Chapter 85

Proofreader: Mim

After the brief holiday, Li Zhi returned to the palace to report for duty.

It had been a week since the Qixi Palace Banquet, and Lu Yao was finally freed from her house arrest and allowed to appear in public.

Under the guidance of Chunmei, Li Zhi came to see Lu Yao, who was still recovering from her illness.

The September sun remained scorching, and the palace garden was filled with blooming flowers, showing no sign of autumn’s withering touch. Lu Yao reclined on a rocking chair under the corridor, draped in a thin blanket. Her face was still pale, and there were visible dark circles under her eyes.

Before Li Zhi could approach, Lu Yao pushed herself up from the chair.

Li Zhi quickened her steps to stop her from standing and greeted her respectfully.
“This servant greets Zhaoyi.”

Lu Zhaoyi gave Chunmei a glance, and Chunmei led the other servants away, leaving only Li Zhi and Lu Yao in the garden.

Lu Yao smiled, helping Li Zhi to her feet and inviting her to sit on an embroidered cushion that had been prepared beforehand.

“Sister Li, the emperor ordered me to shut my doors and rest for five days. During those five days, I both wished for the confinement to end quickly and feared the day it would finally come.”

Her small, delicate hand reached out and gently held Li Zhi’s hand, which rested on her knee. Lu Yao’s hand was shockingly cold.

“But fortunately, as soon as the restriction was lifted, Sister Li came to visit,” Lu Yao said with a bright smile. “You’re not angry with me.”

Li Zhi sighed softly and said, “I was only worried about Zhaoyi’s health.”

“I’m young and have a strong constitution. I’m fine now,” Lu Yao said with a faint smile, withdrawing her icy hand beneath the thin blanket to hide it.

“Yesterday, I overheard some palace servants saying… that after the emperor passes away, the empress’s consorts are either buried with him or sent to a monastery to take vows. I just want to go home… I don’t want to go anywhere else. Sister Li, will you promise me that?”

The first few times Li Zhi had met Lu Yao, the latter’s eyes had always been filled with tears.

Later, those eyes were always smiling, still resembling black onyx, but they had taken on a hint of something unnatural, almost bewitching.

Now, her young voice was softened and made even more delicate, as if this would make her wishes more likely to be granted.

“…Zhaoyi, you will certainly have your wish fulfilled,” Li Zhi said.

“Sister Li… I trust only you,” Lu Yao said, her tone earnest. “I was just the daughter of a ninth-rank minor official. If I were to suddenly die in the palace, there’d be no one to seek justice for me. It was Sister Li who reached out and saved me. I will always remember your kindness…”

Li Zhi could now clearly sense that Lu Yao was consciously trying to draw her in.

The once timid girl who had cried in the quiet corners of the Jinglan Pavilion was no more. Lu Yao had shed that immaturity and stepped boldly into the turbulent waters of the imperial harem, trying to seize control of her destiny.

Li Zhi had known she would grow, but she hadn’t expected her to mature so quickly.

“Zhaoyi, you flatter me. Back then, it was thanks to your intelligence and resourcefulness that we escaped disaster. My appointment as the Director of the Palace was also thanks to your kind words. If Zhaoyi ever needs my help, please do not hesitate to ask.”

Lu Yao’s smile widened.

“Speaking of which… there is indeed something I need Sister Li’s help with,” she said.

“Please, tell me. I will not refuse,” Li Zhi replied solemnly.

“There are rumors of hauntings in the Changqiu Hall… or rather, I suspect someone is pretending to be a ghost,” Lu Yao said. “It could be a jealous consort or a servant who harbors resentment against me.”

Li Zhi’s expression grew serious. “This is no trivial matter. Zhaoyi, please explain everything in detail.”

Lu Yao took a moment to organize her thoughts before speaking, “Ever since I moved into Changqiu Hall, I’ve often felt as though I’m being watched. Sometimes late at night, I hear footsteps pacing outside my window. Once, under the clear light of the moon, I even saw a shadow cast against the window. But when I sent servants to investigate, they found nothing.”

