amaotonovel Chapter 228 The Mummified Corpse Case 21
Chapter 228 The Mummified Corpse Case 21
Willow branches on the moon.
Even before the first month of the lunar calendar was over, the palace was still bustling with activity.
The emperor was getting old, and no new women had entered the palace for many years; the few concubines who were favored remained the same.
The most glamorous among them, besides the Empress whose position was secure, was Consort Li, who was the Emperor's favorite.
The emperor had just finished taking the medicine and closed his eyes to rest for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn when he felt a tightness in his chest.
"Cough cough... Haven't the imperial physicians figured out the side effects of this medicine yet? I feel chest tightness and nausea every time I take it, it's really annoying."
While comforting the Emperor, Eunuch Chen said, "Your Majesty, this prescription is a rare treasure. If the imperial physicians could decipher it, they would have already developed an even better medicine."
"You feel tightness in your chest, would this old servant accompany you for a walk in the Imperial Garden?"
"What's there to see in the Imperial Garden on such a cold day?"
"I heard that the gardener has just cultivated several kinds of flowers that are only found in the south, and today the ladies went to admire the flowers."
Indeed, several concubines almost came to blows over a single 'Eighteen Scholars' stalk.
The case even reached the emperor, but unfortunately, the emperor was too lazy to care and had Eunuch Chen send it all away.
"Alright, let's go see what the eighteen scholars they're vying for look like."
The palace certainly had no shortage of camellias, but flowers were always scarce at this time of year.
Eunuch Chen draped a thick cloak over the emperor and led a group of guards and palace servants to the Imperial Garden.
Before even stepping through the moon gate, one could hear music coming from the Imperial Garden, clear and melodious, like the murmuring of a spring stream.
The emperor asked in bewilderment, "Why is there still someone here at this hour?"
Eunuch Chen quickly gave a wink to a young eunuch, signaling him to clear the area.
"No need, I'll go take a look."
It just so happened that he hadn't been to the harem for a long time, and he wanted to see which beauty had such an interest.
The Imperial Garden is beautiful in all four seasons. Even when the outside world is in the lush greenery season, it is as colorful as springtime.
The music came from the lakeside, but no one was seen.
The emperor followed the sound and walked over. He had just passed through a flowerbed when he saw a figure rise from beside a blooming camellia.
Long ribbons fluttered in the air, only to be tossed high into the air just before they fell.
A graceful figure rose and fell lightly among the flowers, as ethereal and agile as a fairy among flowers.
"Who is that?" The emperor did not remember having such a beauty in his harem.
There were many concubines in the harem who were good at dancing, but they either only had skills or were overshadowed by a group of dancers, and always had a vulgar air about them.
But the woman in front of me danced with a free and easy spirit, radiating lightness and joy.
She leaped high into the air, her skirt billowing, and then spun around before landing in front of a peony.
She plucked a pink peony and tucked it into her hair, making it look delicate and pretty.
"Your Majesty, this should be Lin Miaoniang, a dancer who just entered the palace before the New Year. She has performed dances before the Emperor."
"It's her."
The eldest princess held a grand dance competition and selected a dancer to serve as a lady-in-waiting.
Although the emperor thought it was absurd, it wasn't a big deal, so he let her do as she pleased.
When I first saw this dance queen dancing from afar, I only thought that she danced well and was quite beautiful, but that was all.
"Xiaoxi, are these flowers pretty?" Lin Miaoniang asked Xiaoxi as she adjusted the position of the peony.
Turning around, he saw a group of people behind the flowers, one of whom was wearing a dragon robe, his identity self-evident.
Her maid, Xiaoxi, was kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise her head.
Lin Miaoniang panicked and hurriedly jumped over the flower bushes to come and bow.
"Miao Niang greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"
Before the emperor could speak, she said nervously, "Miao Niang was unaware of the emperor's presence and has disturbed His Majesty's presence. She deserves to die, and I beg Your Majesty to punish her!"
One hand held her chin and lifted her head.
The emperor admired the face and found it to be an unadorned, unmade-up face.
His fingertips grazed her smooth skin as he laughed and said, "Where did this fairy come from? It's not you who disturbed me, but me who disturbed you."
"Miao Niang wouldn't dare."
"Get up, the ground is cold, don't ruin your beautiful legs by kneeling."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
News of events in the inner palace spreads extremely quickly.
Only one night later, the news had spread throughout the palace: the Emperor had favored a new concubine last night.
Many people were not surprised when they learned the newcomer's identity.
After all, once this beauty entered the palace, everyone had already guessed that she would be taken into the emperor's harem.
The Empress leaned back on the soft couch, letting the palace maids paint her nails. When Li Ge reported the matter, she simply said, "Just grant her the title of Baolin according to custom."
Li Ge agreed, personally wrote the imperial edict conferring the title, and arranged accommodation for Lin Miaoniang.
As luck would have it, it happened right in Consort Li's Shuyu Palace.
The Queen gave him a satisfied look.
"You're always thorough in your work, this arrangement is good."
The Empress was very pleased to see a new concubine sharing Consort Li's favor.
Li Ge said softly, "Back then, Consort Li also won the Emperor's favor through dancing, so she and this Consort Lin must have gotten along well."
The Queen laughed.
In this harem, the worst thing is to have the same type of person as someone else.
Today, the emperor favored a dancer, but the empress didn't care at all, since there were plenty of women like her in the palace.
"Don't dye your nails too bright this time. Tao'er just left, and I'm not in the mood."
Li Ge changed two colors and comforted her, "Your Majesty, don't be sad. Young Master Tong's funeral was handled with dignity. He will surely be reborn into a wealthy and noble family in his next life."
The Empress was not comforted. She dismissed the palace maids and privately asked Li Ge, "I heard that he is vying with the Crown Prince for a dancer. Is that true?"
"That's not true. The Crown Prince took a liking to that dancer first, but then gave her to the Second Prince when he didn't like her anymore."
"I see. But Tao'er shouldn't have let that wretched maid get pregnant. It's despicable that she would try to frame the Crown Prince!"
“You shouldn’t listen to the rumors outside. They’re all baseless gossip, and we don’t even know whose child that is.”
The Empress frowned, clearly displeased with Tong Juntao's behavior.
There are plenty of innocent women out there, you can have as many as you want, so why would you let your own woman serve someone else?
However, I heard that he also wanted to build connections for the Crown Prince, and his intentions were good.
"Forget it, you should find a way to quell the rumors outside, so that those filthy words don't reach the Emperor's ears."
Li Ge readily agreed and personally painted the Empress's nails.
He has skillful hands; he is not only good at serving people, but also at playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
The empress loved his handsome appearance and obedient nature, but she loved even more his abundant talent.
"If you had been born into a good family, you would surely have been a brilliant scholar who passed the imperial examinations with flying colors!"
A murderous intent flashed in Li Ge's lowered eyes.
He had a bright future ahead of him, but it was all ruined by someone.
"The queen is so impressed."
"Get up, your knees will start to hurt again if you kneel for too long."
Li Ge stood up, put down his tools, and said to the Empress, "This servant will go and see if Lin Baolin is settled in properly. Should the contraceptive soup still be sent?"
The Empress chuckled.
She patted Li Ge's cheek and laughed, "Silly child, he's so old. If he can still get a woman pregnant, I should be happy."