Male Lead Is Always That Heartless

Chapter 18

After lunchtime, Noble Lady Gong of Zhaifang Hall and Noble Lady Wang of Xiuyi Hall both received the imperial decree, promoted to Lady of Fairness Gong and Lady of Fairness Wang, respectively. Some people were happy, and some people were sad.

Lady of Fairness Gong rewarded the palace maids in the Zhaifang Hall, especially Zhao Wan, “A Wan has a great merit, I will remember in my heart.”

Zhao Wan bowed, “Thank you, Lady of Fairness.”

Lady of Fairness Gong rewarded her with a hairpin from the treasure box, “You’re smart and cautious. Within one day, you’ve managed to learn the Flying Dance. Your future may be uncertain.”

Zhao Wan cupped her hands over the hairpin and said: “Lady of Fairness has flattered me.”

Everyone in the world had something to ask for, and Lady of Fairness Gong saw in Zhao Wan’s eyes that she also had something to ask for.

Lady of Fairness Gong’s lips curled slightly, “When His Majesty visits the Zhaifang Hall in the future, A Wan will serve close to me.”

Zhao Wan’s heart skipped a beat, and she hung her head and said, “Yes.”

After Zhao Wan left, Chunya wondered, “Why did the Lady of Fairness praise her?”

Lady of Fairness Gong: “She is capable and ambitious. Sooner or later, she will get what she wants. I’m just going along for the ride.”

Chunya frowned, “Lady of Fairness, aren’t you afraid that His Majesty is attracted to her?”

Lady of Fairness Gong chuckled, “His Majesty never liked anyone. He only liked their background. I am like this, Wang Xiu also like this, Consort Shu is unlucky; she bore the surname Qi.”

Xiuyi Hall naturally had a joyful atmosphere.

Huang Li distributed gold leaves to the maids and turned back to find Lady of Fairness Wang, “Congratulations, Lady of Fairness!”

Lady of Fairness Wang hummed, “Unfortunately, Gong Yueqin also got what she wanted, but …… never mind …… the future is long, let’s see. ”

Huang Li nodded, “Last night, although His Majesty stayed in the Heluo Palace, Noble Lady Gu did not get anything good!”

Lady of Fairness Wang snorted coldly, “A plaything only. How high can her position be? Being a Noble Lady would be her best!”

Huang Li smiled and lowered her voice: “I just passed by in front of Yuying Palace and saw Consort De palace maids kneeling in the front yard.”

Lady of Fairness Wang sighed before laughing softly, “Consort De wants to be an Imperial Consort, but it didn’t work. The Liu family from the previous dynasty is still pestering His Majesty to set her as the Empress. It’s funny.”

Huang Li attached her ear and whispered, “In the future, the Empress must be you.”

Lady of Fairness Wang laughed out loud, “What a clever mouth! Reward you for being persistent.” As she said, she took a gold hairpin from the treasure box and gave it to Huang Li.

Huang Li bowed: “Thank you, Lady of Fairness.”

Gu Yi wasn’t surprised. After all, it was all in the plot. While disappointed, Tao Jia advised Gu Yi: “You do not have to be anxious. You’ll become Lady of Fairness at the Mid-autumn Palace Banquet next year. Besides, you are the most favored in the harem. Others can’t compare to you.”

Gu Yi blew her tea, “Got it.”

In the end, promotion mainly relies on the fathers in Xiao Yan’s harem, not on favor. Gu Changtong was an insignificant official. Hence, she could rise from a Beauty to a Noble Lady; it was a fluke. Lady of Fairness Wang and Lady of Fairness Gong, since they were all Lady of Fairness, then it seemed that the official selection had been settled.

*

The promotion list was made public at the end of August. No one was above the fourth rank. Below the fourth rank were the chief and deputy chief of six departments, a total of twelve people. Six people were in the Ministry of Personnel and Revenue for the fifth rank. The ministers were shocked.

Left Prime Minister Qi Ruotang led the ministers to criticize and advise the Emperor to draw up another list.

“Six of these twelve people are not from Hanlin. I’m afraid that the public cannot be convinced. In addition, the officials have completed the examinations, and land tax is imminent. The Ministry of Personnel and Revenue cannot afford to make any mistakes. I beg Your Majesty to think twice!”

