Chapter 127: Outwitting Oneself — An Extra Chapter for ANSON~

Two days later, Lu Ning returned to the palace with the consorts. The first thing she heard upon her arrival was the matter regarding Han Feiyue. It was said that Lu Ning had learned of the incident while still on the road; without even returning to the Cining Palace, she had gone straight to find Han Feiyue.

However, right in the courtyard of the Huayu Palace, where the Virtuous Consort resided, Lu Ning was stopped by Han Feiyue before she could even enter the gate. According to the palace maids, Han Feiyue had knelt before Lu Ning, begging her not to intercede on her behalf and not to take her away from that place. If she were to be removed, she asked only to be released from the palace entirely.

Lu Ning’s eyes had turned red at that moment, but she said nothing and simply left the Huayu Palace. Later, upon returning to the Cining Palace, she immediately summoned the Emperor, the Empress, Jiang Yun, and Gong Wu’e, presumably to hear the full account of the situation from start to finish.

That was all, however, and no further news was released.

One reason was that the handling of the matter was not necessarily inappropriate; the other was that Han Feiyue had given Lu Ning only two choices. With Lu Ning caught in the middle, the matter could only be left as it was. Yet, it was feared that this affair would eventually implicate the Empress and Zhang Bitong.

It was rumored that the Empress had once suggested to the Emperor that Gong Wu’e be made the Crown Princess. The Emperor had not directly refused, but Lu Ning had shut the idea down immediately. Having suffered this quiet setback, the Empress had no choice but to seek another opportunity.

On this day, while I was at the Cuiwei Palace, I saw Princess Xihe coming to look for me.

It had been some time since I last saw the Princess. Today, she wore a goose-yellow dress with her hair tied in double buns, looking incredibly adorable. Because the Emperor doted on her, Zhang Bitong would not speak a word of protest when she came to play with me.

I accompanied the Princess outside with ease. After we had walked a short distance, she said to me, "Actually, my mother sent me. She told me to let you know that my little uncle is here."

Hearing this, I understood immediately. I asked her, "Princess, did your little uncle bring you a kite?"

The Princess nodded. "Of course! That’s why I’ve come to ask you to fly it with me."

I replied, "Then, Princess, would you mind accompanying me somewhere first? I know someone who is very knowledgeable about kites. Perhaps she could even help you modify yours!"

"Is there such a person in the palace? Where is she? Take me there quickly!"

"She is in the Jiyue Palace."

The Princess, not caring who it was in the Jiyue Palace, grabbed my hand and urged, "Then take me there right away, hurry!"

"Slow down, Princess," I said with a smile.

When we reached the Jiyue Palace, we saw Lin Lanzhi watering an orchid in the courtyard.

"This servant pays respects to the Noble Lady."

Lin Lanzhi turned to see me, then spotted the Princess. She hurriedly handed her ladle to Chudie and said, "Oh, it is Princess Xihe? Please, come inside."

The Princess was not in a hurry to go in. She looked around and asked, "Where is the person who knows about kites? Little Xiao, where is she?"

Lin Lanzhi looked puzzled, so I quickly intervened, "Princess, this is Lady Lan."

The Princess tilted her head, looking at Lin Lanzhi. "You are also a lady? Why have I never seen you before?"

"How rude!" Chudie scolded. "Though our master does not go out often, she is still a Noble Lady. You are being quite insulting." Chudie sounded filled with grievances.

Lin Lanzhi said, "Chudie, the Princess speaks the truth. She is but a child, and children are innocent in their speech. I have stayed here in the Jiyue Palace and rarely go out; it is only natural that the Princess has not seen me. I am sure the Princess meant no offense."

Hearing Lin Lanzhi’s gentle and reasonable tone, the Princess quickly bowed and said, "Xihe pays respects to the Noble Lady. It was my mistake. But you are so beautiful, Noble Lady—why don't you go out more often?"

Lin Lanzhi smiled but did not offer an explanation.

I said, "My Lady, the Princess hopes you might come to the Zimeng Palace to look at her kite. Lady Meng has not seen you in a long time and must miss you."

I expected that with Lin Lanzhi’s intelligence, she would understand the underlying meaning of my words.

The Princess exclaimed happily, "So you were the one who knows how to fix kites! Noble Lady, please come with me to the palace now."

Lin Lanzhi looked at me and nodded. "Very well, I will go with you."

"My Lady, I shall accompany you. Since you are meeting Lady Meng, should you change your attire?"

"Chudie, you need not come. I shall return shortly. There is no need to change; he is used to how I look."

The "he" Lin Lanzhi spoke of was Liu Yunhe, but to Chudie, it likely sounded as though she meant Liu Yunmeng.

The Princess, Lin Lanzhi, and I went to the Zimeng Palace.

As soon as we arrived, the Princess clamored for Lin Lanzhi to fix her kite. Liu Yunmeng quickly said, "Xihe, be good. Your mother has some things to discuss with Lady Lan. Why don't you let Little Xiao fly the kite with you? When we are finished, I will come and fix your kite."

The Princess thought for a moment and agreed. "Alright then. By the way, where is my little uncle? He was just here."

Liu Yunmeng replied, "Your little uncle had lunch with us and drank some wine; he is now tired and resting in the palace. You must not disturb him."

"Yes, I understand."

"Sister Lan, please, this way."

"Thank you, Sister Meng."

