Chapter 49 This Handkerchief Is Dirty

Chapter 49: This Handkerchief Is Dirty

A Wu spoke these words to the Empress with a gambler’s mentality.

After all, she had once been intimate with Lu Yunjian and was perplexed by his mercurial nature. At night, Lu Yunjian would often wake from nightmares.

She had harbored vague suspicions before but dared not dwell on them. It wasn’t until that day when Lu Yunjian treated her so coldly in front of the Empress that she began to grasp the subtle, unspoken tension between the two—it was far from a simple sibling relationship.

Now, having laid it bare and seeing the Empress’s panic, she couldn’t help but find it amusing.

So it was true—her bluff had worked!

These imperial relatives, living in gilded luxury, were truly filthy. Compared to them, what did it matter if she had served the son before the father?

Full bellies make gentle manners; well-fed people know honor and shame. If even these silk-clad, pampered nobles knew no shame, then as a poor woman, she could afford to be even bolder. Even if she slept with eighteen men, she would still be a pure and delicate maiden!

The Empress lowered her eyes, her expression pale.

She did not refute anything. Instead, she took a slow breath, as if quelling her rage.

When she looked at A Wu again, her expression had calmed considerably.

With a sigh, she raised her phoenix eyes slightly. "A Wu, I know far more about you than you think."

A Wu nodded in acknowledgment but countered, "And I know more about Lu Yunjian than you think."

A subtle shift flickered in the Empress’s gaze as she regarded A Wu coldly. "You’re still young, so you don’t understand. But I can tell you now just how naive you are."

A Wu humbly sought enlightenment. "Pray tell, Your Majesty, how am I naive?"

The Empress replied, "First, how much do you truly know about the Emperor? Do you think, for a ruler who commands the world, some bedchamber temptress holds much weight? What place do you truly hold in his heart?"

She gave a derisive laugh. "The empire of Great Hui, his Crown Prince, his dignity, his lifelong reputation—compared to these, his affection for you is insignificant."

A Wu had no rebuttal. She knew the Empress spoke the truth.

The Empress’s gaze swept over A Wu. She knew the girl had taken her words to heart—and she spoke no falsehood.

Having known this man for years, she understood him too well.

The Jingxi Emperor was a natural sovereign, ambitious and far-sighted, yet bereft of softness—perhaps the only warmth he reserved was for his mother and the Crown Prince.

This man bore the weight of Great Hui’s empire at fourteen. In his early years of rule, his hands ran red with blood. His heart had long hardened.

That he would now do something so unthinkable had indeed surprised the Empress, but she still believed it was merely a momentary fancy.

With the empire stable and the court at peace, as an emperor, he could afford to indulge.

But a man as shrewd and ruthless as him would never allow a woman to ruin all he held dear.

No matter how enchanting a beauty in the harem might be, she could never compare to the formidable fleet moored in the Eastern Sea.

With a mirthless chuckle, she continued, "The Zhen’an Marquisate controls the Eastern Sea Fleet. Back when the late Emperor was still alive, I was already destined to be the mistress of the Eastern Palace [Footnote: Refers to the Crown Prince's residence]. You may not know this, but among the eight Empresses in Great Hui's history, I am the only one from a military family. So tell me, how much influence do you think your so-called pillow persuasion can really have?"

A Wu listened but only scrutinized the Empress with quiet calculation.

The Empress raised an elegant brow slightly.

Tilting her head, A Wu smiled. "It seems the Empress is terrified too. A paragon of virtue, the scion of House Zhen’an—yet here you are, descending from your phoenix perch to lay out so many conditions for some insignificant upstart like me. Your Majesty must be quaking in your slippers, no?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress's expression shifted slightly.

The situation had indeed gotten a bit out of hand.

As an empress, she was now bargaining with a lowly noble consort—she’d already lost face.

A Wu naturally sensed the frustration in the Empress’s expression and felt it was time to quit while she was ahead.

If she were to recklessly expose the Empress now, it would be like throwing an egg against a stone—she would be the first to perish.

Fortunately, judging by the Empress's words today, she dared not act rashly against her either, resorting only to empty threats. From now on, they could keep to their own lanes and live peacefully without interference.

