Thanks to the Emperor's favor, Yanshu unexpectedly had the privilege of riding in the imperial carriage.
The imperial carriage was spacious and stable, not to mention fast. In less than half a cup of tea's time, the two of them arrived at the Palace of Benevolent Peace.
Upon entering the hall, they discovered that Noble Consort Zhou, Consort Ning, Consort An, Consort Li, and others had already arrived.
Seeing her arrive with the Emperor, fire almost shot from their eyes, but they still had to bow respectfully to Yuwen Lan, saying, "We pay our respects to Your Majesty."
Yuwen Lan said "Rise" and took a few steps to the Empress Dowager's bedside.
The Empress Dowager had let down her hair, wore a headband, and looked pale. Several palace maids were kneeling by her bed, massaging her forehead and chest.
Yuwen Lan said, "Your son has come late. How is Mother feeling now?"
Zhang Shengkang, the Chief of the Imperial Medical Academy who was waiting in the hall, hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the recent cold weather has triggered the Empress Dowager's old illness. The Empress Dowager needs to rest quietly for the next few days, take medicine regularly, and recover slowly."
Yuwen Lan nodded slightly and said to the Empress Dowager, "I have neglected to inquire after Mother's health these past few days. You have suffered."
The Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes and said weakly, "How can I blame Your Majesty? When I developed this condition, Your Majesty wasn't even born yet."
Most people in the palace knew something about the Empress Dowager's past -
It was said that the Empress Dowager came from a noble family and was the first wife of the late Emperor. She was also the first to give birth to the eldest prince, seemingly blessed with good fortune. However, heaven was unkind, and the eldest prince passed away before reaching his first birthday.
The Empress Dowager, a first-time mother, couldn't accept this blow. For half a year, she cried constantly, which led to her chronic headaches and heart palpitations.
She was never able to conceive again. Coincidentally, Consort Hui, the current Emperor's birth mother, passed away early, so she took the Emperor under her care.
The outside world knew of their deep mother-son bond, forged through years of nurturing that surpassed blood ties.
Thus, Yuwen Lan reproached himself again, "If I had paid more attention to Mother, you wouldn't have triggered your old illness."
The Empress Dowager said, "Your Majesty governs the country and is loved by all people. I am proud of Your Majesty. There's no need to waste time on me."
But then she suddenly asked, "I heard Your Majesty was injured a few days ago? Is it serious?"
Yuwen Lan paused slightly, but revealed no emotion as he said, "It was just a small cut while practicing swordsmanship, nothing to worry about."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the thoughts of the women beside him -
Noble Consort Zhou thought, [It's true after all.]
Consort An was somewhat smug, [How could my information be false?]
Consort Ning and Consort Li were surprised, [So it's actually true?]
Yanshu, however, sensed something amiss. How did even the Empress Dowager know about the Emperor's injury?
Yuwen Lan, maintaining his composure, said to the Empress Dowager, "Such a small matter has reached your ears? I wonder who was so loose-tongued as to make you worry."
The Empress Dowager said, "I just happened to overhear it. I'm glad Your Majesty is alright, but please be more careful in the future."
Yuwen Lan agreed, and then heard the Empress Dowager sigh in her mind, [They've all gathered here, aren't they just here to pry for information?]
Just then, a palace maid brought in a freshly prepared medicinal soup. Zhu Shu, the Empress Dowager's lady-in-waiting, was about to take it, but Noble Consort Zhou beat her to it, coming forward with the bowl and saying, "Let me serve the medicine to the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager couldn't refuse and allowed her to feed her the medicine.
On the side, Consort Ning snorted in her mind, [Does she think others don't know they're aunt and niece? She's just showing off!]
Consort Li mocked, [Does Noble Consort Zhou even know how to feed medicine? Don't scald the Empress Dowager!]
Consort An was envious, [When will it be my turn?]
Yuwen Lan was used to these women's behavior, but he curiously glanced at Yanshu.
Her rank was low, so she stood a bit far away, and he couldn't hear her thoughts clearly at first.
He quietly shuffled a bit outward and finally heard clearly, [Now that the Empress Dowager has taken her medicine, can we leave? Will the Emperor come back with me? Will I have another chance to ask for money tonight?]
Yuwen Lan, "..."
After about a cup of tea's time, the Empress Dowager finally finished her medicine, but she still frowned, looking pained. She weakly waved her hand and said, "You may all withdraw. Your Majesty should also retire early."
Noble Consort Zhou offered her services again, "Let me stay and watch over you tonight, Empress Dowager."
Consort Ning followed, "Noble Consort Zhou must be tired from feeding the medicine. Let me do it instead."
Yuwen Lan found them all annoying and simply said, "Everyone withdraw. I will stay here tonight to watch over Mother."
Everyone had to comply. They bowed to the mother and son, and withdrew from the hall.
Noble Consort Zhou cursed in her mind, [You bitch, what right do you have to compete with me!]
Consort Ning sneered, [Serves you right for trying to show off!]
Yuwen Lan looked at Yanshu again.
She appeared like an obedient little rabbit, but in her mind she thought, [Oh no, he's not coming back with me. That money is probably gone for good! I finally won for once!]
Yuwen Lan, "..."
Was she really so persistent?
Maybe he should have someone send it to her tomorrow?
The night passed.
The next day, there was a small court session. With important ministers in attendance, Yuwen Lan wore his nine-dragon robe and a serious expression. He began by inquiring about the progress of the freeze disaster relief in Chuanqian.
