Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 33.1
by Little PandaVolume 2: Power Over Court and Country
The Deposed Empress 08
Covering The Heaven With One Hand
Xin Lan originally thought she had solved some things, so she could have a good, peaceful sleep, but Ling Jiu brought her another piece of news.
Ling Jiu: Sister Lan, Consort Man has run away.
Xin Lan: Huh?
Ling Jiu: She’s on the move, destination unknown, but with her martial arts skills, I guess she can’t get over the palace walls.
Xin Lan: Won’t the Emperor be angry?
Ling Jiu: He is angry and has ordered the Imperial Guards to search for her.
Xin Lan: How did she get out?
Logically, Consort Man was under house arrest with the Imperial Guards at the door, so how did she escape, through the roof?
That shouldn’t be possible; Consort Man’s qinggong skill haven’t reached that level, otherwise, she wouldn’t be stuck inside the palace walls either.
Ling Jiu: She tricked a guard into coming in and knocked him out, then got another one to come in and knocked him out too, and that’s how she got out.
Beautiful and fragile women always make people drop their guard, especially when they look pitiful like Consort Man. But fortunately, Wu Yanqing is not someone who gets dazzled by beauty. Even if it’s a pretty woman, he still acts without mercy.
Never underestimate a strong and confident woman; they always have surprising moves.
Consort Man moved towards the direction of the palace wall. She had already torn her troublesome skirt to pieces, revealing her calves without caring at all. She was determined to get out of there.
Unfortunately, her secret passage wasn’t completed yet, and she didn’t know where the hidden passages under the Wu Kingdom palace were, otherwise she wouldn’t be so hindered.
She gathered her energy and tried to jump onto the eaves, but she failed.
She had only learned a little of the skill and had been out of practice for several years. Just knocking out those two tall and strong guards had already taken a lot of effort.
With no other options, she had to hide for the time being.
But if she couldn’t get out, hiding here would only lead to being discovered sooner or later.
Consort Man was like a trapped beast, carefully hiding in the palace.
Xin Lan listened to Ling Jiu’s report and watched coldly.
She called over Chunyue and whispered to her.
Chunyue nodded, showing that she understood.
Chunyue stepped back, and outside the door, Sitong tugged on her sleeve and whispered to her.
“Sister Chunyue, what did the master tell you?”
Chunyue briefly explained it to her.
“Oh, that’s it. Why did the master call you and not me? Playing favorites.”
Sitong said this with a smile, pretending to complain. After all, Chunyue had served longer than her, so it made sense to call her for tasks.
“It’s just because I happened to be waiting by the door. You can wait there next time, and the master will naturally call you.”
Chunyue was observant and had long noticed that the master didn’t have any favorites. For small trivial matters, whoever was closer would be called.
“Then I’ll try it next time.”
Sitong said with a smile, glanced out the door, and then sat back down.
It’s nothing major, just the Imperial Guards searching around.
Consort Man wasn’t in this Biyue Palace in the first place, and Xin Lan didn’t have any secrets here, so she openly let the Imperial Guards search.
She just sat in her place and asked what kind of person they were searching for.
“Consort Man has been grounded, but she ran away without permission. I am ordered to capture her.”
“I haven’t seen her.”
“Master, I think I just saw someone, but I’m not sure if it was Consort Man. The back looked like a woman, and the clothing didn’t seem like a palace maid’s. She ran very fast, and I only had time to see a back view.”
Chunyue spoke hesitantly, with uncertainty in her words.
“Did you see which way she went?”
Chunyue pointed in a direction, and the Imperial Guards went that way.
The main gate of Biyue Palace was closed again, and as the footsteps faded away, the night returned to quietness.
Sitong and Chunyue carried hot water, and Xin Lan undressed and got into the water to start her bath.
She wasn’t concerned about Consort Man’s matter; it wasn’t as important as her bathing. If there were any results, Ling Jiu would naturally inform her.
The water in the tub was warm, soothing her skin. Xin Lan gently exhaled, her fair and slender fingers playing with the water, and she submerged her neck, letting her dark hair float up.
When she was nearly finished with her bath, Ling Jiu told her that Consort Man had been caught.
Following the direction Chunyue mentioned, the Imperial Guards quickly found her. Surrounded, Consort Man had no way to escape and was brought before the Emperor.
Wu Yanqing waved everyone away, and when only he and Consort Man were left in the hall, he stepped down, looking condescendingly at the disheveled Consort Man sitting on the ground.
