Chapter 105 is not here.
"You're saying she's not in Yilan Palace?" Consort Shu pulled her hand back, her freshly painted nail polish vibrant and glistening, but she didn't have the patience to look at it more closely. Her tone was full of skepticism towards what the palace servant had said. "How could that be? Where else could she be if she's not in Yilan Palace?"
A palace maid knelt in the middle of Yifang Palace, relaying news from Yilan Palace. With autumn approaching, the weather had become dry these past few days, making even ordinary faces feel tense and uncomfortable. The maid's lips even stung from straining to speak. The mistress of Yilan Palace had been confined by imperial decree, and no one had been seen leaving the palace. Obtaining even a sliver of information from there was incredibly difficult.
Consort Wen smiled calmly, picked up the tea on the table, took a small sip, and listened to the palace servants below continue their replies.
"Your Majesty, I noticed that the imperial kitchen servants have been delivering less food than usual these past few days. I was puzzled, so I inquired and learned from the servants that Consort Zhaorong seems to be away from Yilan Palace. I only came to report this to Your Majesty after receiving this information."
Consort Shu still felt strange and couldn't help but glance at the two people sitting below.
Since Consort Li gained some power, she has been quite arrogant and domineering. She even gave Consort Zeng a handle that could destroy the Zeng family. Consort Li did not waste her efforts and kept running to the Emperor to report the evidence. As expected, the Zeng family was banished to the Cold Palace. Coincidentally, at this time, the Zeng family also collapsed like a building about to fall. For a moment, she couldn't understand whether it was too coincidental, and even wondered if the Emperor had played a role in it.
If His Majesty was indeed helping her, then his every move was being watched by him, which made her feel a chill in her heart.
But His Majesty said nothing, as if he didn't know that she had used Consort Li to bring down the Zeng family.
Consort Li was too high-profile and too foolish, so when she learned of her thoughts, she didn't mind doing her another small favor.
It was just that the palace servants from the Imperial Wardrobe had mistakenly delivered the clothes, yet Lan Wu went to investigate in a huff, causing quite a scene, but unfortunately, she didn't see it.
Now that Consort Li has become Noble Consort Li, and Lan Wu is under house arrest, she should be smiling, but she feels uneasy. Everything seems too smooth. When she hears from the palace servants that Consort Zhen, who should be under house arrest, is not in Yilan Palace, she is puzzled, but upon reflection, she finds it quite normal.
"What do you think?" Consort Shu waved her hand gently, dismissing the palace servants, before turning her gaze away to her newly dyed nail polish.
Consort Wen spoke first, saying softly, "Although His Majesty punished both of them, confinement is hardly a big deal."
As she spoke, she glanced at Bai Xiuyi again and chuckled, "My sister is usually very clever. Think about it, what could be the reason for this?"
Bai Xiuyi quickly picked up on the conversation, modestly saying, "Sister Wen always teases me. I'm sure you and the Empress know the reason and are deliberately teasing me."
“Back then, Consort Li was riding high and had a lot of influence. We tried to make Consort Zhen aware of this, which is why one of my palace servants passed on the information to her. But we didn’t expect her to be such a carefree person and not take it to heart at all.”
"That's true. She's doing well in Yilan Palace. No matter how powerful Consort Li is, His Majesty is there to keep an eye on her."
Consort Bai glanced at Consort Shu, and seeing that she was not angry, she continued, "Now, on the surface, His Majesty has punished people, but His Majesty has always favored Consort Zhen. How could he have really punished anyone? Now that she is not in Yilan Palace, who knows where His Majesty has taken her to enjoy himself."
The coldness in Consort Shu's eyes rose, but quickly receded, and a mocking smile appeared on her lips: "Now I've come to terms with it. Consort Zhen is capable, and it's fine that she's gained the Emperor's favor. I don't think His Majesty is interested in anyone else. Fortunately, the power to manage the six palaces is in my hands. As long as I manage it well, His Majesty will naturally think more highly of me."
His Majesty couldn't possibly entrust such great power to a concubine who was originally a dancer, so for the time being, there were no other concubines in the harem who could rival her for power. The only one she should be wary of was...
It was Zhen Zhaorong's belly.
If she were to suddenly conceive a dragon child, the situation in the harem would change dramatically.
Consort Shu didn't want this to happen, but it hadn't happened yet, and she was hesitating about whether to take action against Lan Wu.
She wanted to take action, but if she were found out, she feared she would suffer the same fate as the Zeng family.
Thinking of this, Consort Shu took a deep breath—she needed to consider the matter carefully and see if Lan Wu was worth the risk.
Lan Wu, suspected of having gone to enjoy herself, slept for another hour or so.
I woke up groggily, sitting up while still clutching the blanket, and reached for the teacup beside me.
The teacup was placed right next to the tatami mat, easily within reach. The water was still warm, probably from the palace servants who came in earlier to change it.
Lan Wu drank some water, opened her eyes, and looked at the sky outside. She could already tell that it was almost dusk.
She called someone in.
When Mu Jin entered the palace to serve her, she saw that the woman was awake and asked her if she wanted something to eat.
Lan Wu frowned; she wasn't really hungry yet.
But those legs...
She almost fell in front of Chu Mingheng before, so she can't afford to lose face again now.
Lan Wu called Mu Jin over to help her up.
Her legs were still sore, but she managed to stand up. Lan Wu breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, her legs still weak, that she needed to freshen up a bit.
She's been sleeping for a long time, and she can't stay on the couch any longer. Even if she can't go out for a walk, she needs some fresh air, or she'll feel suffocated.
"Has His Majesty not returned yet?" She took two steps, steadied herself, and saw Mu Jin calling for someone to prepare water to be brought into the palace. She asked her quietly.
Mu Jin shook her head: "His Majesty has not yet returned to Taichen Palace."
Lan Wu nodded in understanding. After the palace servants helped her wash up, she couldn't go far, so she simply went to the side room of the small study to relax by the window and read a book.
As autumn progresses, darkness falls quickly. Before long, Lanwu noticed the light was dimming, so she ordered more candles to be lit in the palace.
She was engrossed in watching and didn't notice the greetings coming from outside the hall.
Until the book in my hand was pressed down.
Just as she was about to get annoyed, she looked up and met Chu Mingheng's face. She subconsciously smiled at him, but quickly looked away, glanced at him, and picked up her book to continue reading.
Chu Mingheng chuckled, sat down next to her, and leaned in to watch with her.
"Bring some over, I can't see it." After looking at it for a while, Lan Wu turned the book aside, and Chu Mingheng pulled her into his arms and held the book for her.
Lan Wu reached out and pried him away, saying, "I didn't ask you to see it, I... I won't look anymore."
Chu Mingheng had been waiting for her to say this. He put down the book, lifted her onto his lap, and kissed her cheek: "Then let's not read anymore, let's go have dinner."
Lan Wu wasn't hungry at all, but she still had to eat a couple of bites with them.
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