this chapter is brought to you by mio
as translator, proofreader and editor!
This was really the first time that Yongning Palace was receiving another guest apart from the former Talented Lady Zhang.
Of course, the fact that this visitor had definitely come here with ill intentions, Yan Shu also understood in her heart. However, Wang zhaoyi had a higher status than her, so she could only stand up to pay her respects.
“Greetings, Zhaoyi.”
Wang zhaoyi did not stand on ceremony either. Sitting down on the warm couch after entering the room, she asked, “How come I just heard someone mentioning my name?”
This caused Lian Xin’s heart to secretly jump as she quickly looked at Yan Shu.
Yan Shu’s expression did not change at all, and with a face as if she bore no crime, she said innocently, “How could that be, we were just talking about what to have for breakfast, Zhaoyi was definitely not mentioned.”
Wang zhaoyi ruthlessly sized her up while continuing to say in a mystifying tone, “I had long heard that Beauty Li heard that has both sharp teeth and a sharp mouth. It’s only today that I can be considered to have personally experienced this.”
Yan Shu pretended not to understand and smiled simple mindedly, “For Zhaoyi to praise me like this immediately after coming over, really makes one feel embarrassed.”
Seeing that she had not been fooled, Wang zhaoyi could only snort, “Just now, my people went to the Department of Internal Affairs to fetch our rouge and just so happened to run into someone from your palace. But how come I heard that your people seem to have said some poorly veiled criticisms about me?”
As she spoke, she glanced at a palace maid who came with her and said, “Cui Yan, come and have a look. Is that girl here?”
Hearing this, the person named Cui Yan immediately pointed at Lian Xin and said, “That’s her. She didn’t get anything, so when she saw me getting it, she started to mutter sourly and slandered our Zhaoyi.”
Lian Xin shook her head in fright, “No, I just asked the people from the Department of Internal Affairs why Wang zhaoyi could have rouge yet our Beautiful Lady couldn’t…”
At the same time, the system began to tell Yan Shu, [Cui Yan has stolen quite a lot of Wang zhaoyi’s jewellery over the years, even having stolen a red agate pendant two days ago yet had falsely accused others instead.]
Yan Shu understood clearly, and proceeded to insincerely reprimand Lian Xin, “You girl, always being so reckless. How could I compare with Zhaoyi? Zhaoyi has a higher rank than me, so we naturally have to stick with Zhaoyi if we want anything good.”
After saying that, she deliberately took a glance at Cui Yan and said to Lian Xin, “When you can be like Miss Cui Yan, I will also be reassured.”
Wang zhaoyi was still waiting to find fault with her. Hearing this, she couldn’t help being stunned and said, “What’s going on with Cui Yan?”
Yan Shu just smiled, “Miss Cui Yan has a good life and knows how to conduct herself, so it’s no wonder that she’s so charming! Just a few days ago, I had even heard someone praising her whilst I was at the Empress Dowager’s place not too long ago!”
Ah, hadn’t she come here because the Empress Dowager had summoned her? Then she wouldn’t hide or conceal it either.
Wang zhaoyi heard this and immediately said, “Who praised her?”
Yan Shu’s expression did not change, nor did her heart skip a beat, “Of course it was court lady Chen from the Palace Services Bureau! When I went to Ci’an Palace yesterday, I happened to meet court lady Chen who was talking to the Empress Dowager. Court lady Chen said that Miss Cui Yan was one of the smartest in the harem, even especially filial. One heard that she had even personally made a headband as a show of filial respect to the Empress Dowager. The headband even had a piece of red agate specially embedded in it, the purity of it being not bad at all.”
Shanggong Bureau (尚宫局): responsible for assisting the empress and the inner court with endowment matters
After she finished speaking, Cui Yan froze.
Wang zhaoyi was also stunned and looked at Cui Yan in confusion.
Yan Shu continued to fabricate a story as the system released more melons, “One heard that she had even made a set of bed clothes out of soft smoke gauze and offered it to the Empress Dowager. Even the Empress Dowager praised her for her skillful needlework.”
Soft smoke gauze?
Wang zhaoyi paused once more.
— —Didn’t she just happen to lose a set of soft smoke gauze fabric in summer, causing her to be very much distressed…?
Yan Shu smiled at Cui Yan again and said, “Oh, that’s right, there were also a few cloud silk handkerchiefs that you had given to court lady Chen, right? She said the flowers you embroidered on them were especially good…”
Before she even finished speaking, Wang zhaoyi turned around and gave Cui Yan a slap to the face, scolding, “Good, red agate? Soft smoke gauze? Even cloud silk handkerchiefs? Turns out all these things I had set aside had actually been taken away by you? Even showing filial respect to the Empress Dowager? What a good servant girl! I hadn’t even thought you would dare to have such thoughts!”
Cui Yan was stunned. When she came to her senses, she quickly kowtowed, “Master, I didn’t, I really didn’t ah! T-T-This is all nonsense that she said!”
