Chapter 18: A Gross Mistake
Consort Zhao seemed surprised, yet not at all. She paused slightly, her smile unchanged, and said, "Why would Sister Jiang ask such a question? Could it be that Sister Jiang thinks I have ill intentions and want to frame you?"
Jiang Ling was a second-generation beneficiary of land expropriation in her previous life. In addition to the several apartments allocated to her family through land expropriation, her family also owned several storefronts, all of which were rented out.
After graduating from university, I worked as a corporate slave for a while. Due to my personality and because I couldn't stand my boss and colleagues' so-called "art of speaking," I resolutely resigned.
Having transmigrated into a palace intrigue novel, Jiang Ling firmly believes it's divine punishment. After all, life as a landlady was far too comfortable; she's here to undergo a trial.
Hearing Zhao Defei not answer directly but instead throw the question back at her, Jiang Ling felt as if she had been transported back to her working days. However, those times were nothing like now; if her boss didn't speak politely, she could simply walk away. Faced with Zhao Defei, Jiang Ling could only grit her teeth and repeat the question she had asked earlier.
"I am incompetent and cannot accept such a reward without merit. I cannot bear Your Majesty's kindness. I am very stupid and cannot understand the implied meaning or read between the lines. Please, Your Majesty, speak plainly."
Her words carried a hint of aggressiveness and resentment. Consort Zhao slowly withdrew her hand, her smile unchanged, but her gaze softened.
“Sister Jiang’s words are quite interesting. We are all sisters in the harem, and we manage the affairs of the harem. It was also the Emperor’s own word that made it possible for us to oppose the Emperor’s decree, which would be disobeying the imperial order.”
Jiang Ling was furious when she heard Consort Zhao's words implying that the Emperor Yuanming was using the rules to intimidate her. The angrier she got, the slower her mind became, and she couldn't say a word for a moment.
"Sister Jiang!" Consort Zhao sighed, patted the brocade quilt, and looked helpless.
"Countless people dream of having some power, whether it's big or small, it's still power. Those men study hard to pass the imperial examinations and become officials, all for the sake of power."
Consort Zhao observed Jiang Ling calmly, then changed the subject: "This power, some people can hold on to it, some people can't, and in the end they end up losing everything."
Jiang Ling was completely bewildered and said with a blank face, "Your Majesty, I am very stupid and really don't understand what Your Majesty is saying."
“Jiang Meimei is not stupid. A truly stupid person would not think that he is stupid.”
Consort Zhao raised her hand, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and chuckled: "Sister Jiang is truly a wonderful person. She is beautiful and wise beyond her years. If I were a man, I would want to marry her. No wonder the Emperor takes her to heart."
Jiang Ling felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this. Being praised by Consort Zhao and regarded as a clever person was by no means a good thing.
"Is my sister troubled by the shortage of candle and lamp oil in the storeroom?" Consort Zhao asked slowly after smiling.
Seeing that Consort Zhao had finally gotten down to business, Jiang Ling quickly and readily agreed, "I'm afraid there might be an error in the number of candles in the storeroom. If there's a shortage, I won't be able to afford to compensate for it."
Consort Zhao said, "Sister Jiang, you are overthinking it. When I took over the storeroom, I never counted exactly how many candles there were. It's common for an extra candle or a bit of oil to be used. Anyway, just distribute them to the various places according to the established rules."
Jiang Ling was taken aback. What Consort Zhao meant was that the accounts of lamps and candles were already a mess, and she had no chance of clarifying them.
Since it's so simple, why did Consort Zhao assign this task to her? Shen Yi and Granny Huang deliberately let her do the counting.
"This is something that will probably annoy the Imperial Treasury," Consort Zhao said casually.
Jiang Ling was startled. She realized that checking only the storeroom was fine; the inner treasury and the palace eunuchs' quarters were the important places.
Shen Yi delivered candles to her door while she was in the storeroom, intending to test her. Perhaps she had already secretly offended the Imperial Treasury.
Is Consort Zhao's intention to use the Imperial Treasury to deal with her?
