Male Lead Is Always That Heartless

Chapter 40

Above the palace wall, the sunlight gradually faded, and the floating white snow, dyed gold by the golden glow of sunset, fell one after another like gold foil.

Watching Beauty Zhao had been standing by the window for a long time, Xiu He couldn’t help but say, “Beauty, are you still enjoying the snow? Careful with your eyes. Don’t admire it for too long.”

Zhao Wan saw the precious carriage leaving at noon, and now it was nearly Youshi (5-7 pm). Where did Lady of Fairness Gu and His Majesty go?

She was uneasy. Although the ceremony room removed Lady of Fairness Gu’s jade plaque, the Emperor didn’t abandon her as the harem assumed. Why would there be a precious carriage and continued favor if she was truly abandoned? When His Majesty left at night that day, did he go to find Lady of Fairness Gu?

Zhao Wan dared not to think deeply, and her hands inexplicably hovered on the white rabbit jade pendant in the belt pouch. Should she tell A Yan everything about herself? If she did, would he stop suspecting her and treat her differently ……?

Seeing Zhao Wan’s sadness, Xiu He could only persuade her again, “The birthday feast is approaching, and you can see His Majesty again. All palaces have been preparing their gifts recently, so have you thought of what you want to give His Majesty for his birthday?”

Zhao Wan heard this and thought for a moment. Yes, there is still the birthday feast. There is still a chance.

She already had an idea and was about to order Xiu He to go and do the errand. However, she immediately thought Xiu He was still young and had just come to the Palace. She was afraid she might make a mistake, so she took the umbrella and went with her to the Department of Production.

When one master and one servant passed by the imperial garden, they happened to see Consort De stepping in the snow and seeming to be enjoying it.

When Consort De saw Zhao Wan, a cold austerity replaced her original smile. Zhao Wan’s heart trembled as she bowed and said, “Greetings to Consort De.”

Consort De looked at her silently and waited long before saying, “Beauty Zhao, no need to be polite. Get up.”

Zhao Wan respectfully rose.

Consort De saw that although her face was only slightly powdered, it was just as pretty as a hibiscus, and she couldn’t help but feel even more hatred in her heart. “Beauty Zhao is indeed charming and gorgeous, as His Majesty said. Walking in the snow, she’s even more charming.”

Zhao Wan heard her meanness and could only bury her head and say, “Thank you for your praise.”

Consort De laughed softly, “Lady of Fairness Gu had a scar on her body and can’t serve anymore. I believe the future favors will have to fall on Beauty Zhao.”

Zhao Wan bowed again. “Consort is overly concerned. I do not have the heart to compete for favor.”

Consort De coldly laughed: “Since you have entered the palace, how can you talk about not competing for favor?” She looked around, “You’re talking nonsense in front of me. Someone, slap her.”

Dong Cao stepped forward when she heard this, and a loud slap fell on Zhao Wan’s face. Red marks immediately surfaced on her snow-white cheeks.

Xiu He was so frightened that she knelt into the snow and kowtowed, “I beg Consort De to forgive Beauty!”

Seeing that she had received a slap in the face, Consort De’s anger rested a little, “In the future, ah, you must learn to be smarter. Don’t lie to me.” She turned her head to the accompanying palace staff, “I’m tired. Let’s go back to Luoying Palace.”

Only after Consort De left did Xiu He climb up from the snowy ground and gently caress Zhao Wan’s cheeks with a silk handkerchief. “Beauty, is it hurt? Should I go to the Imperial Hospital to get some medicine?”

Zhao Wan brushed her hand away, “It doesn’t hurt. Let’s go to the Department of Production.”

Xiu Ho stared wide-eyed, “Beauty, don’t you want to go back and rest?”

Zhao Wan shook her head. She must get the holy favor in the birthday feast to gain a foothold in this harem. Otherwise, she would be a target for nothing, and sooner or later, she would be at someone’s mercy.

The two walked along the narrow palace road toward the Department of Production and met three or two guards patrolling the area.

Qi Zhuang recognized Zhao Wan at a glance. Her left cheek still had red fingerprints.

Zhao Wan also saw Qi Zhuang, and as soon as their eyes met, Zhao Wan called out, “Chief Qi.”

Qi Zhuang was stunned for a moment and stopped in his tracks. The guards on his side glanced at him and walked forward without stopping their steps.

Qi Zhuang clasped his fists, “Greetings to Beauty Zhao.”

Zhao Wan softly said, “Chief Qi, there is no need to be polite.”

Qi Zhuang straightened up, “Beauty Zhao, what are your orders?”

Zhao Wan smiled faintly, “Nothing. It’s just that I saw you, an old acquaintance, so I can not help but make a call.”

Qi Zhuang slightly knitted his eyebrows. His eyes swept over her cheeks, revealing a little compassion: “Beauty Zhao has suffered a light injury; you should treat it.”

Zhao Wan gently stroked her cheeks, “I know.”

After Qi Zhuang spoke, he raised his leg to leave, but Zhao Wan asked: “Do you know whether the thief who held Lady of Fairness Gu that day has been executed?”

