Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 31.2

by Little Panda

Volume 2: Power Over Court and Country

The Deposed Empress 06

Covering The Heaven With One Hand

“Thank you.”

Xin Lan left some silver pieces and prepared to leave.

Shang An held the money, which was much more than the medicine’s worth, watching the closed door and feeling puzzled.

But he never overthought things, so he removed his outer robe, fell onto the bed, and continued sleeping.

Xin Lan immediately returned to the imperial palace with the wine flask, softly called out to Ah Rou, and found her quickly rising, looking as if she hadn’t slept at all.

“Wait until it cools, then drink it.”

Xin Lan handed over the wine pot, and Ah Rou took it in surprise.

“I asked someone in the Imperial Medical Bureau to help secretly; I hope it works.”

Ah Rou looked at her gratefully, even though she couldn’t see her face clearly in the night.

Holding the still hot medicine pot, Ah Rou felt a bit guilty.

Her resolve became stronger: her master was innocent, the deposed empress was innocent, only Consort Man was guilty. All the truth must be told to the Emperor to seek justice.

Xin Lan lay back on the bed without much expression and covered herself with the quilt.

Very sleepy, sleep.

The medicine Ah Rou drank at night did work; she could speak now, but her voice was very soft. Chunyue brought her hot water to soothe her throat.

Sitong was curious about the new person when she woke up and quietly asked Chunyue what was going on.

While Chunyue was telling Sitong about last night’s events, Ah Rou followed Xin Lan into the room and revealed the whole story.

That day, Consort Liu went out for leisure, not wanting many followers, so she only took Ah Rou with her. While walking, Consort Liu discovered her favorite fragrance pouch was missing, probably snagged by branches in the garden. Ah Rou hurried back to look for it while Consort Liu rested by a rockery. During this brief moment, she accidentally overheard Consort Man talking with someone. She didn’t know who it was, but when trying to leave, Consort Man discovered her.

“That day, this humble servant searched for a long time before finding my master. She was standing there, pale and lost. After returning, she held me and cried endlessly without explaining what happened. Later, when my master discovered she was sleepy and nauseous, she became restless and told me everything. Somehow Consort Man learned about my master’s pregnancy and threatened her, forbidding her to terminate it and threatening to spread the news. My master had no choice… My Lady, my master was innocent too, please don’t blame her.”

Ah Rou spoke slowly but tried to speak clearly; with her master gone, she had to seek revenge for her.

The secret about Consort Man that Consort Liu overheard matched Xin Lan’s suspicions.

Ah Rou looked at Xin Lan’s expressionless face and felt inexplicably nervous.

“If I’m not mistaken, news of your master’s death will spread throughout the palace today.”

Ah Rou’s heart ached at these words, and her nose stung with sorrow.

“Thank you, My Lady, for saving this servant last night. This servant will go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony now to report everything to His Majesty.”

“Your story is incomplete.”

“What?”

“The secret Consort Liu overheard wasn’t just that. Remember what I’m about to say and add it in, understand?”

Ah Rou nodded blankly, listening to Xin Lan add several terrifying sentences.

What did she mean by ensuring no one in the imperial harem would bear children, only she would be pregnant, carrying the children of their Da Qing Kingdom…

These simple sentences, combined with the earlier treasonous secret, outlined a shocking conspiracy.

“You want to avenge your master, right?”

Ah Rou nodded.

“Then remember this well: that’s what Consort Liu heard that day. You never entered the Biyue Palace yesterday, you just spent the night sleeping somewhere deserted, understand?”

“This servant understands.”

“Go now.”

Xin Lan watched as Ah Rou looked around cautiously before leaving through the main gate of Biyue Palace, then hurried away.

Xin Lan asked Sitong to close the palace gates and sat in her chamber, having Ling Jiu keep watch.

After the morning court session (an early morning meeting where officials discussed state affairs with the emperor), Qu Zhi’an was about to leave when the emperor’s personal eunuch called her to stop. She paused, knowing she couldn’t leave.

These past two days, she had been pretending not to notice, smoothly deflecting all the emperor’s ambiguous words and gestures while quietly preparing an escape route for herself.

The emperor’s will was unpredictable, especially since he harbored thoughts of using her. The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became. These past nights, she kept inexplicably thinking of Xin Lan, making her dislike the emperor even more, though she still had to keep up appearances.