Xiao Yan: “Minister Qi is right. The officials have completed their examinations and collected money according to the acreage. This time, the officials were promoted for this purpose. I hope the Ministry of Personnel and Revenue officials will perform their duties. The results will be evident next year.”

For the next few days, Qi Ruotang led the group of ministers to advise daily. The Emperor took the excuse of the summer heat and went to the Wu Shan Palace to avoid the heat. The weather was already slightly cool in September, but the Emperor preferred to go to the Wu Shan to avoid the heat. Everyone understood this was a ‘retreat to advance.’ The Emperor didn’t want to be entangled with Minister Qi. Lady of Fairness Gong of the Zhaifang Hall and Noble Lady Gu of the Heluo Hall were appointed as companions to accompany the Emperor to the Wushan Palace.

Gu Yi was confused. Lady of Fairness Gong accompanying the Emperor was the plot because Gong Zhenghai contributed to the official selection. What about her? Why? Soon, she knew because Xiao Yan had told her.

“Gu Changtong, the governor of Fuzhou, this time, invited himself to implement the land-counting and money-collecting project in Fuzhou to set an example for the several state magistrates.”

Gu Yi was shocked; this was not in the book. How could Papa Gu be so progressive? Is this trying to take a shot at turning a bicycle into a motorcycle?

Xiao Yan looked at Gu Yi’s shocked face, unaware of the situation. Gu Changtong went to Mr. Shen Xu and learned about the changes in officials and the plan to reform taxes and collect money. The three-year assessment was about to be completed, and he wanted to contribute, so he wrote a letter asking for help. It seemed that Gu Changtong intended to go to the capital.

Until Gu Yi got on the rickety carriage, she didn’t come back to her senses. However, it was good to accompany the Emperor. There was an essential plot for the summer vacation in Wushan. Hence, she could maintain the plot online!

The Emperor’s carriage was much more spacious than hers, but it was still bumpy from time to time as it traveled along. Gu Yi swayed for about three hours before her face became pale, and she felt like vomiting.

“Your Majesty, I’d better return to my carriage.”

Xiao Yan saw her face and gave her one of the sour plums in the porcelain jar.

Gu Yi: Damn sour plum! It was still uncomfortable!

Xiao Yan: “Stop the carriage.”

The driver made a phew sound and stopped the carriage, and the long line of carriages halted immediately.

Xiao Yan: “Take a walk outside the carriage.”

A palace staff lifted the curtain of the carriage. Gu Yi held the palace man’s hand and exited the carriage. The tightness in her chest got better. A green-clothed beauty came from behind. It was Lady of Fairness Gong, and Zhao Wan was holding her up.

The female lead had indeed come as well!

Gu Yi paid her respects when they came close, “Greetings to Lady of Fairness.”

Lady of Fairness Gong saw Gu Yi’s pale face, “It’s been hard on sister.”

She bowed to the stopped carriage, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“You can take tranquilizer medicine in advance if you’re riding in the carriage. You can rest in the carriage so you won’t get dizzy.”

Gu Yi nodded, “Good idea.”

Lady of Fairness Gong added, “Sister is having a hard time like this. Why. Why don’t you go back to the carriage and sleep peacefully??”

Gu Yi wanted to go, so she turned her head and asked, “Your Majesty, may I go back?”

Xiao Yan listened to her pitiful tone and said through the curtain, “You may.”

Gu Yi felt like she was being pardoned. Just now, when she was riding with Xiao Yan, she saw that he was sitting upright. She also had to pay attention to her behavior, so she was less comfortable than riding alone.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will leave.”

Lady of Fairness Gong’s heart was delighted, “Your Majesty, can I accompany Your Majesty to relieve your boredom?”

There was silence in her ears before she heard the Emperor say, “Come up.”

Lady of Fairness Gong held Zhao Wan’s hand and entered the carriage. The carriage curtains were pulled open, and Zhao Wan spied Xiao Yan. He was clad in green, with a crown on his head, his face without waves or fluctuations, and a pair of glazed eyes that looked detached.

