Chapter 156 The person who came to deceive the emperor was the head eunuch of Chuxiu Palace, surnamed...
The visitor was the head eunuch of Chuxiu Palace, surnamed Zhong. Chuxiu Palace was Fan's territory, so this Eunuch Zhong could be considered one of Fan's men. The reason Eunuch Zhong came was that the Imperial Household Department had supplied Fan with a lot of bright fabrics, and she felt that several of them were a color that suited Mo Yaqi very well, so she ordered Eunuch Zhong to send them to the garden.
Eunuch Zhong lowered his head and said, "In addition, Consort He also sent me to inquire after the Imperial Concubine's well-being."
Cheng Qianyue said, "Tell your mistress that the Second Princess and I are both thinking of her." She then inquired about Fan Shi's recent situation. Cheng Qianyue felt a little guilty towards Fan Shi because she hadn't invited her to the garden. Putting everything else aside, among the concubines, she and Fan Shi were allies; she trusted Fan Shi completely. If Fan Shi came, there would be no one to keep an eye on the Forbidden City for her.
After receiving a reply, she added, "I remember her birthday is on the third day of next month, so I'm preparing some things in advance. Since you're coming, you can take them back with you when you leave." Giving Ms. Fan more gold and silver jewelry would make her feel more at ease.
Eunuch Zhong said "Yes," and after a long pause, he slightly raised his head and said, "Consort He has another matter she would like to ask the Noble Consort for her instructions." He paused for a moment, "Jin, who serves in Baohua Palace, has fallen seriously ill and seems to be dying. Our mistress would like to ask Your Highness, what should be done about her?"
Kim?
Cheng Qianyue was taken aback. Who was this person? She had never heard of him before, and none of the many mistresses and concubines in the harem had this surname. Besides, if a palace maid fell ill, the head eunuch or maid would report it to the Imperial Hospital. Why was it being reported to her?
Unable to get instructions from the Imperial Concubine, Eunuch Zhong felt uneasy and nervously defended his master: "After all, it was Her Majesty's people who sent Lady Jin from the garden to that place, which is why our master has been keeping an eye on her." He knelt down with a thud, "It was this servant's clumsy tongue that disturbed Her Majesty with such a trivial matter. This servant is guilty."
Hearing this, Cheng Qianyue's brows furrowed instantly. What did he mean by her people sending someone over there? But now wasn't the time to talk about that. She softened her expression and tone, saying, "Did the person in charge there fail to report it to the Imperial Hospital? Or was the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician inappropriate, causing her condition to worsen?" She called up Eunuch Zhong and reassured him, "I just couldn't remember who Jin was for a moment. But since I ordered her to be sent there, she is naturally one of my people. It's only right that your master cares about her for me."
Then he added, "When you get back, tell your master to find a good imperial physician for Lady Jin. She's a perfectly healthy person; don't let her die."
Only then did Eunuch Zhong dare to get up and reply, "Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will certainly convey the message."
A moment later, Eunuch Zhong emerged from Shufengyu, followed by a young eunuch carrying a box. Lin Quan'an was furious at him, thinking to himself, "He's like a dog trying to catch a mouse." But even if he discovered Eunuch Zhong's existence, it wouldn't matter; he would still suffer the consequences. When Lin Quan'an returned to the room, before his master could even ask him anything, he knelt down, saying, "This servant deserves to die."
Cheng Qianyue asked with a sullen face, "What exactly happened?"
Lin Quan'an felt bitter, but he still told the whole story: "That Jin is the palace maid from the Four Treasurys that His Majesty mentioned before."
When Lin Quan'an heard about the palace maid who bore a resemblance to their master, his eyes narrowed. Although the Emperor had told their master he wouldn't take Jin as a concubine, could he allow such a maid to be an eyesore? Just then, the Imperial Treasury was transferring Jin to another location, so he made arrangements there to send her to Baohua Palace. This would get rid of Jin from the garden, and Baohua Palace would be a place to serve Buddha, a quieter place, perfectly in line with the Emperor's wishes—how wonderful!
