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Chapter 41: Imperial Grace (圣恩)

As a woman of the emperor, Ronghua Sun was not a virtuous person, disobeying the four virtues. As such, she would be stripped of her title and thrown into the Cold Palace. Without the permission of the emperor, she would not be allowed to leave. 

Ronghua Sun, who had been favored for a few months, had fallen into such a sorry state. Even the Sun family were blamed for not teaching their daughters properly, so much so that they were demoted three ranks. The Sun family could be considered to have lost a lot of influence in court. And the ally of the Sun family, the Zhou family, lost a helper.

Contrary to what one might expect, the Zhuang family seemed business as usual. They did not send a petition to gain justice for Chongyi Zhao. When the emperor by chance asked about this matter, they only said that since their daughter had stepped foot through the doors of the imperial palace, they could not interfere. It would be up to the emperor’s discretion what to do, and they had no complaints.

The emperor was very satisfied by the Zhuang family’s tact. He transferred the legitimate son of the Zhuang family, who had originally been working at the Ministry of Works, to the Ministry of Revenue as an Assistant Minister, covertly consoling the Zhuang Family.

Once the members of the court saw this, they all rained curses on Sir Zhuang for being an old fox. Not only did the emperor have a good impression on him, he even gave his legitimate son a good future. Although the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Revenue were both part of the six ministries, who wouldn’t be able to tell what was important and what was not? 

Clang! The always virtuous empress was so angry that she smashed a teacup to smithereens. As she thought of her Cousin Sun, whom the emperor had already cast into the Cold Palace, she regretted the fact that she did not read that person clearly in the past. Why did they find such a brainless person to enter the palace? She lost face just by being associated with her.

“Your Majesty, the empress.” He Yu approached and placed down a new teacup. She appeasingly said, “At the moment, His Majesty does not have the intention to chastise Your Majesty. Why is Your Majesty so upset? How about treating this matter as if it had never occurred? How we went along yesterday is how we should act today.”

“How would this palace not know to do this? It’s just that I was thinking in this deep palace, none of the women are simple. This palace has a headache because of it.” The empress lifted her teacup. Took a sip. She suppressed the anger in her heart. “How is Chongyi Zhao right now? Yesterday, I heard the imperial physicians say that her throat has yet to recover. Send someone to ask. That if Xihe Palace needs anything, they only needs to say something.”

“Do not worry, Your Majesty. This slave has already sent some people over. In these past few days, your honored self has not rested properly. Why not rest for a little while?” He Yu had followed the empress into the imperial palace for many years. Now that she saw such the empress with such an appearance, she grew more worried.

“How could this palace have a good sleep?” The empress’s eyes went half lid. “Did they find out who placed the rope made from water grass in the pond?”

He Yu shook her head, expression serious. “This slave has found that apart from the people of Xihe Palace, the only people who passed by the lotus pond were the servants of other masters. It looks suspicious. But the people who passed by the pond had all been running errands. This slave is incompetent…”

“You don’t have to blame yourself. Since they are a type of master that can employ the technique of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind¹, how would they so easily expose themselves?” The empress waved dismissively. “No need to investigate any further.”

He Yu looked at the empress’ face that had already grown calm, and worded her acknowledgement.

Summer was a season that easily made people fickle and impatient. But as the end of summer approached, the hot spell during autumn was also difficult to bear. Because Zhuang Laoyan was still recovering from her illness, she wouldn’t lack ice chunks and fresh fruits and vegetables. Moreover, the emperor frequently came to indulge in the matters of the flesh. The servants even more so dared not to neglect Xihe Palace.

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Playing with a thread of silk, Zhuang Laoyan reclined on a chaise lounge, an extremely content look on her face.

“Master, an imperial physician has arrived to check your pulse, and is waiting outside,” said Tingzhu once she had entered the room. Seeing her master play with the silk thread, she recalled the rope made of water grass from the lotus pond. And her expression faintly changed.

“Let him in.” Without a care, Zhuang Laoyan placed the silk thread aside. A smile graced her lips. Her voice had carried a trace of hoarseness, inspiring pity from others.

“This humble official greets Chongyi Zhao.”

“No need to be so polite, Imperial Physician Lu,” said Zhuang Laoyan with a smile still. After he rose, she let the palace maid by her side tie the silk thread on her wrist². Every time they did this, she admired how mystical traditional Chinese medicine was.

Imperial Physician Lu had held a post in the Imperial Academy of Medicine for many years. He had seen many of the dirty things in the palace that should not have been seen. For this reason, he was even less daring to slight an imperial concubine like Chongyi Zhao, who was very favored but not arrogant and willful. Because this type of woman would live for a long time and be under the emperor’s favor for a long time.

“Master Zhao’s condition has already improved by leaps and bounds. However, your honored self cannot be overheated or blown by the wind. In the next two days, do not eat spicy things. Everything else is fine.” These words of the imperial physician were very ingenious. On the surface, it spoke of the body’s condition, but in reality it was letting Zhuang Laoyan know his goodwill. With the body fine, it meant she could serve the emperor again.

