Chapter 49: The Chain of Schemes

Chapter 49: The Chain of Schemes

Hiding Her Mantle

Ruo Wei quickly grabbed Lady Ji's mantle and ran towards the back palace rooms, stuffing the mantle into a prepared bamboo basket hidden in the flower bed. She glanced back to see that her mistress had already walked far ahead, and in a panic, she quickly surveyed her surroundings, closed the lid of the bamboo basket, and left.

As she jogged to catch up with Lady Ji, the rain had intensified significantly. What began as a few scattered drops now fell steadily. Ruo Wei knew the rain was about to pour heavily. She reached a step behind Lady Ji and said, "My Lady, the rain is about to pour, we should..."

Before she could finish, Lady Ji interrupted without turning her head, walking briskly and saying coldly, "Head to the Thousand Carp and Lotus Pond. There are fewer people there. Once we're soaked, we'll return via the Fourteen Bridges. There's still time."

Ruo Wei dared not say more and followed Lady Ji in silence, both soaked as they headed to the Thousand Carp and Lotus Pond.

Due to the poor weather these past few days, palace servants had been venturing out less unless necessary, let alone wandering around outside.

The Thousand Carp and Lotus Pond, which was already sparsely frequented, had become even more deserted after several heavy rains.

The rain gradually intensified, and the stone path glistened black from the downpour. The lotus pond, now bare, rippled with waves of all sizes.

Lady Ji and Ruo Wei walked through the torrential rain, their clothes gradually soaked through. The cold, wet fabric clung to Lady Ji's delicate, fair skin, sending chills through her bones.

She hugged her arms, trying to bring herself some warmth, but it only provoked a shiver. Her entire body began to tremble as if she were submerged in icy lake water.

Yet, the thought of seeing the Emperor gave her the strength to endure. She was determined to regain his favor, to hold her head high, and never again live under anyone's shadow.

Estimating that the time was almost right, Lady Ji quickly turned to Ruo Wei, grabbing her shoulder and asking loudly, "Quick, tell me, do I look disheveled? Hurry into the Nine-Bend Corridor. I must look pitifully beautiful even when soaked through. I cannot afford to lose composure in front of His Majesty again!"

Ruo Wei nodded repeatedly and followed Lady Ji as they hurried into the Nine-Bend Corridor.

Both mistress and servant were drenched from head to toe, as if they had just emerged from a bath.

Initially, the chill from the downpour was tolerable, but as they entered the corridor, the icy dampness seeped into every inch, turning Lady Ji's lips blue and making her tremble even more violently.

Ruo Wei was so cold that her voice quivered. She stiffly raised her hand to tidy Lady Ji's hair and carefully adjusted the way her clothes clung to her body.

Once she was done, Ruo Wei couldn't stand the cold any longer. She hugged her arms and rubbed them vigorously, trying to generate some warmth. Shivering, she said, "My Lady... let's hurry... or we'll be too late..."

Lady Ji forced herself to stand straight despite the cold, adopting a delicate, frail posture as she walked towards the other end of the corridor.

She stood at the edge of the corridor, leaning weakly against the vermilion pillar, her beautiful eyes gazing towards the bridge.

As the autumn fishing ended, Shen Huai sat composedly in the dragon carriage, heading towards the Taiji Hall amidst the sound of pouring rain. Cai Shan held a long-handled paper umbrella beside him, urging the carriage bearers to quicken their pace.

Just as they descended the Fourteen Bridges, Shen Huai's peripheral vision caught a splash of bright color. He glanced over and saw two figures trapped at the corridor's end. The person in front was someone he'd seen a few days back at Zhu Baolin's place—Lady Ji, if he recalled correctly.

Her soaked peach-colored palace dress accentuated her graceful curves, adding a touch of spring's allure to the desolate autumn rain.

Cai Shan also spotted her from afar and called out in the heavy rain, "On such a cold day, this mistress's clothes must be completely soaked. Your Majesty, shall I send someone to bring her an umbrella?"

The dragon carriage paused for a few breaths. Shen Huai gazed at her delicate, dew-covered appearance and after a moment of contemplation, said, "Bring her here."

Cai Shan nodded in acknowledgment and waved his hand behind him. Immediately, someone stepped forward and escorted Lady Ji, who had been waiting under the corridor for the rain to stop, to the Emperor's presence.

Under the umbrella, Lady Ji's eyes shone with gratitude and joy. She curtsied softly and said, "Your servant greets Your Majesty."

Shen Huai glanced her over and said, "Cai Shan, call for another sedan. We return to the Taiji Hall."

With that, the dragon carriage continued forward. Though he did not explicitly state his intentions, the message was clear.

A few nights ago, during the thunderstorm, he had visited the Consort Zhen and changed her title. She was likely the focus now. Promoting a new favorite would help shift some of that attention.

As the two sedan chairs departed one after the other, Miaoyu finally arrived from the direction of Luanming Palace.

She had been standing nearby with Zhumi, sharing an umbrella, watching Lady Ji bow gracefully before the Emperor and then board the sedan chair to leave, before she headed towards the bridge.

Standing at the bridgehead, Miaoyu's face hardened as she gazed southward, deep in thought.

