Chapter 72 (None)
Wen Juan's face turned pale instantly, and she said anxiously, "Your Majesty, once you enter the palace patrol duty room, it's just like entering the main palace office; almost no one comes out unscathed!"
Dan Gui trembled, staring at Jiang Ling in terror. Whether it was sweat or rain, drops of water trickled down her bangs.
"Wenjuan, gather some men to accompany you and take the Third Prince to the Chuigong Hall to see the Emperor. Have him watch over the Third Prince. If the Emperor asks me where I went, just say I went to see Yuan Changsheng."
Jiang Ling, recalling Yuan Changsheng whom she had encountered in front of the Chuigong Hall, turned cold and said to Dan Gui, "Come with me!"
Outside, the rain was heavy and the wind was strong. Wen Juan bit her lip and said worriedly, "Your Majesty, the Third Prince is still young..."
Jiang Ling interrupted Wen Juan decisively, “Wind, rain, and the changing seasons are all things that everyone has to experience. A small boat isn’t a dough ball. It’s only a short distance, so just wrap it up tightly and make sure it doesn’t get wet.”
The Third Prince is Emperor Yuanming's son, so sending him there at this time would be the best protection for him. For her, it would add another bargaining chip.
A'Ruo Zishan was a palace maid, and the patrol duty room was not a place where reason prevailed. Even if they hadn't committed any crimes, Jiang Ling believed that Yuan Changsheng and his men would still make them commit crimes so that their behavior would appear to be in accordance with the rules.
Yuan Changsheng was different from others. Emperor Yuanming entrusted him with the safety of himself and the harem, making him a confidant among confidants. He was more important than the prime minister of the Council of State, and even more important than the concubines.
After getting dressed and going out, Wenjuan wrapped the Third Prince in an oilcloth. Out of curiosity, he showed no fear at all, but instead kept babbling and trying to crawl out of the oilcloth.
Jiang Ling felt relieved and quickened her pace towards the guard post for patrolling. The rain was getting heavier, pouring down from the eaves. When she arrived at the guard post located near the south gate of the palace, Jiang Ling was wearing wooden clogs, her shoes, socks, and skirt hem soaked through, clinging coldly to her legs.
The door to the guardhouse was open. Perhaps because of the rain, the guards were all inside, and there was no one else around.
Dan Gui hurried forward to the gatehouse in front of the main hall. At that moment, a person emerged from the half-open door, making no attempt to hide his surprise. His eyes swept over Dan Gui, and he said with a grin, "My dear sister, where have you come from? What brings you here?"
Upon seeing this, Jiang Ling asked directly, "Where is Yuan Changsheng?"
The man looked up at the sound and saw Jiang Ling behind Dan Gui. He was taken aback and quickly bowed, saying, "So it is Consort Shu who has come in person. Consort Shu, Yuan Da is busy. May I ask what Consort Shu wants to see you about? I will go and convey your message to Consort Shu right away."
He appeared respectful and proper in his demeanor, but his speech was glib and full of excuses. Jiang Ling didn't have time to pay him any attention and looked up ahead.
The rear house resembles the imperial bedchamber, with a porch connecting to side rooms and ear rooms, only narrower and lower.
Jiang Ling turned towards the corridor, and the man paused, then quickly caught up, circled around to Jiang Ling's side, and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty," he said, "this is the duty room for those working in the palace, concerning the palace's defenses and the Emperor's safety. According to the rules, unless there is an imperial decree, no one may..."
"Get out of the way!"
Jiang Ling had only one goal in mind when he arrived at the duty room: to take A'Ruo, dressed in purple, away unharmed. He ignored the rules Jiang Ling spoke of and refused to reason with him, giving a cold, angry rebuke as he continued walking forward.
Seeing that Jiang Ling was about to crash into him, he dared not confront him head-on, and instead leaned back and stumbled backward.
Someone had already seen Jiang Ling arrive and secretly reported to Yuan Changsheng. He stood behind the window, watching the situation outside intently. After a moment, he gave a half-smile and came out to greet him.
"It's Consort Shu! This servant greets Consort Shu." Yuan Changsheng raised her hand in greeting and said politely, "Consort Shu, the duty room is dirty and I'm afraid it might offend you, so I won't invite you in to rest. May I ask what brings you to the duty room?"
“Yuan Daban took my palace maid A Ruo Zishan away, and I’ve come to find them and bring them back,” Jiang Ling said directly.
