Chapter 128: Guidance

The Emperor’s rebuke was so sharp that not only did Lin Lanzhi freeze in her tracks, but I, too, was jolted by the sudden outburst.

The Emperor strode over to Lin Lanzhi and gripped her chin between his fingers. "Lin Lanzhi, are you telling me that even now, you still haven't come to your senses? I have left you to languish in the Jiyue Palace, and you feel nothing is amiss?"

It was evident that the Emperor was using considerable force as he held her chin. Beside us, Liu Yunhe could no longer contain himself and started to step forward, but Liu Yunmeng held him back with a firm hand. At this moment, Liu Yunhe had no choice but to endure; if the truth were to be exposed, everyone in this courtyard would likely face a death sentence.

"I have not come to my senses, Your Majesty, because I do not know what it is you wish for me to realize."

"You truly do not know?" The Emperor’s rage intensified. He wrapped an arm around her waist, forcing her to look at him. "Lin Lanzhi, you are my woman. Do you mean to tell me you don’t know what I want you to understand?"

Lin Lanzhi’s expression remained devoid of sorrow or joy as she replied, "I understand, and you understand as well. If you insist on exposing it, whose reputation would that ultimately ruin?"

The Emperor let out a cold laugh. "So, you are looking out for me now? Must I praise you, my beloved consort, for being so thoughtful and considerate?"

Lin Lanzhi looked at him with indifference. "I have never had need for such things."

The Emperor was thoroughly incensed. He released her chin, only to immediately seize her by the throat. "Lin Lanzhi, do you truly believe I cannot deal with you?"

Struggling, she managed to gasp, "I have never thought you incapable of dealing with me, Your Majesty. This entire world belongs to you; you may have whomever you desire. How could there be anyone in this world you cannot control?"

The Emperor tightened his grip, and Lin Lanzhi’s face turned deathly pale. He sneered, his eyes filled with contempt. "I know you were gifted to me by Prime Minister Lin and that you never wanted to be my woman. But let me tell you this: since your father sent you into this palace, you are a creature of this court. You are my woman, and you will remain my woman until the day you die."

Liu Yunhe could bear it no longer; his hands were clenched into fists as he shoved Liu Yunmeng aside to step forward. Panicked, Liu Yunmeng spoke up before he could. "Your Majesty—"

The Emperor didn't even glance at her, his tone remaining harsh. "Yunmeng, I am dealing with a matter concerning Noble Lady Lan. Do not interfere."

Even Liu Yunmeng was silenced, leaving her at a loss. I quickly signaled to Princess Xihe; at this point, only she could diffuse the suffocating tension.

Understanding my cue, Princess Xihe stepped forward, feigning a trip on the staircase. With a cry of "Oh!", she tumbled to the ground.

"Oh, Xihe!" Liu Yunmeng rushed over, concerned. "What happened?"

Princess Xihe began to wail loudly. "Mother, my foot hurts so much! Father, my foot hurts!"

The Emperor released Lin Lanzhi. She stumbled back, and I caught her before Liu Yunhe could reach her.

"Xihe, let me see. Where is your foot hurt? Someone! Send for the imperial physician at once!"

Eunuchs from the Zimeng Palace hurried off to summon the physician, and the Emperor scooped the princess up in his arms and headed toward the room. Princess Xihe looked back at me; I gave her a thumbs-up, and she winked at me with a smile before quickly resuming her display of agony. "Father, it hurts."

Liu Yunmeng turned to Lin Lanzhi and said, "Sister Lan, you should return to your quarters."

"Yes."

"Lan—" Liu Yunhe began, but a sharp glare from Liu Yunmeng silenced him. "Is the danger not enough for you? Your niece is injured; go inside and see to her!"

"Yes, sister."

Liu Yunhe cast a lingering look at Lin Lanzhi before being pulled inside by Liu Yunmeng.

"My Lady, allow me to escort you back."

"Very well."

Lin Lanzhi seemed completely drained of energy. I knew that not only was she shaken, but I had been terrified by the Emperor’s display of absolute royal authority. Had it not been for Princess Xihe’s intervention, I dared not imagine how the situation might have ended.

"I do not wish to return to the palace just yet. Walk with me for a while."

"As you wish."

As we walked along the lake, Lin Lanzhi remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "I had already made things clear to Liu Lang today, but I never expected to run into the Emperor, and now he has been kept in the palace."

"Did you reach an understanding with Young Master Liu? Is he willing to leave and never see you again?"

"He is naturally unwilling. In truth, I met him today precisely to settle the matter. I thought it would be the final time, but as you saw, with the way things have unfolded, how can I possibly escape?"

I shared her anxiety. Given the Emperor’s attitude and the way Lin Lanzhi had challenged his authority, he would never let this slide. If not for the connection to Lin Canglan, Lin Lanzhi might have already…

I could only advise, "My Lady, now that Young Master Liu has been officially kept in the palace by the Emperor’s decree, that is an unchangeable fact. You must take things one step at a time, and the most important thing is to protect yourself. You must never provoke the Emperor like that again."