At this moment, A Wu said, "But the Empress speaks wisely. A Wu has heard you loud and clear."

The Empress nodded slightly. "Good. At least you’re smart."

A Wu smiled at the Empress. "There is one more thing. The Crown Princess seems quite displeased with me. As her mother-in-law, perhaps Your Majesty could keep her in line?"

The Empress found this somewhat amusing. "Now you’re giving *me* orders?"

A Wu feigned sincerity. "How could I dare to command? I merely offer a friendly heads-up."

The Empress let out a slow breath, suppressing her irritation. "The Crown Prince is currently inspecting military affairs in the north. Once he returns, he won’t let this slide."

A Wu replied, "Your Majesty need not worry about that. After all, the Emperor’s got it covered."

*Why trouble yourself? These matters are for the Emperor to handle—what concern are they of ours?*

The Empress said with a scoff. "Very well. As long as you understand. As for the Crown Princess, I will put her in her place."

A Wu pressed further. "And Lu Yunjian—Your Majesty should also keep your dear brother from hounding me. He mustn’t hinder my bright future."

Hearing this, the Empress frowned, recalling how A Wu had insulted Lu Yunjian that day.

She gave a cold laugh. "Rest assured, he’s got women to spare. He won’t miss one."

***************

As A Wu left the Phoenix Palace, she walked with a spring in her step.

It seemed the Crown Princess wasn’t a real problem. The Empress Dowager might dislike her, but out of respect for the Jingxi Emperor, she wouldn’t stir the pot. As for the Empress, they could coexist peacefully for now.

She could now leisurely remain in the palace as Noble Consort Song, dressed in the finest silks, indulging in delicacies, and focus her efforts on sucking up to the Emperor.

As for the future... she would cross that bridge when she came to it. For now, currying favor with the Emperor was never a mistake.

Just as she was walking out, she suddenly heard a shrill voice outside, laughing, "Lord Imperial Uncle, this way, please."

*Lord Imperial Uncle??*

A Wu’s stomach dropped, her earlier joy vanishing instantly. Instinctively, she wanted to avoid him, but before she could react, the silk curtain was lifted abruptly—and there stood Lu Yunjian, right before her.

Lu Yunjian, his hair tied neatly under a jade crown, wore a stiffly tailored purple satin robe embroidered with flying fish and serpents. Having just arrived from outside, a hint of coldness still clung to him.

His eyes lifted abruptly, meeting hers.

For a moment, both went dead still.

For A Wu, she knew she would have to face Lu Yunjian eventually—but not now, not when she had just finished a battle of wits, feeling as though she had held her ground and was savoring her small victory. Yet here she was, thrown right back into the fray.

She wasn’t quite ready.

Clearly, Lu Yunjian hadn’t expected to see her here either. After a brief moment of stunned hesitation, he swiftly averted his gaze and instead turned to the palace eunuch beside him, asking, "Who is this?"

The eunuch quickly introduced her with an ingratiating smile.

A Wu took a small step back and dipped into a slight curtsy, using the gesture to mask her thoughts.

Lu Yunjian quickly regained his composure, though A Wu could still feel his gaze brushing over her face like a passing shadow.

He was scrutinizing her.

A Wu lowered her head slightly, eyes downcast, and prepared to take her leave.

After all, he was an outsider—a man with no ties to the imperial household—and as the Emperor’s concubine, a simple curtsy was already a concession.

But just as A Wu turned to leave, the eunuch went inside to announce them, leaving the two momentarily alone. Suddenly, Lu Yunjian grabbed the sleeve of her robe.

A Wu halted mid-step and glanced back at him.

Lu Yunjian raised his eyes, and their gazes locked again.

The sweet scent of ambergris and orchid incense drifted from the censer in the chamber, enveloping them in an intoxicating haze. His handsome face was cold, his slightly bloodshot eyes locked onto her, as if ready to devour her whole.

Yet, the man who had once held her close now stood before her—so near, yet so far.

A Wu curled her lips into a seductive smile. "Did the Imperial Uncle have something to say?"

Lu Yunjian’s lips thinned into a hard line, the darkness in his eyes threatening to spill over.

