Chapter 6 This is the last time.
"You want me to retract my order?" Chu Mingheng's palm was pressed against Lan Wu's forehead, and for a moment they couldn't tell whose body temperature was lower.
But soon, as hot tears welled up in those bright eyes and dripped down, Chu Mingheng felt the warmth of her tears.
"This servant knows she was wrong, Your Majesty. This servant will definitely dance well next time. Please don't punish others, Your Majesty?"
...
I felt like I'd heard similar words before, even in a dream.
The voice was similar to Lan Wu's, a soft, low grumble from a woman, tinged with grievance and a sob, as if she were pleading with him tenderly on the bed.
"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please have mercy on me and don't punish me. I beg you..."
A cold wind swept by, and the voice in his dream faded from his ears. He lowered his head again, his fingertips gently tracing the corner of Lan Wu's eye, touching her trembling eyelashes, as if she were dancing naked, shy and restless.
Chu Mingheng withdrew his hand, his fist gradually clenching to hold back the few tears in his palm. He asked Lan Wu, his voice soft and cold, "If you won't punish them, then you will."
The girl in his sight was so frightened that she almost froze, staring at him pitifully as if he were an unforgivable sinner.
Lan Wu's eyes are beautiful; they seem to look at everything with affection, as if he were her dream lover.
She acted so naturally, as if she was completely unaware of it. She knew he would be angry if he found out she wasn't dancing well, but she was still willing to gamble that he wouldn't find out. Even if he did find out, now that she was acting cute, he really wanted to forgive her.
But that won't work.
I will not forgive.
Lan Wu bit her lip, seemingly making a decision. She wiped away her tears, her crimson eyes lowered: "Then punish me, just punish me alone."
How will he punish her? Will he order her hands and feet cut off as well? Or will he beat her to death?
Lan Wu was afraid, and also felt like she had given up entirely.
Chen Kang'an watched in astonishment. He had followed His Majesty for so many years and had seen all the concubines in the harem. None of them dared to be like the one in front of him, who dared to ask His Majesty to change the imperial decree before even having a title. His Majesty's attitude was also unpredictable. He was as majestic as ever, but he showed more doting affection for the woman in front of him.
If it were anyone else, the platform would be stained with blood by now.
Chu Mingheng stood up, but the large rosewood chair didn't budge. The man in the chair was noticeably taller after standing, and his white marble robe, embroidered with cloud patterns, did nothing to diminish his imposing presence; at most, it added a touch of subtle gentleness. He leaned slightly forward and admonished Lan Wu:
"This will not be repeated."
Lan Wu knelt in the center of the platform, watching Chu Mingheng lead his men out of Yilan Palace.
The vast palace gradually fell silent, leaving only the empty chair in front of her. Looking at it, Lan Wu could almost picture Chu Mingheng sitting there watching her dance.
As night fell, Lan Wu climbed up from the platform and ran out of Yi Lan Palace.
This life is different from the last.
Why is Chu Mingheng interested in her? If things continue like this, will he take her into the palace?
Back at the music hall, Lan Wu started coughing. The spring night was chilly and the wind was blowing. She had been fine dancing in summer clothes at the Emperor's birthday celebration a few days ago, but today she fell ill after visiting Yilan Palace.
In her hazy sleep, she remembered many things from the past.
In her previous life, Consort Li wanted to present her to the emperor, so she naturally had to find the best opportunity.
But as fate would have it, it rained that night. The rain hit her and made her shiver with cold, but she still insisted on finishing the dance. Afterwards, she was given a bath by the Taichen Palace. Her face was rosy after the bath, and she looked adorable.
That night, she climbed onto the emperor's bed, but received no pity from him. She was ill for more than half a month before she fully recovered and was able to receive his favor.
She was somewhat afraid of Chu Mingheng's methods in bed. He was a dignified and strict emperor when he was out of bed, but once in bed he had countless lewd tricks up his sleeve.
After dancing on the Moon Pool platform once again, she fainted after taking only two steps forward.
In a daze, she cried with her eyes closed, her body feeling both cold and hot. She only felt safe when someone held her. Her tears were wiped away little by little, and finally, a kiss was placed on her rosy cheeks. Someone was talking, seemingly laughing at her for being like a child, or perhaps trying to comfort her and stop her crying.
After that, Chu Mingheng never let her dance in the pool again. Even if she wanted to dance, it would be in the warmest hall, with soft carpets laid out and the windows closed, so that she could dance for him alone.
The cold wind rattled the window. In her daze, she opened her eyes and saw the rough wooden table in front of her and the not-so-soft blanket covering her. She blinked and quietly gazed out the window.
Chu Mingheng was an emperor whose word was law; if he said he would retract his order, he would naturally not make things difficult for the other members of the music hall.
Lan Wu had been sick for two days, and she looked thinner.
She also inquired about the previous deaths at the Thousand Carp Pond.
"This kind of thing is taboo, and you can't bring it up often," Xia Chu said as she tidied the blankets, hearing her ask these questions.
Seeing that Lan Wu didn't speak, she glanced cautiously outside again, walked over and whispered to Lan Wu, "Then I'll tell you this once, but you can't tell anyone that I told you."
Lan Wu nodded and looked at her.
"That person's name is Yuzhu. I heard that she is the personal maid of Consort Li. Consort Shu sent people to investigate the guards at Qianli Pond that night, but coincidentally, no one saw Yuzhu enter the Imperial Garden. How could a perfectly normal person sneak into the Imperial Garden in the dark?"
Lan Wu knew that Xia Chu couldn't keep her mouth shut, otherwise she wouldn't have asked her, but the more she listened, the more she felt something was wrong.
Xia Chu whispered in Lan Wu's ear, somewhat embarrassed, "I heard that Yu Zhu went to meet her lover that night."
Lan Wu blinked, speechless at those words.
Her? That lover?
"Didn't Consort Li say..."
Xia Chu waved her hand, making an inscrutable expression: "Consort Li is trying to save face for her maid. Besides, if this gets out, Consort Li will lose face as well."
"However, before Consort Shu could investigate further, Consort Rou found out that there were obvious slip marks by the Thousand Carp Pond, left by Yu Zhu, indicating that she had accidentally fallen into the water."
"Since Consort Li is not pursuing the matter, it is not appropriate for Consort Shu to investigate further."
Lan Wu dared not think too deeply. Consort Li's methods were not particularly clever. If Consort Shu continued to investigate, she would surely be able to find out about her. At that time, she would be in a precarious position, offending both sides.
Fortunately, the matter came to an end, and Lan Wu continued to stay in the music hall, occasionally inquiring about ways to leave the palace. In the process, she actually found out quite a few shortcuts.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com