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nThe next day, Zhuang Laoyan woke up early in the morning. The emperor was still lying by her side. Noticing his eyelashes shifting a hint, she knew he was already awake. However, she did not know why he had yet to open his eyes.

nShe carefully reached out and gently touched the emperor’s ear. Then retracted her hand at once and screwed her eyes tight, putting on the appearance of sleeping soundly.

nFor a moment, the warmth on his ear caused Feng Jin to keep his eyes closed. A while later, he slowly opened his eyes, expression rather complicated.

nIn his youth, a palace maid by his side had once told him about a custom in her hometown: before the husband left the residence, the wife would touch his ears, expressing her concern and blessings. Judging by Zhuang Laoyan’s action today, perhaps she also knew this custom?

nHe looked at the woman who had her eyes shut tight, who dared not look at him. Feng Jin slowly sat up. Lifted open the net-curtains so that the palace maids and eunuchs who had been waiting at the side could help him dress. Afterward, he saw that Zhuang Laoyan had sat up in bed.

n“When did Your Majesty wake up?” A trace of unease appeared in Zhuang Laoyan’s expression. However, she tried her best to conceal it. “This concubine slept very well.”

n“When We woke up, We noticed you were still asleep and did not rouse you.” Feng Jin stretched his arms wide to let the palace maids adjust his clothes. He noticed Zhuang Laoyan’s expression relax. In rather high spirits, he approached the side of the bed. Bent down his head a hint as he looked into her eyes, until the other party averted her gaze with a blush. He stood up straight and smiled. “We think beloved concubine is growing more and more adorable.”

nThis guy’s teasing this grandma again!

nIn a good mood, Feng Jin led a crowd of servants out. Zhuang Laoyan’s fine black hair was let down on her shoulders. She bowed at the front doors, watching as they left. When she could no longer see the imperial sedan, she turned around and returned to the chamber, sitting down before the dressing table.

n“Tingzhu, what kind of rumors are there regarding yesterday’s matter?” Zhuang Laoyan let Tingzhu and Yunxi set her hair as they pleased, selecting jewelry from the dressing box.

n“There are many rumors floating around in the palace. The strangest one was that that palace maid died unjustly, and the blue fire her body emanated was her resentment.” Tingzhu did not dare say too much, fearing that Zhuang Laoyan would grow afraid. “However, for now no one dared to point fingers at Your Highness.”

n“It’s not that no one threw dirty water at me,” said Zhuang Laoyan, sighing. She touched one of her temples. “His Majesty stayed overnight last night, which shows which side he chose. The people scheming against me aren’t able to do anything.”

n“This slave has also heard that early this morning, General Manager Gao had a few servants caned to death. Could it be that His Majesty…” After a moment of careful thought, Tingzhu found her guess likely and stopped traversing on this topic. She helped Zhuang Laoyan arrange her hair into a flying Apsaras¹bun. “No matter what it is, it doesn’t have anything to do with us.

nA smile graced Zhuang Laoyan’s lips. She continued to let Yunxi and Tingzhu fiddle with her hair.

nShe did not believe that something abnormal was actually going on. Every single time something strange had occurred in an especially conspicuous way, for the most part it was done by someone with a hidden agenda.

nAfter Feng Jin had stepped foot outside of Xihe Palace, he felt somewhat cold. All of a sudden, he recalled what had transpired last night. He asked the eunuch behind him, “Xiao Jili, how did Gao Dezhong’s investigation about last night’s matter go?”

n“Reporting to Your Majesty, General Manager Gao did not sleep all of last night. Early this morning, he had a few slaves, who were shooting their mouths, caned to death. This slave has heard that the palace maid who died belonged to Consort Rou,” replied Xiao Jili carefully. “It seems some information has already been uncovered.”

nFeng Jin grunted his acknowledgment, nodding. “In the first place, those slaves who shoot their mouths cannot be kept around. Gao Dezhong is great at handling affairs. Tell someone to inform Jingyang palace that if there are slaves who talk out of turn again, cane them to death.”

n“Understood.” Xiao Jili hurried to have the people beside him relay the verbal decree.

nWithin Jingyang Palace, the empress heard the emperor’s verbal decree. After she had dismissed the eunuchs who sent the message, she said expressionlessly, “This palace knew from the start of the year that things wouldn’t be peaceful. Once January ends, one would fear a few new people would be sent to the palace. When that time comes, who knows how chaotic it’ll become?”

