Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power

Chapter 71 - 71 71 Familiar Objects

?71: Chapter 71: Familiar Objects 71: Chapter 71: Familiar Objects Zhang Qing knelt on the ground with a thud, his face a picture of grief as he said, “Your Majesty, I did not manage in time, and the words I intended to say were all interrupted.

I am incompetent and failed to carry out the task Your Majesty entrusted to me.

I am truly incompetent.”

“You were only to casually take something back and, in conversation, gauge her intentions.

How could you still fail to accomplish that?” The Emperor was puzzled.

Zhang Qing was highly capable, and yet, he was led astray by that Little Concubine?

He couldn’t handle such a simple matter?

“Yes, I intended to do just that, but, but I had just met with Young Master Lian and before I had a chance to say anything, I just…”

At this moment, noise came from outside the hall; it was Xiao Linzi and the others, huffing and puffing as they carried a table back.

Zhang Qing let out an “Ah” and said, “Here it is, you’d better have a look yourself.” He simply couldn’t clarify the situation.

The Emperor did as suggested and looked towards the hall entrance, where he saw two young eunuchs carrying in a writing desk, stacked with quite a few items on top.

How come that writing desk and those items looked so familiar?

The Emperor was taken aback.

Weren’t these the items from Canglan Court?

How did they end up being carried back here?

He had not given such an order.

What was going on?

To send Zhang Qing on this errand, and to have everything go wrong, had now befuddled him too.

Sense of anger rising again in his heart, the Emperor gazed at Zhang Qing with disapproval, needing an explanation.

Feeling the change in His Majesty’s aura, Zhang Qing hurriedly began to wail plaintively, “Your Majesty, this was all at Young Master Lian’s suggestion…”

While wailing, he recounted the whole story of what had happened.

“…And that’s how it happened.

I fear Young Master Lian thought you were never returning, so she asked me to carry everything back.

It seems that was her intention with what she said yesterday too,” Zhang Qing concluded while wiping away sweat, feeling as though his words were tinged with bitterness.

After listening, the Emperor fell silent and was at a loss for words.

How could this ungrateful wretch always be so unexpected?

He had only been away for a couple of days, yet she’d had all his possessions moved back.

Feeling somewhat powerless and somewhat helpless, that was just like her—decisive and direct, showing not the slightest hint of reluctance.

While he hesitated back and forth, she, on the other hand, had removed even the steps he could have used to return, leaving nothing behind.

The Emperor couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

From now on, he could no longer use retrieving his belongings as an excuse to visit her, and even if he wanted to go, he would have to come up with another excuse—what trouble.

So be it, then.

If she did not want him there, so be it for him not to go.

The Emperor suppressed the aching in his heart and looked downcast.

He supported his forehead with his left hand and waved his right hand at Zhang Qing and the others, signaling them to leave.

Zhang Qing hesitated before departing, noticing that His Majesty’s expression was not good.

After a moment, he still decided to speak.

“Your Majesty, before I left, Young Master Lian also gave me a bag of corn to bring to you…”

Although they were only a few kernels of corn, presenting them should surely please Your Majesty.

The Emperor looked up at him but said nothing.

Zhang Qing sighed inwardly.

Young Master Lian had such a strength of character.

For many years, even in Your Majesty’s most challenging times, she never showed such weariness, which was deeply moving.

Bowing, he presented the wrapped corn on the imperial desk, then retreated silently with the others, leaving only the Emperor alone in the hall.

Xiao Linzi, seeing Chief Steward Zhang present the corn to His Majesty, felt a moment of disappointment.

Realizing that His Majesty was more important, he thought it was okay to let a few kernels of corn go and, feeling a little dejected, followed Chief Steward Zhang out.

The Emperor stared at the corn in front of him, lost in thought.

This must be from the Little Concubine’s own garden, right?

If things between them were still as they used to be, she would surely have been the first to let him taste it, watching eagerly as he ate, and then asking if he found it delicious.

With this thought, the Emperor smiled gently, took a piece of corn, and began tasting a kernel as if she were right in front of him…

Canglan Court.

