Who Would Understand, Her Ladyship Wrote A Hundred Palace Regulations - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Ning Wanyin Strives for Favor

Lingxue Pavilion.

“Good news! Word just came from Jingxi Palace, His Majesty is going on the summer hunt and has summoned Mistress to accompany him!” Xiao Guizi reported joyfully.

Today, Ning Wanyin was still diligently copying bamboo in ink. At these words, her heart sank, though her face blossomed with a bright smile. According to custom, she said,
“Thanks to His Majesty’s great favor, everyone in Lingxue Pavilion shall be rewarded!”

Lian Rui happily went off to distribute reward money to Xiao Guizi and the others. When she returned, she saw her mistress leaning weakly against the cool couch.

With no outsiders present, the smile on Ning Wanyin’s face faded away.

“Are you in low spirits because you dislike the summer heat and don’t want to go out? Don’t worry, the mountains are cooler than the plains. It won’t be so hot there,” Lian Rui asked with concern.

Ning Wanyin looked at her. “It’s not the weather, it’s the journey.”

Lian Rui suddenly understood. Back in her boudoir days, her young mistress never went out, because traveling always carried the risk of unforeseen accidents, even with careful precautions, it was impossible to guarantee complete safety.

Her mistress disliked going out most of all.

“Miss, please be assured. When His Majesty travels, there will certainly be no danger!” Lian Rui said.

Ning Wanyin spoke casually, “What is safe for the Emperor does not necessarily mean safe for me.”

It was difficult to assassinate the Emperor, but to kill her, there might well be an opportunity.

The security of a traveling palace could never compare with that of the imperial palace.

“Lian Rui, the mung bean soup you made today tasted quite good, perfect for warding off the summer heat. Bring me a bowl, I will deliver it to His Majesty,” Ning Wanyin suddenly said.

……

When Ning Wanyin arrived at Qianxin Hall, a concubine was already standing outside the palace gate.

“Thanks to His Majesty’s great grace in allowing me to accompany him on the summer hunt, I personally prepared a soup of snow lotus and white fungus to show my gratitude. May I trouble Eunuch to announce me?” Wen Baolin said with a face full of joy.

Wang Degui nodded, but his gaze shifted toward Ning Wanyin approaching from the other side. His expression warmed considerably. “Ning Meiren also comes to offer thanks?”

Ning Wanyin inclined her head slightly. This was indeed rather awkward, but her own life was more important, she would not concern herself with others.
She added, “Not only to give thanks, I also have something to discuss with His Majesty, something of utmost importance.”

Wang Degui said, “Please wait a moment. This servant will report at once.”

Inside Qianxin Hall.

The Emperor was reviewing memorials.

Wang Degui entered and reported in order, “Your Majesty, Wen Baolin has come to give thanks. She has brought you a soup of snow lotus and white fungus that she personally made.”

“I am taking her on the summer hunt so she can see her father, not to let her come see me,” Helian Qi said coldly without even lifting his head.
“Do not admit her.”

Wen Baolin had taken refuge under Cen Jieyu, but her father was loyal to Helian Qi and had done several good services.

For the sake of that important minister, Helian Qi gave him a chance to discipline his daughter once more.

Otherwise, if ministers risked their lives for him yet their daughters were demoted, it would surely chill the hearts of his subjects.

Wang Degui immediately understood. The Emperor still had no wish to see Wen Baolin.

“Ning Meiren has also come to give thanks. She said she has something to discuss with Your Majesty, something very important,” Wang Degui reported again.

Helian Qi’s wolf-hair brush paused over the memorial he was reviewing.
“Let her in.”

……

Before long, Wang Degui returned. He first looked toward Ning Wanyin and respectfully said,
“Ning Meiren, His Majesty invites you inside.”

Then he turned to Wen Baolin, “His Majesty bids you return.”

Ning Wanyin walked in.

Wen Baolin stared at her departing back, unconsciously tightening her fists. Forcing a smile toward Wang Degui, she asked, “Then… could this concubine’s soup at least be presented to His Majesty…?”

“His Majesty did not say to keep it. Please take it back,” Wang Degui refused again.

Wen Baolin lowered her head and withdrew with her maid.

Once they were some distance away, her personal maid whispered, “Mistress, don’t be discouraged. Today you just happened to encounter Ning Meiren. Next time, if you choose a better hour to see His Majesty, he will surely receive you…”

“She’s already so favored, yet still has to fight with me for this. I haven’t even met His Majesty yet…” Wen Baolin fumed inwardly.

