Chapter 42 Unexpected
Chu Mingheng's words were somewhat harsh, but no one dared to say a bad word about them.
No wonder Zhen Jieyu stormed ashore in a huff. Given her lower social status, it's remarkable that she didn't retaliate when mocked in front of her.
But thinking about it this way, wouldn't her act of pushing people be even more suspicious?
As everyone was pondering this, they noticed some movement outside the palace gate.
Rong Shuyi was helped into the main hall.
She looked haggard and pale, her hair was slightly disheveled, and her eyes were red from crying. She entered the hall in a disheveled state and knelt down to pay her respects to the person in charge.
"Your Majesty... I was wrong. I shouldn't have offended Consort Zhen. It was my fault, but the child in my womb was innocent. He hadn't even grown a little bit in my belly before he was gone... Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please do justice for him! I beg you, please do justice for him—"
Rong Shuyi spoke with tears streaming down her face, which made her already disheveled and thin figure appear even more desperate and sorrowful, making her look pitiful no matter how you looked at her.
However, Consort Rong was a newly arrived concubine, and what she didn't know was that in the emperor's eyes, imperial offspring were not actually that important.
"Help Rong Shuyi up," he said.
The palace servants quickly stepped forward to help Rong Shuyi up and sit on a cushioned chair.
The door to the inner palace was suddenly opened, and the person who came out didn't look much better than Rong Shuyi, but she still walked steadily. The palace servants changed her clothes, so she didn't look too disheveled.
However, as soon as Lan Wu came out, she followed suit and knelt down, saying in a mournful voice, "Your Majesty, I don't know where I offended Consort Rong. It's one thing for her to give the palace servants names that humiliate me, but I was worried that the boat was unstable, so I hurriedly tried to get ashore. I didn't expect her to push me into the water. If it weren't for me... if it weren't for the fact that I have been learning to dance since I was a child, I would have really been pushed into the water by her."
"Consort Rong said that her bumping into someone was unintentional. Does that mean that if I was just standing there and was bumped into, and then pushed back, it would be considered that I did it on purpose?"
"Just because I was a dancer, does that mean I deserve to be humiliated and thrown into the water without being able to resist?"
After speaking, Lan Wu wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. She looked at Rong Shuyi, who was sitting in the chair trying her best to restrain herself from making a move, and continued, "I am in poor health. I just asked the imperial physician, and he said that if I were to fall into the lake today, I might have difficulty conceiving..."
"Then can I also say that Consort Rong deliberately knocked me into the water?"
"You're spouting nonsense!" Rong Shuyi was so angry upon hearing her words that her hands trembled, and she immediately refuted her.
In the end, what happened today was all about coincidence, and when we put it together, it led to a series of consequences.
Chu Mingheng's expression changed slightly for a moment upon hearing Lan Wu's words, but no one noticed. He ordered someone to help Lan Wu sit up, his cold face now showing a hint of ruthlessness, his eyes sharp and undisguised.
"Since it was an accident, there's no need to mention it again." His voice carried an undeniable, authoritative, and cold tone. At this moment, his brows were slightly furrowed, and his gaze was deep as he looked at Rong Shuyi, who was filled with shock and disbelief. "Anyone who mentions it again will have their tongue pulled out as a warning to others."
The concubines dared not utter another word, only responding with "Yes."
Rong Shuyi also slowly lowered her head.
“If you can’t protect yourself, you’re useless. Drag her away and behead her.”
Chu Mingheng slowly tapped the table with his finger, summoning someone: "Chen Kang'an."
Chen Kang'an stepped forward in response: "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Go to the inner palace and select a new maid to send to Qiushui Pavilion. Keep your eyes wide open and choose carefully."
"Your servant obeys the decree."
Zhilan was pulled down, her body limp. Rong Shuyi never raised her head, but after Chu Mingheng finished speaking, she was sadly helped up by someone.
Chen Kang'an whispered a reminder to her, "Your Majesty, it's time to express your gratitude."
She then knelt down and bowed deeply, her head hanging low, her voice muffled and hoarse: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."
Lan Wu remained silent, but when Chu Mingheng was about to get up and leave the palace, she subconsciously stood up as well.
She hated Luo Yingting and didn't want to stay there anymore.
It's already quite late since the lake tour ended. She should go back to Longyu Pavilion first. Once Chu Mingheng leaves, these concubines might say something unpleasant.
Chu Mingheng glanced at her but didn't say anything, pretending not to see her following him.
Lan Wu slowly followed behind, shuffling out of the palace gate, and saw that Chu Mingheng's imperial carriage had not yet left.
She bit her lip and hurriedly followed.
Beside the imperial carriage, Chen Kang'an drew back the curtain for her and said with a smile, "Please, Your Highness."
Chu Mingheng slightly raised his eyes and looked at her, seeing her sitting down with a wronged expression.
As soon as the curtain was drawn, Lan Wu crept up to the side of the chair and called out, "Your Majesty..."
Chu Mingheng sighed and reached out his hand to her.
When she reached out her hand, he pulled her close and said in a deep voice, "You were running around like that, you should be taught a lesson this time."
Lan Wu's body was still a little cold. The imperial physician had given her acupuncture and medicine, but the pain was not completely gone; her lower abdomen was still slightly uncomfortable.
She was held in Chu Mingheng's arms, curling up into a ball, her body softly sinking into his embrace. Hearing him say those words, her voice was unsteady and a little hoarse: "This concubine was thinking of behaving well..."
Chu Mingheng had already scolded her for the storybook incident and ignored her for several days afterward. If she refused Consort Rou's invitation, it might get back to Chu Mingheng and he might accuse her of disrespecting her superior.
That's why she went.
Chu Mingheng pinched the back of her neck to ease her tense nerves: "When did I say anything?"
Even today, when Rong Shuyi suffered a miscarriage, he didn't say a word to Lan Wu.
He didn't say anything, but Lan Wu herself was somewhat dazed.
She pressed her face against Chu Mingheng's neck and didn't utter a sound on the way back.
Once back at Longyu Pavilion, Lan Wu was carried into the main hall by Chu Mingheng.
"Still in a lot of pain?" Chu Mingheng put her on the soft couch and saw her listless face. He couldn't help but pinch her cheeks and look down at her.
Lan Wu shook her head and said, "It doesn't hurt much anymore."
"So what are you thinking about?" Chu Mingheng asked again.
Lan Wu snapped out of her daze, avoiding his gaze, and then said, "Your Majesty, Consort Rong, she..."
That child was ultimately gone.
"Don't overthink it." Chu Mingheng's expression turned cold. He gently rubbed her lips with his fingers, then slipped his fingers inside and said slowly, "Don't you want your tongue anymore?"
His fingers traced over Lan Wu's soft tongue inch by inch, teasing it playfully and warningly before pulling them out. He then took Lan Wu's handkerchief from her side and wiped his hands.
Seeing that Lan Wu seemed stunned, he raised an eyebrow slightly: "What, these things weren't written in your storybooks?"
Hearing him mention storybooks again, Lan Wu quickly shook her head: "This concubine will not speak of them anymore, Your Majesty, please keep this concubine company..."
She grabbed Chu Mingheng's clothes and pressed herself against him.
"How else do you want me to accompany you? Should I carry you to court?" Chu Mingheng stroked her head.
Lan Wu was taken aback by his words and shook her head sullenly: "...No."
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