The emperor seeking her meant discussing state affairs. Qu Zhi’an sighed inwardly but still gathered her spirits.

Setting aside everything else, she was naturally willing to serve the country.

Qu Zhi’an walked with Wu Yanqing toward the Imperial Study, quietly discussing their views on the disaster situation.

The South was experiencing floods due to heavy rains, with riverbanks destroyed and many commoners displaced. Normally, opening the granaries for disaster relief would suffice, but bandits were also roaming the area. The local government offices weren’t doing their duty, and the common people were suffering greatly. It wasn’t reported until it couldn’t be concealed anymore, which made Wu Yanqing extremely angry.

“Zhi’an, tell me, whom should I send?”

“This humble official thinks Your Majesty already has a suitable candidate in mind.”

“Then make a guess?”

Qu Zhi’an pretended to think, though having only recently entered officialdom, she only partially understood many of the complex relationships. However, she could clearly see who belonged to the emperor’s faction and who had their own agenda.

“If this humble official guesses wrong, please don’t jest. I guess it’s Lord Qiu.”

“Zhi’an is indeed clever, thinking exactly as I do.”

Qu Zhi’an forced a smile, trying hard to fake pleasantness.

Qiu Peizhen was her fellow candidate in the palace examination. Though not among the top three scholars, he was outstanding and upright. During their time at the academy, Qu Zhi’an got along well with him, considering him a close friend.

Qiu Peizhen had a rather rigid personality. Sending him for disaster relief would ensure things were done properly. Being upright and unyielding, he wouldn’t be like those old sly officials who would merely go through the motions. More importantly, Qiu Peizhen was the emperor’s man.

Among their newly appointed officials, except for a few, most were like her or Qiu Peizhen – full of passion to serve the emperor and country.

If she hadn’t experienced that incident that day, she too would have thought he was a wise ruler, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

From not far away, someone came running, and the nearby imperial guards immediately took defensive positions, assuming alert stances.

Wu Yanqing stopped walking, seeing a somewhat familiar palace maid.

“I beg Your Majesty to bring justice for my master.”

Without another word, the palace maid knelt down and knocked her head on the ground twice.

Her voice was very soft; Wu Yanqing could barely hear her clearly.

“Come forward. Who is your master?”

When the palace maid raised her head, Wu Yanqing noticed the bruises on her neck, like strangulation marks. Sensing this might not be an ordinary matter, he didn’t make her wait but called her to come forward.

“This servant’s master was Consort Liu, who was murdered by Consort Man in the palace last night.”

Even Wu Yanqing was shocked by this.

“Come with me and explain everything clearly.”

Wu Yanqing’s face grew cold as he remembered – when Consort Liu was pregnant, he often visited her and indeed frequently saw this maid. When Consort Liu miscarried, this maid was by her side, while it was another who endured the torture and interrogation.

Qu Zhi’an’s heart skipped when she heard about the royal family matter. The palace maid’s mention of Consort Liu made her think of that cold yet beautiful face.

Speaking of which, she wondered how she was doing in the Cold Palac, and whether the emperor before her had made any more moves against her.

“Then, Your Majesty, this humble official shall take leave.”

Although Qu Zhi’an wanted to stay and hear the cause and effect of this matter, she knew which matters she could listen to and which she couldn’t. Moreover, this was an internal harem affair, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for an outsider to observe.

As she expected, the emperor didn’t keep her, instead hurriedly heading to the Imperial Study with the palace maid.

Qu Zhi’an walked back, but didn’t leave quickly, instead walking slowly while pondering something.

In the Imperial Study.

Wu Yanqing dismissed all palace servants, leaving only himself and Ah Rou.

“Tell me everything in detail.”

Ah Rou nodded and began the story from the beginning.

She emphasized the part about Consort Liu’s inhumane treatment and forced miscarriage.

“My master wanted to end her life, but Consort Man threatened her, saying if my master dared to die, she would whisper in Your Majesty’s ear at night and harm her family. My master became frightened and endured each day, growing more haggard as time passed.”

“Master couldn’t bear it anymore. After each of Your Majesty’s visits, she would wash her face with tears in her chamber, tormented inside. So she planned to lose this child, pretending it was an accidental miscarriage, but Consort Man wouldn’t allow it, insisting on framing the Deposed Empress. That servant was also arranged by Consort Man.”

