Chapter 47 Thunderstorm

Chapter 47 Thunderstorm

"Your Majesty, Yu Ying, the maid of Lady Lian, requests an audience."

Lady Ji's fingertips turned white from gripping the cup handle. She placed the porcelain cup back on the table, making the pale yellow tea ripple.

"I have known Zhu Baolin for a long time, but now it seems we have always kept secrets from each other, not even as close as strangers would be."

Hearing this, Su Jiaojiao felt both pity and a bit at a loss: "I thought you two were very close, and you must have known about it. If that's the case, I wonder if I was wrong to tell you."

"If it weren't for you telling me, I might have remained in the dark forever!"

Lady Ji tightly clutched her handkerchief, her anger rising as she thought of Zhu Baolin.

Since she was poisoned and lost favor, she had always blamed Miaoyu for her downfall, insulting her, wishing she could scratch her face.

She found it strange that even after the Emperor had long since convicted her, Miaoyu still refused to admit to poisoning her, getting agitated every time it was mentioned, as if she wanted to tear her own mouth apart.

Although there was no concrete evidence, in Lady Ji's eyes, no one else could be responsible except Miaoyu.

Now it seemed she had never suspected Zhu Baolin.

Indeed, in the entire palace, besides Zhu Baolin and her personal maid Ruo Wei, who else knew she loved peach blossom cakes and could enter her bedroom unnoticed?

If Zhu Baolin truly was skilled in medicine, then the one who poisoned her and caused her to lose face in front of the Emperor could be none other than Zhu Wenrui!

The more Lady Ji thought about it, the more she hated, feeling like a monkey being toyed with, harmed and kept in the dark!

Su Jiaojiao glanced at her subtly and earnestly advised: "Sister, don't be angry. Even the greatest grievances must take your health into account. If you ruin your health, wouldn't that just let those who wish you harm succeed?"

Lady Ji took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down: "You're right. If I lose my composure now, I would be falling into her trap."

With that, she couldn't help but recall the last time she saw Zhu Baolin in Huizhu Pavilion, looking so proud and satisfied, her expression turning sorrowful: "It's just a pity that I am out of favor now, and my words carry no weight. What else can I do but swallow my pride!"

Su Jiaojiao sighed softly, putting down her porcelain cup: "Seeing you like this really makes me feel sorry."

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly looked up, her eyes brightening: "Sister Ji, if you want to regain favor, I have a way."

Lady Ji looked up at Su Jiaojiao in surprise and joy, hardly believing it.

Su Jiaojiao smiled gently, speaking softly: "I can't do much to help you, but if I can assist you in regaining favor, it would be a good deed. Sister, come closer."

The two in the pavilion whispered for a long time, Yu Ying refilled the tea twice, which grew cold and was eventually poured into the flowerpot.

The bleak autumn wind was as cold as ice.

After an unknown amount of time, Su Jiaojiao finally said with a smile: "This way, I think there's a good chance of success."

Lady Ji looked at Su Jiaojiao uncertainly, then nodded after a while, her gaze firm: "You're right. I have nothing left to lose, and I'm not afraid to take a risk."

Having experienced several emotional ups and downs in one day, Lady Ji now looked at Su Jiaojiao with immense gratitude.

She stood up to kowtow to Su Jiaojiao, but was stopped in time, as Su Jiaojiao said: "We are sisters in the palace. I will help if I can. If it succeeds, I will be happy too."

"It's getting late now, and lunch will be served soon, so I won't keep you any longer." Su Jiaojiao's voice was soft as she stood up, saying, "Yu Ying, let's go."

Su Jiaojiao walked out of the pavilion, and a sudden gust of wind blew, carrying fallen leaves and making her clothes flutter, bringing a chilling cold.

She didn't look back at Lady Ji, but calmly stepped onto the sedan chair, saying indifferently: "Back to Pixiang Palace."

After walking a distance, Yu Ying asked in a low voice, "My lady, Lady Ji is no relation to you. Why would you help her regain favor?"

Su Jiaojiao said leisurely, "Since I mentioned Zhu Baolin, she naturally understands some grudges. Lady Ji is quite attractive, simple-minded, and most importantly—she has now realized who the real culprit behind her loss of favor is, and she has the opportunity to regain favor, so she is extremely grateful to me."

"I just spoke a few words, gained her gratitude, and added a mortal enemy for Zhu Baolin. It’s such a good deal; why wouldn’t I do it?"

Su Jiaojiao gently turned her wrist, looking down at her delicate hands, and said softly, "I remember the palace just sent a batch of new nail polish this month, I'll try it tonight."

