Chapter 51 Understanding
Lan Wu felt a sudden jolt, and her lower abdomen inexplicably started to hurt. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was just her imagination.
It is natural for Consort Rong to rest after a miscarriage, so it is reasonable for her not to leave the palace. However, she heard that Consort Jia, the mistress of Changying Palace, was also turned away when she went to Qiushui Pavilion to visit Consort Rong.
When the news spread to the palace, everyone assumed that Consort Rong was simply overwhelmed with grief and had forgotten her bounds, and Consort Jia did not take it to heart.
Lan Wuyuan thought so too.
But now, after hearing Chen Li's words, she felt that something was not right.
What's wrong with this?
Lan Wu rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
Consort Rong disliked the smell of offal, yet the imperial kitchen sent her these things every day.
Lan Wu felt that the Imperial Kitchen should not dare to torment people so blatantly. After all, although Rong Shuyi had miscarried, she had been promoted in rank. The Imperial Kitchen had no enmity with Rong Shuyi, so they would not go looking for trouble.
Could it be... that he was instructed by someone?
Who is it?
Consort Shu? Consort Li? Consort Rou?
No, no, no, it doesn't resemble any of them.
After the matter of Consort Liu was settled, Consort Shu remained quiet and did little, and Consort Li also showed no intention of interfering in Consort Rong's affairs. Consort Rou...
After careful consideration, Lan Wu thought to herself that it shouldn't be Consort Rou.
Wasn't Consort Rou trying to win over Consort Rong?
If it wasn't those women, could it be a concubine who had a grudge against Rong Shuyi?
Looking at it this way, isn't she herself the most likely person to instruct the imperial kitchen to do such a thing?
Lan Wu's mind came back to her senses—but she had never given any such instructions.
Lianxi stood to one side, and Chen Li sat below. Neither of them spoke, letting Lan Wu think about her own thoughts without disturbing her.
The tea that had been placed to the side was getting cold, and Lianxi was about to quietly take it away and replace it with a hot cup of tea.
Lan Wu spoke up: "No need to change it, I don't like drinking this. Later—"
Suddenly, her voice faltered, and her brows furrowed, her expression turning slightly grave.
She turned her head to look at the cup of tea, and suddenly felt enlightened.
That's right. If Consort Rong doesn't like the food, why are half of the meals sent to her every day returned? If she doesn't want to eat it, she can simply say so and have the imperial kitchen change the dishes.
But she didn't say anything.
She had no choice but to eat these things.
Who has the power to force her to eat it?
Chu Mingheng's face flashed through my mind.
Lan Wu swallowed hard.
Yes, it can only be Chu Mingheng.
Thinking back to that day in the palace, Chu Mingheng ordered someone to choose a new personal maid for Rong Shuyi. At the time, I didn't think much of it, but now that I think about it, wouldn't the person chosen by the emperor have to listen to the emperor's orders?
Rong Shuyi's miscarriage was a heartbreaking event, and Chu Mingheng would not have let it go without a reason.
Could it be that Consort Rong has angered the Emperor?
What could be the reason that made Chu Mingheng so angry?
Lan Wu suppressed her doubts and looked up at Chen Li.
"His Majesty has only assigned Imperial Physician Xu to take care of Consort Rong's health. I wonder if Imperial Physician Xu will be able to handle the workload..."
"After all, Physician Chen was already exhausted enough just from taking care of my body."
Lan Wu smiled, turned to look at Lian Xi, and said, "Go and get that mother-of-pearl inlaid box from the antique shelf."
Chen Li's heart tightened, probably guessing what Lan Wu was planning to do. Just as he was wondering how to refuse, he saw Lian Xi quickly return with the things.
"I happen to have some good things here. If you don't mind, Physician Chen, please take them." Lan Wu handed her the box.
Chen Li immediately knelt down, bowed his head, and respectfully refused, saying, "Your Majesty, I would never dare to take anything from you. It is only my duty to take care of Your Majesty's health. Even if Your Majesty did not say anything, I would still do my best. I cannot bear the word 'tired.' Your Majesty is too kind to me."
I knew she wouldn't agree right away.
Lan Wu pursed her lips and opened the box to show her what was inside.
"It's nothing important, just some pretty stones. I think women would like these kinds of things. If you don't like them, I can exchange them for something else."
Chu Mingheng gave her quite a lot of gems, and she was very generous.
She couldn't give the gemstone to anyone else, but she was willing to give it to Physician Chen. She remembered that Physician Chen had a daughter, and she thought that if the gemstone was made into a hairpin or a jewel, Physician Chen could use it to adorn the little girl's hair in the future.
Lanwu couldn't just give away her own hairpins and ornaments, but these gemstones that hadn't yet been crafted into hairpins and jewelry were quite useful.
He wanted to say something to Chen Li to refuse.
Lan Wu looked thoughtful: "I remember His Majesty gave me a fine inkstone a few days ago. Physician Chen often uses pen and ink when writing prescriptions in the Imperial Hospital. What do you think of this inkstone?"
Chen Li was speechless, completely stumped by her words.
How could she dare to accept a gift from the emperor?
After hesitating and pondering for a long time, Chen Li finally accepted the small box and took the gemstone: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness."
Lan Wu helped her up and said with a smile, "No need to thank me, just make sure my medicine doesn't taste so bitter to my tongue in the future."
"Your Majesty, good medicine tastes bitter..."
Lan Wu looked slightly dejected, then turned her head away from the matter and reminded her of the key point: "Then I will have to trouble Physician Chen to take good care of things in the future. Physician Xu must have some things he can't attend to while taking care of Consort Rong's health. Physician Chen, you must help me out."
Chen Li bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
After seeing off Physician Chen, Lan Wu returned to her bed in the inner palace to sleep, but her mind was in turmoil and she couldn't fall asleep no matter what.
She felt that she had been too careless. Just because she had been favored by Chu Mingheng in her previous life, she shouldn't speak recklessly in this life. In fact, Chu Mingheng had only spent less than two months with her.
If Chu Mingheng were to cripple her in his rage today, it would truly be a loss for him.
But she was half pretending; the other half was that she simply couldn't help but blurt those words out.
Who told Chu Mingheng to bully her?
Anyone can bully her, but Chu Mingheng cannot.
Thinking of this, Lan Wu's mind flashed back to Rong Shuyi's face.
She rolled over, her hand instinctively resting on her lower abdomen.
She has never been pregnant and hopes that such a situation will not occur for the time being.
She went to bed too late last night, and even though she had a headache this morning, cried herself out, and had a lot on her mind, she still managed to drift off to sleep after a long time once she touched the bed.
I didn't sleep well; I felt heavy and had many dreams.
The dream continues, but the person remains asleep.
Just before noon, Chu Mingheng arrived with the imperial edict that he had agreed upon with Lan Wu.
He didn't have anyone announce his arrival and went into the inner palace on his own.
The curtains on the couch in the hall were drawn back, but when you slightly pulled them aside, you could see Lan Wu lying on the pillow where Chu Mingheng usually slept.
The blush at the corners of Lan Wu's eyes hadn't faded, and she looked aggrieved even as she slept like that.
What's there to feel aggrieved about?
Liar.
Chu Mingheng sat on the edge of the couch, touched her forehead with his hand, and when he didn't feel it was hot, he withdrew his hand.
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