Palace Intrigue?: I Make the Emperor Cry by Rewinding Time!-Chapter 113 - 104: Playing the Victim

The Emperor didn’t even spend the night at Concubine Lan’s quarters; he left after sitting for less than an hour.

Concubine Lan’s face was streaked with tears as she inquired where he went after leaving, afraid to hear that he went straight to Xianfu Palace—fortunately, it hadn’t come to that; the Emperor returned to Qiankun Palace to continue working. She leaned against the door frame, weeping, unaware that the Emperor was also in a foul mood. He had come with the intention of solving problems, but all Concubine Lan gave him was a torrent of stream-of-consciousness narration.

The Emperor immediately became displeased.

I’ve heard Concubine Lan had something to say; considering he hadn’t seen her more than twice since she entered the palace, and that she didn’t seem to like him, saying she didn’t care for competing for favor, surely she had something important to discuss. So he put aside the endless memorials, approaching with the concern for the marginalized in the harem.

And this was what he heard? What is this?

The adjacent stove picks up scents?

Too absurd, so absurd that the Emperor didn’t even consider it a ploy for favor; he felt Concubine Lan was being overly dramatic.

The Emperor worked through the memorials late into the night.

After a brief break, the Emperor pushed the memorials aside and said, "I’m going out for a walk."

He pinched his brow, unable to conceal his vexation.

In two months, it would be New Year, yet affairs from the previous dynasty piled up one after another. On each matter, Ji Yanyu and Wei Qingchen’s positions were conveniently opposite, making an already cold relationship even more strained, adding numerous troubles for the Emperor—whenever the other side approved, ours would surely oppose. However, the Emperor found this opposition pleasing; if the two ministers were too friendly, he would be even more unsettled.

After the two ministers’ relationship suddenly soured, the number of memorials placed in Qiankun Palace doubled.

The previous dynasty and the harem were interlinked—

The Empress was reprimanded and confined, suppressing Mr. Wei’s arrogance.

The Empress Dowager supported the Empress to regain control of the palace powers, and Mr. Wei revived.

Upon closer examination, Lady took the opportunity to show kindness to Concubine Xi... aiding her in pregnancy and favor was overt, letting both the previous dynasty and the harem see her good relations with the favored concubine was covert; the abacus beads had clicked all the way to Qiankun Palace, but Lady managed her affairs pleasingly and gave the Emperor due face. Unlike the Empress, who persistently wore a look like he owed her something, unable to grasp the point, often misunderstanding his painstaking intentions, incapable of support.

"Your Majesty, wear a cloak; it’s snowing outside."

"Hmm."

The cloak was put on, the Emperor declined the eunuch’s offer of a hand warmer, and walked alone towards the garden: "Apart from Ying Lu, none of you follow me."

There were guards on duty in the harem, and the place was serenely quiet.

The night was silent.

"It’s very cold at night; it’s better not to stay outside too long," Ying Lu advised.

"I see you are getting more talkative."

"Your servant acknowledges his mistake."

Understandingly, Ying Lu slapped himself, ceasing further speech.

A moment later, the Emperor remarked, "There are voices ahead."

Ying Lu listened closely and indeed heard the laughter of women.

There was no strict rule in Yan Chi’s harem prohibiting concubines from going out at night, but it was inappropriate behavior, a tacit rule; not being seen was fine, but being spotted would invite criticism. Moreover, there had been deaths all around the Imperial Palace after dark, making many ladies raised in deep seclusion too timid to go out after nightfall, even without formal Palace Rules.

However, being this close to Qiankun Palace, it was likely some little mistress driven to madness by the desire for favor, resorting to this foolish move to draw the Emperor’s attention.

"Your Majesty, should I go take a look?"

Ying Lu probed.

"No need."

As he spoke, the Emperor stepped toward the source of the sound.

He wanted to see who was so bold as to come out at midnight to try for a chance encounter with him.