n“Who cares how chaotic it’ll become? Your Majesty is the empress. No matter how much they compete with each other, it cannot affect your honored self,” said Noble Consort Xian with a smile. “Your Majesty only needs to sit there and watch the jokes.”

n“That’s right. We who have high seniority haven’t been favored since long ago. So let’s watch these young ladies compete fiercely with each other.” A sigh escaped the empress’ lips. “Who knows who last night’s cheap trick belonged to? They truly cannot be seen in public.”

n“Your Majesty is the Mother of the World². How could those silly little girls compare to your honored self?” said Noble Consort Xian, still smiling. “In all likelihood, His Majesty and Your Majesty’s ways of thinking align. Both of your honored selves look down on such measures.”

nDon’t support theft; read this free at sleepchaser’s wordpress.

nA smile of ridicule spread across the empress’ lips. “Moreover, in these past few days, this palace needs to have the Department of the Palace dismiss the palace maids over twenty-four years old. From the start, it was busy enough to give me a headache. Who knows if there are still people without worry in the imperial harem? Fortunately, there are others helping me shoulder this responsibility. Otherwise, this palace would truly have my hands full.”

nAfter hearing those words, Noble Consort Xian wanted to say something else, when she heard an eunuch outside announce, “Her Highness Consort Ning has arrived.”

nIt was already time for the imperial concubines to pay respects. With that in mind, Noble Consort Xian no longer spoke.

nOnce Consort Ning entered the room, she said to her, “Word has it that His Majesty stayed overnight at Xianrong Zhao’s residence.”

nConsort Xian appeared to sigh but also not. “That Xianrong Zhao truly has a difficult life. Time and time again, she would encounter trouble. Thankfully, she is very lucky. Otherwise…”

nConsort Ning smiled mildly. “Xianrong Zhao naturally is fortunate.” Then she did not speak about this matter again.

nNoble Consort Xian also did not continue on that topic. Shortly after, the imperial concubines arrived one after the other. No one mentioned what had occurred last night. After all, early in the morning, the emperor’s Head Eunuch had people caned to death. They wouldn’t go as far as to violate that taboo.

nWhen Zhuang Laoyan appeared, the imperial concubines present merely beat around the bush. People still did not dare to mock her in front of her. Who let this person have the emperor’s favor? If it were someone else, one would fear others would have called that person a jinx.

nZhuang Laoyan also pretended not to see the gazes of the people sizing her up, sitting down with a serene expression. Even until they had all left Jingyang Palace, no one dared to provoke her.

nFor this reason, there was a huge difference between those who were favored and those who were not. If what had occurred last night happened in the residence of an unfavored imperial concubine, who knew how worried she would be?

n“I’ll see how long she can be proud.” Xiuyi Su watched as Zhuang Laoyan’s sedan left. Then she climbed into her own with an unsightly expression.

nNoble Imperial Concubine Jiang looked at Xiuyi Su’s appearance. Perhaps this person did not fully understand reality yet. Previously, that favored Noble Imperial Concubine Yan was obviously supposed to be promoted. However, on the day of the promotion, her name had not been called. She did not believe that matter had nothing to do with Xianrong Zhao.

nRegardless of whether Xianrong Zhao had created difficulties for her or the emperor had shown favoritism, at the very least, this was proof that being enemies with Zhuang Laoyan wasn’t a good thing.

nPerhaps what Wanyi Kong had said was correct. Dogs that didn’t bark bit the hardest.

nWithin Qianzheng Palace, Feng Jin listened to Gao Dezhong’s report. Expression tranquil, he asked, “Did you find anything on that palace maid’s body?”

n“Reporting to Your Majesty, the people this slave dispatched discovered something that seemed like phosphor³ on her body.”

n“Phosphor?” Feng Jin arched a brow. “That’s truly interesting.”

nPower Ranks

nThank you Ivanna for the 2 ko-fis! (I’m not sure which novel you read so I will shout you out on each one.)

nSo it wasn’t ghost fire after all XD Any guess whose scheme this is?

nFor those of you still interested in advanced chapters please read this post carefully! There are no advanced chapters left this month. If you want advanced chapters, please wait until September 1, 2020 in PACIFIC STANDARD TIME to pledge!

nAlso! Fifth chapter of The Times Spent in Pretense is out, if you haven’t already checked it out. Read it here if you’re interested in another novel by TJOAIC’s author.

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