Although His Majesty didn’t say there would be any reward, this sentence was already enough to make Liu Changlan content. It both praised him and rebuked Wei Jun’an—something he didn’t even dare to dream of before.
Wei Jun’an turned to Liu Changlan and said, “Lord Liu must maintain this—don’t let His Majesty down.”
Liu Changlan still maintained his kind old-man appearance and said with a smile to Wei Jun’an, “What Lord Wei says is right. Rest assured, Your Majesty. This humble official will definitely keep all your words firmly in mind.”
Wei Jun’an looked at Liu Changlan’s amiable expression and was so angry his teeth itched.
Very soon, the two walked out from the Zichen Hall, and as Wei Jun’an stepped down the stairs, he couldn’t help but say to Liu Changlan with a sarcastic tone, “Lord Liu truly knows how to win His Majesty’s favor.”
Liu Changlan waved his hand and said, “How could I know how to win His Majesty’s favor? I merely keep His Majesty’s words close to heart, that’s all. If we’re talking about currying favor, then looking across the whole court, who could compare to Lord Wei?”
Wei Jun’an forced a smile without joy and said, “Lord Liu mustn’t joke like that. His Majesty clearly asked me to learn from you.”
Only now did Liu Changlan truly understand how it had felt some time ago, when Wei Jun’an was favored by His Majesty and granted a seat, while they could only stand awkwardly. Honestly, it really was a good feeling.
Tsk, Wei Jun’an’s jealous expression now was truly unsightly—he really wanted to take out a mirror and let him have a good look at how he looked right now.
Liu Changlan replied with a smile, “Nonsense. I don’t have anything to teach. I just put in a bit more heart and effort when doing things.”
Wei Jun’an sneered inwardly—wasn’t that saying he himself didn’t put in effort?
This time, he hadn’t thought things through carefully enough and had let this old fox Liu Changlan take advantage. But next time, absolutely not—he would make sure His Majesty saw Liu Changlan’s true face. Just wait and see.
Once the assessment regulations were finalized, Meng Fu immediately copied a set and had the hidden guards deliver it to the Xuanping Marquis Manor.
Lately, His Majesty had come into her monthly period, so he needed to be shown something cheerful.
Not long after, the hidden guards returned to the palace with His Majesty’s reply. One could clearly see that this emperor was indeed very happy. He had written a full three pages in reply to Meng Fu. At first, Meng Fu thought that with so much written, there must be some dissatisfaction with the regulations. But after reading the letter from beginning to end, she couldn’t find a single word of complaint.
The entire letter was full of praise—praising Meng Fu as being as clever as ice and snow, full of wisdom and resourcefulness; praising her for being meticulous in thought and skilled in appointing others. His Majesty had praised every aspect that could be thought of—otherwise there wouldn’t have been enough to fill three whole pages.
Since childhood, Meng Fu had rarely received praise from others. She always worked hard to do everything the best she could. But the highest evaluation she had ever received from Meng Yanxing was just the two words “not bad”.
When His Majesty scolded people, he was direct and vicious. Those scolded often wanted to bang their heads on a pillar and die. Yet they didn’t know that when His Majesty praised someone, he could also be so straightforward and not tactful at all. Though these words weren’t said to her face, Meng Fu still slightly blushed.
She felt that she wasn’t as good as His Majesty said. The reason this matter could be accomplished was still because His Majesty had first suppressed all those court ministers beforehand.
But even so, Meng Fu couldn’t help but read the letter over and over again. As she read, she couldn’t stop herself from smiling, her brows and eyes all curved into delight.
Gao Xi, the eunuch attending at her side, saw the smile at the corners of the Emperor’s eyes and brows and couldn’t help being puzzled—what was His Majesty reading to be so happy? Why not share this kind of good thing with him too?
As a eunuch who had served His Majesty for many years, Gao Xi was the most sensitive to the emperor’s changes. But something as utterly absurd as body-swapping and soul exchange—Gao Xi wouldn’t have imagined it even if he were beaten to death. He served by His Majesty’s side every day and knew a thing or two about the situation between His Majesty and the Xuanping Marchioness, so he attributed His Majesty’s change in demeanor to having fallen in love, and having changed his temper for his beloved.
Right now, His Majesty was probably reading a letter from his beloved—he just didn’t know what was written in it to make His Majesty this happy. After all, it had been many years since he’d seen His Majesty smile like this.
At this moment in the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager was also wondering—what exactly was going on between the Emperor and that Marchioness of Xuanping? Why hadn’t she heard any news recently? His Majesty was already over twenty—he’d finally taken a liking to a young lady, could it be that it had already fallen through?
The Emperor’s personality was so blunt and straightforward—what if he’d said something that made the young lady unhappy? Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager propped her chin up, completely unable to eat. Should she lend a helping hand?