“I underestimated you, having the ability to escape. But since you dared to run, it means the child in your belly is a bastard, isn’t that right?”
Wu Yanqing lifted Consort Man’s chin with two fingers, seeing the hatred in her eyes.
“You hate me? What right do you have? You’ve been in the palace for a few years, and I’ve treated you well, showering you with favor. But how have you treated me?”
Wu Yanqing spoke with a chilling tone, recalling how he had been taking antidotes to nurse his health, and that there were no pregnancies in the harem due to her actions, which made him furious.
He didn’t feel he had wronged this beautiful woman of his, as she lacked neither affection nor gifts. Yet she dared to tamper with him, trying to cut off his descendants and overthrow his kingdom, even harming his other concubines. Such malice!
“At this point, Your Majesty doesn’t need to pretend anymore.”
Consort Man brushed the dust off herself, her face no longer showing the previously pitiful, teary-eyed look but instead filled with viciousness.
“Truly a cold-hearted woman,” Wu Yanqing sighed, his fingers touching Consort Man’s face. “What other messages have you sent to the Kingdom of Da Qing?”
“I won’t tell you a single word.”
“Why be like this? After all, we are husband and wife. You have wronged me, so why act as if I have wronged you? I can’t bear to torture you, but if you don’t speak, those punishments will be used on you one by one.”
Wu Yanqing thought he was still treating this woman well. She betrayed him and was unfaithful, yet he spoke kindly to her. Unfortunately, she remained unappreciative.
“Can’t bear to? When have you ever been unable to bear it? To you, every woman is only valued by how useful she is, right? Did Xin Lan ever wrong you? And isn’t she now in a miserable state? What right does such a ruler have to pretend to be affectionate in front of me?”
Consort Man wasn’t defending Xin Lan; she was just taking things as they came.
Wu Yanqing’s expression flickered for a moment, and he ordered someone to take Consort Man away.
Xin Lan listened to the conversation and found it amusing.
A pot for every lid, neither of them is clean. (This phrase suggests that people are well-matched in their flaws or wrongdoings.)
But as for Consort Man, she indeed wronged Wu Yanqing, just like Wu Yanqing wronged the original owner.
According to the laws of the Wu Kingdom, becoming a female prisoner is not a good thing.
Being a female prisoner is even worse than being a courtesan in a brothel, at least they still get paid.
For unfaithful female prisoners, the methods of torture are even more cruel.
Xin Lan had no interest in knowing Consort Man’s future fate, as she could already guess it completely.
She didn’t feel any pity, seeing it as an eye for an eye, a life for a life.
Justice is evident, and retribution is inevitable.
How innocent was Consort Liu, yet she can only sleep forever in the cold ground.
It was also pitiful for Consort Liu and Consort Xi’s unborn children, who would perish before they could be born.
On the second night, Xin Lan left the palace again.
Qu Zhi’an was very efficient and helped Xin Lan check out several herbal medicine shops.
Buying an old herbal shop is much more convenient than opening a new one, since the old shop has its supply sources. However, the downside is clear: if it were profitable, it wouldn’t be for sale to others. Those good but low-end herbal shops are only sold if the owner urgently needs money.
If you want to open a new shop, you have to find the right connections first. The location and type of building are important considerations, and you have to transform it into what you want, which inevitably requires a lot of money and time. Qu Zhi’an knew Xin Lan didn’t want to wait.
She wanted to confirm whether Xin Lan was opening a shop to make money or for something else.
But clearly, if it was about making money, she wouldn’t choose an herbal shop. Picking a teahouse or tavern would make earning money much easier.
Xin Lan was very pleased to hear about the herbal shops available for sale. She needed it for her own purposes, not for business, and it was best if it was as inconspicuous as possible.
Hearing this, Qu Zhi’an paused, her gaze at Xin Lan becoming somewhat deep. However, when Xin Lan looked up, that dark look quickly disappeared.
“Alright then, I’ll take care of it by tomorrow. The silver notes you gave yesterday are enough. Why not go see it together today?”
Xin Lan agreed happily and went along with Qu Zhi’an under the night sky.
She knew Qu Zhi’an understood her intentions, which is why she found a place that suited her so well.
Qu Zhi’an saw through it but didn’t say anything, maintaining a delicate balance that could advance or retreat as needed.
Xin Lan saw the herbal shop and was very satisfied. The location wasn’t too remote, and the size was just right. The owner was selling it because they managed it poorly and planned to leave the capital.