"So Your Highness came for A'Ruo's purple robe." Yuan Daban said with a look of sudden realization. He frowned, appearing quite embarrassed. "Your Highness, I encountered A'Ruo while on patrol. She was alone, acting suspiciously in the alleyway west of Huaqing Pavilion, tiptoeing as if she were spying. Palace maids and eunuchs are ordered to go out on errands in pairs. They are not allowed to look around or inquire about anything. I found A'Ruo's behavior suspicious, so I led the guards forward to question her. A'Ruo claimed she was ordered by Your Highness to go to Huaqing Pavilion on an errand. I knew she was lying as soon as I heard that." "Your Highness always emphasizes rules; why would you leave her out to perform the errand alone? I fear A'Ruo might harm Your Highness, so I prepared to take her back to her quarters for questioning." At this moment, Zishan emerged from Huaqing Pavilion and, seeing this, quickly stepped forward, saying that she and A'Ruo had come out to perform the errand together. Palace maids entering the palace must learn the rules. At this point, I became even more suspicious. A'Ruo doesn't know the rules, and neither does Zishan; they seem to be in cahoots, acting as if they're on the same page. I fear they both harbor ulterior motives, so I took them both back to their quarters. I will report back to Your Highness after I have ascertained the truth."
His reasons sounded irrefutable, regardless of whether they were true or false, but Jiang Ling ignored them, asked no questions, and did not argue with him.
"I understand. Where are they? The Third Prince is currently under the Emperor's care. The Emperor is very busy with state affairs, so I need to go back and take care of the Third Prince as soon as possible. Please trouble you, Yuan Da Ban, to hurry."
Yuan Changsheng paused, his beautiful eyes deepening, and he looked at Jiang Ling without making a sound.
Rain shrouded the world, casting a dim and gloomy shadow over the corridor. Jiang Ling stood there quietly, his clothes and hair soaked, his expression calm and composed, yet exuding an undeniable air of authority.
Yuan Changsheng smiled and said, "I am truly surprised that no master has ever set foot in the duty room of the patrol. Since Your Highness is busy, please go back first. Rest assured, Your Highness, after I have finished questioning them, if they are indeed innocent, I will send them back to Fanying Pavilion."
“Some people do not regard others as human beings, nor do they regard themselves as human beings.”
Jiang Ling raised her chin slightly as she looked at Yuan Changsheng, as if explaining, and also speaking to him, "I have always treated the palace maids in my palace as human beings. There is no place in this palace that I cannot go. Now that I have come here, I will bring them back immediately."
Yuan Changsheng was slightly taken aback, a look of confusion flashing across his eyes. He quickly lowered his eyes, raised his hand in a gesture of respect, and said, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment. This servant will go and release them."
Since Yuan Changsheng had agreed to release the people, Jiang Ling did not press the matter further and nodded, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."
Yuan Changsheng took a few steps back, turned around and went back into the house. Jiang Ling stood in the same spot, casually looking around.
At this moment, Huang Liang, who had returned to his post before the Emperor, and his servant Qian Chuanzi hurriedly ran over, lifting their robes. Huang Liang ran ahead and, seeing Yuan Changsheng at the gate, shouted "Yuan Changsheng!" before plunging into the rain. He ran across the courtyard, angrily saying, "The Emperor has decreed that you release the man immediately!"
Yuan Changsheng stopped and glanced at Jiang Ling. He didn't say anything more, "This servant obeys the order."
Huang Liang rushed up the steps, wiped the rain off his face, and anxiously asked, "How did the interrogation go?"
"When it comes to patrolling and guarding the imperial city, we always conduct ourselves in a very proper and orderly manner."
Yuan Changsheng chuckled and gestured towards Jiang Ling, "Your Majesty is here too. I have received Your Majesty's order and am about to release the people."
Huang Liang froze, glancing at Jiang Ling. He quickly bowed from afar, but then, unwilling to give up, he kicked out.
Yuan Changsheng was prepared and nimbly dodged the attack. He wasn't angry; he still had a smile on his face and leisurely walked into the house.
Huang Liang didn't go inside. He pointed at Yuan Changsheng from outside and cursed, "You heartless bastard! You deliberately kept quiet and watched me run in the rain, just so you could have a good show!"
A moment later, A'ruo and Zishan, supporting each other, walked out of the house. Their hair was disheveled and their clothes were dirty; they looked as frightened as startled birds, and they didn't even see the yellow beam in front of them.
