Chapter 101: A Big Argument

Chapter 101: A Big Argument

After Qingping left, Zhu Yan sat alone in the hall for a long time before summoning Qu Gu.

As the Dragon Boat Festival passed, the weather grew hotter, and the palace began distributing ice, a regular practice. However, in Fuhua Palace, where Zhu Yan often resided, including the main hall, her bedroom, and the study, ice had not yet been placed due to her frail health and aversion to cold. But in other areas, even in the quarters of ordinary palace servants, ice was being used.

Zhu Yan always received a unique portion.

This year was even more exceptional. Unlike before, when the Empress would find a reason to bestow gifts, since her promotion to Consort, all her allowances were openly much more generous and exceptional.

Currently, in everyone's eyes, Fuhua Palace is favored with exceptional grace.

This unique favor is absolutely akin to pouring oil on fire, embellishing flowers with brocade.

Therefore, the worldly and experienced Hermit of Qingping sought to align himself with her, even offering to strategize for her. It seemed like he was considering her interests, but in reality, it was for his own planning.

The despicable Emperor thought she was ungrateful, people in the harem saw her as aloof, outsiders believed her to be seductive, and Qingping thought she was confining herself. But almost everyone unanimously agreed she had no reason to be dissatisfied.

The despicable Emperor believed he treated her very well.

People in the harem saw her as a legend, an object of envy and admiration.

Outsiders thought gaining her favor in Fuhua Palace could make them the next Princess Xiangyang.

Qingping believed she could have whatever she wanted.

Thus, nobody thought she was lacking in anything she desired.

The root of all this was the despicable Emperor's self-perceived kindness towards her.

Zhu Yan suddenly turned to Qu Gu and asked, "Has the Emperor summoned anyone else to his bedchamber recently?"

Qu Gu was greatly surprised upon hearing this, not understanding why Zhu Yan would suddenly ask such a question. Zhu Yan had never cared about this matter and had even strictly forbidden her from reporting the affairs of other consorts. Consequently, Qu Gu stopped mentioning it and didn’t bother to inquire further.

Now that Zhu Yan had asked, Qu Gu hurriedly replied, "I'm not quite sure, but the Emperor frequently visits Fuhua Palace and occasionally stays overnight in Qianyuan Hall. He may not have summoned other consorts."

After speaking, sensing Zhu Yan’s dissatisfaction with her vague answer, Qu Gu suggested, "If Your Highness wishes to know, I can go to Qin Shangshui's quarters and check the historical records of the consorts' attendance."

"Go ahead, you don't need the original document. Just make a copy of the records from the past six months for me to review," Zhu Yan nodded. By rule, except for the Empress, other consorts in the harem didn't have the right to view these records. However, such trivial matters would be approved by the despicable Emperor whenever she requested.

That's why Qu Gu spoke like that.

Seeing Zhu Yan's agreement, Qu Gu, though surprised, didn't say much more and promptly went to carry out the task.

From indifference to sudden interest.

Is this a good sign or a bad one?

Qu Gu didn’t feel at ease, not believing that Zhu Yan had suddenly become sensible about the Emperor’s affairs. Instead, she felt uneasy. Abnormal behavior often signaled trouble. Having served Zhu Yan for nearly four years, Qu Gu knew that every time Zhu Yan acted out of character, it usually led to a conflict with the Emperor.

She hoped this time would be an exception.

When Qu Gu arrived at Qianyuan Hall, the Emperor was free and meeting with Qingping in the Yangxin Hall. He inquired about Zhu Yan summoning him. Qingping humorously recounted their conversation, ending with, "I just wanted to teach the Imperial Consort how to be a favored consort. I didn't want her to confine herself."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor burst into laughter, playfully scolding Qingping for his audacity, "As if being a favored consort needs teaching." He then dismissed Qingping, "When A Yan summons you, go and talk with her. Otherwise, you're confined to your quarters and not allowed to leave."

Later, Qin Shangshui reported to the Emperor that Zhu Yan wanted to review the recent attendance records of the consorts.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow but asked no questions, simply instructing Qin Shangshui to comply.

Qu Gu returned to Fuhua Palace with the copied records, just as the fourth prince was returning from Renben Pavilion after his studies.

Zhu Yan, having no time to review the records, instructed Qu Gu to put them away for now.

Ever since her son A Ji started studying with the Imperial Tutor and National Priest Xu Xian, he left for Renben Pavilion every day at dawn and returned in the evening. This meant leaving at 6 AM and returning at 5 PM, bathing every ten days, with lunch at Renben Pavilion.

Apart from his rest days, Zhu Yan only saw her son in the mornings and evenings.

Initially, A Ji struggled to cope and even had a crying fit.

Zhu Yan also felt that the schedule was too long for A Ji, considering his age. He was only five by the official count but would only turn four in September by modern standards. Ideally, he should start formal schooling at six years old.

The despicable Emperor suggested, "If you can't bear to be apart, let A Ji move to Xie Xian Yuan early. It's closer to Renben Pavilion, so he can sleep a bit longer each morning."

The idea of her son moving to Xie Xian Yuan now was even more unbearable for Zhu Yan, so she comforted her son and personally took on the daily task of dropping off and picking up.

