Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Chu Qingwan harbored matters deep within her heart but was not truly concerned about Xu Yanheng’s whereabouts today.
Yet, it was a good thing that Xu Yanheng remembered his promise to her. She always believed that when it was time to rejoice, one should rejoice; when it was time to grieve, one should grieve. She must not dampen the mood nor let Xu Yanheng think she was indifferent to him.
Under the gaze of all, Chu Qingwan turned and left together with Xu Yanheng.
He Xiurong glanced at Consort Yu and could not help but stifle a laugh. She had no hope today anyway, so witnessing Consort Yu’s spectacle was not a bad thing.
Consort Zhou shot He Xiurong a cold glance. Compared to Consort Yu’s threat, she too disliked He Xiurong. After all, He Xiurong was the Empress Dowager’s person. She spoke coldly, “Enough. What are you all standing here for? Go back early.”
He Xiurong’s words carried an undercurrent: “There’s no sobering soup prepared in my quarters; it doesn’t matter if I return late.”
Consort Yu suddenly turned her head, her gaze fixed sharply on He Xiurong. He Xiurong’s expression stiffened slightly, but she avoided eye contact. Though there was a status gap between them, Consort Yu rarely targeted her unless absolutely necessary. After all, Consort Yu was already at odds with Consort Zhou and did not want to draw the Empress Dowager’s attention.
No one paid much mind to He Xiurong, but all had to be wary of the person behind her.
Consort Yu would not harm her, but there was no reason to let insults pass easily. Her cold eyes cut sharply: “No wonder He Xiurong gets along so well with Lady Li—they’re both of the same ilk, unable to keep their tongues in check.”
Lady Li’s eyes widened; she felt unjustly accused. She had said nothing—how had she been dragged into Consort Yu’s scolding?
He Xiurong’s face darkened with anger.
Consort Yu smiled slowly, her sarcasm obvious: “Otherwise, His Majesty wouldn’t be so lazy as to avoid even going to Yanxi Palace.”
He Xiurong had indeed not been summoned to the bedchamber for quite some time. Being so openly mocked, she blushed with embarrassment and, disregarding decorum, retorted: “Consort Yu is favored, yet she too has failed to keep the Emperor!”
The surrounding concubines were shocked, lowering their heads like quails, neither daring to watch nor listen, wishing themselves deaf. Some even envied Chu Qingwan for leaving so early.
Consort Yu’s eyes turned icy cold. Though long in the palace, it was the first time someone had mocked Xu Yanheng’s favor so brazenly.
He Xiurong’s maid Yun Lin trembled in fear and quickly tugged at her mistress’s sleeve. He Xiurong regained her composure but stiffened entirely, not daring to meet Consort Yu’s gaze.
After a long moment, Consort Yu chuckled lightly: “Well done, He Xiurong.”
The surrounding concubines exchanged glances, no one daring to intervene.
Consort Zhou pressed her aching temples. Consort Yu, accustomed to favor, had never been openly insulted before. If she were truly angry, she would not care whose person He Xiurong was.
Had He Xiurong drunk so much tonight that she lost her wits? Everyone was such a handful!
Consort Zhou cut off their quarrel: “Enough! What are you doing? Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Must you make a scene before you stop?”
He Xiurong, worried about the tense atmosphere, took Consort Zhou’s words as an escape and immediately bowed: “I acknowledge my fault.”
Consort Yu gave He Xiurong a deep look but ignored Consort Zhou and turned to leave.
Consort Zhou’s expression also grew cold as she looked at He Xiurong: “He Xiurong, for disrespecting a superior, copy the palace rules three times.”
He Xiurong dared not protest. Who was more disrespectful than Consort Yu? Consort Yu had just glared at Consort Zhou, yet Zhou did not punish her but instead came down on He Xiurong?
The Imperial Court and Palace.
Consort Zhou removed a jade hairpin from her coiffure and threw it on the dressing table with a forceful motion, chipping a notch in it instantly.
Mei Ying, witnessing this, fell silent abruptly.
After a long while, Consort Zhou exchanged glances with the woman in the bronze mirror and said coldly, “The Emperor has spoiled her too much, making her dare to disregard me so openly.”
Mei Ying dared not relax and immediately replied, “What’s there to argue with her about? You have been in the palace so long; surely, you know that favor can vanish as easily as it is given. How can it compare to the real power held firmly in one’s hand?”
Consort Zhou sneered.
Though she spoke thus, the bitterness of being favored or not could not be explained to outsiders.
Everyone knew she wielded palace authority, yet Consort Yu still did not regard her seriously. What could she do about Consort Yu?
After being offended, she had not punished Consort Yu yet. Perhaps Consort Yu had already reported to the Emperor. Could she bypass the Emperor?
What was the difference between palace power and favor? Both could be withdrawn at the Emperor’s whim.
Seeing Consort Zhou’s expression, Mei Ying knew her words failed to soothe her mistress. She lowered her voice: “If the Emperor truly favored her greatly, why hasn’t the Second Prince’s jade tablet been changed until now?”