A Wu understood. This man knew she had entered the palace, had become the Jingxi Emperor’s woman. He must be seething with rage.

Probably furious enough to burst a blood vessel.

But so what?

With quiet amusement and unshaken grace, A Wu pulled free, letting the fabric slide from his fingers.

Lu Yunjian didn’t move, his hand still hanging in the air, his gaze never leaving her face.

A Wu took out a handkerchief and deliberately wiped the spot on her sleeve where he’d touched.

Only then did she smile and say, "Imperial Uncle, do control yourself."

With that, she walked off, hips swaying.

Another obstacle overcome—A Wu felt the thrill of a boat sailing smoothly past endless peaks!

Lu Yunjian watched her go, his gaze dark and brooding.

Of course, he had wanted her to live. He had imagined a hundred possible endings for her.

In the end, she had indeed survived—but never in his wildest dreams had he expected her to take such a shortcut!

The Jingxi Emperor, the born Crown Prince—Lu Yunjian had once served as his study companion in the palace.

Never could he have imagined that A Wu would end up entangled with him.

Recalling the bitter memories that haunted him, his eyes darkened with turbulent emotions. He couldn’t fathom—simply couldn’t—how the woman he’d once held could now belong to that cold, stern Emperor!

They—

Two people with nothing in common, their personalities worlds apart, and separated by so many years and generational differences—how could they ever become entangled!

Just then, a playful voice tinged with laughter came from outside the bedchamber.

It was A Wu.

She casually instructed a palace maid, "This handkerchief is dirty. Just throw it away."

The darkness in Lu Yunjian's eyes nearly burst forth. He clenched his fist beneath his sleeve, trembling, his chest rising and falling violently.

A Wu, A Wu.

She was so cold-blooded and heartless, always finding ways to cut him down with words, making sure he knew just how much she despised him.

**************

When Lu Yunjian stepped into the hall, he was met with the empress's scornful smirk.

"Just a woman. If not for your soft-heartedness, how could she have gotten this far?"

Lu Yunjian's face darkened as he glared at the empress. "Now, we can kill her. Will you do it, or should I?"

The empress pressed him directly, "Could you bear it? What, now that she’s flung herself at the emperor, you’re jealous, bitter—could you really do it?"

Lu Yunjian stared at the empress. "Your Majesty, she belonged to me. Originally, she would have been mine alone. It was by your command that I reluctantly gave her up, offering her to the crown prince. From that moment, everything went off the rails. And now, you blame me? Then whom should I blame?"

The empress fell silent, her gaze dropped, speechless.

Back then, she had indeed believed A Wu’s beauty could be weaponized. But behind these calculations lay her own unspeakable, hidden motives.

Lu Yunjian recalled the A Wu he had just seen. "I saw her earlier. More beautiful than ever, radiant as a flower in bloom. When she looked at me, her eyes and heart burned with nothing but anger. She’s long forgotten that she once had feelings for me. Now, her eyes and heart belong only to the emperor."

The empress lifted her cold gaze. "So, you regret it."

Lu Yunjian: "Yes, I regret it. But what good does that do?"

As he spoke, a vein pulsed at his temple. "I was once married, but I never laid a hand on my lawful wife. She was the only one for me. And now, she’s no longer mine either!"

The empress awkwardly averted her gaze. The bedchamber was deathly quiet, broken only by Lu Yunjian’s ragged breathing.

After a long pause, Lu Yunjian raised a hand to rub his brow, his voice bitter. "Enough. Let’s discuss serious matters. These past few days, the emperor set aside funds for the coastal defense garrisons in the East Sea."

The empress: "Isn’t that the annual routine?"

Lu Yunjian sighed. "Your Majesty, I've got a bad feeling about this one."

The coastal defense of Great Hui was divided into coastal garrisons, hereditary seafaring families, and local naval forces. The Zhen’an Marquisate had guarded the East Sea for generations, with its fleet and naval forces under the Lu family’s command.

Apart from hereditary naval houses like the Zhen’an Marquisate, the coastal defense garrisons and local naval forces were all under imperial dispatch.

Since the founding of Great Hui, the Zhen’an Marquisate had held a monopoly on the East Sea navy. In comparison, the coastal garrisons and local naval forces were insignificant.

