MBCEM Ch 9

this chapter is brought to you by mio
as translator, proofreader and editor!

mio:
i’ve decided to change the ‘zhaoyi‘ in wang zhaoyi to the eng tled ver which is ‘lady of bright deportment’ wang. ^^

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The one who had come was Lady of Bright Deportment Wang.

Besides herself, she was also followed by two palace maids and three eunuchs, making the group quite formidable.

Ren Dong led Lian Xin and Xiao Dongzi out to check, but couldn’t help feeling confused.

But after recalling Yan Shu’s orders to speak appropriately, “Your Ladyship of Bright Deportment, our mistress has already retired for the night. It’s already quite late, so could we discuss these matters tomorrow?”

However, Lady of Bright Deportment Wang replied with a strange smile, “Asleep already? I highly doubt that. There was even someone who just heard a man’s voice coming from her room.”

What? A man?

Ren Dong anxiously exclaimed, “Lady of Bright Deportment, how could you tarnish the innocence of our mistress like that? Where in this harem would there be a man?”

Lady of Bright Deportment Wang laughed once more, “Exactly, where in the harem would there be a man? Then why would there be the sound of a man’s voice coming from inside Beauty Li’s room?”

Ren Dong, momentarily forgetting to be tactful, retorted, “You’re baselessly slandering our mistress.”

Lady of Bright Deportment Wang glanced at someone beside her and said, “This isn’t something that was just made up. It was something that was overheard by one of your Yongning Palace people.”

Ren Dong followed her gaze and saw that it was Xiao Chunzi of Yongning Palace who bowed his head before stammering, “This servant indeed heard the sound of someone sneezing in Beauty Li’s room with my own two ears, and the sound was that distinctly of a man.”

Ren Dong was furious, angrily scolding, “You ungrateful servant! Our mistress has always treated you well, and yet you dare to curry favour outside and choose to slander our mistress like this!”

Lady of Bright Deportment sneered, “Whether it’s slander or not, just let Beauty Li come out and prove it herself. Or why don’t you open the door for us to go in?”

Then she raised her voice and said once more, “Beauty Li, it’s already come to this stage. There’s nowhere else to hide, so why don’t you come out already?”

Meanwhile, Imperial Concubine An and Noble Consort Zhou were rushing over to Yongning Palace.

“Faster!” Noble Consort Zhou urged the palanquin bearers impatiently.

If they arrived a moment later and Lady of Bright Deportment Wang couldn’t hold down the situation, then wouldn’t this golden opportunity they had grasped just be wasted like that? As the saying goes, to accuse people of adultery, you must catch the adulterers at the scene. Tonight, she must completely eliminate that little slut.

Seeing the group finally arriving at Yongning Palace, Lady of Bright Deportment Wang promptly greeted them, “Your Ladyship the Noble Consort, you’ve finally arrived.”

Her voice was loud and clear.

Inside the room, Yan Shu looked at Yuwen Lan awkwardly, “Your Majesty, even Noble Consort Zhou has come. Are you still able to leave?”

If he escaped now and left her behind, who knew how much trouble Noble Consort Zhou would kick up?

But if he didn’t leave and the other party kicked down the door, wouldn’t the situation escalate even more then? 

This was really ‘sitting at home yet disaster falling on one’s head’. She wondered who the perfectly obedient her had offended?

Just how had it become a Shura field without any warning?

Yuwen Lan regarded the situation with a strong disdain before glancing at her.

Before he could speak, the sound of Noble Consort Zhou pretending to inquire about the situation was heard, “What’s going on?”

Lady of Bright Deportment Wang raised her voice once more, “Your Ladyship, there was actually the sound of a man’s voice coming from Beauty Li’s room in the middle of the night.”

Noble Consort Zhou pretended to be shocked, “Is there really such a situation? Where is Beauty Li?”

Lady of Bright Deportment Wang proceeded to gloat, “Beauty Li is still hiding in her room and refuses to come out. Really don’t know whether it’s because she has a guilty conscience or not.”

Noble Consort Zhou said arrogantly, “If she doesn’t come out, then just break down the door.”

With these words, the two eunuchs who came with Lady of Bright Deportment Wang immediately stepped forward, pushing aside Ren Dong, Lian Xin, and Xiao Dongzi who were blocking the door. They were about to kick down the door.