“Other times, when I return from accompanying the emperor, I find that things in my room have been moved. I question the servants, but no one admits to it.”

Pretending to summon ghosts or engaging in witchcraft in the palace were both capital offenses. Even without Lu Yao’s connection, such matters fell under the jurisdiction of the Palace Administration Bureau and were subject to strict investigation.

Although Lu Yao was favored, her move into Changqiu Hall had only occurred after her miscarriage. If someone had wanted to scare her into losing her child, there was no longer any reason to do so now.

Could it really be a jealous consort or servant with a grudge?

“Zhaoyi, have you had conflicts with anyone in the palace?” Li Zhi asked.

Lu Yao shook her head. “I don’t like interacting with people in the harem and can’t think of anyone I might have offended. If I had to name someone, it would only be Noble Consort Yi.”

Li Zhi, however, didn’t suspect Noble Consort Yi too much. If she could hold back while Lu Yao was pregnant, why take such a risk after her miscarriage?

“Noble Consort Yi already has an adult son who is favored by the emperor. She has no reason to take this gamble,” Li Zhi said.

“I don’t think it’s Noble Consort Yi either,” Lu Yao replied. “But I can’t think of anyone else I’ve crossed paths with.”

“Rest assured, Zhaoyi. I will investigate thoroughly and give you an answer,” Li Zhi promised.

Lu Yao was about to speak again when a eunuch’s sharp, distinctive voice interrupted them.

“His Majesty is here!”

Li Zhi instinctively stood up, turning her head toward the entrance of the garden.

The emperor, dressed in a light azure casual robe, strode in with large steps. Before Lu Yao could rise to greet him, he gently pressed her back into her seat.

“Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. No need to perform formalities,” Emperor Xie Shencong said firmly.

The palace servants of Changqiu Hall hurried to bring over a red sandalwood armchair. Emperor Xie Shencong sat down after lifting his robe slightly, then casually picked up the flower tea that had originally been poured for Li Zhi and drained it in one gulp.

“Hmm… the flower tea in your hall always has a unique taste,” he remarked approvingly.

“Well, of course! This flower tea was meticulously prepared by me, following recipes from the Shi Jing (Book of Culinary Arts), flipping through page by page. Each flower is picked fresh before the morning dew has dried. It’s fragrant and refreshing—not inferior to the Da Hong Pao you enjoy so much!” Lu Yao said with a sweet smile.

Li Zhi stood to the side with her eyes lowered, her emotions swirling.

“Director Li is here as well. Did you come to visit Zhaoyi?” Emperor Xie Shencong directed the question to her.

“This servant heard that Zhaoyi’s health has improved and came to pay my respects. Since Your Majesty is here, I will take my leave to avoid disturbing you…”

Li Zhi had barely spoken her farewell when Emperor Xie Shencong’s voice turned cold.
“Stay where you are.”

“Did you know that during this morning’s court session, Prince Langya stepped forward to defend Qian Yiwang against demotion and was harshly rebuked by the officials?”

The tone was sharp, and the atmosphere grew tense. Sensing the hostility, Li Zhi knelt immediately as a gesture of respect.

“This servant knows nothing of court matters,” she replied.

Emperor Xie Shencong let out a cold chuckle. “Do you really know nothing?”

“This servant truly knows nothing. May I ask why Your Majesty is questioning me?”

Lu Yao glanced anxiously between them, unsure when or whether it was appropriate to intervene.

“I’ve been told that you and Prince Langya are overly familiar. You know better than anyone that I despise any collusion between the former dynasty and the imperial harem!” Emperor Xie Shencong slammed the empty tea cup down onto the table, his voice deep and stern.

Li Zhi, however, wasn’t afraid. She knew Emperor Xie Shencong’s temperament well enough to understand that if he were truly enraged, she wouldn’t still be kneeling here, calmly speaking.