About two or three years after the Jingxi Emperor assumed personal rule, following a pirate raid on the coast, he allocated military funds to the coastal defense garrisons to procure several 500-liang official ships.

At the time, it seemed like a routine measure, and the Zhen’an Marquisate didn't give it a second thought.

Yet, from then on, almost every year, the Jingxi Emperor set aside funds for the East Sea coastal defense garrisons.

Lu Yunjian became suspicious of this and secretly investigated, even planting spies in the garrisons to uncover the truth.

Over time, the coastal defense garrisons grew stronger. In recent years, they even built watch stations and signal towers among the coastal garrisons.

Two years ago, during the flood in the East Sea region, the emperor allocated five hundred thousand taels of treasury silver from the national coffers. Two hundred thousand were used for disaster relief to aid the victims, one hundred thousand for constructing coastal defense embankments and bridges, while the remaining two hundred thousand were diverted to the local naval forces of the East Sea, once again funding the addition of new ships.

Every move by the Jingxi Emperor seemed calculated and never overly conspicuous, yet over the years, he had poured vast sums of money into the East Sea naval forces and coastal defense garrisons. These funds transformed into fleets and scattered installations along the East Sea coast, forming an unseen net in the emperor’s hands—a concealed blade poised to strike.

Lu Yunjian’s chest tightened.

He turned to the empress and said, "This time, the emperor has also reorganized the layout of the coastal defense garrisons and dispatched several young military officers."

The empress frowned upon hearing this. "Oh?"

Lu Yunjian then elaborated in detail. At first, the empress listened calmly, but as he continued, her expression grew increasingly grim.

Lu Yunjian smiled faintly. "Your Majesty, the emperor did not just begin his schemes. Reflecting now, it seems he had already been plotting from the moment he agreed to marry you as a potential crown princess. The emperor’s stratagems are bottomless as the sea."

In truth, since the previous emperor’s reign, there had been intentions to weaken the hereditary naval forces along the coast, but due to various reasons, it had never been accomplished.

Later, when the previous emperor fell critically ill, the Marquis of Zhen’an entered the palace for an audience. No one knew what they discussed in the emperor’s final moments, but the outcome was an edict decreeing that the Marquis of Zhen’an’s eldest daughter must enter the imperial capital as a candidate for the Eastern Palace. Simultaneously, Lu Yunjian was granted the imperial jade decree—a symbol that, as long as it existed, even the emperor of Great Hui could not act rashly against the Lu family.

This marriage and the jade token protected the Marquis of Zhen’an’s household for eighteen years. But now, it seemed the relentlessly ambitious Jingxi Emperor could no longer tolerate them.

He never openly defied the previous emperor’s edict but instead began subtly and silently eroding the Lu family’s power.

The empress sneered. "It seems he has been quite busy lately, accomplishing much."

Even Fu Rui, who had served by his side for years, was callously cast aside.

Lu Yunjian narrowed his eyes slightly. "Actually, there’s no need to rush. He is still weaving his net, and it isn’t yet complete—so we still have time."

************

After returning, *A Wu* quietly stored away the rare overseas jade ornaments, deciding never to wear them again. Now that she had entered the palace and become a noble, the Jingxi Emperor was not overly stingy, and she could surely obtain finer things in the future.

As for the minor quarrel with Princess De Ning, she naturally would never mention it to the Jingxi Emperor and even warned her maids not to breathe a word of it.

For someone swamped with state affairs like the Jingxi Emperor, he would likely only summon her for favor occasionally in the future and would hardly notice such trivial matters as jewelry. Thus, the incident would fade away.

Sure enough, the Jingxi Emperor did not visit Langhua Palace (her residence) in the following two days. A Wu wasn’t particularly disappointed—though she longed for the emperor’s favor, the rigorous protocols of that night had left her genuinely fearful.

She began learning the qin. A Wu first absorbed a wealth of theory from the music master, who explained that mastering the qin was not merely about playing tunes but also about tempering one’s discipline. The master then spoke of renowned qin virtuosos.

It turned out that several contemporary qin schools all traced their origins to the imperial lineage—even the Jingxi Emperor was deeply skilled in the art.

