Chapter 291
**Chapter 289: Liu Ruyan is Framed**
Seeing that Li Yuanjing was about to lose his temper, Gonggong Deshun quickly spoke up, his tone gentle as he addressed Liu Ruyan, “Your Highness, there’s no need to be upset. Tomorrow, I will inform the Ministry of Internal Affairs to restore the Yuxiu Palace garden and replant dozens of top-quality plum trees that were offered by Donglin Kingdom. It’s quite windy tonight; please take care of yourself and have a cup of hot tea inside.”
Liu Ruyan stood on the scorched earth, tears glistening in her beautiful eyes, lost in thought: “Even if the flowers bloom again upon my return, the new branches will never be the same as the old.”
The burnt plum trees were remnants of the past at the Yan Wang residence.
Once burned, the past is gone.
Gonggong Deshun was momentarily speechless. Known for his silver tongue, he found himself at a loss for words.
Li Yuanjing grew increasingly impatient, waving his sleeve as he turned to leave. “Back to Xuanming Hall.”
Gonggong Deshun hurried after him, not mentioning the matter of Shufei Palace again.
Liu Ruyan stood alone in the charred courtyard, tears streaming down her face as she watched the emperor’s indifferent figure depart, murmuring softly, “How cold-hearted he is…”
The emperor’s palanquin left Yuxiu Palace.
Li Yuanjing was utterly exhausted and had no desire to visit any of the concubines, wasting energy deciphering their cryptic words or scrutinizing their insinuations.
He returned to Xuanming Hall, ready to sleep. Gonggong Deshun quickly replaced his pillow and lit some calming incense in the censer.
Li Yuanjing, feeling drowsy, asked, “Where did this incense come from?”
It smelled quite pleasant.
There seemed to be herbs in it, making him feel relaxed.
Gonggong Deshun replied, “Your Majesty, it’s a calming incense prepared by Doctor Mo at the behest of Consort Chen. She was worried you might have trouble sleeping at night and instructed me to light it.”
Li Yuanjing’s thin lips curled into a smile as he closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.
...
The next day, as dawn broke.
Zhang Miaoyu was curled up in bed, enjoying a bit of extra sleep when the maid, Xiangyu, lifted the bed curtain. “Your Highness, it’s time to get up. You still need to visit the Ministry of Internal Affairs this morning. There was a fire at Meifei Palace last night, and the financial losses need your review.”
Zhang Miaoyu, still half-asleep, mumbled, “I’m not in charge of that. Sister Shenwei will handle it.”
Xiangyu’s round face showed a hint of helplessness. “Your Highness, don’t forget that Consort Chen and the Empress Dowager went to Anguo Temple to pray. Right now, you’re in charge of the harem.”
Zhang Miaoyu covered her ears in despair.
Heavens, she didn’t want to manage the harem!
She just wanted to sleep in!
Reluctantly, Zhang Miaoyu finally dragged herself out of bed. As dawn broke, Li Nanzhi was already awake, and Zhang Miaoyu called her to join for breakfast.
Li Nanzhi stared at the table full of delicacies, astonished. “Your Highness, are you really going to eat all this for breakfast?”
Zhang Miaoyu generously handed her a plate of jade-white dumplings. “You need to eat well to have the strength to work. You should eat more; you’re as thin as a cat, and that won’t do.”
Li Nanzhi silently ate her dumplings.
Just as Zhang Miaoyu finished her breakfast, a maid announced that Mama Rong from Consort Chen’s palace had come to report on palace matters. Zhang Miaoyu, feeling utterly exhausted, wanted to throw in the towel and not deal with anything, but she forced herself to meet Mama Rong.
Mama Rong methodically reported several matters, asking Zhang Miaoyu to make decisions. Zhang Miaoyu responded with “good, good, good,” brushing her off.
In the morning, Zhang Miaoyu went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to review the accounts and check the expenditures of each palace.
At noon, she had lunch with Li Nanzhi.
In the afternoon, just as Zhang Miaoyu was preparing to return to her room for a nap, she had just laid down on her beloved consort couch when her head maid, Xiangyu, rushed in, flustered. “Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!”
Zhang Miaoyu opened her eyes, looking utterly disheartened. “What now? Did something leak again?”
Xiangyu shook her head and informed Zhang Miaoyu, “Your Highness, today the little eunuchs from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were cleaning up the scorched earth at Yuxiu Palace. They found a strange copper plate beneath a burnt plum tree.”
Zhang Miaoyu yawned. “What’s so surprising about finding a copper plate? If you find some pastries and wine, then call me.”