“Last night, my master suddenly collapsed from her bed. This servant suspects because she knew her secret, she struck lethally. When I tried to report it, the treacherous maid Ah Lan stopped me. Look, these marks on my neck are from her strangling me. I barely escaped after struggling desperately. Madam Dong from Consort Man’s household chased me – I saw her face clearly. I ran to some palace, and when Madam Dong couldn’t find me, I hid in a room overnight, then hurried to find Your Majesty when I woke.”

“What secret?”

Wu Yanqing’s face had already turned ashen when Ah Rou spoke of Consort Liu’s child’s origin.

How dare they! He, the mighty emperor, being made a cuckold (wearing a green hat, a Chinese expression for being cheated on).

“That day, master overheard Consort Man talking with a man, probably a court official, about military tokens (tiger tallies, used to command armies), the southwest, and Ziyi. This servant can’t remember clearly. Master also said Consort Man told that person that Your Majesty’s first son must come from her womb, bearing the Da Qing Kingdom’s prince, so they could easily…”

Ah Rou trembled unconsciously as she spoke, barely daring to look at the emperor’s expression.

She carefully remembered what the Deposed Empress had said, not to be too direct, better to hesitate and appear uncertain.

“Easily do what?”

Wu Yanqing’s face was dark with shadows – earlier it showed anger, now it showed fury.

Being made a cuckold was already an unbearable humiliation that couldn’t be tolerated.

“Easily seize the Wu Kingdom, making Your Majesty… this servant dares not continue.”

“Every word you’ve spoken is true?”

Wu Yanqing stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes so dark with menace they seemed to overflow.

“Every word this servant speaks is true, without a single lie. If this servant has spoken falsely, may heaven strike me with lightning, and may I fall into the Avici Hell (the deepest level of Buddhist hell) after death, never to be reincarnated.”

Ah Rou gritted her teeth as she made this death oath.

She had spoken falsehoods and was trembling with fear, but when she thought of her master who died in humiliation and uncertainty, her gaze became firm again.

If her master’s revenge could be achieved, what did it matter if she went to hell?

The observed Xin Lan maintained a steady-as-a-mountain appearance, finding it amusing when Ling Jiu described how terrible Wu Yanqing’s expression was.

Ah Rou wouldn’t need to go to hell, after all, she wasn’t blindly guessing. Connecting everything, the truth was likely close to what she said. Just half a month ago, when Consort Man visited, Ling Jiu’s scan showed no pregnancy signs. In just half a month, who knew what she could have schemed.

Wu Yanqing pressed his throbbing temples and had someone come in to take Ah Rou away.

Very well, he had always known the people sleeping beside him weren’t simple, each with their own schemes, but he hadn’t expected one to be so ambitious as to set her sights on his throne.

When Wu Yanqing left, his expression returned to normal.

He headed toward Yunxi Palace, wearing a slight smile as he entered.

Consort Man felt uneasy, forcing a smile when she heard the announcement of the emperor’s arrival. But when she turned to face him, her eyes became pools of water, and she leaned against the emperor like a water snake, showing her usual sweet smile.

“What wind brings Your Majesty here so early to see this concubine?”

“I heard an interesting tale. Would my beloved consort like to hear it?”

Wu Yanqing embraced the beauty leaning against him, slightly bending down to press his face close to hers, his fingers trailing across her delicate white neck. His voice carried a smile, like sweet nothings between lovers, but in his eyes lay ice that would never thaw.

When Wu Yanqing finally acted, it was with great force.

Everyone in Consort Man’s palace was taken out for questioning, and a squad of imperial guards entered Yunxi Palace, beginning a thorough search from top to bottom.

At the same time, an imperial physician was summoned to Yunxi Palace.

Consort Man trembled slightly before the emperor, hands covering her belly.

She hadn’t expected this person to know her thoughts so clearly. That day, she definitely hadn’t mentioned anything about palace children – definitely not!

How did the emperor know all her plans!

Would the game pieces she had carefully arranged for three to four years be destroyed in an instant?

“You’d better be telling the truth about this one thing – that the child in your belly is truly my imperial son. If what’s born isn’t,” Wu Yanqing gave a cold laugh, “not only will you endure this questioning again, but you’ll also suffer every punishment meant for unfaithful women.”

Consort Man’s face turned deathly pale, watching the emperor’s departing figure as he left with a sweep of his sleeves. She collapsed to the ground.

How could this happen, how could it turn out like this!

