"My esteemed guest!" Wen Chuan exclaimed immediately.
"Do you think no one knows about your affair with that boy from the Imperial Observatory? Wenchuan, the Emperor hates palace maids who have illicit relationships with men before even leaving the palace!" Consort Wang had known about Wenchuan's affair for a long time but had kept quiet about it. Now she finally found a use for her.
"My lord! I beg you, please don't tell anyone this secret. I dare not do it again!" Wen Chuan immediately knelt down and grabbed the hem of Consort Wang's robe.
"No, I cannot break the palace rules because of you! If people find out, who knows how they'll make things difficult for me!" Wang said. Her life had indeed been difficult; during her ten years of favor, she had offended many people, such as Consort Yi. Now that she was out of favor, Consort Yi would jump out and torment her.
"My lord, I beg you, if you would protect me, I will never do it again! Please forgive me this time, for I have served you for seven or eight years!" Wen Chuan cried.
Seeing that things had gone far enough, Consort Wang changed her angry expression and reached out to pull Wenchuan up from the ground.
"My lord!" Wen Chuan exclaimed in surprise, wondering how Madam Wang would deal with her!
"Wenchuan, you're twenty-three this year, aren't you?" Wang asked.
“Yes, this servant will be able to leave the palace in two years,” Wenchuan said.
"So, I understand you. At your age, once you leave the palace, it's probably hard to find a good husband! So you found one in the palace. Actually, it makes sense. Jin Shikang from the Imperial Observatory is Ji Tianming's top disciple. He might even take over the Imperial Observatory in the future. You have good judgment," Madam Wang said persuasively.
Wen Chuan was deeply moved by these words and said to Madam Wang, "My lord, I truly did not mean to deceive you. I beg you to forgive me!"
"Hehe, Wenchuan, you don't need to be afraid. I'm just afraid that others will find out about your private affairs, that wouldn't be good," said Madam Wang.
"Please, sir, show me the way!" Wenchuan pleaded.
"Wenchuan, I have a favor to ask of you. If you can do it for me, I will ask the Emperor to grant you a marriage so that you can marry that Jin Shikang as soon as possible, how about it?" Consort Wang said.
Wen Chuan knew there would be a price to pay. She didn't know what Consort Wang wanted her to do, but it certainly wouldn't be an easy task. However, she had no choice; she had to agree, whether she wanted to or not.
"Please, sir, speak frankly!" Wen Chuan said, frowning.
"I want to know what Director Ji discussed with the Emperor, and whether it's related to that Hongli. Jin Shikang is Ji's top disciple, so he must know something. If you can find a way to get it out of him, I'll grant your request, how about it?" said Consort Wang.
Upon hearing this, Wen Chuan was terrified and kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Your Excellency, please spare me! Inquiring about the Emperor's affairs with the Imperial Observatory is a capital offense! Your Excellency, you mustn't bring trouble upon yourself!"
Consort Wang knew this was no small matter, but she had no way out. She was convinced that only by following the Crown Prince could she continue to enjoy the privileges of a Dowager Consort.
"Shut up! If you don't agree, you'll probably die right now!" Consort Wang ignored Wenchuan's pleas for mercy and hardened her heart.
"My lord, I agree!" Wenchuan knew that once this lord made up his mind, he would definitely do it!
"Alright, get up! Don't worry, no one knows!" Consort Wang said, helping Wenchuan up.
After a night of internal struggle, Wen Chuan decided to take the risk and give it a try, since no one would be so careless with their own life!
Wen Chuan took out the shoes and socks she had made for Kingston, put them in a basket, and then told Consort Wang about her plans. Consort Wang naturally agreed to let her go out immediately.
Wenchuan followed the palace wall all the way to the Imperial Observatory.
She and Jin Shikang had always met in an abandoned hall next to the Imperial Observatory.
Wenchuan came today because it was the day she and he had agreed to meet.
Wen Chuan sat in the abandoned palace, contemplating her future. This Consort Wang was a heartless woman; she had served her for seven or eight years, yet she was still forced to do such things. There was no future with such a mistress; it was already a miracle that she could leave the palace safely under her control.
"Wenchuan!" A familiar voice came from behind.
"Shikang!" Wenchuan looked up and saw her lover, and the worry that had been lingering in her heart disappeared.
"What are you thinking about? Why are you so lost in thought?" Jin Shikang asked, taking Wenchuan's hand.
"Stonecon, why don't we cut ties?" Wenchuan said.
"Wenchuan, why? What happened?" Jin Shikang didn't expect Wenchuan to say this so suddenly, and hurriedly asked.
"Shikang, I don't want to drag you down with me! People will probably find out about what happened between us!" Wenchuan said with tears in her eyes. "This is what I did for you, and I'm afraid I won't be able to do these things for you anymore."
Wenchuan handed him the basket and was about to leave!
"Wenchuan, what exactly happened? Can you tell me so I can understand?" Jin Shikang said.
“Shikang, our benefactor already knows about us. She wants you to do something for her before she'll keep it a secret!” Wenchuan said.
"What is it?" Jin Shikang asked.
"She wants to know what your master said to the Emperor, and whether it has anything to do with the son of Prince Yong?" Wenchuan asked.
Upon hearing this, Jin Shikang was immediately in a dilemma. He had originally thought that Consort Wang would at most inquire about her fate and perhaps offer her a fortune telling, but now she was asking about something his master had explicitly forbidden them from revealing to outsiders.
"Shikang, I know you're in a difficult position. Why don't we just break it off and let the nobleman punish me alone?" Wenchuan could tell from Jin Shikang's expression that he knew, but he couldn't say it.
“Wenchuan, why is your Lady Wang inquiring about this? This is the Emperor’s secret. What is Lady Wang doing asking about this?” Jin Shikang said.
"I don't know either. She probably wants to know more about the Emperor's intentions!" Wen Chuan said. Actually, she knew a little bit, mostly about the Crown Prince.
“Wenchuan, our master instructed us not to reveal a single word about this to anyone. Go back and tell your esteemed family that this matter must not be inquired about. If the Emperor finds out, we may face execution!” Jin Shikang said.
Wenchuan asked, "Is it that serious?"
Jin Shikang could say no more and could only nod and say, "It's very serious. That's a secret between the Emperor and my master. It absolutely cannot be revealed! Wenchuan, is your noble lady being asked to do this?"
Wen Chuan was taken aback by his question and quickly replied, "I don't know anything about your affairs. Since I can't reveal it, I'll go back and tell you!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