At the critical moment, the door suddenly opened from the inside.

A tall figure stepped out calmly, glanced around at everyone, and said, “Is it a problem that zhen is here?”

Instantly, the surroundings fell silent.

Everyone widened their eyes, all looking as if they had been struck by lightning.

[Oh my goodness, isn’t this His Majesty???]

[His Majesty, His Majesty, it’s actually His Majesty!!!]

[What??? His Majesty i-i-is in the mistress’s room???]

Don’t know who initiated the bowing, but the crowd knelt down in unison and said, “Greeting Your Majesty.”

Noble Consort Zhou followed suit and bowed after everyone sluggishly, her face filled with disbelief. “Y-Your Majesty, how come you are here?”

Yuwen Lan’s expression remained cold, and he asked her in return, “Is there anywhere zhen can’t be in zhen’s own palace?”

Noble Consort Zhou choked and stuttered, “But, but wasn’t the key already put away?”

[He actually spent the night here??? Li Yan Shu, that little slut!!! Why didn’t anyone tell her!!!]

Yuwen Lan looked around at everyone and sneered, “That’s right, the key was already put away, so how did you all get here?”

Noble Consort Zhou was completely speechless.

It was Imperial Concubine An who quickly came up with an explanation and said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, it was Lady of Bright Deportment Wang who came to report to Her Ladyship Noble Consort Zhou. She said there was a man’s voice in Beauty Li’s room, and since it was a matter of great importance, Noble Consort Zhou came over.”

Noble Consort Zhou quickly added, “Yes, yes, yes, this concubine came solely with the intention to uphold the rules of the palace.”

She then scolded Lady of Bright Deportment Wang, “This is you making bengong out to be a fool?”

Lady of Bright Deportment Wang was frightened and hurriedly apologised, “Your Majesty, please forgive me. This concubine also heard it from someone else.”

She pointed at Xiao Chunzi and said, “It was him, it was him who came and told me there was a man’s voice in Beauty Li’s room. This concubine was only worried about Beauty Li’s safety…”

Yuwen Lan was too lazy to let her continue speaking, only saying, “If you like staying up late and caring about others at night so much, zhen will grant your wish. From now until next spring, you will be responsible for patrolling the harem at night, regardless of wind, frost, rain, or snow. No excuses for leave will be accepted.”

What?

Lady of Bright Deportment Wang collapsed to the ground.

Asking her to go on night patrols in this icy and snowy weather, was he trying to freeze her to death?

Everyone was shocked, kneeling on the ground without daring to make a sound, afraid of incurring the emperor’s wrath.

Immediately afterwards, Yuwen Lan looked at Imperial Concubine An and Noble Consort Zhou again, “Which one of you wants to accompany her? Zhen can also fulfil your wishes too.”

Both of them were terrified, continuously kowtowing and on the verge of tears, “This concubine does not dare, Your Majesty.”

In the midst of this commotion late at night, everyone who should be here has already arrived. Even Fu Hai, having received news of it, had hurried over from the Qianming Palace. He waited to the side, muttering inwardly, no wonder the emperor had been going out at night these past two days. Turns out he had been coming over to Beauty Li’s place.

Weren’t these people just trying to deliberately court disaster!

At this moment, he saw the emperor walking among the crowd call out a name, “Pan Lu Hai.”

As soon as those words fell, a chubby, big-eared eunuch in a round-collared robe came forward and knelt down, stuttering, “This s-servant is here.”

Yuwen Lan said coldly, “Do you still remember who your master is? If you don’t want this position, I can find someone else.”

Pan Lu Hai had lost all colour in his face and could only keep bowing repeatedly, “This servant knows his wrong, this servant knows his wrong.”

Oh God, how was he supposed to know that Beauty Li had such a powerful backing?!

Everyone was still trembling with fear, becoming even more cautious and not daring to let out even a peep.

They all shuddered internally. Pan Lu Hai had been the head manager of the Internal Affairs Bureau for so many years, and yet today, he had actually fallen at the hands of a mere little Beauty.

Mere little Beauty?

Yuwen Lan frowned slightly and spoke again, “Fu Hai,”

Fu Hai quickly stepped forward, “This servant is here.”