Keeping her head bowed, she replied clearly and logically, “This servant became acquainted with Prince Langya during difficult times. Together, we endured hardships and defended against external threats. Such camaraderie is not unique to me and the prince but is shared by all who fought in the Battle of Mingyue Tower.”

“This servant has always been mindful of her unique position and has never disclosed palace affairs to outsiders. Even when meeting old friends, it has always been in small, proper gatherings, conducted openly. There is no collusion, as some malicious tongues claim.”

“Hmph. I didn’t think you’d be foolish enough for that,” Emperor Xie Shencong scoffed.

Seeing an opening, Lu Yao wrapped her arm around Emperor Xie Shencong’s and spoke in a playful, slightly petulant tone, “If Your Majesty already knows this, why frighten Sister Li like this? Without her, I’d have been wronged and punished to death long ago. I won’t allow Your Majesty to bully her!”

“Don’t worry! As long as Director Li hasn’t done anything wrong, I won’t treat her unjustly!” Emperor Xie Shencong replied with a laugh. “I’ve heard of tigresses protecting their cubs, but I’ve never seen a little doe protecting one before!”

Lu Yao let out an exaggerated “hmph,” pretending to be upset.

“Very well, I won’t trouble this young lady any further. You may go now,” Emperor Xie Shencong said, waving his hand nonchalantly, his expression unreadable. “But tell Prince Langya to be less reckless next time!”

Li Zhi carefully expressed her thanks and withdrew.

After she left, Lu Yao tentatively asked, “Your Majesty, what has Prince Langya done now?”

“Hmph!” Emperor Xie Shencong snorted heavily, though it lacked true anger.

Clearly avoiding any discussion of the former dynasty, the emperor left Lu Yao’s question unanswered, and she wisely chose not to press further.

Instead, she maintained her role as the playful and endearing young consort.

Perhaps she had once truly been that innocent, but ever since Emperor Xie Shencong had plucked her from her simple life with his overbearing ways, she was no longer entirely the same.

There were countless nights when she woke from nightmares, tempted to grab a hairpin and pierce the throat of the man lying beside her.

But she knew that if she truly did such a thing, she’d never see her home again. Somewhere along the way, she had begun to think like an adult.

Just last year, she had still been happily catching crickets and playing games with friends in the hills behind her house.

“Prince Langya upset you, Your Majesty. Why not punish him directly instead of scolding Sister Li?” Lu Yao said. “In this entire palace, aside from Your Majesty, Sister Li is the only one who genuinely cares for me. I won’t allow anyone to bully her!”

When it was just the two of them, Lu Yao referred to herself as I. She knew that Emperor Xie Shencong adored her seeming innocence.

Or, more precisely, her childishness.

Children were simple, kind, foolish, and, most importantly, utterly non-threatening.

In her year at the palace, she had gradually learned to wield that as her weapon.

“You’re too naïve, trusting people too easily,” Emperor Xie Shencong said, tapping the tip of Lu Yao’s nose with a hint of amusement.

“How am I naïve?” Lu Yao pouted. “Back home, Father and Mother always praised me as the smartest among my siblings.”

“Being smart doesn’t mean you’re worldly-wise. But you and this Director Li do seem to share a connection. Do you know…”

Emperor Xie Shencong’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “It was on Director Li’s strong recommendation that I chose you out of all the peony portraits sent to me.”

The garden fell silent, as if even the wind had stilled.

Lu Yao’s eyes widened, her ears ringing with a deafening buzz.

“For that, you truly owe her your thanks,” Emperor Xie Shencong said casually as he rose from his seat, not sparing a glance at the stunned Lu Yao. “I’ve stayed too long. I still have official duties to attend to. I’ll visit you again tonight.”

Dusting off his robes, Emperor Xie Shencong strode out of Changqiu Hall. Gao Shan, leading the emperor’s retinue, followed a few steps behind.

Outside the gates of Changqiu Hall, Gao Shan helped Emperor Xie Shencong onto the dragon carriage.