Her gaze met his. Zhao Wan’s cheeks felt hot, and she immediately averted her gaze. The carriage curtain slowly fell again.

Xiao Yan said, “Drive.”

Gu Yi collapsed onto the soft couch as soon as she entered her carriage.

Tao Jia held a jar of sour plums in her hand, “Noble Lady, we’ll arrive at Wushan in an hour or so. Bear with it! Would you like a sour plum?”

Gu Yi waved her hand. She had already eaten at least ten sour plums, and her mouth was astringent.

“I’ll be fine after a short nap.” Gu Yi took a silk handkerchief to cover her eyes and shook it, falling asleep in a daze.

Tao Jia carefully rolled up the carriage curtain and probed out; the palace’s imperial army was at the forefront of the procession. The head of the person wearing a silver helmet was the commander of the imperial army, Qi Zhuang. Tao Jia gently put down the carriage curtain.

Wushan Palace has four pavilions. The first, Xuanyu Pavilion, was the loftiest and was the Son of Heaven’s place. After that, there was Luoxia, Feihong, and Xunxie. Behind the three pavilions was a clear pool, which led to the hot springs in the mountain, warm in all seasons.

Noble Lady Gong stayed in the slightly larger Luoxia Pavilion, and Noble Lady Gu stayed in the Xunxie Pavilion.

When Tao Jia awakened Gu Yi, she realized the carriage had stopped. They finally arrived!

It was already dark outside the carriage; the mountains longed for shadows, and the night wind blew through, adding melancholy.

Gu Yi, wrapped in a brocade cloak, alighted from the carriage—four courtiers carrying lanterns in front of the road, guiding her to the Xunxie Pavilion.

The Pavilion had long been cleaned as new and was almost the same size as the Heluo Hall. It had a chamber, study, and living room, complete. She was dizzy, and her bones felt like they were falling apart.

“Prepare water for bathing.”

Tao Jia’s eyes twinkled and suggested, “Noble Lady, there is a hot spring behind this Pavilion. Wouldn’t it be better to bathe there!”

“No.” Gu Yi decisively refused.

That was a vital plot location; she couldn’t just join in the fun. What if it deviated from the main plot line? If she wanted to soak in the hot spring, she could go during the day tomorrow.

Gu Yi: “Prepare hot water, I’m exhausted.”

After Gu Yi finished her bath, she wrapped herself in the fragrant silk quilt and slept.

The Luoxia Palace was still lit. Noble Lady Gong was accompanying the Emperor for the first time and riding in the same carriage as him. She was looking forward to the Emperor coming to the Luoxia Hall, so she was unwilling to go to bed early.

The drums of the second watch were beating. Zhao Wan said, “Lady of Fairness has traveled a long way. It’s better to rest early.”

Lady of Fairness Gong sighed and nodded, “Serve me to freshen up.”

It was already nearly midnight when Lady of Fairness Gong entered the bed. Zhao Wan carried a bucket of water and walked outside the Luoxia Hall, heading to the water well behind the hall. It was cold in the mountains, and the winds blew after nightfall. Her hands and feet were freezing, and she wrapped the cotton vest tightly around her body. After traveling in a carriage all day, her legs were stiff, and she could only walk slowly. The water in the well was cold and piercing. As soon as Zhao Wan touched it, she retracted her hand. Perhaps, after a while, it wouldn’t be so cold. She carried the bucket of water towards the servant’s room, but she saw a white mist rising from the forest behind the hall, as faint as smoke. Is it a hot spring in the mountains? Zhao Wan curiously walked towards the white smoke, and the closer she got, the more a wave of heat greeted her. Her body gradually warmed up a bit. In front of her eyes appeared a large pool with white mist, and Zhao Wan leaned over to touch the water.

It was warm. At this moment, the darkness of the night was deep, and no one was around, only occasional cries of the owls in the mountains. Zhao Wan quietly removed her clothes and slipped into the hot spring pool. The warm spring water suddenly ironed out her body and mind, and Zhao Wan couldn’t help but sigh, clearly recognizable in the terrifyingly silent night.

“Who’s there?” A male voice rose.