The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 25

The sun set behind the western hills as the emperor finally finished reviewing the memorials. Just as he was preparing to visit Consort Shu, Eunuch Li entered from outside.

“Your Majesty, the State Preceptor requests an audience.”

The emperor rubbed his temples. Since Lin Chenzhi had been imprisoned, the State Preceptor had come many times, always pleading for leniency on Lin Chenzhi’s behalf. The emperor had heard it so often that his ears were calloused.

Now, all he felt was a headache. He waved his hand dismissively. “Send him away. There is no room for reconsideration regarding Lin Chenzhi’s case.”

Eunuch Li bowed and retreated.

The State Preceptor hurried forward as soon as he saw Eunuch Li. “Eunuch, what did His Majesty say?”

Eunuch Li shook his head and sighed, discreetly returning the silver the State Preceptor had slipped into his pocket earlier. “His Majesty does not wish to see you.”

The State Preceptor sighed but pushed the silver back, insisting that Eunuch Li keep it. Then, unlike his usual habit of leaving immediately, he lifted the hem of his robe and knelt, clasping his hands in front of him. “This subject has urgent matters to report and must see His Majesty. If His Majesty refuses, I shall remain kneeling here.”

Eunuch Li had no choice. He had taken the man’s money, and besides, the State Preceptor was no longer young. The spring evening carried a slight chill, and leaving him kneeling like this was hardly proper. He could only try once more to persuade the emperor.

But as soon as he entered, before he could even speak, the emperor stopped him. “Quiet for a moment. My head aches.”

Eunuch Li swallowed his words, the breath stuck in his throat.

Outside the palace, upon hearing that the State Preceptor had been denied an audience with the emperor, Consort Shu quickly freshened up and made her way to the imperial study.

Eunuch Li’s eyes brightened at the sight of her. Though Consort Shu was already in her thirties lacking the youthful vivacity of the newly selected palace ladies who had just come of age, the grace and charm of a mature woman that she carried with her was in no way inferior to those newcomers.

Eunuch Li had grown up alongside the emperor, and even Consort Shu, who wielded considerable authority in the inner palace, had to show him some respect. “Eunuch Li, is His Majesty inside?”

The State Preceptor, already kneeling, cupped his hands in a perfunctory salute when he saw Consort Shu, but his expression remained cold.

This was hardly surprising. He was aligned with the Sixth Prince, while Consort Shu’s son was the Ninth Prince, they were not on the same side. The only thing that connected them was Xie Zhizhen.

But ever since Lin Chenzhi had been imprisoned, Xie Zhizhen had spent all her time with Gu Qing, showing not the slightest concern for Lin Chenzhi. Considering how his own son had gone out of his way to please her over the past two years, the State Preceptor held an even poorer opinion of Xie Zhizhen and by extension, Consort Shu.

Fortunately, Consort Shu paid no mind to the State Preceptor’s attitude.

Eunuch Li nodded and led her inside in full view of the State Preceptor.

The emperor had previously decreed that all visitors to the study, including the empress, required an audience request except for Consort Shu and the late Noble Consort Xian.

As soon as she entered the study, Consort Shu saw the emperor resting with his eyes closed, his brows furrowed in discomfort.

She approached quietly, stepping behind him, and her delicate fingers pressed lightly against his temples, massaging gently. As the emperor’s frown gradually eased, a faint look of disdain flickered across Consort Shu’s face.

Then, as if recalling something, the corners of her lips curled slightly, betraying her good mood.

The emperor relaxed under her ministrations. Once his headache had subsided, he reached up and covered her hand with his own. “What brings you here?”

Imperial Consort Shu smiled gently and said, “Your Majesty, I heard that the State Preceptor has been kneeling outside the imperial study for quite some time now.”

At the mention of the State Preceptor, the emperor’s previously relaxed brow furrowed once more. He picked up a memorial from the desk and flung it to the ground in anger. “How dare he still plead for Lin Chenzhi! After committing such grave errors, it was I who had to clean up his mess!”

Faced with the emperor’s fury, Imperial Consort Shu showed no fear. Instead, she stepped forward, picked up the memorial, and began to read it.

To her surprise, it was a report from the Ministry of Justice. Since Gu Qing had previously uncovered evidence of Lin Chenzhi’s crimes selling official positions and titles, the memorial detailed the misdeeds of those who had purchased such positions over the years. At the end, a careful note was added: “The above are only the findings of the past few days. Many more who bought positions have used their wealth and influence to oppress the people and engage in corruption. We implore Your Majesty to severely punish such misconduct!”

Even so, the contents alone were enough to send chills down one’s spine.

