The Night Before Leaving the Palace, Reduced to the Tyrant's Plaything - chapter 9

Consort Lan looked down at the mute girl kneeling on the ground, her expression rather complicated. “Get up. I’m taking such a risk, but it’s not for you.”

Wanyu supported herself on her knees and slowly stood up, her legs trembling uncontrollably from the pain.

Consort Lan said, “His Majesty treats you so differently. Wouldn’t it be better to live in the palace, dressed in silks and satins, enjoying exclusive favor? Why do you insist on degrading yourself like this?”

Wanyu shook her head, her gaze calm and resolute.

Seeing her determination, Consort Lan finally felt at ease. She lowered her voice, “His Majesty is not so easily deceived. He left Fuzi here to keep watch. You may avoid him during the noon rest, but I fear you won’t escape tonight. I’ll think about who can step in to help then.”

Wanyu pressed her palms together and bowed to her.

It seemed the Persimmon God had truly answered her prayers. Just this morning, she had been worrying about how to avoid Qi Rang during the noon rest, and now Consort Lan had taken the initiative to offer her help. Moreover, she had said that as long as Wanyu sincerely wished to leave the palace, the other consorts would spare no effort to assist her.

Though she knew the consorts’ motives were far from pure, she was still deeply grateful.

As long as she could leave the palace smoothly, she was willing to worship all these consorts as deities.

Before long, a young eunuch summoned Jiang Taiyi from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Following Consort Lan’s arrangement, Wanyu lay back on the couch and pretended to be unconscious.

Jiang Taiyi examined her carefully, performed acupuncture, and prescribed medicine to dispel the cold, saying she would wake up soon.

Whether she wanted to or not, Wanyu had to wake up, because Qi Rang had given her only two choices: either wake up and return to Qianqing Palace to serve, or die and be sent back to the Jiang family.

She could not die, so she could only wake up.

She even wondered if Qi Rang knew she was pretending and said this on purpose.

But if he knew she was pretending, why would he let her off so lightly?

Consort Lan had actually said that His Majesty treated her differently and that she could enjoy exclusive favor if she stayed in the palace.

She smiled bitterly in her heart. If imperial favor meant being humiliated and trampled to death, she would rather have none of it.

Besides, she never wanted it in the first place. What she wanted was the vast world outside the palace, to be with her beloved, and the freedom to soar wherever she wished.

She recalled Xu Qingzhan’s words and silently told herself to hold on a little longer. If all went well, the morning after tomorrow, she would see the one she longed for at the palace gates.

It had been five years. Had the once spirited young man changed?

She believed that no matter how he had changed, she would recognize him at a glance.

…

In Qianqing Palace, Qi Rang stood before the dragon bed for a long time, but in the end, he did not sit down.

The new Palace Maid had made the bed perfectly, with not a single flaw. The scent of Calming Incense was just right-not too strong, not too faint-yet it failed to calm him, only making him more restless.

Everything seemed right, yet nothing was right.

With a dark expression, he returned to the East Warm Pavilion at the front hall, reclining on the kang by the south window, feigning sleep with his head on a pillow.

Sun Liangyan dared not say a word. He fetched a blanket to cover him, then withdrew outside the hall, holding his Horsetail Whisk and worrying.

Everyone knew the Emperor was in a bad mood. Whatever they did, they did it quietly, as if they were thieves.

The Second Steward, Hu Jinzhong, sneaked over and whispered to Sun Liangyan, “What are we to do? Miss Wanyu hasn’t left yet, and His Majesty is getting harder and harder to please. If she leaves, who will be able to serve him?”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Sun Liangyan said. “Fuzi just got reprimanded, and now you’re itching for trouble? Who told you His Majesty is upset because of Miss Wanyu?”

“Does anyone need to say it? Anyone with eyes can see it,” Hu Jinzhong replied. “His Majesty is strange. He’s the Emperor-if he doesn’t want someone to leave the palace, isn’t it just a matter of a word? But he refuses to say it, and so both sides are suffering. It’s really worrying.”

