On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 55

After Master Xie read the letter, he waited until the morning audience to report the matters of Qingfeng Town to the Emperor.

The Emperor hastily questioned his attendants about which Inspecting Commissioner held jurisdiction over Qingfeng Town. An attendant replied, “It is Lord Gu, the very man presiding over this autumn hunt. He has been stationed there for many years and is most familiar with the local customs, which is why he was entrusted with such heavy responsibility.”

“Then summon Lord Gu immediately. I wish to question him personally.”

Master Xie spoke up quickly, “Your Majesty, I have already dispatched men to Qingfeng Town to investigate. Before the facts are clear, it is best not to beat the grass and startle the snake.”

Realizing Xie had more to say, the Emperor dismissed the attendants and turned to him. “This Lord Gu… is there some history there?”

Master Xie pondered for a moment. “Gu is an in-law of Lin Yulang. Years ago, it was Your Majesty who promoted him personally, out of regard for Lin Yulang’s reputation.”

Upon this reminder, the Emperor finally recalled the connection.

“Your Majesty has already indulged them too much, which is why their actions are becoming increasingly excessive. I hope Your Majesty will reconsider,” Master Xie said, standing to the side with his sleeves folded. His expression was calm and solemn, his profile as still and refined as carved jade.

The Emperor felt a flicker of shame and annoyance, sitting in his seat and brooding. He grew increasingly disappointed in that fellow, Lin Yulang.

“I know Your Majesty did not wish for things to turn out this way. When you favored Lin Yulang back then, it was because you truly believed him to be as pure and upright as his outward appearance suggested. But now that his true face has been revealed, it is not too late to mend the fold after the sheep are lost,” Master Xie said earnestly.

In Qingfeng Town, the misty rain continued to fall relentlessly against the gray tiles and white walls. Xie Xuanzhao held a red umbrella, walking along the bluestone alley toward the government yamen with Liu Qinglan.

“Since this magistrate dared to suppress reports, he clearly isn’t a benevolent sort. If we go in alone, I fear there will be danger,” Xie Xuanzhao said, stopping at a corner not far from the yamen and watching the guards at the entrance.

Liu Qinglan was puzzled. “Sister Beauty, you are the Empress. Won’t simply revealing your identity do the trick?”

“Words alone carry no proof, and one must not underestimate a ‘local snake.’ However, one of my maidservants should have arrived by now.” Xie Xuanzhao turned to look at Liu Qinglan. “At this point, there’s no harm in telling you, did you know that Yan Mo has a twin sister?”

Liu Qinglan nodded, taking it as a matter of course. “I know.”

Xie Xuanzhao couldn’t help but feel surprised.

Liu Qinglan gave a cheeky grin and patted her chest proudly. “I’m a spirit, after all, so of course I know many things. Don’t worry, Sister Beauty, I haven’t told anyone, though that peach blossom spirit knows as well.”

Xie Xuanzhao’s mind suddenly flashed through many events. She initially wanted to ask what “sneaky” things this little spirit had done using her supernatural abilities, but the current setting wasn’t right for such a talk. She suppressed the urge, deciding to wait until they were back in the safety of their bed to interrogate her thoroughly. Instead, she asked, “Who else knows?”

Liu Qinglan earnestly counted on her fingers, listing them off like beans. “The peach blossom spirit has a lover in the palace, the pretty chef Xiao Taoxi. Given their relationship, she might have said something. Oh, and there’s a ‘Black Egg’ that clump of infant spirit energy raised by Consort Yu and Lin Yulang. They wanted to use a fake pregnancy to establish an heir, but that spirit energy turned out to be a good one! It took a liking to the younger sister and, in a flash, turned into an egg!”

Xie Xuanzhao hadn’t expected to get so much information from one question!

She looked at the babbling little spirit before her, her expression becoming increasingly unreadable.

Noticing the Empress’s look, Liu Qinglan realized she had said too much and took a few sheepish steps back.

Holding the umbrella in one hand, Xie Xuanzhao used the other to pin the girl against the bluestone wall. Raindrops trickled down the ribs of the umbrella, splashing onto the ground like tiny, shattered flowers.

“It seems your spirit world is quite colorful, and there are many interesting happenings in the palace. But why are you only telling me this today?”

Liu Qinglan’s eyes darted around as she had a sudden burst of inspiration. “Sister Beauty didn’t ask me!”

Rebutted like that, Xie Xuanzhao thought it was a fair point. “Then I won’t hold the past against you. But from now on, you mustn’t hide these things. Especially when something happens, you must discuss it with me, understood?”

Liu Qinglan nodded vigorously, breathing a sigh of relief inwardly. Thankfully she didn’t ask about the spirit energy.

Xie Xuanzhao let her go and stared at the yamen for a moment. Suddenly feeling something was still off, she turned back, startling the little spirit who thought she had escaped.

Seeing Liu Qinglan clutching her chest in mock indignation, Xie Xuanzhao smiled thinly. “It seems there are still things being hidden. Since we are waiting anyway, why don’t you confess everything honestly?”

