Lu Chuan watched as Zhang Yu sat lost in thought for a moment, his smile growing even wider, which only made Lu Chuan more puzzled. Recalling the recent rumors, he felt he had found a clue, but he didn't dwell on it. It wasn't until he heard a palace servant report that hot water had been prepared that Zhang Yu got off the dragon bed and went to the side hall to bathe and wash.
·
Zhang Yu slept for less than two hours before getting up to attend court. After the morning court session, he returned to Xuanzhi Hall to discuss the annual winter hunt in October with Prince Ning, Zhao Jian, Xia Mingzhe, and others.
Zhang Xin, who had been eagerly anticipating having Zhang Yu fulfill his promise, happened to be waiting outside the Xuanzhi Hall today. Seeing so many people around, she knew the timing wasn't right and didn't want to be disappointed. However, Zhang Ye, seeing through her thoughts, spoke up for her, asking, "What are you doing here? Do you need to see your brother, the Emperor?"
Upon reaching Zhang Xin, Zhang Yu remembered that his promise to allow her to leave the palace had not yet been fulfilled. Hearing this, he said, "What else could she possibly want from me? I remember. We'll talk about it another day."
With Zhang Yu speaking, there was no way to resolve the matter. Zhang Xin ignored Zhao Jian and the others bowing to her, making a face at her elder brother in displeasure, but didn't linger in a huff at this moment, immediately replying, "Alright, alright! Just wait patiently!"
With her hopes dashed for the time being, Zhang Xin thought that her elder sister was going to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager today, and that it was not appropriate for her to stay any longer. After saying this, she bowed and took her leave, heading towards Changning Palace.
Originally, Zhang Xin wanted to confide in Song Shuhao, but she happened to be away. Only Princess Zhang Jin had arrived. Zhang Xin immediately abandoned all her previous thoughts and eagerly went up to hug her elder sister's arm and act coquettishly.
"Royal sister, I haven't seen you in so long, I've missed you so much!"
Slightly older than Zhang Yu, Zhang Jin was born with an ethereal beauty and an innate heroic spirit. Even when she smiled, she did not lose the dignity befitting a princess, and her noble and graceful temperament shone from her very bones.
Zhang Jin merely raised an eyebrow at Zhang Xin's affectionate words, not bothering to point it out, "You just sneaked over to my residence for half a day two days ago, how come it's been so long?"
Zhang Xin was immediately terrified, but dared not shut her up. She could only smile ingratiatingly and timidly look at Empress Dowager Feng. Seeing Empress Dowager Feng frown, Zhang Xin immediately chuckled and quickly said, "Mother knows, my brother promised me that he would let me go out of the palace for two days. I only played for half a day, and I went to my sister's residence; I didn't run around. Mother, how good I was!"
She thought she had found a perfect excuse for herself and even boasted about herself, unaware that she had fallen into the trap set by Zhang Yu and Zhang Jin. Zhang Jin thought to herself, His Majesty the Emperor said that as long as she could get A Xin out of the palace for two days, he would not hold her accountable for the trouble she had caused. It couldn't be a better deal.
Empress Dowager Feng had spoiled Zhang Xin, and seeing her smiling and charming appearance, she couldn't get angry at all. So, she could only say with a stern face, "If you do this again, I'll have your nanny teach you a lesson in manners!" Zhang Xin just chuckled and ran away from Zhang Jin to serve Empress Dowager Feng tea and water, and massage her shoulders and back.
While Zhang Xin was busy, Xue Liangyue came in from outside, curtsied, and said, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Yuan has arrived." Empress Dowager Feng looked up and saw that Lü Yuan had already walked up to them, greeted the three of them, and directly stated his purpose, "His Majesty has sent this servant to ask Your Majesty to borrow Aunt Song for a while."
"What does His Majesty need her for?"
Lu Yuan looked at Zhang Jin, who had asked the question, and explained, "Your Highness, it's because Aunt Song's tea-making skills were praised by Prince Zhao yesterday, so His Majesty said that Aunt Song should go over and make some tea today so that Prince Zhao can have a taste."
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Feng frowned slightly and said, "Ah Hao was on duty last night and only returned this morning. She's probably still resting." However, she suspected that Zhang Yu was up to something. Could it be that he wanted Ah Hao…
“Aunt Song was on duty last night, so I’m afraid she can’t make it. But Eunuch Yuan, in my opinion, wouldn’t it be just as good to send Aunt Xue? Both of them are equally skilled at brewing tea. Since we’ve come to borrow someone, we can’t go back empty-handed.”
After Zhang Jin finished speaking, she looked at Xue Liangyue beside her and asked her, "Aunt Xue, are you free to go?" Xue Liangyue just looked at Empress Dowager Feng, who glanced at her and said, "A Jin is right, it's the same for you to go. Go ahead, His Majesty's orders are important."
A small joy welled up in Xue Liangyue's heart. She lowered her head, bit her lip, and curtsied before following Lü Yuan away. Worried about whether her makeup looked good today, and not daring to be negligent, she tidied herself up slightly before going to the Xuanzhi Hall with Lü Yuan.
·
Song Shuhao was still fast asleep when she was awakened by a series of urgent sounds. She groggily opened her eyes and saw Lanfang looking anxious. Before she could fully wake up, she heard her say, "Aunt Song, wake up, don't sleep."
Thinking something terrible had happened, Ah Hao quickly sat up, clutching the quilt, and asked, "What happened?" But having stayed up all night and only slept for a little over an hour, being suddenly woken up inevitably gave her a terrible headache.
