Chapter 20 Take good care of yourself
Consort Rong of Qiushui Pavilion did indeed vomit blood. The imperial physician was summoned, and the diagnosis was only yin deficiency with excessive fire and liver qi stagnation.
When Chu Mingheng arrived, Qiushui Pavilion was quite lively.
When Consort Rong had an accident, Consort Jia from the main hall of Changying Palace came over to take a look and was talking to Consort Rong.
Upon hearing the palace servant's announcement, both of them stopped talking and looked towards the doorway simultaneously.
Consort Jia was the first to bow to Chu Mingheng as he entered the hall. However, Consort Rong, whether due to illness or inconvenience while in bed, hurriedly threw off the covers and knelt on the ground upon seeing the emperor enter the hall.
"Get up, all of you." Chu Mingheng sat down to the side, casually waving his hand to signal the palace servants to help the people on the ground up.
Rong Meiren looked quite unwell. She was helped to sit on the bed, and her face was still pale.
She whispered to Chu Mingheng, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that I only have liver fire. I originally didn't want the palace servants to report this to Your Majesty, after all, Your Majesty still has a younger sister in your palace..."
As she spoke, she lowered her eyes to look at the ground, paused for a moment with her head bowed, and seeing that Chu Mingheng did not intend to interrupt her, she continued with slightly heavier breathing, "But when the palace servants saw that I had vomited blood, they were worried and panicked and still reported it to Your Majesty. I will definitely discipline them properly afterward, and I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Chu Mingheng did not accuse the palace servants of any crime, but his dark eyes swept over her face. The bright candlelight in the hall illuminated his cold and composed expression clearly.
After a short while, he spoke slowly: "You often practice calligraphy to calm your mind, so why are you so angry today?"
Rong Meiren hadn't expected to receive words of concern, but rather this accusation. She swallowed hard, composed herself, and replied respectfully, "It must be because I drank too much wine at noon..."
"That's not it, it was clearly Consort Shu—"
Before Consort Rong could finish speaking, a palace maid beside her spoke up in her defense.
"Shut up!" Rong Meiren quickly told her to shut up.
"Oh?" Chu Mingheng turned his gaze to the little palace maid. "You tell me, how is Consort Shu doing?"
The young palace maid was frightened by Consort Rong's tone and knelt down tremblingly, not daring to speak for a moment.
"Your Majesty, the people in my palace are unruly. I will certainly..."
"I didn't tell you to say it," Chu Mingheng coldly interrupted her.
Rong Meiren couldn't help but clench her sleeves, lower her head, and kneel on the ground.
The young palace maid knew she had gotten herself into trouble, but she had no choice but to speak. Her face ashen, she softly uttered, "Your Majesty… this afternoon… in front of all the concubines, Consort Shu said… that the beauty had seduced Your Majesty, and that the beauty had been humiliated, which is why… this servant wanted to… to defend the beauty… Your Majesty, please forgive me—Your Majesty, please forgive me—"
After saying this, she kowtowed repeatedly.
Consort Jia stood silently to the side, quickly glancing at the Emperor's expression before abruptly looking away.
A cold glint appeared in Chu Mingheng's eyes, but he was looking at Consort Rong. He said casually, "I gave Consort Shu the power to assist in managing the six palaces. Are you saying that Consort Shu is wrong, then I gave it to the wrong person and it should have been given to your mistress."
These words are like sharp blades mixed in with a blanket of snow, leaving the body utterly battered.
Consort Rong hurriedly expressed her dissatisfaction, saying that Consort Shu's words were all reasonable.
"It was I who made a mistake. I failed to properly instruct the palace servants. Your Majesty, please punish me—"
At this moment, Chu Mingheng called for people to get up again: "You are still ill, why should I punish you? Since you are sick, you should take good care of yourself from now on."
"As for this palace maid," Chu Mingheng didn't even glance at her, "she will be given thirty strokes of the cane and sent to the laundry department."
Rong Meiren was startled. She raised her head, her eyes filled with fear, and her lips trembled. She could only kowtow to accept the imperial decree and express her gratitude.
At this moment, Consort Jia lowered her head slightly, her eyes darting around as if she found it somewhat amusing. But when she raised her head, she said with a worried expression, "Your Majesty, Sister Rong is in poor health. I will certainly take good care of her."
Chu Mingheng glanced at her, stood up from his seat, and said, "Return to the palace."
As the emperor's figure disappeared through the palace gates, Consort Jia calmly rose, looking down at the sickly-looking Consort Rong. She reached out and lifted Rong's beautiful face, gently speaking to awaken her from her reverie:
"Don't think that just because His Majesty treats you specially, you're really that special. There are plenty of women in the palace who are more beautiful than you. His Majesty's fondness for you is just a passing fancy. Now there are beauties who are more beautiful and interesting than you. What are you?"
"Still want to say bad things about Consort Shu? Do you think she got to the position of Consort Shu? Of course, she is more favored by His Majesty than you are."
Think about it carefully.
After saying this, Consort Jia pushed Consort Rong's face away, instructed the palace servants to take good care of her, and then returned to her own palace.
Inside Changying Palace, palace maid Qingrong served hot tea to Consort Jia.
"Do you have something to say?" As if noticing Qingrong's hesitation, Consort Jia took the tea and gestured for her to speak.
Qingrong glanced at the palace gate and asked in confusion, "Why did Your Majesty give Consort Rong some pointers? That Consort Rong is always aloof and not very respectful to Your Majesty. Why are you helping her?"
Consort Jia touched the warm cup with her fingers and smiled: "She is a smart woman, but she has not been treated coldly by His Majesty since entering the palace, so she is a bit too eager to succeed. Apart from the late Consort Liang who gave birth to the eldest princess, the other concubines in the palace have also been pregnant, but none of them have given birth. When a new concubine enters the harem, many people are anxious."
"She was disrespectful to me before, but after this she should understand that she cannot survive in this palace on her own."
"Tell me, if she is pregnant, should I help her?"
Qingrong pondered, "Does Your Majesty intend to raise Consort Rong's child under your care?"
"How can you say for sure? We don't know how far she can go," Consort Jia said slowly, taking a sip of tea. "I just hope she won't disappoint me."
"But that dancer... Your Highness, shouldn't we go and find out what's going on?"
"There's no need to concern ourselves with this matter; it's not like I'm going to oppose her anyway."
Speaking of which, she actually favored the dancer named Lan Wu more. Her figure and appearance were so stunning that even she, a woman, would be jealous. As long as Lan Wu was clever and charming, she would have no trouble winning the emperor's favor.
However, His Majesty is always cold-hearted and indifferent, and it is unknown how long this imperial favor can last.
"Let's wait and hear tomorrow's imperial decree, and see what rank she will be given."
The dancers were of a lower status; in essence, they were just servants.
Consort Jia estimated that Lan Wu was at most a beauty, after all, the highest rank of the concubines selected this time was Jieyu, and the favored Consort Rong was still only a beauty. If His Majesty really made Lan Wu a beauty, the whole palace would laugh at Consort Rong.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com