Sun Liangyan shot him a look of disgust. “This is truly a case of the eunuch being more anxious than the Emperor. Since you care so much, why don’t you go in and comfort His Majesty yourself? Or maybe you can find a way to resolve his troubles. If His Majesty is pleased, he might just give you my position as Chief Steward.”
“Not at all, not at all, Your Excellency, you flatter me. I was just saying.”

Hu Jinzhong nodded and bowed, forcing a smile as he walked away. Once his back was turned, his triangular eyes suddenly gleamed.

Fortune favors the bold, and the timid starve. Perhaps he really could help His Majesty resolve his worries, and the position of Chief Steward might not be out of reach.

Inside the Warm Pavilion, Qi Rang was groggy and had no idea how long he had slept. He heard Sun Liangyan calling from outside: “Your Majesty, someone from Yonghe Palace reports that Princess Jiahua is ill. She has been crying and refusing to eat, and Consort Zhuang requests Your Majesty to visit her.”

Qi Rang opened his eyes and saw that it was already late outside. He moved his sore neck and said indifferently, “Why is she sick again?”

The Emperor had been on the throne for five years and had only this one princess under his knee-a living treasure of the entire Forbidden City. Whenever there was the slightest disturbance, everyone in the palace would be on edge.

Sun Liangyan came in to help the Emperor change clothes, ordered the sedan chair to be prepared, and set out for Yonghe Palace.

The news quickly reached Yikun Palace. Consort Lan said to Wanyu, “Go ahead. While His Majesty is away, finish your task and hurry back to your post. Consort Zhuang has staked even the little princess for your sake. You must do your best and not make any more mistakes.”

Wanyu had rested all afternoon and was feeling better. She bade farewell to Consort Lan and returned to Qianqing Palace with Fuzi.

Fuzi was completely unaware of the twists and turns behind all this. Along the way, he carefully supported her, afraid that her weakness might cause her to fall.

“Gugu Wanyu, just hang in there a little longer. Once tomorrow is over, you can leave the palace and reunite with your family.”

Wanyu nodded, feeling warmth in her heart; even the cold wind blowing on her face didn’t feel chilly.

Everyone was encouraging her to hold on a bit longer-how could she not?

As long as she could get through tonight smoothly, the remaining day would be easy.

The palace would allow a day for everyone to hand over duties, complete procedures, pack up, and say goodbye to familiar sisters. If time permitted, the Chief Gugu would even organize a farewell banquet.

If nothing went wrong, she wouldn’t need to report for duty at Qianqing Palace tomorrow.

In Yonghe Palace, the crying Princess Jiahua stopped as soon as she was in Qi Rang’s arms, whimpering and searching for milk.

Qi Rang sat her on his lap and personally fed her half a bowl of minced meat and egg custard, then half a bowl of sheep’s milk.

Once the little princess was full, she used her chubby hands to play with the golden buttons on his dragon robe.

Consort Zhuang and the palace maids all marveled, “The little princess cried all afternoon, but as soon as she saw His Majesty, she was completely fine. Truly a deep bond between father and daughter!”

Qi Rang remained silent, for some reason recalling Jiang Wanyu kneeling on the ground, unfastening his buttons.

He glanced at the sky outside, pulled off a golden button for the little princess, and then handed her back to Consort Zhuang. “I’m leaving. Watch her carefully-don’t let her swallow the button.”

Consort Zhuang took the child, anxious but smiling warmly. “The princess stops crying as soon as she sees Your Majesty. Clearly, she misses you dearly. Why not stay the night and spend some time together as father and daughter?”

Qi Rang frowned slightly, his deep phoenix eyes probing her face.

Consort Zhuang’s legs went weak with fear, but she forced herself to stand firm.

“I still have state affairs to attend to.” Qi Rang pinched the princess’s cheek and strode out. “The wind is strong outside. Don’t come out.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, I respectfully see you off.” Consort Zhuang watched him leave the hall, then beckoned a young eunuch. “Go and see if that girl is still at Qianqing Palace.”

The young eunuch obeyed and left. Consort Zhuang held the princess, still feeling uneasy.

For the sake of that girl, she, as a mother, had forced the princess to go hungry all afternoon. Whether it worked or not, she had done her best.”}