but she was still sleepy when she said this, and didn't really care.
Lianxi said yes: "They left after delivering the things, saying they were going to another palace. I saw that the basket was full of good fruit, so they must have picked it carefully."
Leaning back in the soft chair, Lan Wu looked out the door. Although her view was limited and she couldn't see the doorway, the sunlight outside shone in, warm and gentle.
"These are the fruits we have at this time of year. I don't like cherries, so pick some, wash them, and share the rest."
Palace servants rarely got to eat fruit; they were usually only given some by their masters.
Lan Wu herself didn't like to eat it, but she ordered someone to give it to her. She didn't think anything of it, but when word got out, it caused dissatisfaction.
In Rong Meiren's Qiushui Pavilion, she also received half a basket of cherries sent by the Imperial Household Department. However, these cherries were obviously leftovers, not very big, not very red, and tasted sour.
Zhilan washed the cherries, arranged them on a plate, and presented them to Rong Meiren without saying a word.
She may not say it, but she can't help but gossip.
Banxia entered the palace and served freshly brewed tea. Seeing that Rong Meiren was dressed in a light blue robe, looking gentle and beautiful, the resentment in her heart surged even more.
"Your Majesty, please have some tea to relieve the soreness. This is freshly brewed by your servant."
Consort Rong's illness has been cured, but she is unwilling to leave the palace. At most, she will only look at the small courtyard outside the window.
The cherries sent by the Imperial Household Department were sour and astringent, so she only ate a few and then stopped.
Holding the teacup, she slightly raised her head and saw Banxia's indignant face. She guessed what was wrong, but still asked her, "What's wrong?"
Zhilan gently pressed down on Banxia's arm, trying to stop her from speaking, but Banxia had already spoken: "I just heard from the people in the inner palace that a basket of cherries was sent to Longyu Pavilion, but Consort Zhen didn't like them and gave them to the servants."
"This servant feels indignant on behalf of Your Highness."
As she spoke, Banxia muttered angrily and clenched her fist.
Rong Meiren looked at her, then suddenly smiled. Instead of addressing the matter, she asked, "Do you know how Wang Qiu died?"
Upon hearing this, Banxia's entire body tensed up. She finally suppressed her resentment and timidly nodded in response, "Your Majesty, Wangqiu was punished with thirty strokes of the cane by His Majesty and died..." It was said that each of those thirty strokes struck her spine, breaking her bones.
"Then do you know why Her Majesty punished her with thirty strokes of the cane?" Consort Rong's expression hardened, but her eyes held a shadowy glint.
Banxia swallowed hard, then immediately knelt down in fright, kowtowing and begging for forgiveness: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, I was wrong, I will never speak recklessly again—"
Rong Meiren sighed and made her kneel on the outer corridor of the palace: "You and Wangqiu are both talkative people. Now that Wangqiu is gone, I can't let you make a mistake too. You should kneel down and reflect on your actions."
"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant knows her mistake." After saying that, Banxia knelt down outside the palace gate.
Zhilan Hou remained silent.
That night, the emperor went to Zhaoyun Palace.
Although Lan Wu knew early on that Chu Mingheng would not come to her palace and did not deliberately wait for him, she was still somewhat worried when she heard that the emperor was heading to Zhaoyun Palace.
Although Liu Shuyi's self-destructive act brought down one of Consort Shu's accomplices, there is still a long way to go from Jieyu to Consort. In her previous life, she only managed to reach the rank of Shuyi. Chu Mingheng doesn't like to promote people, so it's uncertain whether things will be better in this life.
"Your Majesty?" Lianxi called softly from the side, afraid that she would be displeased.
Lan Wu nodded and told someone to prepare water for her bath.
Inside Zhaoyun Palace, Consort Rou washed her hands and personally brewed a calming tea for the Emperor.
The interior of the hall was exceptionally simple and elegant, with no extravagant decorations. Even the cool breeze blowing through the hall felt particularly pleasant.
Chu Mingheng glanced around the hall, his expression indifferent. Only when Consort Rou handed him some calming tea did he speak: "You're still used to doing things yourself."
Consort Rou smiled gently and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, I'm used to it."
There were also some loquats and cherries on the table. These fruits were very fresh, but the master in the palace didn't seem to eat many of them.
"Your Majesty, I heard that Consort Shu is ill," Consort Rou said softly. "I intended to visit her today, but she seemed to be in considerable pain, so I only caught a glimpse of her from outside the palace."
"However, I also went to see Sister Rong. She is much better now, but she just doesn't want to go out. I comforted her a bit, and I think Sister Rong will understand."
"Is that so?" Chu Mingheng said slowly, his meaning unclear.
Consort Rou's gentle smile remained unchanged as she spoke the truth: "Sister Rong is proud and arrogant, and she is still young. Now that His Majesty has obtained a beauty like Sister Zhen, Sister Rong has become somewhat flustered. However, I think she has realized her mistake."
Speaking of being young, the newly entered concubines are all at least seventeen years old, and the one who is truly the youngest should still be two months away from turning seventeen.
Thinking of Lan Wu, Chu Mingheng inadvertently recalled Lan Wu's unbridled behavior last night.
Last night, Lan Wu's flesh was beaten until it was bright red. When it was over, he took her out of the quilt to apply medicine. Lan Wu was half asleep and still calling his name.
How could anyone not feel pity for such a face?
It's one thing to pity someone, but it's another thing to know that Lan Wu is completely disobedient.
"Since Consort Shu is ill, you should take care of more affairs." After a moment, Chu Mingheng put aside his thoughts and did not mention Consort Rong to her again. Instead, he looked thoughtfully at Consort Rou in front of him and said something unrelated, "I have always been at ease with you handling affairs."
Consort Rou took two steps back, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I understand. Thank you for your grace."
"Get up. This palace is a bit too simple. I'll have someone send some things over tomorrow," Chu Mingheng said leisurely again.
Consort Rou lowered her head and replied, "Yes."
"You should go to bed now."
Consort Rou was startled. Seeing Chu Mingheng put down his teacup and get up to leave, she quickly followed, saying, "Your Majesty..."
Chu Mingheng turned around, and Consort Rou understood his gaze. She stopped and curtsied to him, saying, "Your Majesty, I respectfully see you off."
Chen Kang'an caught up with His Majesty and hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, are we going to Longyu Pavilion?"
Chu Mingheng glanced at him sideways, and Chen Kang'an immediately realized that he had asked the wrong question. He slapped himself and smiled apologetically, "This servant knows his crime, Your Majesty, please forgive me."
"Return to Taichen Palace," Chu Mingheng commanded calmly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
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