She had, after all, lived more years than the Emperor. His Majesty always acted without reservations and never cared about how others judged him—but that young lady probably couldn’t do the same. Even if they truly had mutual affection, she would likely still have to consider her own reputation. And as for the Marquis of Xuanping—had the Emperor thought about how to appease him?
The Empress Dowager grew more troubled the more she thought. In her view, His Majesty was now only indulging in fleeting joy and wasn’t making any plans at all for the future between him and the Marchioness of Xuanping. The Empress Dowager knew the Emperor was different from the late emperor—not a lecherous man, and not someone who would deliberately toy with a woman’s feelings—otherwise she really would’ve thought the Emperor was simply chasing after excitement.
But in front of her, the Emperor still wouldn’t admit that he had someone he liked. So she definitely couldn’t help openly. Besides, the Marchioness of Xuanping was, after all, still the wife of one of His Majesty’s officials. If word of this got out, it really wouldn’t sound good.
After thinking it over, the Empress Dowager felt that speculating like this was no solution. She ought to summon that lady into the palace and have a look—then sound her out to see what exactly was going on between her and the Emperor.
The young prince was running around the room with a book in his arms. The da-da-da of his footsteps never stopped. Not long after, Gugu Chen walked in from outside. After learning what the Empress Dowager had in mind, she said, “Your Ladyship, your birthday is coming up soon. Why not take advantage of the occasion to hold a palace banquet and invite the noblewomen of the former court to come?”
The Empress Dowager thought what Gugu Chen said made sense and nodded. “Very well. I’ll leave this matter to you.”
The Empress Dowager’s birthday was next month, and since there was no one in His Majesty’s harem, inviting the noblewomen into the palace to liven things up for the Empress Dowager was perfectly reasonable.
—
Xie Wenzhao wanting to become a monk—somehow this news had spread throughout the marquis manor. When Hua Xiaoling heard it, she instinctively began to feel guilty. Could it be that she was too fierce that night and ended up scaring the marquis? But in the end, nothing even happened! What was there for him to be so distraught about? It was just a couple of touches—seriously, was that worth it?
Sun Yulian probably truly liked Xie Wenzhao. When she heard the maid repeat what Xie Wenzhao had said, her tears gushed out all at once. She said, “If he really becomes a monk, then I’ll go become a nun.”
Not long after, these words somehow made their way to Xie Wenzhao’s ears. As for what he thought when he heard them—no one knew.
And Qu Hanyan, the most favored concubine in the marquis manor, upon hearing those words, couldn’t help but curse Xie Wenzhao from top to bottom in her heart. If he wanted to become a monk, why bother redeeming her from the brothel? If he really became a monk, her fate would be entirely in the hands of Meng Fu and the Old Madam. And those two didn’t seem to like her much.
Qu Hanyan felt that if something really happened to Xie Wenzhao, she would very likely be sold off again. In the end, all these years would have been for nothing.
Xie Wenzhao truly was a scourge!
Should she think of a way to curry favor with Meng Fu now? Hopefully, it wouldn’t be too late to mend the pen after the sheep were lost. [亡羊补牢，为时未晚: idiom meaning it’s still not too late to remedy a mistake.]
—
Qingping had also heard about this matter from the other servants. She told Li Yue about it with some concern. After hearing it, Li Yue frowned and asked, “Did Xie Wenzhao get kicked in the head by a donkey?”
“He probably didn’t.” They didn’t raise any donkeys at the marquis manor.
Li Yue said, “Outrageous.”
Qingping looked at Li Yue in surprise. Lately, with everything Madam had been doing, Qingping had thought she no longer cared at all about the marquis. But judging from her reaction now, it seemed she still minded a little. After all, husband and wife were one body—sharing honor and disgrace.
But then Qingping quickly realized she was overthinking it. What Madam cared about had nothing to do with the marquis himself.
Li Yue said, “That lustful thing with his six roots not clean—what’s he doing stirring up trouble at other people’s temples? Doesn’t he have any self-awareness? If he really has that kind of mindset, why not just enter the palace and become a eunuch?”
Qingping quietly listened, saying nothing. She was already used to Madam cursing the marquis from time to time—in fact, she even felt that it was only normal for Madam to say such things.
“But if Xie Wenzhao really wants to become a monk, I’d better inform that bald donkey Huaiming,” Li Yue thought for a moment, then said, “Tell him to hang a sign at the gates of every temple near the capital that reads: ‘Xie Wenzhao and dogs not allowed inside.’”
Qingping couldn’t help but speak up to dissuade her: “Madam, that’s not appropriate.”
Madam had become the kind of person who would actually do whatever she said—Qingping was really worried she might actually see such a sign outside a temple in a few days.
What surprised Qingping was that Li Yue actually acknowledged her own mistake. She nodded and said, “It’s a bit inappropriate. Everyone says monks are compassionate by nature.”
Qingping let out a sigh of relief. So Madam was only speaking casually.
Then she heard Li Yue add, “Let the dogs in.”