The Empress Resigns - Chapter 3

Chapter 4

After He Hongye and I compared notes, I realized just how thoroughly Li Yuan had fooled me all these years.

For a moment, I even wondered if I had been born in some tiny Mongolian state-otherwise, how could he have kept me in the dark my entire life?

When He Hongye struck, she was steady, precise, and ruthless. Three days later, she summoned her cousin into the palace.

It was a fine, sunny afternoon when my maid, Xiao Cui, came rushing into the inner hall.

“Your Majesty! Something’s happened!”

“What is it?”

Xiao Cui took two breaths to steady herself.

“Consort He and Concubine Lin went for a walk in the imperial garden, and behind the rockery, they found… they found-”

My eyes lit up. “Out with it!”

“They found the Emperor and Consort He’s cousin embracing each other with their clothes in disarray!

“They say Consort He’s cousin’s crimson mandarin-duck dudou was still hanging from the Emperor’s belt!”

I forcibly pressed down the corners of my mouth, desperately recalled Li Yuan’s ugly face, and hurriedly rose to change.

“Take me there at once! How could there be such a shameless woman!”

By the time I arrived, He Mianmian had already put her clothes back on and was standing there with her head lowered, weeping.

Concubine Lin was cowering in a corner, looking as if she wished she could shout, I didn’t see anything!

Not that I blamed her. In times like these, who wouldn’t want to run after catching the Emperor in the act?

“Your Majesty, you have truly behaved most improperly!”

“We… We merely… lost control in the heat of the moment.”

At this point, Li Yuan had yet to fully spread his wings. He had always been cautious when speaking to me, and now his voice was even weaker.

“I hear the Imperial Consort’s younger sister is still an unmarried maiden. Imperial Consort, do not blame me for speaking out of turn, but you must pay more attention to the upbringing of the young women in your clan.”

He Hongye, seated to the side, let out a long sigh and said quietly, “The Empress’s instruction is correct.”

“By rights, seducing the Emperor is a capital crime. But Miss He is, after all, the Imperial Consort’s younger sister, and the Emperor is fond of her. Why not let her remain in the palace?”

Li Yuan breathed a quiet sigh of relief and gave an awkward smile. “This matter was Our fault. Let it be handled according to the Empress’s wishes.”

I nodded, then added, “However, Miss He did enter this situation dishonorably. If she is not punished, I fear others may follow her example.”

“How about fifteen slaps across the mouth, then grant her a rank?”

“This-”

Li Yuan hesitated. He glanced at He Mianmian, who was shaking her head desperately, then finally turned his face away and agreed through gritted teeth.

When the palace servants dragged He Mianmian away, the girl cried so hard she nearly fainted.

I lowered my eyes and smiled faintly. This time, you won’t be lucky enough to enter the palace with your reputation spotless.

“What rank does Your Majesty intend to grant Miss He?”

Li Yuan said nothing. He Hongye spoke first. “Why not make her a sixth-rank Baolin and have her live in my palace?”

Li Yuan hesitated. “Would that not be a little low?”

I gave him a look of feigned surprise. “Your Majesty, this was originally a capital crime. If her rank is too high, what are we to do when everyone starts imitating her in the future?

“You need not worry, either. The Imperial Consort and Miss He are sisters from the same clan. Could Miss He possibly suffer while living in the Imperial Consort’s palace?”

“Precisely.”

He Hongye said, “I intend to assign Haitang to Mianmian, so she can help her become familiar with palace rules.”

Li Yuan froze. “Haitang is an old servant you have always relied on. You-”

“An old servant is exactly the sort who knows how to take proper care of someone. Even if only to set Your Majesty’s mind at ease, I must look after Mianmian well.”

Haitang gave Li Yuan a subtle glance, then hurriedly knelt. “Your Highness, this servant does not wish to leave you!”

“When masters are speaking, who gave you the right to interrupt?” I said coldly.

He Hongye cast Haitang a frigid look, then said, “This matter is settled. Haitang, from now on, you will serve Mianmian.”

As we spoke, He Mianmian was brought back.

She had once had such a lovely face, like a hibiscus blossom. Now it was swollen red and burning hot; without ten days to half a month, the swelling likely would not go down.

A palace servant reminded her, “Miss He, you should kneel and thank His Majesty and Her Majesty for their grace.”

He Mianmian knelt with her eyes brimming with tears and said indistinctly, “Thank you, Your Majesty and Her Majesty, for this favor.”

I waved a hand. “Very well. The Emperor has already named you a sixth-rank Baolin. Once you enter the palace, you must not commit this sort of mistake again.”

Watching Li Yuan and He Mianmian exchange a covert, sorrowful look, I could not help sneering inwardly.

Baolin He, your good days are still ahead of you.