After they checked out the herbal shop, the two of them slowly walked back.
It wasn’t too late yet, but the street was already quite empty.
Only a few people hurried by, and Xin Lan and Qu Zhi’an walked silently alongside them or passed them by.
“Yanyan, for helping me with this, I will definitely send you a thank-you gift another day.”
Xin Lan wanted to break the silence, thinking about what kind of gift would be appropriate.
“No need to be so polite; it was just a small effort, no need to send a special gift.”
Qu Zhi’an initially thought of suggesting they have tea together, but considering Xin Lan’s status, she could probably only come out at night. No teahouse stays open that late; most close after nightfall. Going to a tavern might work, but getting drunk could lead to unpredictable situations, and she didn’t know if Xin Lan could hold her liquor. So, she decided against it.
“That won’t do.”
Xin Lan shook her head. She didn’t like taking advantage of others. Since Qu Zhi’an helped her, she had to return the favor.
She just hadn’t thought of what to give as a thank-you gift yet. She didn’t have anything rare or special with her, and buying something would be difficult as her budget was limited. Besides, Qu Zhi’an came from a wealthy merchant family and had probably seen plenty of nice things.
“It will do. Even if you want to give a thank-you gift, now isn’t the time. Let’s talk about it when it’s convenient for you.”
Qu Zhi’an’s eyes curved with a light, joyful smile, and her words now hinted at a change from before, indicating she wasn’t planning to dismiss this favor anymore.
Qu Zhi’an was a shrewd businesswoman. Her first refusal was genuine, but since Xin Lan insisted on being polite, she quietly noted it down in her mind that Miss Xin owed her a favor.
She sensed that it might be very useful in the future.
Xin Lan didn’t know what Qu Zhi’an was thinking and thought she was really quite nice.
However, when she would be “convenient” might take a long time, and she might still need Qu Zhi’an’s help.
Qu Zhi’an might have some idea of what she wanted to do, but she didn’t know exactly how far Xin Lan intended to go.
Xin Lan left Qu Zhi’an’s place, feeling a bit heavy-hearted.
She didn’t know where this almost melancholic feeling came from, but when she closed her eyes, it quietly faded away.
Within two days, the Imperial Guards suddenly surrounded the Xin residence and stormed in to conduct a search.
This thunderous move caught everyone off guard.
When Ling Jiu told Xin Lan about it, she was busy eating sunflower seeds.
Upon hearing the news, she calmly continued to eat another seed.
She knew the Emperor would definitely exploit the situation. Expecting the truth to clear her name was simply impossible.
After searching the Xin family, the Imperial Guards found two letters of correspondence between Xin Sheng and Consort Man. The letters, in black and white, were solid evidence of treason and collusion with the enemy.
There was no doubt that these letters were fabricated by the Emperor, and even the current head of the Xin family, Left Chancellor Xin Sheng, Lord Xin, was well aware of this.
Ever since Consort Man was thrown into prison, he sensed something unusual.
In the previous court, even if someone heard rumors, no one dared to ask the Emperor what mistake Consort Man had made, since Consort Man was a princess sent to marry for alliance, not the daughter of some official.
It was the Emperor himself who brought it up in court, speaking of the conspiracy of the Kingdom of Da Qing and claiming that Consort Man had ulterior motives. At that time, some ministers followed by criticizing her. The Emperor then made a meaningful remark, saying that someone had restlessly connected with Consort Man, though he didn’t specify who. However, Xin Sheng always felt the Emperor was looking at him.
Xin Sheng, being upright and honest, wasn’t afraid because he hadn’t done anything wrong. But he feared being forced into treason.
As he expected, that day finally came.
He had been on guard at home, afraid something incriminating would be planted there. But when the Imperial Guards searched, they could claim anything taken from him as evidence found in his home.
So the Left Chancellor calmly knelt and pleaded his innocence when the Emperor arrived, appearing wholly devoted to the Emperor.
His family also wept, insisting that their master returned home immediately after morning court sessions unless summoned by the Emperor, never lingering in the palace, crying until their heads hurt.
The Left Chancellor indeed managed to maintain a good reputation. Over the years, nothing corrupt or illegal was ever pinned on him. Of course, he couldn’t be as clean as he seemed; he was just good at pretending and covering his tracks.