He later learned of Lady Jin's illness. Besides Quanxi, who remained in Yongshou Palace, telling him, Jingshun, the Emperor's attendant, also mentioned it, but he didn't take it seriously. What did it matter to him if a palace maid fell ill? Besides, it would be better if she died. Hmph! A palace maid suddenly appearing who looked so much like the Imperial Concubine—there's bound to be something fishy going on!
He wondered if this person was someone else put forward to steal their master's favor. As for who this person was, well, who else could it be but that one? So if the Jin family were gone, it would just ruin that one's plans.
In short, it was a minor matter, so he didn't mention it to the Imperial Concubine. Unexpectedly, Consort He reported it to the Emperor. What a mess!
"Lin Quan'an, you are simply outrageous." After hearing the whole story, Cheng Qianyue was furious. She glared at him and said, "How dare you make such a decision on your own and deceive me?"
Lin Quan'an lowered his head and said, "This servant deserves to die." He knelt there and kowtowed several times. "This servant was wrong. I thought it was just a small matter and shouldn't bother you."
Cheng Qianyue chuckled and let out a deep breath. "A matter of life and death, is it just a trivial matter in your eyes?" After a long while, she said, "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."
She spoke slowly and deliberately, “You’re afraid of that palace maid, afraid she’ll gain the Emperor’s favor, afraid that I, as a Noble Consort, won’t be able to give you a good future like I do now.”
Lin Quan'an was shocked to hear such words. He trembled all over and prostrated himself on the ground, shouting, "Master, this servant is absolutely loyal to you."
"Loyalty? Your loyalty and your future are probably intertwined," Cheng Qianyue said coldly, looking at him.
To be honest, Cheng Qianyue didn't think there was anything wrong with linking loyalty to one's future. She believed that loyalty was only earned if she gave them face and rewards. This was something she had learned not long after entering the palace. However, if her subordinates deceived her, acted on their own initiative, and dared to use the word "loyalty" to fool or manipulate her for the sake of their future, she would show them no mercy.
"Tell me the truth, besides transferring Jin Shi to Baohua Palace, what else have you done?" she asked.
Lin Quan'an hurriedly replied, "This servant has only done this one thing, and has done nothing else."
"Really?" Cheng Qianyue stared intently at him. "You weren't involved in Jin's illness?"
Lin Quan'an panicked and swore, "It was absolutely not this servant who did it. If this servant has uttered even the slightest lie, may I be struck by lightning and die without a burial place." He gritted his teeth and said fiercely, "If this servant has lied, may all the stepsons I have taken in suffer the same fate as this servant!"
"If someone can make such a vow, it's probably true." Cheng Qianyue's expression softened a little, and then she said to the person beside her, "Have someone summon Quan Xi from the palace tomorrow." Although she believed it to some extent, she still wanted to confirm it again.
Cheng Qianyue scrutinized him for a moment, then asked, "Did you know about Jin's illness beforehand?"
Lin Quan'an took a deep breath and closed his eyes: "This servant... knows... a few days ago when Master went to Danning Residence to accompany the Emperor, Eunuch Cui mentioned it to this servant."
Cheng Qianyue's complexion, which had just improved slightly, darkened again. After a long while, she asked, as if she already knew the answer, "What crime is it in the palace to deceive superiors and conceal information, or to fail to report something you know?"
Lin Quan'an pressed his head tightly to the ground: "This servant is willing to accept punishment. This servant was bewitched, this servant will never dare to do it again."
Since being granted the title of Imperial Concubine, Cheng Qianyue had never punished anyone, but now she was going to reclaim her authority and harden her heart: "Take him out and give him thirty strokes of the cane. Everyone in the courtyard should watch the punishment and take it as a warning."
"It's good that he's been punished, it's good that he's been punished." Lin Quan'an breathed a sigh of relief and kowtowed, saying, "This servant thanks you."
Before long, a long bench was set up in the courtyard. Lin Quan'an wrapped his braid around his neck and lay down on it. He didn't care about losing face in front of these younger boys; he was just thinking that his master would probably still use him after the beating was over.
At this moment, his newly accepted apprentice, Xian Gui, knelt down in front of him and whispered, "Master, I'll go and plead with the executioner for mercy later." He touched his sleeve, indicating to Lin Quan'an that he had already prepared the silver.