After lunch, Lian Hua patted her belly, feeling she had eaten a bit too much today; her stomach was round and bulging.

As Xiao Qing was gathering up the bowls and chopsticks, she asked, “Young Master, what shall we do next?”

Thinking it over, Lian Hua realized there wasn’t anything in particular that needed doing.

A few days ago, she had received His Majesty’s permission to fish at Huaqing Pool.

She had intended to go, but then a series of events had left her with no time to spare.

Now that His Majesty’s matter had been resolved and the items had been moved back, with only the immovable chair stored in the warehouse, she wondered if the permission still stood.

Lian Hua was torn over whether or not to go fishing.

Ah, what a dilemma.

“Let’s walk around the Imperial Garden to help digest the food,” Lian Hua finally decided.

She decided against fishing after all.

If His Majesty had forgotten his promise and she was caught, he wouldn’t be as easygoing as before.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qing sped up her work, saying, “Okay, Young Master, please wait for this servant, we’ll leave after I’ve finished cleaning up.”

Lian Hua nodded.

“Mm-hmm, no rush.”

When Xiao Qing was done and came out, she shouted in a certain direction in the courtyard, “Xiao Jizi, are the corn husks done flipping?”

“Almost, almost, they’re just about ready,” Xiao Jizi replied from a distance.

After lunch, he had gone to turn the corn husks they had gathered the day before, and they were nearly ready now.

After Xiao Jizi completed his task and came over, everyone tidied up a bit, then converged and headed out of Canglan Court.

“Eh, Xiao Qing, did you lock the door?” Lian Hua somewhat forgot whether she had locked the door when leaving.

“Young Master, it’s locked.

I personally took care of it.”

“Alright, though it wouldn’t matter much if it wasn’t.

Our place is so remote, with nothing valuable, it’s unlikely anyone would come.”

The prizes from the flower-viewing banquet—the Gold-threaded Eight-treasure Hairpin and the safety buckle—had been stowed away by her long ago.

The day after the Emperor left in anger, she took off the safety buckle she was wearing, along with the Gold-threaded Eight-treasure Hairpin, the source of the trouble, and locked them in a small box, which she then buried in a little hole under a certain table.

Helplessly, seeing the safety buckle reminded her of His Majesty, and the Gold-threaded Eight-treasure Hairpin brought back memories of the rift between them.

Just looking at these two items made her heart feel heavy, so it was best to keep them out of sight, out of mind.

Canglan Court was as poor as it had ever been.

The three of them walked aimlessly, stopping here and there, and before they knew it, they arrived at the Hundred Flowers Garden.

Seeing what lay ahead, Xiao Jizi asked, “Young Master, we have walked quite a distance.

Right ahead is the Hundred Flowers Garden.

Shall we go through it?”

The Hundred Flowers Garden was close to Jinwu Garden and not far from the harem, but a bit further from Canglan Court.

He was worried they might encounter other concubines there, concerned that the Young Master might be slighted.

Lian Hua looked into the distance, where, beyond the other side of the Hundred Flowers Garden, she could faintly make out the tall, prominent paulownia tree.

As autumn deepened, the tree looked even more magnificent.

“Let’s walk through the Hundred Flowers Garden and then head back,” she said.

She had never explored this area before, and though she had passed through the Hundred Flowers Garden on her way to the flower-viewing banquet, she didn’t have the chance to look around then.

Since she was here already, she might as well take a stroll before leaving.

The Hundred Flowers Garden lived up to its name; even in autumn, it was filled with bright, beautiful colors.

Among them, a cluster of osmanthus trees was in particularly splendid bloom.

Of course, compared to large, showy flowers like chrysanthemums, the osmanthus blossoms seemed inconspicuous.

They were considered splendid because of their intense fragrance.

Before even approaching, the sweet scent wafted over, attracting Lian Hua.

Followed the scent like a dog to the osmanthus trees, her eyes lit up with excitement, and she enthusiastically asked those behind her, “Xiao Qing, Xiao Qing, did you bring the things?”