Imperial Consort Shu closed the memorial and gently began massaging the emperor’s shoulders. Having been with him for so many years, she knew exactly how to navigate his temper and avoid provoking his wrath.

“The State Preceptor has served Your Majesty loyally all these years, if not with great merit, then at least with diligence. Lin Chenzhi is, after all, his only son. A father’s love for his child is universal,” she said, her hands applying just the right pressure neither too light nor too heavy. “Lin Chenzhi has already been severely punished. With the spring chill in the air, it wouldn’t be right to let the State Preceptor kneel outside for too long.”

The emperor opened his eyes. He hadn’t realized the State Preceptor had been kneeling outside all this time. Remembering how Chief Eunuch Li had been about to speak earlier when he interrupted him, he waved his hand, instructing the eunuch to summon the State Preceptor inside.

The State Preceptor had, after all, served the emperor for many years, and the emperor was a man who valued old ties otherwise, he wouldn’t still hold such lingering affection for Noble Consort Xian after all this time.

Chief Eunuch Li, granted permission, hurried out to bring the State Preceptor in.

The State Preceptor was somewhat surprised to receive the summons. He had assumed that with Imperial Consort Shu inside, his plans for the day would be delayed, and he’d have to wait until the Sixth Prince arrived at the palace.

Unexpectedly, the emperor had summoned him shortly after Imperial Consort Shu entered likely because she had spoken on his behalf.

This made the State Preceptor glance at her again. She met his gaze with a gentle, unassuming smile, one that effortlessly inspired goodwill.

The State Preceptor nodded inwardly. It seemed Imperial Consort Shu was reasonable, unlike Xie Zhizhen, who had been relentless in her pursuit of vengeance.

Though the emperor had agreed to see the State Preceptor, his expression remained cold.

He took the same memorial Imperial Consort Shu had read and hurled it at the State Preceptor. The thick stack struck the State Preceptor’s forehead, breaking the skin and staining the memorial with blood. Yet, the State Preceptor remained unfazed. He picked it up and began to read.

After skimming through the contents, his eyes immediately landed on the words “Ministry of Justice.”

If he recalled correctly, Gu Qing’s cousin was a vice minister in the Ministry of Justice.

Hmph.

Though he couldn’t be certain whether Gu Qing was involved after all, Gu Zheng Yue was famously incorruptible, it didn’t stop the State Preceptor from blaming Gu Qing in his heart.

“This matter is indeed my unworthy son’s fault. These past few days in my residence, I have reflected deeply and feel utterly ashamed for failing Your Majesty’s trust, having raised such a disgraceful wretch!”

To the emperor’s surprise, the Grand Preceptor did not plead for Lin Chenzhi this time. Instead, he wore an expression of recognizing his own mistakes and even seemed ashamed of having raised such a son.

This greatly pleased the emperor. The Grand Preceptor had once saved his life when he was young, and the emperor truly didn’t want to clean up Lin Chenzhi’s mess while also having to deal with the Grand Preceptor’s interference.

The Grand Preceptor then proceeded to deliver a lengthy self-criticism spanning thousands of words, solely focusing on the matter of Lin Chenzhi.

Consort Shu, listening nearby, grew weary and simply excused herself, leaving the study to the Grand Preceptor to continue his monologue.

The emperor paid no mind and casually waved her off.

No sooner had Consort Shu stepped out than she spotted Eunuch Li approaching with a bowl of medicine. Her expression turned subtly inscrutable as she observed it. “How long has His Majesty been taking this medicine?”

“Roughly half a year,” Eunuch Li replied after a moment’s thought.

A faint smile curled at Consort Shu’s lips, gentle and warm. “You’d best deliver it to His Majesty quickly, Eunuch Li. It wouldn’t do for the medicine to cool and lose its potency.”

Eunuch Li nodded hastily and strode into the imperial study. “Your Majesty, it is time for your medicine.”

The emperor stared at the pitch-black concoction, its foul stench nearly unbearable.

No matter how much he loathed it, he knew all too well that despite its revolting taste, his health had indeed improved significantly over the past six months.

The Grand Preceptor had noticed the medicine the moment Eunuch Li entered. To avoid arousing suspicion, he merely glanced at it briefly before averting his gaze.

As the bitter liquid passed the emperor’s lips, the Grand Preceptor watched intently as the emperor tilted his head back, the medicine finally draining from the bowl into his stomach. The Grand Preceptor couldn’t help but smirk.

Noticing the smile on the Grand Preceptor’s face after finishing the medicine, the emperor was taken aback. “What are you smiling about?”

Before the Grand Preceptor could devise a way to placate the old fool, a booming voice echoed from outside the study.

“Father Emperor, your son has urgent matters to report!”

It was the Sixth Prince.

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