Yan Shu covered her mouth in surprise, “Turns out Zhaoyi wasn’t aware of these matters? Oh my, blame me for having this talkative mouth! Don’t let this affect the affections between the two of you!”
Wang zhaoyi gave Cui Yan two more slaps, her chest swelling as she took several deep breaths, saying fiercely to Yan Shu, “You better manage your people properly. Next time they dare to make such irresponsible remarks, I’ll have Her Ladyship the Noble Consort come and tear off her mouth for me!”
After saying so, she grabbed Cui Yan’s ear and left murderously.
Yan Shu watched the few people she brought with her leave.
When the room became peaceful again, Ren Dong and Lian Xin both looked over at Yan Shu in surprise, “Is everything you said just now true? Is Cui Yan really so bold?”
Yan Shu twitched her lips as if it was a matter that had nothing to do with her, “Whether it’s true or not, wouldn’t it be obvious once she went back and checked for herself? Just remember to pay attention and watch the excitement later.”
The two of them nodded hurriedly and agreed with her, unable to help rubbing their hands together in their hearts already.
Who wouldn’t want to watch the fun!?
However, Yan Shu straightened her expression and told them, “Next time something like the rouge incident happens, don’t argue, don’t speak out of turn, don’t fight and just come back quickly.”
Her rank was low and she didn’t have a backer either, thus, she could only lament at her own misfortune.
The two nodded quickly, “Yes.”
Yan Shu said again, “First, go and make breakfast for me ahead of the scheduled time, I’m about to starve to death.”
All the busy matters of this morning had been completely useless. After eating, it would be better for her to just hurry up and finish writing her storybook. At least it would be better for her to develop a skill and have multiple ways out.
Ren Dong rushed to respond and hurried to the Palace Delicacies Bureau. After a while, she came back carrying breakfast, which included silver thread pastry, mutton shumai, pumpkin congee, and two side dishes.
People’s appetites were better when they were hungry. Yan Shu finished the meal like a tornado sweeping up the dishes and then devoted herself to the great cause of writing.
Ahem, after several days of hard work, her debut novel “Distinguished Scholar and the Charming Beauty” was about to be completed.
风流 can be used either as ‘distinguished and accomplished’ or ‘romantic or loose’
After giving it her full attention for a while, unaware of how much time had passed, she suddenly saw Ren Dong come into the room with an appearance of wanting to speak but kept hesitating, “Master…”
Yan Shu extricated herself from her pen and paper and asked, “What’s it?”
Ren Dong said indignantly, “The Internal Affairs Bureau also deducted our charcoal allotment, saying that it just so happened to run out today and told us to pick it up the day after tomorrow. Could it be that they’re trying to freeze us to death in these two days?”
Yan Shu understood their intentions, thought for a moment and said, “We should still have a bit left. I’ll give your share to the rest of you as usual. Besides, the sun should be strong during the day, so not giving us a bit of charcoal should still be alright.”
Ren Dong pouted and said, “Then what should we do at night?”
Yan Shu rolled her eyes, “Wait till it’s night to talk about it then…”
Tsk, that person had already come over for two days in a row. Did he still want to come again tonight?
~~
pls do not share this anywhere or u will always stub ur toe when u walk past a door frame !! this translation has been stolen from mioscorner.com, pls only read there i’m begging u :kneels:
At night, the lights of Qianming Palace were shining brightly.
In the imperial study room, the Emperor was reading a memorial from an imperial case while several cabinet ministers including the imperial envoy and imperial censor Du, were waiting respectfully by the side.
After skimming through the booklet once, Yuwen Lan was about to extend his hand to take up his pen and write his instructions when the bandage on the side of his palm happened to be exposed.
The several ministers paused and immediately came forward to ask — —
“What happened to Your Majesty’s hand? Could it be that you were injured?”
“Has Your Majesty called upon the imperial physician? How is the condition of the injury?”
“How was Your Majesty injured?”
Yuwen Lan casually said, “I accidentally cut myself during sword practice this morning. It’s not too serious.”
As he spoke, he quickly wrote down a few characters, handed the book over and said to everyone, “You all withdraw.”
In response, the ministers held their respective papers and retreated one after the other after cupping their hands, the palace finally becoming quiet.
Head Eunuch Fu Hai pondered in his heart, [Hey, really don’t know which beauty bit him for His Majesty to even conceal the matter for her. Seems like her value in His Majesty’s heart is not light.]
Yuwen Lan glanced at him and said, “You can withdraw as well.”
Turning around, he ordered for another little eunuch, Fu Bao, to enter and asked, “What is the situation at Yongning Palace today?”
Fu Bao answered honestly, “Your Majesty, Beauty Li has not left the palace as usual, but for some reason, the Internal Affairs Bureau deducted Beauty Li’s rouge, powder and charcoal allotment. Right, Wang zhaoyi even brought people there today. I’m not sure what she said to Beauty Li, but she seemed to be spitting anger as she left.”