As a beginner, A Wu first familiarized herself with the major schools, finger techniques, and musical theory. Having never studied it before, she found the initial lessons quite engaging.

Aside from the qin, since the empress dowager had specifically instructed her to attend lectures by female palace officials, she had no choice but to comply.

Consort Hui (a mid-ranking concubine) gladly accompanied her. The lectures were held in Chengyan Hall, where the instructing palace matron wore her hair in a relaxed bun and a checkered-patterned jacket and skirt (traditionally male attire).

The attendees included imperial consorts, noble ladies, and talents, as well as some female palace officials. These officials could study, and if they passed examinations, advance to become palace-scholars, then historiographers, and eventually senior seal-holders in the Six Bureaus.

The imperial harem was populous, requiring a hierarchy of officials akin to governing the realm. Since the harem was predominantly female, though palace eunuchs served many roles, certain tasks remained unsuitable for them. Thus, female palace officials were numerous, offering women a means to secure a livelihood.

Great Hui was moderately progressive, but for women, building a self-sufficient life without marriage was difficult. Becoming a female palace official was one viable path.

Alternatively, serving as an imperial consort was also an option—treating bedchamber duties as work could ensure a comfortable life.

Now that the emperor rarely visited, even the duty of attending him was unnecessary. One could simply regard oneself as a symbol of the Great Hui emperor’s dignity, drawing a vermilion allowance (harem stipend)—an even better arrangement.

The emperor, empress dowager, and empress were not quick to punish cruelly. Everything followed established rules, and though palace regulations were numerous, mastering them ensured a secure position.

Thus, for consorts and female officials who did not aspire to marriage and children, life in the palace was far superior to the outside world—more comfortable, dignified, and clean, with opportunities to acquire marketable skills that could sustain them even if they left the palace someday.

For instance, A Wu once heard a court attendant mention that a female palace official who left the palace two years prior was handsomely recruited by an outside family to help educate their daughters.

Today, the female palace official lectured on *The Comprehensive Guide to Arithmetic*, which taught how to keep accounts—such as recording debts owed by others or tracking personal expenditures. At first, A Wu could follow along, but soon she became utterly confused. The accounting turned out to be way more complicated.

She perked up her ears, struggling to concentrate, but the more she listened, the sleepier she grew. Having stayed up late the previous night, she was exhausted, her mind muddled. After enduring for what felt like an eternity, it was finally over.

On the way back, Consort Hui made a point to ask how her studies were going.

A Wu groaned, "If I could master this, I might actually become a proper scholar!"

Consort Hui covered her lips with a light chuckle and teased, "You'd better study hard. What if you can't understand account books in the future?"

A Wu replied, "Why would I need to read account books? With my measly fifty-tael allowance, there's no need for that."

Consort Hui tilted her head, amused by her lack of ambition, and said with a smile, "I think His Majesty has high hopes for you—expecting you to open shops and make a fortune. At the very least, you should learn to use an abacus and keep accounts!"

A Wu sighed, "Good sister, stop teasing me. I could never manage that!"

Consort Hui smiled deeply but said nothing more.

Who would have thought that, upon returning that evening, the Jingxi Emperor would visit Langhua Palace? Fortunately, they wouldn’t be dining together today.

A Wu was relieved—one less thing to worry about.

Tonight’s dinner featured an additional dish: osmanthus-flavored turtle soup. As expected of a gift from the Empress Dowager, the broth was rich, and the turtle meat tender. A Wu ate with satisfaction, leaving more than half for Yilan and Weilan, who grinned from ear to ear.

Seeing the two maids so happy, A Wu felt pleased herself and shared out the leftovers among the servants.

The eunuchs and maids in Langhua Palace were all young, inexperienced, and a bit green. Though a bit childish, A Wu rather liked them. The atmosphere was harmonious, without any backstabbing, and they even played together in the courtyard occasionally.

—This puzzled A Wu. Shouldn’t there be an experienced palace matron to guide her in palace etiquette? The Jingxi Emperor hadn’t arranged anything either.

Just as she was lost in thought, sudden commotion signaled the arrival of the Jingxi Emperor.