Chapter 19 Will His Majesty Return?
Taichen Palace is an enormous palace. There is a sizable open space in front of the soft couch where Lan Wu sleeps, with a brocade palace carpet on the ground. It doesn't feel cold to walk on it barefoot.
Although Lan Wu was going to dance, she needed to prepare properly. She had climbed a tree and hadn't washed herself, so she felt a bit dirty. She also needed a new set of clothes.
Taichen Palace probably doesn't have these things either.
She was overjoyed to receive Chu Mingheng's permission, but she maintained her shyness and mystery by gently asking Chu Mingheng to lend her Miss Luo Yun for a short while so that she could prepare herself.
Chu Mingheng leaned back slightly and looked at her silently. After a moment, when panic gradually appeared in Lan Wu's eyes, he casually said, "Good, you danced well, I will reward you too."
Lan Wu pursed her lips and got off him.
A short while later, Chu Mingheng came out of the inner hall, heading towards the small study. Not long after he left, Luo Yun followed him into the hall.
After entering the hall, Luo Yun stood in front of Lan Wu, waiting for her to give instructions.
"Miss Luo Yun, could you help me find a light and thin gauze dress? The thinner the better."
The undershirt she was wearing was form-fitting, making it unattractive for dancing, let alone seductive.
"Also, I'd like to take a shower and wash up...is that alright?"
The imperial bath bestowed by Taichen Palace is a great honor, and Luo Yun naturally has no authority to make such a decision. However, since His Majesty just said that any request Lan Wu makes can be fulfilled, the matter of bathing and washing is no longer important.
Thinking of this, Luo Yun smiled slightly at Lan Wu and gently replied, "Of course, please wait a moment, Miss."
The small study is not far from the main hall, but it is quiet.
Although Chu Mingheng agreed to Lan Wu's request, he couldn't let her run wild. He didn't think much of it when he learned that she had asked someone for a new dress, since she was going to dance.
But when he heard that she wanted to take a bath and wash up, Chu Mingheng tapped his fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought.
"How's it going at the music hall?" he suddenly asked.
Chen Kang'an replied, "Your Majesty, there was a female manager of the music hall named He Ying who suddenly fell ill. We just sent someone to the music hall to inquire, only to find that she had already passed away."
"He Ying used to be a dancer. Later, when she got older, she taught the new palace maids who had joined the music hall to dance. Miss Lan Wu was also under her tutelage."
Since the plan failed, it was time to clean up the mess quickly. The other party clearly understood this, and acted swiftly.
"Continue the investigation."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The moon is beautiful tonight, and the moonlight is very bright.
When Lan Wu came out after her bath, Luo Yun had already laid out the clothes he had found in front of her.
Luo Yun found three silk gauze garments of different thicknesses. The lightest one was scarlet, and you could even see her snow-white skin through it.
"Are these suitable, young lady?" Luo Yun wasn't sure if the thickness was right.
Behind her, two palace maids were wringing Lan Wu's hair.
Lan Wu sat on the soft chair, her fingers hovering over the three garments, before finally choosing the crimson one.
"Suitable".
After speaking, she clutched her clothes in her hands, lowered her head and gazed down, quietly waiting for the palace servants behind her to dry her hair.
Now that she has regained her strength, she hasn't eaten anything since the afternoon, only drank some water. She's going to dance for Chu Mingheng later, so she's even more afraid to eat anything now, lest her stomach swell up a little and look bad.
"Alright, young lady." The palace servants combed her hair and reminded her that it was dry.
Lan Wu then told them all to leave. After watching the door close, she took off her clothes, revealing her fair and pink skin, which was flushed from the steam after her bath, and put on a crimson shirt without wearing anything.
This outer garment is unlike the dance costume that Lan Wu had made herself at the Imperial Wardrobe in her previous life, so its effectiveness is naturally inferior. However, after being tied with a ribbon, the garment is loose and baggy, and it's estimated that it will fall to the ground even if she dances very vigorously later.
Lan Wu touched her face, finally managing to cool down the burning sensation, and then hurriedly used a hairpin to tie her hair into a bun.
Following the familiar path from the bathhouse back to the inner palace, Lan Wu looked around, then sat obediently on the soft couch, waiting for Chu Mingheng to return.
However, it wasn't Chu Mingheng who arrived, but Luo Yun.
Hearing the door open, Lan Wu instinctively smiled and looked over, only to see Luo Yun walk in and lower his head to tell her some news.
"Miss, Consort Rong of Qiushui Pavilion just vomited blood, and His Majesty has already gone there."
After Luo Yun finished speaking, he carefully observed Lan Wu's expression.
Seeing Lan Wu's initial surprise, her smile froze, and then she lowered her head to pull the blanket over herself, wondering how long she had been freezing in this cold spring night, she finally heard Lan Wu ask her a question:
Will His Majesty return tonight?
Lan Wu was so focused on guarding against Consort Shu and the others that she forgot about this Consort Rong.
In her previous life, Consort Rong was the most outstanding among the concubines selected for the imperial concubine selection. When she was named Consort Lan, Consort Rong had already become Consort Rong. Afterwards, Consort Rong repeatedly stole her favor. She was both angry and furious, but since her rank was one level lower, there was really nothing she could do. She could only desperately hold onto Chu Mingheng to prevent him from becoming interested in Consort Rong.
Rong Meiren was skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, while Lan Wu herself only knew a few characters, but was good at dancing.
She didn't agree with the saying "How long can one win favor by using one's looks?" So she used her wits and tricks, and finally won over the extremely boring Consort Rong with her own little schemes.
But right now, she hasn't even gained favor yet, and Consort Rong—no, I mean, Lady Rong—is already getting restless. If she keeps Chu Mingheng in Qiushui Pavilion tonight, even if Chu Mingheng later bestows upon her a higher rank, she will become the laughingstock of the entire palace.
Rong Meiren has such a despicable mind.
Lan Wu was so angry she was trembling.
Luo Yun thought she was cold, so she quickly poured her a cup of hot tea, but she couldn't give a definite answer to Lan Wu's question.
Will His Majesty return tonight? Who knows?
She thought Lan Wu would be flustered and sad, and was about to say something to comfort her, but Lan Wu tugged at her sleeve and looked down to meet a pair of bright, watery eyes.
Lan Wu asked her, "Can I have something to eat now? I'm a little hungry."
Drinking water alone won't fill her up. Since Chu Mingheng has gone to someone else's palace, she shouldn't starve herself while waiting for him to return. She should also think of a way to lure Chu Mingheng back.
"...Of course! What would you like to eat, young lady?"
"Just give me a few pastries." She didn't eat much, because she still wanted to dance for Chu Mingheng when he came back later.
"Please wait a moment, young lady, I will send someone to prepare."
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