"Sister, do you know whose business it is that supplies the imperial beeswax, white wax, and sesame oil to the palace?"
Jiang Ling was completely confused and shook his head dumbly, "I don't know."
"The finest white wax comes from Shuzhou, where local people raise white wax insects to boil the wax. Beeswax is similar, mostly produced in Shuzhou. Sesame is mostly produced in Shanzhou, Ganzhou, and Lingzhou. Shuzhou is adjacent to these three places, and sesame is sent to the capital through Shuzhou to be processed into sesame oil."
Consort Zhao said calmly, "Consort Lin's ancestral home is in Shu Prefecture. The Lin family is very famous in Shu Prefecture. The Lin family in the capital is the direct branch of the Lin family in Shu Prefecture."
Jiang Ling's eyes widened in surprise. "Your Highness, are you saying that all the candles and lamps in the palace are bought and sold by the Imperial Concubine's family?"
Consort Zhao did not answer, but smiled and said, "It's getting late, I have to go back. Sister Jiang, please rest well. If you have any questions, just ask me. If I can help you, I certainly won't refuse."
After seeing Consort Zhao off, Jiang Ling leaned against the soft cushion, lost in thought.
Consort Zhao couldn't lie about whose business the candles and lamps were; an investigation would reveal the answer.
She previously claimed that she had never counted the number of candles, but Jiang Ling had already taken stock. The biggest obstacle and trouble lay in the inner treasury.
In the original book, Consort Zhao and Consort Lin were mortal enemies. If there were any problems with the candles sent from the Imperial Treasury, she would not let go of the opportunity to strike at Consort Lin.
There's nothing new under the sun. If the Lin family can control the sale of candles and lamps in the palace, the Imperial Treasury will naturally benefit as well; they're in the same boat.
Consort Zhao did not take action, either because she lacked sufficient evidence or because she had reservations and was not entirely confident in dealing with Consort Lin.
Fortunately, she had previously thought she was clever enough to believe that Consort Zhao had entrusted her with the task of lighting candles in order to find fault with her, so she tried her best to do the job well.
Little did she know that all her actions were exactly what Consort Zhao had anticipated and planned.
Since the candles used in the palace were purchased by Consort Lin's family, Jiang Ling would likely approach her to show goodwill when he takes over.
Consort Lin did not appear, but she was jumping around, and Consort Zhao's people all treated her with great respect and obeyed her every word.
After thinking it over again, Jiang Ling realized that Consort Zhao's words were not hard to understand; everything was aimed at winning her over.
Unwittingly, he became entangled with Consort Zhao and became one of her people.
The underlings and subordinates must be able to take the blame and shield others from harm; they are usually the first to be sacrificed.
Consort Lin was stern and unsmiling, seemingly strict and rigid. Since Consort Zhao dared not make any rash moves, it was likely that Consort Lin would not be able to escape even a single move from her.
Consort Zhao used to treat her as nothing, but she went to great lengths to do these things because she thought that Consort Zhao would be of some use now that Consort Zhao had moved into Fanying Pavilion.
The situation has become so complicated; Consort Zhao's ambitions are far from over, and it's anyone's guess when she might cause a major disturbance.
Jiang Ling almost cried, and secretly cursed Emperor Yuanming.
It's all his fault. He suddenly went mad, bestowed upon her the title of "Beauty," and moved her into the Fan Ying Pavilion, making her the prey of the palace's experts.
It was lunchtime when Wenjuan returned with the food, and Qingwen brought in hot water and a hot towel, and tidied up the teacups.
Jiang Ling was too weak to move. After wiping his hands and face, he instructed Wen Juan to set the food on the low table and then ate on the couch. He picked up his bowl, took a sip of the warm chicken soup, and couldn't help but give a self-deprecating bitter smile.
As the weather gets colder, charcoal is placed under the food box to keep it warm, so the food stays hot and delicious.
Promotion isn't all bad; at least you get to eat fresh, warm meals.
Just as Jiang Ling was engrossed in his meal, A'Ruo hurriedly lifted the curtain and entered the room, excitedly exclaiming, "My beauty, my beauty, the Emperor is here!"
A note from the author:
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