The maid comforted her, “His Majesty remembered you this time. Surely you will gain favor very soon!”

“Yes. His Majesty is taking me to the summer hunt, surely it is so I may serve him in the traveling palace. I must prepare well…” A glimmer of ambition flashed in Wen Baolin’s eyes.

……

Inside Qianxin Hall.

The cold fragrance of snow pine lingered in the air, five-colored tassels of jewels hung down.

Ning Wanyin knelt upon the ground, bowing properly.
“To be granted the honor of accompanying Your Majesty on the summer hunt, this is a favor beyond compare. This concubine came specially to offer thanks.”

“Speak of the main matter.” Helian Qi was busy today, too impatient for empty words, cutting straight to the point.

“This concubine has been timid and fearful of strangers since childhood, never daring to go out. To travel this time, amidst mountains and wild beasts, makes me all the more anxious…” Ning Wanyin lowered her gaze, her usually clear, crisp voice now soft and weak.

Helian Qi set aside the memorials, his gaze falling on Ning Wanyin. His expression revealed no joy nor anger.
“You do not wish to go?”

The decree had already been issued. The Emperor’s word was as gold, it could not be changed.

And besides, she actually did not wish to accompany the Emperor?

To serve the Emperor was the foremost duty of a concubine.
To refuse was dereliction.

“Your Majesty, if I may speak: to accompany you on the summer hunt fills this concubine with boundless joy. How could I not wish to go? Only… I am timid, and only under the shelter of Your Majesty’s true dragon aura can I feel secure. Thus, this concubine dares to beseech that Your Majesty allow me to dwell with you in the same quarters, to share your bed, share your meals, never leaving Your Majesty day or night.” Ning Wanyin’s delicate face flushed pink.

For an assassin, there might be a chance to strike at a concubine. But against the Emperor, whether by poison or blade, such a thing was nearly impossible.

If even under the Emperor’s full guard she could still be assassinated, then she need not struggle further, her fate was already sealed.

Helian Qi was stunned for a moment before he reacted, she had said all that just because she wanted to live with him?

It was rare indeed to see Ning Wanyin so eager to compete for favor.

“There is no such precedent,” Helian Qi said casually.

Ning Wanyin’s eyes shimmered with tears, her face full of dejection.
She withdrew in order to advance. “It was this concubine who overstepped. Your Majesty is burdened with state affairs, please take good care of your health. This concubine will take her leave.”

Helian Qi’s gaze fell upon the young woman’s aggrieved expression, and his tone shifted,
“I did not say it was impossible.”

He could more or less guess Ning Wanyin’s intention.

Last time, the ministers had impeached her. This time, since she would face those high officials again, she wished to throw the words imperial favor in their faces to establish authority.
That was no harm done.

There was no palace rule that said the Emperor could not share quarters with a concubine when traveling.

Besides, she was already the favored consort Helian Qi openly displayed. He was quite willing for that image to sink deeper into people’s minds.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!” Ning Wanyin immediately expressed joy and gratitude. In truth, she had already anticipated this outcome. When asking the Emperor for help, what he agreed to most easily were matters that meant little to him, yet meant everything to her.

A mere lifting of his hand could win him the deep gratitude of a useful chess piece, why not do it?

……

On the fifth day of the fourth month, the Emperor held the summer hunt at Zijin Mountain, residing in the Zijin Traveling Palace.

Many princes and high ministers of the capital accompanied the procession, setting up camp on both sides of the palace.

Privately, Xue Zhaoyi summoned the newly appointed chief steward of the imperial kitchens who had joined the entourage. Last time, the kitchens had obeyed her order and given Ning Wanyin spoiled food. Now that a new steward had taken office, he too dared not offend the families of Xue and Cen.

“Outside the palace is not as secure as within. If anything goes wrong with the food, you will not be blamed,” Xue Zhaoyi said unhurriedly as she looked at the eunuch.

“These green mountains and clear waters, what a fine resting place it would be for Ning Wanyin’s bones. Truly a land of auspicious feng shui.”

The chief steward eunuch dropped to his knees with a thud.
“Ladyship Zhaoyi, Ning Meiren is living with His Majesty. This servant absolutely dares not…”

“What? She is living with the Emperor?” Xue Zhaoyi’s brows knit, a trace of disappointment flashing in her eyes. Naturally, no one would dare tamper with the Emperor’s food.

Forget it.
After all, she already had another plan prepared against Ning Wanyin.
Today’s idea had merely been a passing whim.