"Aunt, get up and wash quickly, then go to Xuanzhi Hall. If you're late, I don't know if Aunt Xue will still be alright..." Ahao didn't understand Lanfang's words, paused for a moment, and then heard her continue.
"His Majesty originally sent Eunuch Yuan to Changning Palace to find Aunt Xue to go to Xuanzhi Hall, but Aunt Xue is off today, isn't she? It just so happens that the Princess is here, so she said that it would be the same if Aunt Xue went instead. The Empress Dowager said the same thing, so Aunt Xue went."
"For some reason, His Majesty became angry, and I guess he's going to punish someone. So Eunuch Yuan secretly sent someone to deliver a message, telling Aunt to go to Xuanzhi Hall as soon as possible."
After hurriedly finishing her words, Lanfang pulled Ahao off the bed and summoned a palace maid to help Ahao wash and dress. Ahao was dizzy, but she understood what was happening. She felt that even if Lanfang went, it would be useless, but she also felt that it seemed to have something to do with her, so she could only let Lanfang do as she pleased.
Chapter 12 Human Nature
Despite rushing as fast as she could, Song Shuhao was still a step too late.
Upon entering the territory of the Xuanzhi Hall, after taking only a few steps, the sound of a board being struck could be heard. As they drew closer, Xue Liangyue's painful groans and low sobs could also be faintly heard.
Ah Hao's face turned pale. Looking in the direction of the sound, she saw two strong eunuchs pinning Xue Liangyue to the ground, while two other eunuchs were whipping her. Xue Liangyue lay on the ground, unable to move, and could only endure the pain.
Ah Hao didn't know how many lashes she had received, but she saw that Xue Liangyue's face was deathly pale, cold sweat was beading on her forehead, and tears mixed with sweat were accumulating on the ground, soaking a patch of skin.
Lanfang, who had come with Ahao, gasped softly at the sight before quickly covering her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Lanfang thought that Aunt Xue was someone close to the Empress Dowager, and even the Empress Dowager had never been willing to impose such a severe punishment—even if it was because Aunt Xue's usual conduct was impeccable. Could it be that something had angered His Majesty to this extent?
Lu Yuan stood anxiously at the palace gate, waiting. When he saw Song Shuhao finally arrive, he stopped and hurriedly went to greet her. He frowned and looked distressed. He said hastily to Song Shuhao, "Auntie, you've finally arrived. Be careful when you go in. His Majesty is in a bad mood right now. Don't upset him."
Before Ahao could answer, Lü Yuan had already pushed her away. Ahao couldn't care less about anything else, but she asked Lü Yuan, "Eunuch Yuan, what on earth happened?"
Lu Yuan sighed and mumbled, "Aunt Xue accidentally said something wrong, there's nothing we can do about it. Just be careful, Aunt."
Before long, they had reached the palace gate. A young palace maid in a pink palace dress respectfully carried a black lacquered wooden tray with blue and white porcelain teacups on it. Lü Yuan took the tray, placed it in A-Hao's hands, and then led her into the palace.
Lu Yuan's vague words left A-Hao feeling even more bewildered. How could it be that things would be so much easier to resolve as soon as she arrived? Perhaps she was still half asleep and her mind was sluggish, A-Hao still didn't understand what the best course of action was. Stepping into the hall, she felt quite uneasy.
·
There were four people seated in the Xuanzhi Hall: Zhang Yu, Prince Ning, Zhao Jian, and Xia Mingzhe, who had been promoted by Zhang Yu two years ago for passing the imperial examinations three times in a row and now served in the Dali Temple. Song Shuhao brought in tea, keeping her head down and not looking at anyone, but everyone's eyes were fixed on her.
Everyone outside seemed to be in a great hurry, as if something terrible had happened. Ah Hao, with her preconceived notions, assumed that the atmosphere inside the hall was unusually terrifying. But clearly, that wasn't the case at all. Feeling awkward and caught in a dilemma, she had no choice but to bow and offer tea to each of them.
With so many people around, there was no way to plead for Xue Liangyue or anything like that. Ah Hao thought it would be better to go and beg the Empress Dowager. It didn't seem like this was her business, but she thought she would quietly leave after serving the tea.
Just as Zhao Jian was serving tea, Song Shuhao had just placed the teacup on the low table beside her when she heard him ask, "Did Aunt Song brew this tea herself?" He then added, as if explaining, "I heard that Aunt is not very free."
Ah Hao looked up at him and met Zhao Jian's piercing gaze. She was startled and confused, but smiled faintly and was about to reply to Zhao Jian when others interrupted her.
"She came all this way, how could she have time to do those things?" Zhang Yu said slowly, one hand resting on the teacup, sitting upright. "Since the young master has spoken, why don't you go and change the tea?" His words seemed sarcastic, yet they were just as usual.
Ahao didn't think too deeply about it, nor did she try to decipher the meaning behind Zhang Yu's words. Thinking only of Xue Liangyue's previous ordeal, she turned and curtsied to Zhang Yu, agreeing with his words, "Yes, this servant will go right away."
Zhao Jian then said, "Aunt Song, there's no need for that." He stood up abruptly, rose from his seat and stood shoulder to shoulder with Ahao, bowed to Zhang Yu, and said, "Your Majesty's kindness is something I should not refuse, but I dare not cause any more trouble. I have no problem with it."
Ah Hao turned her head slightly to look at the person beside her, analyzing his words. It seemed that His Majesty's initial reason for sending someone to Changning Palace to summon her was partly because of him. Was it because of what he said at yesterday's banquet?