Just as the thought occurred, the Emperor walked a bit further, and the women’s voices became clearer.

Upon recognizing the voice, he nearly turned around to leave.

...

A line cast out, the bait dropped into the pond.

The Eldest Prince sat beside Yun Jiao, hugging his knees, and asked, "Lady Xi, we didn’t catch any fish during the day; can we really catch fish at night?"

"Of course, if we can’t catch during the day, try at night."

"What if we get caught..."

Xie Zhixing knew the Eldest Prince was close to Yun Jiao, and he permitted it.

He was aware of his eldest son’s health and couldn’t bear to demand too much from Jing’er.

But he never anticipated that Yun Jiao would bring him out for night fishing! Yes! What if they were discovered? He was eager to hear Yun Jiao’s response.

"Besides the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, only the Empress, Lady, and your mother are mightier than me now in the palace. Your mother agreed, and they certainly wouldn’t wander out in the middle of the night. If others find us, I’d say I am the favored Concubine Xi."

Xie Zhixing: ...

As the one who favored her, he suddenly found it a bit embarrassing.

The Eldest Prince timidly said, "What if Father discovers us?"

"That’s when you need to perform,"

Yun Jiao smiled cunningly: "When the Emperor puts on a stern face, you clutch your chest and say you feel unwell, the Emperor cares for you and will be too worried about what’s wrong with you to pursue it! I brought you out for night fishing for this backup plan, didn’t I?"

In her past life, she was the most critical case in the children’s ward.

A group of the brattiest hospitalized kids caught playing tricks would see her slowly lie down on the floor.

The parents of the neighboring kids ready to spank their sons would quickly dress their own kids and rush her to the doctor, earning her juvenile peers’ nickname "Master Deceiver."

"Lady Xi..."

The Eldest Prince blinked in confusion.

The palace maidens and eunuchs serving around him were forbidden from acknowledging his frailty, pretending he was normal, fearing to hurt his fragile spirit, while he was all too aware of his own condition: "I never knew I had such uses."

"Don’t belittle yourself. Our troublemaker duo wouldn’t be the same without you," Yun Jiao promised confidently.

And now, Lady Xi said this aspect of him was very useful.

With delight, a hint of color appeared in the Eldest Prince’s pale little face: "Don’t worry, I will definitely protect Lady Xi!"

The eunuchs responsible for carrying lamps and foot stoves around them felt anxious, just hoping not to truly encounter the Emperor.

Their wishes were sincere, but unfortunately, the Emperor showed up nonetheless.

"It’s so late; what are you doing?"

Xie Zhixing asked.

The light cast on his handsome face made him even more striking, and his deep voice resonated, causing the surrounding palace attendants to immediately kneel down.

"Oh no, my fish!"

His arrival startled the fish in Yun Jiao’s carefully prepared spot; she couldn’t help but curse under her breath before politely hiding it: "The Emperor came at the worst time, scaring my fish away. If he hadn’t spoken, I would’ve caught one just now!"

The next second, after a quick adjustment, she resumed being the demure and courteous favored concubine, paying her respects.

"Your son greets Father Emperor."

Even though Xie Zhixing never punished anyone in front of the Eldest Prince, the prince was still somewhat afraid of him; having erred first he trembled while greeting. Xie Zhixing told him to rise and turned to Yun Jiao:

"You’re too reckless."

Ying Lu heard this clear as day, not even counting as stern!

The Eldest Prince feared his Father Emperor, even more so he worried Lady Xi would be punished. His mind buzzing, he toddled over to his father on his little legs, nervously saying: "Father, Father Emperor... your son’s heart hurts."

He was somewhat hungry and instinctively held his stomach.

A few seconds later, he realized his mistake and shifted his hand up, but in the wrong direction.

"Father, my son feels discomfort here."

Xie Zhixing glanced over, amused: "You’re so biased for your Lady Xi that your heart’s on the right side."