Xiangyu quickly replied, “The copper plate is engraved with dragon patterns, and in the center, there’s a character for ‘Qing.’ A needle inscribed with a curse has pierced the copper plate. It’s a curse against our Qing Kingdom, to destroy the dragon and ruin the nation’s fortune.”
“Everyone in the harem is saying… that Meifei is a demon, an omen of misfortune.”
The sleepiness in Zhang Miaoyu’s head vanished completely.
Despairing, she sat up, covering her round face and wailing, “Can’t this harem be a little more peaceful? Ever since Sister Shenwei left, I’ve been plagued with nothing but bad luck!”
Yesterday, there was a fire in Liu Ruyan’s courtyard.
Today, a cursed copper plate was found in Liu Ruyan’s courtyard.
Zhang Miaoyu splashed some water on her face and asked Xiangyu, “Where’s the emperor?”
Xiangyu replied honestly, “The emperor went to the Ministry of War today. Your Highness, everyone in the harem is saying that Meifei is a demon. What… what should we do?”
Zhang Miaoyu spread her hands, helplessly saying, “What can I do? I’m just as desperate! Go and guard Yuxiu Palace for now. No one is allowed to enter or leave until the emperor returns to decide.”
Xiangyu hurried off to carry out her orders.
Zhang Miaoyu paced around the room. She had known Liu Ruyan for many years; Liu Ruyan’s melancholic and aloof nature would never lead her to commit such a heinous act as cursing the Qing Kingdom.
Clearly, someone was framing Liu Ruyan.
Zhang Miaoyu rubbed her round face, pondering who Liu Ruyan might have offended in the harem. The more she thought, the more alarmed she became.
Liu Ruyan held herself in high regard, looking down on this and that, offending people wherever she went.
In the entire harem, Liu Ruyan had made enemies with numerous concubines, and even many noblewomen outside the palace held a grudge against her. Not to mention the maids and eunuchs in the palace who had been ridiculed by Liu Ruyan.
“Sister Shenwei, you really left at the right time!” The more Zhang Miaoyu thought about it, the more distressed she became. If Shenwei were here, she would surely uncover the person framing Liu Ruyan in no time.
After much contemplation, Zhang Miaoyu decided to head to Yuxiu Palace to take a look.
...
At Yuxiu Palace, the entrance was eerily quiet, with two eunuchs standing guard. As Zhang Miaoyu arrived at the palace gates, she noticed Lan Pin and several other concubines were already there.
“Elder Sister Yufei!” Lan Pin exclaimed upon seeing Zhang Miaoyu, hurriedly bowing in greeting.
Zhang Miaoyu asked, “What are you all doing here?”
Lan Pin wore a worried expression. “There are rumors in the palace that Meifei has been practicing malevolent arts to curse the Qing Kingdom… We were curious and wanted to see what the copper plate looks like.”
Zhang Miaoyu had intended to sneak in and question Liu Ruyan, but with so many people gathered at the palace entrance, she had to abandon the idea of a private meeting.
Clearing her throat, Zhang Miaoyu put on a stern demeanor. “This matter will be investigated by the emperor. You all should return to your own palaces and refrain from causing trouble.”
Lan Pin and the others exchanged glances.
Lan Pin clutched her handkerchief. “That’s fine. Once the emperor returns, he will surely clear Meifei’s name.”
...
At dusk, the emperor’s carriage drove out of the Ministry of War’s courtyard.
Li Yuanjing sat in the luxurious carriage, holding a scroll of military defense maps for the southern border. He had been reading it all the way, and his eyes were starting to ache.
Gonggong Deshun offered him a cup of refreshing tea, concerned. “Your Majesty, please have some tea. If Consort Chen and the Empress Dowager find out your eyes are strained, they will surely worry.”
Li Yuanjing set down the military map and took a sip of tea. “Has Weiwei written to me?”
Deshun, having come from Shenwei’s palace, spoke with great tact. He didn’t answer directly but respectfully said, “When praying at the temple, one must let go of worldly concerns for the prayers to be effective. The Consort is dutifully accompanying the Empress Dowager, so it’s difficult for her to be distracted.”
Li Yuanjing sighed.
Without Shenwei, he felt utterly out of sorts, even struggling to sleep soundly. At night, lying alone on the couch, he instinctively reached out to touch the empty space beside him.
He planned to visit Leyou and his two sons first when he returned to the palace, and then rest early tonight.
As the emperor’s carriage passed through the palace walls toward Cining Palace, Li Yuanjing closed his eyes to rest, trying to alleviate the fatigue of the day.
Suddenly, outside the carriage, Zhang Miaoyu’s clear voice rang out, “Your Majesty! A sinister object has been unearthed in Meifei Palace. I cannot judge it myself and must ask you to come take a look.”
Table of Contents