"If I don't, what am I to do? If I show submission, he will think I have come to my senses, and he will… that sort of torment is harder to bear than death itself. Little Xiaozi, do you understand?"

"But now that Young Master Liu is in the palace, if you were to lose hope, would he even care to survive? My Lady, you must try to stay strong. There are ways to keep the Emperor from forcing himself upon you. There are so many consorts in this harem, all vying for his favor; if you handle this with care, you can surely preserve your safety. Besides, with Young Master Liu in the palace, if worse comes to worst, using your health as an excuse can serve as a stalling tactic."

"That method has been used once already. If I use it again, the Emperor will surely become suspicious."

"The Emperor may be suspicious, but the Empress certainly won't be. You know better than I do of the rivalry between the Gong family and the Lin family in the imperial court. As long as the Empress knows you are unwell, she will naturally be happy to keep you from attending to him. It is exactly what she wants!"

Lin Lanzhi nodded. "Little Xiaozi, I find that your wit and intelligence are wasted on being a mere eunuch. I mean that as a compliment, so do not think otherwise."

I smiled. "I understand, My Lady. I can distinguish between a genuine compliment and a jab."

"Little Xiaozi, regardless of everything, I must thank you. You stumbled upon my meetings with Liu Lang by pure chance, yet you have been helping me ever since. I truly do not know how to repay you."

"My Lady, why do you say that? Do you remember the favor you promised me? Should I ever need help in the future, you have promised to assist me."

"Of course I remember. Though, with my own life in such peril, I am not sure if I will be able to help you."

"As long as you remember, that is enough. Consider that the reason I have been helping you."

Lin Lanzhi offered a faint smile. "You are quite a character. Hearing you say that actually puts me at ease."

"You are wise, My Lady."

"Very well, I shall return to my palace. It is getting late, and I fear Chudie will be worrying herself sick. I will give careful thought to the method you suggested and try it."

"Take care, My Lady."

I watched Lin Lanzhi walk away before turning back toward the Cuiwei Palace. I had been out for quite some time, and I could not neglect my duties just because I had accompanied the Princess; Zhang Bitong would surely be displeased.

On my way back, I saw a woman sitting in a pavilion by the lake. As I approached, I realized it was Xiao Ruo.

She was dressed in a soft silk robe embroidered with pale white lotus vines that wound from the hem to her bodice. Her hair was gathered in a casual bun, adorned with a single gold hairpin. She looked remarkably beautiful.

Ever since Xiao Ruo had become a consort, she had grown increasingly stunning. She had always been a beauty, but even the fairest flowers require the right attire to shine.

"Greetings, My Lady."

"Ah—" Xiao Ruo started to call my name in delight, but seeing me shake my head, she corrected herself. "Little Xiaozi, rise!"

"Thank you, My Lady." I stood up and asked, "Why are you here alone?"

"I had nothing to do, so I came here to clear my head. Little Xiaozi, I went to Yunfeng Temple to pray for blessings and specifically asked for a peace amulet for you. You should place it inside the sachet I gave you previously. We each have one now; surely, we will be able to remain safe in this palace."

I took the amulet from her and reached into my collar, pulling out the sachet.

Xiao Ruo gasped in surprise. "Little Xiaozi, you wear the sachet I gave you around your neck?"

As I tucked the amulet into the sachet, I replied, "If I wore it openly, it would draw attention and lead to unnecessary trouble. Around my neck is the best place; no one can see it. If I didn't carry it with me, your gift would go to waste. Now that I’ve added this amulet, I must keep it close to ensure my safety."

Xiao Ruo couldn't help but smile. "You are right. I shall wear one around my neck as well."

I tucked the sachet back inside my robes and said, "My Lady, you mustn't do that. You are here to serve the Emperor; if he were to see it, he would find it strange."

Xiao Ruo blushed. "You are teasing me."

"I would not dare." I remembered something and said, "You have been in the Bureau of Palace Attire for some time. Since you were able to craft that dance costume with the blooming flowers, you must have some expertise in fabrics and needlework."

Xiao Ruo nodded. "I may not be as skilled as the matrons, but I am not bad. I’m quite clever, don't you think?"

I smiled and nodded.

Xiao Ruo then asked, "Why do you ask about this?"

"I have a robe that I would like you to examine to see if there is anything unusual about it."

"Of course! I will help you look."

"Then I will send it to your palace another day."

"Good. You should visit me more often and keep me company. Now that I am a Noble Lady, you won't have to worry about the opinions of others when you come to see me."

"That may be true, but we must still be cautious. After all, I am not a eunuch of the Nanxun Hall. You have only just been promoted, and many people are watching, waiting for you to stumble. You must be careful. But I have taken your words to heart."