Zhao Jie put down the book he was holding and asked, “Where is she?”


  Zhu Geng reverently and respectfully replied, “To respond to Your Highness, she’s already been settled down in a place outside the capital.”


  Only seven or eights days had passed since Zhao Jie’s order, his subordinates really worked very quickly.

  Sitting in his rosewood, round-backed chair, Zhao Jie contemplated for a while before saying, “Bring her here immediately.”


  Zhu Geng acknowledged the order and left the room.

  Wei Luo put down her novel and sat up on the couch. Her dark, limpid eyes looked at Zhao Jie. She wanted to say something to comfort Zhao Jie, but she didn’t know where to start. Seeing Zhao Jie walking towards here, she stretched her hands out and requested, “Pick me up. I want a hug.”


  Zhao Jie grasped Wei Luo’s hands and wrapped them around his neck, supported Wei Luo’s bottom with his hand, and picked her up from the couch. But, he didn’t sit down on the couch. Instead, he walked to the other side. Wei Luo clung to his body like she was a koala bear and moved up until her eyes were directly facing his. She asked, “Big brother?”


  Zhao Jie looked at her and uttered a quiet sound of acknowledgment.

  Wei Luo opened and closed her mouth. She wanted to ask something, but Zhao Jie’s eyes that were as deep as the sea silenced her. She kissed Zhao Jie’s lips and changed what she had originally planned to ask, “Her Majesty likes to go to Bao He Hall to pray to Buddha. I went with her one time. There weren’t many palace servants there. I only wanted a cup of water and I still had to wait for a long time. You should send more people over there, so that they’ll be able to properly attend to the empress.”


  Zhao Jie smiled, “A Buddha Hall is suppose to be peaceful and quiet place. Imperial mother dismissed most of the palace servants from there because she doesn’t like to be bothered when she’s chanting sutras.”


  Wei Luo’s heart tightened and she couldn’t resist furrowing her eyebrows. Fortunately, her cheek was against Zhao Jie’s face, so he couldn’t see her expression. “Then, you should secretly send guards to watch over her. It’s better to be prepared just in case.”


  Zhao Jie didn’t refuse her this time. He compromised by saying, “I’ll arrange this tomorrow.” Then, he pinched her butt as he asked, “Are you satisfied?”


  Wei Luo nodded, but she didn’t explain why she was being so insistent about her request.

  She was worried because Empress Chen had died in Bao He Hall in her past life. Wei Luo didn’t know the details. She had only heard other people saying that when Empress Chen went there to burn incense in worship, the canopy in the hall had caught on fire from the three hundred and thirty lit candles. This was how her life had ended. At the time, there wasn’t a single palace servant inside the hall. Even if there had been servants in the hall to begin with, Empress Chen had dismissed them. By the time that Emperor Chong Zhen had led people over there and the fire was extinguished, not even her corpse was left behind for the emperor. Everything had turned into ashes.

  This matter had always stayed in Wei Luo’s heart. However, she didn’t know if the rumors she had heard were true or false, so she didn’t want to prematurely mention this. It was only now that Empress Chen had been going to Bao He Hall more and more frequently. In addition, there was a valuable, solemn Buddha statue in Bao He Hall. This was why Wei Luo couldn’t resist thinking about what had happen in her previous life.

  That incident should be happening around this time.

  Wei Luo didn’t want Empress Chen to die like this. It wasn’t just because she was her mother-in-law. It was also because of Empress Chen’s character. Wei Luo had like Empress Chen since she was a child. She felt that Empress Chen was a woman that could be compared favorably with men in terms of ability and bravery. She shouldn’t have died so early or give Noble Consort Ning and her son this unfair advantage. She should be there watch as Zhao Jie was crowned emperor.

  Zhao Jie walked back and forth in the study while holding Wei Luo. His steps were very steady and his arms were also very stable as he held her. It was only that his posture was slightly strange. He held Wei Luo as if he carrying a child.