The Chuanqian Commissioner reported, "Your Majesty, this morning the funds and grain from the national treasury have arrived in the southwest. Each prefecture is sending people to collect them. Currently, the freezing rain has stopped, and the situation is improving."
This was good news. Yuwen Lan then asked the Ministry of War, "How is the southwestern garrison?"
The Minister of War answered, "The soldiers in the camp are on high alert. It's reported that due to several days of heavy snow in the snow mountains, many areas in Tibet have also been affected by disasters. There have been no unusual movements so far. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
Yuwen Lan nodded.
Then he saw Chai Weizhong, the Vice Minister of War, step forward and say, "Your Majesty, the vanguard camp and guard camp in the outskirts of the capital have been training for over a month. May I ask if the ice games will proceed as scheduled tomorrow?"
The so-called ice games were an important winter activity in the palace.
Though called "games," they were actually drills, a way for the royal family to review the army's various skills and tactics for winter warfare. In previous years, they were held on the fifteenth day of the last lunar month.
But this year, with the freeze disaster in the southwest and the Empress Dowager's illness last night, people were a bit uncertain.
Yuwen Lan said, "I have already discussed it with the Empress Dowager last night. The ice games will be held as scheduled tomorrow, not in the Western Garden, but in Jinbo Garden."
After he finished speaking, Chai Weizhong acknowledged and stepped back. Suddenly, Yuwen Lan remembered Yanshu's "secret" from last night...
Was Chai Weizhong... homosexual?
Of course, besides Chai Weizhong, there was another person near him, Wei Ruzhang, the Grand Scholar of Wenhua Court.
He was the one Yanshu had said "was a gigolo for courtesans in his youth"...
Yuwen Lan's mouth twitched slightly.
People he had been very familiar with now seemed increasingly awkward to look at.
—— Last night he had stayed in the Palace of Benevolent Peace, only taking a short nap after the Empress Dowager retired, and rushed to the morning court early. Only now did he remember this matter.
Along with the awkwardness, his doubts about Yanshu grew.
How did a lowly concubine know so much?
Or...
Were these things she made up?
Was she so bored in the palace that she spent all day fantasizing?
"Your Majesty,"
Perhaps because he had glanced at him several times, Wei Ruzhang, the Grand Scholar of Wenhua Court, took the initiative to stand up and say, "Your Majesty, we're already halfway through the last lunar month, with spring approaching. We should put the matters of next year's spring imperial examination and the Imperial Academy's recruitment on the agenda."
Yuwen Lan came back to his senses and nodded, "Indeed. Discuss it with the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel, and report to me in the imperial study the day after tomorrow."
Wei Ruzhang and the officials from the two mentioned ministries acknowledged.
Shortly after, the court session ended, and Yuwen Lan returned to his chambers to change.
His mind was still on that matter.
After much thought, he made two decisions -
First, send people to investigate Wei Ruzhang's hometown and Chai Weizhong's private residence;
Second, have Fu Hai send a box of jewels to Ganlu Palace.
He didn't want to hear that girl constantly thinking about money anymore.
It was as if he owed her a debt.
Yanshu woke up and immediately heard the news about tomorrow's ice games.
In the long, dull days of the inner palace, the ice games in winter and the water games in summer were the most anticipated events. Not only could they see soldiers showcasing their skills on water or ice, but they could also leave the palace to breathe some fresh air. The imperial consorts naturally looked forward to it.
In previous years, her rank wasn't high enough, so she could only stay in her own palace. But this time, having been promoted to Noble Lady, she finally had the chance to see it.
This was truly exciting. She happily got out of bed and was about to wash up. Her hand hadn't even touched the water in the basin when she heard the system's alarm, [The water is poisoned.]
Poisoned?
She retreated in shock, [What's going on?]
The system said, [Someone wants to harm you.]
Rendong was startled by her reaction and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong, my lady?"
Yanshu thought for a moment and asked, "Where did this water come from?"
Rendong said, "Is the water prepared by Lv Yan too hot? Let me add some cold water for you..."
"No need," Yanshu replied, "Call her in."
Rendong complied, though somewhat puzzled, and did as instructed.
Soon after, the palace maid called Lv Yan entered the hall.
— Earlier in Yongning Palace, Yanshu only had Rendong and Lianxin as her close attendants. After being promoted to Noble Lady, the Internal Affairs Bureau assigned four more palace maids and two eunuchs to her, and this girl was one of them.
At this moment, Lv Yan kept her eyes lowered, appearing obedient, and said with her head bowed, "May I ask if the mistress has any instructions?"
Yanshu didn't waste words with her and said directly, "Come and wash your face with this water."
Immediately, Lv Yan's expression changed, and she stammered, "This... This servant has already washed her face."
Yanshu then understood seven or eight tenths of the situation and sighed, "I have no grudge against you, so why do you want to harm me?"
The girl fell to her knees but still tried to defend herself, "This servant doesn't know where she has erred to anger the mistress..."
Yanshu gave up and said to Rendong, "Go help her wash her face, and remember, don't let your hands touch the water."
Seeing the situation unfold, Rendong had mostly figured it out. She went directly to Lv Yan and pushed her face into the water.
In an instant, Lv Yan began to wail as if being stabbed with needles. Soon after, red rashes appeared on her face, some even oozing yellow fluid, making it unbearable to look at.