Watching Lin Lanzhi lead Liu Yunmeng away, I took the kite and began flying it in the courtyard with the Princess. The wind was perfect for it today.

After a long while, I saw Lin Lanzhi emerge from the room, her eyes looking red. She had not taken many steps before I saw Liu Yunhe chasing after her.

The Princess, holding the string, looked back and said, "Little uncle is awake."

"Yes."

"Lan'er—" Liu Yunhe reached out in distress to grab Lin Lanzhi, but Liu Yunmeng gave a soft cough, and his hand hung suspended in mid-air.

Just then, someone suddenly burst in.

It was the Emperor, dressed in his bright yellow robes.

With everyone in the courtyard and the Emperor’s sudden arrival, there was no time to hide.

"We pay our respects to the Emperor!" everyone knelt down.

"This commoner pays respects to the Emperor!"

"This servant pays respects to the Emperor!"

Upon seeing the Emperor, Princess Xihe handed the kite string to me and ran over happily. "Father!"

The Emperor bent down and picked her up. "Ah, my Xihe has grown taller."

"Yes! I want to go to the battlefield and slay enemies in the future, so of course I must grow taller."

"Haha, to go to the battlefield? Truly worthy of being my daughter."

"Xihe, do not be so rambunctious with your father," Liu Yunmeng chided from the side.

"It is no matter; I like Xihe just like this." The Emperor held her hand and finally noticed Lin Lanzhi and Liu Yunhe. "I had some free time today to visit, but why are there so many people here? And Little Xiao, you are here too?"

Liu Yunmeng helped the Emperor sit on a chair and said, "It is a coincidence. My younger brother came to the palace to visit me and Xihe, and Lady Lan happened to come by as well. Xihe was flying a kite with Little Xiao, so we all ended up together."

"Your brother?" The Emperor pondered for a moment. "I remember now. Teacher Liu Chengqi did have a son and a daughter. I once asked the teacher if he would like to bring his son to the capital to serve as an official, but he politely declined. Are you the teacher's son?"

Liu Yunhe replied, "Yes, your subject is Liu Yunhe."

"Liu Yunhe?" The Emperor looked up slightly, frowning. "Why do you look familiar?"

Seeing the others look startled, Liu Yunhe remained calm. "Actually, I once studied under the Imperial Physician Gu for a time, but my aptitude was insufficient, so I did not remain at the Imperial Medical Bureau."

The Emperor realized, "So you were a student of Imperial Physician Gu. No wonder I find you familiar; I must have encountered you there. Why, did the doctor say your aptitude was lacking?"

"It was my own assessment."

"A young man should not belittle himself. My teacher—your father—is a man of great learning; his son cannot be inferior. Since you are not serving as an official, are you engaged in business?"

"I make my living by selling my own calligraphy and paintings." Liu Yunhe omitted the fact that he was a student of Lin Canglan, making it less likely for people to connect him to Lin Lanzhi.

"That sounds far too arduous. Your father is my mentor; I have not had many chances to repay him. Now that he has retired to his hometown and married such a fine daughter to me, I must take care of his son. Very well, from today on, you shall serve in the Imperial Medical Bureau. That old stubborn fool, Physician Gu, probably lacked the patience to teach you and thus deemed you mediocre. If you find him unsatisfactory, you may choose another mentor."

"Your Majesty, your subject—"

"Say no more. You are to serve in the Medical Bureau. It is my decree; no one shall object."

Liu Yunhe wanted to say more, but Liu Yunmeng shook her head slightly. Liu Yunhe had no choice but to kneel. "This commoner thanks the Emperor for his great grace."

"This subject thanks the Emperor for his grace."

Princess Xihe mimicked them, saying, "And Xihe thanks the Emperor for her little uncle!"

The Emperor was delighted and patted her head. "You clever little thing. Very well, stop kneeling; everyone, rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The Emperor’s gaze shifted to Lin Lanzhi. "I thought you were prepared to wither away in the Jiyue Palace, yet here you are at the Zimeng Palace today. Tell me, Yunmeng, are you quite familiar with Noble Lady Lan?"

The Emperor’s tone suggested he had not yet let go of the previous incident. It was no wonder; Lin Lanzhi had not appeared on the Emperor's birthday, and he was clearly holding a grudge. As a monarch, he was accustomed to people fawning over him; he would never lower himself to curry favor with others.

His question left Liu Yunmeng in a difficult position. It was true that because Lin Lanzhi had been neglected, no other consorts visited her, and given her personality, she rarely associated with anyone else. Her sudden appearance at the Zimeng Palace was indeed too coincidental.

Just as Liu Yunmeng struggled for an answer, Princess Xihe tugged on the Emperor’s sleeve. "Father, I was the one who asked Lady Lan to come."

The Emperor lowered his eyes to look at her. "Oh? And why would you call for her?"

The Princess said, "I happened to hear she was good at making kites, so I went to find her. Look at that kite—Lady Meng helped me fix it, and it looks as good as new!"

The Emperor looked at the kite I had retrieved, his expression softening slightly. "I never thought, Lan'er, that you possessed such delicate sensibilities."

Upon hearing the Emperor call her "Lan'er," the expressions of both Lin Lanzhi and Liu Yunhe darkened.

Lin Lanzhi bowed slightly. "Your Majesty, I dare not remain in your presence for long. You said that until I have come to my senses, you would not see me. I shall take my leave now."

As she turned to go, the Emperor shouted, "Stop right there!"