"Oh dear, where are you going!" Seeing the two of them rushing down the steps in a panic, Huang Liang quickly grabbed them. "The Empress has arrived too! Why don't you go and thank her?"
Upon hearing Jiang Ling's name, A'Ruo and Zishan snapped back to reality and, clutching their clothes, ran for their lives in his direction. Huang Liang blinked and followed silently.
"Your Majesty!" Aruo Zishan cried out, tears streaming down her face, her legs buckling as she was about to kneel.
"Get up quickly." Jiang Ling stopped A'Ruo, and Dan Gui followed suit, pulling Zi Shan up.
"Were you injured in the fight?" Jiang Ling asked in a deep voice, scrutinizing the two men.
The two men had been captured by the guards and taken back to the duty room. They were strong, and their wrists were bruised from being tied with ropes, and their clothes were soaked.
Aruo, dressed in purple, both shook their heads. Jiang Ling then asked, "Were you sexually assaulted?"
Huang Liang looked embarrassed, pretending to wipe the rain off his face. Yuan Changsheng stood there with an umbrella, his expression changing.
Aruo Zishan hurriedly said no, and Jiang Ling was completely relieved. He said to Yuan Changsheng, "I'm always protective of my own. I'm sorry to have bothered you." After saying that, he turned and walked outside.
Huang Liang tried to snatch the umbrella from Yuan Changsheng, but Yuan Changsheng dodged him. Helpless, Huang Liang could only glare at him, grab Qian Chuanzi's umbrella, and give it along with his own to A'Ruo and Zishan.
The two women hurriedly shook their heads in refusal, but Huang Liang forced it into their hands, his face full of smiles, saying, "You take it, young ladies can't stand the cold."
"Thank you very much, my friend." Seeing that Jiang Ling did not speak, A'Ruo accepted the umbrella. Zi Shan also accepted it and curtsied in thanks.
Huang Liang chuckled, then reached into his turban and started fiddling with it. His expression changed instantly, and he lunged at Yuan Changsheng to snatch the umbrella from his hand.
This time, Yuan Changsheng didn't dodge. He let Huang Liang take the umbrella and said, "Remember to return it. Not even a blade of grass belonging to the patrolmen can be taken away by anyone."
"Tch!" Huang Liang scoffed, not even bothering to thank him. He handed an umbrella to Qian Chuanzi and leisurely followed Jiang Ling away.
Jiang Ling heard Yuan Changsheng's words clearly. He came out with an umbrella, presumably to give to A'Ruo and Zishan. After all, he had already released them, so he might as well make the best of a situation.
As they left, he didn't offer them his umbrella. Jiang Ling guessed that she had asked A'Ruo Zishan if she had been harassed, which displeased him.
Although the eunuchs had lost their reproductive organs, their lust remained. They often sought out partners, just like normal men, marrying wives and adopting godsons.
Aruo and Zishan were both beautiful palace maids. Jiang Ling would naturally have thought of the fact that they were taken to a gloomy and dark room for interrogation.
If they are ever taken advantage of, they can take advantage of Huang Liang's presence to clarify the situation.
She can take them away and also get justice for them!
Once outside the gate, Huang Liang strode forward. Glancing at Jiang Ling's expression, he whispered, "Your Majesty, Yuan Changsheng is a man of deep thought and ruthless methods, yet he is quite self-disciplined. I often say that he is arrogant because of his good looks, thinking that if he glances at a young lady, he is being taken advantage of. He is skilled at managing his subordinates, and his guards never dare to act recklessly. The Emperor favors him the most; I am far from being able to compare myself to him."
“I don’t know him well, I was overthinking it.” Jiang Ling was surprised for a moment, then smiled and said, “But what’s said is said, and it can’t be taken back. Besides, he took A’Ruo Zishan away, and I, as a Consort, have lost all face in this downpour.”
A'Ruo Zishan was a palace maid who served closely at Fanying Pavilion. Even the strictest guards patrolling the palace would have to consider her feelings. Yuan Changsheng's actions truly disregarded the dignity of Consort Jiang Ling.
Given Yuan Changsheng's intelligence and prudence, Huang Liang truly couldn't fathom why he had suddenly turned against Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling was also pondering this. Whether inside or outside the palace, she was regarded as Emperor Yuanming's favorite concubine. He had taken A'Ruo Zishan away, yet he had released them so easily.
This move seems to have gained nothing except offending her.
Yuan Changsheng would never do something so foolish. What was his intention?
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