After Tingzhu and Yunxi, who attended by her side, heard these words, they understood and brought some gifts to reward the imperial physician. The imperial harem was like so. Mutual exploit. Since they had a common interest, it would be better to be more generous for small matters.

Once the imperial physician had left, Zhuang Laoyan looked at the servants in the room. She waved. “Everyone apart from Tingzhu and Yunxi is dismissed.”  

“Understood.” The other servants quietly retreated. Zhuang Laoyan removed the silk thread and coiled it up. Sneered. “Never have I expected that Zhaorong Xu would come up with such a tactic.” If she truly did not know how to swim, even if she beat Ronghua Sun at her own game, one would fear she would have lost her life.

Women in the boudoir naturally did not know how to swim. Jumping into the water and having their legs wrapped by water plants would guarantee their deaths, no matter if their fall were intentional or otherwise. In this tactic of Zhaorong Xu, whether it was Ronghua Sun or Zhuang Laoyan who died, the emperor would certainly punish the other party. Truly a good plan of killing two birds with one stone.

Perhaps the only thing Zhaorong Xu did not account for was that she could swim. Zhuang Laoyan tossed the silk thread into her teacup. Watched as tea dyed the white thread its color. And she slowly said, “We of Xihe Palace sleep very deeply. At night, we cannot see things that should not be seen. The tea has gone cold. Bring it out and pour it.”

“Yes.” Yunxi took the teacup and left.

Tingzhu picked up a fan and fanned her master. In a soft voice, she said, “Master, how did Zhaorong Xu foresee that Ronghua Sun would do such a thing?”

“Perhaps she has spies infiltrated among Ronghua Sun’s people. Or…” Zhuang Laoyan sneered. Or she wanted to send people to shove her into the pond. It didn’t matter which possibility it was. This Zhaorong Xu definitely wanted to scheme against her.

Tingzhu could pick out the hidden meaning to Zhuang Laoyan words. Immediately, she gritted her teeth. “What a good plan.”

“What can such a method even be worth?” Zhuang Laoyan closed her eyes and yawned. “Which of the women in the imperial harem don’t have some schemes? Since Zhaorong Xu dared to do this, it means she has the guts to face the consequences after she is exposed. There are many eyes around.”

Still, Tingzhu did not anticipate that Zhuang Laoyan would be this tranquil as she said those words. Somewhat dimly, she said, “Is it possible that Master would just let her scheme as she pleased?”

“How could it be letting her scheme against me as she pleased?” Zhuang Laoyan opened her eyes and smiled. The full-blooded brother of her body’s previous owner had gained a promotion. And it seemed from the emperor’s manner that he held affection for her. At the very least, she had entered his attention now. Whether it was misfortune or fortune was still uncertain.

Sitting in the emperor’s imperial table, Feng Jin closed a memorial that talked about trivial matters. He raised his head and looked at Gao Dezhong who was standing at the side. “Gao Dezhong, how is Xihe Palace’s Chongyi Zhao?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, just now the people from the Imperial Academy of Medicine gave a report. Master Zhao has already mostly recovered. However, her voice is somewhat hoarse. She cannot eat spicy foods for the time being nor could she be overheated.” Knowing that the emperor was somewhat interested in Xihe Palace’s master, Gao Dezhong paid attention to this master’s circumstances.  

“Since that is the case, make sure the people of the Department of the Palace send enough ice to Xihe Palace. And send fresh fruit and vegetables.” After a moment of thought, Feng Jin said, “Conveniently ask Chongyi Zhao if the cooks at Xihe Palace satisfy her. If not, she can replace them.”

“Your Majesty is attentive. This slave will have someone pass the message.” Gao Dezhong hesitated for a moment, before saying, “Just now, the interior supervision eunuch saw that Your Majesty was busy with matters of the state and did not dare disturb. That’s why this slave is asking for them whether Your Majesty has any intention of flipping a name tag tonight.”

“Since Chongyi Zhao’s body is already out of danger, I will visit Xihe Palace tonight.” Feng Jin once again picked up a memorial. “Chongyi Zhao has suffered much fright. We ought to comfort her.”

“Yes.” Gao Dezhong noticed that the emperor seemed unwilling to speak further and moved to the side, knowing his place. Even so, he wondered if he had ever slighted the master of Xihe Palace. The emperor truly seemed to specially favor Chongyi Zhao.

“You said the emperor chose to visit Xihe Palace tonight?” After Noble Imperial Concubine Yan had heard the servant’s report, her expression immediately darkened. She crushed the flowerbud in her hand and sneered. “She actually has some means.”

Ronghua Sun had fallen from grace. Even the related empress lost face. However, that Chongyi Zhao gained the emperor’s tender affection. Even her maternal family received the imperial grace. After falling into the pond once, she actually picked up a big advantage.

It’s not surprising that… some people wanted her dead. 

“Since Chongyi Zhao’s body is already out of danger, I will visit Xihe Palace tonight.” Feng Jin once again picked up a memorial. “Chongyi Zhao has suffered much fright. We ought to comfort her.”

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