“Let’s visit Noble Consort Yi’s palace,” Emperor Xie Shencong instructed.

Gao Shan nodded obediently, and four eunuchs steadily lifted the dragon carriage toward Yaohua Palace.

“What do you think Lu Zhaoyi will do?” Emperor Xie Shencong asked, his tone indifferent.

“This servant believes Lu Zhaoyi will be even more grateful to Director Li,” Gao Shan replied, bowing deeply.

“Why?”

“Because, if not for Director Li, Lu Zhaoyi wouldn’t have had the chance to meet Your Majesty and serve the True Dragon. Such an opportunity—shouldn’t she be even more grateful?”

Emperor Xie Shencong chuckled softly.

“I haven’t forgotten what she was like when she first entered the palace,” Emperor Xie Shencong said suddenly, his tone contemplative.

Gao Shan remained silent, keeping his head lowered.

“If her relationship with Li Zhi grows closer than ever, then I’ll know she’s genuinely committed to staying in the palace. But if they drift apart or even turn against each other…” Emperor Xie Shencong paused, then added with a cold smile, “I’ll know what to do.”

Gao Shan, still bowing, spoke humbly, “This servant is but an uneducated eunuch and only knows that it’s the duty of those in the harem to bring joy to His Majesty. To serve Your Majesty is their fortune. If they cannot make you happy, then they’ve missed the entire point.”

Gao Shan’s words greatly pleased Emperor Xie Shencong, who burst into laughter.
“You… you really are a sly one! There’s no one smarter than you!”

At the mention of cleverness, Emperor Xie Shencong was suddenly reminded of the events from that morning’s court session.

“That Xie Lanxu,” he mused, “he’s usually so sharp, yet today he acted like a complete fool. Prince Jing has been demoted to commoner status, Prince Feng’s influence is at its peak, and even the palace servants know to keep their heads down during times like this. But what does he do? He jumps out to plead for Qian Yiwang.”

The dragon carriage continued its steady, straight course, while the large retinue of palace servants followed behind, resembling the severed tail of a gecko trailing far behind.

“This servant doesn’t understand court affairs,” Gao Shan said cautiously. “But if Prince Langya is sheltering a criminal, why not exile him along with the offender?”

“Qian Yiwang isn’t exactly a criminal,” Emperor Xie Shencong said with a cold chuckle. “He merely happened to rely on a fallen tree for shade. Prince Feng’s faction is eager to seize the moment and pin some baseless charges on him.

“As for Xie Jingtan…” Emperor Xie Shencong’s expression turned frosty. “He’s been sent to the Ancestral Court now. This is a time of celebration for Prince Feng’s faction.”

“Gao Shan—”

“This servant is here.”

“When I look at Prince Langya, I can’t help but think of someone else. If it were him, he too would have spoken up for the innocent today, even if it meant being condemned by all. He’d do it without hesitation. Perhaps it’s true what they say—like father, like son.”

“This servant believes that the Prince Langya offending Prince Feng’s faction is, in fact, a good thing for Your Majesty,” Gao Shan said.

“Why do you say that?”

“This servant believes that the court is like a bowl of fried rice. For fried rice to taste good, every grain must be distinct and separate. Your Majesty is a master of culinary arts; surely you understand this better than I do.”

Emperor Xie Shencong laughed heartily at the analogy.

He trusted no ministers, no sons. He placed his faith only in those who posed no threat to him—
Like powerless young girls.
Like eunuchs who had lost their vitality and clung to imperial favor to survive.

“You truly are a treasure to me, Gao Shan. If I didn’t have you, I wouldn’t know who to share these thoughts with!”

Gao Shan flashed a fawning smile. His pale face, animated by the sycophantic grin, seemed both obsequious and oddly lively.

“This servant is willing to be Your Majesty’s treasure for life. If I can bring you joy, then even this lowly life of mine will have been worth it.”

Emperor Xie Shencong’s laughter echoed through the air as the dragon carriage gradually disappeared down the palace path, fading into the distance.