  Zhao Jie suddenly thought of something. He lowered his head and said into Wei Luo’s ear, “Let’s try this position next time.”


  Wei Luo’s face turned red. She naturally knew what he was implying. She incredulously asked, “H-How is this possible?”


  Zhao Jie raised eyebrow, “Why wouldn’t it be possible?”


  At this time, how could he still be thinking about that? Wei Luo was glad that there was no one in the study right now. She mumbled to herself, “Too strange. I don’t want to.”


  Zhao Jie placed her down on the black-lacquered table that was decoratively carved with clouds, stroked her head, and said with a smile, “Silly girl, it’ll be interesting to try new things.”


  Wei Luo shook her head like rattle drum. She wouldn’t agree no matter what.

  Zhao Jie lowered his head to bite her ear and quietly said, “Didn’t you beg me to help you find out about Yang Zhen’s situation? How are you going to repay me?”


  Wei Luo was seething in anger. She pushed him away and glowered at him. “Why does it count as me begging? Yang Zhen belongs to Liuli…” She paused for moment. When she looked at Zhao Jie again, he looked as if he was definitely going to eat her.

  Oh, right. Even though Yang Zhen was Liuli’s sweetheart, Liuli had asked her for help and she had asked Zhao Jie for help in turn. It wasn’t wrong for him to say this. Wei Luo gave up. She blew out her cheeks, pinched the skin around Zhao Jie’s waist, and said, “Don’t act too outrageous.”


  Unfortunately, the flesh there was very hard. No matter how hard she tried to pinch and twist his waist, she didn’t succeed. It was even less likely for her to be able to successfully hurt him.

  Zhao Jie deliberately misinterpreted her meaning. He smiled and said, “En, I’ll be more gentle.”


  What was the result of these vulgar words being said during the daytime? When Zhu Geng came back, he saw Wei Luo sitting at the corner of the couch with a red face and his master was composedly sitting at his desk while holding a book. There was a faint smile on Zhao Jie’s lips. His posture was remarkably similar to the posture of someone that had recently finished bullying an innocent girl.

  Zhu Geng coughed once and pretended that he didn’t know anything. With his head lowered, he said, “Your Highness, Chang Mama has been brought to the residence.”


  Zhao Jie put down his book. By the time he stood up, he had resumed his normal, cold and aristocratic appearance. He said, “Tell this prince about her situation.”


  As Zhu Geng led Zhao Jie and Wei Luo to the receiving room, he complied with Zhao Jie’s order by narrating Chang Mama‘s story.

  Chang Mama had once been Noble Consort Ning’s highly valued personal servant girl that she had brought with her into the palace. However, she had been suddenly released from her duties fifteen years ago when she was only twenty-two years old, before reaching the age when palace servants would normally be released from their service. The matter had been arranged under very suspicious circumstances. She had disappeared overnight as if she had never existed. As of now, Chang Mama had already married and had two children. Her husband was an official and her life was pretty good.

  Other than Chang Mama, two other servant girls had also been released from the palace. However, their hometowns were too remote and they haven’t been found yet.

  When they arrived at the receiving room, there was a woman wearing a light purple bi jia kneeling at the center of the room. Although she was only in her late thirties, her hair was entirely grey and her face was lined with wrinkles. She seemed more like an old woman that was in her fifties or sixties.

  Zhao Jie and Wei Luo sat down on the chairs that were decoratively carved with hornless dragons outlined in gold. Zhao Jie looked at the woman on the ground and said, “Raise your head.”


  Chang Mama cowered for a moment before she slowly lifted her head to look at them.

  When she came here, she already knew the reason. In the past years, she had lived her days in fear and had already foreseen that this day would come. Lacking confidence, she quietly said, “This subject greets Your Highnesses Prince Jing and Princess Consort Jing.”


  Zhao Jie said, “Do you know why this prince has asked you to come here?”