“Announce,” Yuwen Lan looked at Yan Shu, every word spoken clearly, “Beauty Li Yan Shu, who pleases zhen greatly, is promoted to the position of Noble Concubine, bestowing Ganlu Palace.”

What?

Everyone was stunned.

Yan Shu herself was also dumbfounded.

P-Promoted to Noble Concubine?

And granted residence in the Ganlu Palace?

It was only Ren Dong, Lian Xin, Xiao Dongzi, and a few others who reacted first, congratulating her, “Congratulations, Lady Guifei!”

Others could only follow suit, saying, “Congratulating Her Ladyship Noble Concubine Li.”

Yuwen Lan looked at Yan Shu.

It seemed like it was only her who had forgotten to express her gratitude.

But then, he heard her click her tongue in her mind, [It’s over, I’ve truly become the public enemy of the entire harem now.]

Yuwen Lan, “???”

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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:

The thrilling and bewildering night passed, and early the next morning, Yan Shu moved to Ganlu Palace.

Comparing it to Yongning Palace was like comparing night and day.

Ganlu Palace was the closest palace to Qianming Palace in the harem. Not only was it spacious and bright, but it also had an earth dragon, making it as warm as spring.

Ren Dong and the others were overjoyed, expressing their excitement, “Mistress, at last, the hard times are over and the good is just beginning! Sure enough, good things will come to good people; the heavens do not disappoint those with a sincere heart!”

Yan Shu sighed inwardly. This wasn’t the heavens not disappointing a sincere heart; it was more like the heavens were deliberately working against her!

Originally, she had just wanted to be a useless salted fish in the pond. But now, everyone in the harem would hate her to the core.

If the emperor were a normal man, it would be a different story. However, he wasn’t.

Yan Shu even harboured the suspicion over whether the emperor actually wanted to use her as a means to conceal the fact that he couldn’t participate in worldly affairs.

But he could choose anyone; why choose her? Why pick this pitiful little girl with no background and a distant and lowly natal family?

Of course, since the situation couldn’t be reversed anymore, she had no choice but to face it head-on.

In fact, after thinking about it, her living conditions had significantly improved and her status elevated, with even her monthly stipend increasing. Her family in An De County might also benefit by association. So, being a target might not be done in vain.

Unexpectedly, there was an even more pleasant surprise. After her promotion, the meals also became more satisfying.

Breakfast now included six different dishes paired with soup, porridge, and side dishes, all of them being different. Lunch also now had several more dishes than before.

Especially for dinner, the cherry pork was tender, sweet and fragrant, the roast chicken was fresh, spicy, and tender, the hanging oven roasted duck was fragrant, and the stuffed dace was extremely delicious.

Yan Shu almost wished that her mouth could be bigger, thoroughly enjoying and eating to her delight.

Well, considering there was so much delicious food, she reluctantly forgave the emperor for making her the scapegoat.

After a sumptuous dinner, night had fallen. Ren Dong and the others had already prepared hot water. Yan Shu moved to the bathing room and enjoyed a warm bath.

The bathing room was already warm, and Ren Dong added two more charcoal burners by the bathtub, making it even more comfortable.

After finishing her bath, Ren Dong even wanted to do her makeup.

Finding it odd, Yan Shu said, “I’m about to crawl into bed directly, why are you still bothering with makeup?”

The spacious Babu bed had several new mattresses piled up, looking soft and warm. Sleeping on it would undoubtedly be comfortable.

But Ren Dong blushed and said, “Just now, a message came from Qianming Palace, saying that His Majesty would come tonight. The lighting in this room is particularly good, so if you put on some makeup, His Majesty will definitely find it pleasing to the eyes.”

She even began to complain, “Mistress, seriously, you and His Majesty had already reached that stage, yet you still kept it a secret from this servant.”

Yan Shu, “…”

Reached that stage with the emperor? 

Wasn’t it just the emperor peeking at her, and her biting the emperor in return?

But he’s actually coming tonight?

While she was still in shock, a proclamation was heard outside, “Announcing His Majesty…”

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The author has something to say:

Emperor: Come, let us sleep together.

Yan Shu: ???

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small face slapping moment HAHAHA

also if someone can tell me if there is a difference in ranks for 贵妃 and 贵仪 ?? i’ve differentiated them by putting guifei as noble consort and guiyi as noble concubine, but if there isn’t any difference i might just change it to consort instead.