Damn it!
It's all over!
Lan shot her an annoyed look and followed the little eunuch out.
Qingning Palace
It was lunchtime.
On the dining table
Eighty-one dishes stretched out far and wide.
When Lan entered, the aroma of food filled the air, and the exquisite cuisine made her stomach rumble with hunger.
Thankfully, she was far enough away.
Hopefully the Emperor wouldn't hear.
"I, I greet the Emperor——"
No response.
She waited a moment, then discreetly looked up, seeing the Emperor quietly enjoying his lunch.
Imperial eunuch Pei Muyang was tasting the dishes, bustling around the table.
The Emperor was doing this on purpose?
Trying to put her in her place?
Lan thought so, but said nothing, just knelt silently.
She knelt for about three minutes
The Emperor finally bestowed a glance: "Do you know your crime?"
Lan had already expected he was here to accuse her, and prepared her excuse: "I know my crime. Since entering the palace, I've caused trouble again and again, my sins deserve death, I beg Your Majesty's mercy."
"You know damn well that's not what I'm talking about. Lan, I'm giving you another chance—think carefully about what crime you've committed."
He Ying put down his chopsticks, eyes bearing down on the person kneeling below: a lock of jet-black hair fell on her soft, pale neck, so fragile it could snap with a little force, yet she stubbornly held it high.
"I am foolish. Majesty, please forgive me."
Lan had no intention of saying what he wanted to hear—that wanting to leave the palace was a crime. Or siding with the Empress Dowager was a crime. Even disliking him, was a crime.
"Smack!"
The soup bowl in front of him was swept to the ground by his sleeve.
"Majesty, calm your anger."
Pei Muyang and the eunuchs and palace maids quickly knelt.
"Presumptuous!"
The Emperor, face full of fury, stood up, stormed back and forth, pointed at her, shouting: "I haven't treated you badly. Yet you're an ungrateful traitor!"
Lan bowed her head, silent, thinking to herself: Look, this is what the Emperor calls affection. To him, you're nothing but a thing.
"Majesty, calm your anger. You're just recovering, you mustn't get angry."
Pei Muyang soothed the Emperor while also advising Lan: "Miss Sang, the Emperor cares for you the most. Hurry and say something soft."
Lan kept her mouth shut—she didn't want to tangle with the Emperor anymore.
Let him tire of her.
If he tires of her, she'll be free.
That's what she thought, but others didn't think the same.
"Miss Sang, in the Imperial Palace, the greatest taboo is arrogance from favor."
Pei Muyang felt Lan didn't appreciate her good fortune.
Lan thought: So, even when she's careful, walking on thin ice, to others it still looks like arrogance?
Laughable!
"Mr. Pei, mind your words. I'm lowborn and don't dare take the word 'favor'."
She knew these words would offend, but didn't care anymore.
All her caution, all her fear—what did it bring?
Only deeper entrapment.
"Majesty, please let me leave the palace."
She voiced her desire directly.
He Ying gave a cold laugh: "What do you think this Imperial Palace is? Come and go as you please?"
Lan: "..."
Imperial Power always leaves her with no escape.
As they stalemated——
The voice of Chief Eunuch Yu Huai De came from outside: "Majesty, the Chief from the Prison Department requests an audience."
He Ying glanced at Lan, then sat at the head seat: "Let him in."
Soon
The Chief entered.
He was a thin young man in a black official's robe, expression cold, voice stern and heavy: "Your subject Wang Lishuo, Chief of the Prison Department, greets the Emperor."
He Ying wore a cold face and waved a hand: "Rise."
Wang Lishuo stood, presenting a dossier: "Majesty, the assassination case has been investigated. The dancer's name is Du Lianyu, daughter of the criminal Du Fengchuan. Sixteen years ago, Du Fengchuan was an accomplice of the treacherous Pei Zhen, brought chaos and was executed by you. Du Lianyu and her sister Du Xiyu were punished to the Imperial Music Bureau for being too young. A year ago, Du Xiyu failed to seduce Your Majesty—causing you to fall ill—and was beaten to death. Du Lianyu awaited her chance for revenge and just recently seized an opportunity to assassinate."
"That's it?"
He Ying frowned, impatient.
He had already guessed the dancer's identity and motive; he'd ordered the investigation to find the accomplice.
Wang Lishuo also understood the Emperor's intent, and quickly said: "Besides that, your subject found that Lan's trusted palace maid Mingtao had connections with Du Lianyu."
Two dead people.
Dead men tell no tales.
This mud-slinging was rather unimaginative.
He Ying was amused, glanced at him, and asked with a smile: "So you're saying Lan wanted to kill me?"
Wang Lishuo hurriedly kowtowed: "Your subject dare not!"
"You dare not, but said it anyway!"
He Ying, having listened to nonsense for too long, lost any patience and grabbed the teacup at hand, throwing it hard.
Wang Lishuo took a direct hit.
His forehead split, blood flowing.
He dared not wipe it, shivering as he spoke: "Lan may not have a motive to kill, but she has grounds for jealousy and framed Miss Sang. The initial rumors about Miss Sang started from Youlan Pavilion. Lan intended to use the assassination to label Miss Sang as a bearer of bad luck for husbands. There are palace maids from Youlan Pavilion who can testify. Majesty, please see clearly."
He Ying felt he was being treated as a fool.
He wanted to kill him, but seeing that pitiful, stupid expression, he held back and waved: "Get out for now!"
Wang Lishuo: "..."
He hurriedly scurried out.
The hall quieted.
He Ying pinched his temples, glancing at Lan—she was still kneeling, head down, her profile calm and serene, gentle and obedient.
Fake.
All fake.
Everyone in this palace was so fake it made him sick.
"What do you think?"
He suppressed his anger, looked down at her, and asked: "This concerns you. Do you think Lan is jealous of your favor, and seized the assassination to frame you?"
Lan shook her head, with certainty: "Not Lan."
"Why do you say that?"
"Lan has lost the Emperor's love, and lies unconscious, unlikely to wake. So, the mastermind chose her as the scapegoat."
She thought Lan was pitiful—when the wall falls, everyone pushes it. Near death, and still smeared.
Is this the fate of women in the harem?
She'd sooner die than enter the harem.
He Ying agreed with Lan, but said: "She was jealous of you, had people watch you, ask after you. She dared spike my wine with aphrodisiac because she overheard you and your sister plotting."
At this point, he suddenly became interested and returned to the dining table: "Get up. Serve the dishes for me."
Lan: "..."
That topic shifted way too fast.
She was dazed for a moment until Pei Muyang reminded her, then she stood.
Pei Muyang asked kindly: "Majesty, the dishes have gone cold, shall the Imperial Kitchen prepare new ones?"
He Ying waved: "No need. All of you, leave."
"Yes."
Pei Muyang answered and immediately led the eunuchs and palace maids out of the hall.
Only two remained in the hall.
The silence was unsettling.
Lan stared dumbly at the Emperor, a bad feeling rising within her.
"Weren't you hoping I'd lose control after drinking?"
Indeed, her premonition was spot on.
"I'll give you the chance."
He Ying pursed his lips in a smile and beckoned her: "Come here. Pour the wine."