Chapter 38 Falling into the Water While Swimming in the Lake
Five days later, Chu Mingheng entered the inner palace.
Not only did he not enter the harem, he also never met Lan Wu.
Lan Wu was still somewhat bewildered. It wasn't until several days later that she belatedly realized that Chu Mingheng was dissatisfied with her. But to be honest, Lan Wu felt that she had already been wronged. Chu Mingheng had already hit her, yet he was still not satisfied. Did he really want her to burn those storybooks that she used to amuse herself?
Besides, didn't he already tell her to see it? Why is he still ignoring her like this?
Before she could think further, the pain in her lower abdomen suddenly intensified, making her gasp. Her period hadn't started yet, but she estimated it would be in the next few days.
This pain wouldn't kill her, but it was unbearable, a dull ache that would suddenly intensify from time to time. In severe cases, she would be listless all day, and even the slightest movement would hurt.
She was in great pain in her previous life, but the female physicians of the Imperial Hospital took care of her for more than half a year, and she finally started to recover. Now she has returned to the beginning.
Lan Wu felt annoyed when she thought about this, but there was really nothing she could do. She had slept in a little longer in the morning, and when she got up, she noticed that her lower back was also sore.
She was about to send someone to invite the imperial physician to prepare some medicine for her as a precaution. Even if it couldn't cure her immediately, it would be better than being in so much pain that she would feel weak all over.
Just as she finished washing up, she heard a palace maid enter the hall to report: "Your Majesty, Consort Rou said that the weather is nice and the wind is light today, and she invited Your Majesty to go boating on Biwei Lake."
Lan Wu frowned, but didn't immediately say she wouldn't go. Instead, she asked, "Who's going?"
"Your Majesty, Consort Shu said she wouldn't be going, nor would Consort Wen and Consort Bai. Consort Rou said it wouldn't be good for too many people, so she only invited the ladies of the rank of Beauty and above. However, Consort Rong also said she would be going."
Hearing this, Lan Wu raised an eyebrow.
She did a quick mental calculation and realized there were quite a few people, plus Consort Rong... Was Consort Rou trying to win over Consort Rong?
Roufei's actions were somewhat reasonable, given that Consort Liu had just died a few days prior, and the atmosphere in the harem was strangely oppressive. Fear of imperial power was one thing, but fear of the methods used within the harem was quite another.
His Majesty does not enter the inner palace, but the inner palace cannot remain silent forever; the concubines are used to finding their own amusement.
Kelanwu knew that this life was different from the last, and she could not use the memories of the last life to deal with something completely new.
This is a bit troublesome.
Lan Wu rubbed her lower abdomen, wondering if she would be ridiculed by her group for being a wicked concubine with an inflated ego if she didn't go.
She's already said it; she's heard these kinds of things before, or even worse.
But then she thought of Chu Mingheng.
If these unfavorable rumors about her were to reach Chu Mingheng one after another, even if Chu Mingheng didn't believe them, he would still get annoyed if he heard them too often.
Lan Wu was most afraid that he would find her annoying.
Well, she should probably behave herself for now.
Lan Wu called Lian Xi in and asked her to redo her makeup.
"I want to wear that peacock green dress with silver embroidery. Just tell me I look good." Lan Wu was naturally happy when it came to showing off.
Hearing her words, Lianxi couldn't help but laugh. She gently combed her hair and said with a smile, "Yes, this servant will definitely make Your Highness the most beautiful."
The peacock green dress that Lan Wu mentioned was thinner than a spring dress, but not as sheer as a summer dress. When the Imperial Clothing Bureau delivered the finished garment to her, Lan Wu immediately took a liking to the beautiful dress. However, due to unfortunate timing, she had never had the chance to wear it out. But today was the perfect opportunity.
Consort Rou said the time for the lake tour was after noon. The concubines came from their respective palaces. The weather was indeed fine today, with a slight breeze and the sun not being too strong.
When Lan Wu arrived, a large crowd had already gathered by the lake, all dressed in bright and eye-catching colors. But as soon as Lan Wu, dressed in green, appeared, everyone's eyes were immediately drawn to her.
