In the second year of the Great Ding Dynasty, the rebellion of the Chu clan was finally vindicated, and Chu Qian was posthumously awarded the title of "Great General Who Guards the Nation."
Empress Chu Yulan, the sole survivor of the Chu clan, personally selected a geomantically auspicious site and reburied her deceased Chu clan relatives.
Regardless of what other officials and common folk thought, for Chu Yulan (Xiao Wenqiang), the task concerning the Chu clan had temporarily concluded...
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Recently, the palace servants have been secretly gossiping that the current Empress enjoys the Emperor's sole favor. Aside from the occasional late nights dealing with memorials, the Emperor spends every night in the Hall of Kunning. Of course, these whispers eventually reached the Cold Palace.
Several palace servants exchanged glances and began to chat.
"Weren't they saying the same thing before? Then some people said Empress was just a shield, and the Emperor's true favorite was Consort Leng?" asked Palace Servant A from the Cold Palace.
"Consort Leng? You're so out of touch! That woman who cuckolded the Emperor was banished to the Cold Palace long ago! Otherwise, why would we dare to neglect her here so carelessly?" Palace Servant B said dismissively.
"But I heard the Empress visited the Cold Palace before. Do you think this woman still has a chance to make a comeback like the Empress?" Palace Servant C asked gossipily.
"Impossible! The Empress requested to enter the Cold Palace herself; this woman was banished by the Emperor. How can they be compared?" Palace Servant B continued to sneer.
"But does anyone know the specific details? How dare this woman surnamed Leng do such a thing? I heard she used a trip back to her maiden home as an excuse to elope with another man?" Palace Servant A inquired curiously.
"I heard this woman had been having an affair with a man outside for a long time and got pregnant. She framed Noble Consort Qin, pretending to have miscarried. But eventually, our wise and mighty Emperor discovered it, so Noble Consort Qin was sent away, and she was brought here," Palace Servant B sounded very well-informed about the rumors.
"Our Empress is so much better, devoted to the Emperor and even took to the battlefield for the stability of our Great Ding Dynasty!" Palace Servant C said with a hint of pride.
"Indeed. Fortunately, the Emperor has discerning eyes and was not deceived by that woman here," Palace Servant A said, patting his chest in relief.
"Yes, yes!" the remaining palace servants echoed.
Of course, these words were overheard by Leng Yuanxiang, hiding behind a pillar in the corner, and Chun Yue, her personal maid who had fallen to the Cold Palace with her.
Leng Yuanxiang, upon hearing these palace servants gossiping so carelessly, wished she could tear their mouths apart. It was Chun Yue who restrained her, earnestly advising, "Your Highness, please do not act rashly. We are in the Cold Palace now, and we must bow our heads!"
"Chun Yue, you heard what they said. It's too much!" After returning to her room, Leng Yuanxiang slumped onto the table and began to weep.
"Your Highness, it's not that Chun Yue doesn't want you to act, but our food and supplies are already very meager. If we cause further conflict, I fear we might truly freeze or starve to death in this Cold Palace," Chun Yue said, patting Leng Yuanxiang's back to comfort her.
"Chun Yue, do you think Situ Chuanqiong is truly so heartless? He once said he loved me wholeheartedly and would dismiss his harem for me, but now he only loves Chu Yulan?" Although Leng Yuanxiang had let go first, she found the current outcome difficult to accept.
Chun Yue suppressed a roll of her eyes behind her back, but her tone remained gentle, "Your Highness, why don't you humble yourself before the Emperor? Given his past affection for you, he will surely forgive you!"
"Why should I be the one to humble myself? It was Situ Chuanqiong who wronged me first!" Leng Yuanxiang retorted indignantly.
"Your Highness, but he is the Emperor! This world belongs to him. If you don't bow your head, are you expecting him to humble himself first?" Chun Yue reasoned.
"But it's useless for me to humble myself now. Hasn't he already fallen in love with another woman?" Leng Yuanxiang seemed somewhat persuaded.
"How will you know if you don't try? Your Highness, I will go and beg the guards, at least to allow Your Highness to speak with the Emperor!" Chun Yue suggested.
Leng Yuanxiang struggled internally for a long time, then said, "Alright! Go and tell the guards that I admit I was wrong and ask to see the Emperor!"
Chun Yue nodded and went out to make arrangements.
"Esteemed guards, my mistress wishes to see the Emperor. She says she knows she was wrong. Please convey this message for us." Chun Yue slipped some pearl hairpins from Leng Yuanxiang's meager savings.
The guards had already been briefed. After accepting the gifts, they quickly went to find Wang You.
Wang You smiled upon hearing this and then made arrangements.
At that moment, Situ Chuanqiong was in the Hall of Kunning, discussing the current situation with Empress Chu Yulan (Xiao Wenqiang).
"Haha, Lan'er, I am truly impressed with you now. How did I not notice your insightful perspectives before?" Situ Chuanqiong said with great satisfaction.
"Your Majesty praises me too highly. These are merely Lan'er's humble thoughts. Ultimately, it is your brilliant strategy, Your Majesty," Chu Yulan (Xiao Wenqiang) replied while peeling an apple.
Just then, Wang You entered from outside. However, seeing the current situation, he hesitated to speak.
"Wang You, if you have something to say, speak freely. There is nothing to hide between Lan'er and me," Situ Chuanqiong said impatiently.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Wang You had been waiting for this moment. "Consort Leng says she knows she was wrong and is waiting outside to see you!"
"What! She's already outside?" Situ Chuanqiong exclaimed in surprise, glancing at the Empress beside him.
"This is also my fault for not conveying things properly before. Your Majesty once said that if Consort Leng knew she was wrong, you would let her see you, so those two guards were foolish and brought her directly," Wang You said, feigning self-reproach.
Situ Chuanqiong then recalled that he had indeed said something to that effect and could not blame Wang You or the other guards. However, being in the Hall of Kunning with the Empress present was not an ideal time to discuss this. So he said to Wang You, "Then take her away..."
Before he could finish, Chu Yulan (Xiao Wenqiang) interjected shrewdly, "Your Majesty, you can see her here. There's no need to move to another place. Lan'er will simply withdraw."
With that, Chu Yulan (Xiao Wenqiang) placed the half-peeled apple and knife on the table, rose, bowed to the Emperor, and walked towards the inner chambers. However, as she turned, she gave Wang You a significant look.
Wang You silently nodded in response, but Situ Chuanqiong noticed none of this.
He was still immersed in the Empress's consideration and understanding. After a moment, he turned back to Wang You and said sternly, "Then let her in!"