The real fear wasn’t the Emperor misunderstanding the Left Chancellor but the Emperor doing it on purpose. And the Emperor was indeed doing it on purpose. The Emperor knew it, the Left Chancellor knew it, and those who understood the situation knew it even better.
Xin Lan finished eating a handful of sunflower seeds when her niece came crying to her door.
Xin Long was still young, and when she heard that something happened to the Xin family and that her grandfather was put in prison, she couldn’t get any news from home, so she hurried over.
“Aunt, they all say Grandpa…”
As soon as she started speaking, tears fell.
“Long’er, don’t cry. You’re going to be an Empress; you mustn’t be so unsettled. Mingxiang, wipe your mistress’s tears.”
Xin Long sniffled, but seeing Xin Lan sitting in the main seat, calm as ever even if the sky were falling, she composed herself.
“Long’er, I hope you understand that our Xin family is like a thorn in the Emperor’s flesh. If he doesn’t remove it, he won’t have peace of mind. You need to learn to be smarter, not always so naïve.”
“But… but Mother told me to please him, and I did, but why…”
“Some things never change just because of one person’s efforts. No matter how hard you try to please him, if he doesn’t accept it, what can you do?”
“Does that mean our family is… is in trouble?”
“Don’t overthink. Even if something really happens, you can’t panic. Father surely has a backup plan. Go back and wait, and no matter what happens, you must stay calm.”
Xin Lan initially considered telling Xin Long that if the Emperor came to her, she should act more sorrowful, which might stir some compassion in him. But then she thought it was impossible—such a man wouldn’t have those kinds of feelings.
Xin Long came with a sad face and left with the same expression.
As expected, the day after Xin Sheng was thrown into prison, officials began kneeling to plead for mercy.
The Emperor was furious and wouldn’t relent.
He had finally caught such an opportunity and couldn’t just let it go.
In the imperial study, Qiu Peizhen and Qu Zhi’an stood together as the Emperor asked for their opinions on the matter.
Qiu Peizhen, being very straightforward, was also displeased with the Xin family’s influence in court. But since the Xin family hadn’t openly committed any wrongdoing or absurdities, Qiu Peizhen truthfully said there was only a fifty percent chance the accusations were true. Maybe the Left Chancellor really did such a thing, or maybe he didn’t.
After all, the Left Chancellor had already reached the peak of his career. What would he gain from colluding with the enemy and betraying the country?
Changing the dynasty isn’t easy, and if he really did it and the dynasty changed, he wouldn’t have his current position unless he wanted to become the Emperor himself.
But that’s unlikely, as a successful uprising needs a good cause. Usurping the throne without a justifiable reason wouldn’t succeed and would leave a lasting disgrace. A shrewd person like the Left Chancellor would never cut off his own escape route like that.
So Qiu Peizhen, while speaking, actually found it absurd that letters were found in the Left Chancellor’s residence. But he wasn’t foolish; noticing the Emperor’s changing expression, he changed his tone.
He said that if the Left Chancellor really did it, he should be severely punished.
Qu Zhi’an understood what was happening the moment it all unfolded.
This was a self-directed play, and Qu Zhi’an thought about how the crime of treason could implicate the entire family. So Xin Lan would also be affected.
However, Qu Zhi’an was not in the same camp as the Left Chancellor, and she couldn’t defend him in any way.
“Zhi’an, you speak.”
“There’s no smoke without fire. If things were found in the Left Chancellor’s residence, there must be a reason. Your Majesty, who sees everything clearly, would not wrongly judge.”
Qu Zhi’an’s expression didn’t change as she spoke in line with the Emperor’s wishes.
As she said this, she felt a bit numb inside.
She never thought she’d become someone who could lie so calmly. Seeing the pleased look on the Emperor’s face, she even felt like laughing.
“Zhi’an truly understands my heart. Those people couldn’t hold back for even a day after the Left Chancellor was imprisoned and came to plead with me. If one didn’t know better, they’d think this was the Left Chancellor’s court.”
The Emperor snorted coldly, and both Qu Zhi’an and Qiu Peizhen remained silent.
As Qu Zhi’an and Qiu Peizhen left the hall together, Qiu Peizhen quietly congratulated Qu Zhi’an.
“Huai Cheng, what’s there to congratulate me on?”
“I’m giving an early congratulations to our esteemed Lord Qu on the upcoming promotion. The Emperor said you truly understand him. With your skills, moving up shouldn’t be a problem.”
LP: Re-translated on December 10, 2024
This trash,