Undeniably, Lan Wu's face is truly beautiful. As a former dancer, she also possesses a graceful figure. Now adorned with magnificent clothes and jewelry, her beauty is even more striking, drawing people's gazes to her frequently, only to be followed by a reluctant glance back at themselves.
Lan Wu appeared in the crowd in a high-profile manner. Looking at these familiar faces, she felt annoyed, but she did not show it. She bowed to the high-ranking concubines and waited to the side.
Today, Consort Rong was wearing a scarlet embroidered lotus flower dress and flower bud-shaped earrings. She had just bowed to Lan Wu. Putting aside the complicated thoughts in her heart, Lan Wu was indeed extremely beautiful, and it was no wonder that His Majesty favored her so much.
Consort Rou arrived at the perfect time, and once she arrived, the other concubines, having prepared, boarded the small boat.
As fate would have it, Lan Wu and Rong Meiren happened to be on the same small boat.
Also on the small boat was Yun Zhaorong from Qiwen Palace.
Because the boat was small, and the concubines each had their own personal maids with them, there couldn't be many people sitting on the boat; at most, there were only three concubines.
When Yun Zhaorong saw the two people coming up, her vision went black.
If she could, she really didn't want to get on this small boat. One of them was His Majesty's new favorite, and the other was His Majesty's old favorite. And these two just happened to be sitting on the same boat—wouldn't they be up to something later?
Not only Yun Zhaorong thought this way, but Lan Wu and Rong Meiren also remained somewhat wary.
Biwei Lake is very large, and the surface of the lake is very calm. There are also many small boats rowing around. Enjoying the scenery and drinking tea in peace and quiet is truly a wonderful thing.
When they finished their boat trip around the lake and were about to return to shore, Lan Wu's small boat lagged behind, waiting to dock.
The palace maid behind Consort Rong gave her another cup of hot tea.
Lan Wu then realized that this person was a stranger.
Oh right, she remembered. In this life, because Consort Rong vomited blood that night and called Chu Mingheng away, her personal maid Wang Qiu was beaten to death for saying the wrong thing.
Lan Wu glanced at the man and said casually with a smile, "Sister Rong's palace servants are so considerate, and you really know how to train your servants."
Rong Meiren slowly raised her eyes, then quickly lowered them again, and smiled: "Sister Zhen is joking. Zhilan is naturally a considerate person, it's not thanks to me."
Hearing her words, Lan Wu's smile faltered slightly: "Oh, Zhilan..."
She drawled out Zhilan's name, looked at her, and asked, "Which two characters are they?"
Zhilan knelt before her, glancing cautiously at Consort Rong. Seeing that she did not stop her, she replied, "Replying to Consort Jieyu, this servant's name is Zhi (for sesame) and Lan (for orchid)..."
Lan Wu nodded, chuckled, and asked again, "Is this your original name?"
Zhilan glanced at Rong Meiren cautiously again, but this time she dared not look back. She just shook her head stiffly.
Lan Wu thought that Rong Meiren was really disgusting. She spent all day reading and painting, but she didn't know what she was reading. So elegant and refined?
It's really laughable.
Yun Zhaorong watched the whole scene unfold without saying a word. Except for when the two men greeted her, she didn't say a word. Seeing that the two men might start arguing, she quickly told the palace servants to bring the boat to the shore.
Once the boat was stable, she was the first to disembark.
Lan Wu glanced at Rong Meiren, holding her breath and preparing to find an opportunity to leave after disembarking.
As soon as she stood up, Consort Rong was also helped up by the palace servants. The group stood at the bow of the boat, while the palace servants beside Lan Wu stood to one side, helping her to get on.
Just then, the boat suddenly began to rock, as if it had been swayed by the waves stirred up by the wind.
Those on the boat were already standing, and now they were even more unsteady on their feet.
Lan Wu felt as if she had been hit by a force, and was about to fall into the water. Her heart tightened, and she instinctively flipped over and pushed the person who had hit her away, regaining her footing.
With a splash, Lan Wu heard people around her shouting, "Consort Rong has fallen into the water—"
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