After the meeting with his ministers concluded, Emperor Mingde was supported by Liang Yunsi and walked ahead, followed closely by several eunuchs and palace maids. Without lanterns, they strolled slowly along the long palace path by the moonlight.
Emperor Mingde rubbed his temples, his pace slowing down. The crescent moon, half-hidden behind the clouds, could only emit a faint light, but it was enough.
Emperor Mingde looked up at the scattered stars in the sky and said, "With this urgent report, the weather in the capital is about to change."
Liang Yunsi didn't know which heaven he was referring to that was changing, so he weighed his voice and laughed, "Your Majesty, you are the heaven. No matter how it changes, this servant will recognize it."
Emperor Mingde pointed at him, seemingly unable to find the words to respond, "Back then, the floods killed more than 6,000 people. Grand Tutor Wang used the Jiang clan to appease public anger. Now the scale is even larger, spreading throughout Jiangnan and Sichuan. I am alarmed."
He seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps confiding in someone, but Liang Yunsi clearly couldn't discuss things with him, so he could only offer words of comfort: "Your Majesty's grace extends to all corners of the land, and Jiangnan and Sichuan will surely turn their fortunes around."
“Even Ah Jun doesn’t believe that.” He sighed deeply and said nothing more. As an emperor, he feared two things: poetry and songs, and natural and man-made disasters.
After this, I wonder how many so-called "benevolent and righteous people" who have read a few books and know a few words will stand up and say that Heaven is not satisfied with the current emperor.
Suddenly, a palace maid hurried along the palace path ahead, her head down, glancing back every now and then, as if something was chasing her.
Emperor Mingde stopped and waited for the figure to walk towards him. But when he got closer, he was stunned. It was Zhiliu from Fengqi Palace.
Zhi Liu was clearly in a hurry.
Upon suddenly seeing Emperor Mingde, Zhiliu was so frightened that she immediately knelt down and said, "This servant greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor."
Emperor Mingde composed himself, his face clouded with worry, and asked calmly, "Why were you rushing outside the palace at night?"
"Your Majesty, urgent reports of floods in Jiangnan and Shu have spread throughout the palace today. Her Majesty was extremely uneasy upon hearing this, so she asked the Imperial Hospital for some calming tea. However, the tea was extremely bitter, and Her Majesty has been having nightmares and unable to sleep for several nights. I thought I would find some honey to dilute the tea and alleviate its bitterness, but Fengqi Palace is deserted, and the honey has not been delivered for several months. I would like to go and ask for some."
Her tone was calm and gentle, as if she were talking about someone else's affairs, without any indignation or anger.
Emperor Mingde nodded upon hearing this, but soon he flew into a rage. "What do they take my Taihe Hall for? They've completely forgotten that the harem is not allowed to discuss politics. All these years I've entrusted the harem to them, and this is how they've managed it? Guards, go and fetch the Phoenix Seal and Imperial Edict for me!"
Liang Yunsi, holding his whisk and staring at the tips of his shoes, hurriedly ordered his apprentice Xiao Duzi and his godson Xiao Liangzi to retrieve the imperial edict and seal of Consorts De and Ning, who were in charge of the six palaces.
"Your Majesty, shall we also take the Consort Hao's?" Consort Hao is different after all; Consorts Ning and De are merely products of the power struggles within the harem.
Emperor Mingde waved his hand, his voice softening, "Take the two Consorts of Ningde."
After speaking, he looked at Zhiliu, rubbed his temples as if he had a terrible headache, and simply said, "Rise." He then strode forward and, instead of going into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, went directly to the adjacent Phoenix Perch Palace.
Upon arriving at Fengqi Palace, they heard Consort Wu's heart-wrenching voice, "Your Majesty, please do justice for this humble concubine!"
Lu Fushou was craning his neck as if waiting for Zhiliu, but instead of Zhiliu, he saw Emperor Mingde. He was overjoyed and stepped forward to pay his respects, saying, "This servant greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be well."
Emperor Mingde ignored her and fixed his gaze on Consort Wu, who seemed to have cried herself mad, only able to cry out, "Your Majesty the Empress, please do justice for this humble concubine!"
Lu Fushou remained kneeling and reported, "Your Majesty, Consort Wu has miscarried and insists on seeking the Empress's help. The Empress said that the Three Consorts are now in charge of the Six Palaces and told Consort Wu to go to them. For some reason, Consort Wu is being stubborn and refuses."
Wu Meiren turned around blankly, her eyes swollen from crying, her long, shiny black hair disheveled, and her clothes soaked with tears.
She stared blankly at the Emperor for a long while before she came to her senses. Then, she burst into tears, knelt at Emperor Mingde's feet, and hugged his legs. "Your Majesty, you must do justice for me! My son is already kicking me! The imperial physician says he's a clever little prince, but that poisonous Consort Ning, with her pretense of giving me a hydrangea sachet, caused me to lose my unborn child! Please, Your Majesty, do justice for me!"
When she spoke about what had happened, her words flowed smoothly, and in just a few sentences she clearly explained who the culprit was.
However, when Emperor Mingde heard the words "hydrangea," his eyes instantly turned cold, and he kicked Consort Wu aside, ordering, "Take her away! Throw her into the Cold Palace!"
Wu Meiren was so frightened that her eyes widened, and she couldn't speak. Tears still clung to her beautiful cheeks as she was dragged away by the strong eunuch. Perhaps because she was so terrified, she stopped being stunned and, with a sudden burst of clarity, cried out, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what wrong have I done, Your Majesty..."
Before she could utter a single word, the eunuch stuffed his handkerchief into her mouth, leaving her only able to make "uh, uh" sounds.
"Where is the Empress?" Emperor Mingde asked grimly.
Lu Fushou had already knelt and moved aside to make way. Emperor Mingde was speaking and walking into the hall. Lu Fushou dared not get up without a pardon, and hurriedly shouted, "His Majesty has arrived."
Upon hearing the eunuch's report, the Empress did not rise to greet him. Instead, she sat in front of the bronze mirror and began to do her hair. She had heard that using a fine-toothed comb would make one's hair smoother. Now that she had conditioner and shampoo, it seemed that the fine-toothed comb was no longer of much use. However, she was still in the habit of combing her hair before going to bed.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