Qi Zhuang: “I don’t know.”

Zhao Wan smiled faintly, “In that case, I won’t hold you ……”

When Qi Zhuang walked away, Xiu He followed behind Zhao Wan and quietly looked back at his back. Only then did she see the situation between him and the Beauty. They seemed familiar with each other yet estranged.

Xiu He could only put the question in her heart and walked towards the Department of Production. When they arrived at the premises, she heard Beauty Zhao’s command. Xiu He realized that she wanted to make twelve three-foot-high stakes, each carved with branches of red plum.

Due to Beauty Zhao currently holding the Emperor’s favor, the Department quickly responded to this errand.

Xiu He asked, “Are you using these stakes for the birthday feast? What kind of performance is it intended for?”

Zhao Wan nodded, “Of course, it’s to soar to the heavens.” She wanted to let A Yan know that the person who danced the flying dance at the mid-autumn palace banquet that day was her.

*

The birthday feast was approaching, and not only were the harem concubines secretly competing, but the former dynasty also took advantage of this time to gain favor by flattering and making names for themselves. There were memorials for the Emperor occasionally, and the most common thing was that there was no empress and the difficulties of having a royal lineage.

Liu Fang, Qi Ruotang, and other veteran ministers not only wrote their own memorials but also instructed their trusted ministers to send memorials that mainly addressed kingdom matters and sustained the royal line. Consort De from the Liu Clan and Consort Shu from the Qi Clan were popular candidates for the Empress—however, other ministers compromised with another candidate.

On November 2, four days before the birthday feast, someone anonymously reported Qi Huo, the right minister of the Ministry of Personnel, for corruption and privately received land and property in various places in local prefectures. They were all “gifts” given to Qi Huo by local officials after completing the examinations. There were also land deeds and Qi Huo’s personal letters as evidence.

The whole court was shocked.

What shocked them was not the abundance of the “gifts” but the fact that Qi Huo was the youngest son of Qi Ruotang. Of course, the Emperor wanted to deal with the Qi family.

Qi Huo, clad in a third-grade silk python robe, took off his hat and kneeled in front of the jade steps of the main hall, saying that the servants in his family were deceived and accepted so much money behind his back.

Gong Zhenghai led the new party to criticize this, saying that his words and deeds were inconsistent and difficult to explain. In the court, the two groups quarreled for three whole days.

On the day before the birthday feast, Xiao Yan stopped the court for five days due to the feast and suspended Qi Huo to reflect on his mistakes and correct his disloyalty.

*

In the Heluo Hall, Gu Yi still made a last-minute effort to write and draw on the book. As Tao Jia looked at the palm-thick book, she hesitantly said, “Are you truly sending this book to His Majesty for the gift?”

Gu Yi nodded, “Yes, I am not good at women’s skills. I don’t know how to play the zither, so I can only find another way, and this book of true words is a token of my appreciation.” It’s the chicken soup for the soul I poured for Doggy Xiao.

Tao Jia tilted her head and said, “I don’t understand. Although you do not offer a performance, you can embroider a sachet so His Majesty can wear it. Isn’t that good?”

Gu Yi shook her head, “My embroidery skills are unbearable!” Xiao Yan has approved these unbearable skills. “Moreover, which of His Majesty’s items is not carved by the Department of Production, Department of Decoration, Department of Treasure? I won’t embroider a purse and take it out to make a fool of myself. ……”

After she said that, she laid her last stroke and gently blew the ink.

Tao Jia came closer to look at her ‘Book of Truth.’ In the center of the white pages, she saw only the big words’ as you wish’ and failed to understand.

*

Xiao Yan returned to the Tianlu Pavilion to change his court dress and rest.

Eunuch Gao bowed slightly and passed the scroll in the tray forward. “Everything has been prepared for tonight’s birthday feast. Your Majesty, would you like to take a look?”

Xiao Yan took the scroll and glanced at it. The scroll contained only information about the guests, seating, dishes, and today’s offerings.

Gao Gui saw Xiao Yan’s brows slightly frowning and immediately jumped in his heart. Sure enough, his ears heard him ask: “Today’s performance, Heluo Hall only report Beauty Zhao?”

Gao Gui said inwardly: just say it if you want to ask about Lady of Fairness Gu!

But his face, he narrowed his eyes and smiled, “Your Majesty, that’s right! Lady of Fairness Gu’s leg injury is healing, and she is not very good at dancing. She said that she has no talent for art, so she can only make a gift for His Majesty.”

When Xiao Yan heard this, his expression slightly eased. He hummed, “What gift? Present it.”

Gao Gui said, “Lady of Fairness Gu said that this gift requires her to explain to His Majesty how to use it in person, so she did not present it in advance.”

Xiao Yan made a hmm sound and stretched his eyebrows, “In that case, I will reluctantly go to take a look first.”

Gao Gui respectfully said, “Yes.”

But in his heart, he gave a thumbs up to Lady of Fairness Gu of Heluo Hall.

Admirable.