After a month, her son got used to the routine.

Only then did Zhu Yan stop the daily transport.

Therefore, she now spends almost all her evenings with her son.

After dark, when the despicable Emperor arrived, Zhu Yan instructed Qu Gu to prepare dinner. If it were up to her, she would have dinner ready as soon as her son returned from school, not waiting for the despicable Emperor to arrive.

Her son had learned manners from studying with Xu Xian, showing more respect to the despicable Emperor and acting like a dutiful son. A Ji's reasoning was straightforward, "If Father isn’t coming, he always sends someone to inform us. If no one comes, it means he is joining us for dinner, and I want to wait for him."

Hearing this, the despicable Emperor was delighted and highly praised Xu Xian, believing the tutor was well worth it.

Zhu Yan had no choice but to go along with her son.

She was pleased to see the relationship between her son and the despicable Emperor improving, especially as a close father-son bond from childhood could provide additional security for her son in the future, considering the precedent of fathers killing sons in the royal family.

At night, after putting A Ji to sleep in Ruyi Xuan, Zhu Yan returned to the main hall, where she found the despicable Emperor browsing through the records Qu Gu had brought.

Approaching, the despicable Emperor pointed to the scroll spread out on the low table and asked, "Why did you suddenly want to see this?"

He then remembered Zhu Yan’s tendency to be jealous.

Boasting as if to show off his merit, he said, "A Yan, for the past six months, I've spent most of my time here with you, only occasionally summoning others."

It was an attitude of self-righteousness.

'See how well I treat you. Shouldn't you feel happy and content?'

Zhu Yan took a seat at the lower end, averting her gaze.

Zhu Yan wanted to review the consort attendance records simply as a pretext to cause a scene. Now that the despicable Emperor himself mentioned it, she lost interest in perusing them further, her voice cold as she slightly lowered her head, "Then from now on, Your Majesty should only come here, to me, and not seek others."

After a brief pause, she gathered her breath and added, "If Your Majesty seeks others, then from now on, please don’t come here anymore."

The despicable Emperor felt uncomfortable upon hearing the first part, but the latter part infuriated him like a cat whose tail was stepped on. He burst out in anger and haste, "A Yan, do you realize what you are saying? Are you suggesting that aside from you, I can't be with any other woman?"

"So, Your Majesty can also choose not to come here," she retorted.

Zhu Yan's words only added fuel to the despicable Emperor's anger instead of quelling it.

The despicable Emperor, his forehead vein throbbing and temples pulsating, stood up abruptly, approached Zhu Yan, and grasped her face, demanding through gritted teeth, "A Yan, tell me, do you want me to come here or not?"

"The decision rests in Your Majesty's hands."

Zhu Yan replied indifferently, her tone as cold and sobering as ever. Perhaps due to frequently infuriating the despicable Emperor, she no longer felt the fear she once did.

Moreover, the edict for her to follow in a royal burial had already made her face the worst of her fears. The worst outcome would be to follow in death.

Unsatisfied with no definitive answer, the despicable Emperor, holding Zhu Yan’s chin, demanded, "I want you to answer me directly."

"If Your Majesty doesn’t come here, there are countless beauties in and outside the palace waiting for you, so you lose nothing. Of course, if Your Majesty can let go of all those beauties, I have no reason to refuse you." Zhu Yan said, prying the despicable Emperor's hand off and then smiling.

Her smile was radiant and breathtakingly beautiful.

Graceful and beyond compare.

Unlike her previous image of a splendid peony, representing the epitome of beauty, like a rich and luxurious flower, Zhu Yan now resembled a lotus blooming through stormy weather, naturally beautiful but too delicate and fragile to handle carelessly.

The despicable Emperor, unsettled by her beauty, was still angry at her unreasonable demands, "That's not acceptable, A Yan, make another request." Even relying on beauty wouldn't work.

"I have only this request," Zhu Yan stood firm.

The despicable Emperor's suppressed anger rose again. He had never been so controlled by anyone, glaring at Zhu Yan and exasperatedly saying, "You are being too presumptuous and absurd. Tell me, how can you be so jealous? I’ve never seen anyone as jealous as you."

Zhu Yan immediately retorted, "Your Majesty should go to those who aren’t jealous. Go ahead, and once you go, never set foot in Fuhua Palace again."

"You..." The despicable Emperor felt a sudden sense of rejection upon hearing this.

It struck him like a bolt from the blue.

He had always been the one to disdain others. When had it become someone else's turn to disdain him?

"Fine, fine, A Yan, you're really something. Starting now, you can stay in your palace and reflect on your behavior." Worried that he might be driven mad by this woman, he stormed out of Fuhua Palace but was stopped by her.

"Wait a moment,"

Zhu Yan picked up the record of consort attendance and waved it at the despicable Emperor, who was heading towards the door, "Tell Qin Shangshui to erase all my records."

The records of consort attendance were used to keep track of the consorts' service to the Emperor and to facilitate checking for pregnancies. After giving birth to A Ji, Zhu Yan, unable to bear more children, had forgotten about these records.

She had overlooked these records when she destroyed the jade tablet marking her service.