Her mistress was always so meticulous, and Yu Ying admired her even more, responding, "Yes."

Now Zhu Baolin and Noble Consort Mi are at odds, Lady Ji and Zhu Baolin are enemies, and Miaoyu and Lady Ji have been in conflict due to misunderstandings for a long time.

These women in the palace never seem to get along, as long as there are enemies, trouble is bound to arise.

Su Jiaojiao shook her cloud-like sleeve, propped her head with her hand, her expression calm and indifferent.

The palace winds can’t always blow in her favor.

Luanming Palace

On the way back to the palace, Lady Ji kept replaying Lady Lian’s words in her mind, afraid she might miss any detail. She walked with Ruo Wei, head down and distracted.

Just as she entered the main gate of Luanming Palace, she happened to see Miaoyu playing on a swing in the courtyard with her maid Zhu Wei, their laughter was as crisp as wind chimes.

Lady Ji was already anxious and restless, and the laughter felt piercing to her ears, especially since it came from Miaoyu, with whom she had always been at odds. It was like adding fuel to the fire, making her even more furious.

"What’s so funny at noon? If you upset Lady Wen, you’ll regret it!"

Hearing this, Miaoyu narrowed her almond-shaped eyes, not bothering to get off the swing to greet her. Instead, she sneered coldly, "I wondered who was being so rude, it turns out to be Lady Ji. What, I can't even swing in Luanming Palace now?"

Seeing Miaoyu's arrogance, Ruo Wei beside Lady Ji muttered indignantly, "You are a lady, she is just a lowly maid, yet she treats you with such disrespect, all because the Emperor has favored her a couple of times recently!"

Lady Ji stared fiercely at the haughty Miaoyu, her anger barely contained. Just as she took a step forward, ready to explode, she suddenly remembered what Su Jiaojiao had advised her, and her steps faltered.

If she could truly regain favor, why would she need to put up with a mere Miaoyu! Thinking this, she felt a surge of confidence, her anger subsiding. She sneered and said loudly, "Some people rely on a tiny bit of the Emperor's favor to look down on others, not realizing they are just like clowns, making fools of themselves! Petty people stay petty!"

She scoffed, leading Ruo Wei away, slamming the door of Zui Que Pavilion shut behind her.

Miaoyu, who had been humiliated for no reason, felt her good mood vanish instantly. She spat fiercely, her face full of resentment, "Just a pawn the Empress discarded—how dare she shout at me."

Seeing her mistress upset, Zhu Wei stepped forward to soothe her, "My lady, don’t be angry. Although Lady Ji holds the title of lady, she has no favor with the Emperor. These days, her life is nothing compared to yours. As long as you hold the Emperor’s favor, surpassing Lady Ji will be as easy as turning your hand."

Mentioning the Empress, Miaoyu's expression softened, "The Empress has her reasons for promoting me. Zhu Baolin is pregnant, the Empress is out of favor, and even the Princess rarely sees the Emperor. If she doesn’t promote someone to secure favor, how can she compete with the rising Noble Consort Mi. Now that Noble Consort Yu is no longer confined, and Lady Lian has returned from leave, it’s not easy for me to keep the Emperor’s favor."

Zhu Wei cautiously observed her expression and tentatively suggested, "It’s been days since you last saw the Emperor, perhaps... you could visit the Empress tomorrow?"

"No," Miaoyu frowned, "The Empress promoted me, but that doesn’t mean she’s willing to keep pushing me up. If I keep visiting her, she’ll think I’m useless."

Zhu Wei realized her mistake and lowered her head, not daring to speak again.

Only Miaoyu's voice was heard, "I need to forge my own connections, find a way to see the Emperor..."

The weather in late autumn is always unpredictable.

It was sunny in the morning, but by afternoon, dark clouds had gathered. The sky was alive with thunder and lightning, and heavy rain poured down.

The rain was torrential, quickly forming puddles on the ground, and water cascaded from the palace eaves.

Ling Xiao ran into Guanju Palace with her hands over her head, completely drenched. She called out to the maids at the door, "Close the windows and doors quickly! No need to stay outside anymore!"

She pulled the doors shut with both hands, closing the gates of Guanju Palace, and then ran from the courtyard towards Pixiang Hall.

As soon as she stepped inside, the deafening sound of the rain outside became muffled. She turned to close the hall door, took a towel from Yu Ying to wipe off the water stains on her body, and asked in a low voice, "Where is the mistress?"