No matter the outward spectacle, in the end, it was about whether one truly benefited.
Consort Zhou’s expression softened slightly. She took a deep breath and picked up the jade hairpin again, lamenting, “This jade hairpin is quite nice. What a pity.”
Mei Ying, sensing the topic had shifted, recovered her composure and took the hairpin: “Your Highness has worn it once; that is its honor. There is no need for regret.”
On this Mid-Autumn Festival, some rejoiced, others worried, and some awaited the unfolding events in silence.
Chu Qingwan could not sleep. She calculated that, according to what Nong Qiu had said about the location, the palace servants on duty would discover something amiss by tomorrow at the latest.
She lay against Xu Yanheng, fingers tangled in his dark hair. The slight itch was almost unbearable.
Xu Yanheng opened his eyes in the darkness and suddenly grasped the woman’s hand. Though his face was unseen in the darkness, the moonlight faintly revealed his outline. His voice was low and slightly hoarse: “Can’t sleep?”
Chu Qingwan buried herself in his neck, her cheek and shoulder pressed against his skin. They had just bathed and were clean, yet their skin still remembered the lingering sweat, stirring an inexplicable tremor in her heart.
Half-truthfully, she replied, “Today, His Majesty rejected the others and came to my chambers. I am happy tonight, but I wonder if tomorrow’s greetings will be difficult.”
She said “others,” but in fact, only Consort Yu had invited Xu Yanheng tonight.
Chu Qingwan was no fool; she would never name Consort Yu explicitly. How long had she been in the palace? Consort Yu’s reputation for favor had lasted years. With any self-awareness, she would not compare herself to Consort Yu now.
A slender finger traced down her back. Xu Yanheng’s voice was indifferent, ignoring her bait: “Seems you still have energy if you’re thinking about such things.”
Chu Qingwan twitched her lips. To Xu Yanheng, there was no need to care about such matters. He stood too high—no matter how others flattered or spoke evasively, he could easily discern their hidden intentions and was too lazy to look down on their troubles.
When she invited him to Yuqiong Garden at noon, had she not considered the consequences?
If she hadn’t, it was her own lack of foresight.
No one takes benefits without risks; there is no such good fortune in this world.
She sensed the implication beneath his words and secretly shuddered at his coldness. His words and actions showed no regard for them, as if he could turn the world upside down at will.
Her teeth chilled, but she quickly swallowed her emotions and abruptly reached to touch Xu Yanheng’s chest.
He was taken aback and caught her hand, lightly scolding, “What are you doing?”
Chu Qingwan accused him plaintively, “I want to feel if this heart still holds any warmth. Why does it always feel so cold?”
Xu Yanheng raised an eyebrow. Of course, he perceived at least seventy percent of her words were sincere.
Rare indeed.
In this palace, people always hid their words and deeds or, like Lady Li, spoke without thinking and annoyed others.
She, however, half-jokingly voiced her complaint, making it impossible to punish her severely.
Amused secretly, Xu Yanheng did not want her to grow too proud and replied teasingly, “Let me see, where exactly is it cold?”
His fingers slowly traced her waist, his tone ambiguous, prompting no further thoughts. Chu Qingwan, annoyed, blushed deeply and covered his mouth, unwilling to hear more: “You’re bullying me.”
Xu Yanheng denied it, nibbling her fingers bit by bit. Though nothing could be seen in the dark, it heightened other senses.
Her fingertips trembled uncontrollably, and she withdrew her hand, burying her face in his embrace.
After a long while, Xu Yanheng’s voice came through the darkness, clear yet cryptic: “She won’t trouble you.”
At least not for now.
Chu Qingwan was surprised to hear him finally respond. Just as she was about to look up, a hand pressed down on the back of her head, and a cold voice said, “Stop fussing.”
He had morning court tomorrow, unlike her leisurely schedule.
Chu Qingwan finally obeyed.
The chamber fell utterly silent. Soon, a commotion outside roused the two, who furrowed their brows.
Chu Qingwan suddenly awoke, hearing the noise. Only one thought filled her mind—finally, it had come.
Seeing Xu Yanheng also awakened, she reined in her thoughts and asked with feigned innocence, “What’s wrong?”
Xu Yanheng did not know either. Sitting up and clothed, the voice of Wei Ziming sounded outside:
“Your Majesty, a palace maid’s body has been found in the dry well beside Yanxi Palace.”
Chu Qingwan gasped softly, “What?”
Xu Yanheng’s drowsiness vanished completely. The chamber was lit up. His sharp gaze carried an inscrutable chill.
In an instant, Yuqiong Garden was brightly illuminated.
A palace consort had died, found in a dry well, along with a palace maid’s body. It could not have been accidental drowning.
Before dawn broke, the entire palace was awake.
Just as Xu Yanheng prepared to have the bodies brought over, he caught sight of the woman’s pale complexion. The words he was about to speak changed to:
“Bring the bodies to the nearby palace.”
Chu Qingwan did not notice this subtle change in Xu Yanheng.