Yuwen Lan accurately grasped the key point and frowned, “Why deduct? Who did this?”
Fu Bao said, “It seems that Her Ladyship the Noble Consort was the one who gave the decree to the Internal Affairs Bureau. As for the reason, this small one is also unaware.”
What a good Noble Consort Zhou! Did she already start to treat this palace as if it belonged to her Zhou family?
Yuwen Lan asked again, “Then how did she handle it?”
Fu Bao said, “Beauty Li just ordered for her own share of remaining charcoal to be mixed with the people in her palace and didn’t publicly disclose it.”
Yuwen Lan raised his eyebrows, how come she became so obedient again?
~~
There was less charcoal, so it was indeed a bit cold.
In the dead of night, Yan Shu put on thick pyjamas and nestled in bed, wondering if the Emperor would come tonight.
There had been no movement from his side all day today, so he probably didn’t intend to punish her, right?
Would he be angry about what happened yesterday and not come?
Then what was she going to do about the charcoal?
Just as she was feeling anxious, she heard the door of the room being gently pushed open, and there was another round of faint footsteps coming from outside the canopy bed.
Her heart moved a beat, hurriedly lifting the curtain to take a look, and sure enough, it was that person.
She quickly got out of bed and greeted, “This concubine respectfully greets Your Majesty.”
Yuwen Lan was dressed in a black brocade robe. Without the crown on the top of his hair, he looked a few degrees softer than usual.
Looking her up and down with lowered eyes, he said without betraying any emotion, “You were so bold yesterday, yet you’re acting like this again today.”
Yan Shu thickened her face, “This concubine has been feeling anxious to death from last night until now. That… is your hand feeling better?”
Yuwen Lan grunted in agreement, but let out a sneeze before he could say anything else.
Well, it does seem somewhat a bit too cold in this room.
But then, the sound of Ren Dong’s voice was heard outside, “Master? What… was that sound?”
Yan Shu looked at Yuwen Lan and said hurriedly, “It was me, I sneezed.”
Ren Dong said hurriedly, “Then this slave will give you an extra quilt.”
After saying that, she did not allow Yan Shu to refuse and even went so far as to directly push the door open and walk in.
Yan Shu was startled, saying it was too late, but then saw Yuwen Lan ducking behind the curtain of the bed.
But outside the door, someone’s eyes flitted around quickly before going to inform someone.
In the room, Ren Dong quickly took out a quilt from the closet and was about to lay it out for Yan Shu. However, Yan Shu snatched it away and said, “I’ll do it myself. It’s so late at night already, so hurry up and go to bed.”
Ren Dong sighed, “This slave knows that you want to catch a cold. Wasn’t it just a few words from His Majesty, yet how could these people become more ferocious than wolves?! In this freezing weather, cutting off firewood and charcoal, it’s like they want to freeze you to death! This slave will go and fetch the charcoal basin from our room over.”
Yan Shu hurriedly shook her head, “No need, if you all catch a cold, who will take care of me? I’m fine, quickly go and sleep.”
Ren Dong could only comply and left.
When the room fell silent, a certain someone lifted the bed curtain and conveniently sat by the bed.
Yan Shu approached with a quilt, tactfully flattering, “How about Your Majesty wrap yourself with the quilt? The room of this concubine is rather cold, so be careful not to freeze.”
To tell the truth, this room was indeed a bit cold, not at all comparable to Qianming Palace, which had an earth dragon.
As for the reason, Yuwen Lan naturally understood.
He took the quilt and said, “If someone is withholding your firewood and charcoal, why didn’t you report it to zhen?”
In her heart, Yan Shu thought: Isn’t it because of you that my firewood and charcoal are being withheld? My god, can I even afford to offend those people?
Besides, given her status, if she wasn’t able to meet him in person, she would have been taken advantage of. It was still better to let him come and experience it himself.
However, what came out of her mouth was her pretending to be clueless, “The Internal Affairs Bureau said there was a temporary shortage of firewood and charcoal, but that it would be delivered the day after tomorrow. This concubine can still afford to wait for a few days.”
Yuwen Lan couldn’t be bothered to expose her act, and was just about to open his mouth to speak when there came the sound of another commotion from outside the door.
It seemed like someone was trying to rush in and break into the palace, as a woman’s voice rang out, “Beauty Li, for it to be so late yet still not sleeping, just who are you talking to?”
— —
The author has something to say:
Welcoming everyone to watch a certain emperor and his wife get caught in a compromising situation live. Front-row tickets are on sale, please bring your own sunflower seeds, peanuts, rice wine, and duck necks. Otherwise, if you watch others eat and get tempted, I won’t take responsibility for your tears.
if only i had a system that would constantly tell me all kinds of gossip,,,QAQ