Zhumi softly reminded, "Mistress, it's cold outside. Since we're late, let's go back."

After staring for a while, Miaoyu's voice was tight with frustration, "I paid a fortune just to get a rough idea of the Emperor's autumn fishing schedule. How did she beat me to it?"

Seeing her mistress in a bad mood, Zhumi dared not say much, only hesitantly suggesting, "From afar, I noticed Lady Ji was without an umbrella and soaked to the skin. Maybe it was just an accident..."

"An accident?" Miaoyu sneered, "It's been pouring for days. Who in their right mind would go out without an umbrella? With shelters all over the palace, how did she manage to get completely soaked? If she wasn't trying to catch the Emperor's eye, why else would she endure this cold?"

Miaoyu took a deep breath, her gaze indifferent, "She's really daring! Doesn't she care about getting sick?"

She turned and left angrily, flicking her sleeve, "Let's head back."

Zhumi immediately followed Miaoyu's steps, holding an umbrella to keep her mistress dry.

After a short walk, they didn't notice a shallow pit in front of an unrenovated flower bed. Zhumi, walking hurriedly, almost slipped and fell.

She gasped, which only annoyed Miaoyu further, who glared at her, "Be careful!"

Zhumi quickly agreed, but as she turned her head, she noticed something in the adjacent flower bed.

She called out, "Mistress, look at this."

Miaoyu suspiciously looked where she was pointing and saw a wooden corner peeking out from the low bushes, as if something was hidden inside.

She nodded towards Zhumi, "Go see what it is."

Cautious of the unknown, Zhumi hesitated, then reached out with trembling hands, parted the bushes, and revealed a bamboo basket hidden within.

"What's a bamboo basket doing here?"

Miaoyu became suspicious and personally bent down to open the lid of the basket, revealing a light pink cloak inside.

Zhumi exclaimed, "This looks like Lady Ji's cloak."

Miaoyu paused for a moment, then yanked the cloak out and clutched it in her hand, sneering, "So she was trying to seduce the Emperor after all. This cloak proves it!"

Zhumi looked down at the cloak and said, "The palace's clothing bureau keeps detailed records of everything. The usage of each palace is accounted for. If Lady Ji loses a cloak, this matter could be big or small. What does the mistress intend to do..."

"My intention?" Miaoyu sneered, "An opportunity handed to me, I'll definitely use it. When I want her life, it will come in handy."

The innocent accusation of poisoning by Lady Ji had always been a thorn in her heart. Because of this unjust disaster, she lost favor, was demoted, and confined, losing the Emperor's affection for nothing.

Her bright future was ruined in an instant, how could she not hate?

Lady Ji was just a brainless fool, who, apart from opposing her all day, had no skills at all. She couldn't even see that her so-called good sister Zhu Baolin never took her seriously.

How could such a fool possibly know when the Emperor would pass by the Fourteen Bridge, and how could she time it so perfectly, risking her life to gain favor? Someone must have given her advice!

She coldly said, "Hide this cloak, don't let anyone see it."

When Su Jiaojiao came out of Pixiang Palace with Yu Ying holding an umbrella, she happened to see Lady Ji's sedan chair following behind the Emperor, just about to enter the palace road in front of Tai Chi Hall.

She paused and bowed respectfully as the Emperor's dragon carriage passed, glancing up, catching Lady Ji's eye on the sedan chair.

Lady Ji was visibly excited, turning to nod in acknowledgment towards her. Su Jiaojiao smiled faintly, not uttering a word.

Su Jiaojiao waited until Lady Ji's palanquin was out of sight before wiping the rain from her sleeves, saying softly, "Let's go."

Yu Ying followed beside her, saying, "My lady, your plan worked perfectly; Lady Ji indeed received favor."

Yet, she still felt a bit regretful, sighing softly, "Although you had already foreseen the cause and effect, I still feel that such a great opportunity given to Lady Ji is not quite worth it. Lady Ji can indeed complicate matters further, but after all, she is not close to you..."

Su Jiaojiao glanced at her sideways, smiling faintly, "The matter of the Emperor's autumn fishing at this time every year is known to all the old hands in the palace. Since it's known, do you know why none of the high-ranking consorts do it?"

This question really puzzled Yu Ying.

Indeed, such a good opportunity, why did it fall to Lady Ji?

She shook her head, "I do not know."

Su Jiaojiao smiled, "Lady Ji caught the Emperor's attention this time because she was willing to endure the cold in the autumn rain. If she hadn't been drenched, showing off her figure, how would the Emperor have looked at her twice, and how would a hint of pity have arisen?"

"Getting soaked in such cold weather is no joke. If she catches a cold and runs a high fever, all previous efforts would be wasted. Moreover, although this method is effective, it is not sophisticated. Besides the Emperor, others also saw Lady Ji completely soaked. The shame and potential gossip from one misstep are enough to make anyone uneasy."

After hearing this, Yu Ying's sense of imbalance for her lady completely dissipated, and she smiled, "My lady, you think thoroughly. This method, if tried by someone else, might not be willing to do it."

Su Jiaojiao's smile was faint, looking towards the end of the path at Chang Le Palace, she said softly, "When we seek an audience with Noble Consort Mi later, I fear it will stir up a storm again."