Yu Ying glanced inside with concern and whispered, "The mistress has always been scared of thunder. She's sitting alone in her room reading. Though she looks calm, who knows what's really going on in her heart."

She pulled out a thin blanket from the room and wrapped it around Ling Xiao, then picked up an umbrella from the doorway, saying softly, "The rain is heavy. I just had someone brew some ginger tea with brown sugar. Go change your clothes and have a bowl of tea. Don't catch a cold."

Ling Xiao nodded, signaling with her eyes for Yu Ying to go inside, saying, "The mistress is tough and hates to burden others, but it's better to have someone by her side at times like this. You go in first. After I change my clothes, I'll bring a pot of ginger tea for both you and the mistress."

Yu Ying nodded, watching as Ling Xiao opened the hall door, holding an umbrella, and stepped into the heavy rain. She hurriedly closed the hall door and walked into the inner chamber.

"Mistress, have some tea to warm up."

Su Jiaojiao's hand holding the book loosened slightly, finally releasing the tension brought by the loud thunder.

Yu Ying placed the cup in front of her, took the book from her hands, and noticed the obvious creases where her fingers had gripped the pages. She let out a soft sigh, "Mistress, if you're really uncomfortable, why not lie down on the bed? It's not a big deal. The weather is bad today, and His Majesty probably won't summon anyone for the night."

Su Jiaojiao suppressed a trembling voice, saying, "I'm fine. I'll feel better soon."

The mistress was always stubborn, and Yu Ying didn't know what else to say.

Ever since her mother died during childbirth in a storm, the mistress had been afraid of thunder. Since childhood, thunderstorms had always been hard for her.

She never wanted to burden others, always saying she was fine and could endure it. But Yu Ying, having been with her for so many years, knew exactly how much she was suffering at this moment.

If His Majesty could come now, perhaps the mistress would let go of her stubbornness and allow herself to cry...

Yu Ying quietly retreated from the inner room, glancing back at the door with hesitation.

The thunderstorm raged on, and the sound of the rain grew louder.

She couldn't stand to see the mistress suffer like this.

A loud crack of thunder rang out, and Yu Ying made up her mind. She pulled out an oil-paper umbrella from the side and said to Ling Xiao, who was walking towards her, "Stay with the mistress. I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back soon."

Ling Xiao's voice sounded faint in the wind and rain, "Where are you headed?!"

Yu Ying didn't say anything, just gave Ling Xiao a look and pushed her towards the hall door, "Go keep the mistress company!"

With that, Yu Ying held the umbrella and ran off into the rain.

Ling Xiao watched Yu Ying disappear into the distance, her worry growing deeper.

In such heavy rain and thunder, what if Yu Ying slipped or something happened?

She didn't waste any time, quickly lifting her skirt and rushing into the inner chamber to tell Su Jiaojiao.

Su Jiaojiao's face grew serious, asking urgently, "Yu Ying went out? Did she say where she was going?"

Ling Xiao hurriedly replied, "She only told me to come in and stay with you. She didn't say anything else. Where on earth is Yu Ying going in this downpour?"

Su Jiaojiao was getting anxious now. Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she hurried towards the hall door, "The Taiji Hall!"

Ling Xiao was startled by this, quickly asking, "Why would Yu Ying want to go to the Taiji Hall? Should I go after her and bring her back?"

In a few breaths, Su Jiaojiao calmed down slightly, leaning on the table with both hands, saying softly, "No need."

If Yu Ying was going to the Taiji Hall, Su Jiaojiao wasn't worried about her safety anymore. She just thought Yu Ying was being foolish, going to seek His Majesty on her own just because of the thunderstorm.

She hadn’t thought about what she would do if the Emperor were to become enraged.

Fortunately, the Emperor treated her with some leniency, and even if he were in a bad mood, he likely wouldn’t punish Yu Ying...

In front of the Tai Chi Palace.

Against the backdrop of thunder and torrential rain, the Tai Chi Palace stood out as even more majestic and solemn.

Yu Ying stood at the foot of the nine jade steps, requesting to see the Emperor. Cai Shan, peering through the rain, was surprised to see that it was someone from Concubine Lian’s side. He immediately said, "Quickly bring Miss Yu Ying under the corridor to wait; we mustn’t let her catch a cold in the rain."

The guards obeyed and went to escort her, while Cai Shan personally entered the inner hall.

Passing by the embroidered screen of flowers and birds, the hall was nearly soundproof against the rain, fostering a tranquil and calm ambiance.

He softly approached the Emperor, bowed his head, and said, "Your Majesty, Yu Ying from Concubine Lian’s side seeks an audience."