  Chang-shi didn’t pretend to be stupid. After all, her entire family’s lives, including her recently born grandson that wasn’t even one month old yet, was in Zhao Jie’s hands. She quickly declared her position, “Your Highness, please spare my life. This subject will tell you everything that you want to know.”


  ——–


  At the lake in the western part of the palace, spring had returned to the earth and all living things had resuscitated from their winter slumber. The willows had produced new branches and the roses in the nearby flowerbeds were blossoming. The beautiful flowers were competing with each other to bloom first. Everything had become verdant and lush. A cool breeze blithely blew by and brought a multitude of interlaced scents. Anyone looking at this scene would feel relaxed and happy.

  Noble Consort Ning and a few other imperial concubines were sitting in an octagonal pavilion. From far away, it seemed like a harmonious and happy scene with their peaceful discussion and smiling faces. This wasn’t surprising. Previously, Noble Consort Ning had been very favored and the people below her had done their best to curry favor with her. Although she wasn’t as favored as before, she still had her status of “Noble Consort” and she knew how to conduct herself. Thus, her interactions with the harem’s imperial concubines were still pretty good.

  Just as they were happily talking, someone called out, “The Empress has arrived.”


  Following the sound of the voice, they saw two people walking towards here from a nearby apricot tree. Empress Chen was wearing a jacket embroidered with flowering branches of chrysanthemums and a red skirt that was embroidered with a pattern of dragons in the sea. Her beautiful appearance was calm.

  Princess Consort Jing was walking at Empress Chen’s side. Princess Consort Jing was young and her beautiful appearance seemed delicate. She was wearing an apricot-colored top embroidered with butterflies and flowers. Below the top, there was a beaded eight-treasure style skirt. The skirt swayed as she walked and revealed an exquisite pair of embroidered, satin red shoes below. Shining pearls had been stitched to the top of the shoes and the contrast made her appearance seem even more moving. She seemed like a delicate beauty that had appeared from golden and silver mountains.

  Although their styles were completely different, it didn’t seem incompatible as the two people walked together. Instead, it was a feast for the eyes.

  When Empress Chen walked over here, the imperial concubines in the pavilion saluted her one by one. Empress Chen waved her hand to gesture for them to stand up.

  “Why are you all gathered here?” Empress Chen asked.

  One of the imperial concubines said, “Older sister Ning saw that the weather was pretty good today and asked us to come here.”


  Empress Chen said, “Oh.” Then, she calmly glanced at Noble Consort Ning.

  Noble Consort Ning pursed her lips into a smile and asked, “Where’s Liuli? She seems to rarely come out these days. Older sister, you should have her go outside more frequently and walk around. Didn’t the imperial doctor say that there’s health benefits to getting more sunlight?”


  Empress Chen looked at Noble Consort Ning and lightly said, “Liuli hasn’t been feeling well lately. This empress has told her to recuperate by staying inside and resting.”


  Noble Consort Ning smiled and didn’t say another word.

  However, the imperial concubine that had spoken before and was wearing a dark green robe with wide sleeves said, “Is the sixth princess’s health still doing poorly? When this concubine saw her recently, she seemed healthy.”


  Empress Chen’s expression didn’t change as she said, “It can only be blamed that Liuli was born under an ill-fortune star. She was poisoned at a young age. It’s already pretty good that she’s still alive.”


  Once these words were said, the other nobles followed along by saying similar words.

  One of the imperial concubines sighed and said, “Consort Shu truly had a malevolent heart. Fortunately, she’s already dead under His Majesty’s order. Otherwise, who knows how many other people she would have harmed?”


  On the side, Noble Consort Ning stayed silent.

  Empress Chen interrupted the concubine’s words and slowly said, “Now that you mention it, it’s such a coincidence. A poison called kui ning poisoned Liuli. It’s extracted for quinine trees that only grow in Yunnan province. This empress heard that Noble Consort Ning’s family is from Yunnan province. Noble Consort Ning, have you heard of this poison before?”