Driven by a strong will to survive, Liu Qinglan decided to sell out the sharp-nosed viper. She tugged at her ear nervously and whispered, “Actually… my parents were both reincarnated long ago. That old woman isn’t my real mother.”

As I suspected. Xie Xuanzhao’s brows knit together. “Can a mother be claimed so casually? You are too reckless.”

“It was an emergency! If I hadn’t said that, she would have been chased away.” Liu Qinglan went for a total confession. “Actually, she’s a sharp-nosed viper spirit. She’s also a spirit, but she means no harm.”

Xie Xuanzhao’s face remained calm. “Right now, I am more worried about Yan Mo.”

At that moment, Yan Mo was caught between ice and fire.

That day, while she was teaching LuLu how to paint, the old woman had suddenly appeared on the carriage, looking at them with a shocked and heartbroken expression.

Yan Mo had slowly released LuLu’s hand, her face full of shock. “Grandmother, you’re back? Where are the Empress and your daughter?”

Jiang Wenwen was reeling from the sight of their joined hands, her eyes fixed on LuLu.

Feeling the heavy hostility in the gaze, LuLu timidly hid behind Yan Mo.

Seeing this, Jiang Wenwen was devastated. Clutching her heart, she looked at the bewildered Yan Mo and issued a tragic accusation: “You heartless woman!”

Hearing this, LuLu couldn’t help but peek her head out. She looked at the elegant and gentle Yan Mo, then at the white haired, wrinkled old woman. She felt the world had become truly surreal. She asked, “You two… have a thing?!”

At that moment, Yan Mo wished she could just shove the talkative LuLu out of the carriage.

Jiang Wenwen, however, nodded vigorously. “So you’d better back off quickly! Don’t interfere in someone else’s relationship!”

LuLu gasped, covering her mouth. Wow, the world really is that magical.

Yan Mo held her forehead in a headache. What a mess! Before she could speak, LuLu retreated with a knowing look, leaving the carriage to the two of them.

Jiang Wenwen sat on the floor, wiping tears with a silk handkerchief. “I’m ignoring you, hmph.”

Yan Mo: “…”

She could only roll up the drawings on the table and pack away the ink and brushes. “Grandmother, I think there has been a misunderstanding.”

“That’s no excuse for keeping a little beauty on the side,” Jiang Wenwen peeked at her.

Yan Mo suspected this was a romantic debt incurred by her sister, but how did she manage to involve an elderly lady? The world was truly turning upside down.

While waiting for the Empress and Consort Yue to return, Yan Mo could only endure, struggling to survive between LuLu’s judgmental expressions and the old woman’s capricious pestering.

Back at the alley, Xie Xuanzhao finished worrying about her maidservant but still felt something wasn’t right. She pondered, recalling her first meeting with Liu Qinglan, her obsessed staring, her stealing sips of water, her efforts to take personal items, and her groundless flattery. Previously, she thought the little beauty had fallen in love at first sight and was intentionally flirting.

Thinking about it now, with Liu Qinglan’s level of “enlightenment,” she shouldn’t have been that advanced.

So, why exactly was she approaching me? There must be a catch.

As Xie Xuanzhao thought this, she stared at the little beauty beside her with a calculating gaze. Bathed in the Empress’s shifting eyes, Liu Qinglan nervously touched her ears and the tip of her nose, not daring to look up.

Xie Xuanzhao thought to herself, I’ll interrogate you properly when we’re in bed, but said aloud with composure, “I suddenly miss those early days when we first met.”

“W-Why?” Liu Qinglan thought back. To her, it was just a history of suffering; there was really nothing to reminisce about. She could still feel the faint sting from Mother Gao’s cane on her calves!

“Why? You should know better than I do.” Xie Xuanzhao narrowed her phoenix eyes, looking at her with a smile.

Liu Qinglan immediately engaged in deep self-reflection before decisively changing the subject. “Sister Beauty, I’ve thought of a way to bluff our way in!”

Xie Xuanzhao paused. “What is it?”

“We are few in number right now, but waiting isn’t an option. Why don’t we create an army and storm the yamen with great fanfare!”

Xie Xuanzhao was surprised. “How do we ‘create’ an army?”

“It’s simple. I can summon insects and ants and transform them into human shapes. They won’t have thoughts, only appearances, but they can follow us to look the part. That’s all they can do.” As she spoke, Liu Qinglan conjured a paper-cut figure.

Xie Xuanzhao looked at the lifelike human figure. Although it had a stiff expression and couldn’t speak, it was more than enough for a show of force.

She nodded appreciatively. “A brilliant plan. Qinglan, make a few more, and then we shall enter the yamen.”

“Alright.” Liu Qinglan channeled her spiritual power, and in moments, a disciplined squad of imperial guards stood ready.

And so, the two of them led the orderly troop toward the yamen.

The guards at the gate were terrified by the display, their legs turning to jelly. Just as they were about to run inside to report, a stranger strolled out from the interior.