Lin Quan'an rolled his eyes and cursed, "Get lost! Tell them to continue beating him!" If he didn't get a good beating now, his master would think he was being sneaky. Just then, the people disciplining the palace servants came over. He didn't bother with pleasantries, raised his head, and said, "Come on, beat them!"
He also warned the palace maids and eunuchs watching the execution, "Watch closely, I'm going to set an example for you today. If anyone dares to deceive the master, this is what will happen to me."
Soon, dull thuds of a board echoed in the courtyard, like winter melons falling into water. Lin Quan'an was in excruciating pain; veins bulged on his forehead, and his jaw was clenched tightly. Fortunately, the nobleman had just slipped a handkerchief into his mouth, so he didn't have to worry about biting his tongue.
After a short while, the thirty strokes of the cane were finally finished. The nobleman hurriedly called someone over and helped Lin Quan'an down from the stool, half carrying him and half supporting him. Lin Quan'an took a breath and said, "Don't rush to help me to the corner room." He moved step by step to the main room, knelt down three steps away from the door, and kowtowed three times before he was done.
In the evening, Ruodie came out of the main room and stepped to the door of the corner room. Since the one who had been beaten was a eunuch, she couldn't go in. Fortunately, there was a nobleman guarding the corner room. He saw her and quickly ran out, calling out, "Sister Ruodie."
Ruodie nodded and handed him several bottles, saying, "These are gifts from Master to Eunuch Lin. The powder is wound medicine, and there's also a bottle of Yunnan Baiyao pills."
The nobleman, looking delighted, used his clothes to cover the bottles.
Ruodie continued, "The mistress said that out of consideration for Eunuch Lin's many years of service, she would let bygones be bygones this time. But if there is a next time, the mistress will send him out of the palace to live out his old age."
Xian Gui nodded hurriedly and said, "Sister, you've worked hard." After seeing Ruo Die off, he turned and went into the inner room to apply medicine to Lin Quan'an while telling his master what Ruo Die had said.
As soon as the wound medicine was applied, Lin Quan'an couldn't help but cry out in pain. By the time the medicine was finished, he was covered in sweat. Lin Quan'an let out a breath, asked Xian Gui to bring him a bowl of water, and swallowed two pills with it. Then he waved his hand at Xian Gui and said, "Alright, I haven't spoiled you for nothing. Go and rest in the next room."
The nobleman sighed and said, "Then you should rest well. If you need anything, just let me know and I'll come over."
After the dignitaries left, Lin Quan'an lay dejectedly on the kang (heated brick bed). He recalled the time he was beaten by the Emperor years ago, and now he was being beaten by the Imperial Concubine. As he thought about it, he inevitably thought of the palace maid, Jin. He simply vented all his anger on her. But there was nothing he could do, let alone vent his anger. Thinking of this, Lin Quan'an felt utterly dejected.
He deserved to be beaten for keeping it from his master. But why did his master insist on protecting that palace maid? Who was she anyway! But after a while, a sudden thought struck him, and he hissed.
Lin Quan'an seemed to be realizing something was amiss; he felt like he'd fallen into a trap. His interference in the palace maids' affairs was the Consort's doing. If the palace maids he'd sent, who had been seen by the Emperor, died mysteriously, wouldn't that implicate the Consort?
Just thinking about it made Lin Quan'an break out in a cold sweat. He could swear that he and his men hadn't actually harmed the Jin family; at most, they had just watched. But if the Jin family was really dead, the intricacies involved would be impossible to explain.
Lin Quan'an was momentarily lost in thought: Could it be that the Imperial Concubine had seen through this, which was why she sent Consort He to rescue that palace maid? When did the Imperial Concubine become so astute?!
He couldn't help but recall when the Imperial Concubine first entered Xian'an Palace; she was incredibly innocent and kind-hearted. But his once innocent mistress was now an Imperial Concubine.
Lin Quan'an felt a mix of frustration and relief. He thought his master was different now, seeing things more clearly than he did. Then he wondered, who exactly was behind the Jin family? This move was truly insidious and ruthless!
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