Just yesterday, her plans had been going perfectly smoothly, yet because of carelessly overlooking one maid, she was now being treated like this.

Consort Man clenched her fists, then laughed self-mockingly as if suddenly understanding everything.

From beginning to end, the emperor had never trusted her, hadn’t he? So he didn’t even investigate, just pronounced her guilty.

Whether she had actually done it or not, the emperor probably didn’t care.

Just like when she had moved against Xin Lan back then, the emperor must have treated Xin Lan the same way.

Truth or lies didn’t matter, because he simply didn’t care – he only wanted the outcome he saw.

How foolish she had been to think she had seduced this man, making him lose himself in her feminine charms.

How laughable.

Thinking about it now, those in power were all this cold-hearted.

Whether it was her husband or her father far away in Da Qing.

Consort Man was a clever person; she already foresaw her fate.

If her father received news of her current situation, he would likely discard her like an abandoned chess piece.

What was the point of rescuing a princess who had been married off to a foreign land?

Both were discarded pieces in the game, but while Xin Lan was only banished to the Cold Palace, her fate would likely be more tragic.

Consort Man touched her belly, her eyes filling with ruthless determination.

“What a fine play.”

Xin Lan commented after hearing the broadcast.

It seemed Wu Yanqing wasn’t just this way with the original owner – he probably treated everyone like this.

But some people deserved it, while others were completely innocent.

Consort Man was a clever and ruthless woman. Her methods might have been underhanded and criticized by others, but her mindset was admirable, becoming calm so quickly.

She was clever, but unfortunately their paths differed.

From Xin Lan’s current position, Consort Man was a traitor who deserved death for collaborating with the enemy. Although she was originally from Da Qing, she had married into Wu Kingdom and was considered a Wu citizen now – causing such trouble was unacceptable.

Xin Lan hated traitors, absolutely hated them.

Due to her military spirit, she despised kingdom traitors, especially since it was because of traitors in the empire that she had been forced to take extreme measures.

Xin Lan suddenly thought of something and asked Ling Jiu to closely monitor Ah Rou.

With the emperor’s temperament, he likely wouldn’t let someone live who knew such an enormous secret.

If there was a chance to save her, she might as well try.

In the imperial harem, everything changed dramatically.

Consort Liu, who had miscarried days ago, died of illness in her bed, causing much sighing among people.

And the formerly favored Consort Man, having somehow angered His Majesty, was placed under house arrest in Yunxi Palace. All her palace servants were taken away, and imperial guards stood watch at the main gate.

Noble Consort didn’t try to cause trouble at this time, staying obediently in her own palace. Xin Long, following Xin Lan’s instructions to remain quietly in the palace, also didn’t ask the emperor what had happened.

Although she was empress, she clearly didn’t have the ability to manage the inner court yet. The phoenix seal might be with her, but Noble Consort was still the one whispering this and that by her side.

Consort Xi, who typically didn’t involve herself in matters, also remained silent.

The inner palace took on an atmosphere where everyone feared for themselves, each becoming as meek as a quail (a Chinese metaphor for being timid and submissive).

Wu Yanqing looked at the items found in the search and angrily threw them to the ground.

The imperial physician kneeling below kept his head bowed firmly, wishing he could pretend he didn’t exist.

“Well done, Consort Man, well done, Da Qing Kingdom, what ambitious wolves!” (Wolf’s heart and wild ambition – idiom for ruthless ambition)

Wu Yanqing laughed in anger, looking at the shattered ointment jar he had thrown.

They said the substance was harmful to a man’s private parts, yet every time he visited Consort Man’s palace, that person’s intimate areas were coated with this fragrant substance. What he had previously thought was bedroom play now appeared to be malicious intent.

Fortunately, Consort Liu’s maid had told him the truth, otherwise he wouldn’t have known how long he’d remain deceived.

However, some things were better left unknown to unimportant people.

“Mei An, where is Consort Liu’s servant girl?”

“Your Majesty, she’s in the side hall. Should this servant summon her?”

“No need, send someone to handle it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At this moment in Biyue Palace, Chunyue handed a note to Xin Lan.

“Master, someone left this for you.”

Xin Lan opened it to find eight characters written on the paper.

‘Changes in the back palace, how are you lately?’

There was no signature, but Xin Lan thought it must be from that person.

Qu Zhi’an, she recited in her heart.